The Dodgers announced a few moves before tonight’s series opener. Utilityman Chris Taylor is back from the 10-day injured list. Los Angeles also finalized their major league contract with veteran outfielder Jake Marisnick. Outfielder Jonny Deluca was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Marisnick, reliever Shelby Miller has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Taylor returns a little less than a month after going on the injured list with a bone bruise in his knee. The utilityman and the newly-signed Marisnick add some right-handed depth to the MLB bench. Taylor is hitting .206/.275/.455 with 11 home runs over 59 games.
Miller’s IL transfer is perhaps the more significant of today’s transactions. The veteran right-hander has been on the 15-day IL since June 21 because of neck pain. Today’s move ensures he won’t return before the third week of August. Skipper Dave Roberts told the club’s beat they do expect Miller to be back this season, though it now won’t be for at least another five weeks (relayed by Juan Toribio of MLB.com).
Los Angeles signed Miller to a somewhat surprising $1.5MM major league contract in December. He has had solid results, pitching to a 2.40 ERA across 30 innings — his heaviest MLB workload in four seasons. Miller has walked 15% of opponents but struck out batters at an above-average 25.8% clip. He’ll return to free agency at year’s end.
Hard to figure out what is going on with Shelby Miller. Now he won’t be available until mid-August at the earliest. At this rate we’ll see Jimmy Nelson sooner.
Shelby was a heck of a pitcher when my daughter was graduating high school. Now she’s a lawyer. Time marches on.
He should have married your daughter.
He was doing good work in relief for the Dodgers this season. Why he’s on the IL now is unclear.
How has Jimmy Nelson stayed on his rehab past 30 days?
Kershaw now out until at least August.
Wow Shelby Miller the perfect use of the term what might have been
Hey Shelby I need you to have a neck ache for the next 60 days until we free up a roster spot, then Holy Crap, its a miracle recovery.