JUPITER, Fla. -- The Marlins played a lot of close games in 2025, and they expect the same in ‘26. The relief corps will play a pivotal role in deciding how those matchups turn out.
Wednesday afternoon’s Grapefruit League game against the Astros at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium provided some context as to what the Marlins are thinking, beginning with right-hander Tyler Phillips serving as an opener.
Here are some early things to note about how the bullpen might play out:
Phillips will be built up
According to manager Clayton McCullough, Phillips will be able to go at least three “ups” – or times on the mound – and 50 pitches in an outing when camp breaks on March 22.
McCullough went on to say that Phillips, who posted a 2.78 ERA with four saves in 54 games (one start) in 2025, can both bridge and finish games like he did last season. Phillips is a former starter, recording a shutout as a rookie in '24 with the Phillies.
It appears as though Miami wants a contingency plan, especially during the early part of the regular season when starters don’t go as deep into games as they ease into the schedule.
“Just do what I do,” said Phillips, who tossed a scoreless 11-pitch first and threw an additional 15 pitches in the bullpen afterwards. “I'm here. I'm not going to complain. Whatever they ask me, I'm going to do it. I still have the opportunity to be in the big leagues, and again, I'm going to do whatever I have to do to be there. If they wanted me cleaning cleats, I would do it. I'm not going to complain. Last year, I was [in a] pretty versatile role. I would go one inning. I'd go four innings. I'm just happy to have the ball in my hand, and I'll just throw it until they have to pry it out of my hand.”
Pete Fairbanks will finish the most games
Miami signed Fairbanks to a franchise-record deal for a relief pitcher this offseason to lock down those potential wins as much as possible. He enters 2026 with 90 career saves, a total far greater than anyone else on the Marlins’ roster.
Even with Fairbanks on the roster, McCullough still anticipates needing righty setup men Phillips, Anthony Bender, who is returning from a right shin issue, and Calvin Faucher to finish the occasional game. Righty Lake Bachar and lefty Andrew Nardi, who is progressing from back trouble and a blood blister, could as well.
Miami will once again play matchups and pockets when navigating the latter part of games. The highest-leverage situation doesn’t always happen in the ninth.
“I think that could be anyone that is out in our 'pen that day,” McCullough said. “We'll continue to look at the 'pen very much similar [to] last year. And certainly, Pete is going to finish a lot of games for us. There'll be times when Pete throws the eighth inning or throws somewhere else. ...
“Trying to put guys where I feel like that day is the best spot for them just to go get their outs. Getting to the end of the game, sometimes [you] don't know what that's going to look like in the ninth, but [you] know what certain moments are.”
Nearly the entire bullpen will have the ability to pitch multiple innings
The Marlins want as many pitchers as possible to be able to provide multiple frames, because the starting staff includes two guys coming back from surgery (Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett) and nearly everyone with relatively low single-season-innings totals.
Outside of Fairbanks, who will mostly go just one frame, everyone else is fair game to record at least four outs. McCullough hoped at least half of the bullpen would have that ability, singling out Phillips, Bachar and righty Michael Petersen for an even greater workload.
“I think it's a pretty good group,” said Fairbanks, who pitched a scoreless second in his club debut. “Every time I get to see Bender's TrackMan sheet, it's usually pretty impressive. I'm obviously familiar with a couple of the other guys in the bullpen. It'll be exciting to see what rounds it out and get to know them a little bit. But it's a pretty talented group.”