SAN DIEGO -- Padres closer Mason Miller was placed on the paternity list on Tuesday ahead of San Diego’s dramatic 4-3 victory in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against Milwaukee.
Left-hander Wandy Peralta took Miller’s place on the NLDS roster.
Miller’s wife, Jordan, went into labor on Tuesday afternoon, the Padres said. It’s possible Miller could return for Game 4 on Wednesday.
“That’s what we’re anticipating,” said pitching coach Ruben Niebla.
Miller is the lockdown closer at the back end of the San Diego bullpen, which has been one of the best in baseball this season. He’d posted a 1.67 ERA across 66 appearances during the regular season -- though he blew the save in Game 2 in Milwaukee on Sunday, allowing Jackson Chourio’s walk-off two-run single.
Without left-hander Adrian Morejon, who is battling shoulder fatigue, the Padres went to ace Michael King for the eighth and ninth innings in a dramatic conclusion to Game 3. King had thrown five innings in Game 2 on Sunday.
Right-hander Walker Buehler has been tabbed to start Game 4 on Wednesday night, though it’s unclear exactly how the Padres plan to follow him. That’s contingent on the availability of both Miller and Morejon.
Buehler himself only recently returned from the paternity list ahead of Game 3. Ty France also spent time on the paternity list in September.
“We're thinking about him,” France said of Miller. “I know it's a hard thing to balance, but he's doing the right thing.”
Miller alerted the Padres that his wife was going into labor at some point in the early afternoon on Tuesday. They had been preparing for that eventuality for the past few weeks. The timing wasn’t ideal, ahead of an elimination game. But Miller’s teammates were wholly supportive.
“We have his back,” said Fernando Tatis Jr. “He's been with us. He's been impressive. He's been all the good details that you can put out there. Let him have his family time right now."
Per the stipulations on the paternity list, Miller will be away from the team for one to three days. If he’s not back for Game 4 on Wednesday, that means he would rejoin the roster for a potential Game 5 on Friday.
The addition of Peralta gives the Padres bullpen another left-handed option. Morejon and Matsui were the only two lefty relief options, though Robbie Ray did get loose at one point in the bullpen in Game 3.
Per league rules, when or if Miller rejoins the Padres this series, it would need to be Peralta who gives way on the roster.