Report: Dodgers are calling up top pitching prospect Bobby Miller for Tuesday's start in Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves have faced their share of young, impressive opposing pitchers this season: Brayan Bello of the Boston Red Sox, Mackenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals, this weekend's entire rotation for Seattle (Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby).
The Dodgers want to keep the trend alive. They've already announced prospect Gavin Stone is making his second career start for Monday night's matchup, slotting into the rotation in place of the injured Dustin May, and they're reportedly calling up prospect Bobby Miller for his MLB debut for Tuesday's game two in Atlanta (slotting into Julio Urias's rotation spot).
Stone and Miller, both 24, are listed as Top 50 prospects in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and present a challenge for the Braves as they're unfamiliar arms that none of Atlanta's current roster have faced in their careers.
Per MLB Pipeline, Stone features one of the best changeups in the entire minors, a mid-80s tumbler out of a lower release point, as well as a fastball that touches 98 and a mid-80s slider. He was 2-2 with a 4.04 ERA in eight starts for AAA Oklahoma City this season, with 41 strikeouts to 19 walks in 35.2 innings. His first MLB start, on May 3rd against Philadelphia, saw him go only four innings with eight hits and five runs (four earned), with two walks and one strikeout.
By contrast, Miller lives (and dies) by the fastball. His four-seamer sits in the upper 90s and can touch 101 with running life, while his two-seamer is close to the same velocity. A two-plane slider in the upper 80s gives Miller a power profile, although his upper 80s changeup is a more than respectable fourth offering.
Atlanta's countering the two youngsters and the relatively ancient (by comparison) Tony Gonsolin, 29, with their own impressive pairing of young arms and a crafty veteran. Monday's game one will see Charlie Morton take on Stone, while Spencer Strider matches up against Miller in game two and Bryce Elder takes on Gonsolin in Wednesday's game three.
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