ATLANTA -- Maybe a trip back to Turner Field will help Shelby Miller get his 2016 season turned around. At this point, it certainly can't hurt.
Miller, who starts for the D-backs on Saturday, pitched for the Braves in 2015, so there is a comfort factor in returning.
"I always enjoyed throwing here," Miller said. "It's a fun city to play in. When the fans pack it, it's one of the best places to play in baseball. Everything was just kind of clicking a little better for me last year at this point than it is this year. So hopefully I can come back [Saturday] and get things back on track for sure and get a good start under my belt."
The D-backs paid a high price to acquire Miller from the Braves this past offseason and were counting on him to be their No. 2 starter behind Zack Greinke. But in six starts he has an 8.49 ERA.
Part of Miller's issues seem to be mechanical as he has talked about not "standing tall" through his delivery. When he does not stand tall, he tends to fall off to his left and his hand actually banged on the mound a couple of times during a start in San Diego earlier this year as a result.
"What I felt like I've been doing is maybe rushing through my mechanics a little bit," Miller said. "What I'm trying to do [Saturday] is kind of go out, slow things down and just kind of control the pace of the game and not rush anything or overthink on what I'm doing wrong mechanically."