In the upcoming 2024 season, the Miami Marlins rotation is anticipated to have a promising and youthful group of pitchers. 2023 their rotation included Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett, Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, and Edward Caberera. Alcantara, Garret, and Cabrera have all encountered injuries and might not be available for the opening-day rotation. Specifically, Alcantara will miss the entirety of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. Garret and Cabrera, on the other hand, only have minor injuries. Cabrera could be good to go by opening day. Unfortunately, Garret is expected to miss the start of the season, and he is behind in his throwing progress, which could set him back even more time. This poses the question of who could replace them in the rotation.
If Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett start the season on the IL, even without them and Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins still possess a potentially formidable, albeit lefty-centric starting rotation.
– Jesús Luzardo
– Eury Perez
– A.J. Puk
– Trevor Rogers
– Ryan Weathers— Louis Addeo-Weiss (@addeo_louis00) March 11, 2024
Projected 2024 Marlins’ Rotation
1. Jesus Luzardo
LHP Jesus Luzardo, 26, is entering his sixth season in the majors. In 2023, he went 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 208 SO in only 178.2 innings pitched in 32 starts. With injuries sidelining Alcantara and Garrett, Luzardo is seen as a favorite to head the rotation this season. Recently, he was named the Marlins 2024 opening-day starter. Based on his performance in 2023, it looks like the Marlins will have another Geary year from him.
2. Eury Perez
Unlike Luzardo, RHP Eury Perez, 20, is coming off his rookie season. In 2023, he exceeded everyone’s expectations and became a great pitcher. He posted a 5-6 record in 19 starts with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Perez works with a three-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball. He can hopefully become a reliable pitcher for the Marlins, who need stability.
3. Edward Cabrera
Despite Edward Cabreras’ recent diagnosis of right shoulder impingement, manager Skip Schumacher describes the injury as being day-to-day. In 2023, the right-handed pitcher had a 7-7 record with a 4.24 ERA, 118 SO, and a 1.44 WHIP in 99.2 innings pitched. He should be another strong addition to the Marlins rotation and aid in helping Luzardo and Perez lead the Fish to the playoffs.
If Cabrera is not healthy in time for the season, Ryan Weathers can take his place. The Marlins received Weathers in a trade from San Diego during August of the 2023 season. In 143 big league innings, Weathers has a 5.73 ERA. He is a reliable backup if the Marlins need him throughout the season.
4. AJ Puk
Since the recent news that Cabrera might be missing time due to a right shoulder impingement, AJ Puk, 28, has been the best candidate to fill this role if needed. The left-hander was a reliever for the Marlins last season and has never started a big-league game. Puk posted a 3.97 ERA in 56 ⅔ innings and 15 saves in his first year with the Marlins. During spring training, he has transitioned from a reliever to a starter. He has started twice and thrown five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and just one hit. Questions still loom on whether he can manage the number of innings pitched a typical starter faces each season.
5. Trevor Rodgers
Trevor Rodgers, 26, missed most of the 2023 season due to injuries. He was only able to pitch in four games. Before his injuries, during his rookie year, he finished as the 2021 Rookie of the Year runner-up. Since then, though, he has posted a 5.25 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 27 starts. He has been working on his pitches and incorporating a sinker into his usual four-seam/slider/splitter pitching combo. Hopefully 2024, he can stay healthy and help the Marlins make a playoff push.
“I think the thing about Trevor is I think he wants it more than ever because of what happened last year,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was really looking forward to coming off maybe a year that he wasn’t happy with. And then he gets hurt right away. That was definitely not in the plan. What you like about him — he’s 6-5, a giant lefty that throws three different pitches for strikes.”
Main Photo Credits: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
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