Marte out for NLDS; Marlins go with 14 arms
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“Next man up” has been the Marlins’ mentality all season.
Once again, the Marlins’ depth and resiliency will be tested, because center fielder Starling Marte will not be available for the National League Division Series against the Braves at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Miami announced its 28-player NLDS roster on Tuesday, and Marte, who has a fractured left pinkie, was not on the list.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 6 | ATL 9, MIA 5 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 7 | ATL 2, MIA 0 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 8 | ATL 7, MIA 0 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: “Obviously, he's a guy you don't want to leave off your roster,” manager Don Mattingly said. “But we weren't comfortable with what he was going to be able to do. We went in a different direction.”
The Marlins will have a few changes from their NL Wild Card Series roster against the Cubs.
The club on Tuesday selected the contract of infielder Sean Rodríguez, as well as added left-hander Daniel Castano and right-handed reliever Nick Vincent. In corresponding moves, it transferred three players to the taxi squad: Marte, first baseman Lewin Díaz and lefty reliever Stephen Tarpley.
After going with 13 pitchers in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, the Marlins are carrying 14 pitchers in the best-of-five NLDS.
“I think this format, you don’t want to get caught,” Mattingly said. “You couldn't take your fourth and fifth starters and use them as long guys in situations. If you've got five in a row, you're going to have to pitch [start] them. It just makes sense for us to go with that extra pitcher. I think a lot of teams have done that.”
With Marte out, Magneuris Sierra started in center in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Marte sustained the injury in Game 1 against Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. In the ninth inning, he was struck on the hand by a 92.2 mph Dan Winkler sinker. Marte sustained a very small non-displaced fracture to his left fifth metacarpal. He has been fitted with a splint, and the Marlins had hoped he would be available in some capacity in the NLDS.
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Mattingly said Marte had not progressed to the point where he could swing a bat. If he had made the roster, it would have been to play defense or pinch-run.
“We just weren't comfortable in what he was going to be able to do,” Mattingly said.
Vincent was added to the roster after not being part of the NL Wild Card Series.
“We felt like we wanted the additional lefty [vs.] the Cubs,” Mattingly said of Tarpley being chosen in the previous series over Vincent. “They had numerous lefties in their lineup. We felt like there was a better chance to use Tarp in that situation.
“[The Braves] are more right-handed. We felt that switch was pretty natural to get another righty out there we could use.”
A notable absence from the NLDS roster is hard-throwing Edward Cabrera, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Miami’s No. 6 prospect and No. 80 on the Top 100 ilst.
Cabrera is on the 12-man taxi squad, but he has not thrown a pitch at the big league level. However, with a 97-100 mph fastball, Cabrera profiles as a future top-of-the-rotation candidate.
“He's a guy who has been throwing innings and getting ready,” Mattingly said. “But still, he has not pitched in any form of a game this year. He's a guy we continue to build.”
Cabrera threw four innings in a simulated game at Wrigley Field on Friday, and he continues to throw in scrimmage situations on the taxi squad.
“He's always a possibility at some point. But this guy is a guy we've still been trying to build up. Even here on the taxi squad, he's thrown some sim games and things like that. But we just didn't feel like he was ready for this round.”
Here’s the Marlins’ full 28-player NLDS roster:
Pitchers (14): Sandy Alcantara, Sixto Sánchez, Pablo López, Trevor Rogers, Daniel Castano, Brandon Kintzler, Braxton Garrett, Yimi García, Brad Boxberger, James Hoyt, Richard Bleier, Ryne Stanek, Nick Neidert, Nick Vincent
Catchers (2): Chad Wallach, Jorge Alfaro
Infielders (7): Jesús Aguilar, Jon Berti, Brian Anderson, Miguel Rojas, Garrett Cooper, Jazz Chisholm, Sean Rodríguez
Outfielders (5): Corey Dickerson, Matt Joyce, Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, Magneuris Sierra