Dodgers News: Shelby Miller’s Latest Injury Update is Bad News for LA’s Bullpen

The Dodgers haven't been dealt the greatest set of cards as far as the bullpen goes.

Whether it's injuries -- Daniel Hudson, Phil Bickford, and Jimmy Nelson are working their way back after their ailments -- or just cold, hard underperformance -- as the 4.88 bullpen ERA would confirm -- there are a host of issues facing Los Angeles' group of relievers.

And unfortunately for the Dodgers, they're about to get even worse.

Shelby Miller was placed on the injured list earlier this week with neck pain, and as manager Dave Roberts relayed to reporters in Anaheim, the prognosis isn't great for the veteran arm.

Dave Roberts speaks about facing Shohei Ohtani for the first time and the game plan against a player of his caliber. pic.twitter.com/sZW4FG7HcQ
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 22, 2023

“It’s something I think he’s dealt with [in the past], and I don’t think anyone appreciated the extent of it. It’s gonna take him out for quite some time, for weeks. I’m just amazed at how he still could perform with that. But it’s an older injury that, sort of, showed its head again. So it’ll certainly be three to four weeks before we see him again, at the floor.”

Having Miller down for any prolonged length of time is not great news for a vulnerable Dodger bullpen. Despite two great games in the team's sweep over the Angels -- including a shutout effort in Wednesday's bullpen game -- the evidence of a complete reversal of their fortune hasn't been established yet.

The 32-year-old right-hander has been a rare bright spot in LA's bullpen, pitching his way to a 2.40 ERA in 30 appearances in his first season with the Dodgers.

That ERA puts him with the third best mark in the bullpen, and he definitely would have been relied upon even more throughout the next month or more.

Losing Miller at the most inopportune time definitely hurts the Dodgers, and they'll need to collectively improve if they hope to make up for his absence.