Diamondbacks place RHP Shelby Miller on 10-day disabled list
Apr 24, 2017, 2:39 PM | Updated: 3:51 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Shelby Miller argues a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, April 23, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Monday that they placed right-handed starting pitcher Shelby Miller on the 10-day disabled list and recalled right-handed reliever Silvino Bracho.
Miller exited his start on Sunday against the Dodgers after experiencing forearm tightness in his pitching arm. But the D-backs’ announcement via Twitter listed his injury as “right elbow inflammation.”
#Dbacks recall RHP Silvino Bracho from the Triple-A Reno @Aces and place RHP Shelby Miller on the 10-day DL (right elbow inflammation).
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 24, 2017
Miller pitched just four innings in Arizona’s loss in their series finale with Los Angeles this weekend. On the year, he’s posted a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings. Miller spent a portion of 2016 on the disabled list with a hand injury, but still managed to make 20 starts after coming over in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.
Bracho, meanwhile, owns an impressive 1.35 ERA in six appearances with Triple-A Reno in 2017. The 24-year-old has spent parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the D-backs, posting a career 5.35 ERA in 39 career appearances.
Torey Lovullo says the team is still looking at options re: who will replace Shelby Miller in the rotation.
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) April 24, 2017
Because Bracho is a reliever, he almost surely won’t solve the question of who will start in Miller’s place. The frontrunning candidate could be Archie Bradley, who has pitched to a 0.79 ERA in the bullpen for the Diamondbacks this year but has made 34 starts in his career.
Otherwise, it might be Triple-A pitchers Zack Godley or Anthony Banda, either of whom would force the D-backs to make another roster move before Miller’s spot in the rotation comes back up on Friday against the Rockies.
Godley is a 27-year-old right-hander who is fresh off winning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week. Banda is the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 prospect and owns a 5.49 ERA on the year but struck out 11 hitters Sunday in 5.2 innings of work. His next day to start would be Friday, which would fall right in line with when the D-backs will need another arm.
