Superstar closer Mason Miller is set to rejoin the San Diego Padres bullpen for Game 4 of the NLDS following his brief paternity leave.
The San Diego Padres are bracing for a high-stakes Game 4 with their defensive anchor back in the fold. Manager Craig Stammen confirmed on Wednesday that superstar closer Mason Miller is expected to return to the active roster in time for the pivotal matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Miller’s absence, required for the birth of his child, forced the team to make a tactical adjustment. Left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta stepped into the vacancy on the National League Division Series roster for Game 3 on Tuesday. Under league rules. the paternity list mandated a minimum one-day absence and a maximum of three. a window Miller will close as he resumes his role. reclaiming the spot currently held by Peralta.
In Miller’s absence. the bullpen leaned on ace Michael King. who delivered two shutout innings to secure a 4-3 victory that kept San Diego’s season alive. The team confirmed that both Miller and Adrian Morejon. who had been held out for rest. are expected to be available for the 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT first pitch.
This postseason return comes after a season that established Miller as an elite closer. Over 70 innings, he posted a 0.90 WHIP and recorded 129 strikeouts, successfully converting 38 of 41 save opportunities. His arm. capable of hitting 104 m.p.h. remains the Padres’ most formidable weapon. yet the series has already tested his limits.
Last Sunday, during a 4-3 loss in Milwaukee that put San Diego in an 0-2 series hole, Miller faltered in the ninth. While attempting a two-inning save, he issued three walks before Jackson Chourio struck a two-out, two-strike, two-RBI single on Miller’s 40th pitch of the night.
The path to a comeback hinges on the bullpen’s ability to stabilize. With the series momentum shifting after Tuesday’s win, the return of a rested Miller offers the Padres the late-game security they need to force a decisive fifth game.
Mason Miller San Diego Padres NLDS MLB playoffs Craig Stammen Wandy Peralta Michael King Milwaukee Brewers