Padres star Manny Machado reveals Mason Miller’s secret to success

The San Diego Padres are surging, and Manny Machado says Mason Miller is at the center of this surge in the NL West. Speaking on Baseball Tonight Podcast with Buster Olney, Machado broke it down in real time.

On the podcast, https://t.co/MatOy70Lju Manny Machado talks about Mason Miller's dominance and F-U mentality on the mound. pic.twitter.com/alvL5Er7eX

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 24, 2026

“The thing I love the most lately, the last few starts,” he said, “last year when he came up, he was a little quiet.” That has changed. The Padres now sit tied atop the NL West at 17-8. They are 8-2 in their last 10. Momentum is real. And Mason Miller is closing games like it is already over.

The Padres are clearly feeding off that shift in presence. Machado pointed to it directly. “This year, the last three or four starts… he started to give me a little bit more fire,” he said. “Every time he closes the door, little by little, he’s that closer mentality… coming out on him.”

For the Padres, the results match the energy. Miller already has nine saves in just 12 games. Opponents are barely getting close. Machado made that part clear too. “I haven’t,” he said when asked about runners reaching third. Then he repeated it. “I have not.” Under the stadium lights, it feels automatic. The ninth inning belongs to him.

Padres closer mentality fueling a contender

Moreover, the dominance is not just numbers. Instead, it is feel. It is confidence spreading through the clubhouse. As Machado sees it up close, “It’s been crazy to watch,” he said. “You look up and it’s like, all right… this is pretty much over.” Because of that, belief changes how the Padres play late. It tightens games and pressures opponents.

As a result, the Padres keep stacking wins, including a recent 10-8 victory over the Rockies. More importantly, they trust Miller to finish, and that trust is shaping this run.

Furthermore, Manny Machado pushed the ceiling higher. “He could go down as the best closer… of our time,” he said. Admittedly, bold words. However, right now, they do not feel out of place.

So, as the Padres surge in the NL West, one question rises: how dominant can Mason Miller become?

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