Luzardo impressive in spring tie

[Alex Carver]

Jesús Luzardo, Bryan De La Cruz, and Jesús Sánchez continued their strong starts to spring training on Friday afternoon in Clearwater.

The Marlins came by their second tie of the spring on Friday night in Clearwater, deadlocking with the Phillies 6-6 after nine innings. Jesús Luzardo became the first Marlins’ starter to work three full innings. Bryan De La Cruz and Jesus Sánchez continued to stand out offensively for Miami. Vidal Bruján also recorded two hits.

 

Luzardo impressive

Jesús Luzardo took the mound for the second time this spring. The second verse was even better than the first. After working two scoreless this past week, Luzardo, who has been tabbed as Miami’s Opening Day starter, worked three full frames on just two hits and a walk while striking out two. He threw 45 pitches, 28 for strikes. 

The main occupation with Luzardo through his career has been his spotty fastball command. That was of no concern for him in this start. Luzardo was pounding the zone early and often which overpowered a Phillies’ lineup made up of many of their projected Opening Day starters. The four-seamer averaged 96 mph and topped at 98. It carried a 35% CSW%.

Perhaps just as encouraging as the work he did with the fastball, Luzardo also controlled his changeup very well and could place it in the zone (which he did 62% of the time) without getting hurt. Only two balls were put in play against the Luzardo changeup.

The only downside to Luzardo’s outing is that he once again didn’t have his slider working well. He also struggled to throw strikes with the pitch his first time out. That said, he hasn’t needed it.

"There's a lot of value in coming out and not having my best stuff necessarily and still being able to navigate through a tough inning and getting outs in different ways," Luzardo told Stephen Strom of the Marlins Radio Network following his outing. "I think that that's something that 32, 33 starts throughout a full season, you're not gonna have your stuff every time. It was good and it was positive to have one of those starts so early in spring."

Two starts in and showing consistent command and control of multiple pitches with room to fill in even more, Luzardo is off to a very encouraging start to spring training.

 

De La Contact

Once again, Bryan De La Cruz was seeing the ball very well. Starting in left field, DLC got three ABs and recorded one hit, a single. However, everything he hit was hit hard. He once again owned the hardest-hit ball of the game, a 111.9 mph lineout that held an .810 expected batting average but somehow found an outfielder’s glove.

Early this spring, De La Cruz has been Miami’s most consistent and most impressive bat. He’s off to a 4-for-9 start. With a bit less bad luck, he could be sitting in an even better spot. His average exit velocity this spring is 97.7 mph.

 

Sánchez keeps hitting

Jesús Sánchez was once again active with the bat, hitting a single in his first AB and a screaming double in his second, both off Aaron Nola. In both cases, Sánchez showed good plate coverage, getting to offspeed pitches on his outside corner. Sánchez has had an impressive start to camp. He’s recorded hits in each of his first four games.

 

Other notes:

After recording two hits on Tuesday, Jacob Berry recorded his first extra-base hit of the spring campaign, a double. He also saw some time at first base.

Troy Johnston exited the game with an apparent injury after a groundout in the 9th inning. Johnston rolled his ankle attempting to reach the base. It isn’t thought to be serious.

Eury Pérez will start for the Marlins on Saturday afternoon in Jupiter. Sixto Sánchez is also expected to pitch for the first time this spring.

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