Marlins’ Max Meyer Is One of the Best Pitchers in MLB

Max Meyer has become one of the best pitchers in the MLB and is a significant factor in the Miami Marlins' 17-5 record in June.

Meyer picked up his ninth victory in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night. He pitched seven innings, allowed zero hits, walked two batters and recorded five strikeouts in 89 pitches.

It's safe to say that he's dominant when on the mound for the Marlins. Meyer has a 9-0 win-loss record and is a nine-way tie for second place in the league. The most impressive part about that stat is that his zero losses are the fewest in that group, as all the pitchers have one loss or more.

The 27-year-old's record matches the best start and longest winning streak in franchise history. He is the most efficient pitcher on Miami's roster despite his teammate, Sandy Alcantara, pitching 13 more innings (110)

Miami's right-handed pitcher has a team-best 2.60 ERA (seventh in MLB) and 109 strikeouts (two-way tie for ninth with Pittsburgh Pirates' right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcroft).

Injuries to starting pitchers Eury Pérez and Janson Junk thrust Meyer into pitching more innings. He pitched 25 innings in April, and it shot up to 36 in March. The increase in innings pitched could be a factor in the consistency of his winning streak.

He recorded three straight wins in March over the Minnesota Twins (March 13), Atlanta Braves (March 18) and New York Mets (March 23). Meyer is on another three-win streak in June, picking up victories against the Pirates (June 14), San Francisco Giants (June 20) and the Cardinals in Friday's game.

Across the past two months, Meyer has pitched seven innings four times, a feat he didn't achieve in March or April. Although injuries have thrust him to pitch more innings, he's produced.

Meyer has held down the fort on the mound while Pérez and Junk are sidelined. However, reinforcements are on the way, and Meyer is excited for the return of two starting pitchers.

"It's going to be sweet to have Eury (Pérez) back," Meyer told reporters last Saturday. "I know (Janson) Junk's coming back soon, too, so it has been good."

The Marlins' pitching has been a significant part of their incredible June run, and Meyer has been at the forefront of that. He's tying franchise records and should earn recognition in the National League Cy Young race.

Miami's right-hander may not win it, but the recognition in voting should tell the story about his stellar season. Next time Meyer steps on the mound, he might make franchise history and break multiple records.

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