Mason Miller says sparse Padres outings are 'not easy' amid skid

San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller told reporters that pitching just four times in two weeks during a nine-losses-in-10 skid is "not easy," because inconsistent work makes it harder to trust his execution—even as he remains one of baseball's most dominant relievers with a 0.98 ERA. With San Diego sliding in the NL West and wild-card race, Miller's rare save chances and rising trade-deadline buzz have turned him into the defining story of a disappointing 2026 season.

The Padres have lost nine of their last 10 games, falling into third place in the National League West and sitting 4.5 games back in the crowded NL wild-card race. During that stretch, manager Craig Stammen has had few late-inning leads to protect, leaving Miller—arguably the club's most effective arm—on the sidelines.

Key Takeaways

• Mason Miller has pitched only four times over the last two weeks as the Padres have lost nine of 10 games.
• Miller called the lack of opportunities "not easy," citing difficulty building confidence and sharp command in game action.
• Despite a 0.98 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 36.2 innings, save situations have dried up as San Diego falls behind.
• Columnist Tom Krasovic and analyst Steve Phillips say the Padres should at least field offers on Miller before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
• Miller remains under contract through 2029, and manager Craig Stammen says trade talk is not yet a locker-room distraction.

Why has Mason Miller barely pitched during the Padres skid?

Closers only pitch when teams hold late leads, and the Padres have not been in that position often during their recent collapse. Yahoo Sports reports Miller appeared just four times across two weeks, with six days between his first two outings in that span before back-to-back games against the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend.

Stammen has also tried deploying Miller outside traditional save spots, but he has been reluctant to overwork an elite arm in a lost cause. Miller is still having an excellent season—he entered play against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 0.98 ERA and early Cy Young buzz—but dominance means little when the offense and rotation cannot keep games close.

What did Mason Miller say about his limited opportunities?

Miller was direct about the toll sparse appearances take. "It's not easy, for sure," he said, per Yahoo Sports. "Because you get out there and you feel like you're trying to get your feet under you a little bit."

He noted his command was not sharp in Saturday's outing, though his velocity and health remained fine. "Obviously it's hard to go out there and feel really confident in your execution," Miller said. "The bullpen is one thing, but in the game is obviously another thing." After Saturday, he said he was simply looking for another chance to compete.

Could the Padres trade Mason Miller before the deadline?

With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, the Padres have become one of MLB's most closely watched teams. San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Tom Krasovic argues the club should be open to offers on Miller—even though he is their lone All-Star and is under contract through 2029. If no team meets their price, Krasovic notes, they lose nothing and may still gather market intel.

Former MLB general manager Steve Phillips told MLB Now the Padres "have to" trade Miller if they want to fix a thin rotation and struggling offense, calling him their biggest trade chip. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller acquired Miller in last summer's headline deal, but one year later a 15-game division deficit and worsening standings could force a reversal. Stammen told reporters the club is "far away" from deadline distractions, adding that most trade reports are untrue—but Miller said he understands how baseball works in July.

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