Miami Marlins: Three reasons the Marlins are winning other than Giancarlo Stanton

Brad Ziegler is perfect since becoming Miami Marlins closer

Who saw this coming? Less than a month ago, Brad Ziegler was free agency signing enemy number one to most fans. He was a plan B for the Marlins after they whiffed on Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, and he didn’t get off to a great start.

Being paid $7 million this season, it’s easy to understand why Marlins fans were frustrated with Ziegler’s performance. He was battling injuries, and wasn’t effective when he was in the game.

Prior to becoming the Marlins closer, Ziegler was sporting a 6.52 ERA over 29 innings of work. He’d walked 9.4-percent of the batters he faced, hit five batters, and was allowing a .342 BAA coming out of the pen. Since becoming the closer, he’s 180’ed like nobody’s business.

He’s appeared in 12-games as the closer of the team, nine of which were save situations. He’s perfect in them, successfully recording a save in each opportunity.

In the 12 innings he’s logged over his last 12 appearances and hasn’t allowed a run. His walk rate is down to 2.1-percent, he’s surrendered only nine hits, and his BAA is down to .205. In short, he’s been lights out.

Ziegler on the back end has provided the Miami bullpen the stability it has lacked all season.