Mason Miller continues to impress, picks up eighth-straight save

May 1, 2024, 8:56 AM

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Mason Miller #19 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Pitts...

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

If Oakland Athletics games feel eight innings long, it’s because of Mason Miller’s ninth-inning excellence.

Miller, the hard-throwing right-hander in the A’s bullpen, secured another three-strikeout save during Oakland’s 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old has been lights out as the Athletics closer this season, as his eight saves in eight opportunities place him in a tie for third on the MLB leaderboard.

Mason Miller in his last 8 games:
8⅓ innings pitched
only 1 hit allowed
only 1 walk
20 strikeouts
8 saves

Just completely ridiculous.pic.twitter.com/LACuX4HaVs

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 1, 2024

Mason Miller and fellow bullpen mate Lucas Erceg locked things down late against the Pirates, combining to strike out six batters without allowing a baserunner over two innings pitched.

“They’re both absolutely disgusting,” Oakland catcher Shea Langeliers said of Miller and Erceg. “It’s a great 1-2 punch. It’s a lot of fun to just be back there catching it. They’re special guys with electric stuff. When they’re running in out of the bullpen, it’s like, ‘We’re going to win this game.’

Miller, the 97th selection from the 2021 MLB Draft has been electric over eleven relief appearances this season, pitching to a 1.35 ERA while striking out an incredible 28 batters over 13.1 innings pitched (18.9 strikeouts per nine innings pitched). The righty has been a lock-down closer, securing all eight of his save chances thus far.

Erceg, a 29-year-old from San Jose, has burst onto the scene as an impact arm, pitching to a 1.42 ERA and striking out 17 batters over 12.2 innings pitched in 2024.

“Their stuff is just electric,” Athletics outfielder JJ Bleday said of Erceg and Miller following Tuesday’s win. “The fact that they throw 100 mph and over, then have a nasty secondary pitch, I’m just glad they’re on my team.”

Oakland (14-17) has been an early-season surprise thus far, as they have won five of their past six games entering play on Wednesday and sit just 3.5 games behind the American League West-leading Seattle Mariners.