New Marlins relievers are off to a disappointing start in 2021

When you look around Major League Baseball, the Marlins were one of the busiest teams over the offseason in terms of bullpen transactions. Via trade, the Rule 5 Draft, or free agency, the Fish welcomed a bunch of new arms to give their relief corps “different looks” and better overall talent than the 2020 team had.

However, their potential hasn’t translated to the field through the early portion of this regular season. Don Mattingly’s relievers have combined for a 6.43 ERA during the first seven games (second-worst in the National League), and the newcomers are largely responsible for that.

Marlins closer Anthony Bass saw his difficult start to 2021 get even worse on Thursday, when he blew another save opportunity against the Mets (thanks in part to the home plate umpire). Last year, he allowed 10 earned runs across 25 ²⁄₃ innings for the Blue Jays, but this time he’s surrendered seven hits and six earned over 2 1⁄₃ (three appearances).

He’s not the only one failing in his role. All the excitement surrounding Zach Pop from this spring is wearing off. He served up a grand slam by Cardinals’ rookie Dylan Carlson on Wednesday after loading the bases himself with poor control. Adam Cimber, who came via trade from the Indians late in the offseason, has given up five hits and two earned runs over three frames. The submariner is inconsistent. John Curtiss has already been taken deep twice, both times on his ordinarily lethal slider.

The only two recent acquisitions that are meeting expectations are Dylan Floro and Ross Detwiler. They have combined for 6 ²⁄₃ scoreless innings of three hits, two bases on balls, and 10 strikeouts.

Here you have their detailed statistics to start the season...

• RHP Anthony Bass: 3 G, 0-2 record, 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 23.14 ERA
• RHP Zach Pop: 2 G, 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 1 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 27.00 ERA
• RHP Paul Campbell: 1 G, 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 13.50 ERA
• RHP John Curtiss: 3 G, 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 2 HR, 6.75 ERA
• RHP Adam Cimber: 4 G, 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 6.00 ERA
• LHP Ross Detwiler: 3 G, 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA
• RHP Dylan Floro: 4 G, 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

The clock is ticking for Marlins’ new relievers to deliver effective appearances. Pretty soon, pitchers from the alternate training site—especially Anthony Bender and Jordan Holloway—ought to be considered for promotions.

On Saturday, the current group will have another opportunity to get things going.