New Ace?

Max Meyer has been one of the most impressive pitchers in all of baseball so far in 2024. He's currently tied for 18th in MLB with a 2.18 ERA in his first three start.

Heading into the 2024 regular season, 2020 third overall pick Max Meyer wasn’t even supposed to be in the Marlins Opening Day rotation. Due to injuries to Edward Cabrera, Eury Perez, and Braxton Garrett, Max Meyer found himself as the Marlins #5 starter to open the season.

In his first start back from Tommy John Surgery, Meyer went 5 innings and allowed just 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs against the Angels. Meyer also generated 7 whiffs and topped out at 96.5 MPH. Note that Max Meyer was topping out at 96.5 MPH before the surgery, so it’s a great sign to see that his velocity was fully back in his first time out since his UCL injury.

via MLB.com

After showing promising signs in his first start of the season (the third of his career), Meyer improved in his second start, throwing six innings of 1-run ball against a solid Cardinals lineup.

Meyer’s final line on April 7th: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Meyer flirted with a perfect game through the first 4.1 innings until Nolan Gorman hit a homer to center field that was nearly caught by Jazz Chisholm Jr. at the top of the wall. Either way, the Marlins gave Max Meyer a ton of run support, thanks to a 6-run first inning that helped Meyer record his first MLB win.

via MLB.com

Meyer put non-Marlins fans on notice in his third start of the season against arguably the best lineup in baseball in the Atlanta Braves. Meyer went 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, no walks, and just 1 earned run. What made this outing even more impressive was that Braves hitters swung & missed 23 times against Meyer, which was the most whiffs by any pitched on 4/13. Meyer struck out some of the best hitters in the sport of baseball, such as Matt Olson (2x), Austin Riley, and Ozzie Albies.

via MLB.com

It’s safe to say that Max Meyer has been the best pitcher in the Marlins rotation so far and should permanently be in the Marlins rotation until he runs out of innings or goes to the injured list.

via Kim Klement-USA Today Sports