Miami Marlins vs. Boston Red Sox: Post Series Grades

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The Miami Marlins dropped both contests of their short series with the Boston Red Sox. We’re going to take a closer look at the 21 Miami Marlins players who appeared.

I used the Wins Probability Added metric (WPA) to help ascertain which players performed in the higher leverage situations. In other words, if the Miami Marlins are winning, 6-0, a plate appearance doesn’t count as much. Conversely, an at bat with two on and two out in the bottom of the 13th has a very high leverage.

There’s something else you need to understand about WPA. Every game has a collective WPA of zero. The winning team will finish with a total of .50, and the losing team will have -.50. As such, it’s not a great predictor of future performance. What it can tell you is which players performed best when the chips were down.

Most of Miami’s bullpen and every position player got into at least one game. Since it was only two games, some starting pitchers currently on the roster don’t appear on this list. Famously, Brian Ellington and Braxton Lee, both recently sent down, didn’t appear in either game.

For comparison’s sake, I’ll take a moment here to outline Boston’s best performers.

Hanley Ramirez .467

Ramirez was the best performer overall in the series. He went two-for-five with a stolen base in the opener. His efforts included a two-run shot which proved to be the eventual game-winner. He also collected multiple hits and RBI in the second game, going two-for-six. Most notably, he again hit the eventual game-winning hit, a 13th inning two-RBI double.

Andrew Benintendi .271

Benintendi reached base twice in the opener, with a walk and a single. In the second game, he doubled his output, with two walks and two hits. He stole a base and knocked in Eduardo Nunez in the 11th inning with the apparent series clincher. Of course, Miami would come back in the bottom of that frame, but more on that later.

Heath Hembree .243

Hembree struck out four Marlins in three innings while appearing in both games. He allowed one hit in his inning of work on Monday and again allowed just one hit in his two frames on Tuesday.

Brian Johnson .101

Johnson collected the series opening win, going six strong innings and surrendering just one earned run, Brian Anderson’s first career tater. Johnson allowed six hits and two walks, striking out five and getting 49-of-82 pitches over the plate.

Christian Vazquez .037

All of Vazquez’ positive impact was in the first game, when he was two-for-four with a double and two RBI. Although he also had a hit in Tuesday’s contest, he was 1-for-5 with a -.219 WPA.

Cameron Maybin +.363

Cameron Maybin was a first round pick of the Detroit Tigers, with the 10th overall selection of the 2005 MLB draft. After making his major league debut with the Tigers, he arrived with the Florida Marlins in the trade that lost us Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

Despite the inauspicious footnote, Maybin was solid in his three seasons with the Marlins, slashing .257/.323/.391 in 144 games. He smacked 12 home runs and stole 14 bases, with 43 RBI.

Maybin would go on to play four seasons with the San Diego Padres, a year with the Atlanta Braves, and another season with the Tigers. He ended up splitting last season between the Los Angeles Angels and the World Champion Houston Astros. His 33 stolen bases at the age of 30 was his second highest yield in the category. He did steal 40 for the 2011 Padres.

Prior to this season, he signed with the Marlins through free agency just prior to spring training for one-year and $3,250,000. He has appeared in every game so far.

In the series opener, Maybin batted sixth and grounded out for the second out of the second frame. In the fourth, he hit a single with a man on first and nobody out. After a flyball out with two on for the second out of the sixth, he stroked a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to score Starlin Castro.

In game two, Maybin again batted sixth, and hit a single to center with one out in the second inning. Unfortunately, he was picked off trying to steal second on a full count. Meanwhile, Miguel Rojas hit the ball to right field, and Maybin was doubled off easily. He struck out to end the fourth with a man on second. In the seventh, he singled and stole a base. He later grounded out to open the 10th and hit what could have been the game winner in the 11th (pictured). With two outs and runners on first and second, he hit an RBI-double. Justin Bour was thrown out trying to score the winning run on the play.

Jose Urena +.278

Jose Urena is a 6’2″, 200 lb. right hander from the Dominican Republic. Now 26-years-old, he signed with the Marlins back in 2009.

Urena worked his way up through Miami’s minor league system, earning a 53-41 record and a 3.48 ERA. He posted a 1.216 WHIP, with 542 strikeouts in 750 innings.

Urena made his Marlins debut in 2015, and over his first two major league seasons did not inspire much. He went just 5-14 for the Marlins, with a 5.76 ERA, a ghastly 1.500 WHIP, and just 86 K’s in 145 1/3 innings.

Urena put it together a little better in 2017. He remained in the rotation for most of the season, making 28 starts in total. He racked up a team-high 14 wins, going 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA, a 1.273 WHIP, and 113 whiffs in 169 2/3 innings of work.

Urena started out this season without his best stuff. He hit three batters and allowed two walks and a homer in the first inning of the MLB season opener against the Chicago Cubs.

