Miami Marlins Eury Perez still searching for that ace-like consistency

The Miami Marlins needed a big time, ace-like effort from Eury Perez Monday night.

They didn't get it.

Fortunately, they won anyway, pounding the Braves 10-4. However, if the Marlins are going to come anywhere close to matching the expectations they claim to have this season, it's hard to see them doing so without Perez helping to lead the way. Miami's bullpen has been great this year, but the starting rotation needs to better at sparing those relievers if they are going to hold up. Perez did nothing to help that cause Monday, putting his team behind the 8-ball the rest of this series by only lasting four innings.

Of course, it's not just about this series or this season when it comes to Miami and their starting pitching. Plenty of chatter has the Marlins front office effectively handing Perez the keys to the franchise this summer as a result of trading staff ace Sandy Alcantara. They have no bigger trade chip, and no higher priced player, so you know the temptation will be there if the Marlins find themselves too far out of the race. With Robby Snelling and Thomas White waiting in the wings at AAA, and multiple members of the Marlins MLB lineup playing like they actually belong in AAA, it would honestly be a surprise if Miami doesn't trade one more pitcher at some point in 2026.

You have to imagine the Marlins will feel a lot more comfortable about that if the ace of the future actually has some ace like moments.

Might that be a little harsh? Perhaps. Certainly Perez has the talent to be one of the best in the game, and his stuff continually grades out that way. Personally, I hope the Marlins extend him tomorrow. He was great in 2023 until he got hurt, and he was great for the first half of 2025. Hitting a wall after missing a year is a very reasonable excuse. Yet it's also fair to say that he really only had one good month last season (1.29 ERA, 0.64 WHIP in July), has never been good on the road, and has been extremely inconsistent on both a game and season level.

It is that consistency that the Marlins need Perez to find...and find quickly. While there is admittedly a lot of subjective analysis backing this, Monday night's game was the kind a team wants that proverbial ace taking the hill for. Aces stop losing streaks. Carry the team when they are down. They definitely don't give up a 3-run lead right after being given it. They often take advantage when their team's offense can do no wrong- just look to what Alcantara did earlier this season against the White Sox. Perez didn't need to throw a shutout, but six or seven strong innings shouldn't have been too much to ask.

Instead, it was a line of 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, and 2 K. Again, five different Marlins relievers needed to work in this one. Miami still won, but much more in spite of Perez than because of him. Now the pressure is on Meyer and Paddack to provide some needed length these next couple games. That could well happen, but it's also not the most likely outcome. Perez was easily the best chance for that coming in. Sadly, it just didn't happen.

If the Marlins are going to get to where they want to go, they need their young ace in the making to start making good on all that promise. Eury Perez needs to be better, period.

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