Athletics' Mason Miller: Shows off blistering fastball
Rotowire
Miller threw 11 fastballs over 100 mph Tuesday against the Rangers in his second appearance of the spring, MLB's David Adler reports.
Miller's first fastball of the outing -- clocked at 98.8 mph -- was hit for a home run off the bat of Josh Smith. After that, Miller ramped up the velocity, consistently hitting triple digits and topping out at 102.9 mph. Miller solidified himself in the ninth-inning role for the A's with a breakout in 2024 when he racked up 28 saves and 104 strikeouts in 55 appearances, and he is being drafted as a top-five closer in many leagues this spring.
Athletics general manager David Forst said this week that the team isn't considering moving Miller back into a starting role, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
When the Athletics announced last offseason that Miller would be used as a reliever, they didn't rule out the right-hander eventually returning to the rotation. However, it appears that ship has now sailed and Miller's future is in the bullpen. He was one of the best closers in baseball in 2024, posting a 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 104:21 K:BB over 65 innings. Given his past health issues, it's not a surprise that the team has opted to leave Miller in a role in which he's proven he can stay heathy and effective.
Athletics' Mason Miller: Falters in ninth Saturday
Rotowire
Miller was charged with his third blown save of the season in an extra-inning loss to the Mariners on Saturday, allowing two earned runs on two hits over one inning. He struck out three.
Miller surrendered a game-tying, two-run home run to Luke Raley in the bottom of the ninth inning. The blown save was the right-hander's first since June 14, and the pair of earned runs snapped a four-appearance scoreless streak. Despite the stumble, Miller heads into the final day of the 2024 campaign basking in a breakout season that's seen him accrue 28 saves alongside a 2-2 record, 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and elite 14.4 K/9 across 65 innings (55 appearances).
Miller picked up the save Thursday against Texas, striking out two across 1.1 perfect innings.
Miller shut the door on the Rangers in the Athletics' final game at Oakland Coliseum, retiring four straight batters to earn his 28th save of the year. The 25-year-old has been one of the few bright spots for Oakland this season and has established himself as one of the best young arms in baseball. In 64 innings, Miller has logged a 2.25 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP with a 101:21 K:BB.
Miller (2-2) got the win over the Rangers on Tuesday after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
Miller entered with the game tied, hoping to keep it that way to give his team a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame. He allowed back-to-back one-out singles but rebounded with a strikeout and fly out to get out of the jam. The A's would end up walking it off to give Miller the win. The right-hander has allowed a baserunner in each of his last five appearances but has still managed to lock up four saves and a win since Sept. 11. For the year, Miller owns a 2.30 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 99:21 K:BB in 62.2 innings.
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