Right-hander Shelby Miller couldn’t catch a break during his one season with the Braves. Now he can’t record many outs for the Diamondbacks.
Miller returned to Turner Field looking to reverse a poor start to the season when he faces the Braves on Saturday. During his first six games with Arizona Miller was 0-3 with an 8.49 ERA, including just one outing of longer than five innings.
In 23 1/3 innings pitched Miller has allowed 27 hits and issued 19 walks.
“I’ve kind of been getting roughed up a little bit,” Miller said. “But I’m beating myself up on my own, walking a lot of guys and putting guys on base and getting into deep counts. Once I get ahead in the count and start throwing more strikes I think everything will fall into place after that.”
Miller had an All-Star season for the Braves in 2015 when he posted a 3.02 ERA and set an NL record with six consecutive scoreless starts. But he had a 6-17 record because of a lack of run support.
The Braves traded Miller and a prospect to the Diamondbacks in December. In return they received outfielder Ender Inciarte and a pair of touted prospects: infielder Dansby Swanson and right-hander Aaron Blair. Inciarte is on the disabled list, Blair started his third game for the Braves on Friday and Swanson is at Double-A Mississippi.
The Diamondbacks have scored plenty of runs during Miller’s starts and managed to win two of those games in spite of his struggles. Miller said he feels as if he’s been rushing his mechanics.
“What I’m trying to do tomorrow is go out and slow things down a little bit and just try to control the pace of the game,” he said. “Just try to do the same thing I’ve always done and go out and try to have fun and compete.”
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