'Long time coming' as Weathers gets back on bump for Marlins

MIAMI -- When Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers went down with a fluke injury in early June, it halted what was becoming an All-Star-worthy first half.

The preferred result might not have been there for Weathers in his long-awaited return in Wednesday night’s 8-4 loss to the Dodgers at loanDepot park, but what matters most in the grand scheme of things is that it happened.

Weathers, who had previously surrendered just eight homers in 71 innings this season, allowed six runs (five earned) on three dingers in 4 1/3 frames against one of the Majors’ top lineups. He struck out five and walked none in a 74-pitch outing.

“It's really good to see Ryan out there, a long time coming,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He's worked his butt off to get back out here and to finish the season in the big leagues after a weird, freakish type of injury. All his stuff was there characteristic-wise, but the location of it just wasn't there tonight. …

“He's a competitor. He wasn't just out there to check a box. He wanted to win the game, and that's what you love about Ryan. I don't think he'll tell you he's real happy with the result, just because he's just not out there to pitch. He wants to win everything: every inning, every pitch. But I liked [that] he came out healthy, everything checked out. That part was great.”

Indeed it was a long time coming for Weathers, who never envisioned being sidelined for more than three months after exiting his June 7 start. His left index finger strain dated back to Christian Yelich's steal of home on May 20, when he tried to barehand catcher Nick Fortes' throw back to the mound before firing home.

At the time, Weathers was putting together a breakout campaign with a 3.55 ERA, 127 ERA+ and 1.14 WHIP in 13 starts. He had set a career high with 11 strikeouts in his June 1 outing and had five consecutive quality starts in May.

“Didn't expect to not pick up a baseball for six weeks,” said Weathers, who held Los Angeles to three runs over six innings on May 8 at Dodger Stadium. “That was kind of the tough part, just in the dead middle of the year. But it's fun getting back. It's always fun facing them. They're a good lineup with a lot of good ballplayers that have been good ballplayers for a long time.

“So it's fun facing one of the better teams, because now I know what I need to work on facing the team in my next outing.”

During his rehab, Weathers would text Schumaker about how much he missed competing with the club. His eagerness showed in a dominant three-start rehab assignment, where Weathers permitted four runs (two earned) across 10 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and five walks. He was built up to around 80 pitches.

The 24-year-old Weathers picked up from there early on Wednesday, maxing out at 97.6 mph and keeping the Dodgers off the scoreboard in the first despite Shohei Ohtani reaching third base with none out.

Weathers would retire nine of the first 11 batters, though Will Smith tagged him for a solo shot off the left-field foul pole with one out in the second. Weathers meant to go away with a 2-0 four-seamer, but his 97.3 mph offering traveled into Smith’s bat path.

The Dodgers then tagged Weathers for five runs in the fourth as six consecutive batters reached base. Tommy Edman went oppo on a 96.5 mph sinker, sending it over the right-field wall for a two-run shot. Enrique Hernández later ambushed a first-pitch 93.6 mph sinker for a three-run tater deep to left-center.

In hindsight, Weathers doesn’t want to get beat by his fourth-best pitch.

“I thought he got out of that first inning,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Certainly, we left some money on the table with Shohei getting to third base with nobody out. After that, I thought we were pretty good. It's a high-velocity fastball and a changeup, and a slider below. I thought some guys fared pretty well and other guys not so well.”

So what does Weathers hope to achieve with a week and change remaining?

“Just end the season healthy, first and foremost, and then, kind of refine pitches, go to maybe some usage on certain pitches,” Weathers said. “Tonight's a good learning experience from where to not use my two-seamer. Not tinkering with anything, just refining pitches, sharpening location.

“I think that's where I've kind of got bit this year is when I'm kind of off location. So just continue to work on that.”