A Critical Absence Ahead of Game 3
The San Diego Padres were forced to make a drastic roster adjustment hours before a high-stakes postseason matchup, losing All-Star closer Mason Miller to the paternity list. According to Newsweek, Miller was placed on the postseason paternity list less than an hour before Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. The timing could not have been more challenging for San Diego, which entered Petco Park facing elimination after dropping the first two games of the best-of-five series in Milwaukee.
Under Major League Baseball’s postseason rules, a player placed on the paternity list must remain away from the team for a minimum of one day and a maximum of three days. Because the Padres faced a win-or-go-home scenario, Miller’s absence meant he would only be eligible to pitch again this postseason if San Diego managed to extend the series. Left-hander Wandy Peralta was activated to take Miller’s spot on the roster, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Regular-Season Anchor and Recent Struggles
The loss of Miller removes one of the most reliable late-inning arms in the majors from manager Craig Stammen’s bullpen. During the 2026 regular season, the 28-year-old right-hander anchored the Padres’ relief corps, going 5-2 with a 1.67 ERA and tying for the National League lead with 38 saves. However, his final outing before the roster move left a bitter taste for fans. Tasked with holding a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning of Game 2 on Sunday in Milwaukee, Miller walked three batters and surrendered a two-run, walk-off single to Jackson Chourio that secured a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 series lead for the Brewers.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the weekend at American Family Field, Miller had noted that his first child was not officially due for another two weeks, expressing hope that the birth would align with games in San Diego to minimize missed time. Instead, the timing forced him to step away immediately before the team’s most critical game of the year. With Miller unavailable, the Padres turned to options like Adrian Morejón to handle high-leverage relief situations if a save opportunity emerged.
An Unprecedented Postseason Coincidence
The roster move marked a remarkably rare occurrence in baseball history: a single team losing two different pitchers to the paternity list within a four-day span of the same postseason series. Earlier in the week, starting pitcher Walker Buehler was placed on the paternity list immediately prior to Game 1 on Saturday, though Buehler was not scheduled to pitch that contest and did not miss an active start. Fox News noted that the convergence of personal milestones and sudden postseason elimination stakes brought renewed debate over player availability during October baseball, contrasting Miller’s absence with other high-profile hurlers playing through imminent family milestones.
If the Padres manage to keep their season alive and force a Game 4, Miller will be permitted to return to the active roster, replacing Peralta. Until then, San Diego’s bullpen must navigate the pressure of an elimination game without the closer who carried them through the regular season.