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Miller Rejoins Roster Following Birth of Son
Mason Miller has returned to the San Diego Padres’ bullpen for Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers after missing one playoff game on the paternity list. According to FOXSports, Miller was placed back on the roster for the series-clinching contest and joined his teammates for warmups on the field three hours before first pitch.
Miller stated that his wife, Jordan, gave birth to their son Tuesday night during the Padres' Game 3 victory over Milwaukee. The timing of the birth coincided with the third game of the best-of-five series at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Manager Craig Stammen said Miller was ruled out of Game 3 due to shoulder discomfort about 45 minutes before the first pitch. Despite being sidelined for the start of the game, Miller remained involved with his family during the contest.
Miller declined an offer to watch television in the delivery room, saying, "Adrenaline was going pretty hard," according to reports. He learned of the Padres' 4-3 victory after settling his family following the birth.
Stammen commented on Miller's perspective shift regarding the balance between professional obligations and personal milestones. "There’s always health implications that go with it, and the No. 1 thing is you want a healthy baby and you want Mom and Dad to enjoy it," Stammen said.
Padres Bullpen Options for Game 4
The Padres are evaluating their bullpen options ahead of Game 4 as they look to close out the series. Miller, who recorded 38 saves in 41 opportunities with a 0.90 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 70 innings during his first full season with the team, is now available for relief duties. His performance during the regular season helped the Padres win 91 games and earn the National League's first wild card spot.
The Padres are also evaluating reliever Morejon for Game 4 after he developed "stickiness" in his shoulder earlier in the series. Stammen noted that Morejon was feeling better postgame and expressed hope that he would be available to pitch.
Additionally, Stammen claimed that Tyler King is also available to pitch in Game 4, despite having thrown 14 innings with two starts in the first five playoff games. The manager indicated that multiple arms are being considered for the final game of the division series.
Miller’s return comes after a mixed performance in the series. He blew a save attempt in Game 2 of the NLDS in Milwaukee, allowing a two-run single on his 40th pitch. Both teams dismissed speculation that he had been tipping pitches during the outing.
Prior to the division series, Miller earned the save in San Diego's clinching victory over the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series. The Padres will look to secure their series victory in Game 4 with Miller back in the bullpen, joining a staff that has navigated various health concerns throughout the postseason run.
