Marlins Reliever Could Be Their X-Factor in 2024

The Miami Marlins reliever needs to have another good season if the team wants to find success.

The Miami Marlins pitching staff has a lot of potential, and thats not just talking about their starters.

A key bullpen piece from last year's squad might be called upon for another big role this year, as Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly highlighted a reliever as the team's "Best-Kept Secret."

Andrew Nardi, entering his second full season, was tabbed by Kelly as a potential X-Factor for the Marlins.

Here's what Kelly had to say about Nardi:

Perhaps his 8-1 record and 3.60 FIP—nearly 100 points higher than his 2.67 ERA—suggest Andrew Nardi was in the right place at the right time quite a bit in 2023, but he was definitely a key bullpen piece for a Skip Schumaker-led Miami Marlins club that claimed a wild-card spot.
With Tanner Scott set to open the 2023 campaign as Miami's closer, Nardi not only projects as Miami's top setup man, but also the bullpen's only left-handed option between the starter exiting the game and the closer taking the ball in the ninth inning."

The 25-year-old pitcher was essentially a rookie in 2023, pitching just 14.2 innings across 13 games the year before. It was a rough 2022, though, giving up 25 hits and 17 runs across those 14.2 innings.

That makes his bounce back 2023 even more impressive, but it could also draw some skepticism about whether he can keep those numbers up.

Nardi will be called upon in a lot of situations, especially when the team needs a lefty, so they will rely on him to find a similar level of success as he did last season.