Puzzling pitching change costs Marlins in San Fran series finale

[Louis Addeo-Weiss]

If the Miami Marlins are going to make a run at the postseason in 2026, trust in their starting pitchers would be something to zero in on. In what has become a borderline running gag at this point, Clayton McCullough and his coaching staff were foiled by their reluctance to do so on Sunday. 

Max Meyer cruised through four innings on just 54 pitches against the San Francisco Giants, working around a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the fifth in what would wind up being his longest inning of the day, in terms of pitch count. McCullough relieved Meyer at just 77 pitches with Miami leading 3-1.

Although the pitchers have vastly different résumés, one could not help but think back to the Sandy Alcantara incident earlier this month. For those unaware, Alcantara, vying for his second consecutive shutout, was relieved with one out in the top of the ninth after just 93 pitches for Anthony Bender. Bender, who entered with a pair of men on base, quickly coughed up the lead in what would ultimately be a 6-3 Marlins loss.

The result on Sunday would prove no different, as the Giants won 6-3.

"I thought Max had done his job, gotten us through five...we thought we had the right combination of guys to get to Pete (Fairbanks), but the game quickly turned on us, and the offense couldn't get it going outside of the Pauley homer...but it happens," explained Clayton McCullough.

Calvin Faucher occupied the Bender role this time. For the fifth time already this season, his erratic command led to a leadoff walk. Rafael Devers would double home Casey Schmitt four pitches later, and Drew Gilbert would tie the game at 3-3 two batters later.

The aforementioned Schmitt rubbed salt in the wound one inning later when his second home run in as many days landed into the left field stands of Oracle Park. San Francisco, which entered the series tied with the Red Sox for the fewest home runs in baseball, blasted six long balls in the weekend set.

Making his second career appearance and first career start against the Marlins, Landen Roupp would be tagged for a three-spot in the second when Graham Pauley hit his first home run of the season. From then on out, though, Roupp went into cruise control, retiring the next 18 batters faced. It wasn't until a Heriberto Hernández walk with two outs in the top of the eighth that Miami would have another baserunner.

In a season-high 7 ⅔ innings of work, Roupp allowed just two hits and struck out six. In his six starts to begin the season, Roupp owns a 2.55 ERA. The Pauley home run marked the first allowed by Roupp in 2026. 

Kyle Stowers was one of many Marlins players who were silenced offensively, but it was a notable game for him nonetheless. Making his first career start as a first baseman at the major league level, he collected an assist on a throw to second base and five putouts.

Meyer, on the other hand, would punch out five in his five innings of work, lowering his season ERA to 3.30, and wrapping up a month of April where he posted a mark of 2.88. In 15 career starts in March/April, Meyer owns an ERA right at 3.00. Working around a first-pitch, leadoff triple from Jung Hoo Lee, Meyer would quickly find his groove, allowing just three hits the rest of the way. His one run allowed Sunday would be unearned due to an error on his part when trying to complete a double play.

The aforementioned Lee collected nine hits in the weekend series, marking just the seventh time this decade that a player had nine or more hits in any three-game span against Miami. 

In defeat, the Marlins fall to 13-15, retaining a one-game lead over the Nationals for second in the National League East.

 

Looking Ahead

The Marlins will continue their tour of the west coast on Monday when they travel to Southern California to begin a three-game series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chris Paddack (0-4, 6.38 ERA) will look to improve his fortunes against the Dodgers in the series opener. In nine career starts, Paddack owns a 5.91 ERA. He'll go up against the 2025 World Series MVP in Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.48 ERA). 

First pitch from Dodger Stadium is slated for 10:10 EST.

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[One Regend]

If I was Clayton McCoullough, I would've made the same move if we had an actually competant bullpen. Max Meyer hasn't proven himself at this level and I also wouldn't trust him beyond 5 innings until he gives me reason to, unless he's against a team like the White Sox or Rockies who are easy 6-7 quality innings no matter who's on the mound.

The problem is, the bullpen is a total gasfire. That's what makes this decision iffy.

[UKPhil]

I don't think the the pitching change is puzzling. Meyer gave it away in his post game interview. McCullough had told him earlier this season he would be pulled from games sooner than he would like on a regular basis. Meyer has thrown 121.2 innings in the 2024 & '25 seasons combined. My guess is 5 and dive for Meyer is the rule for Meyer at least until the All Star break. McCullough might have a little wiggle room to send him out for the sixth occasionally, but it looked to me that a 23 pitch 5th inning took a lot out of him.

If he can survive this season, maybe the Front Office will allow him to up his conditioning to go deeper into ball games. 

It's a bit disappointing to go into a series against a mediocre ball club with your 3 best starting pitchers and go down 2-1 but this is a ball club in development. in the ebb and flow of a Major League season, there are going to be left handed starters and young right handed starters who will limit the offence. I like Hicks and I believe his breakthrough is genuine, but I would be very surprised if he finishes the season with a .330 average and 30 home runs.

You do not have a ball club committed to winning if you are starting Ruiz against left handed pitching. 

[UKPhil]

Like the vast majority of relievers, Faucher and Nardi are going to give it up from time to time. Perhaps a team committed to winning doesn't let them face more than 3 batters on a bad day.

I think today's silver lining is Anthony Bender. His bad pitches were bad misses and he threw some good ones. That's a step in the right direction.

[Shawn]

Faucher needs sent down to find his command.