Miami Marlins Starting Pitchers: A Comprehensive Overview
For the Miami Marlins, having a strong starting rotation is essential for competing in the highly competitive National League East Division. With a pitching staff full of talented players, the Marlins have the potential to be a formidable force in the league for years to come. In this article, we’ll take a look at who the Marlins will have in their starting rotation for the upcoming season and discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of each pitcher.
Dan Straily
Dan Straily is the ace of the Marlins’ pitching staff and is one of the most experienced players in the rotation. The 30-year-old right-hander has spent the last two seasons with the Marlins and is coming off a career-high 11 wins in 2017. Straily has a career 4.23 ERA and is a reliable starter who can eat up innings and keep his team in the game. His fastball velocity has been on the decline in recent years, but Straily has still been able to find success with his off-speed pitches.
Jose Urena
Jose Urena is the most reliable starter for the Marlins after Dan Straily. The 26-year-old right-hander has been with the Marlins since 2016 and has been a steady presence in the rotation ever since. Urena has a career 3.90 ERA and is coming off a solid 2017 season in which he posted a 3.82 ERA in 28 starts. Urena relies heavily on his fastball, but he also has a decent slider and changeup that he can mix in.
Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith is one of the more intriguing pieces of the Marlins’ rotation. The 26-year-old left-hander has spent the last two seasons with the Marlins and is coming off a solid 2017 season in which he posted a 4.19 ERA in 25 starts. Smith has a career 3.72 ERA and is a strikeout pitcher who can get hitters out with his fastball and curveball. Smith has struggled with his control in the past, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter for the Marlins in 2018.
Wei-Yin Chen
Wei-Yin Chen is a veteran left-hander who is in the final year of his contract with the Marlins. The 33-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Marlins and is coming off a solid 2017 season in which he posted a 4.73 ERA in 29 starts. Chen has a career 4.34 ERA and is a reliable starter who can eat up innings and keep his team in the game. Chen relies heavily on his fastball and changeup, but he also has a decent curveball that he can mix in.
Jarlin Garcia
Jarlin Garcia is a young left-hander who has the potential to be a key piece of the Marlins’ rotation for years to come. The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Marlins and is coming off a solid 2017 season in which he posted a 3.53 ERA in 33 appearances (five starts). Garcia relies heavily on his fastball, but he also has a decent changeup and slider that he can mix in. Garcia has struggled with his control in the past, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter for the Marlins in 2018.
Trevor Richards
Trevor Richards is a young right-hander who has the potential to be a key piece of the Marlins’ rotation for years to come. The 25-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the minors, but he is coming off a strong 2017 campaign in which he posted a 3.54 ERA in 27 starts. Richards has a career 3.51 ERA and is a strikeout pitcher who can get hitters out with his fastball, curveball, and changeup. Richards has struggled with his control in the past, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter for the Marlins in 2018.
Sandy Alcantara
Sandy Alcantara is one of the more intriguing pieces of the Marlins’ rotation. The 22-year-old right-hander has spent the last two seasons in the minors, but he is coming off a strong 2017 campaign in which he posted a 3.44 ERA in 27 starts. Alcantara has a career 3.30 ERA and is a strikeout pitcher who can get hitters out with his fastball and slider. Alcantara has struggled with his control in the past, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter for the Marlins in 2018.
Elieser Hernandez
Elieser Hernandez is a young right-hander who has the potential to be a key piece of the Marlins’ rotation for years to come. The 22-year-old has spent the last two seasons in the minors, but he is coming off a strong 2017 campaign in which he posted a 3.15 ERA in 25 starts. Hernandez has a career 3.02 ERA and is a strikeout pitcher who can get hitters out with his fastball, curveball, and slider. Hernandez has struggled with his control in the past, but he has the potential to be a reliable starter for the Marlins in 2018.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Marlins Starting Pitchers
When evaluating the Marlins’ starting rotation, it’s important to take into account the strengths and weaknesses of each individual pitcher. Dan Straily is an experienced pitcher who can eat up innings and keep his team in the game, while Jose Urena is a reliable starter who can rely on his fastball and off-speed pitches. Caleb Smith and Wei-Yin Chen are strikeout pitchers who can get hitters out with their fastballs and breaking pitches, while Jarlin Garcia and Trevor Richards have the potential to be reliable starters for the Marlins in 2018. Lastly, Sandy Alcantara and Elieser Hernandez are young pitchers who have the potential to be key pieces of the Marlins’ rotation for years to come.
The strengths of the Marlins’ starting rotation are numerous, but there are also some weaknesses that must be addressed. The biggest weakness of the rotation is the lack of a true ace who can dominate opposing hitters and carry the team to victory. Additionally, the Marlins’ starting pitchers have struggled with their control in the past, which could be an issue if they can’t find a way to limit walks.
Conclusion
The Miami Marlins have an interesting mix of starting pitchers in their rotation for the upcoming season. With experienced veterans like Dan Straily and Wei-Yin Chen and promising young pitchers like Jarlin Garcia, Trevor Richards, Sandy Alcantara, and Elieser Hernandez, the Marlins have the potential to be a formidable force in the National League East for years to come. Although the Marlins’ starting rotation has some weaknesses, the team has the potential to contend if they can find a way to limit walks and get their starters to pitch deep into games.
Key Takeaways
- Dan Straily is the ace of the Marlins’ pitching staff and is one of the most experienced players in the rotation.
- Jose Urena is the most reliable starter for the Marlins after Dan Straily.
- Caleb Smith and Wei-Yin Chen are strikeout pitchers who can get hitters out with their fastballs and breaking pitches.
- Jarlin Garcia, Trevor Richards, Sandy Alcantara, and Elieser Hernandez are young pitchers who have the potential to be key pieces of the Marlins’ rotation for years to come.
- The biggest weakness of the rotation is the lack of a true ace who can dominate opposing hitters and carry the team to victory.
- The Marlins’ starting pitchers have struggled with their control in the past, which could be an issue if they can’t find a way to limit walks.