Skip to content

D-Backs GM mulling options with struggling Miller

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Shelby Miller is not pitching the way the Arizona Diamondbacks could have envisioned when they gave up a large package of players including former first overall pick Dansby Swanson and outfielder Ender Inciarte for the right-hander in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Braves.

When asked what the team planned to do with Miller after he was lit up for six earned runs on eight hits in five innings of work against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, general manager Dave Stewart was asked if optioning the pitcher to the minors had crossed his mind.

"We want to get him on track the best way we can," Stewart explained to Jack Magruder of Today's Knuckleball. "We will figure it out and do what's needed."

Although Miller's win-loss record looks similar to his 2015 campaign, there are some glaring differences in the rest of his pitching line.

YEAR W-L ERA WHIP BABIP GB%
2015 6-17 3.02 1.25 .285 47.7%
2016 1-6 7.09 1.86 .317 40.0%

Miller is having a hard time figuring out why he's not performing the way he's capable of, and the pitcher says his poor outings thus far have nothing to do with his health.

"It's crazy," Miller said after his latest outing. "I'm not near as bad a pitcher as the numbers I'm putting up. If the game was easy, I guess everybody would play it. It's one of those things where I'm not pitching well. Bottom line is, I'm falling behind in counts and giving up big innings and just kind of putting us in a hole.

"I feel mechanically good. It's just not really going our way right now. It's my fault. I'm definitely not pitching near as good as I can. I'm going to push as hard as I can to figure this out."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox