There are only a few players to be considered, but see who Anthony DiComo of MLB.com thinks is the Miami Marlins 2019 MVP.
The National League East proved to be an exciting division to watch this season as Anthony DiComo of MLB.com wrote. Four of the five teams had playoff aspirations until the final week of the season but, you guessed it, the Miami Marlins were not one of them.
Hopefully, next season proves to be just as exciting with all five teams remaining in the mix until the final days of the 2020 season.
In DiComo’s latest piece, he covers the MVP for each of the five ballclubs. While I thought he might pick Brian Anderson, who has missed the final month with a fractured hand, the choice of Sandy Alcantara is a valid one for many reasons.
"“Don’t look now, but since the start of August, Alcantara owns a 2.90 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. Opponents are batting .197 against him over that stretch,” DiComo explains."
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Those numbers are impressive given that the Marlins have failed to support him at the plate and while he has had some of the best games for the pitching staff this season, he figures to get better with a full season under his belt from 2019.
The Marlins acquired him last offseason to become a top-tier starter and he has proven he can be that, despite an upside-down record. DiComo did mention Anderson as the player who might have garnered more accolades had it not been for the season-ending injury.
He also talked about Alcantara’s place in team history. It only figures to get better for the 24-year-old, who should be the Opening Day starter in 2020.
"“As it stands, it’s difficult to look past Alcantara, who has stabilized Miami’s rotation in throwing 191 1/3 innings and counting. He’ll likely finish with the Marlins’ highest innings total since Nathan Eovaldi threw 199 2/3 in 2014, but Eovaldi was a below-average pitcher that year according to the metric ERA+,” DiComo wrote.“The last Marlin to throw at least 191 above-average innings was a 33-year-old Mark Buehrle in ’12.”"
The Marlins front office has some decisions to make over the winter. Will the franchise keep these starting pitchers together, and there are many of them, or will they siphon them off as trade chips for help in the power department?
Alcantara could become an interesting piece to the puzzle that is still being placed together in Miami
"“He’s either going to be a centerpiece of the Marlins’ next winning team, or a key part of a blockbuster trade. Either way, he’s a critical piece in Miami,” DiComo said"