How Marlins will handle save situations after trading their closer

[Kevin Barral]

Prior to the trade deadline, the ninth inning belonged to Tanner Scott. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker discussed what his plan is for the closer's role for the rest of 2024.

MIAMI, FL—Entering the trade deadline, the Miami Marlins had the top rental reliever on the market in Tanner Scott. He was dealt to the San Diego Padres along with Bryan Hoeing in exchange for four prospects. That has made life more complicated for Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, who has been left with an inexperienced bullpen for the final two months of the 2024 season. Who fills Scott's shoes as Miami's closer?

Anthony Bender leads the team with nine career saves at the Major League level, though he has none this year. Instead, Calvin Faucher has recorded the only two saves for the team since Scott departed.

"I don't think it's fair to say he's the closer," Schumaker told Fish On First when asked about Faucher's role. "I think he has closed out games and done a really good job of providing us with some big innings in the ninth inning lately. If there's three lefties at the top, I'm guessing (Andrew) Nardi is gonna get that. However, if the eighth inning is three lefties at the top, Nardi is gonna get that eighth inning."

Schumaker noted that Andrew Nardi is the only lefty currently in his bullpen, which affects the order that relievers are used.

"I think with Bender and (Declan) Cronin and Faucher and Nardi, I feel like you can mix and match. You can get all those guys potentially in the ninth inning one of these games depending on availability and different pockets and where to use them to get guys out with."

"When we go down to the bullpen, we're told possibilities of when we're going to throw," said Faucher. "Every day, it's towards the sixth to ninth. Me, Nardi, Cronin, (Jesus) Tinoco and Bender kind of in there in those talks, so we're just ready when that time comes."

Faucher has entered in the ninth inning during four of his last five appearances. He only did that twice through his first 37 appearances of the season. The first-year Marlin has a 3.38 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 9.70 K/9 and 4.64 BB/9 in 42 ⅔ innings. His greatest strength has been preventing home runs.

Even Jesus Tinoco has found himself pitching and succeeding in high-leverage situations. Claimed off waivers following the deadline, Tinoco has struck out four, allowed one hit and hasn't issued a walk through 4 ⅓ scoreless innings. On Wednesday night, he pitched the top of the eighth, recording a strikeout to set up Faucher's save.

"Guys have been down," said Schumaker. "Bender was dealing with something a little bit earlier, so he was down a few days. Yesterday we ran into a spot where it was really him. That's why he got the opportunity. We didn't have many guys left, but to his credit, we have been using his name a lot in the pitcher's meetings because he has 97 with a real slider."

View full article