Result: Marlins 12, Cardinals 5
Weather: 72 degrees, sunny
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – With the days left in spring training starting to tick away, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol knows one of the team’s biggest decisions to be made concerns who will fill out the bullpen.
“What we want to see is who gets outs,” Marmol said before Tuesday’s game. “We’re at the point in the competition where performance matters.”
Three of the relievers competing for the open right-handed spots in the bullpen – Gordon Graceffo, Roddery Munoz and Nick Anderson – all followed starter Erick Fedde to the mound against the Marlins.
The only one of the three who had a good day was Anderson, the only one to work a clean inning – and by that time the Marlins had already hit five home runs in the win over the Cardinals.
Munoz, who had allowed only one unearned run in his first four innings, gave up two of the homers.
Graceffo also allowed two runs in his inning of work.
Also in the running to land one of the spots in the bullpen are Riley O’Brien, Chris Roycroft and Kyle Leahy. Roycroft has not allowed a run in five innings this spring, Leahy has worked six scoreless innings and O’Brien has only pitched two innings but also has not allowed a run.
Here is how Tuesday’s game broke down:
High: Jose Barrero had two hits and drove in two runs as he continues to battle for the final roster spot.
Low: Three of the Marlins five home runs came off starter Erick Fedde.
At the plate: Barrero’s two RBIs came on a fourth-inning single. He also had another single and reached on a walk and stole a base … Michael Helman, also in the competition for a bench spot, had a sacrifice fly, as he did Lars Nootbaar.
On the mound: Fedde allowed six runs in his four innings of work and did not record a strikeout … Ryan Helsley gave up one hit and an unearned run in his inning of work … Anderson, a late free-agent signing, had two strikeouts in his scoreless inning.
Worth noting: Barrero got the start in left field as he tries to display his ability to play both the infield and outfield … Jordan Walker was able to run at full speed before Tuesday’s game and likely will be back in the lineup later this week … The Cardinals have a .210 team batting average this spring and have the fewest hits in the majors.
Up next: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Wednesday when the Cardinals host the Mets in Jupiter.
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