Dodgers got the Bobby Miller answer they weren't looking for in return vs. Rockies

Although Bobby Miller was able to get out of the first inning of his season debut against the Rockies relatively unscathed, he also quickly gave the Dodgers reasons to be worried about his longevity in the game. He gave up his first hit to the first batter he faced after an eight-pitch battle, struck out the next two, and then gave up an RBI double and a single before striking out Michael Toglia to end the inning. 1-0, Rockies.

Luckily, the offense immediately responded in the bottom of the first. Shohei Ohtani cranked a 448 foot homer to even the score, and by the end of the frame, the Dodgers had poured on six more runs to give Miller a comfortable cushion.

The top of the second was simple. Adael Amador got a single down, but Miller also added two more strikeouts to his tally, bringing him to five on the night. In the top of the third, though, things got bad.

It went single, strikeout, single, walk to load the bases, Toglia grand slam on a hanging curveball to put the Rockies within two. Mickey Moniak followed with a solo homer to close the gap even more.

Miller struck out the next batter he faced and induced a groundout to end the inning and his night at three innings, eight hits, six earned runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts.

Bobby Miller wastes his opportunity to make an impression on the Dodgers after being blown up by the Rockies

Anthony Banda, Ben Casparius, Alex Vesia, and Tanner Scott came in behind Miller, with Casparius picking up the bulk of the work. He gave up a run, but an Andy Pages RBI single lengthened the Dodgers' lead enough that they were able to win the game. Still, it was unacceptably close for comfort.

Miller kept his interactions with the media short after the game, but when asked if he had placed any extra pressure on himself knowing how crowded the Dodgers' pitching staff is, he said, "I wasn't really putting any added pressure on myself. I know the position I'm in, but I know when I'm on, I can be here for a long time."

But he wasn't on, and if the Dodgers rotation can stay healthy through the rest of the season, he's given the team little to no incentive to try to find ways to give Miller more tries in the majors. Maybe putting a little more pressure on himself actually would've helped.

Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack have already come up and been sent back down, and Evan Phillips should be done with his rehab assignment in Triple-A soon enough to take his spot on the roster. Instead of bringing any one of Wrobleski, Knack, or Miller back, the Dodgers could opt for a nine-man bullpen and slog through some bullpen games while they wait on Snell or Tony Gonsolin to return.

Miller's disaster might've finally shattered the illusion of the Dodgers' pitching depth after cracks were already revealed by Wrobleski and Knack, but it clarified some things for the Dodgers: Miller doesn't have a future in the major league rotation, at least not for the foreseeable future.