Miami’s tough weekend makes for disappointing 2nd-half start

BALTIMORE — Three video games in, the Marlins’ second half shouldn’t be taking part in out very like their first. After having fun with probably the most profitable first halves in franchise historical past, Miami opened the second being swept by the Orioles, by advantage of Sunday’s 5-4 defeat at Camden Yards.

With Sunday’s defeat, the Marlins suffered their first sweep by the hands of a group apart from the Braves this season, and dropped their eighth recreation in 13 tries after successful 23 of their earlier 31. Listed here are three takeaways from their disappointing weekend within the Allure Metropolis:

Why did Okert open?
After dropping the primary two video games of the sequence, the Marlins opted for a bullpen day in Sunday’s finale fairly than begin Jesús Luzardo or the recently-reinstated Johnny Cuetoregardless of each being on common relaxation. The outcomes had been lower than splendid.

Lefty reliever Steven Okertopening lower than 18 hours after recording 4 outs on 18 pitches Saturday evening, allowed hits to the primary 4 batters he confronted, three for additional bases. By the point bulk reliever George Soriano entered with one out within the first inning, the Marlins had been already down three runs.

Although Cueto finally impressed with three scoreless innings of lengthy reduction in his first look since April 3, the Marlins on Sunday by no means recovered.

“They got here out prepared,” Okert stated. “ What’s the distinction [between opening and] in one other hour, popping out of the ‘pen? I’ve finished it loads of occasions, nights and days, so it was nothing too bizarre.”

Nonetheless, the bullpen day was a curious choice given Miami’s pitching struggles of late. The bedrock of their success within the first half, the Marlins’ rotation owns a 5.59 ERA over its previous 13 video games (twenty seventh in MLB). Their bullpen has a 4.82 ERA in that stretch (twentieth in MLB).

That stated, assistance is on the best way
The Marlins’ rotation is about to obtain a lift when the group prompts right-hander Edward Cabrera this week in St. Louis, likely to make his first start since June 13 on Tuesday in opposition to the Cardinals. Cabrera missed over a month attributable to a proper shoulder impingement and blister points, however he’s assured he’s prepared to maneuver previous these issues after testing his arm in a simulated recreation over the All-Star break.

“I’m glad to be again with this group, and I do know I may help,” Cabrera stated by way of group translator Luis Durante Jr. “All we’ve to do is keep collectively and united. That’s one of many keys to our success. We’re very united, all collectively, doing what all of us should do to get that success we aspire to.”

With Cabrera on the mend and Cueto again on the energetic roster (albeit within the bullpen), the Marlins’ rotation is almost again to full power. The final lacking piece, southpaw Trevor Rogers, nonetheless, stays removed from a possible return. His extended absence may put the Marlins out there for pitching assist in the event that they purchase on the Commerce Deadline as anticipated.

Or they’ll stand pat and re-insert Cueto into the rotation after he seemed like his previous self Sunday. Cueto reached 93.7 mph together with his fastball and held the O’s to 2 baserunners in three scoreless innings.

“General, actually encouraging outing,” supervisor Skip Schumaker stated. “We hope he builds off of it.”

Stated Cueto: “I really feel very unfastened, similar to at all times. … There may be a number of baseball left. I gotta go on the market, take the ball and assist the group any manner that I can.”

A quiet weekend on the plate
The Marlins had been a below-average offensive group within the NL within the first half by way of run manufacturing and energy. And whereas that’s salvageable when the pitching is on level, this weekend revealed some vulnerability when Miami will get outpitched.

The Marlins had been stored extraordinarily quiet Sunday by Kyle Bradish earlier than making issues attention-grabbing with 4 runs within the ninth, falling quick when Luis Arraez stranded the tying run on second. With that late outburst, the Marlins completed the sequence 24-for-103 (.233) on the plate. However take away Arraez’s four-hit evening Saturday, and Miami hit .204 as a group with only one homer over the three-game set: Jorge Soler’s twenty fourth of the season in Friday’s opener.

Sunday’s near-comeback masked what was an in any other case dormant day on the plate and a reasonably punchless weekend in opposition to Baltimore pitching. The Marlins struck out 22 occasions and walked simply six whereas shedding two one-run video games — the kind of contest Miami excelled at within the first half.

“That’s group,” Schumaker stated. “We had the lead a number of occasions, so you may take a look at numerous issues that occurred, for why we obtained swept.”