PHILADELPHIA -- The Marlins finalized their roster for the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies on Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park, selecting 12 pitchers (seven left-handers and five right-handers) and 14 position players for the best-of-three matchup.
Right-handers Johnny Cueto and Bryan Hoeing were left off the 26-player roster, while left-hander Ryan Weathers was a surprise addition.
Weathers, whom the Marlins acquired ahead of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline from the Padres for Garrett Cooper and prospect Sean Reynolds, tossed six scoreless innings in Sunday’s regular-season finale in Pittsburgh. Weathers features a 95.1 average mph four-seamer, changeup and sweeper that could play well in the postseason.
Cueto, who signed a free-agent contract in January, has either been injured or unproductive all season (6.02 ERA), while Hoeing struggled down the stretch with an 11.05 ERA in seven September outings.
“Weathers had a really nice outing his last outing," manager Skip Schumaker said, "and we felt where we were in the bullpen, Cueto wasn't feeling great and Hoeing has been pitching good, like this year. But we felt like having another lefty potentially in the bullpen was what we discussed and went with in the end.”
Miami included both switch-hitting rookie Xavier Edwards and left-handed-hitting veteran Joey Wendle on a right-handed-heavy roster. Edwards also could be used as a pinch-runner late in games, while Wendle could be a defensive replacement at shortstop.
Here is the roster:
Pitchers (12): Right-handers Edward Cabrera, JT Chargois, David Robertson, Huascar Brazoban, George Soriano; left-handers Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Tanner Scott, Andrew Nardi, A.J. Puk, Steven Okert, Ryan Weathers
Catchers (2): Nick Fortes, Jacob Stallings
Infielders (8): Luis Arraez, Josh Bell, Jon Berti, Jake Burger, Garrett Hampson, Xavier Edwards, Yuli Gurriel, Joey Wendle
Outfielders (4): Jazz Chisholm Jr., Bryan De La Cruz, Jesús Sánchez, Jorge Soler