The Miami Marlins just dropped their best starting pitcher, All-Star Max Meyer, onto the 15-day injured list with a neck strain. This is a massive blow to their fight for an NL playoff spot, especially as they’re tied for the third wild-card spot and looking vulnerable. What’s wild is that Meyer first felt that “sensation in the neck area” in his July 7 start. You know who he was pitching against that day? Our very own Seattle Mariners.
Our Mariners Saw The Warning Signs
Before getting sidelined, Meyer was absolutely dealing this season. He’d logged 20 starts, racked up a 9-1 record, and boasted a stellar 2.68 ERA, which ties him for ninth among all MLB starting pitchers. Plus, he’d punched out 121 batters over 111 innings, ranking eighth in the majors. But things took a turn. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough confirmed Meyer felt that initial neck discomfort during his July 7 outing, where he threw 80 pitches over five innings against the Mariners, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits in a 6-5 Marlins win. Fast forward to Saturday, his first start after the All-Star break, and Meyer lasted only three innings in an 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, giving up 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts on 74 pitches. That was his longest span between starts in his career, a full 10 days, and he felt similar discomfort during the third inning that day. You just knew something was off.
More Than Just a “Sensation”: Meyer’s Troubling History
This isn’t just a minor tweak; this is a serious concern for the Marlins and for Meyer’s career. Manager McCullough admitted they are “in uncharted territory with this,” especially since the 27-year-old Meyer has nearly doubled his highest career workload this season with 111 innings, compared to 64 2/3 innings last season. It’s hard to ignore his injury history, too. This latest IL stint means Meyer has landed on the injured list in each of his five years in the majors. His rookie season was cut short by an elbow injury that led to Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for all of 2023. He returned in 2024, only to have his season ended early in September by bursitis in his right shoulder. Then last season, he tore the labrum in his left hip, requiring season-ending surgery in June. This guy cannot catch a break.
Marlins’ Wild Card Battle Just Got Way Harder
Losing Meyer, their NL All-Star ace, could not come at a worse time for the Miami Marlins. They’re currently sitting at 52-48, but that’s after dropping their last six games, which completely wiped out a six-game winning streak they had built. That losing skid has them in a virtual tie for the National League’s third wild-card spot with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Arizona Diamondbacks breathing down their necks just a half-game behind. With Meyer’s timeline uncertain and the Marlins suddenly looking vulnerable, their push for October just got a whole lot more complicated. You gotta wonder how long this young guy can keep coming back from these hits, and what it means for the Marlins’ dreams this year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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