45 Shelby Miller SP

Miller is in the conversation for a spot in the Brewers' rotation but will likely open the season in the minors, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The Brewers clearly like Miller, signing him to contracts both this year and last, but it seems they want to see him sustain success at the minor-league level before adding him to the big-league roster.

Miller re-signed with the Brewers on Monday as a non-roster invitee.

Miller was quite a good starter early in his career, but things haven't gone his way over the last four seasons. He's posted a 6.89 ERA in 183 innings over that stretch when not recovering from Tommy John surgery. A fixed version of Miller would be an interesting late-round flyer in fantasy drafts, but there hasn't been any indication in recent seasons that he's on the cusp of returning to his previous form, so there's no particular reason to believe he'll even win a roster spot. In 44 innings for the Rangers last season, he posted an 8.59 ERA and a 30:29 K:BB. He was picked up by the Brewers on a minor-league deal in mid-July but was released in late August without having made a big-league appearance.

Miller elected to become a free agent Tuesday.

Miller exercised the release clause in his minor-league deal, sending him to the open market. He posted a 4.79 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with a 20:16 K:BB over 20.2 innings during his time with Triple-A San Antonio.

Miller signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Miller was released by Texas on July 4 after accruing an 8.59 ERA and 1.98 WHIP with a 30:29 K:BB over 44 innings with the big-league club. He'll likely serve as organizational depth with the Brewers, though given Milwaukee's starting pitching woes this season, he could be a candidate to provide a spot start or even enter the rotation at some point.

The Rangers have placed Miller on unconditional release waivers.

According to Levi Weaver of The Athletic, Miller and the Rangers had been hoping to work out a way for him to remain in the organization after the right-hander was designated for assignment Monday. This move suggests Miller may have received an offer on a 40-man roster elsewhere, though it's also possible Miller simply ends up returning to Texas on a new deal. Either way, he's unlikely to gain fantasy relevance in the second half.

Miller was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Monday, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Miller began the season as a starter but had a 9.51 ERA in eight outings before moving to the bullpen in mid-May. The last six weeks haven't gone significantly better for the 28-year-old with 14 runs allowed (11 earned) across 14.2 innings as a reliever. Jesse Biddle -- who was claimed off waivers Friday -- was added to the active roster in a corresponding move.

Manager Chris Woodward confirmed Thursday that Miller has been moved to the bullpen, Robert Falkoff of MLB.com reports.

Woodward suggested that Miller's transition to relief work won't necessarily be a permanent one, but the right-hander provided little evidence in his eight starts that he's still an MLB-caliber rotation option. He failed to work longer than 5.1 innings in any of those outings and posted a 9.51 ERA and 2.11 WHIP, both of which ranked last among all pitchers who have received at least five starts. Woodward envisions using Miller as a one- or two-inning reliever for the time being, with most of the 28-year-old's initial usage out of the bullpen expected to come in lower-leverage spots.

Miller is not expected to make his next scheduled start, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It sounds like Miller will be removed from the rotation for the time being, with Ariel Jurado expected to make a start over the weekend in his place. The 28-year-old Miller was rocked for eight runs in just 1.2 innings his last time out, and he now owns a brutal 9.51 ERA and 20:23 K:BB through 29.1 innings on the season. It remains to be seen whether Miller will rejoin the rotation at a later point in the season after working through some kinks.

Miller (1-3) took the loss Tuesday as the Rangers fell 11-5 to the Royals, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and two walks over only 1.2 innings while striking out one.

The right-hander's spot in the rotation seemed to be hanging by a thread coming into this game, and Kansas City took a blowtorch to it, scoring three two-out runs in the first inning before chasing Miller in the second. He now carries a 9.51 ERA and 20:23 K:BB through 29.1 innings, and Texas will have to seriously consider alternatives the next time his turn comes around Sunday.

Miller will make his next scheduled start Tuesday on the road against Kansas City, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Manager Chris Woodward flirted with the idea of moving Miller to the bullpen or skipping his slot Tuesday. The manager opted to keep Miller in the rotation and on schedule instead of moving up Mike Minor to pitch on normal rest. Minor has averaged 106 pitches over his last five starts, a significant leap from the 91-pitch average per outing he had in 2018. Miller will enter the contest with a 7.48 ERA and 21 walks over 27.2 innings.

Miller allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk across four innings during a no-decision against the Pirates on Wednesday.

