MLB Insider drops attention-grabbing MVP take for Padres’ Mason Miller

Despite facing some trouble versus the Seattle Mariners on Friday night, San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller recorded his MLB leading 14th save after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out four batters for the second time in his last three outings. The Chicago Cubs remain the only team to blemish his otherwise perfect ERA. The right-handed flamethrower is fully living up to the “Reaper” nickname.

An astonishing statistic perfectly accentuates his brilliance.

San Diego ranks first in MLB with a sensational 0.50 ninth-inning ERA, according to Codify. The Atlanta Braves are in a distant second with a 2.31 ERA. Longtime baseball insider Buster Olney used that canyon-sized gap to make a rousing endorsement for Miller.

“This is why he might be a better MVP candidate than Cy candidate,” the ESPN employee posted on X. “Difference-maker.”

Outlasting a National League Cy Young field that includes Paul Skenes, Shohei Ohtani, Cristopher Sanchez and Chris Sale is an absolute chore, so the odds of a closer taking home the illustrious prize seems beyond slim. Is it possible that Miller’s value stands out more in the MVP race?

What Mason Miller means to the Padres

During a time when wins turn into losses, the 2024 All-Star is almost always an immovable rock on the mound. He has a 0.86 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 0.762 WHIP through 21 innings of work. Mason Miller is simply in a class of his own right now.

But his dominance might not be enough to carry the vote in MVP or Cy Young voting. Only a limited number of relievers have achieved such a feat. No closer has snagged the former since Dennis Eckersley did so in 1992. He logged 80 innings that season. Eric Gagne grabbed the Cy Young Award in 2003 after posting a 1.20 ERA and NL-single-season record 55 saves in 82 1/3 innings pitched. Miller has yet to surpass 65 innings during his young big-league career.

Since a closer’s workload is much smaller these days, the 27-year-old will have almost no room for error if he is going to attain an MVP or Cy Young crown. Though, even if he remains indomitable, the Padres juggernaut will be at great risk of being bested by a Los Angeles Dodgers unicorn. Those words will make San Diegans clutch their chests.

Because Shohei Ohtani currently sports a 0.82 ERA while also slashing .240/.370/.429/.799 in the batter’s box , he will be an overwhelming favorite to win his third straight NL MVP Award. Nevertheless, Miller’s immense importance to the Padres must be emphasized. His accolade prospects matter a great deal to fans, but they are not the ultimate measure of his worth.

The following sentence best describes Miller’s impact: The Friars have no chance of contending for a championship without him. Therefore, one can argue that San Diego’s first World Series trophy would convey the 6-foot-5 hurler’s value better than any other hardware.

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