Ryan

Gusto

It was a tough night from the start for Gusto on Friday, who allowed four runners to reach base in the first inning, with three of them coming around to score. A two-RBI triple by Richie Palacios put the Rays on the board, and Palacios would later come around to score on a single by Ryan Vilade. Gusto would pitch a scoreless second inning before being pulled in favor of Tyler Phillips to start the third. Gusto, who was called up earlier this week, served as the opener for the Marlins but also has experience out of the bullpen. We wouldn’t expect this to become the norm for him just yet, but if he were to draw another start in five days, he would be slated to face the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Gusto has previously worked as a starter, but he’s been both a starter and reliever for the Marlins in Triple-A, posting a 3.83 ERA and 52/17 K/BB ratio in 44 2/3 innings across 10 appearances (seven starts). The 27-year-old is also striking out more batters than he ever has in his minor league career, in part, due to a revamped slider, which is two mph harder and has become a bigger part of his arsenal. Equipped with a six-pitch mix, Gusto could find himself on the streaming radar if that slider has taken a legitimate step forward.

It’s so odd seeing Garrett struggle with his control like this. He walked eight in just 4 1/3 innings over his two starts for the Marlins. Prior to his elbow surgery, he had just a 4.8 percent walk rate from 2022-24. The Marlins will surely give him another try once things improve. In the meantime, they could try Bradley Blalock or Ryan Gusto.

Gusto was up while Pete Fairbanks was on the Paternity List, so he will now head back to Triple-A after throwing one scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Marlins.

With Pete Fairbanks going on Paternity Leave, Gusto will be called up to give some length to the Miami bullpen.

We’re not so sure Mack isn’t the Marlins’ best option behind the plate right now, but the team is committed to Agustín Ramírez for the moment and Liam Hicks will stick as the backup. Mack, who is the team’s best defensive catcher, went 3-for-24 with a homer this spring.

Gusto became a little more important to the Marlins with Adam Mazur requiring season-ending surgery, but he’s still only a rotation candidate if someone gets hurt. He has a 4.66 ERA and a 7/2 K/BB in 9 2/3 innings this spring.

Gusto is probably the Marlins’ sixth starter at the moment, but there are more talented arms coming up behind him if he fails to get an opportunity early on. He didn’t impress today with his velocity down about one mph from last season. His CSW was just 15 percent, as he got two missed swings and four called strikes over 39 pitches.

It’s been a busy week for Gusto, who was torched for nine runs on Wednesday in a loss to Atlanta during which he was also at the epicenter of a benches-clearing incident after drilling superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. The 26-year-old rookie is likely done for the season given the nature of the injury with only four weeks left on the calendar.

It was already 3-0 in the third when Gusto hit Ronald Acuña Jr. on his arm guard, touching off a brief benches-clearing incident, and things really unraveled afterwards. Gusto has lost all three of his starts for the Marlins, giving up 17 earned runs in 15 2/3 innings. He’ll probably stay in the rotation for now and face the Nationals next week, but he could be replaced once Ryan Weathers returns next month.