3 Players that might just decide the season for the Miami Marlins

2. SP EURY PEREZ

Ace Sandy Alcantara is out for the season. This means that the Miami Marlins badly need someone to step up in his place. There's obvious options, but there's none coming with more hype than Eury Perez. Eury had a 3.15 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9, in 19 games and 91.1 IP in 2023.

Eury Perez looked like an ace in 2023, but is he ready to take it to the next level? Can he become an actual ace? Or will he hit the brakes with a "sophomore slump"? He had a 4.11 FIP, so growing pains should be expected. If those pains are significant this upcoming season, he may be taking a step back to be more of a mid-rotation starter.

If Eury struggles in 2024 and is more of a mid to back of the rotation starter, it means that there's even more pressure on Jesus Luzardo and others. It's asking for too much from them, and might just be the death blow to the team's chances to make the playoffs. If Eury pitches like an ace however...this could be enough to make The Fish's rotation one of the best in the game. Steamer projects a 4.09 ERA for him in 2024. What if his ERA is closer to the 3.15 from 2023?

NEXT: THE SECRET WEAPON

1. SP EDWARD CABRERA

Jesus Luzardo and Eury Perez having good seasons can be projected. Braxton Garrett was pretty solid in 2023, producing a 3.66 ERA/3.68 FIP in 31 games and 159.2 innings pitched. He can be projected to do similarly, but there's one starting pitcher that can turn the Miami Marlins rotation into a top 5 in the game....

Edward Cabrera. The former top prospect has an elite strikeout rate (10.1 K/9 career), but a terrible 5.4 BB/9 for his career. That's the thing that's keeping Cabrera from taking things to the next level. This is why he was elite in 2022, with a 3.01 ERA in 14 games and 71.2 innings pitched.

He can also be like he was in 2023, when he produced a 4.24 ERA in 22 games and 99.2 innings pitched. If Cabrera finally puts everything together and gets his control...well under control, this can elevate The Fish's rotation to an elite one in the Majors as a whole. On the other hand, any struggle from him might put too much pressure on The Fish's rotation.

The 2024 season will see the Miami Marlins attempt to return to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, for the first time ever. Jazz Chisholm JR. having an MVP season or missing most of it due to injury; Edward Cabrera emerging as an ace, or struggling yet again and putting more strain on the rotation; Eury Perez becoming a legitimate ace, or having "growing pains". These three players can definitely make the difference.