With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the National League East and the Miami Marlins:
Miami Marlins
2018 record: 63-98, 5th in NL East
Projected Lineup:
LF Curtis Granderson
2B Starlin Castro
3B Brian Anderson
1B Neil Walker
RF Peter O’Brien
C Jorge Alfaro
SS Miguel Rojas
CF Lewis Brinson
Starting Rotation:
RH Jose Urena
RH Sandy Alcantara
LH Wei-Yin Chen
RH Trevor Richards
LH Pablo Lopez
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Sergio Romo
RH Drew Steckenrider
LH Adam Conley
LH Jarlin Garcia
Key Bench Pieces:
INF Martin Prado
OF Isaac Galloway
SS J.T. Riddle
INF Pedro Alvarez
OF Magneuris Sierra
I don’t know if there’s much I can really predict with the Marlins since it seems pretty obvious that they are destined for a 5th place finish and possibly the worst record in all of baseball in 2019. However, for the Marlins fans out there, there are a few names to watch. The first being Lewis Brinson, whom they acquired from the Brewers in the Christian Yelich trade last year. Brinson had a very disappointing 2018 where he batted just .199 with a .240 OBP in 109 games. He has shown his potential this spring, hitting .278 with 5 home runs and a SLG of .593. If he can carry this type of production into the regular season, he can be a guy to watch going forward. Also watch Brian Anderson, who had a very good rookie campaign last year batting .273 with 34 doubles and 161 hits, good to finish fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting (he had some tough competition with Acuna Jr, Soto and Buehler).
Rotation wise, there’s one guy I’m watching and that’s Alcantara. Urena is at the top of the rotation, but Alcantara is the guy to keep your eye on in 2019. He was the Marlins’ number 4 prospect heading into 2018. Appearing in 6 games last year, Alcantara had 30 strikeouts and a 3.44 ERA. He has the velocity on his fastball which hits the upper 90s, but has had problems with his command. 2019 will be a learning year as he’s expected to spend the entire season in the big league rotation.
Again, not much to really say with the Fish. They are expected the finish in last place in the East, but at least they will look good doing it with those new perfectly colored uniforms and the dismissal of that awful home run statue down in Little Havana. That may be the best offseason move Derek Jeter and company made all offseason.
2019 prediction: 5th in NL East
