It’s not easy being a pitcher these days.
High expectations from fans and MLB organizations often force them to throw harder and, thus, risk their health.
With pitchers required to put more stress on their arms and bodies, it’s not a coincidence that injuries have been soaring in recent seasons.
It’s exactly what’s happening to the Miami Marlins.
Every team has injury issues to worry about, particularly on their pitching staffs.
However, it’s hard to deny that the Marlins have been extremely unlucky.
Marlins insider Craig Mish recently outlined the tough break that their rotation has suffered, with names and their potential replacements.
“The Marlins will now be without Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett to start the season. Outside of Jesus Luzardo here are the potential options 2-5 along with the amount of MLB starts they made in 2023: Ryan Weathers (12), Trevor Rogers (4), Devin Smeltzer (1), A.J. Puk (0), Max Meyer (0), George Soriano (0), Patrick Montaverde (0),” he tweeted.
The Marlins will now be without Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett to start the season. Outside of Jesus Luzardo here are the potential options 2-5 along with the amount of MLB starts they made in 2023.
Ryan Weathers (12)Trevor Rogers (4)Devin…
Alcantara is the 2022 NL Cy Young, while Perez, Cabrera, and Garrett are all established MLB pitchers with recent success.
They are also young and projectable.
Losing four hurlers of their caliber definitely hurts.
As a result, the Marlins are left with the talented Luzardo to lead the rotation, but then, they will have to use a lot of unproven pitchers.
Some of them are really talented, though, like Weathers, Rogers, Puk, and Meyer, and have solid potential to yield satisfactory results in 2024.
Still, it’s hard to see the Marlins truly contenting without four of their top arms, at least to open the season.
They will play in a tough NL East with the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies as bona fide contenders and the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals surging and lurking.