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Miami Marlins: Bold predictions for pitchers in 2020

By David Levin

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 17: Caleb Smith #31 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 17, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 17: Caleb Smith #31 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 17, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Jordan Yamamoto #50 of the Miami Marlins looks on while performing drills during team workouts at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: Jordan Yamamoto #50 of the Miami Marlins looks on while performing drills during team workouts at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

What does the future hold for the Miami Marlins pitching staff in 2020?

It’s still early in the process, but the Miami Marlins coaching staff and front office figure to have tough decisions to make regarding their pitchers for 2020. Actually, there is no figuring about it. There is depth both in the rotation and in the bullpen, which means several good players may be on the outside looking in once the regular season starts.

Sandy Alcantara figures to be the team’s Opening Day starter, followed by Caleb Smith and Pablo Lopez. After that, as we have discussed, throw as many as six names into a hat and shake it up. Then choose two of them to fill out the rotation.

Have I mentioned before that this is a good problem for manager Don Mattingly and his staff to have? The Marlins depth on the mound is something many other MLB teams would love to have – evident of the push by front offices this offseason to acquire Smith and potential other names that were not discussed in open conversation.

More from Marlins News

It’s pretty cool to be one of the popular kids when school starts. The Marlins proved that at the Baseball Winter Meetings in San Diego earlier this year. The team’s popularity figures to grow as the wins mount or in another direction if the team cannot get itself out of the National League East basement. Teams will once again ask if young arms are for sale and what the cost might be.

The rotation remains the core of conversation for this franchise heading into 2020, but the bullpen has been overhauled to help hold leads and potentially extend them. The front office made major changes to the team’s starting lineup, but let’s not forget the relief effort got its own makeover, too.

I’m in the minority here, but I do think if the pitching staff can hold its own and the relievers do their job, then 75-80 wins aren’t out of the question. And with that, I give you three bold predictions for Marlins pitchers for the season.

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