Dan Straily’s 2018 Season Review: Miami Marlins Recap

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 95 of 286. Stay tuned.

Daniel Steven Straily is a 6’3″, 230  lb. right-handed pitcher from Redlands, California. Born on December 1st, 1988, he’s reliant on a four-pitch mix to get batters out. He uses a fastball (46.3%), a slider (28.5%), a changeup (15.8%), and a two-seamer (6.4%), according to www.thebaseballcube.com.

In 2009, the Oakland Athletics selected Straily in the 24th round out of Marshall University. In two seasons with Marshall, he went 9-7 with a 4.28 ERA over 29 games, including 28 starts.

Chosen 723rd overall, Straily is the most accomplished player selected at the spot, with a 6.4 career WAR. Also making the majors from that draft position are Brian Wilson (2003, San Francisco Giants, 5.6 WAR), Matt Dermody (2012, Arizona Diamondbacks, 0.0 WAR), and Ron Mathis (1980, Detroit Tigers, -2.0 WAR). You can follow Straily on Twitter @danstraily67.

After signing, Straily joined the Vancouver Canadiens in the short-season-A Northwest League, going 5-3 with a 4.12 ERA. He pitched for the Kane County Cougars in the single-A Midwest League in 2010 and for the high-A Stockton Ports in the California League in 2011.

In 2012, Straily made his double-A, triple-A, and major league debuts, starting seven games for the Athletics. He started 2013 ranked as the Athletics’ number five organizational prospect. In parts of three seasons with Oakland, he went 13-11 with a 4.11 ERA in 41 starts, striking out 190 in 229 1/3 innings. Before making his way to the Miami Marlins, he also played for the Chicago Cubs (0-1, 11.85), the Houston Astros (0-1, 5.40), and the Cincinnati Reds (14-8, 3.76).

In January 2017, the Reds traded Straily to the Marlins for Austin Brice, Luis Castillo, and Isaiah White. Through his first Miami season, “Thunder Dan” Straily posted a 10-9 record, a 1.30 WHIP, and a 4.26 ERA over 33 starts, with 170 whiffs in 181 2/3 innings.

Straily was in line to be the opening day starter for the Miami Marlins in 2018, but Jose Urena was named to the top spot instead. Straily then went on the disabled list with an elbow strain two days prior to opening day.

In Straily’s fourth start of the season, he held the Atlanta Braves to no runs on three hits over seven innings, striking out six in a 2-0 Miami Marlins victory on May 18th (see above). In his longest outing of the campaign, on August 31st, he went eight frames against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits. The Marlins lost that one, 6-5 due to a total ninth inning meltdown from Kyle Barraclough and Drew Steckenrider.

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Injuries took their toll on the Miami Marlins rotation, as Urena led the group with 31 starts. Straily, ranking fourth, started 23 times. His WHIP of 1.30 was unchanged from the season prior, and his 4.12 ERA was a full run better than his 5.11 FIP. That indicates that Straily was the recipient of staggeringly good fielding behind him. He struck out 99 in 122 1/2 innings, and held opponents to a .237/.323/.431 slashline. He walked 52 batters in 518 plate appearances, and led the club with 20 home runs allowed. His 7.9 hits allowed per nine innings ranked second amongst starters behind only Caleb Smith.

Straily is still in line to help hold down the Miami Marlins rotation in 2019. He’s a relative workhorse, with over 180 innings pitched in each of the two seasons prior to last seasons’ injuries. Look for him to compete in Spring Training and end up either third or fourth in the rotation.

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