The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Miller retired 18 consecutive batters while allowing just one run in six innings in a 6-2 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, left, talks to the Milwaukee Brewers’ William Contreras during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Miller retired 18 consecutive batters while allowing just one run in six innings in a 6-2 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Tyrone Taylor, a former Torrance High standout, takes the field during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Miller retired 18 consecutive batters while allowing just one run in six innings in a 6-2 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman stays ready in the field during the fourth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts runs to first base after hitting an infield single during the fourth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman leaves the batter’s box after hitting into a fielder’s choice during the fourth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman throws to first for an out on a grounder hit by the Milwaukee Brewers’ Brice Turang during the fifth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Miller retired 18 consecutive batters while allowing just one run in six innings in a 6-2 win. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Miller retired 18 consecutive batters while allowing just one run in six innings in a 6-2 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Jason Heyward celebrates after hitting a double during the fifth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ David Peralta celebrates after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ David Peralta is congratulated in the dugout after scoring during the fifth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas celebrates in the dugout after driving in a run during the fifth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Carlos Santana watches the flight of his solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Carlos Santana runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Carlos Santana, right, celebrates with teammate Willy Adames after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Carlos Santana celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas throws to first for an out on a grounder hit by the Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich during the sixth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez begins to run after hitting an RBI double during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates after scoring during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy turns to watch after scoring on a single by Kiké Hernández during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ Kike Hernandez gestures after hitting a two-run single during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy, left, celebrates with teammate David Peralta after scoring on a single by Kiké Hernández during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Kiké Hernández, right, is congratulated by Mookie Betts after scoring during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Bryse Wilson throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ James Outman, left, celebrates with teammate David Peralta after scoring a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ James Outman celebrates in the dugout after scoring a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy throws to first for an out on a grounder hit by the Milwaukee Brewers’ Tyrone Taylor during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Sal Frelick, center, catches a fly ball hit by the Dodgers’ James Outman during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough, right, celebrates with catcher Will Smith after their 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers shortstop Kiké Hernández, center, celebrates with Miguel Rojas, left, after their 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw watches from the dugout before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
LOS ANGELES ― There was a time in the recent past when Bobby Miller was a toolkit, a 24-year-old with a blazing fastball, a bending slider, and two other pitches he could throw for strikes.
More and more, Miller is looking like a bona fide major league starter.
Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, Miller allowed a leadoff single to Christian Yelich. He walked William Contreras. Then he retired the next 18 batters in order as the Dodgers cruised to a 6-2 victory before an announced crowd of 46,050 at Dodger Stadium.
A five-run sixth inning allowed the Dodgers (72-46) to pull away for their ninth win in a row, and their 14th in their last 15 games. Milwaukee (65-55) saw its four-game winning streak end in the first of three games between the leaders of the NL West and NL Central divisions.
Miller (7-2) allowed one run, one hit and one walk in six innings. He struck out four batters, and lowered his ERA to 3.70. Although he insisted it was not his finest combination of command and pure stuff this season, the results begged to differ.
“I thought the slider was not as good as it normally is,” Miller said. “There were a lot of really good takes with the slider; I’d have to go back and look at some of them. The changeup came into play later in the game. The changeup command wasn’t as good at the beginning of the game. When the changeup’s there, it helps a lot of my other stuff, instead of just fastballs and breaking balls. I need my changeup in there as well.”
Miller is still flashing the tools that got him here. His four-seam fastball touched 101 mph, and his sinker yielded only weak contact against the Brewers. Of the 134 triple-digit pitches the Dodgers have thrown this season, Miller is responsible for 116 of them.
When the Brewers did hit the ball hard, the Dodgers were ready. Center fielder James Outman preserved Miller’s streak of 18 consecutive outs by making a diving catch in center field in the sixth inning.
“He reminds me a lot of Walker (Buehler) on the mound,” Dodgers utility player Kiké Hernandez said. “He’s got great makeup on the mound, a great attitude, power arm with really good offspeed pitches. Sometimes there’s outings like (Tuesday) where you can’t really tell how young he is.”
If Miller can replicate his methodical dismantling of a veteran Milwaukee lineup, the Dodgers will have a difficult decision come October. Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías and Lance Lynn all have postseason experience. So does Buehler, who is vying to join the rotation in September if his recovery from elbow surgery continues unabated.
While he spoke often about focusing on the present, Miller is becoming a realistic candidate to start a postseason game.
“If I’m just commanding the ball I think I can be a ‘count-on’ guy,” he said. “I’m trying to prove to myself that I can be a ‘count-on’ guy, the guy I want to be. I’m just going out there and competing every day, keeping the head down, keep the tunnel vision, and just keep commanding the baseball.”
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough pitched three innings in relief of Miller, allowing only a solo home run by Carlos Santana to earn his first career save.
After struggling for four innings against Brewers starter Adrian Houser (4-4), the Dodgers tied the score at 1-1 in the fifth when David Peralta scored on a Miguel Rojas groundout.
In the sixth inning, the Dodgers chased Houser with a long rally. Will Smith reached on an error. Max Muncy singled. J.D. Martinez, making his first start at designated hitter since Aug. 6, hit a double to score Smith with the go-ahead run.
Left-hander Hoby Milner replaced the right-handed Houser, and the Dodgers deployed their customary substitutions. Hernandez, a right-handed hitter, pinch hit for the left-handed Peralta and delivered a pinch-hit single. Muncy and Martinez scored to put the Dodgers ahead 4-1.
Back-to-back singles by Rojas and Mookie Betts scored Hernandez and James Outman to complete the rally.
By then, Miller’s rocky start felt like a distant memory.
“It seemed like after that, he just reset,” said Roberts, whose team is a season-best 26 games over .500 and has its longest winning streak since taking 12 in a row from July 31-Aug. 13 last year. “I’m really proud and impressed by the way he’s managing major league lineups right now.”
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