Max Meyer Is 6-0 After Missing All of 2023 and Arizona Is Not Ready

Hold up, Seattle, you gotta see what's brewing down south! The Miami Marlins are suddenly on fire, winning five of their last six games, which is their best run since that hot 5-1 start to the season. But get this: the real headline, the absolute shocker, is their right-handed phenom Max Meyer. This dude missed all of 2023 due to elbow surgery, and now he's rolling with a pristine 6-0 record and a killer 2.81 ERA. It's a breakthrough season for the 27-year-old, and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks are about to face him Tuesday night at a time when they are seriously slumping.

Meyer's Unstoppable Comeback Tour is On

Seriously, 6-0 after missing a whole year? That's just wild. Meyer, the third overall pick in 2020, has been an absolute beast on the mound. His 1.045 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings are legit ace-level stuff. When he starts, the Marlins are 9-4 this year, which tells you everything about the confidence he brings to that dugout. Plus, their bullpen is super fresh, only needing two innings of work on Sunday before getting a day off on Monday. Miami's pitching staff overall is no joke, ranked ninth in the majors in WHIP. They just took two of three from the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, so they've got that swagger going into this series opener. The only minor hiccup? Meyer's one prior appearance against Arizona saw him go 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA, but that's just one game, right?

Diamondbacks are Deep in a Desert Slump and Just Made a Desperate Move

Talk about two teams going in opposite directions. While Miami's feeling good at 20-16 at home, the Diamondbacks are struggling hardcore, losing seven of their last ten overall and sporting a 13-17 road record. Their manager, Torey Lovullo, was even "bland" about their recent 3-4 homestand, saying there was "nothing overly alarming, and nothing to get overly excited about." Yikes! A big part of their problem is a severe lack of power, ranking 26th in the majors with only 58 homers, just one spot ahead of Miami. In a sign of panic, they just signed outfielder Max Kepler on Sunday. The dude hit 18 homers for the Phillies last year, but get this, he can't even play until June 25 because he's serving an 80-game MLB suspension from January 6 for testing positive for Epitrenbolone. Not exactly an immediate solution, huh?

And then there’s Zac Gallen. He gets the start for Arizona Tuesday night, and it's been a rough ride for him this season at 3-5 with a 5.32 ERA. Arizona has lost six of his past eight starts. Gallen actually broke into the majors with the Marlins in 2019, going 1-3 with a 2.72 ERA, before they traded him away. Since then, he's pitched well for Arizona, with a 68-54 record and a 3.72 ERA over 182 starts. He’s even got a 3-1 record and a 2.00 ERA in four starts against his old club. But with his current form and the team's struggles, this is a real test.

So, here we go, Emerald City. The opener of this three-game set is Tuesday night. Can Meyer keep his unbelievable comeback going? Or will Gallen, despite his struggles, find a way to shut down his former team? The Marlins' manager, Clayton McCullough, says it simply: "You need to pitch well, play good defense ... Offensively, you're just looking to find whatever ways to score more runs than the other (team)." This game is all about momentum for both clubs, and it’s going to be a battle to see who can snatch it. Don't miss it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.