Marlins starter Trevor Richards still looking for first win

Miami Marlins starter Trevor Richards takes the mound against the Atlanta Braves still in search of his first win of the 2019 MLB season.

When the 2019 season began, the last thing most Marlins fans thought was Trevor Richards would be winless to date. Every other starter on the pitching staff has at least one victory, but Richards still has an A.P.B out for that elusive “W” on his resume.

I know it’s hard to think like it’s a mystery over what he needs to do to gain a victory given the Marlins have only won nine games this season and are one of the worst teams in the Majors. But the man with one of the best change-ups in baseball takes to the mound against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park hoping to end an 0-for-4 start to the season and lower his 4.64 ERA.

Last night, the Braves could not slow down the Braves bats, losing 7-4 in the first of a three-game series. The loss to Atlanta was secondary to the tension prior to the game between the two clubs as Jose Urena faced the Marlins rival. Urena hit then-rookie Ronald Acuna intentionally last year on Aug. 15, creating a firestorm of emotion from both clubhouses.

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Despite taking the loss, as Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wrote, “In the heat of the moment, Jose Urena kept his cool. Bracing for the possibility of being thrown at, the 27-year-old held his ground in the batter’s box in the second inning, leaning forward just enough to allow Kevin Gausman’s upper-90s-mph fastball to whistle behind him.”

Now that the first encounter with Urena is over, maybe the two sides will have a kinder, gentler game on Saturday night. Richards wants to even the series and give the team momentum heading into a potential rubber match on Sunday.

Still, the cloud over the game from the previous night had the media and Urena discussing the situation.

“I just go out there, be ready and be prepared,” Urena said. “We’re professional. You try to play the game. That’s what I try to show for the little kids out there. But sometimes other people try to do something different, but you’ve got to get out there and compete.”

While his record does not show he has been effective on the mound, the batters Richards has faced this season have a .188 average against him with his changeup. He has given up four home runs with that pitch in his previous two outings.