After Friday’s 15-inning marathon in ALDS Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers, the Seattle Mariners were counting on a stellar effort from their ALCS Game 1 starter, Bryce Miller. Although the 27-year-old did give up a leadoff homer to Blue Jays’ George Springer on the very first pitch, he also settled in quickly. Over six brilliant innings, he didn’t allow a single run and helped the Mariners secure the 3-1 win against the Blue Jays in the ALCS opener. After the game, he had a confession.

When asked if he felt like he needed to give this team a lift because the Mariners’ pitching staff was gassed, he responded, “I did, yes sir. Yeah, I mean 15 innings two nights ago. And then we had a couple delays yesterday getting in. And yeah, I mean, that was my goal. You know, go out there and get ahead. And attack and see how deep I could get and give us a chance. And I was able to do that.”

When George Springer’s solo shot put the Blue Jays ahead, it set Miller on a 27-pitch opening frame. Yet he didn’t wilt.

As he settled in, all he needed was exactly 49 pitches to get through the next five innings. Before he issued a two-out walk to cleanup hitter Addison Barger in the sixth, he retired every batter he faced in the third, fourth, and fifth innings. His start wasn’t expected to go that long. Yet, he stayed and impressed the raucous sellout crowd at Rogers Centre.

Miller eventually got out of the frame when Alejandro Kirk lined out. Just like that, the once-bustling Toronto crowd fell into a stunned silence.

The Mariners’ bullpen, which was drained from Friday’s 15-inning win over the Tigers in ALDS Game 5, also came through after Miller.

All three—Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, and Andrés Muñoz—pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game and notch the win. While Miller had a great night, it might have been possible only because of the changes he made to his pitching mechanics over the course of this season.

Mariners pitcher adjusted his mechanics during the regular season

Bryce Miller didn’t seem like one to shake off the three-day rest problem.

Back in June, when he went on the injured list for the second time, he had a 5.73 ERA. As he was in rehab, wanting to make a comeback, the Mariners fixed another issue.

Miller was apparently tipping his pitches. When he used to hold the ball near his belt at the start of his delivery and keep it there during his leg kick, the Mariners observed. They figured that the angle of his glove gave away what pitch was incoming. Then, ultimately, pitching coach Pete Woodworth, along with the crew, came up with a way to fix it.

Just as Miller would begin to deliver, instead of leaving his hands at the belt, he would raise and lower them in sync with his leg kick.

In fact, coach Woodworth admitted that making such adjustments in the middle of the season could be difficult.

“In this case, because he was working his way back, we had the time to do it in an environment without the same pressure.” Further, he also mentioned that another thing with Bryce Miller is that he’s somebody who, if you suggested a change, be it mechanical or something about pitch shapes, would make them very quickly.

This worked out for the best. Now, Miller has a 2.61 ERA this postseason in two starts. Even his velocity has increased. From 94.5 mph (before the change), it’s now 96.1 this postseason.

Did you see the difference, too?