The Miami Marlins have had to adjust their roster on the fly during their final series ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
More trades could take place before, during or after Miami’s finale of a three-game series against the host St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
The Cardinals recorded a 7-1 victory on Monday before the Marlins bounced back with a 5-0 win Tuesday.
The Marlins dealt catcher Nick Fortes to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for Double-A outfielder Matthew Etzel. That will create more time behind the plate for Agustin Ramirez and Liam Hicks.
Hicks served as the catcher for Tuesday’s game, with Ramirez slotting in as the designated hitter.
“We believe in Gus (Ramirez) as a catcher, committed to that, continuing to grow and improve,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “We see Gus as someone that’s going to be a big part in that position there for us, and so between him and Liam, whether that’s four and three, whether that’s five and two, sometimes three and four, I think some of it will just be opposing pitcher, maybe the best constructed lineup.
“Those guys will take down the catching duties, with Gus getting the majority most of the time.”
Miami’s Troy Johnston made his major league debut Tuesday. He started at first base and lined a single in his first at-bat.
McCullough indicated that Hicks, Johnston and Eric Wagaman will share time at first base going forward.
Outfielder Kyle Stowers returned Tuesday after missing a game with an illness. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.
The Marlins will turn to right-hander Cal Quantrill (3-8, 5.05 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday. He has allowed just one run on five hits in 11 innings over his last two starts, as Miami beat Milwaukee and Kansas City. He struck out seven in those games and walked none.
Quantrill is 2-0 with an 0.56 ERA in five career games (two starts) against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals will hand the ball to right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-7, 4.94 ERA), who earned a 3-0 victory Friday over the San Diego Padres in his last start. He scattered seven hits over five scoreless innings.
This was a nice turnaround for Mikolas, who had allowed five or more runs in three of his previous four starts.
“I really liked my fastball,” Mikolas said. “I was kind out there just kind of just letting it rip. It was nice and hot out. Being from Florida, it felt kind of good. A little heat and humidity and using that.”
Mikolas is 4-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against the Marlins.
The Cardinals suffered another injury on the pitching front. Left-handed reliever John King left Tuesday’s game with left-side discomfort in the ninth inning.
“Don’t have a ton of info on it yet,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said after the game. “We’re hoping it was more cramp than oblique. He’s getting tested at the moment.”
The Cardinals reportedly are listening to trade offers on relievers Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz, so an injury to King would be problematic.
Matz pitched one inning Tuesday, then the Cardinals had to scramble to get a replacement in the game. Marmol said that was a communication issue, not an injury.
–Field Level Media
