Mariners RHP Bryce Miller’s 2nd rehab start not as smooth as his 1st

There is good news and bad news from the second rehab start made by Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryce Miller.

Where Mariners’ playoff odds stand after sweep of White Sox

The good news is more important, which is that Miller was able to throw 66 pitches, 47 of which were strikes, for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Thursday night against the Reno Aces.

The bad news is that the outing wasn’t nearly as smooth as his first six days prior.

Miller made it through just 3 2/3 innings at Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium, and he learned firsthand why the Pacific Coast League is known as a launching pad for home runs. The Aces struck for three homers against Miller, two of which were by Seth Brown, an Oregon native who twice hit the 20-homer mark in the majors with the Athletics.

Seth Brown takes Bryce Miller BEYOND the shrubbery 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fIFAHeuWku

— Reno Aces (@Aces) August 8, 2025

On the night, Miller allowed four runs on four hits and three walks.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Tuesday the plan for Miller was to throw about 65 innings over four or five innings Thursday in Tacoma.

While Miller didn’t make it as far as the M’s hoped innings-wise, his stuff was there. He had five strikeouts, and his fastball was lively, reaching a top speed of 97.5 mph and sitting at 96 mph.

The 26-year-old Miller is working his way back from a second injured list stint this season for right elbow inflammation. He last pitched for the Mariners on June 6.

Miller began his rehab assignment with the Rainiers last Friday, dominating the Sugar Land Space Cowboys over five scoreless innings of one-hit ball. He struck out six and walked none on 52 pitches.

Miller is expected to make at least one more rehab outing if not two before returning to the Mariners’ rotation, where rookie Logan Evans currently holds the third-year right-hander’s spot.

Could a bullpen stint could be in Bryce Miller’s future?

The Mariners will take their time letting Miller build up his pitch count before activating him from the IL.

“This time we are just going to be able to (focus on) building him up and making sure he’s ready to throw a full workload before we send him out there,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said last week.

Miller made 10 starts earlier this season for the M’s, going 2-5 with a 5.73 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 39 strikeouts to 23 walks over 48 2/3 innings. It became clear his arm wasn’t 100%, as his numbers were well off from his impressive 2024 season when he went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts to 45 walks over 180 1/3 innings.

Miller finished fourth in MLB last year in WHIP, tied for fourth in opponent batting average (.200), and was eighth in ERA. He was also 19th in strikeouts per walk ratio (3.80) and 21st in walks per nine innings (2.25).

Seattle Mariners coverage

• Josh Naylor exits game early with shoulder issue
• Ichiro Stories: What happened if you touched his bats
• Jay Buhner raves about new Seattle Mariners 1B Josh Naylor
• Cal: Why Mariners want to ‘push the envelope’ on the basepaths
• How will Victor Robles fit back into Seattle Mariners’ lineup?

Related

Checking in on Seattle Mariners reinforcements in Triple-AReport: Mariners promote Felnin Celesten to Double-AOhtani may not return to mound in time for Mariners-Dodgers seriesRaley, Young go deep as Mariners beat Giants 6-3AL West Check-In: Peña, Walker out of Astros’ lineup with injuriesESPN’s Passan believes Cal Raleigh ‘will fix himself’