It's time for Marlins to end Chris Paddack experiment

Chris Paddack is the scheduled starter for the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Unless something drastically changes, that should be his last start in Miami.

Paddack signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Marlins as a potential reclamation project. He posted a 5.35 ERA and a 1.285 WHiP over 158 innings between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, striking out 112 batters with 37 walks. Paddack had been a solid back-of-the-rotation starter over his career, and as the Marlins had questions throughout the rotation, he was a worthwhile gamble.

Instead, Paddack has struggled over the first few weeks of the season, posting a 6.11 ERA and a 1.500 WHiP over his 28 innings, striking out 26 batters with seven walks. While the majority of that damage came in his disastrous Marlins debut, Paddack has pitched more than 4.2 innings in only one of his six appearances.

Miami Marlins have options waiting in Triple-A

The Marlins have a pair of potential replacements in Triple-A. Braxton Garrett has been virtually untouchable thus far as he works his way back from internal brace surgery on his left elbow, posting a 1.71 ERA and a 0.684 WHiP over 26.1 innings, striking out 26 batters with 12 walks. Garrett also threw a no-hitter for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, although he lost the game due to a pair of unearned runs.

Garrett is not the only pitcher at Triple-A who deserves a look in Miami. Top prospect Robby Snelling has been just as impressive, posting a 1.86 ERA and a 0.897 WHiP over his 29 innings, striking out 44 batters with 15 walks. 

The Marlins have been one of the bigger surprises in the early going, hovering around .500 as the calendar turned to May. If they are going to take a serious run at a playoff berth, they cannot afford to continue giving Paddack chances unless he can quickly turn his season around.