Padres Lose Closer Mason Miller to Paternity List Before Elimination Game
All-Star closer Mason Miller was placed on the postseason paternity list less than an hour before Game 3 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to www.newsweek.com.
The Brewers won the first two games in Milwaukee and can eliminate the Padres with a win at Petco Park.
Miller might have been available to manager Craig Stammen in a save situation in Game 3 — until he was taken off the roster.
The exact reason for the paternity list placement, such as the birth of a child, is not specified in the source.
This is the second time in four days the Padres have placed a pitcher on the paternity list before a game in this series.
A STRIKING COINCIDENCE
This is the second time in four days the Padres have placed a pitcher on the paternity list before a game in this series. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler was placed on the list immediately prior to Game 1 on Saturday.
Buehler wasn't scheduled to start that game in Milwaukee, so the move didn't cost the Padres. Miller's absence could, because he is the closer and might have been needed in a save situation.
Paternity list placements during the MLB Postseason are rare, yet one team has suddenly seen two in the span of four days. No further details on Buehler's or Miller's paternity situations are provided in the source.
MILLER'S NUMBERS AND GAME 2 PAIN
Miller, 28, went 5-2 with a 1.67 ERA and 38 saves in the regular season, anchoring the back end of a Padres bullpen that leaned on him in high-leverage spots. His absence Tuesday leaves a void that goes beyond raw numbers.
He was tasked with holding a 3-2 lead in Game 2 of the series Sunday in Milwaukee. After failing to score in the eighth inning, the Brewers loaded the bases against Miller in the ninth.
Jackson Chourio's two-run single scored two runs to give Milwaukee a 4-3 win — and a 2-0 lead in the series. Miller became the losing pitcher in that game, a bitter outcome for a closer who had been nearly untouchable all season.
The loss dropped the Padres into a do-or-die situation, and now they must try to stave off elimination without the man they trusted most with a lead in hand.
WHO CLOSES NOW?
Even without Miller, the Padres carry one of the deepest bullpens in baseball. But who gets the ball with the season on the line remains an open question.
It's unclear who manager Craig Stammen would use in a save situation in Game 3 — and possibly longer, if one emerges. The source does not specify a replacement closer, and no decision has been confirmed.
During Miller's absence, left-hander Wandy Peralta will be an active member of the Padres' roster. He projects as a likely option in high-leverage spots, though his role has not been announced.
Miller will be allowed to be away from the team for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. That window leaves the door open for a quick return — but only if San Diego survives Tuesday night.
Upon his return, Miller will take Peralta's place on the active roster, assuming the Padres are still alive in the series. That contingency makes Game 3's result doubly significant: a loss ends the season, while a win sets up a potential Miller comeback for a decisive Game 4.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The Padres' backs are against the wall at Petco Park, where the Brewers can eliminate San Diego with a win in Game 3. First pitch is the only deadline that matters right now.
Miller is allowed to be away from the team for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days, per www.newsweek.com. That means a return is possible as soon as Wednesday — but only if the Padres extend the series.
It is not confirmed when Miller will actually return; the source only gives the allowed range of one to three days. If San Diego stays alive, Miller would rejoin the active roster, replacing Wandy Peralta, the left-hander currently filling his spot.
Paternity list placements during the MLB postseason are rare, the source notes. One team has suddenly seen two in the span of four days, making Miller's absence a notable storyline even beyond its impact on the bullpen.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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