Why New Red Sox Reliever is Starting Series Finale vs. Athletics
· Yahoo Sports
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Left-handed reliever Erik Miller has made a strong first impression since coming over to the Red Sox ahead of the trade deadline, but he's being asked to take on a new role on Sunday.
Miller is starting the series finale against the Athletics, working as an opener in what will be a bullpen game for the Red Sox.
The former Giants reliever has experience as an opener, but it's been two years since he last held that role in the major leagues.
Here's what you need to know about Miller getting the nod as Boston's starter on Sunday.
Why is Erik Miller Starting vs. Athletics?
Patrick Sandoval would have been in line to start against the Athletics on Sunday, but his turn was pushed back to Tuesday against the Blue Jays. Sandoval has made five starts since missing all of 2025 and the start of 2026 due to elbow surgery, and the Red Sox are in the early stages of a stretch of 16 consecutive games without an off day.
Sandoval will get some extra time between starts, while Miller will lead a bullpen game with Brayan Bello expected to be available for multiple innings of work behind him.
Miller has experience in this role. He started 10 games as an opener in 2024, allowing just two earned runs in those appearances, and he's coming off an appearance in which he lasted two full innings. Depending on how the first inning goes, Miller could give the Red Sox multiple innings of work on Sunday.
With 16 games in 16 days, the Red Sox are getting creative with their pitching staff as they try to win their 10th consecutive series.
When was Erik Miller's Last Start?
Miller hasn't started a game since July 28, 2024, when the Giants faced the Rockies. He made 10 starts as an opener in 2024, lasting more than one inning only once.
The routine might be different for a reliever tasked with starting a game, but the objective is the same: get outs, and hand the ball to the next hurler. Miller did that job well as an opener in 2024, posting a 1.69 ERA across 10.2 innings in his first MLB season.
Once Miller exits his first start in more than two years, it could be Bello's turn to see if he can extend a streak of more than 14 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.