ST. LOUIS — Shelby Miller was like a redshirt freshman last postseason.
Except for a meaningless inning at the end of a 7-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 2 of the NL Division Series, the St. Louis Cardinals right-hander sat and watched through 17 postseason games, a 15-game winner without a role for a World Series team.
Many wondered if Miller would even make the postseason roster as this season rolled into September, but he saved his best pitching for the final month. It earned him a Game 4 start Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a chance to pitch the Cardinals into the NL Championship Series.
“To be a part of it this year, to be a part of the rotation is exciting, obviously,” Miller said Monday before the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 3-1 in Game 3. “I think we all know that I’m a guy that’s going to go out there and lay everything on the line.”
Manager Mike Matheny said that Miller evolved during September, when he went 2-0 with a 1.48 ERA in five starts. Instead of rearing back and throwing his 94 mph four-seam fastball, Miller mixed in more sinkers, cutters and curves to become a more efficient hurler.
“He’s using his off-speed pitches in tough counts,” Matheny said. “He’s got a curveball he never had before. He’s putting movement on his fastball he’s never had before. He’s learning to be more efficient by being in the bottom of the zone. He’s just got more weapons.”