The only real blemish Miller had on the day was a homer yielded to Josh Bell, but that was a big blemish, as Bell deposited Miller's mistake into the river. Miller has struggled so mightily this season, Rangers manager Chris Woodward said last week he was considering moving him to the bullpen. Miller might have earned another start with this performance, but he still has ugly numbers -- 1-2 record, 7.48 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 27.2 innings.

Manager Chris Woodward said the Rangers are considering moving Miller to the bullpen, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Miller is still scheduled to start Wednesday against the Pirates, but if he continues to struggle -- the right-hander owns a 7.99 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 13:20 K:BB through six starts (23.2 innings) this season -- it sounds like the Rangers won't hesitate to move him to a relief role. "We are going to obviously talk about everything and see what makes the most sense," Woodward said. "I can't say that right now. It's definitely an option. It's not a slight on him [or] thinking he can't start. He's got really good stuff and it plays at 94-95 [mph], out of the bullpen it might be 95-96 [mph]."

Miller (1-2) allowed four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 3.1 innings during a loss to the Pirates on Wednesday.

Pirates rookie outfielder Bryan Reynolds knocked Miller out of the game with a bases-clearing double in the fourth. The hit gave the Pirates a three-run lead. It's been a difficult five weeks to begin his Rangers tenure this year, as Miller has pitched into the sixth inning just once and has yielded at least four runs in five straight outings. He is 1-2 with a 7.99 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, .295 batting average against and 13 strikeouts in 23.2 innings over six starts. Miller will get another crack at the Pirates in his next start Wednesday.

Miller allowed four runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four over five innings in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners. He did not factor in the decision.

This marked the second straight start that Miller was competitive and pitched at least five innings, which is progress for him and a relief to Texas' overworked bullpen. Improvement is still needed, though, as the right-hander has walked 18 batters over 20.1 innings in his five starts. Miller will lug a 7.52 ERA into his next start Friday at home against Toronto.

Miller (1-1) yielded four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks, earning the win over Houston on Sunday. He struck out three batters and gave up two homers.

It certainly wasn't pretty, but Miller will happily take his first win of what's been a hideous start to 2019. He's thrown just 15.1 innings in four starts with a 7.63 ERA and a horrid 6:13 K:BB. Things won't get easier for Miller as he'll face Seattle on Friday.

Manager Chris Woodward believes Miller will turn around his slow start, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Miller, who is coming back from elbow surgery, has pitched just 10 innings across three starts, and those starts have not gone well. However, Woodward saw the positive in Monday's outing during which the right-hander retired five of the last six batters faced. "He showed me a lot, because I told him after the third inning I was going to take him out," Woodward said. "He insisted that I leave him in there. I was really hoping he would say that. I was hoping he wouldn't just accept ... OK, I'm done." The manager didn't confirm Miller will remain in the starting rotation, but Woodward's comments suggest Miller will be on the hill Sunday at home against the streaking Astros.

Miller didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 12-7 win over the Angels, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

The right-hander was dreadful once again, throwing only nine first-pitch strikes to the 22 batters he faced and generating a miserable two swinging strikes in 87 pitches. Miller now has a 9.00 ERA and shocking 3:11 K:BB through 10 innings, and it's hard to imagine the Rangers will stick with him in the rotation much longer.

Miller won't start Sunday's game against the Athletics following Saturday's postponement.

Adrian Sampson was scheduled to start Saturday but will now start Sunday's series finale, thanks to the rain. The Rangers have yet to officially announce their rotation plans for the rest of the week, but Miller will presumably start Monday against the Angels if they simply push everyone back one game.

Miller (0-1) yielded four runs on four hits and three walks in two innings of work during Sunday's loss to the Angels. He struck out one batter and took the loss.

Miller managed to retire the three batters he faced in the first inning before unraveling in the second frame. He needed 67 pitches to get through two-plus innings after using 88 pitches in 3.2 innings in his last start. With the high pitch count and eight walks in less than six innings, it's obvious that his control is an issue this season. The 28-year-old will face Oakland next Sunday.

Miller allowed two earned runs on five hits and five walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings Tuesday against the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Miller wasn't hit particularly hard -- he didn't allow any extra-base hits -- but found the strike zone on only 47 of his 88 pitches, leading to his short outing. He has only managed to pitch 38 innings across the past two seasons combined, so seeing him start and throw a relatively high number of pitches is positive. However, he'll have to show a lot of improvement with his control to be relevant for most formats.