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Please leave any Icthy picks in the comments below. Remember, we introduced a new grand prize for the contest this season.
8/26/18 Probable Starters
| Name | Team | IP | ERA | FIP | K/9 | fWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Team | IP | ERA | FIP | K/9 | fWAR |
| Kevin Gausman | Braves | 151.0 | 3.99 | 4.32 | 7.21 | 1.9 |
| Pablo López | Marlins | 53.0 | 4.42 | 4.49 | 7.13 | 0.4 |
Matchup Summary
We raised the stakes for a random game in the dog days of the rebuild. When all was said and done, a happy ending for everybody involved! Wei-Yin Chen continues to legitimize one of the most impressive Marlins Park single-season performances ever.
Seriously, José Fernández-esque:
Lowest single-season home ERA by Marlins starter, 2012-2018
| Player | Year | G | ERA | IP | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Year | G | ERA | IP | WHIP |
| José Fernández | 2013 | 15 | 1.19 | 98.0 | 0.86 |
| Henderson Alvarez | 2014 | 14 | 1.60 | 90.0 | 1.01 |
| José Fernández | 2016 | 16 | 1.63 | 104.2 | 0.95 |
| Wei-Yin Chen | 2018 | 11 | 1.86 | 63.0 | 1.06 |
| Dan Haren | 2015 | 11 | 2.71 | 66.1 | 1.10 |
| Josh Johnson | 2012 | 17 | 2.96 | 109.1 | 1.16 |
On the other hand, those of you passionate about securing the best possible 2019 MLB draft position might not find it so amusing. A popular preseason pick to finish with the league’s worst record, the Marlins have totally removed themselves from that possibility with a 5-2 stretch. Sunday marks their final game against the Braves, leaving lots of matchups against less talented competition.
Without further ado, lineup notes:
- Stud first baseman Freddie Freeman has homered only four times over his past 47 games...but all four of those have come against the Marlins. He remains a darkhorse candidate for the NL MVP award, largely on the strength of his production in this rivalry.
- The youngest pitcher to appear for the Marlins this season, 22-year-old Pablo López continues to show great promise. Among 165 major league starters with 50-plus innings on the mound, he ranks ninth with a 35.7 percent chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone. That’s slightly higher than Max frickin’ Scherzer!
- Right-hander Kevin Gausman wasn’t particularly good for the Orioles, struggling with the long ball (21 HR in 124.0 IP). A change of fortune in that department—1 HR in 27.0 IP—largely explains his success since the trade to Atlanta. Unnecessarily large Marlins Park and an opposing lineup without J.T. Realmuto should suit his style.
Thread Question: The Braves are in control of the NL East at the moment, but fast-forward to 2022. Which divisional foe do you think will be the Marlins’ toughest competition by then?