Keeping It Heel
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UNC Baseball Alumni: Andrew Miller ready to help Indians make run

By Zack Pearson

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 04: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians looks on from the dugout before the start of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Progressive Field on August 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Angels 3-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 04: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians looks on from the dugout before the start of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Progressive Field on August 4, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Angels 3-0. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller is hoping to return to his dominant form just in time for a playoff run

The Cleveland Indians clinched their third-straight American League Central Division championship on Saturday with a big 15-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Cleveland will likely take on the winner of the American League West Division, which is currently Houston, in the ALDS to open up the American League Playoffs come October.

With Cleveland playing well, the Tribe have a good shot at being a legit contender in the American League this year once again.

The Indians lineup is stacked with hitters and they have some of the best pitching in all of baseball both in their rotation and the bullpen. But just recently, they may have received a boost to help their chances even further.

Reliever Andrew Miller was recently activated off the 10-day DL with  shoulder impingement, making his return to the Indians bullpen after dealing with a few different injuries this year. After his latest injury, Miller is ready to be back and help out this team as much as he can.

The left-handed reliever made a few relief appearances this past week, throwing two innings and recording four strikeouts. It was a solid start to his return despite his struggles on Friday night including giving up a few runs to the Tigers in a loss.

But the goal for Miller is to get it figured out in time for the ALDS.

During the Indians run in 2016 where they reached the World Series, Miller was fantastic for the Indians. He struck out 30 batters in the 19 1/3 innings he pitched in and had an ERA of 3.52, only giving up earned runs in the World Series against the Chicago Cubs.

In 2017, Miller posted a 1.80 ERA in the Indians ALDS loss to the New York Yankees but was one of the bright spots in an early postseason exit.

The hope for Miller is that he returns to that dominant reliever in the postseason which would give Cleveland’s bullpen a big boost. As it stands now, the Indians bullpen isn’t very stable but a dominant Miller could certainly improve things.

Miller has just two more week left of the regular season to try and return to form which is certainly plenty of time.

He just has to make it happen.

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