Miami Marlins: Grading the Fish vs Colorado Rockies

Caleb Smith +.379

Up until today’s game, Caleb Smith hasn’t had the easiest start to a major league career.

Last season, he appeared in nine major league contests with the New York Yankees. Although his strikeout totals were solid, with 18 in 18 2/3 innings, he also had a 1.661 WHIP and a 7.71 ERA. A 5.62 FIP indicated that although his ERA was a little high, he really wasn’t getting it done. Admittedly, it was a very small sample size.

Smith had alternated good starts with bad through the first five starts of the season. In his debut on March 30th, he struck out eight in just 5 1/3 innings and allowed only a run to the Chicago Cubs, earning no-decision. In his next start on April 5th, he walked six in only three innings, allowing three runs and taking the loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-0. He followed that with a relatively good game, striking out seven in five innings and surrendering three runs in an 8-6 loss to the New York Mets. He again earned a no-decision.

On April 16th, he turned in his worst showing of the campaign, earning a 25 GameScore by walking five and allowing five hits in just 2 1/3 innings. He earned the loss that day, to the New York Yankees, 12-1. He lost again on April 22nd, but he was pretty darn good in that game. He struck out 10 and allowed only two hits and zero walks in a 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Which takes us to his outing today. He finished with a staggeringly good GameScore of 85. He lasted seven innings and struck out nine, while allowing two hits and a walk. The performance lowered his season’s ERA from 5.82 to 4.40. He also collected his first ever major league win, 3-0 over the Colorado Rockies.