The Edward Cabrera conundrum persists

[Louis Addeo-Weiss]

Cabrera again struggled to find the strike zone, spoiling an otherwise solid effort from the offense as the Marlins settled for a split in Philly. 

Good teams will always find a way to beat you. Call it trite deference, but the concept of regression to the mean generally tends to win out more often than not. Fortunately, for the Phillies, Edward Cabrera was their task at hand if they were to avoid a two-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins, thirty games under .500 with the prospects of playoff baseball long in the rearview. 

Keeping it Cabrerian, the hard-throwing right-hander struggled to find the strike zone, walking four in Miami's 9-5 loss to the East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, now 39-22 at home. He was tagged with six earned runs, matching the total he had allowed in his five previous starts combined. Cabrera has now walked 35 in just 59 ⅓ innings pitched this season, right in line with his career 5.3 BB/9.

"Fastball command is the biggest weakness right now...Only threw first-pitch strikes fifty percent (10-for-20) today," noted manager Skip Schumaker. 

 

Jonah Bride Has a Day

There is such a thing as capitalizing on an opportunity at regular playing time, and then there is what Jonah Bride has been doing.

Driving a career-best four runs in the loss, including three on a home run in the top of the first, Bride is now hitting .276 with an .852 OPS in 105 plate appearances this season, including a .967 OPS in the month of August. He has reached base safely in all 15 of the games he's played since the MLB trade deadline passed.

Bride, 28 years old and acquired for cash considerations from Oakland in the prior offseason, appears to be playing himself into a potential role for 2025.

 

Schwarber Comes Through in Grand Fashion

Entering the evening 0-for-his-last-18 dating back to August 9, it felt inevitable for Phillies OF/DH Kyle Schwarber to come through in a big way.

Following a first-inning strikeout, Schwarber came to the plate with the bases loaded and Philadelphia trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Upon what looked like a miscommunication between Cabrera and catcher Ali Sánchez, the right-hander left a 94 mph changeup over the heart of the plate, a pitch Schwarber sent in the left field seats for a grand slam, giving the Phillies a lead they would never relinquish.

The Phillies clearly had a plan against Cabrera. Each of their first 15 batters took the first pitch they saw, patiently waiting for an advantageous count if not a free pass altogether.

Assuming that Cabrera remains in the Marlins rotation through season's end, he could have up to eight more outings to show he belongs in their future plans. However, it will be difficult to change anybody's mind about his viability as a starter after so many examples of being derailed by poor control.

 

Of Note

- In 54 career starts, Cabrera has now walked four or more hitters in 16 of those outings. Miami is now 7-9 in those games. 

- Groanin' over Cronin: After pitching to a minuscule 1.21 ERA through June 5, the other side of the coin has bit Declan Cronin (0.2 IP, 4 H. 3 ER) hard, as the Miami reliever has posted 5.84, 8.03 and 12.60 marks in June, July and August, respectively, raising his season ERA to 4.79. His 7.96 ERA since June 8 appears misleading, though, as Cronin had a 1.87 FIP from that date through August 13.

- Kyle Stowers' struggles with the Marlins lived to see another day Wednesday, as the outfielder acquired in the Trevor Rogers trade struck out three more times, bringing his total to 22 in 49 PA since joining Miami.

 

 

Looking Ahead

From the City of Brotherly Love to the burrow of Queens, the Marlins will continue their intradivision trek Friday when they open up at Citi Field for a three-game, weekend set against the Mets. Roddery Muñoz (2-6, 5.67 ERA) will meet the Mets for the third time in his young career, turning in two of his better starts at the Major League level when he previously faced them. Opposite him, Sean Manaea (8-5, 3.44 ERA) will look to right the ship against Miami, as he has a career 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Fish.

First pitch is slated for 7:10 EST. 

 

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[Leo Armbrister]

Cabrera had two three run leads and ended up losing the game yesterday. Obviously he has the talent to be a major league starting pitcher but does he have the desire and mental toughness. Only time will tell. The Marlins will probably give him the rest of the year to find himself but if he doesn't produce he will not be in the Marlins plans next year.

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

There is hardly worth repeating ourselves over this fellow. Is there a more frustrating individual who is still on the team?