MIAMI – It was an ominous start to Marlins right-hander Chris Paddack’s day when he discovered his trademark stirrups didn’t match the club’s throwback teal uniforms.
It continued when his first-pitch strike to Trea Turner didn’t count, as it was called off because a left-field gate was open.
Paddack would go on to surrender seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings in Sunday afternoon’s 7-2 loss to the Phillies at loanDepot park.
“Something just fell off,” Paddack said. “I've never been a guy that can feel my body out there, and I felt my body, meaning I was trying to manipulate. I was trying to aim the baseball with worrying about my lower half.”
The 30-year-old Paddack, who entered Sunday tied for the 14th-best BB/9 rate (1.95) among qualifying Major League starting pitchers since his 2019 debut, was uncharacteristically wild in a six-run, 38-pitch first.
Boos erupted when Paddack issued his third walk, which resulted in a run. He didn’t collect his first out until the sixth batter of the game hit a sacrifice fly. Bryson Stott then broke the game open with a three-run homer.
By the time manager Clayton McCullough pulled Paddack, the Marlins trailed 7-0 and the Phillies had runners at the corners in the third. His ERA had ballooned to 7.63 – second highest among MLB pitchers with at least six starts (Boston’s Brayan Bello, 9.12).
Paddack, selected in the eighth round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Marlins but dealt 12 months later, has been vocal about finally putting on a Miami uniform.
Like veteran Cal Quantrill last season, the Marlins signed Paddack to a one-year, $4 million contract to round out their rotation. Like the Quantrill experiment (placed on outright waivers in August after a 5.50 ERA in 24 starts), Paddack’s tenure hasn’t been smooth.
Miami fell to 0-6 in Paddack’s first six starts this season, marking just the fourth time in franchise history that has happened to a newcomer. His 9.00 ERA through six starts is the third-highest.
“A roller coaster,” Paddack said. “I've been here before. It definitely sucks. I just feel like this year, I haven't been able to allow things to continue over. I feel like right when we think we're getting in a good place, I kind of get hit in the mouth again. There's no excuse for it. I'm a competitor. I work my butt off. I try to be the best teammate that I can and a role model for some of our younger guys in the clubhouse.
“But I've got to look myself in the mirror, and I have to clean some things up, and that starts with myself. Nobody can get you out of a bind but you. So get ready for my next one, Friday night here versus Washington.”
When asked, McCullough confirmed Paddack would make that start. The wheels must be turning, though.
“Over the course of a season, no one's immune to having a day where you just don't have feel for your arsenal and just really struggle to find the strike zone,” McCullough said. “Outside of today, Chris has thrown the ball well. He probably ran against some tough luck in some outings, but he had thrown the ball well, and he's kept us in the games that he pitched. And today just was a tough one from kind of Pitch 1 till it was over. So just a tough day.”
If the Marlins are serious about competing for a postseason spot, especially with subpar starts from the Mets and Phillies, it might soon be time to pivot.
While Miami features several relievers that can toss multiple innings, the bullpen lacks a long man. Maybe the solution is converting Paddack, who succeeded in the bulk role in the April 5 game at Yankee Stadium.
Waiting for a starting opportunity is a pair of lefties dominating at Triple-A Jacksonville.
Braxton Garrett, who lost out on a rotation spot coming back from Tommy John surgery, has the second-lowest ERA (1.71) and the lowest WHIP (0.68) in the International League through five starts. Across a three-start span, he tossed 16 consecutive hitless innings, which included a no-no on April 21.
Garrett also has a proven track record. Prior to an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, Garrett compiled a 3.63 ERA in 48 games (47 starts) from 2022-23.
The option Marlins fans are most likely clamoring for is Marlins No. 2 prospect (MLB Pipeline’s No. 34 overall) Robby Snelling, who isn’t on the 40-man roster.
Snelling has a 1.86 ERA (third lowest), a 0.90 WHIP (third lowest) and 44 strikeouts (tied for the most) in six starts.