Adam Oller continues to fill vital innings in Marlins rotation

[Kevin Barral]

Marlins starter Adam Oller provided six shutout innings and set a career-high in strikeouts on Friday. However, Miami's bullpen could not hold on to a 1-0 lead.

The Miami Marlins had a tough task on Friday, facing two-time Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, who already thrown a no-hitter in 2024 and has been one of MLB's best pitchers throughout the last two months combined. Snell was his useful self, but surprisingly, right-hander Adam Oller was equally successful in shutting down the San Francisco Giants lineup. Between both pitchers, they struck out 16 hitters. A depleted Marlins bullpen blew a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Giants a 3-1 win.

Oller, 29, was originally a 20th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates and had a long journey just to reach the majors. Released by the Pirates after the 2018 season, he pitched in the Frontier League in 2019 and was later signed that same year by the Giants. The Mets picked him in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, eventually trading him in 2022 as part of a package to acquire Chris Bassitt. He posted a 7.09 ERA in his 94 MLB innings with Oakland. Oller tried to earn his way back up with the Triple-A affiliates of the Seattle Mariners and the Cleveland Guardians, but wasn't effective enough to get a second chance. He signed a minor league deal with the Marlins earlier this summer after being cut by Cleveland.

In Triple-A Jacksonville this season, Oller appeared in six games (three starts), posting a 2.88 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 8.64 K/9 and 2.52 BB/9 through 25 innings pitched. With lack of starting pitching at the Major League level, the Marlins selected the contract of Oller. He struggled in his first start after the promotion, but Oller settled in and thrived in next outing against the Chicago Cubs.

On Friday, Oller was excellent, providing six shutout innings while striking out a career-high eight opposing hitters. After going fastball-heavy against the Cubs, his secondary pitches stood out more in San Francisco. Seven of Oller's 12 whiffs came with his slurve. His command was also on point, rarely leaving pitches in the heart of the strike zone. 

With Roddery Muñoz being removed from the Marlins rotation earlier this week, Oller's spot looks to be completely secure.

On the other side, Giants starter Blake Snell ended up surrendering one run off of four hits, but kept the Marlins at bay throughout most of his outing, going seven innings, striking out eight and walking one. Snell's curveball made the difference despite it being his least-used pitch on the night. Snell's changeup generated 11 of the 19 whiffs followed by the curveball, which generated six whiffs.

In the top of the seventh inning, former Giant Derek Hill smacked a base hit, which was followed by his sixth stolen base of the season. After Otto Lopez flew out, Hill moved to third. David Hensley was able to drive in Hill with an opposite-field single to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.

Recently acquired Mike Baumann was the first man out of the Marlins bullpen. After a clean bottom of the seventh, Baumann was kept in for another inning and loaded the bases. George Soriano was brought in to escape the jam with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. However, he surrendered a bases-clearing double to Matt Chapman to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

With the loss, the Marlins dropped to a 49-86 record. The Giants climbed back to an even .500 record at 68-68.

On Saturday, Edward Cabrera will take the mound. First pitch will be at 9:05 pm ET.

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