:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50124663/usa-today-9365916.0.jpg)
The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) optioned RHP Shelby Miller to Triple-A Reno, as announced by D-backs Sr. Vice President & General Manager Dave Stewart. A corresponding move will be made prior to tomorrow night's game. Miller, 25, has made 14 starts with the D-backs and was 2-9 with a 7.14 ERA (55 ER in 69.1 IP). He was on the 15-day disabled list from May 27-June 20 with a sprained right index finger.
As noted, it's the second stint in the minors this year for Miller, the other being on a "rehab assignment" as he worked his way back from the "disabled list". Quotes in both cases used advisedly, for the results after he returned to the majors have basically been indistinguishable from the results before injury - or even while injured. According to Kevin Zimmerman, Miller "is surprised his stayed up with D-backs this long," and adds that there is no fixed time-table for a return. Good, because that's the way it should be: you stay in the minors until you are fixed. And properly fixed, this time.
Miller's first half was truly terrible, and not just for this season, where as Nick Piecoro points out, "Miller has the highest ERA (7.14), by nearly a run and a half, of any pitcher in the league with at least 14 starts." It was very close to the worst of all time in franchise history. Here are the 10 highest ERAs by a Diamondbacks pitcher over the first half of a season, with a minimum of 50 innings thrown.
| Rk | Player | Year | G | ERA | W | L | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omar Daal | 2000 | 18 | 7.36 | 2 | 10 | .167 | 91.2 | 121 | 86 | 75 | 17 | 40 | 41 | 1.756 | .903 |
| 2 | Shelby Miller | 2016 | 14 | 7.14 | 2 | 9 | .182 | 69.1 | 87 | 55 | 55 | 13 | 34 | 50 | 1.745 | .909 |
| 3 | Brian Anderson | 1999 | 17 | 6.94 | 2 | 1 | .667 | 59.2 | 86 | 47 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 39 | 1.642 | .930 |
| 4 | Jeff Suppan | 1998 | 13 | 6.68 | 1 | 7 | .125 | 66.0 | 82 | 55 | 49 | 12 | 21 | 39 | 1.561 | .859 |
| 5 | Casey Fossum | 2004 | 12 | 6.27 | 2 | 8 | .200 | 60.1 | 81 | 47 | 42 | 14 | 25 | 46 | 1.757 | .947 |
| 6 | Russ Ortiz | 2005 | 14 | 5.88 | 4 | 6 | .400 | 78.0 | 95 | 54 | 51 | 13 | 42 | 35 | 1.756 | .884 |
| 7 | Steve Sparks | 2004 | 19 | 5.85 | 3 | 5 | .375 | 97.0 | 110 | 69 | 63 | 13 | 37 | 45 | 1.515 | .814 |
| 8 | Armando Reynoso | 2000 | 16 | 5.81 | 5 | 6 | .455 | 83.2 | 93 | 56 | 54 | 13 | 26 | 43 | 1.422 | .839 |
| 9 | Andy Benes | 1999 | 18 | 5.51 | 5 | 9 | .357 | 111.0 | 126 | 75 | 68 | 22 | 54 | 79 | 1.622 | .870 |
| 10 | Mike Bolsinger | 2014 | 10 | 5.50 | 1 | 6 | .143 | 52.1 | 66 | 36 | 32 | 7 | 17 | 48 | 1.586 | .872 |
There's no word of a replacement at this point, but with off-days, it seems likely the team will go with a four-man rotation for a bit.