Since being traded from the Athletics to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline last season, right-hander Mason Miller has been lights out in the Padres’ bullpen. This season Miller hasn’t been the Padres’ best arm on their pitching staff, but one of the best arms in Major League Baseball.
San Diego Padres Mason Miller is putting together an impressive season
According to OptaSTATS, Miller has struck out 80 of his last 135 batters faced (regular season and postseason). In 9.1 innings pitched, the All-Star closer has not allowed an earned run and is tied for the lead in saves (six) with the Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Paul Sewald.
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Miller struck out all three Seattle Mariners hitters faced in the Padres 5-2 win on Thursday, while adding to his scoreless streak. The 27-year-old has 30.2 innings scoreless under his belt, which is three innings shy of right-hander Cla Meredith’s franchise record.
Including playoffs, Mason Miller has struck out:
20 of his last 23 batters
30 of last 38
40 of last 55
50 of last 70
60 of last 89
70 of last 109
80 of last 135
No other MLB pitcher in the last 50 years has matched any of those stretches at any point in his career (reg & post). pic.twitter.com/MzvWZ5GjWR
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) April 17, 2026
Miller passed Padres Hall of Famer Randy Jones (30.0 innings) for second in franchise history. Jones passed away in November at 75 and the Padres have been wearing a commemorative patch to honor him.
“We’re wearing his patch, his name is on the facade of the stadium up there, it’s just special that we’re recognizing his greatness, especially in the recency of his passing,” Miller said to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. “I’m just happy to honor him and have people talking about him.”
Though it is early, Miller’s impressive start could help his case in the National League Cy Young voting at the end of the year. Per Baseball Reference, the last reliever/closer to win a Cy Young Award was right-hander Eric Gagne in 2003 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The three-time All-Star went 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA and 55 saves and 137 strikeouts in 77 games (82.1 innings).
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