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The best reliever in baseball might just be a rookie.
A’s closer Mason Miller has taken the league by storm in his first full year in the big leagues, putting up historic numbers through nearly a quarter of the 2024 season.
Through 13 games, Miller has a 1.10 ERA with an unreal -0.15 FIP while striking out 18.18 batters per nine innings.
But even that doesn’t do Miller’s start justice.
Of the 60 batters Miller has faced, the flame-throwing right-hander has struck out 33 — more than half of them.
He’s allowed just 11 baserunners — seven hits and four walks — and no home runs.
His dominance out of the bullpen is translating to wins for a feisty A’s team as well.
After entering the season with one of the lowest over/under win totals in recent baseball history, Oakland has gotten off to a surprisingly solid 18-21 start before their series opener against the Mariners on Friday.
Miller has helped close out several of those games, going 8-for-8 in save opportunities.
Mason Miller of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the ninth inning on May 1, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. Getty ImagesAmerican League Rookie of the Year odds
All combined, Miller has vaulted to the top of the American League Rookie of the Year odds board at some major sportsbooks.
FanDuel Sportsbook has Miller as a clear +195 favorite to win the award.
Caesars Sportsbook has him behind Colton Cowser, who is a +125 favorite versus Miller’s +250.
Miller’s mind-boggling performance through Thursday’s play not only has him in the conversation for top rookie honors but something more impressive as well.
The first-year pitcher is also the top favorite to win the AL Reliever of the Year Award (+115).
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The award, which was first issued in 2014, has only been won by a rookie one time (Devin Williams, 2020).
Miller’s chances at both awards could get complicated by his murky future in Oakland.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Thursday that the A’s were receiving trade calls about the young closer, although the asking price was “steep.”
