15 Marlins
TANKERS
SCOUT'S TAKE
KEY QUESTION
As bleak as things are here, there are some talented young pitchers. Do any of them take a big step forward this year? Sandy Alcántara, who came over in the Marcell Ozuna trade, is the pick to break out. He's long and lanky, with an above-average fastball and a good slider. He's got just enough erratic command that he can terrify hitters when they step in the box.
BUST CANDIDATE
Lewis Brinson was a top 20 prospect entering last season; his stock has cratered. He swings at everything. I don't get it: He's one of the game's fastest players, and he attempted three steals last year. The good news is that, on this team, he'll have plenty of time to figure things out.
UNDERRATED
The little positive development from last year was Brian Anderson, who gave them quality defense at third and in the outfield. He's got 20-homer potential—a guy they can build around.
LAST LICKS
You feel terrible for Curtis Granderson and Starlin Castro, having to suffer through this. Castro could be a big trade chip at the deadline. He can still do damage.... They're the worst team in the league—and it may not be close.
THE PAYOFF PITCH
BEFORE DEREK Jeter was a surefire Hall of Famer, he was a rookie hitting a soft .250 in 15 games for the 1995 Yankees. It's helpful to remember that he started his MLB career poorly, because he's started his ownership career the same way. He is part of a Marlins ownership group that saddled the team with $400 million in debt to make the purchase. Jeter bollixed the Marlins' teardown, getting minimal return for two NL MVPs and Marcell Ozuna. The team added just some low-impact free agents over the offseason, and there's little in the farm. Jeter has waved away the team's competitiveness while hyping up the "experience" of attending a game in a ballpark with the league's smallest crowds. Maybe you can pin some of the Marlins' struggles on president Michael Hill, but Jeter has made himself the face of the franchise. The Marlins' success or failure is on him.
OVER UNDER
63.5
The Marlins are bad and old. They somehow avoided triple-digit losses in 2018; this year, with an even less inspiring roster, they won't be so fortunate.
LINEUP
LF Curtis Granderson
.242/13 HR /.351 OBP
2B Starlin Castro
.278/12 HR/.329 OBP
3B Brian Anderson
.273/.357 OBP/65 RBI
1B Neil Walker
.219/.309 OBP/.354 SLG
RF Peter O'Brien
.273/.338 OBP/.530 SLG
C Jorge Alfaro
.262/.324 OBP/.407 SLG
SS JT Riddle
.231/.277 OBP /.377 SLG
CF Lewis Brinson
.199/.240 OBP/.338 SLG
BENCH
C Chad Wallach
.178/.275 OBP/.267 SLG
IF Martín Prado
.244/.287 OBP/.305 SLG
FANTASY BREAKOUT
Acquired from the Phillies for J.T. Realmuto, JORGE ALFARO, 25, has 20-homer potential with the everyday job.
ROTATION
RH José Ureña
9 W/3.98 ERA/1.18 WHP
LH Wei-Yin Chen
6 W/4.79 ERA /1.34 WHP
RH Dan Straily
5 W/4.12 ERA/7.3 K9
RH Trevor Richards
4 W/4.42 ERA/1.39 WHP
BULLPEN
RH Drew Steckenrider
5 SV/3.90 ERA/10.3 K9
RH Sergio Romo
4.14 ERA/1.26 WHP/10.0 K9
LH Adam Conley
4.09 ERA/1.09 WHP/8.9 K9
MANAGER
Don Mattingly