Is a bullpen role in Bryce Miller’s future?

There was an interesting sight during the Seattle Mariners’ series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.

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In the mid-inning break during the fifth, starting pitcher Bryce Miller walked out to the bullpen alongside closer Andrés Muñoz.

It’s typical for Muñoz to begin the game in the dugout before leaving for the bullpen midgame to prep for a potential appearance. But a starter like Miller usually remains in the dugout during their non-start days.

It turns out Miller, who had started three days prior, was going out to the pen in case he was needed in an emergency role.

“That was really something that we just (did) in case we didn’t have a ton of coverage today,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said postgame. “Because it’s a day where he throws on the side, it might have been something that would have worked out, but obviously didn’t need to do that.”

Wilson went on to say it was a situation specific to the day.

But it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Mariners are considering moving their struggling right-hander to the bullpen for the season’s final month.

Miller started this year on the injured list with a left oblique strain but was nails upon his return. In his first nine outings (eight starts), the 28 year old posted a 1.71 ERA with 62 strikeouts to just five walks over 52 2/3 innings. Some of those appearances came while pitching in a piggyback with Luis Castillo.

But in his eight starts since, which have all been Mariners losses, Miller has struggled with a 7.19 ERA and 30 strikeouts to 20 walks over 41 1/3 innings. He also recently revealed he experienced a lat issue during a start July 24 at Texas, though he said is hasn’t been an issue lately.

So, should the Mariners move Miller to a bullpen role for the stretch run? Co-hosts Stacy Rost and Michael Bumpus weighed in during Thursday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.

“We’ve been talking about this for a while now just because he’s just been not the same Bryce that we’re used to seeing,” Bumpus said. “When you have a youngster like Kade (Anderson) – who has a lot of promise, who was dominant on the lower level, who had a good outing against a really good Cubs team who’s usually great against lefties – and you’re 2 1/2 games behind (in the division), you’re at the favorable part of your season where the schedule should get easier on paper, you gotta make a move. I’d do it.”

Rost agreed and said if the Mariners do make that decision, she wants them to fully commit to it.

“Make a decision with these guys that you will stick with, that can help you win moving forward,” Rost said. “If you don’t feel good about your pen, then put Miller out there. If you don’t feel good about Kade going past 80 (pitches), then for the rest of the season, piggyback him and Miller, who’s velo just keeps dropping and who has admittedly talked about health and injury and is clearly not 100% right now. Wonderful player, wonderful guy, not 100 percent.

“Make a decision, because what I don’t feel comfortable with is sticking with a six-man (rotation) when Kade has never gone over 80 (pitches this year), and when Miller has struggled.”

“If you are getting (Matt) Brash back for sure in September, I’m piggybacking Kade and Miller,” Rost added. “If you are not getting Brash back and you still have a lot of questions in the pen, I’m going five-man (rotation) with Kade (in it) and I’m putting Miller in the pen.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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