Mason Miller’s flawless start puts Eric Gagne’s legendary "perfect season" within reach. To join the exclusive 50-save club, San Diego must now provide their flamethrower enough opportunities.
The second half of the 2026 season gets underway tonight for the San Diego Padres, and the next couple of weeks will be massively important as to where this team is at the conclusion of the 162-game regular season.
Just a few games out of a postseason spot despite the injury bug and one of the bottom offenses in the league, the Padres have a chance to turn things around just in time to set themselves up for a huge trade deadline at the start of August.
Through all the troubles and inconsistencies that have come from the Padres this season, closing pitcher Mason Miller has been the most sure-fire thing you can get in the baseball world. His 25 saves in as many opportunities tell the story at first glance, making it no surprise that Bleacher Report’s second-half prediction involves Miller making history.
Only one closer in MLB history has at least 50 saves in a single season with zero saves blown – Eric Gagne in 2003. That feat earned Gagne National League Cy Young honors as he went 55-for-55 in save opportunities on the year.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter predicts a new arm to join that exclusive club, and he wears No. 22 for the Padres. Miller has been perfect through his first 25 save opportunities, posting a 0.91 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in the process. His 72 strikeouts in 39 ⅔ innings demonstrate how dominant the flamethrower is every time he graces the mound.
If you somehow have any doubt about Miller’s dominance, take one look at his Baseball Savant page. He ranks in the 100th percentile in whiff percentage, strikeout percentage, fastball velocity, and multiple other categories. To put it into layman’s terms, if Miller comes on for a save, you may as well turn off the TV because the game’s already been decided.
As impossible as the perfect 50-for-50 season seems, Miller is a perfect candidate to join Gagne in the club. There is one problem, though – will he have enough opportunities?
San Diego has played 96 of their 162 games in 2026, and Miller’s only gotten 25 save opportunities in that span. He’s halfway to making history, but the Padres have less than half of their games left to play.
Ideally, the second half of the campaign will bring many more wins and therefore save opportunities for the Padres as key players return from injury – and the trade deadline should boost their chances in the postseason race as well.
How the rest of the season unfolds may be unknown for the Padres, but there is no uncertainty surrounding Miller. If his team gives him the chance, he very well could force himself into history books by the season’s end. All he needs is a chance.
