The San Diego Padres made Mason Miller their new closer this offseason, and last night Miller gave a preview in the WBC.
Both the San Diego Padres and their fans have been wondering what the bullpen would look like with Mason Miller as the team’s new closer, and yesterday they got sneak preview courtesy of the WBC, as Miller pitched the ninth inning against Team Canada in a quarterfinals game won by Team USA, 5-3.
This was no cupcake save, either. The game took place in front of over 38,000 fans at Daikin Park in Houston, and it was a nail-biter as Team USA struggled to hang on to a 5-0 lead. The supposedly dominant American staff allowed Canada to climb back in the game in the sixth and seventh innings, with a home run by Canadian catcher Bo Naylor making it 5-3.
Reliever David Bednar struggled in the seventh, allowing Canada to get two runners in scoring position, but when Bednar survived to post a scoreless frame, it was Garrett Whitlock’s turn to set up Miller, who struck out the side in the ninth on 18 pitches, 13 of them strikes.
The pressure-packed save had to present some nervous moments for manager Craig Stammen and GM A.J. Preller, who would probably rather see Miller back in Peoria prepping for the regular season with the Padres. But Miller also put in a lot of work in the offseason to get ready for moments like last night, and he was part of a wave of interest among MLB players in joining different WBC teams that wasn’t going to be denied.
Expect the pressure to ramp up going forward. Team USA plays the Dominican Republic in the most anticipated games of the tournament on Sunday night, especially given that the starter for the US will be Paul Skenes, who will face a power-packed Dominican lineup that’s been called the “best ever.”
This game also includes some interesting possibilities for the Padres. Imagine Miller trying to close out Sunday night’s game and having to face a murderer’s row that includes Padres stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and/or Manny Machado. The possibility isn’t all that far fetched, and it’s one of many possible storylines that could make this game riveting baseball theater.
What Miller will come home to is another matter entirely, however. The Padres planned rotation almost doesn’t exist right now, with Nick Pivetta shut down due to “arm fatigue,” Joe Musgrove in “a holding pattern” after his last start, and Michael King getting blasted for home runs on three consecutive pitches against the Athletics yesterday.
Which make it even more important to enjoy Miller’s next WBC appearance to the hilt, assuming it’s in the role of closer again.