You are aware that seven starting pitchers for the Marlins are currently listed as injured. It has put the organization’s depth in the pitching staff to the test and put more pressure on the bullpen.
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated Miami 7-6 on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, wiping out a four-run deficit. The Marlins had the opportunity to win the series in the penultimate game for the second time during this two-city trip, but they blew a late lead, dropping from five of seven possible wins to just three.
Manager Skip Schumaker remarked, “It’s great to get a couple of wins [in Philadelphia].” Unfortunately, it’s hard to end on a somewhat negative note. We feel comfortable about going to our bullpen and winning with a respectable lead. But that’s the reason you engage in the game.
After Southpaws Jesús Luzardo and Braxton Garrett suffered injuries on back-to-back days, Miami’s run of ten straight gamedays came to an end on Sunday.
Here are the pitching stats for the team during this time:
• The bullpen’s 37 2/3 innings; each start is 4.93 innings
• Since June 12, no starter has won (every other MLB team has at least one).
In close games, there is little room for error because the Marlins are not getting enough mileage out of their starters and because the lineup frequently fails to score enough. That was the case in Wednesday’s game against the Royals, where right-hander Huascar Brazoban let up five runs in the eighth inning while Tanner Scott and A.J. Puk, lefties, were out due to injury. Originally, the game was tied 1-0.
Miami’s bullpen had a 2.91 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP going into the series finale, despite being overworked. With Sunday’s performance included, those figures have increased to a 1.09 WHIP and 3.11 ERA, which are still rather good.
To be honest, I think it might have caught up today, Schumaker remarked. Everyone was in a cheerful mood. Before a person enters a game, you always strike up a chat and check on him. However, walks and extra outs will cost you when against a strong squad. Without a doubt, we need to give the rotation additional length. We cannot play every player for four innings every day, especially when we have ten games in a row with little to no off days (or none at all, I should add). The timing of the off-day was ideal. We require that day off. Get the guys some rest, do a little reset, and maybe return against Boston [on Tuesday].
The Phillies chipped away while holding Miami off the scoreboard after the Marlins hammered MLB ERA leader Ranger Suárez for a season-high six runs in 4 2/3 innings to establish a 6-2 lead.
Yonny Chirinos, the starter, was hit by Nick Castellanos for an RBI double in the fifth inning. Chirinos would leave the game after 87 pitches. In his first two starts, Chirinos had gone five frames in each instance.
Through translator Will Nadal, Chirinos stated, “Like I said previously, it’s about attacking the batters, making sure that you’re putting the ball in play.” “I won’t be able to pitch six or seven innings every time. That is undoubtedly the objective. It’s a strategy element. As I mentioned before, I believe the problem going ahead is that I wasn’t able to put the ball in play as often as I would have liked to today. However, I’m not letting it stop me. It will continue to drive me ahead, and I believe I can give the squad that as well.
In the sixth, Philadelphia then took advantage of a fielding error made by shortstop Tim Anderson, which might have resulted in an inning-ending double play. After Brandon Marsh struck out, Castellanos hit a two-run single off Puk with two outs to cut the lead to one.
Southpaw Andrew Nardi opened the seventh inning by walking the first two hitters he faced, claiming after the game that he had problems gripping the ball. In a replay of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, Nardi got Bryson Stott to fly out to shallow right after a sacrifice bunt advanced both bases (Stott broke the game open with a first-pitch grand slam in the sixth inning)
“I never really know who my last batter is,” said Nardi, who in 2023 served as the team’s bullpen firefighter. “For my own sake, I want to get out of my own problem since I created it. I thus regret not staying for Trea Turner.