Fantasy News

• Athletics' Mason Miller: Fans side to earn third save

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Miller struck out all three batters he faced as he tossed a perfect ninth inning to pick up his third save Sunday against the Nationals. Miller needed just 13 pitches to strike out the Nationals in order and preserve the victory for Oakland. Miller has converted all three of his save opportunities, with each of those occurring over his last three outings. During that stretch, he's allowed zero baserunners and has struck out seven of the nine batters he has faced.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Locks down first career save

  Rotowire Apr 10, 2024

  Miller tossed a perfect ninth inning Tuesday in a 4-3 win over the Rangers to earn his first career save. He struck out two. Miller entered protecting a 4-3 lead after Shea Langeliers put the A's in front with a go-ahead homer in the top of the frame. Miller was in nearly untouchable, getting a routine groundout before striking out back-to-back hitters to end the game. Miller has the lights-out stuff to become one of the best closers in baseball if he sticks in the role. He touched triple digits eight times out of his 16 pitches in Tuesday's appearance and has now fired five straight scoreless innings with a 9:2 K:BB.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Falters in non-save situation

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Miller worked the ninth inning of Saturday's 12-3 loss to the Guardians, allowing two earned runs on three hits and a walk over one inning. He struck out one. The Athletics' closer didn't come close to sniffing a save situation in the first two games, so manager Mark Kotsay opted to give him some work in the blowout defeat. Making his first appearance since an exhibition against the Giants on Monday, Miller got only 19 of his 30 pitches into the strike zone, but his status as the top ninth-inning option remains unchanged for the time being.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Making strong case this spring

  Rotowire Mar 6, 2024

  Miller is increasingly making a case to serve as the Athletics' closer with his Cactus League performances, despite manager Mark Kotsay previously stating he wasn't likely to use only one pitcher in that role to start the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller has put together two perfect innings across his pair of appearances, recording five strikeouts along the way while getting his elite fastball up as high as 103 mph. Miller is also using his wipeout slider effectively, and Gallegos surmises Kotsay may have no choice but to eventually name Miller as his primary ninth-inning option if the rest of the flamethrower's spring unfolds in similar fashion.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Not expected to close right away

  Rotowire Feb 28, 2024

  Athletics manager Mark Kotsay indicated recently that he would like to see Miller gradually move up the bullpen hierarchy rather than anointing him as closer right away, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. It sounds like the plan is for Miller to be used in 2-to-3 inning stints initially this spring before scaling down his workload as Opening Day nears. While there's little doubting the 25-year-old has the best stuff in Oakland's bullpen, the A's want to be careful with him since he had a UCL sprain last year and will be making the transition from starter to reliever. Miller is still probably the first A's reliever that should be drafted in fantasy, but Dany Jimenez, Trevor Gott, Lucas Erceg and perhaps others could be in the mix for saves ahead of him initially.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Velocity on display early

  Rotowire Feb 16, 2024

  Miller, who's projected to open the season in the bullpen, was already "lighting up the radar gun" in his first official bullpen session of spring Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller averaged 98.3 mph on his fastball as a rookie last season, but he was limited to just 10 appearances (six starts) due to a UCL sprain on his throwing elbow and posted a solid 3.78 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 33.1 total innings. Miller was managed carefully upon returning from a four-month absence in September while working as a multi-inning reliever, posting a 12.0 K/9 and 0.8 HR/9 across the 12 frames he logged over the final month of the campaign. With a four-pitch arsenal that also includes a slider, cutter and changeup in addition to his elite fastball, Miller could well earn some closing opportunities and will be limited to two innings per outing at most during spring training, per manager Mark Kotsay.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Works two relief innings Thursday

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2023

  Miller served as a traditional reliever against the Tigers on Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over two-plus innings. He struck out two. Miller followed starter Luis Medina into the game and worked the sixth and seventh frames in fairly efficient fashion, but he got pulled after 54 pitches once he surrendered three consecutive singles to open the eighth. Manager Mark Kotsay appears set to give Miller work in a variety of roles over the last week-plus of the season, as the right-hander has also worked as an opener and could see action as a bulk reliever before using the offseason to prepare for a potential rotation role in 2024.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Takes loss as opener

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2023

  Miller (0-1) took the loss as the opener against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks over one inning. He struck out two. As his final line implies, Miller's one frame had a bit of everything, and the rookie struggled with his location plenty while firing only 17 of his 33 pitches in for strikes. Miller's ERA rose to 3.42 with the rocky outing, which saw him allow three of the first four hitters he faced to reach base before he somewhat steadied with a pair of strikeouts, although those came around two walks. Miller had posted four scoreless innings with a 6:1 K:BB across his first two appearances after returning from a long stint on the injured list, so Saturday's forgettable performance may prove to be an outlier. The right-hander is expected to log several more opener assignments, at minimum, before the conclusion of the season.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Solid performance as opener

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2023

  Miller served as the opener in the Athletics' win over the Astros on Monday and didn't factor into the decision, firing two scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit, issued a walk and recorded three strikeouts. Miller was slated to work up to approximately 50 pitches, and he got within striking distance via his 45 offerings, 30 of which he threw during a laborious opening frame. Nathan Han of MLB.com reports the hard-throwing right-hander averaged 99.5 mph on his fastball and noted his previously ailing arm felt "awesome" following the start. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed after the game the Athletics plan to continue deploying Miller as an opener for what remains of the season before stretching him out in spring training in anticipation of a return to the starting rotation in 2024.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Set to start Monday

