San Diego Padres star closer Mason Miller has gotten off to a bonkers start this season, and he is drawing Cy Young consideration.
Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes both entered the 2026 MLB season as potential options to repeat as Cy Young winners.
And, both pitchers have gotten off to strong starts. However, San Diego Padres superstar closer Mason Miller just might be entering the conversation, which is almost unheard of for a reliever.
Miller, entering Thursday's game, is putting up legitimate video game numbers. Millerhas pitched in 11 games, thrown 11.1 innings, has eight saves, two walks, two hits and 27 strikeouts.
Yes, 27 strikeouts in 11.1 innings, and Miller has has a 0.35 WHIP with a 0.00 ERA entering Thursday.
It's still very early, but Miller has been drawing some buzz for the Cy Young consideration, and one came from ESPN's David Schoenfield.
"71.1%. That's Mason Miller's strikeout rate. Is it too early to start thinking of a reliever as a potential Cy Young winner? It hasn't happened since Eric Gagne in 2003, but in Miller's case it's not out of the realm of possibility. It's only 11 appearances and 11⅓ innings, but Miller is in the midst of one of the most unhittable stretches we've seen."
Miller finished 2025 with 21⅓ scoreless innings, and he shared closer duties with Robert Suarez, who left and signed with the Atlanta Braves in the offseason.
So, it's not really a fluke, but shows how dangerous Miller is on the mound.
MLB insider Jon Heyman also spoke highly of Miller recently.
"Right now, there is no doubt Mason Miller is the best closer in the game and he is a Cy Young candidate," Heyman said. "It's not easy to win a Cy Young from the bullpen."
In 2003, Los Angeles Dodgers star Eric Gagne won the Cy Young, becoming the most recent closer to win the award.
Gagne converted every single one of his 55 save opportunities, and had a 1.20 ERA with 137 Strikeouts in 82.1 innings pitched.
On the other hand, Ken Rosenthal thinks a reliever will never win the Cy Young award again.
In total, nine relievers have won the Cy Young in history, but Miller, at least as of right now, is well on his way to be in the conversation.
Right now, Miller is dominating every single time he takes the mound, and if he even finishes anywhere close to what he has done since coming to San Diego, it's going to be very hard to argue against him as a Cy Young candidate.