Miami

Marlins

Doing this but sticking with Chris Paddack is a choice. Ramírez, though, isn’t doing enough offensively to justify putting up with his defense, even if he has shown some improvement there this year. Mack is a weaker bet than Ramírez on offense, but he’s an excellent defensive catcher who takes walks and hits the occasional homer. He’s batting .244/.388/.378 in Triple-A. Liam Hicks and Mack figure to split time behind the plate, with Hicks also serving as a DH. Mack won’t get Ramírez’s DH at-bats, so that could open some playing time for Christopher Morel.

Ruiz got just his fourth start of the season since he was activated on April 22. He provided all of the team’s offense against the Phillies, taking Jesus Luzardo deep for a two-run homer in the seventh inning for his second home run of the season. The 27-year-old outfielder will likely continue to be limited to sporadic playing time against right-handers and starts against left-handed pitching.

Paddack dug himself into a hole in the first inning, giving up a double and two walks to load the bases. One run would come in on a fielder’s choice, another on a bases-loaded walk, and a Bryson Stott three-run blast would make it a six-run opening frame. He tossed a scoreless second, then allowed an unearned run on two hits following an error in the third. His day would be done with two outs in the inning at 73 pitches. Paddack now holds a 7.34 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 27/10 K/BB ratio across 30 2/3 innings. His next start is scheduled to come on Friday in Miami against the Nationals — and manager Clayton McCullough confirmed after the game that he would make it — but it’s hard to imagine he keeps his rotation spot much longer with Braxton Garrett and Robby Snelling pitching well at Triple-A.

The one hit came off the bat of Garrett Stubbs, who was promptly erased on a double play. The only other batter to reach against him was Alec Bohm, who walked. Meyer fanned seven and needed just 83 pitches to get 21 outs. The knock against Meyer so far this season is that he just hasn’t worked deep into games at all, but he lasted seven innings for first time in his career today. He’s now 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA and a 40/13 K/BB in 37 innings, and he’ll face the Orioles on Thursday.

Edwards’ homer against Andrew Painter was projected at 392 feet, making it the third longest drive of his career. He couldn’t look much like less a cleanup hitter, but he’s definitely proving worthy of the spot now while hitting .336/.426/.475 on the young season.

Norby sat Friday, but he was back in the lineup at Christopher Morel’s expense today and had his first two-hit game in two weeks. The walk gave him his first RBI in seven games and 10th in 114 plate appearances overall. Since Morel’s return, Norby has been in the lineup four out of five games, with Morel playing twice. Things could get dicey for him if Morel gets hot, but it’s cleared he’s the preferred choice at first base for now.

Esteury Ruiz takes over in left field and will hit ninth in his place. Caissie cooled off considerably in recent weeks, and is hitting just .200/.242/.333 with two homers, 15 RBI and one steal through 30 games in his Marlins debut.

Ekness earns his first promotion to the majors after recording a surreal 21/6 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings for Triple-A Jacksonville this season.T he 24-year-old features an upper-90s fastball/sinker combination paired with a devastating sweeper, which should enable him to excel in high-leverage spots. His arsenal may be deep enough to transition into a traditional starting role at some point in the future like Michael King, Reynaldo López, Seth Lugo and Clay Holmes have in recent years. He’s an interesting name to watch in deeper fantasy formats in the coming months.

Gibson heads back to the minors after allowing four runs over 1 2/3 innings on Friday against the Phillies in his season debut. He’s posted a respectable 3.20 ERA across 56 1/3 frames at the highest level over the past two seasons.

It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that Snelling doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors after recording a stellar 1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 44/15 K/BB ratio across 29 innings over six starts this season. The 22-year-old southpaw has notched at least nine strikeouts in three of his last four starts and showed improved command in this latest outing after handing out five free passes in his previous start. Snelling is worthy of a speculative roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues on the chance that Miami finally decides he’s ready to take the ball in the majors.