The Miami Marlins were a trendy pick to contend this season after having a busy offseason, but based on the first two games of the season, it might be a long year in South Florida.
Mat Latos, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in a trade, made his season debut with the Marlins — his hometown team — on Tuesday, and he was horrible.
Latos allowed seven runs while getting just two outs in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves. One of the outs came on a sacrifice bunt by the pitcher. He faced 10 batters total and allowed six hits and two walks. Latos will have some work to do in order to make his stats look respectable as he currently has a 94.50 ERA.
CBS Sports’ Eye on Baseball did some research and discovered that Latos’ start qualifies him among the worst starts by a pitcher in the first week of a season.
It was the first time in his career that Latos did not make it out of the first inning of a start. At least he has a somewhat positive outlook about it.
“It’s ridiculous to put the team through that,” Latos said via Marlins.com. “Cost the ballgame. Glad to get that out of the way, I guess.”
Latos did admit that he had some jitters with his new team.
“A little bit of the jitters, but it is what it is. It’s the worst start I’ve had in six years,” Latos said. “It [stinks]. That’s the mildest way I can put it right now. I’m straight embarrassed.”
Dude better go out and throw a no-hitter or at least a shutout next time out. I mean his stats need it.
