MLB Power Rankings: Which pitching rotation is the best in baseball?
By Phil Akre
![ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 29: Justin Verlander ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 29: Justin Verlander](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1807c5c4cc76155d569827e375bd6ba04f77ba5d09a748b0ffa205ecb3788c53.jpg)
21. Miami Marlins
There’s no other way to put it. The Miami Marlins are a tragic case.
Years of mismanagement and front office dysfunction have set the team back significantly, but the death of former ace Jose Fernandez still looms large. It will always leave Marlins and baseball fans wondering, what could have been?
The Marlins are in full rebuild mode. This 2018 roster was never expected to contend or compete with the heavyweights of the National League East.
So far, though, the rotation has been better than expected. Jose Urena has emerged as the teams No. 1, with a 4.41 ERA. Considering he has only one season under his belt as a full-time starter, it’s not terrible.
Behind him, though, is a bag of mixed results. Caleb Smith has proven to be a solid good pickup, who’s thrown to a 3.51 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.
The teams No. 3 arm, Dan Straily, hasn’t been too bad this year. His 3.69 ERA certainly is solid. His walk rate, though, sits at 4.8 per nine innings.
Wei-Yin Chen has been a train-wreck. In his six starts he owns a 5.22 ERA. That number is inflated, though, due his outing against the Chicago Cubs when allowed nine runs. Like Straily, he struggles with walks. He’s given 14 free passes in 29.1 innings.
Luckily for the organization, there are a few prospects who could help the team out soon. Righty Sandy Alcantara is Baseball America’s No. 70 overall prospect. Jorge Guzman sits at No. 87 on the same list.
The pair came to the Marlins as a result of trading Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton.