Bryce Miller absolutely imploded in August, surrendering a combined 21 runs over just four starts, and the Mariners didn’t win a single one of them. Talk about a brutal stretch for a guy we all thought was going to be an All-Star just last year, huh?
The Wheels Came Off in August
Look, we all know Miller’s talent. After the 2024 season, I was yelling from the rooftops about him being my preseason pick for an All-Star nod and even some downballot Cy Young votes. Clearly, that didn’t happen. His 2025 was cursed with a nagging elbow issue that sidelined him from May until late August. Then, this year, an oblique strain kept him out at the start of the season. But August? That month was consistently terrible. We’re talking 21 runs over four starts! The Emerald City watched as the M’s didn’t win a single one of those games, including those nightmare losses: a 22-0 shutout at the Brewers and a 19-2 drubbing against the Cubs. It’s tough to watch, especially for one of my favorite M’s.
Job on the Line, Identity at Stake
It’s not just the ugly stats, though. This is a guy fighting for his whole career. The Mariners have tried to shift Miller to the bullpen twice already. First, they put him in a piggyback role with Luis Castillo. Then, after Kade Anderson got called up, they tried to move him to the ‘pen again. Neither of those moves stuck, though. Castillo got shipped off at the trade deadline, and then Emerson Hancock’s adductor strain threw a wrench in the plans before Miller even made a single relief appearance. He’s staring down the barrel of losing his starting rotation spot, the only role he’s ever known since we drafted him five years ago. Imagine trying to make adjustments on the fly at the highest level while battling for your job, your identity.
The Search for Solutions in His Arsenal
Part of this struggle might be Miller trying too hard to fix things. He’s always been vulnerable to left-handed hitters. Even in his best season, 2024, lefties were slugging a good .389 against him. So, what did he do? He added a splitter and a cutter to his arsenal specifically to fight back against those lefties. The splitter has actually become a major part of his game, his second most-used pitch, effective against everyone. But that cutter? He’s using it more to grab early strikes, especially against lefties. The problem is, that cutter comes with huge risk. It’s got his highest whiff rate this season, over 35%, but the article mentions it comes “at a cost.” What’s that cost? Too many big hits, maybe? It feels like he might be wandering away from what made him “him” in the first place.
So, where do we go from here, Emerald City? Miller’s season is clearly off the rails right now. He needs to find that “best self” he might have wandered away from, and fast. His spot in the rotation is anything but secure. We’re all rooting for him to figure it out because when Bryce Miller is on, he’s electric. Let’s hope he can turn this around before it’s too late for his spot with our M’s.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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