Max Meyer's expanded arsenal leads to best start of 2026

[Kevin Barral]

MIAMI, FL — Max Meyer has been perhaps the most consistent Miami Marlins starting pitcher this season. On Monday night against a St. Louis Cardinals team that is off to a hot start, he turned in his best start so far in a 5-3 win for the Marlins. Meyer struck out a season-high eight in 5 ⅓ innings of work. He allowed two runs on three hits and walked two.

"It was really his whole mix," said Marlins manager Clayton McCullough. "Certainly the slider goes into games, and even though the sweeper, the velocity at which he's able to throw those pitches kind of gets different movement on it. Some get a harder, more straight down; the sweeper has a little more horizontal. I thought his changeup was really good, especially in the middle innings, to be able to go to that pitch as well, even right-on-right to give him a different look. He used his fastball well today."

In addition to the strikeouts, Meyer also fielded three grounders, singlehandedly recording 11 outs on a night when he faced 23 total batters. His 63.6% ground ball rate was another season-high and the fifth-highest of his career.

Meyer is most known for his slider, but his sweeper had the higher usage against St. Louis (32%) and was responsible for eight of his 17 whiffs. It's a weapon he has been developing since 2025.

"One of my biggest pitches now. Grades out the best, I'm pretty sure," Meyer said regarding the sweeper. "I'm glad I can locate it with two strikes and get strikes with it, go back door with it, throw it in 3-2 counts and 0-0 counts. I'm just comfortable with the grip and the movement on it, and it's going to be a big pitch for me the whole season."

Now through five starts, Meyer has a 3.96 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 10.08 K/9 and 3.96 BB/9. Prior to this season, his career averages were a 5.29 ERA, 5.20 FIP, 8.46 K/9 and 2.89 BB/9.

"I've made some good starts every time, giving the team a chance to win," Meyer said regarding his season as a whole. "Every time I go out there, obviously, I think it's just a couple things every game that make me mad personally, but I can never be mad when I leave the game with the team in a good spot, so that always keeps me going in the next day.."

Agustín Ramírez's defensive woes continued with Meyer on the mound. In the top of the fourth inning, after Jordan Walker extended his hit streak to 15 games, he stole second base uncontested because Ramírez dropped the ball on the transfer. Walker then advanced to third on a blockable wild pitch. That allowed Masyn Winn to hit a sac fly and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

The second run charged to Meyer was also aided by Ramírez. In the top of the sixth inning, Calvin Faucher inherited a runner on first base, who moved to third following a Masyn Winn single. Once again, a ball deflected off of Ramírez's glove for what was ruled a wild pitch, allowing the runner to score and tie the game.

Miami's offense didn't get things going until the bottom of the fourth when unconventional cleanup hitter Xavier Edwards hit his fifth double of the season. 

Although Ramírez may have struggled behind the plate, he did make it up by hitting his second home run of the season off of Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy. The ball left the bat at 111.8 mph and went 411 feet to left-center field. The launch angle on Ramirez's home run was 17 degrees, the lowest for any MLB home run this season.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Marlins retook the lead for good. Otto Lopez had an RBI double and Liam Hicks collected an RBI single.

Hicks provided some insurance for Miami with another RBI single in the eighth. Not only is he tied for the MLB lead with 21 RBI this season, but his 6.3% strikeout rate is the second-lowest mark behind former Marlin Luis Arraez.

The Marlins are well-represented in the National League batting title race. Edwards (.341 BA), Hicks (.338 BA) and Lopez (.337 BA) trail only Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (.370 BA).

Pete Fairbanks, who notched his fourth save of the season, allowed one run, a sac fly from Ramón Urías. He struck out Thomas Saggese and José Fermín to end the game.

Unable to win any of their previous five series, the Marlins have an opportunity to end that streak on Tuesday night with Chris Paddack on the mound at 6:40 pm.

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