D-backs reinstate Shelby Miller, Clay Buchholz headed to 10-day DL

The Arizona Diamondbacks officially welcomed back starting pitcher Shelby Miller, reinstating him off the 60-day disabled list prior to his 2018 MLB debut Monday against the Miami Marlins.

But as Miller returns from Tommy John surgery recovery, the D-backs had an easy decision to make regarding which starting pitcher would be out of the rotation — at least for the time being — as they placed Clay Buchholz on the 10-day DL with a left oblique strain.

To make room for Miller on the 40-man roster, Arizona released right-handed pitcher Stefan Crichton on Monday.

Miller makes his first MLB start since April 23, 2017. The right-hander was 2-2 with a 4.09 ERA in four starts in 2017 before suffering the UCL injury that required surgery.

Buchholz, a midseason signee who is 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA in seven starts, injured himself Sunday after taking a swing. He’d pitched 5.0 innings and said he left the game as a precaution.

“I’ve tried to get through it, and pitch through it and go another inning, but that’s always led me in the wrong direction,” he told FOX Sports Arizona. “Five years, four years ago, I’d have gone out for the sixth, and that’s when trouble happens.”

Buchholz’s injury means the Diamondbacks will retain a rotation that along with Miller includes Zack Greinke, Zack Godley and Patrick Corbin.

As the D-backs await Robbie Ray’s eventual return from his own oblique strain, Matt Koch, who was optioned last week to Triple-A Reno, could be recalled for a start later this week. Koch pitched Sunday for Triple-A.

Ray is set to make his third rehab start with Reno on Monday night.

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