Seattle Mariners: Bryce Miller continues to make history

After Wednesday night’s gem at T-Mobile Park, Seattle Mariners rookie starter Bryce Miller finds himself in select company.

In front of the loyal Seattle Mariners fans at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday night, rookie Bryce Miller threw another six shutout innings, en route to the M’s 6-1 victory over Oakland.

He finished up the night by striking out Shea Langeliers to end the sixth, running his strikeout total for the game to a career-high 10. It was a performance for the history books.

In each of his first five starts since reaching the Majors, Miller has gone at least six innings and allowed five or fewer base runners. To my knowledge, that hasn’t been done by a rookie in the modern era, let alone to begin his career.

Additionally, this five-game streak puts the Seattle Mariners’ super rookie one behind Jacob deGrom (2022 New York Mets), Shane McClanahan (2022 Tampa Bay Rays), Clayton Kershaw (2016 Los Angeles Dodgers) and Zack Greinke (2015 Los Angeles Dodgers), for the longest such achievement since 1901.

Note that three of the four pitchers mentioned are former Cy Young winners, and this is McClanahan’s third Major League Season, but he is the early front-runner to win the award in 2023.

Miller’s stat line this season is impressive for any pitcher, let alone a rookie. He’s thrown 31.1 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, 13 hits, and three walks. Miller also has 28 strikeouts, a 1.15 ERA, and minuscule 0.51 WHIP.

Wednesday night’s win brought the Seattle Mariners season record to 25-24.