Photo via Yahoo Sports

Padres lose Mason Miller at worst possible time before NLDS elimination game

The San Diego Padres' postseason hopes took a major blow as closer Mason Miller was placed on MLB’s Postseason Paternity List ahead of Tuesday’s elimination game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Miller, who had dominated in the regular season with a 1.67 ERA and 38 saves, was set to close Game 3 but will miss at least one day, leaving the Padres scrambling to protect a late lead without their most reliable arm.

His absence follows a shaky outing in Game 2, where he walked three batters before Jackson Chourio’s walk-off single sealed a 4-3 Brewers win. Left-hander Wandy Peralta will replace Miller on the roster, with the Padres hoping to avoid elimination in a high-stakes matchup at Petco Park.

Miller’s impact extends beyond statistics: last October, he struck out the first eight batters he faced in the playoffs, including a 104.5-mph fastball—the fastest ever tracked in postseason history. Now, with the Brewers leading the series 2-0, the Padres must rely on Nick Pivetta and other relievers to hold off elimination without their ace closer.

The loss of Miller’s firepower adds pressure to a bullpen already stretched thin after back-to-back defeats in Milwaukee.

Up nextMLB· 1h ago

Shaikin: Yoshinobu Yamamoto's playoff dominance impresses everyone, especially Tarik Skubal