Poteet's quality, consistency has 'been huge'

MIAMI -- "I never know when it could be my last day in the big leagues, so I'm just thankful to be here."

That’s what right-hander Cody Poteet had to say after throwing a career-high seven scoreless innings in the Marlins' 5-1 win over the Mets on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot park.

Through three starts, Poteet has compiled a 1.06 ERA in 17 innings. His best showing came in the series finale, albeit against a depleted Mets roster. He gave up three singles and struck out four, retiring his final 14 batters. Poteet joined counterpart Jordan Yamamoto as the only Miami pitchers to go five-plus innings and allow four or fewer in each of their first three career starts.

“I feel like I'm getting a better feel for being out there on a big league mound,” said Poteet, who credited veteran catcher Sandy León. “It's been very special for me. Being able to keep -- for the most part -- emotions under control and feel like I'm getting some comfortability.”

All season, the Marlins have sought someone to take advantage of the opportunity in the back end of the rotation with Elieser Hernandez and Sixto Sánchez sidelined. Daniel Castano and Nick Neidert struggled in their chances, and Jordan Holloway landed on the injured list with a right groin strain following his abbreviated appearance on Friday. His quick exit put the bullpen in a bind, but starters Pablo López and Poteet delivered with consecutive seven-inning gems.

At the same time Poteet was dealing in Miami, Hernandez was tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville. Though he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Saturday, he can be activated on June 3 when the Marlins are in Pittsburgh.

"That's been huge," manager Don Mattingly said. "Obviously those two spots have been a little bit of a battle. Cody has kind of solidified that fourth one, where it's been good outing after good outing. And we're close to getting Elieser back, so it kind of gives you some tract with that. Hopefully this continues. [Poteet is] throwing the ball good, he's got good stuff. Continues to be able to change speeds, get the breaking ball over. There's no reason he can't continue. It's been really nice to get that spot settled in and not have to do this twice every time through the rotation."

Miami felt confident in its organizational pitching depth entering 2021, and its past and present collided in Sunday’s rubber match with Yamamoto on the mound. He exited due to right shoulder soreness after four frames in his first start with the Mets. All nine batters came to the plate in a five-run second, with Poteet collecting his first MLB hit and RBI on a dribbler with the bases loaded. Yamamoto did retire six of the final eight batters he faced before the injury.

The Marlins DFA'd Yamamoto, whom they acquired in the Christian Yelich trade, after signing reliever Anthony Bass in January and facing a roster crunch. Yamamoto had struggled (7.61 ERA in 16 outings) after winning his first three MLB starts in 2019. The Marlins dealt him to the Mets for Minor Leaguer Federico Polanco. The 20-year-old shortstop entered Sunday with an .858 OPS through 12 games at Low-A Jupiter.

“A lot of us know Yammy pretty good,” said Brian Anderson, who started the second inning with a single. “I think as far as game planning, I don't really think you adjust anything. I think you still look at his stuff just like [he's] another righty. But I've also seen his stuff playing behind him a little bit, so we've got pretty good scouting reports on him. But as a team, we're just trying to see him up and find barrels the best we can.”

Poteet’s latest quality outing, meanwhile, secured Miami’s second straight series victory against a club ahead of it in the National League East standings. The Marlins (22-24) improved to two games below .500 for the first time since May 8, and are two games back of the Mets (21-19).

“I think we all would look at each other as teams [where] that you can't just roll in and feel like you're going to beat up on somebody,” Mattingly said. “I didn't realize black and blue would mean all the injuries. It seems like the teams are pretty beat up. The Mets are beat up, we've been a little beat up, kind of getting back to health. Phillies are a little beat up, so that's part of the game now. I think each team knows you're going to play these guys 19 times and it's never going to be easy.”