The San Diego Padres are staring down elimination, currently trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 and just one game away from their season ending. To make things even wilder, their closer, Mason Miller, won’t even be on the mound for Tuesday night’s do-or-die Game 3.
Padres Facing Elimination Without Their Closer
This is a tough blow for San Diego. MLB officially signed off on a roster change for the Padres because Miller has been placed on the postseason paternity list. That means he’s absolutely unavailable for what could be the team’s final game of the year. Talk about a curveball right when you need your top arms the most! They’ve already brought in Wandy Peralta to take his spot on the roster, so he’ll be ready to go. You just know everyone’s thinking about what might have been if Miller could have shut the door in a crucial spot tonight.
The Wild Paternity Rule That Could Be a Lifeline
Here’s where it gets interesting, and honestly, a little surprising. Normally, if a player gets replaced on a postseason roster during a series, they’re out for that series and, if the team somehow advances, the entire next series too. Brutal, right? But the paternity list has its own set of rules, and they’re way more forgiving. Miller only has to miss a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. The best part for Padres fans? When he returns, Miller can straight-up replace Peralta without being forced to sit out *another* series. So, if San Diego pulls off a miracle comeback against Milwaukee, their closer could be back in action almost immediately. It’s a special exception that could turn into a huge advantage if they can just survive Game 3.
Tonight is everything for the Padres. It’s win or go home, plain and simple. Even without Miller for this crucial game, if they find a way to stay alive, knowing he could return without penalty in future series has to be a small spark of hope for them.
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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