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Pitching Masterclass Expected in Marlins vs. Padres Series Finale
Pitching has been the star of the show in the first two games between the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins. As the series finale approaches, fans can expect another thrilling duel on the mound.
Braxton Garrett Shines Against Diamondbacks
Braxton Garrett, the Marlins’ left-hander, is coming off an impressive four-hit shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This performance, which required only 95 pitches, made him the second left-hander in franchise history to throw a complete game with fewer than 100 pitches, joining Dontrelle Willis.
“For him to do a complete game this year just shows you where he’s at, and how much better he’s gotten since maybe the first day I met him in spring training last year,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.
Garrett’s Journey and Improvement
Garrett, the No. 7 overall pick in 2016, missed the first six weeks of the season due to a shoulder impingement, followed by a dead-arm period. His ERA was a staggering 10.24 after his first two starts. Despite these challenges, Garrett has shown remarkable improvement.
“I did expect to start trending upwards,” said Garrett. “The lines in my (first) two (starts) weren’t great, obviously, but I felt like there was a lot of good in them in the middle of those games, so just trying to put it all together.”
Garrett threw 71 of 95 pitches for strikes against the Diamondbacks, with 77.4 percent of his first pitches in the zone. His performance has boosted the team’s confidence, as highlighted by Marlins third baseman Jake Burger: “He’s a dog. Every time he has a ball in his hands, we feel really good about it.”
Garrett vs. Padres
Garrett holds a 1-0 record with a 4.60 ERA in three career starts against San Diego. This historical context sets the stage for another strong performance.
Darvish’s Recent Struggles
The Padres’ Yu Darvish brings a mixed bag of recent performances. After a 25-inning scoreless streak, his latest start against the New York Yankees was his worst of the season, allowing seven runs and nine hits, including four home runs.
“Shoot, this guy’s thrown the ball as good as anybody in the league the last month,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “But good lineup, and clearly they had a good idea of what they were looking for.”
Darvish’s Career Against Marlins
Darvish is 3-2 in seven career starts against the Marlins with a 5.59 ERA. Despite the rocky outing against the Yankees, his overall season stats (4-2, 3.04 ERA) suggest he could bounce back.
Padres’ Bullpen Strength
Waldron and Estrada’s Standout Performances
In the second game of the series, knuckleballer Matt Waldron delivered seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win over the Marlins. Jeremiah Estrada’s three consecutive appearances with strikeouts have set an expansion-era MLB record.
“You’re talking about a significant, historic achievement right there,” Shildt said. “We need to celebrate it.”
Relief Pitching Reliability
The Padres’ bullpen has been reliable throughout the series. In the series opener, Michael King pitched five solid innings, followed by shutout innings from Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez, who secured his 16th save in 16 opportunities. Morejon and Suarez are expected to be available to support Darvish in the finale.
Conclusion
The stage is set for another exciting pitchers’ duel in the series finale between the Marlins and Padres. With Braxton Garrett’s recent dominance and Yu Darvish’s potential for a bounce-back performance, fans can anticipate a thrilling game. The contributions of key relievers will also play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
