Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays: Three Stories To Watch

Can Dan Straily Become the Miami Marlins (Gulp) Ace? 

All off-season, the mantra for the Miami Marlins starting rotation has been the ace by committee approach, that it will take a village to get the job done without a true ace of the staff.

But we also always expected someone to emerge as at least a Ryan Dempster like stopper. Someone who would be reliable enough to give fans slightly more confidence than the other four front men. That much, at least, seemed essential if the team was going to be successful.

So everyone had Dan Straily in the pool right?

Even after walking in two runs in Friday’s loss, it really just might be Straily that has proven himself most worthy of the title thus far in 2017. Since that flame-out in Washington, the “veteran” has compiled four straight starts where he has allowed 3 ER or less.

He’s flirted with a no-hitter, even if he was effectively wild in that game. He’s notched 14 Ks in another, and has never put the Marlins in a position where the game seemed over early.

If Straily can put together another quality performance this Thursday, and especially if it is paired with another disappointing offering from off-season favorite Edinson Volquez, this is one Marlins fan that is ready to consider the matter closed. For better or worse, he will have earned it.

Next: Fernandez Memorial Proper?

Fingers crossed the rest of the rotation does their best to make a good start by Straily in the series finale not stand out too much though. That’s it for this series. Enjoy a proper, salami-less Cuban sandwich, and we’ll catch you in Queens.