Padres star closer Mason Miller just landed on the postseason paternity list, and it happened just 45 minutes before first pitch of Game 3 of the NL Division Series. Seriously, his team is facing elimination, and now they are without one of the best closers in the game for at least one night. Talk about a brutal blow.
Miller’s Monster Season Hits a Roadblock
This isn’t just any closer we’re talking about, either. Miller has been an absolute beast for the Padres all season long. The guy’s fastball regularly torches the radar gun at 104 mph, and he converted a ridiculous 38 of 41 save opportunities. He wasn’t just getting the job done, he was dominating, going 5-2 with a nasty 0.90 WHIP and punching out 129 batters in only 70 innings pitched. That’s a lights-out performance you count on when the season is on the line.
The Game 2 Meltdown and What’s Next
But here’s the kicker: Miller actually blew the save in Game 2 against the Brewers in Milwaukee last Sunday, putting San Diego in an 0-2 hole in this best-of-five series. He was trying to get a two-inning save, but he lost control, issuing three walks before Jackson Chourio delivered a two-out, two-strike, two-RBI single to snatch the win on Miller’s 40th pitch. That’s a tough pill to swallow for any closer, let alone one facing such high stakes. Now, with Miller out, Wandy Peralta is taking his spot on the 26-man playoff roster. Peralta posted a 3.61 ERA during the regular season as a solid middle reliever, but he was left off the initial NLDS roster. This isn’t the first time the Padres have dealt with this in the series either; Walker Buehler also missed the first two games in Milwaukee while on the paternity list. Buehler, who once recorded the final outs of the 2024 World Series for the Dodgers, returned to the Padres on Monday, but his replacement Randy Vasquez didn’t even pitch while the team lost both games.
So, here we go. The Padres are fighting for their lives in Game 3, down 0-2 and now missing their flamethrowing closer. It’s win or go home, and they’ll have to do it without that 104 mph heat from Miller on the mound. You’ve gotta wonder how they’ll rally after this kind of gut punch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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