San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen provided insights into his decision to keep closer Mason Miller in the game during Sunday’s match, despite Miller’s challenging ninth inning. In the National League Division Series (NLDS) Game 2 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Miller initially performed remarkably well in the eighth inning, swiftly dispatching opponents.
However, returning to the mound for the ninth, he encountered difficulties, loading the bases with two outs. Despite this trouble, Stammen opted to maintain Miller in play against Jackson Chourio. Chourio subsequently delivered a center-field single, enabling two runs and securing a 2-0 series advantage for the Brewers heading to San Diego.
“Going into the game, we were thinking of Mason for six outs anyway,” Stammen commented post-game. “Given his quick work in the eighth inning, it was more about his battle with the strike zone by the end.”
This season, Miller was outstanding, achieving a 1.67 ERA over 70 innings with 129 strikeouts. He led the National League with 38 saves in 41 attempts, though he hadn’t achieved a six-out save since his 2024 stint with the Athletics.
The Impact of the Loss on the Padres
Sunday’s loss presents a significant challenge for the Padres, as they now require three consecutive wins to progress to the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Compounding their challenge, top starter Michael King is unlikely to participate in the next two games as he recuperates from his Game 2 start.
Despite these hurdles, the Padres previously excelled against the Brewers at their home ground, sweeping a three-game series in the season’s latter half. Their focus remains on extending the series to five games, provided they perform at their peak.
The immediate concern is Game 3, where the team seeks to initiate a comeback. The Padres will rely on Nick Pivetta as they face off at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
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