Urena has made a career out of bouncing back from less-than-impressive appearances. In Tuesday’s game, he pitched seven strong innings and struck out a career-high seven Red Sox. He surrendered only one earned run, on four hits and a walk. 72-of-109 pitches were over the plate.

Brad Ziegler +.135

Brad Ziegler is a 6’4″, 220 lb. right-handed pitcher from Kansas. At 38-years-old, he’s now the senior member of the Miami Marlins after the departure of Ichiro Suzki. He was initially chosen in the 31st round of the 2002 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. After not signing, he was picked in the 20th round in 2003 by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Despite that, Ziegler made his debut with the A’s after a few roster moves. His first campaign, in 2008, would see him put up a 1.06 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. He was 3-0 with 11 saves and 30 K’s in 59 2/3 innings. His 3.72 FIP that season suggested that his minuscule ERA was not a repeatable skill.

And the FIP was right in this case. Ziegler did play three-and-a-half seasons for Oakland. Later, he played from 2011 through 2016 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and ended the 2016 season with the Red Sox.

Ziegler joined the Marlins prior to 2017 through free agency, signing a two-year, $16,000,000 contract. Last season, he was 1-4 with 10 saves, a 1-4 record, 26 strikeouts in 47 innings, and a 1.553 WHIP. Despite that, he has started the 2018 season as Miami’s nominal closer.

Ziegler’s performance in this series, and his placement here as the third most valuable Marlin must be taken with a grain of salt. He was effective in that he pitched a scoreless 10th inning in Miami’s eventual 13-inning loss to the Sox. He ranked so highly because WPA doesn’t account for defense, whether sparkling or error-laden. Otherwise Lewis Brinson and Chad Wallach would have ranked higher.

ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 16: Kyle Barraclough /

Kyle Barraclough +.135

Kyle Barraclough, known affectionately around these parts as “Bear Claw,” is a 6’3″, 225 lb. right-hander. Now 27-years-old, he was a 40th round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2011. After not signing, he later was a seventh round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012.

Barraclough has long been considered a fireballer with little control, and his walk and strikeout totals “bear” that out. In 109 minor league contests, he struck out 188 in 149 innings, saving 28 games and putting up a 6-6 record with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.309 WHIP. He was striking out opposing batters at an 11.4K/9 clip. Conversely, despite allowing only 6.9 hits per nine, he was also walking 4.9 per nine.

Barraclough struck out 30 in only 24 1/3 innings in 2015, but also walked 18 in the same time. He surrendered only 12 hits. Through his career at the major league level thus far, he his 14-6 with a 2.82 ERA, 224 K’s in 166 innings, and A 1.271 WHIP.

Barraclough has shown us a little better results this season, small sample size notwithstanding. He has gone three innings thus far without allowing a hit. He has walked one batter and struck out five Cubs and Red Sox.

In this series, Barraclough pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out Hanley Ramirez in the eventual 13-inning loss.

Brian Anderson +.111

Brian Anderson is Miami’s current starter at the hot corner. He’s a 6’3″, 185 lb. third-round pick of the Marlins, from back in 2014.

Anderson, currently ranked as Miami’s #9 prospect, is about to lose his “prospect” status. Probably tomorrow in his third plate appearance. That will be his 130th career plate appearance at the major league level, and marks his “official” rookie season.

Anderson worked his way up through Miami’s system from his selection until late last season. He racked up a .264/.341/.417 slashline in 446 games across five minor league levels, with 52 home runs and 257 RBI.

Anderson went 22-for-84 with eight extra base hits after joining Miami late last year (but no home runs).

This season, Anderson has gotten out to a great start, going eight-for-25 with six walks and a .949 OPS.

In this series, Anderson batted cleanup, and led off the second inning of the opener with his first career round tripper to take a 1-0 Miami lead. He grounded out to end the third with the bases loaded and drew a walk in the sixth with a man on first. He drew first by way of HBP with a a man on second in the eighth, and popped out to end the game with a runner on third in the ninth.

In game two, Anderson struck out to end the first inning with a man on first. In the fourth, he singled to center field and scored to tie it up at one. He flew out to left to open the seventh, and drew a two-out walk in the ninth and the 11th. He scored the game-tying run on Maybin’s double, but struck out swinging with a man on first to end the contest.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Drew Steckenrider /

Drew Steckenrider +.105

Steckenrider pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing a leadoff double to Jackie Bradley Jr. After Bradley advanced to third on a Mitch Moreland fly out to center field, he was pegged at the plate on a whiz-bang play by Marlins catcher Chad Wallach. The inning closed when Eduardo Nunez was caught stealing.

Justin Bour +.056

Bour had kind of a rough start to the season, going two-for-14 through the series with the Cubs. In the opener against Boston, Bour batted fifth, and hit into a 6-3 groundout just after Anderson’s homer in the second. He led off the fourth with a single, then flew out to short-left-center with two runners on for the second out of the sixth. He then struck out with runners on first and second for the first out of the eighth.

