Miami Marlins progress report—April 5, 2019

Marlins 2019 record: 2-5

Marlins 2019 run differential: minus-8

Based on what we saw in Spring Training and during the opening week of regular season action, the Fish appeared to be improved from 2018. But that won’t necessarily translate into more wins in a stacked NL East.

Playing their first seven games in newly enhanced Marlins Park, they couldn’t fully capitalize on strong performances by the #BabyFacedAces. It didn’t help that talented sophomores Lewis Brinson and Brian Anderson were afflicted by tough luck on balls in play.

Manager Don Mattingly is seemingly picking Brinson’s lineup spot out of a hat. At least he’s having a good time off the field in another rebuilding year.

Thursday was Opening Night for Minor League Baseball and three Marlins affiliates were in action (Triple-A New Orleans was postponed by rain):

• Double-A Jacksonville lost to Jackson, 5-0
• High-A Jupiter lost to Palm Beach, 4-1
• Low-A Clinton lost to Kane County, 2-0

Most notably, Cuban outfielder Víctor Víctor Mesa went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in his first-ever MiLB game. He currently ranks No. 58 on Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list.

Rule 5 draft pick Riley Ferrell (biceps tendinitis) is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list, but he isn’t ready to do so. Expect a multi-game minor league rehab assignment before the Marlins make room for the right-hander on their active roster.

On the latest episode of Talk Baseball, Alex Contreras gives his take on what we’ve seen thus far and makes the case for letting José Ureña face a hostile Braves crowd this Sunday:

Upcoming schedule: at Braves (4/5-4/7), at Reds (4/9-4/11)