Scott continues to shine as Marlins walk off ... again 

MIAMI – Trivia question: Which reliever tied for the highest FanGraphs WAR in 2023? If you guessed Marlins left-hander Tanner Scott, give yourself a pat on the back.

When Miami clinched a surprise postseason berth in 2023, much of that success could be attributed to the shutdown bullpen. When the club held a lead, the relievers didn’t relinquish it. The opposite has rung true so far in 2024. The Marlins’ 14 blown leads is tied for second most in the Majors. They had only 32 all of last season – ninth fewest in MLB.

Perhaps things are beginning to turn.

For the second time in three games, Miami rallied in the ninth and won in the 10th, this time in a 3-2 victory over Milwaukee on Monday night at loanDepot park. Josh Bell’s game-winning single with the bases loaded gave the Marlins five walk-off wins – tied with the Orioles for most in the Majors. Miami has won six of eight.

“It's awesome,” said Bell, who has four career walk-offs. “[Declan Cronin] has been lights-out for us all year. Tanner had a rough start, and I was looking up at the scoreboard [and] he's got like a 1.80 [ERA] now. We've got a lot of baseball to play. I know we dug ourselves a little bit of a hole now, but our bullpen's lights-out, and it feels the same as last year.”

On Saturday, after the Marlins rallied with a four-run ninth against Edwin Díaz, Scott held the Mets scoreless in the 10th to set up the walk-off heroics. He did the same against the Brewers in Monday’s series opener – but not without some drama.

Scott walked Christian Yelich on four pitches before Joey Ortiz executed a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Rather than load the bases with an intentional walk to set up a force anywhere, Miami pitched to Willy Adames.

Adames saw six pitches, including five four-seamers. He struck out on a 96.9 mph fastball way above the strike zone. Gary Sánchez then lined out to end the threat.

“You're facing one of the best arms in the game -- you know, that kid can really throw,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Scott, we've seen him in the past. He's been really good. This way we can hit a fly ball and score a run. ... And the one thing he's been prone to is high walks. But he's very, very good. So I think you try to get a hit and not hit into a double play and take you out of that. You know, you put the pressure on them. And we didn't get it done. Credit to the pitcher, he did the job.”

During Spring Training and the early part of this season, Scott struggled to match his breakout 2023. But he has 13 consecutive appearances without an earned run allowed.

Through April 19 (eight games):

8 2/3 innings
6 runs allowed (4 earned)
8 strikeouts
12 walks
23.1 whiff%
44.4 zone%
51.1% fastball rate
4.15 ERA

Since that point (11 games):

11 1/3 innings
2 runs allowed (0 earned)
13 strikeouts
6 walks
33.7 whiff%
52.5 zone%
62.3% fastball rate
0.00 ERA

In essence: More fastballs, more strikes and more strikeouts. Fewer walks.

“You need more than one pitch, and I learned that in '22,” said Scott, who posted a 96 ERA+ in his first season with Miami compared to 198 in ‘23. “I was throwing so many sliders and I was just kind of getting buried with it.”

The 29-year-old Scott, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, should be a valuable chip at the July 30 Trade Deadline, especially if he continues to be this dominant.

“It shows you what wipeout stuff does in the game,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “That's why you need it, and he has it. If he throws strikes, I'll take my chances with Tanner over almost anybody in the league -- probably anybody in the league. He's that good. I trust him. That's the only version I've seen is that version.

“I know other people maybe have seen another version. That's the version I know, and that's the version I trust. And he's just a beast. Even with runners on, [Brice] Turang, one of the better baserunners in the game at second base, [he] kept him close, did a really good job. And then punched out one really good hitter.”