When (now) 35-year-old Dodgers ace and future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw made his much anticipated first career and Dodger Stadium start back on May 25, 2008, the (then) 20-year-old Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first round draft pick (seventh overall) of the 2006 MLB Draft out of Highland Park High School in Dallas allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in his 6.0-inning home debut to finish that historic and memorable day with a (then) one-game ERA of 3.00 and a 1-0 record.

When (now) 24-year-old future Hall of Fame hopeful Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller made his much anticipated first career start at Dodger Stadium on Monday night (having made his MLB debut six days earlier against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park), the (still) 24-year-old Elk Grove Village, IL native and Dodgers first round draft pick (29th overall) of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Louisville, KY allowed one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in his 6.0-inning home debut to finish that historic and memorable day (on Memorial Day, no less) with a (now) two-game ERA of 1.64 and (now) 2-0 record.

Do you see where this is going?

“I mean, I was ready to go, I mean, I was fully locked in. I knew it was a very aggressive lineup and I had to go in and pound the zone,” Miller told reporters after his second consecutive win in as many starts.

“Very special, a dream-come-true, honestly” Miller added, when asked how special it was to win in his Dodger Stadium debut. “Again, yeah, a very aggressive lineup. I knew the team was going to was going to have my back, the guys have been swinging the bat very well, so it’s very special.”

“I think, like I said after his first one, just the ability to kind on harness the emotions,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered, when asked what has been the key to Miller’s success through his first two Major League starts. “I’m sure there’s a lot going on in there as far as adrenalin, but try not to over-throw. And in certain moments when there’s a little bit of stress, he’s been able to manage it and make pitches.”

Make pitches he did. Sixteen of his 87 total pitches (54 strikes) topped the century mark. The only run that Miller allowed came on a two-out single by Nats shortstop C.J. Abrams with runners on second and third in the top second inning, scoring Nationals designated hitter Joey Meneses, but Nats left fielder Corey Dickerson was gunned down at the plate on an absolutely perfect throw from Dodgers right fielder Jason Heyward.

As for that “…guys have been swinging the bat very well” thing, the Dodgers scored all of their six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning – one on a sacrifice fly to left field by struggling Dodgers center fielder James Outman, two on a double to right field by Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (his MLB-leading 23rd double), and three on a three-run home run to center field off the bat of Dodgers designated hitter J.D. (Just Dingers) Martinez.

Could Bobby Miller be the next Clayton Kershaw?

Stay tuned…

Play Ball!

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