'Nard' dog
2 weeks ago we talked a little backend of the Marlins Bullpen (En Español), which has obviously had some moving parts to it since the beginning of the Season. A.J Puk began the year as the Marlins Closer, Dylan Floro was the Club's Set-Up man in Inning number 8, while the 7th went to JT Chargois more often than not to begin the year.
Due to underperformances and injuries, the Bullpen shifted at the tail end. Puk landed on the I.L on May 13th, missing almost a month with elbow nerve irritation. Upon returning from the Injured List, the long Lefty had a few hiccups in the 9th and is now getting the ball no later than the 7th Inning, where Puk has had some ups and downs (has allowed a total of 9 Homers on the year no matter the Inning, but has K'd 64 in 47.2 IP's). On that plus side, the Velo & Stuff's still there for Puk, who looks to lock down a Set-Up role in that 7th Inning for the Marlins down the stretch.
Floro fell apart after 2 1/2 Seasons of very solid/dependable work out of the Marlins Bullpen. Posting a 7.52 ERA from May 12th to July 17th and a 1-4 Record for the Marlins, before the Right Hander was Traded to Minnesota on July 26th for Jorge Lopez (another struggling Righty whose since been DFA'd off the Marlins Roster). Floro was at least able to notch 7 Saves and 9 Holds for the Fish before the massive struggles began in 2023, and is currently still a part of the Twins Bullpen looking to try and turn around his Season over the final few weeks.
Chargois overcame an Oblique Injury in April to continue to throw the ball well upon returning in May. But struggles to start the 2nd Half (he wasn't alone in that department, that's for sure), followed by missing another 3 weeks, has Chargois looking to work himself back into the late Inning mix. Not to mention 2 outings as the Marlins Opener that have resulted in Fish victories.
Tanner Scott & the electricity coming out of his Left arm steadily moved up the Marlins Bullpen depth chart in 2023. Scott began the Season in the 6th Inning, the nasty fastball/slider mix of the Lefty's then moved to frame number 7, followed by a quick transition into 8th Inning duties (where Scott had a 1.97 ERA and a ridiculous 39/6 K to BB Ratio). Now the Marlins best Reliever is finally receiving Save opportunities, as deserved as they can be, during this final month for the Fish. Scott's already locked down 6 Marlins Wins since the move to the 9th Inning, including Sunday's absolutely incredible effort in Philadelphia, where the Marlins Closer was summoned to pitch out of a 2nd & 3rd only 1 out jam in the 8th, followed by pitching a scoreless 9th Inning as well, all in a 1 Run Game.
Scott the Closer, lent a hand in the 8th Sunday to someone who knows a little something about pitching out of major jams, all while stranding a 💩-load of Inherited-Baserunners all year long himself. Andrew Nardi has burst onto the scene in 2023, after some struggles during his initial cup of coffee in the Show last September. The Fish stuck with Nardi and placed him on the Opening Day Roster to begin the year, and after another initial rough go in the month of April of this year, the former University of Arizona Wildcat has simply been lights out for the Marlins.
From the month of May through June, Nardi got into 25 Games for the Fish, tossing 23 Innings of 0.78 ERA baseball, a .185 Opponents Batting Average, 33 Strikeouts to only 5 Walks, and (probably the most important statistic for a Reliever) of 20 Inherited Baserunners, only 3 came around to score in those 2 months.
The only thing that could sideline Nardi during such a terrific stretch was triceps inflammation which cost him a month (July). Manager Skip Schumaker hinted at possibly some overuse being a factor to Nardi feeling some fatigue. But it's undeniable the Marlins will need Nardi in that 8th Inning as much as possible down the stretch, an Inning the Lefty has locked down upon returning from the I.L (13 Games overall, a 2.19 ERA, 16 K's in 12.1 Innings, while allowing ZERO Inherited Runners to Score).
The Marlins sticking with Nardi despite the early Career struggles is obviously paying off huge dividends late into 2023. It also brings Alex Vesia vibes, who really struggled in 2020 during his brief Debut stint with the Fish, and later blossomed as a Lefty out of the L.A Dodgers Bullpen for the last 2 years (including the Postseason).
You can make the argument the Marlins gave up on Vesia prior to the 2021 Season, as he was Traded (along with Kyle Hurt, whose about to make his MLB Debut for L.A) for Dylan Floro. But you can make the same argument Floro was the Fish's best Reliver for 2 1/2 Seasons, as we mentioned.
Regardless, Andrew Nardi has certainly helped solidify that back end of the Marlins Bullpen today. Becoming the Fish's main Set-Up guy, a role that certainly suits the 'Nard Dawg' with his 14 Holds on the year & 7-1 Record (which speaks to how he's performed when Games are knotted up). Performance, something the combo of Scott/Nardi know all too well for the Marlins in 2023.
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