26-year old righty reliever Leo Nunez is not a lights out closer by any stretch of the imagination. But, he has pitched well enough to keep the job even when Matt Lindstrom returned from the D.L. Nunez has pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Marlins this season and he is 4-5 with 21 saves, a 4.04 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Nunez does have good stuff as he has only allowed 52 hits in 62 1/3 innings this season while whiffing 56. He’s no sure shot to be the Marlins’ closer next season but at least he has shown that he is capable of doing the job.

31-year old righty reliever Brian Sanches is just the latest of diamonds in the rough that the Marlins have shined up for their bullpen. Coming into this season, Sanches had pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in the majors in which he was 3-1 with a 6.13 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. This season for the Marlins Sanches hasn’t just been good…..he’s been dominating. He has pitched in 34 games (0 starts) for the Marlins this season and he is 3-1 with a 1.04 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. In 43 1/3 innings for the Marlins this season Sanches has allowed only 33 hits while whiffing 40 batters showing how good his stuff is. But, this is nitpicking, he has walked 22 batters and that could hurt him at some point. Still, Sanches has been incredible this season and the Marlins hope he finishes the season strongly.

The Marlins have been really hitting the last couple of seasons on veteran pitchers that were down on their luck. 34-year old righty reliever Kiko Calero had been injured for a couple of years but he has been outstanding (when healthy) for the Florida Marlins. Where does Larry Beinfest keep finding relievers like Calero? Either he’s really lucky or he has a good nose for pitchers needing a chance to prove themselves again. Calero has pitched in 43 games (0 starts) for the Marlins so far this season and he is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. His stuff has been downright nasty as he has only allowed 21 hits in 36 2/3 innings this season while whiffing 45 batters. The Marlins need Calero to keep up the good work the rest of the season.

Everyone always talks about the other young pitchers on the Marlins but 25-year old righty Ricky Nolasco has been the best one this season. Nolasco has pitched in 25 games (23 starts) this season for the Marlins and he is 11-7 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Part of the reason that Nolasco has pitched so well in his time in the majors is because he throws a lot of strikes. Nolasco has only walked 2.46 batters per 9 innings pitched in his major league career and that is outstanding. Nolasco has now pitched in 65 games (49 starts) in his major league career and he is 23-20 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The best appears yet to come for Nolasco and that’s a good thing for the Marlins.

Last season the Marlins gave Lee Gardner and Justin Miller big chances to make the team and they both excelled. The Marlins tried the same method last spring and Doug Waechter and Joe Nelson have seized their big chances. Neither Waechter or Nelson pitched last season in the majors due to injury but they are both pitching better now than they ever have before. Waechter was a former starting pitcher with the Devil Rays who had big issues with gopher balls. The 27-year old looks like he has always been a reliever as he is really pitching well for the Marlins this season. Waechter has pitched in 35 games (0 starts) for the Marlins this season and he is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. As good as Waechter has been, Joe Nelson has been better. 33-year old Nelson has pitched in 30 games (0 starts) for the Marlins this season and he is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Look for the Marlins to keep letting Waechter and Nelson pitch in important parts of the game as long as they keep pitching well.