San Diego’s All-Star closer Mason Miller was placed on the postseason paternity list on Tuesday with the host Padres facing elimination in Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers in their National League Division Series.
Major League Baseball announced the move, which allows Miller to be away from the team for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. Miller’s wife, Jordan, went into labor on Tuesday afternoon to deliver their first child, the Padres said.
Left-hander Wandy Peralta will be on San Diego’s active roster until he is replaced by Miller.
Miller, 28, is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, three walks, and four strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings in two appearances this postseason.
He took the loss in Game 2 despite needing only 12 pitches to retire host Milwaukee’s Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the eighth inning. Miller, who routinely pitches only one inning per game, came back out for the ninth, walked three batters and gave up Jackson Chourio’s game-winning single with two outs, resulting in a 4-3 setback.
The Brewers lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and can clinch on Tuesday night. Game 4, if necessary, is Wednesday night in San Diego. Game 5, if necessary, is Friday in Milwaukee.
Miller was 5-2 in the regular season with a 1.67 ERA and tied for the National League with 38 saves and 57 games finished. He had 26 walks and 129 strikeouts in 70 innings over 66 games and was selected an All-Star for the second time, and the first with the Padres.
Peralta, 35, was 3-3 in 65 regular-season games (five starts) with a 3.61 ERA, 23 walks and 50 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings.
The Padres also announced on Tuesday that first baseman Gavin Sheets was out of the starting lineup for Game 3 due to neck stiffness.
San Diego also placed starting pitcher Walker Buehler on the postseason paternity list on Saturday. He was replaced by right-hander Randy Vasquez on the active roster before returning Monday.
Buehler was 9-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 32 starts in his first season with the Padres. A two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Buehler did not pitch in the NL wild-card sweep against the Chicago Cubs. Game 1 of the NLDS would have been his turn in the starting rotation.
