The M’s got shut out 6-0 by the Phillies on Wednesday, a tough one at T-Mobile Park, but something happened that night with Bryce Miller that has all of us Emerald City faithful wondering what the heck is going on with our rotation. Sharp-eyed viewers caught a glimpse of Miller heading out to the bullpen with Muñoz late in the game, and trust me, that got my buddy group chat blowing up.
The Bullpen Call-Up That Almost Was: “They Just Said That Woo Is Coming Off Injury”
So, what was the deal? The explanation given was that our bullpen was stretched thin, and it was Miller’s scheduled day for a side session. Instead of him throwing pregame and being totally unavailable, they pushed his bullpen work to postgame. That way, he’d be an emergency option if needed. This decision went down pregame, Miller confirmed, even before Woo got rocked through his first two innings, forcing a shortened outing.
“They just said that Woo is coming off injury and the bullpen’s thin,” Miller told reporters postgame. “So if Woo comes out of the game early, it’d be better to throw the bullpen afterwards, and that way I’m available rather than to throw a bullpen before the game and then be for sure unavailable.” Miller admitted he was initially a bit confused because Woo had told him he felt fine. Woo himself doubled down postgame, blaming his six runs over four innings on “too much throwing, not enough pitching.” But Miller figures, “I think it’s more of a precautionary thing in case something happens.”
“You Always Think Ahead”: Miller’s Role and the Lingering Question
Thankfully, our bullpen stepped up big after Woo’s rough start. Eduard Bazardo, Jose Ferrer, and Gabe Speier handled three innings without a hitch, especially with Philly loading up on lefties. Then Carlos Vargas, who’s been working his way back after missing the entire season with a lat injury, came in and pitched two solid scoreless innings to close it out. That meant Miller’s emergency assistance wasn’t needed, and he threw his regularly scheduled bullpen *after* the game, before the team bounced for Toronto.
So, the immediate crisis was averted, and any wild speculation about Miller moving to the bullpen full-time got delayed. Miller was ready to go, though. “If something would have happened and I would have needed to get us through today, then that’s fine. I do what I need to. I feel good today, so yeah.” But let’s be real, he’s not exactly thrilled about it. He did relieve in college, and even saw postseason action last year, but it’s been five or six years since he did it regularly. Our guys in the front office haven’t committed to sticking with a six-man rotation, going back to the piggyback, or outright moving a starter to the bullpen or IL. But seeing Miller in the ‘pen, even as a precaution, definitely makes you think. “You always think ahead and try to figure out what’s going on,” he said, and you know he’s thinking about his spot.
The M’s are off to Toronto next, and you bet every single one of us is gonna be watching closely to see how the pitching staff shakes out. Is this just a one-off emergency, or the first real hint of a bigger change for Bryce Miller and the rotation?
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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