Marlin Maniac
FanSided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Miami Marlins
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 21: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins talks with teammate Bryan Holaday #28 in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 21, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

Dominance at the Top

The Marlins got 10 wins out of Caleb Smith and only six from Sandy Alcantara. By my math, that’s 16 of the team’s 57 victories in 2019. What if the two aces of the rotation approached that win total on their own?

Miami had two winning pitchers in 2017 in Jose Urena (14) and Dan Straily (10). I could see Smith and Alcantara each approach somewhere between 15-17 wins in 2020.

Smith must find the rhythm he had in the first half of 2019 again, but have it carry over to the second half of the season. He must cut down on home runs he surrenders and work on keeping his pitch count down.

Alcantara was 6-14 last year but had some of the most impressive outings as a starter last season. Can the lineup support him with more runs this season? Alcantara could be a Cy Young candidate with the right balance of pitching and support. He is that good and has worked to improve his control and consistency.

Home/Marlins News