5 games in 5 days? No prob, say Marlins
Adjusting on the fly is nothing new for the Marlins.
Expect more of the same as they now must adapt to potentially playing five consecutive days in the National League Division Series against the Braves.
In this season of expecting the unexpected, the Marlins now must chart their rotation and figure out bullpen usage in their best-of-five series with Atlanta at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
| 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: It’s the first time in MLB history that there will be no days off in the Division Series.
This is significant in terms of managing bullpens and deciding the Game 5 starter should the series go the distance.
Sandy Alcantara projects to start Game 1 on Tuesday. But if there is a fifth game, he would not have full rest to make that start. That doesn’t mean he couldn’t be used, but he wouldn’t have his full four days of recovery.
The Marlins have yet to announce their rotation, but it may line up as Alcantara in the first game, followed by either Pablo López or rookie Sixto Sánchez Game 2, with the other in Game 3.
“I've been watching the playoffs, and it seems a lot of games are bullpen games,” manager Don Mattingly said. “We're a little different. We trust our starters. Every guy who goes out there usually has got better stuff than anybody else that we've got in the 'pen.”
Rookie left-hander Trevor Rogers, who was available out of the 'pen in the sweep of the Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series, will return to the rotation. He is likely for Game 4.
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Power pitching has traditionally stood out in the postseason.
All of Sánchez’s fastballs in the regular season averaged 97.6 mph. For Alcantara, it was 96.5 mph, per Statcast. In Friday’s 2-0 win at Chicago, Sánchez had seven pitches clocked 100 mph or faster.
The Cubs scored just one run in 18 innings in the series. But the Braves’ offense is more explosive.
While the Cubs, per Statcast, had a batting average of .195 against pitches 95 mph or higher, the Braves averaged .260 off such pitches.
The Marlins’ rotation suffered a blow when José Ureña fractured his right forearm against the Yankees in the regular-season finale.
Without Ureña as the fifth starter option, several rookies would be candidates for Game 5, if Alcantara isn’t the choice.
A potential candidate is hard-throwing Edward Cabrera, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s No. 6 prospect and No. 80 on the overall Top 100 list.
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An unspecified right arm issue slowed Cabrera’s development this summer, but the 22-year-old is on the taxi squad and is being discussed to be added to the Division Series roster, despite never having pitched in a big league game.
With an upper-90s fastball, Cabrera has front-of-the-rotation potential. He threw a four-innings simulated game at Wrigley Field on Friday after the Marlins eliminated the Cubs.
Rookies Braxton Garrett and Nick Neidert were on the Wild Card Series roster, but neither pitched in the series. Lefty Daniel Castano is another rookie who made six starts and seven appearances in the regular season and is on the taxi squad. Any one of these rookies could be used in an “opener” or starting situation.
Whichever direction the organization goes with the rotation, the Marlins are banking on their starters to log innings.
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“You trust those guys to go a little ways [into games],” Mattingly said. “They are young and inexperienced, but it's just baseball. That's what we've tried to keep in perspective. Go out. Stay on the attack. Make pitches. If you get hit, you get hit. Just compete.”
The bullpen should be well-rested.
Against the Cubs, Miami’s 'pen logged six shutout innings, allowing two hits, with one hit batter and six strikeouts. Brandon Kintzler and Yimi García each pitched in both games. Their usage shouldn’t be an issue, unless they are forced to go four or five consecutive days. Both could close.
In setup situations, left-hander Richard Bleier logged two innings in the postseason and had a 2.63 ERA in 15 2/3 innings in the regular season.
Right-hander James Hoyt, who didn’t pitch against the Cubs, had a 1.23 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings on the season.
Kintzler saved 12 of 14 chances in 2020, and García had a 0.60 ERA in 15 innings. Brad Boxberger (3.00 ERA) had a solid bounce-back year.
“Those three guys back there have been pretty dependable for us,” Mattingly said.