Miami Marlins: 3 Opening Day Staring Pitching Options
The Long Shot: Pablo Lopez
Pablo Lopez made twenty-one starts a season ago finishing with a 5-8 record and 5.09 earned run average. Lopez pitched six innings or more in nine of his starts and was closely monitored on his pitch counts, never amassing more than one-hundred pitches any time he took the hill.
Lopez has good control walking only 2.2 batters per nine innings, best among all Marlins starters a year ago, even though he also leads the team with eleven hit batsmen. Lopez doesn’t give up many home runs though he doesn’t keep hitters off base either. He gave up a hit an inning last year and most of those guys came around to score.
Arm injuries have quelled Lopez and he was not the same pitcher after an August stint on the injured list. Rest and restrengthening of his shoulder over the offseason should go a long way for Lopez in getting back to comfortability in throwing.
Lopez has made two appearances thus far in spring training giving up five hits and two runs while pitching 4 2/3 innings. He will settle in after he gets some repetitions this spring. Where it is not out of the question to see Lopez taking the hill for the Miami Marlins on opening day, he will most likely be the three starters.