Miami Marlins: 3 Opening Day Staring Pitching Options
The Lefty: Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith toed the rubber for twenty-eight starts a year ago and led the team in wins with ten and strikeouts with 168. His 4.52 earned run average is inflated by the fact Caleb Smith put a lot of guys on base with free passes and he gave up a lot of home runs.
Smith’s name has been the subject of trade rumors going back to the trade deadline of last year. His name has been brought up this year as well as a potential find for the recently injury-riddled New York Yankees. The Yankees are the team who drafted Smith in the fourteenth round and whom he made his major league debut within 2017.
The Miami Marlins are reluctant to part ways with Smith as they see his potential. Smith didn’t allow more than three earned runs in any of his first nine starts last year as he raced to a 3-1 record with a 2.38 earned run average. His numbers declined drastically as the year went on, though if he can find his early season form he could be a very reliable starter.
Smith has made one appearance this spring, striking out three hitters in two innings of run-free baseball. Getting into mid-season form won’t take him long and he is most likely ticketed for the two spot in the rotation.