MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (26-26) at Los Angeles Angels (28-24)

MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the second of three games at the Angels as the final stop on a three-city, 10-game road trip that began with three at San Francisco (1-2) and four at Colorado (1-3). Following an off-day on Monday, Miami will begin its first three-leg homestand with three-game sets vs. San Diego (May 30-June 1), Oakland (June 2-4), and Kansas City (June 5-7).

• Miami is in a current stretch of 13 straight days with games until the next off day on Memorial Day (May 29).

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami recorded a season-high 16 hits in its series opening victory at the Angels, 6-2. LHP Jesus Luzardo tossed 5.0 innings of 1-run ball with 7 strikeouts to earn his fourth win of the season. The Marlins bullpen kept the Angels to just 1 more run through the next 4.0 innings, finished by RHP Dylan Floro who struck out 2 in a scoreless ninth. RF Jorge Soler (1×5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) hit his 16th home run of the season and 11th in starts made by Jesus Luzardo, and LF Bryan De La Cruz (4×4, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) recorded his second 4-hit game of the road trip.

SIX/ELEVEN
The Marlins recorded a season-high 16 hits last night at Angels, marking the sixth consecutive game in which the offense has produced at least 11 hits. Is longest streak in club history. Had 11+ hits in 5 straight games three times – Aug. 13-18, 2000, July 18-23, 2005, and June 10-14, 2009.

• Miami’s 16 hits last night are the most since June 1, 2022 in G1 of a DH at Colorado. Recorded 16 hits just twice in 2022.
• The current 6-game streak of 11 or more hits marks the longest in MLB this season. No other team has had 10+ in six straight.

THEY’RE COMING HOME
Miami has scored at least 6 runs in three consecutive games, the club’s longest such streak since July 25-28, 2021.

• At least 4 hitters have recorded multi-hit games in each contest; 1B Yuli Gurriel in all 3 games.

THE POWER OF ZEUS
LHP Jesus Luzardo has held opponents to one or no runs in five of his 11 starts this season. Is one off the lead for most such starts in the NL this season (Steele, Gray, Elder each with 6).

BACK TO CALI
The Marlins are playing a series at Angel Stadium in consecutive years for the first time in club history due to the new schedule alignment. Miami took 1 of 2 here and 1 of 2 against the Angels at loanDepot park last year.

• Have gone 8-12 all-time against LAA and now 3-6 here at Angel Stadium. Are looking to win their first series here.

PODER SOLER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 2nd in MLB with 16 HR, including a league-most 11 in the month of May. His 16 home runs are the most by a Marlins player in the first 50 games played (also, Dan Uggla, 2008)

• Leads MLB with 9 HR vs. left-handed pitching; also ranks atop MLB in slugging (1.070) and OPS (1.550) vs. LHP.
• Soler has homered in 8 of Luzardo’s 11 starts this season, including 2 multi-HR games. Owns a .467 batting avg. (21×45) in these starts with 10 HR and 22 RBI.
• His 11 HR in his last 21 G is the most by a Marlin in that span since Giancarlo Stanton also
  had 11 from Aug. 14-Sept. 4, 2017.
• Became the first Marlin to homer in at least 4 consecutive games since Justin Bour from Sept. 19-23, 2017. The only player with a longer streak of consecutive games with a homer is Giancarlo Stanton (6 gms, Aug. 10-15, 2017). Ties the second longest streak this season in MLB, behind only CHC’s Christopher Morel and STL’s Nolan Arenado who each homered in 5 straight games.

DO YOU LIKE PIÑA COLADAS?
1B Yuli Gurriel has started in 5 of 8 games on this road trip, going 12×21 (.571) with 3 runs scored, 1 double, 2 triples, 2 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. Has four consecutive multi-hit games, his longest such streak since he recorded five straight multi-hit efforts from July 27-Aug. 1, 2021.

• Recorded triples in back-to-back games (6th inning at COL on 5/24, 3rd inning on 5/25 at COL), becoming the oldest player (38-350) to triple in consecutive games since CLE’s Kenny Lofton on 9/27-28, 2007. Marks first time in his career he’s tripled in back-to-back games, and the first Marlin to do so since Jazz Chisholm Jr. on April 15 & 17, 2022. Were just the sixth and seventh triples of his career and his first since Aug. 14, 2020 vs. Seattle.
• Last night became the fourth-quickest Cuban-born player to reach 900 career hits, doing so in 831 games. Only Jose Abreu, Tony Oliva, and Rafael Palmeiro did so in fewer games than Gurriel.

DE LA CRUZIN’
OF Bryan De La Cruz has hit safely in 19 of 23 gms played in May, batting .361 (30×83) with 15 runs scored, 5 doubles, 4 HR, 11 RBI, and a .977 OPS. Has raised his batting avg. from .253 entering May to .305 for the season.

