Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Charley Steiner put it best. This last handful of games is merely “rehearsing” for the postseason, making sure that everything is in order going into October. Well, a big box was checked in that regard in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Detroit: Bobby Miller looks like he’s going to be a reliable arm going forward.
Yes, he got the loss, but that was secondary. He also threw six strong innings and only gave up two earned runs. In addition, he worked out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the third with only a sacrifice fly in damage. And if the usually reliable Ryan Brasier and Evan Phillips hadn’t given up single runs in their innings, the Dodgers just might have been able to come back in this one and win.
But it was not to be. Max Muncy homered in the sixth to get the Dodgers on the board, and Freddie Freeman hit an RBI grounder in the eighth, but that was about it in a quiet night at the plate for the home team. Still, the story in this one was Miller and his continued preparation to be a valued part of the Dodgers October pitching plans.
“I feel ready,” Miller said when asked about his likely postseason role. “I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here, and I feel very ready. I’ve got the guys here that have had a lot of experience there. So I’ve been asking those guys some questions here and there, how they go about it. I feel really ready.”
“A pitcher isn’t going to have his best stuff every time out and today it was clear that the secondary, he didn’t really have a feel for it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But for him to go six innings, give up two runs and give us a chance to win, that’s all we can ask for right there.”
With the Tigers in the rearview mirror, the Dodgers have a quick turnaround to get ready for the sputtering Giants (6-12 in September) as they come in from Arizona for the last home series of the year at the Ravine. FanGraphs now rates the Giants’ postseason chances at a mere 1.5%, so with any luck, the Gigantes will leave town on Sunday about as close to zero as you could be.
Thursday’s matchup will be rookie lefty Kyle Harrison (1-1 5.19) for the Giants, and Emmet Sheehan for the home team. Let’s see if Sheehan can build on his strong piggyback that he had up in Seattle. First pitch 7:10 pm. The Ravine should be rockin’ this weekend.
