{"id":668385,"date":"2026-04-07T13:24:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/668385\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T13:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T13:24:27","slug":"silver-lining-in-marlins-first-shutout-loss-was-janson-junks-quality-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/668385\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver Lining in Marlins\u2019 First Shutout Loss was Janson Junk\u2019s Quality Start"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Miami Marlins were shut out for the first time on Monday, falling to the Cincinnati Reds, 2-0. But Janson Junk<\/a> gave Miami everything he had. <\/p>\n

The rotation\u2019s fifth starter<\/a> \u2014 and the one most likely to lose a job at some point this season \u2014 had an excellent night even as he took his first loss of the season. In the bigger picture of the season, the performance was validation of including Junk<\/a> in the rotation in the first place.<\/p>\n

It was a quality start for the right-hander. He went 7.1 inning, as he allowed seven hits, two runs (both earned), with a walk and three strikeouts as he trimmed his ERA to 3.09. In most games, that performance earns a pitcher a win. But Reds starter Brandon Williamson and three relievers quieted the Marlins for just three hits. <\/p>\n

Janson Junk\u2019s Big Night<\/p>\n

Janson Junk’s second start of 2026:
7 1\/3 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
87 pitches (57 strikes)
Max velo: 96.1 mph<\/p>\n

— Career high for innings
— Much-needed after weekend bullpen usage
— Back-to-back deep starts for Marlins at home pic.twitter.com\/12GJWyB1Db<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

MLB.com\u2019s Christina De Nicola used Junk\u2019s Statcast graphic to show just how good his evening was. It was a career high for innings and a huge leap from where he ended up in his first start on March 31. <\/p>\n

That start against the Chicago White Sox saw him go just 4.1 innings. He only allowed five hits and two earned runs. But it\u2019s the length he provided to cover an over-taxed bullpen that will help the Marlins this week. <\/p>\n

On Sunday in New York, the Marlins started closer Pete Fairbanks so he could get an inning in before he hopped on a flight to join his wife for the birth of his child. Miami ended up using five pitchers, including starter Chris Paddack, in a game that was delayed for several hours by rain. <\/p>\n

With Junk going 7.1 innings, Miami only had to use one reliever on Monday. Tyler Phillips threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and basically made the rest of the Marlins\u2019 bullpen available for Tuesday\u2019s game with Cincinnati. <\/p>\n

If Junk can pitch like that for the foreseeable future, then Miami has a solid backbone at the back of its rotation. With the way the rotation is set up, if he provides that sort of length and performance consistently then it bleeds perfectly into turning the baseball over to Sandy Alcantara, the rotation\u2019s ace.<\/p>\n

As luck would have it for Miami, Alcantara is the starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game against Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott. Alcantara is coming off his last start in which he threw a Maddux, which is a complete game shutout while throwing under 100 pitches.<\/p>\n