Bobby Miller played a pivotal role in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 7-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday, delivering a crucial performance in his first major league appearance in over a year. Summoned in the sixth inning with the score tied and the team's pitching depth strained, Miller navigated challenging conditions and high-leverage situations.
Despite pitching through a rainstorm in his initial inning, Miller limited the damage to one run. He then held the deficit in the following two innings, setting the stage for Mookie Betts' decisive three-run home run in the eighth. His three-inning outing, allowing just one run and earning the winning decision, marked an unexpected turn for the pitcher.
"It’s [been] a very difficult road, and I give him a lot of credit for continuing to fight and to be a part of this," manager Dave Roberts said of Miller. Betts echoed the sentiment, stating, "He essentially won us the game. It’s great to see him out there after a couple years. His stuff looked great, confidence looked good. So he’ll be a good piece for us."
Miller's return comes after a challenging period in his career. Following a promising rookie campaign in 2023, where he posted an 11-4 record with a 3.76 ERA, his progress was hampered by injuries and performance issues. A shoulder injury in 2024 led to an extended stint on the injured list and an 8.52 ERA in 13 games. In 2025, he made only two major league appearances while transitioning to a bullpen role with the Triple-A affiliate. This season, a recurrence of his shoulder problem and a subsequent back issue kept him rehabbing for most of the year.
Over the past month, Miller showed improved performance during a Triple-A rehab assignment, attributing it to an "'F it' mentality" that boosted his composure and stuff. His call-up on Sunday was somewhat unexpected, but he expressed gratitude for the opportunity. "It kind of caught me by surprise a little bit," Miller said. "But you know, any day to be in this locker room is truly a blessing with this team."
His outing began with adversity. In the first inning, he allowed a leadoff triple and a subsequent walk as conditions became slick. However, he managed to induce back-to-back groundouts to escape with only one run scoring. "To get out of there with one run, with how my command was in that inning, pretty lucky for that," Miller admitted. "After that, I seemed to get my feet under me, got a little more comfortable, got the nerves out of the way."
The remainder of his appearance was more controlled. He retired the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings, punctuated by a strikeout and capitalizing on strong defensive plays. "That was a big sigh of relief," Miller said. "And then it’s like, 'Alright, let's go attack this next guy, try to get this guy out as fast as I can out there, and just give the team a chance to win.'"
While one outing may not definitively alter the trajectory of his career, and the Dodgers' need for pitching depth might lead to his return to the minors, Miller's performance served as a significant reminder of his potential and resilience. "To continue to persevere," Roberts said, "that says a lot about the character."