SEATTLE - Bryce Miller’s trip to the bullpen on Wednesday raised eyebrows, but Mariners manager Dan Wilson said it was tied to the situation in the game, not a firm hint at a permanent move.
Seattle fell 6-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the series finale at T-Mobile Park, missing a chance at the sweep. Even with the loss, the Mariners finished their homestand 4-2 and took series from both the Phillies and the Chicago Cubs, two National League clubs in the playoff race.
The bullpen move came after Bryan Woo worked through four innings, but the path to that point was rough. Woo threw 55 pitches over the first two frames and was pulled after four innings. Miller, meanwhile, headed from the dugout to the bullpen during the game.
Wilson said the idea was a contingency plan in case Seattle needed extra coverage.
"That was really something in case we didn't have a ton of coverage (from the bullpen) today," Wilson said in a postgame interview Wednesday. "Because it's a day where he throws on the side, it might have been something that would have worked out. But obviously, didn't need to do that today."
Miller said after the game that he understood the move to be connected to the state of the bullpen and the uncertainty around Woo, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury suffered against the Houston Astros on Aug. 16. That injury pushed Woo’s start back from the weekend series against the Cubs.
The broader picture still makes Miller a logical candidate for a longer look in relief. Seattle now has top pitching prospect Kade Anderson in the majors, and injured relievers Cooper Criswell and Matt Brash are nearing returns. That could give the Mariners the kind of bullpen depth that makes a traditional five-man rotation easier to carry without leaning too hard on relievers.
Miller has also struggled since the All-Star Break, which only adds to the possibility. In seven starts in the second half, he has a 7.18 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.
In Other News...
Mariners May Have Found One Pitcher Who Solves Two Problems
The Mariners have been keeping a close eye on Kaima Taira, the Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher who has emerged as one of the more interesting arms in Nippon Professional Baseball. Seattle was among several clubs scouting him, and it is not hard to see why: Taira has put together a 1.46 ERA this season and has shown he can handle work both as a starter and out of the bullpen.
For a Seattle staff that always values versatility, that kind of profile is appealing on multiple levels. The Mariners appear to view him as either a bullpen option or a possible future starter, which gives the club a rare bit of flexibility as it looks to add depth without locking itself into one role too early. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Suddenly Have A Shot At Familiar Help They Desperately Need
The Mariners infield need has been obvious for a while, and now a familiar name has entered the conversation in a way few would have expected. Eugenio Suarez has been placed on waivers by the Reds, and Seattle is reportedly in a strong position to claim the third baseman if it decides to make the move. Given the injuries the Mariners have been dealing with at third base, the timing is hard to ignore.
Suarezs season has been uneven, which is part of why this is not a simple yes-or-no decision. Even so, the Mariners standing in the waiver order gives them a real chance to grab a player who once fit comfortably in their plans and could help stabilize a thin spot on the roster. For a club trying to patch together the hot corner, the question now is whether this is the kind of opportunity worth acting on quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners First Round Bat Is Already Speeding Up One Big Debate
Ace Reese has wasted little time making the Mariners look smart for taking him with the 24th overall pick, as the first-round bat has opened his pro career with a loud start at Single-A Inland Empire. Seattles scouting director Scott Hunter singled him out as one of the best pure college power hitters in the draft, and the early production has backed up the enthusiasm, with Reese hitting .444 and driving in 11 runs over 13 games.
What has not changed is the bigger question hovering around his profile. Reeses bat is moving fast enough to create some early optimism about his ceiling, but his long-term value still hinges on whether he can stick at third base and give Seattle a dependable home on the infield. The Mariners have him on a 2029 major league debut track for now, though the way he is swinging it has already prompted some to wonder whether that timetable may be more flexible than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]