Miami Marlins Spring Training Update: The Starting Rotation

In the last seven days, the Miami Marlins have made some notable moves in the rotation.

Throughout Spring Training, Marlin Maniac is taking a deeper look into the possible 2019 Opening Day roster. Every Monday, we’ll be looking at the Miami Marlins rotation. On Tuesday, the outfield, Wednesday is the bullpen, on Thursday it’s the catchers, and Friday we check out the infield.

This article will focus on the statistics and roster moves that the Miami Marlins have produced/made over the last seven days, from March 4th through 10th. Percent rotation chances completely estimated by me.

Miami Marlins Active Roster

Sandy Alcantara

Sandy Alcantara started on Tuesday, in the Miami Marlins 3-1 victory against the New York Mets. He earned no-decision, striking out three batters and allowing just one hit in 3 2/3 innings of work. Unfortunately, control continued to be an issue for Alcantara, who gave up four walks in the start.

Alcantara was far better in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. He struck out five in 4 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and two walks. Despite his control issues, Alcantara has a spring ERA of 1.50 in 12 innings over four starts. Rotation chance: 65 percent

Jeff Brigham

Jeff Brigham struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday, as the Marlins dropped a 4-0 decision to the Braves. Brigham did issue a walk, but surrendered no hits. Rotation chance: zero percent

Wei-Yin Chen

Wei-Yin Chen started for the Miami Marlins in their 9-8 victory over the Washington Nationals last Monday. It was the Marlins first win after a five-game losing streak, but Chen allowed seven baserunners in two innings of work, on five singles, a hit batsman, and a walk. He surrendered four runs to run his Spring Training ERA to 24.30.

Chen redeemed himself somewhat with a solid relief outing on Saturday. He inherited an in-progress perfect game from López (below) starting in the fifth, and continued it into the eighth inning. Chen did surrender a single, striking out three Nationals. Rotation chance: 15 percent

Pablo López

Pablo López relieved Mike Kickham to pitch the fourth inning in the Marlins win against the Nats on Monday, and kept Washington scoreless for three innings on two hits. He also struck one batter out.

JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 20: Pablo Lopez #49 of the Miami Marlins poses for a photo during photo days at Roger Dean Stadium on February 20, 2019 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

On Saturday, López started against the Nationals and pitched four perfect innings, striking out four batters and earning the victory. His spring ERA is now 1.00. Rotation chance: 85 percent

Trevor Richards

Trevor Richards started Miami’s split squad game against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. He collected a total of four strikeouts in the contest, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing one walk and two hits. The run he gave up was a Robinson Chirinos solo shot. Rotation chance: 90 percent

Caleb Smith

It was announced that Caleb Smith will make his spring training debut on Wednesday, in a start against the St. Louis Cardinals. More on that here. Rotation chance: 57 percent

Dan Straily

Dan Straily started for Miami on Friday, in the Marlins 10-3 victory against the Mets. Straily did surrender two homers in 3 1/3 innings, but overall was pretty sharp. He struck out three and walked one, also allowing a single. Rotation chance: 90 percent

José Ureña

José Ureña started for the Miami Marlins on Thursday, in a 4-1 loss to the Astros. For his part, Ureña allowed four runs on two walks and four hits, but three of those runs were unearned. Ureña also struck out two. Rotation chance: 98 percent

Non-Roster Invitees

Robert Dugger

Robert Dugger pitched the sixth inning in Miami’s 11-5 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday, and was lit up for three hits and a pair of walks for two runs.

Zac Gallen

Zac Gallen pitched the fifth and sixth innings on Thursday for the Marlins against the Astros, and kept Houston scoreless. He struck out one batter and allowed two hits and a walk.

Nick Neidert

Nick Neidert started Miami’s split-squad contest against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. In two innings of work, he allowed two walks and one hit, keeping the Braves scoreless and striking one batter out.

40-Man Roster

Jorge Guzman

Jorge Guzman was assigned to the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Friday, and will start the season in the Southern League club’s starting rotation.

Jordan Holloway

Jordan Holloway came in to pitch the fifth inning on Wednesday against Atlanta, and surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. Holloway struck out two. On Friday, Holloway was assigned to the advanced-A Jupiter Hammerheads, where he’ll begin the 2019 campaign in the Florida State League.

Jordan Yamamoto

Jordan Yamamoto pitched the sixth and seventh innings of the Marlins win over the Mets on Tuesday, surrendering two hits and two walks for one earned run. On Friday, Yamamoto was optioned to the New Orleans Baby Cakes, in the triple-A Pacific Coast League.

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