The Marlins announced they’ve reinstated right-hander Elieser Hernández from the 60-day injured list to start tonight’s game against the Pirates. Infielder Luis Marté was designated for assignment to open active and 40-man roster spots.
Hernández hasn’t pitched since April 3. He left that start, his first of the year, with biceps inflammation that ultimately required a two-month absence. It was a disappointing beginning to the year for a hurler who earned himself a season-opening rotation spot with a quietly stellar 2020 campaign. Hernández made six starts for the Fish last season and worked to a 3.16 ERA over 25 2/3 innings, backed up by excellent strikeout and walk rates (32.1% and 4.7%, respectively).
Despite the absences of Hernández and Sixto Sánchez (who hasn’t pitched all year because of recurring shoulder discomfort), Miami’s rotation has been among the better groups in the league. Marlins starters rank eighth in MLB in ERA (3.38), with middle-of-the-pack placements in SIERA (4.07) and strikeout rate minus walk rate (15.4 percentage points). Pablo López, Sandy Alcantara and Trevor Rogers have each been quite good, while rookie Cody Poteet has put together four strong starts since making his MLB debut last month. In spite of that quality production, the Marlins sit in fourth place in the NL East at 24-30 thanks to some offensive struggles.
Marté was selected to the roster last week when starting shortstop Miguel Rojas went on the injured list. The 27-year-old utilityman made his MLB debut on Monday against the Blue Jays, going 0-2 with a walk. The Marlins will now have a week to trade Marté or place him on outright waivers in hopes of sending him back to Triple-A Jacksonville, where he’s hit .263/.279/.456 in 61 plate appearances this year.
Elieser gets lost in this rotation with Lopez and Alcantara breaking out and the prospect pedigrees of Rogers and Sanchez. But he can be as good as any of them. Elite slider that racks up Ks and doesn’t issue free passes. If he can avoid the longball he could be a solid 2.
Grand opening, grand closing for EH. Guy can’t catch a break, can’t stay healthy.
Seriously. Good outing and gets hurt scoring the go ahead run.
Hernandez left tonight’s game in Pittsburgh being helped off the field
after scoring a run from third. It didn’t look promising.
7 blown saves! Back to back nights! This is getting ridiculous. I haven’t seen the likes of this since Kevin Gregg and Renyel Pinto were battling each other to see who could cost the Marlins more games.
Good grief!