The Indians have placed lefty reliever Andrew Miller on the 10-day disabled list with an external impingement in his left shoulder. Fellow southpaw Tyler Olson was recalled to take the open roster spot.
Details on Miller’s outlook are not yet known, but it’s obviously concerning to see the 33-year-old hitting the shelf yet again. He has already missed time this year, owing to hamstring and knee issues, and has not been quite himself when he has been available.
Through 24 innings on the season, Miller carries a 3.38 ERA with 12.4 K/9 and 4.9 BB/9. Those are still productive numbers, needless to say, but they’re a far cry from the dominant levels at which Miller has performed in recent years. He is still tough to square up, but now owns a 1.292 WHIP in 2018 after averaging a minuscule 0.789 figure since the start of the 2014 season.
There are other less-than-encouraging signs as well. Miller’s 12.4% swinging-strike rate is his lowest level since he first became a full-time reliever in 2012. His average fastball is down to 93.2 mph; it had registered at 95.4 (2016) and 94.5 (2017) in the prior two campaigns.
The DL placement may just be an opportunity to get Miller some added rest, to be fair. It isn’t as if the Indians are desperate to squeeze out wins down the stretch; they’ll understandably be prioritizing his readiness for the postseason. Still, it’s not exactly promising that the move was deemed necessary, particularly given the general struggles exhibited this season by the Cleveland relief corps.
Rather unfortunate for the Indians, but especially for Miller. Sad to see a career of someone who used to be a dominant reliever slowly appearing to crumble due to injuries. I know the previous sentence is a little bit over dramatic for one injury filled season, but I don’t see Miller staying off the DL too much in the near future seasons.
Definitely gone after the season, along with Cody….among others.
If they do leave I think it will be because they price themselves out of the Indians financial reach. This series of injuries to Miller may help to keep him within reach though. I would bring him back. It’s not like we have dominant relievers coming up through the system.
i’ve wondered the same, if he’d be willing to come back on a one year deal at a lesser rate, seeing how he’s missed most of the year to injuries
Health not withstanding, I would expect Boston to attempt to woo Miller, given what they have (not) for lefties currently. And Miller’s been there before.
I can’t really think of a pending free agent they have that seems like a safe bet to return. He and Cody will probably sign elsewhere, Brantley will have suitors, Chisenhall isn’t reliable at this point, Rajai might be getting close to retirement, and they might think that they’ve gotten all Melky could provide (I might have forgotten someone though.) I think Brantley is the most likely if I had to pick one, but I don’t know what his market will end up being like.
Okay, I give up. How can someone have an “external impingement” in their shoulder?
Maybe outside part of the shoulder joint/capsule, as opposed to the inside?
From a Google search…..External impingement, also known as outlet impingement, is the one we hear about the most. Here, we’re dealing with compression of the rotator cuff – usually the supraspinatus, and over time, the infraspinatus (and biceps tendon) – by the undersurface of the acromion.
Ah, thanks. A strange medical term. It sounded like it might have happened in a bar brawl or something.
Next time look it up yourself
Why be negative?
In plain English — above, then below.
And as mysteriously as he came, he was gone.
Truly a lost season for Miller. Even if he’s willing to re-sign with CLE on a short term affordable deal, I’m not so sure it would be wise to bring him back. Seems like he’s breaking down which is unfortunate.
Curious how this all impacts Andrew Miller’s free agency. Maybe he’s cheap enough for the Indians to go after as a bounce back candidate.
Maybe, but they have Hand back there as a lefty and they’ll need to spread some money around to fill other needs.