{"id":672699,"date":"2026-04-10T19:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672699\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T19:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:59:12","slug":"is-padres-mason-miller-a-cy-young-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/672699\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Padres’ Mason Miller a Cy Young Candidate?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Mason\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Understanding that it\u2019s still very early in the season doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s too early to start talking about who has a real chance at some of the top MLB<\/a> awards.<\/p>\n

After Thursday\u2019s stellar outing against the Colorado Rockies<\/a>, San Diego Padres<\/a>\u2018 reliever\/closer Mason Miller has some very impressive numbers to start the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

MLB.com writer AJ Cassavell wrote<\/a> after the Padres\u2019 7-3 win on Thursday: \u201cWith his scoreless ninth inning, Miller extended his overall scoreless streak to 27 2\/3 innings, dating back to last August. It\u2019s the longest active streak in baseball and six shy of Cla Meredith\u2019s franchise record.\u201d<\/p>\n

More MLB on Heavy: Blue Jays<\/a> Trade Idea Lands Twins\u2019 All-Star Starter for Ernie Clement, and Two Prospects<\/a><\/p>\n

Is Mason Miller A Real Cy Young Candidate?\u00a0
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

GettySAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA \u2013 MARCH 28: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Detroit Tigers<\/a> during the ninth inning at Petco Park on March 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Mason Miller\u2019s stats to start the 2026 season? Six appearances, FOUR saves, 0.00 ERA, 6.1 innings pitched, 16 strikeouts!!<\/a> That\u2019s 2.6 K\u2019s\/inning. I think that\u2019s good.<\/p>\n

For a broader scope on how good Miller has been since joining the Padres, the 27-year-old has a 0.61 ERA over 29.2 innings, six saves, and 61 strikeouts since being dealt over for a massive trade haul.<\/p>\n

TWSN\u2019s sports writer Michael O\u2019Hara<\/a> believes that Miller is a clear-cut Cy Young candidate:<\/p>\n

\u201cMason Miller is in the infancy of his fourth MLB season, and thus far, he\u2019s been untouchable. In my eyes, he has a real case to become the first reliever since Gagn\u00e9 to win the Cy Young.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eric Gagn\u00e9 is the last MLB reliever to win a Cy Young award (2003). Here were his stats from that season with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a>:<\/p>\n

77 games, 55 saves, 82.1 innings, 137 strikeouts, 1.20 ERA 0.692 WHIP, 337 ERA+<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a real chance that Miller can at least match some of those numbers, if not post better ones. It\u2019s a clear starting pitcher award, but with a pitcher as dominant as Miller controlling every batter he faces, he could gain some real traction as the season progresses. Again, very early sample size, but Miller\u2019s WHIP this season is 0.316 as he\u2019s walked just one batter and surrendered just one hit.<\/p>\n

More MLB on Heavy: Yankees-White Sox Wild Mock Trade Idea Lands $34 Million Japanese Slugger in New York for Spencer Jones<\/a><\/p>\n

More on Mason Miller<\/p>\n

Mason Miller started his MLB career with the Athletics, but likely out of fear that they would not be able to extend him long term (which is bizarre if that was the reason), they traded him to the Padres after two and a half seasons.<\/p>\n

Over 166.1 innings and 131 total appearances out of the bullpen, Miller has an ERA of 2.71 and 262 career strikeouts.<\/p>\n

He was drafted in the third round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Gardner-Webb University, and unsurprisingly, he swiftly made his way through the Athletics minor league system.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the best aspect of Mason Miller (for the Padres) is the fact that he\u2019s under team control for another three full seasons. However, if San Diego were smart, they\u2019d go ahead and lock him up to a long-term extension, because not only has he earned it, but he should become the highest-paid reliever in MLB history.<\/p>\n

More MLB on Heavy: Dodgers\u2019 Kyle Tucker Reveals Why He Signed with LA Over the Blue Jays<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on MLB\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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