Padres closer Mason Miller ties 1961 record as dominance continues

Mason Miller had another strong outing for the San Diego Padres, as the club’s star closer finished with two strikeouts in one inning en route to the team’s 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. His performance against the Pirates happened to be a record-tying outing.

Reports indicate that Miller, who is 27 years old, has struck out 11 consecutive hitters to start the 2026 season. Those 11 strikeouts are the second most in MLB history since the expansion era, so since at least 1961, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The longest streak in MLB history is 13, which was set by Jeremiah Estrada in 2024.

“Miller had struck out nine straight hitters entering his outing on Wednesday afternoon, then ran that streak to 11, tying the second-longest streak in the expansion era (since at least 1961),” reported Cassavell. “Only Miller’s teammate Jeremiah Estrada has punched out more hitters consecutively (13 in 2024).”

The four-year veteran’s streak snapped at 11 when Pirates’ outfielder Jake Mangum hit a groundout in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the contest. While Miller’s strikeout streak ended on Wednesday, his scoreless inning streak of 26.2 innings without allowing an earned run continues (includes games played in 2025, excludes playoffs and WBC).

San Diego’s franchise record for a scoreless innings streak is set at 33.2 innings, which was set by Cla Meridith. Mason Miller will have the opportunity to restart his strikeout streak and continue his scoreless inning streak on Thursday when the Padres take on the Colorado Rockies on the road in the first matchup of a four-game series.

Through four appearances on the mound so far this season, Miller owns a 0.00 ERA and 0.462 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and four saves. The Padres seem to have the best closer in the league right now through the first 12 games of the year.

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