The Mariners will hand the ball to the third-year pitcher for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the Toronto Blue Jays
The Seattle Mariners will play in their first American League Championship Series in 24 years.
The Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in a 15-inning, Game 5 of an American League Divisional Series on Friday. The M's will face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series.
Seattle used three starting pitchers in the win-or-go-home contest. George Kirby started and went five innings, Logan Gilbert threw two innings and Luis Castillo closed out the game and pitched 1.1 innings.
With the trio of starters throwing on Friday, that left Bryce Miller as the only starting pitcher who had a proper rest going into the ALCS.
On the Mariners' off-day Saturday, the organization officially announced Miller would be the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the ALCS.
Miller has made one start this postseason. He struck out two and allowed two earned runs on four hits in five innings pitched in Game 4 of the ALDS on Oct. 8. The Tigers won the game 9-3.
There was speculation going into the playoffs Miller would pitch out of the bullpen for Seattle and the team would go with a rotation of Kirby, Gilbert, Castillo and Bryan Woo.
Woo has been out with right pectoral inflammation since Sept. 19, which led to Miller's start in the ALDS.
There was a recent report that the team expects Woo to be available in the ALCS, but no information whether he could pitch in Game 2 or Game 3.
Miller fought two bouts of right elbow inflammation this season due to a bone spur. Amid his two stints on the injured list, Miller made 18 starts. He posted a 5.58 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 90.1 innings pitched.
Miller set a career-high in strikeouts with 11 in a start against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 11.
The Mariners and Blue Jays have an off-day Saturday. They'll play Game 1 of the ALCS at 5:03 p.m. PT on Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Kevin Gausman will start for the Blue Jays against Miller.
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