THE CHRIS PADDOCK PROBLEM IS REAL — AND THE SOLUTION IS ALREADY IN JACKSONVILLE
Sunday’s meltdown against the Phillies raises an urgent question: how long can Miami wait?
Quick Summary — For Fast Readers
- Chris Paddack’s disastrous start
Paddack gave up six runs before recording a single out, leading to a 7-2 loss and raising serious questions about his place in Miami’s rotation. - The numbers don’t lie
With a 7.63 ERA and zero wins in six starts, Paddack’s struggles are becoming impossible to ignore. - Braxton Garrett and Robby Snelling are ready
Two dominant left-handers at Triple-A Jacksonville are making the case for an immediate call-up.
The Meltdown: A Six-Run First Before the First Out
It started with mismatched stirrups. It ended with boos raining down from the stands.
Chris Paddack’s start against the Phillies on Sunday was nothing short of catastrophic. Trea Turner led off with a ground-rule double. Then came back-to-back walks to Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Before Paddack could record an out, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, and Justin Crawford had all chipped in to turn the game into a laugher.
Stott’s three-run homer — his second of the series — was the exclamation point on a six-run first inning that left Miami fans in stunned silence.
Paddack’s final line: 2⅔ innings, 7 runs (6 earned), 6 hits, 4 walks, 27 pitches in the first inning alone. His season ERA ballooned to 7.63, second-worst among MLB starters with at least six appearances.
Manager Clayton McCullough pulled him in the third inning, but the damage was done.
Paddack’s Honesty Is Admirable. But Honesty Doesn’t Win Games.
To his credit, Chris Paddack didn’t shy away from the disaster. He faced reporters after the game, admitted his struggles, and vowed to turn things around in his next start against Washington.
“Something just fell off,” Paddack said. “I’ve never been a guy that can feel my body out there, and I felt my body, meaning I was trying to manipulate. I was trying to aim the baseball with worrying about my lower half.”
McCullough defended his struggling starter, saying:
“Outside of today, Chris has thrown the ball well. He probably ran against some tough luck in some outings, but he had thrown the ball well, and he’s kept us in the games that he pitched. And today just was a tough one from kind of Pitch 1 till it was over.”
But the numbers don’t back up McCullough’s optimism. Miami is 0-6 in Paddack’s starts — a distinction shared by only three other newcomers in franchise history. The Marlins didn’t sign Paddack to be a liability, but that’s exactly what he’s been.
The Solution Is Already in Jacksonville — And Fans Know It
The good news? Miami doesn’t need to search far for answers. Two left-handed pitchers at Triple-A Jacksonville are making it clear they’re ready for the call.
Braxton Garrett: Once a staple of Miami’s rotation, Garrett has been untouchable in Jacksonville. He owns a 1.71 ERA, a microscopic 0.68 WHIP, and threw 16 consecutive hitless innings across three starts, including a no-hitter on April 21. He’s healthy, experienced, and dominant.
Robby Snelling: The 22-year-old southpaw is Miami’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 34 overall player. Snelling doesn’t even have a spot on the 40-man roster yet, but his numbers are impossible to ignore — a 1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts through six starts. He’s outgrown Triple-A.
The Rotation Decision in Black and White
| Pitcher | Level | ERA | WHIP | Record/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Paddack | MLB | 7.63+ | High | 0-5, team 0-6 in his starts |
| Braxton Garrett | Triple-A JAX | 1.71 | 0.68 | 16 consecutive hitless innings |
| Robby Snelling | Triple-A JAX | 1.86 | 0.90 | 44 K in 6 starts, not on 40-man |
The contrast couldn’t be more glaring.
What Comes Next
McCullough has confirmed that Paddack will get one more chance — Friday against Washington. But how long can Miami afford to wait?
The Marlins are 16-18, sitting in second place in the NL East, and 8.5 games behind Atlanta. Both the Mets and Phillies are underperforming, making the wild card race wide open.
This isn’t the time for patience. Miami’s rotation is already dealing with injuries to Sandy Alcántara and Eury Pérez. If Paddack can’t deliver on Friday, it’s time to make the move.
Braxton Garrett and Robby Snelling are ready. The solution is in Jacksonville. The question is whether the Marlins are ready to admit it.
Sources
ESPN: 2026 NL East Standings (May 3, 2026)
CBS Sports / AP: Phillies 7, Marlins 2 Full Recap (May 3, 2026)