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Miller is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Astros, though he'll remain on a pitch count, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller made his first big-league appearance since May last Wednesday after being on the shelf with an elbow sprain, and he'll now move back into the rotation. The rookie right-hander threw just 27 pitches in that outing, so his pitch count is likely to be well below that of a typical starter. Miller could be deployed as more of a piggyback pitcher in front of Ken Waldichuk, who would be available to pitch Monday on five days' rest.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Impresses out of the pen

  Rotowire Sep 7, 2023

  Miller threw two perfect innings while striking out three in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Toronto. Miller looked dominant in his return from a four-month IL stint, striking out three Blue Jays while his fastball topped out at 102 MPH. While Miller's value will be limited when pitching out of the pen, he certainly has the stuff to succeed in a high-leverage role. Overall, the rookie right-hander sports a 3.09 ERA with a 0.90 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB across 23.1 innings in the majors this season.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Will be activated this week

  Rotowire Sep 4, 2023

  Athletics manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Monday that Miller (elbow) will be activated at some point this week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller made a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, so the earliest he figures to rejoin the A's rotation would be Friday in Texas following Thursday's off day. The young right-hander threw just 37 pitches over four perfect innings Saturday, so his first start back would be relatively abbreviated. Miller has been out since early May because of a UCL sprain in his right elbow.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Sharp in rehab outing

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Miller (elbow) struck out four over three perfect innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller needed only 37 pitches to cruise through his four frames and averaged 98.2 miles per hour with his fastball. The Athletics had indicated that Saturday's outing with Las Vegas would probably be Miller's final rehab start, and if it was, he certainly passed the test with flying colors. The 25-year-old has been out since early May because of a UCL sprain in his right elbow, so his workload with the Athletics down the stretch could be quite limited. As such, Miller could make for a middling fantasy option once he returns, though he could be a strong ratio stabilizer in the innings he does pitch.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Elite velocity in rehab start

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2023

  Miller (elbow) started Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sacramento on Tuesday, firing a scoreless first inning during which he issued two walks and recorded three strikeouts. Miller's one frame had multiple innings worth of work built in, as he fired 29 pitches overall thanks to some control issues. However, the right-hander was able to navigate trouble successfully by utilizing his velocity, with the Aviators' official Twitter account reporting Miller threw eight pitches at 100-plus mph during the outing. While Miller was originally slated to work up to approximately 50 pitches Tuesday, the fact his velocity is in elite form and he's already logged four rehab appearances makes him a candidate to be activated when rosters expand Friday or shortly thereafter.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Next outing set for Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 28, 2023

  Miller (elbow) will make his next rehab appearance Tuesday for Triple-A Las Vegas, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller could be making his final start in the minors Tuesday, as the team is considering activating him when rosters expand Sept. 1. The flamethrower is expected to toss 50 pitches or three frames in Tuesday's outing. If all goes according to plan, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Miller step back into the Oakland rotation as soon as Sunday, though he would likely be on some sort of a workload restriction if he pitches in the Athletics' series finale with the Angels.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Closing in on IL return

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2023

  Miller (elbow), who was able to hit triple digits on the radar gun in his most recent rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Las Vegas, is expected to be activated if his next outing in the minors goes well, MLB.com reports. The right-hander is set for another start with Las Vegas early in the upcoming week, his fourth down on the farm. Assuming all goes off without a hitch, manager Mark Kotsay notes "there could be a plan" for Miller to return from the 60-day injured list when the roster expands to 28 men Sept. 1. Kotsay added that he expected Miller to be utilized with a "pitch restriction or inning limit" in such a scenario, with the idea being to have the highly promising prospect head into the offseason at full health. He worked three innings in his latest rehab start and probably won't be pushed past four or five innings in his upcoming outing with Las Vegas.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Hits triple digits in rehab outing

  Rotowire Aug 25, 2023

  Miller (elbow) threw three scoreless innings while striking out five in a rehab outing with Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. Per MLB Pipeline, Miller hit triple digits seven times across 45 total pitches. He's now worked 6.2 total innings across three rehab appearances, so he's still not particularly close to a full starter's workload. As a result, Miller is likely to make a few more rehab appearances, but he should have the opportunity to make a handful of starts at the big-league level prior to the close of the campaign, barring any setbacks in his recovery.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Rehab moves to Triple-A

  Rotowire Aug 24, 2023

  Miller (elbow) shifted his rehab assignment Thursday to Triple-A Las Vegas. Miller is moving along in the Athletics' minor-league system as he completes his recovery from the mild UCL sprain that sent him to the injured list back in May. He allowed two earned runs while striking out four batters across 3.2 innings (two starts) with Single-A Stockton, topping out at 32 pitches Sunday. The 25-year-old has some more work to do on the farm if he's going to return to Oakland in a full-on starting role, but early September seems like a reasonable target.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Makes second appearance at Single-A

  Rotowire Aug 21, 2023

  Miller (elbow) surrendered two earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.2 innings Sunday in his second rehab start with Single-A Stockton. Miller tossed three more pitches (32) than he did in his first rehab appearance with Stockton on Wednesday, but he recorded one fewer out Sunday while putting four runners on base in the abbreviated start. The Athletics could look to have Miller work on four or five days' rest in his next rehab outing and he aims to get stretched back out for starting duty after having been shelved since May 11 with a sprained right elbow. An early September return from the 60-day injured list still looks to be realistic for the 24-year-old right-hander.

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• Athletics' Mason Miller: Ready for rehab assignment

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2023

  Miller (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment this week with Single-A Stockton, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Miller threw a couple bullpen sessions in recent days, and he was given the green light to resume pitching in games. The A's will undoubtedly take the cautious route with one of their top prospects, so it could still be several weeks before he is cleared to rejoin Oakland's rotation.

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