Workload management has remained a primary consideration for the San Diego Padres when deploying ace closer Mason Miller. The club has walked a fine line with their All-Star right-hander throughout the season.
Miller Embraces High-Leverage September Role
“It’s meaningful baseball in September, that’s all you ask for as a baseball player,” Miller said. “Regardless of what is happening and how we got here, this is the situation we’re in.”
With the Padres pushing for a postseason berth, the possibility of a fully unleashed Miller—one who regularly exceeds his standard one-inning save role or appears on consecutive days for the game’s most critical outs—has moved from hypothetical to reality. Recent usage patterns strongly suggest the coaching staff is leaning on their elite reliever at an elevated rate as the games gain magnitude.
Increased Usage Signals Trust
Miller’s last three outings occurred within a four-day window. That stretch included a two-inning appearance against the New York Yankees last Friday, where he secured the win in the 10th inning after entering in the ninth—just the second time he has pitched two full frames this season. He also logged four appearances in five days from Aug. 21–25, marking the second such instance this year (previously June 5–9). Prior to 2024, Miller had never endured a stretch of that intensity in his career.
Dominant Statistics Underpin Heavy Reliance
The heightened trust is hardly surprising given Miller’s absurd level of dominance. His 1.17 ERA leads the Majors, and his astronomical 48.5% strikeout rate is the highest in baseball by a margin of over 10% (minimum 60 innings pitched). Additionally, his 34 saves rank second in the National League, trailing only the Cardinals’ Riley O’Brien (36).
Innings Milestone Looms as Health Priority
However, an equally critical factor weighs on the decision-making process. Miller is approaching a career high in innings pitched, sitting just 3 2/3 frames shy of matching the 65 innings he threw in 2024. While he has appeared in more games overall both this season and last—following his acquisition from the Athletics at the 2023 Trade Deadline—he has yet to surpass that innings threshold. His current workload trajectory suggests he could exceed that mark before the regular season concludes.
Miller Reflects on Workload Evolution
“You take different years and you learn different things,” Miller said. “Two years ago was my career high in innings, but I only threw in 55 games. Last year I threw fewer innings, but I felt like I was pitching more, so it’s a little bit of a different animal. This year I feel like I’ve been able to keep my body feeling really good the entire season. It’s allowed me to pitch four out of five days for the first time, three days in a row.”
Bullpen Depth Provides Safety Net
San Diego’s ultimate priority remains keeping Miller healthy, and increased workload is rarely the optimal path to that goal. Padres manager Craig Stammen has spoken extensively about the challenges of preserving his All-Star right-hander while maintaining his dominance throughout the grueling season. Stammen has navigated a similar tightrope with left-handed setup man Adrian Morejon, who has already surpassed his previous career-high innings total and appeared in three consecutive games earlier this week.
Possessing one of the league’s most formidable bullpens has made distributing the workload significantly easier. Entering Friday, San Diego’s relievers ranked third in MLB with 618 2/3 innings pitched and fourth with a 3.42 ERA. Alongside current options such as Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Wandy Peralta, and Kyle Hart, the Padres anticipate the return of rehabbing All-Star right-hander Jason Adam sometime over the final two weeks, further fortifying the group.
Miller on Bullpen’s Collective Mindset
“Sometimes it’s hard, you’re in a bullpen where guys are constantly getting the ball,” Miller said.
Given the team’s relief depth, the question arises: is it worth asking Miller to shoulder an even heavier burden during the pennant chase? Does it make strategic sense? Perhaps not. Yet, it is September, and the fundamental reality of this time of year is that teams need their best players on the field as much as physically possible. The rate at which the Padres have deployed Miller recently reflects that exact sentiment.
“We’ve kind of gotten here on the back of the bullpen, in a lot of ways,” Miller said. “It takes a complete team effort to win a game, but we’ve won a lot of close games, we feel comfortable playing in close games. I think we know more might be asked … but we’re prepared to go every night.”
