Help is on the way: Bullpen has been worst in league since trade deadline

After trading their top three relievers at the July 31 trade deadline, the Marlins bullpen has naturally regressed over the past month.

Through the first four months of the season, Miami’s bullpen ranked below average leaguewide, posting a 4.79 ERA (21st), 4.64 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP, 19th), 0.2 WAR (25th) and 10.2% walk rate (21st) in 355 innings.

While the overall numbers weren’t overwhelming, Sergio Romo and Nick Anderson provided Miami with reliable arms in the backend of the bullpen, while Trevor Richards gave the team another strong right-hander after being moved from the rotation.

But after Miami traded Romo to the Minnesota Twins and packaged Anderson and Richards to the Tampa Bay Rays, the bullpen numbers have taken a significant dip.

In August, the Marlins’ bullpen ERA has jumped to 7.22 (29th), while its FIP has risen to 7.58 (30th). Over the past month, Miami’s relievers are last in WAR (-0.2), walk rate (13.9%) and home runs per nine innings (2.96).

The first two games of this weekend’s series versus the Philadelphia Phillies were especially rough. In 111⁄3 combined innings, the bullpen allowed 13 walks, 11 hits and seven earned runs. Sunday proved to be a nice bounceback, with Jeff Brigham, Jarlin Garcia and Ryne Stanek combining for three scoreless innings of

relief in Miami’s 3-2 win over the Phillies.

While the bullpen has been taxed this weekend, overall usage in August is average league-wide, with the team 16th in innings pitched (76).

The main issue has been the overall lack of depth — and players being thrust into larger roles. By trading its top two relievers, who usually slotted in the 8th and 9th innings, Miami then had to move pitchers who threw lower-leverage situations into those roles. Then the Marlins had to fill those vacated slots and so on.

“We’re asking more of guys,” Marlins manager Don Matingly said. “We’ve moved everybody up the line and we hit a little stretch where we’ve given up some runs.

“It’s been a little tough out there. We’ll be getting some reinforcements out there in a few days.”

The Marlins made their first move prior to Sunday’s game, promoting Kyle Keller from Triple-A New Orleans and optioning Tyler Kinley. Keller, 26, has spent most of the season in the minor leagues, but saw a quick taste of MLB action earlier this month, throwing 12⁄3 innings versus the Rays on Aug. 4.

The right-hander figures to see plenty of innings down the stretch in what’s essentially an early audition for 2020.

With MLB rosters expanding to 40 in September, the Marlins have some flexibility to add some more arms. Triple-A righthander Robert Dugger, who made a spot start for Miami earlier this month, will likely be called up. Dugger is already on the 40-man roster, meaning Miami wouldn’t have to clear out a spot for him.

In addition, Double-A flame-thrower Jorge Guzman could also be an intriguing option. The righthander, who’s also on the 40-man, has posted a 3.50 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 69 walks in 24 outings (23 starts) this season. The Marlins are giving Guzman the opportunity to make it as a starter, but the team could use him out of the bullpen in the final month of the season to help bolster the lineup and give him more exposure.

Acquired in the Giancarlo Stanton trade, Guzman is Miami’s 17th-rated prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

ERIC ESPADA/GETTY Manager Don Mattingly takes the ball from Tayron Guerrero during a pitching change during the Marlins’ game against the Padres on July 18.