San Diego Padres RHP Mason Miller is making a case to be considered the best pitcher in fantasy baseball this season. It wouldn’t be bold to suggest Miller is the top reliever. But some analysts are aiming higher.
Miller’s Dominance
Miller entered Wednesday having permitted nary an earned run over his past 29⅔ innings, dating back to last August. He has faced 27 hitters this season, permitting a Luis Arraez single, a Spencer Torkelson walk — and that’s it. Miller has fanned 20 out of 27 hitters, or 74.1%. No other relief pitcher has whiffed more than 45%.
There is no precedent for any relief pitcher to finish ahead of every starting pitcher in fantasy points or roto/categories formats this century, with lowered innings as compared to the likes of Hall of Famers Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. Baltimore Orioles LHP Zack Britton famously posted a 0.54 ERA and 47 saves in 2016, but he finished second among relievers to Kenley Jansen and ninth among pitchers. Seattle Mariners RHP Edwin Diaz was the No. 5 pitcher in 2018 when he saved 57 wins with a 1.96 ERA. Mariano Rivera never finished first among pitchers in fantasy. Eric Gagne, even as he won the NL Cy Young award in 2003, didn’t do it, either.
A Shift in Baseball
Baseball was different in 2003, when 44 pitchers reached 200 IP and five won 20 games. Last season, only three pitchers eclipsed 200 innings, and nobody won 20 games. This drop in volume opens the door for a truly dominant reliever to slide into the top spot.
If Miller continues to remain spotless (or close to it) in the runs department over 60-or-so innings, that is a really big deal. If he continues to fan 70% of hitters, well, that is also a really big (and unprecedented) deal, as Miller is pacing toward 150-plus strikeouts. Only 43 pitchers fanned 150 last year!
Cy Young Contender?
It’s fair that baseball analysts are discussing Miller as a legitimate contender to challenge top starters such as Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes for the NL Cy Young award. Only Los Angeles Angels RHP Jose Soriano ranks better on the Player Rater among pitchers and a mere five starters have more fantasy points.
There’s a long way to go, but Miller is unreal. Perhaps he can even win a few games and surpass 40 saves, too.