Amid his recent struggles, Richards moved to bullpen
SunSentinel.com/sports
MIAMI —Commanding a strong contingent of young starters, the Miami Marlins have developed a good type of problem: having too many pitchers and not enough space in the rotation.
With promising arms waiting in the wings, that means a little less leeway for players suffering through rough patches on the mound.
Dealing with a career-worst stretch in which he’s posted a 7.36 ERA in his past seven starts, the Marlins have moved Trevor Richards to the bullpen. Righthander Elieser Hernandez, 24, will take his place in the rotation, beginning Sunday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In his second major-league season, Richards is 3-12 with a 4.62 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 20 starts. His 4.05 walks per nine innings is the fifth-highest among qualified National League starters.
After a solid start to the season, the 26-year-old right-hander has struggled in his past seven outings. His 7.36 ERA is the highest among NL starters during that stretch.
“Trevor has obviously struggled a little bit lately, but it gives him a chance to get a little bit of rest [and] also to see what he looks like out there,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “We know as an organization that we keep piling — starters are getting closer and closer to the big leagues.
“There’s been talk early on, ‘This guy could be a really good bullpen guy,’ so it’s the time right now with the combination of Elieser and him to see what he looks like.”
This season, the Marlins have used one of the youngest starting rotations in baseball.
Miami began the season with threesecond year players (Richards, Caleb Smith and Pablo Lopez) and one rookie (Sandy Alcantara). Following injuries to Jose Urena, Lopez and Smith, rookie right-handers Zac Gallen and Jordan Yamamoto, along with Hernandez have shown promising flashes in fill-in duty.
After being promoted from Triple-A New Orleans, Hernandez made five starts, notching a 4.12 ERA and impressive 5.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio (32 strikeouts, six walks). The 24-year-old right-hander transitioned to the bullpen after Smith returned from the injured list.
As for Richards, most of his struggles have come from the inability to develop a consistent third pitch. He has one of the most effective changeups in baseball that’s paired with a decent low-90s fastball. Throwing those two pitches 80.5% of the time, teams are hitting .204 versus the changeup and .261 versus the four-seamer.
Teams have teed off on Richards, though, when he utilizes his secondary pitches. His cutter has yielded a .349 opponents batting average and his curve a .407 mark. Without a strong third pitch, players can more easily ambush his changeup and fastball.
“I think [moving to the bullpen] allows [Richards] to use his two best pitches more often and in short looks,” Mattingly said. “Trevor’s had his biggest issues for the most part getting through lineups multiple times.”
Nationals: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer received a stem cell shot to treat his strained back and hopes to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Braves. Scherzer, 34, returned from the IL on Thursday after being out since July 6 with inflammation under his right shoulder. He allowed three runs and four hits over five innings during an 8-7 loss to Rockies. An MRI on Friday revealed the mid-back strain. Scherzer will not throw for two days. “He has a strain of his rhomboid,” Nats manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s going to get shut down for two days then we’ll see how he feels from there. Right now, he wants to make his next start.” Scherzwer was 7-0 with a 0.87 ERA in his previous seven starts before Thursday. “I’m not happy,” Scherzer said. “But on the other hand, we’re talking minor strain.”
Astros: All-Star SS Carlos Correa was in the Astros lineup for the first time since May 26. The 2015 AL rookie of the year batted fifth against the Cardinals. He missed 50 games with a broken rib, an injury suffered in an accident at home. Correa had 11 HRs and 35 RBIs in 50 games before the injury. He hit .239 with 15 HRs and 65 RBIs in 110 games in 2018.
Brewers: INF Travis Shaw, who slumped badly after hitting 63 HRs over the last two seasons, was recalled after almost a month at Triple-A San Antonio. Shaw took the roster spot of RHP Jhoulys Chacin, placed on the 10day IL and is expected to miss two to four weeks. Chacin had an MRI that showed a strained lat instead of an oblique injury. Shaw had 31 HRs and 101 RBIs in 2017 and 32 HRs in 2018. He was hitting .164 with six HRs and 13 RBIs when he was sent down June 28. Shaw was at first base and batted seventh against the Cubs.
Cubs: Derek Holland was acquired from the Giants for a player to be named and cash, giving the Cubs a new left-handed option out of the bullpen. Holland, 32, entered Friday’s game, 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA in seven starts and 24 relief appearances this season . ... Ian Happ was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and started in left field and batted sixth against the Brewers. It was the first big-league action for Happ, 24, this season. He appeared in 142 games last season and 115 in 2017.
Mets: Trade candidate Zack Wheeler showed off a live arm in his return from the IL and the Mets hit four HRs to beat the visiting Pirates 6-3. Wheeler (7-6) struck out seven over 51⁄3 innings in his first start since July 7 due to right shoulder fatigue. He allowed three runs, six hits and no walks. Jeff McNeil hit a three-run HR, and Todd Frazier, Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos added solo shots for the Mets. Alonso’s HR was his 34th. It was the Pirates’ sixth loss in a row.
Rockies: Daniel Murphy hit a three-run HR and a three-run double for a career-high six RBIs, leading the Rockies over the host Reds 12-2. The Rockies won back-to-back games for the first time since June 28 and 29. David Dahl hit a two-run HR in the victory.