Mariners starter Bryce Miller has setback with oblique inflammation

Bryce Miller must be cursing his luck, after the Mariners announced he will miss at least one spring training start with another injury issue.

There was plenty of encouragement surrounding Bryce Miller last Thursday, after he made his spring training debut in an 8-7 win versus the Cleveland Guardians. Now though, that encouragement has been replaced with some concern by the Seattle Mariners for a pitcher who saw his 2025 campaign impacted by a lingering right elbow issue.

Miller looked in fine form during 1.1 scoreless innings against the Indians as he mixed in six pitches on just 21 throws, including averaging 97.2 mph on six four-seam fastballs. He said after the outing that his elbow and body in general felt good, but it turns out this optimism was ill-placed – at least to an extent.

GM Justin Hollander provides an injury update

As per Mike Vorel of The Seattle Times, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander spoke to the media at the weekend to discuss the latest on Miller. Hollander said:

“During the outing, the first inning the other night, when he was throwing 99 mph, he said it felt more sore. It felt better in the second inning. We went and took some images. They do show some (oblique) inflammation in his left side. He then had a PRP (platelet-rich plasma injection).”

Hollander went on to advise that the plan is to rest Miller for a day or two and then do some light catching exercises during the coming week. As a result the righty will definitely miss his next start and then be reassessed in seven days time.

After the elbow issues Miller had to contend with throughout last season (and even extending back to the end of the previous campaign), you have to feel some sympathy for him. He’s just wanting to get back to full health and return to being the same pitcher who had a 2.94 ERA and 0.976 WHIP in 2024 and led the best statistical rotation in baseball with a team-high 3.4 bWAR.

Even as Miller struggled through the 2025 season, he still managed to show what he was capable of during the Mariners’ playoff run all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched 14.1 combined innings in three starts and the highlight was undoubtedly his Game 1 masterclass in the ALCS, as he allowed just two hits, three walks and one earned run in 6.0 innings of a 3-1 win versus the Blue Jays.

Bryce Miller just aiming to get back to full fitness

You wouldn’t blame the Mariners if they are somewhat concerned although officially they aren’t hinting at this, with Hollander suggesting Miller’s previous injury woes can help him moving forward. Hollander said:

“Last year was a really good learning lesson for him, in adjusting to how he feels and becoming the best version of himself. You can go through some adversity and come out better for it. That can also lead to you saying, ‘I’m fine. I just want to keep pitching,’ and the right thing to do is just take a break for a week and see where we’re at.”

Pending how Miller’s latest injury challenge plays out, the Mariners are already dealing with the fact that starter Logan Evans is out for the year after surgery for a torn UCL in his right arm. This all could mean Emerson Hancock being brought back into the rotation after transitioning to the bullpen last season, while also considering the likes of Dane Dunning and Cooper Criswell.

Given the concerns surrounding a rotation that had injury issues to four of their five main starters last season, thoughts turn to Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, who both made their spring training debuts in the last few days. This is not to imply either is going to be ready for the majors in the immediate future, but the spotlight has only been turned up on two pitchers expected to be staples of the Mariners rotation in the coming years.

Anderson made his professional debut on Saturday afternoon in Peoria and looked promising, particularly during the first inning when he punched out the San Diego Padres with three strikeouts. Meanwhile, Sloan threw a scoreless fourth inning with one strikeout on Sunday afternoon, against the Texas Rangers.

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography

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