Padres Closer Mason Miller Activated From Paternity List Ahead of Game 4
The San Diego Padres activated closer Mason Miller from the paternity list ahead of Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Miller missed Tuesday’s Game 3 while his wife, Jordan, gave birth to their first child, a boy named Lincoln, in San Diego.
The Padres dropped the first two games of the best-of-five series in Milwaukee but kept their season alive with a 4-3 victory in Game 3. With Miller unavailable for Tuesday’s contest, manager Craig Stammen turned to starting pitcher Michael King to close out the final two innings for an epic six-out save. Left-hander Wandy Peralta was added to the roster when Miller went on the paternity list and was removed Wednesday to clear room for the closer’s return.
Birth of First Child Keeps Closer Out of Elimination Battle
Miller spent all of Tuesday at the hospital as his wife underwent natural childbirth. Lincoln arrived slightly ahead of his expected October 15 due date. Miller admitted to reporters that he did not even check the score of Game 3 until he and his wife were preparing for sleep, when a midwife delivering the news revealed that the Padres had won.
“Mason got a hold of us early afternoon, right when he would probably come to the ballpark,” Stammen told reporters, according to CNN. Miller expressed relief over the timing and the outcome. “All the aches and pains of the season, they kind of look like not a whole lot right now after seeing what Jordan went through,” Miller told USA Today.
Rotation Adjustments and Bullpen Usage for Must-Win Game
San Diego enters Wednesday night facing elimination down 2-1 in the series. Right-hander Walker Buehler gets the start for the Padres, marking his first appearance of the postseason, opposed by Robert Gasser of the Brewers, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Stammen stated that Michael King will be available to pitch again on Wednesday if needed, despite throwing two scoreless frames on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the status of setup man Adrián Morejón remains uncertain. Morejón was unavailable in Game 3 due to shoulder stiffness, though he played catch and threw off the mound on Tuesday. Stammen expressed hope that Morejón would be active for Game 4 as the Padres exhaust every available arm to force a decisive Game 5.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Padres Roster Moves
Who replaced Mason Miller on the Padres roster during Game 3?
Left-hander Wandy Peralta replaced Miller on the active roster while the closer was on the paternity list. Peralta was subsequently removed from the roster on Wednesday afternoon to accommodate Miller’s activation.
Who will start Game 4 for San Diego?
Right-hander Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Padres in Wednesday’s elimination game. It is his first appearance of the 2026 postseason.
What caused Adrián Morejón to miss Game 3?
Manager Craig Stammen revealed that Morejón was sidelined due to stickiness and fatigue in his shoulder. The team exercised caution with the left-hander, who posted a 2.83 ERA across 86 innings during the regular season.
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