CINCINNATI -- The 2022 Trade Deadline is next Tuesday (Aug. 2) at 6 p.m. ET.

As the injury-depleted Marlins try to gain ground in the National League Wild Card race, tough decisions will need to be made in regards to the short- and long-term future of the roster.

One of those players would be right-hander Pablo López, whose career-high-tying 11-strikeout performance in Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park will entice prospective buyers even more. López is lined up to pitch again in Sunday’s series finale against the Mets at loanDepot park.

“I don't really know how any of that works,” said López. “So I think in my mind, I'm already just preparing to come tomorrow for my Day 1 routine and just get ready for the next one. I just have to be in the moment.”

It’s a fine line the Marlins will need to walk. The club clearly needs to add thump to its lineup, preferably a lefty bat. In order to receive an impactful player, quality must be given in return. The organization has a surplus of starting pitching, but that can quickly change, as evidenced by this season. The depth has already been tested with injuries to Jesús Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, Cody Poteet, Max Meyer, Elieser Hernandez, Jordan Holloway, Paul Campbell and Sixto Sánchez.

Both ace Sandy Alcantara and López -- who isn’t a free agent until after the 2024 season -- were acquired by the Marlins in 2017 trades. They make a formidable 1-2 punch, especially when the latter is pitching like he did Tuesday. Following Jonathan India’s leadoff single in the first, López retired 12 in a row until Mike Moustakas’ leadoff homer in the fifth -- López's lone blemish. He reached 95.8 mph to strike out India in the sixth -- his fastest pitch of the season in the sixth inning or later.

"That's as good as stuff probably seen all year,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Good fastball, didn't really know which direction was going to cut it. He had a good sinker, great changeup, some good curveballs. Made for a tough night.”

After starting the season with a 4-1 record and a 1.05 ERA over his first seven starts, López went 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA over his past 12. He hadn’t gone more than five innings in three straight starts entering Tuesday. 

Against the Reds, López was able to sequence and mix his pitches -- including his breaking ball -- better than he has in recent memory. He didn’t walk a batter for the first time since May 24.

“It has been a while,” López said. “I think it was really fun. I think it's one of those starts that you really need, because it just reminds you that the work we put in between starts really pays off if you stay convicted, if you stay hopeful that if you're doing your preparation in between starts, if you're doing everything in your power to try to get better, it's just reassuring that things will fall into place if you're doing the right things, the little things. I think it was not only a fun start but also a good start to build off on.”

The 26-year-old López has the fifth-lowest average against among NL pitchers. Tuesday marked the 14th time he has given up five hits or fewer in an outing of five-plus innings, tied with reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes for most in MLB. Since 2020, López is tied for 19th-highest ERA+ (131) among pitchers who have thrown at least 200 innings. Atop that list? Also Burnes.

That type of production would make López one of the most desirable starting pitchers on the trade market -- if he's available. The return package would have to be substantial.

But manager Don Mattingly certainly isn’t thinking that way. Despite López being at just 94 pitches, Mattingly didn’t send him out for the eighth. He was looking out for the righty, who has landed on the injured list with a shoulder issue in every season except during COVID-shortened 2020.

“We felt like he did his job, and we're going to need this guy the whole second half,” Mattingly said. “We're going to take care of him. We've seen what's happened to Pablo in the past. We just want to take care of him, make sure he stays on a good track.”