In game two, Bour flew out to open the second, then hit an RBI-double to score Anderson from first with two out in the fourth. He struck out for the second out of the seventh, then lined out to short with a runner on first to end the ninth. Bour drew a walk with two out and a man on first in the 11th, but was gunned down at the plate with the potential game-winner on Maybin’s double.

Junichi Tazawa +.032

Tazawa struck out one batter in 1 2/3 innings of work in Miami’s loss on Monday.

Jacob Turner -.003

Jacob Turner pitched two innings in the series opener, and allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk.

Chris O’Grady -.020

O’Grady allowed a seventh-inning solo home run to Mookie Betts in the series opener on Monday. He also walked a batter and collected three outs, but no strikeouts.

Tomas Telis -.026

Tomas Telis came in with the double switch in the top of the fifth on Monday, replacing starting pitcher Trevor Richards in the lineup. He flew out to lead off the bottom of the fifth. In the seventh, he hit a one out single to short right field, but was stranded by fly ball outs from Lewis Brinson and Derek Dietrich. In the ninth, he drew a leadoff walk, and later scored Miami’s final run on a Starlin Castro groundout.

In game two, Telis struck out swinging in a pinch-hit appearance for the second out of the eighth.

Yadiel Rivera -.031

In game one, Rivera came in as a pinch-hitter for pitcher O’Grady in the sixth, and remained in the game in left field. After a swinging strikeout to open the seventh, he grounded out, 4-3 to end the eighth with runners on the corners. He drew a walk in 10th inning of game two.

Derek Dietrich -.087

Derek Dietrich batted second for the Marlins and struck out for the second out of the first inning in game one. He drew a two-out walk with a man on first in the third, then struck out to end the fifth. Later, he flew out to left field to end the seventh.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 25: Starting pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne /

Bryan Holaday -.167

Holaday batted eighth and started the game as the backstop in the opener. He led off the third with a ground out. In the fourth, with runners on first and second, Holaday grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to put a fork in Miami’s chance to score. Holaday was replaced in the lineup in the top of the fifth by pitcher Junichi Tazawa, and in the field by Tomas Telis. In game two, Holaday struck out swinging for the final out of the 12th inning.

Odrisamer Despaigne -.169

After a win in relief after pitching a flawless 17th inning on Friday, Despaigne got no decision in Miami’s loss on Saturday. His third appearance of the season was also in relief. He pitched the 11th for the Marlins, and allowed a double to Eduardo Nunez and an RBI-single to Andrew Benintendi. He then induced Hanley Ramirez to line out and J.D. Martinez to whiff.

Starlin Castro -.222

Castro batted third for the Marlins, and started the opener by striking out to end the first. He singled with two-on and two-out in the third, singled to lead off the fourth, and doubled to open the eighth. He then scored on Cameron Maybin’s single. Castro punctuated his three-hit night by scoring Tomas Telis on a ninth-inning RBI-groundout.

Castro started out game two with another single, but was otherwise 0-for-5 in the 13-inning loss.

Chad Wallach -.227

Wallach pinch hit for Jacob Turner in game one, grounding out with nobody out and runners on second and third in the ninth inning. He started behind the plate in game two, flying out to right to open the third inning. He struck out for the second out of the fifth and grounded out to lead off the eighth. Later, he struck out with one out and a runner on first in the 10th and struck out again for the second out of the 12th. His stellar defensive plays did not factor into his WPA.

Miguel Rojas -.256

Rojas batted seventh for the Marlins in game one, and started his night by striking out with nobody on in the second. He lined out to deep right-center for the first out of the fourth, with runners on first and second. In the sixth, he fouled out with two runners on for the third out of the inning. He grounded out in the eighth with two runners on for out number two. Not a great night.

Rojas flew out to end the second inning in the second game, fouled out to open the fifth and struck out to end the seventh. He hit a single to center off Craig Kimbrel with one out in the 10th, then stole second base, but was stranded there after a Lewis Brinson fly out. Rojas grounded out to open the 12th and close his night at the plate.

Lewis Brinson -.266

Brinson bunted out to lead off the first game, then hit a single with two outs in the third. He grounded out for the second out of the fifth, and flew out with one out and one on in the seventh. With a man on first in the ninth, he singled to center field. Not really a bad night.

The bad night was Tuesday, despite Brinson’s solid defensive effort. He grounded out to lead off inning one, then closed the third with a strikeout. He struck out to lead off the sixth, lined out to end the eighth, and flew out to end the 10th with two runners on. Brinson grounded out to start the 13th, ending his night 0-for-6.

Miami Marlins: Post Series Grades vs Boston

The Miami Marlins dropped both contests of their short series with the Boston Red Sox. We’re going to take a closer look at the 21 Miami Marlins players who appeared.

Schedule