• De La Cruz’s 13 multi-hit games are tied for 2nd on the team with Soler and are behind only Arraez’s 19. Ranks t-2nd in MLB with 7 games of 3+ hits. Is one off the MLB lead (Toronoto’s Bo Bichette has 8).
• Recorded his second 4-hit game of the road trip last night and the third of his career (4 H on May 22 at COL and 4 H on Sept. 24, 2022 vs. WSH). Marked the fourth 4-hit game by a Marlin in the last 6 games.

MIAMI MARLIN, JONATHAN DAVIS
OF Jonathan Davis is 7×11 with 4 runs, 1 triple, 1 home run and 3 walks through his first 3 starts as a Marlin after making his Marlins debut as a pinch-runner in Tuesday’s game.

• Davis went 3×4 with 2 runs scored and a 2-run homer to boost the Marlins to victory Wednesday night. Became just the eighth player in club history to record at least 3 hits in first start as a Marlin, and the first since JB Shuck’s 4×4 debut in 2018.

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .374 batting avg. (65×174), ranks 2nd with a .427 OBP and 4th with 62 hits. Is tied for 4th with 19 multi-hit gms. Has struck out 9 times in 192 PA (.047 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualified batters. The second-least is 15 SO by WSH’s Keibert Ruiz.

• Is the highest avg. through a player’s first 47 gms to start a season since Cody Bellinger’s .404 avg. with the Dodgers in 2019.
• Only Dee Strange-Gordon (76) has more hits for a Marlins player through his first 47 games of a season.
• Is batting a National League-best .386 (34×88) and tied with Aaron Judge for best avg. on the road this season. Has hit safely in 19 of 23 games away from Miami.

TODAY’S STARTER – #27 EDWARD CABRERA

• Edward Cabrera, 25, will make his first career start against the Los Angeles Angels tonight and his 11th start of the season.
• In his most recent start on May 22 at Colorado, tossed a quality start, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just 3 runs. Allowed 5 hits and 1 walk. Struck out 6.
• Has pitched 7 consecutive games with 5+ strikeouts (4/18 – 5/22), tied fifth in MLB among active streaks since 2022 (w/ Christian Javier – HOU, Clayton Kershaw – LAD, Mitch Keller – PIT, and Eduardo Rodriguez – DET).
• Walked a combined 20 batters in his first 5 starts of 2023. Has walked 5 in last 3 outings, including back-to-back outings of 1 walk or less for just the second time in his career.
• Has allowed 3 or less runs in 8 outings this season (10 apps.); ranks second among Marlins starters behind Jesus Luzardo – 9.
• In 14 career starts at home, owns a 4.37 ERA (68.0 IP/31 ER) and has gone 6-4 with 69 strikeouts. In 17 starts away is 3-7 with a 4.01 ERA (76.1 IP/34 ER) and 95 strikeouts.
• Left-handed batters are hitting .174 (17×98) vs. Cabrera in 2023 with 4 home runs and 35 strikeouts while right-handed batters are hitting .290 (22×76) with 3 home runs and 26 strikeouts.
• Through 10 starts in 2022 pitched to a 5-2 record, with a 2.63 ERA (54.2/16), 59 SO, and 6 HR. Through 10 starts in 2023 has a 3-4 record, with a 5.05 ERA (46.1/26), 61 SO, and 7 HR.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:

LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the eighth (5-2) of nine games on a homestand against the Minnesota Twins (2-1), Boston Red Sox (3-0) and Miami Marlins (0-1; May 26-28)…Halos went 3-4 on last road trip to Cleveland (1-2) and Baltimore (2-2)…LAA was 2-4 on last homestand against the Rangers (1-2) and Astros (1-2).

BEACH WEEKEND: This weekend is Beach Weekend at Angel Stadium, featuring beach-themed entertainment and promotions…Additionally, tonight’s game features coverage from Greg Beacham of the Associated Press.

BACHMAN IN THE SHOW: Sam Bachman made his MLB debut last night with 2.0 innings pitched in relief… The Angels first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2021 Draft, Bachman is currently rated by MLB Pipleline as the #5 prospect in the Halos system…He is the highest drafted player from the 2021 Draft to debut and the only pitcher from the first two rounds of that Draft to appear in the Majors.

VS. MIAMI: Today is the second (0-1) of three games this season between the Angels and Marlins…Last season, Halos won three of four games against Miami… LAA is 12-8 all-time vs. Miami (6-3 at Angel Stadium)… Halos are looking to avoid losing consecutive games to the Marlins for the first time ever.

SWEEPIN’ THE SOX: In their last series, the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox at The Big A…It marked the Halos first series sweep against Boston since taking four straight from July 16- 20, 2015 and the first three-game sweep of the Red Sox since Aug. 28-30, 2012…Angels won a season series vs. Red Sox for the first time since 2017.

LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.142), is second in WHIP (0.90) and ranks tied for fourth in strikeouts (80).

SERIES STATS: After winning two of three vs. Twins in last series and sweeping the Red Sox, Halos have won consecutive series for the first time since beating the Royals (April 21-23) and A’s (April 24-27) last month… LAA is looking to win three straight series for first time this season.

PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 42 of 52 games played this year.

‘PEN PALS: The Angels bullpen is pitching to a 3.64 ERA (188 IP – 76 ER) this season, which is the eighth-best ERA in the Majors.

THE MICK: Mickey Moniak has hits in all eight of his starts for the Angels this season, including three leadoff homers and seven total extra-base hits…He’s one of three players in the Majors with three leadoff HR this year, along with Mookie Betts (LAD) and Christian Yelich (MIL)…On May 13 at Cleveland, became the first player in MLB history to make his season debut on his birthday and hit a leadoff home run.

WINNING WAYS: Halos have won four of last five games and six of last eight overall…With a win today, Angels would match season high at five games over .500 (were 28-23 on May 25 and 19-14 on May 5).

LEAD ASSISTANT: Hunter Renfroe is tied for second in the American League with five outfield assists this season…Since 2017, his 61 outfield assists lead the Majors (Starling Marte is second with 52 assists).

SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 46 singles this year plus seven extra-base hits (six doubles & one home run)…Urshela ranks second, behind Toronto’s Bo Bichette (52), for the American League lead in singles… Since May 5, Urshela has hits in 16 of 19 games with a PA and is batting .364 (24/66) in that span.

ON THE BOARD: Halos have not been shut out since Aug. 21, 2022 at Detroit…Current streak of 93 games without being shut out is the longest active streak in the Majors and is the fourth-longest streak in Angels history (third longest streak was 97 games in 1997).

NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by eight pitches this season, which is tied for fourth-most in the Majors… Since 1901, Neto’s seven HBP through his first 15 career games are the most in MLB…He also was the first player in Angels history to be hit a pitch in four consecutive games (April 18-21).

LATE COMEBACKS: Halos have three wins this season when trailing after eight innings, which matches the Angels total from each of the last two seasons…Last time LAA had more than three wins in a season when trailing after eight frames was 2017 (5).

ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.23 ERA (22 IP – 3 ER) and has converted all 12 of his save opportunities (the 12 saves are a new career high)…He is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 12 save opportunities of a season since Ernesto Frieri in 2012 and is looking to become the first Halos closer to convert his first 13 save chances since Troy Percival had 16 straight successful save opportunities to begin the 2001 season.

ALL OVER THE INFIELD: Gio Urshela is one of six players in the Majors to appear at all four infield positions this season…He has made 19 starts at third base, 16 starts at first base, eight at shortstop and one at second base.

INTERLEAGUE PLAY: LAA owns a 267-227 (.540) all-time Interleague record (6-4 in 2023)…The 267 all-time Interleague wins are third most all time behind Red Sox (296) and Yankees (288).

STEFANIC’S STREAK: INF Michael Stefanic currently has a 51-game on-base streak for Triple-A Salt Lake dating back to last season.

WHITE SOX ON DECK: Following the current series vs. Miami, the Angels will travel to Chicago and open the next road trip with a three-game series against the White Sox…Last season, Halos went 4-3 against Chicago to win a sixth consecutive season series…Since 2011, Angels are 51-27 (.654) against the White Sox.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP SHOHEI OHTANI
5-1, 3.05 ERA
Leads the Majors with a .142 (28/197) opponent batting average this season

• SHO TIME: Making 11th pitching start of the year and sixth at home…Is in sixth Major League season with LAA.
• LEAGUE LEADER: Enters today’s start leading the Majors in opponent batting average (.142), and ranks second in WHIP (0.90) and tied for fourth in strikeouts (80).
• HOME SWEET HOME: Has a career 2.08 ERA (229 IP – 53 ER) in home games, which is the second lowest total of the
  last 100 years (min. 30 GS)…Only Miami’s José Fernández (1.49 ERA; 272.1 IP – 45 ER) has a lower home ERA.
• LAST TIME ON THE MOUND: Did not factor in decision in last start on Sunday vs. Minnesota after tossing 6.0 innings
  and allowing one earned run on two hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
• PASSING THE BABE: With seven strikeouts on May 9 vs. Houston, surpassed the career total for Babe Ruth (according to ELIAS, Ruth had 501 career pitching strikeouts)…Ruth and Ohtani are the only players with 500+ pitching strikeouts and 100+ home runs in a career.
• 10 K: Since start of 2022 season, leads MLB with 13 games with 10+ strikeouts (has three this season)…Recorded 10+ strikeouts in 10 starts last season, which was the most such games in the A.L.; joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in franchise history with 10+ strikeouts in at least six consecutive games.
• UNFAMILIAR: This season, is holding opponents to an .080 (6/75) average the first time through the order, a .254 (16/63) average the second time through the order and an .089 (5/56) average the third time through.
• VS. MIAMI: Today is second career pitching start vs. Marlins; is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (7 IP – 0 ER) following only previous start against Miami on July 6, 2022 at loanDepot park (W; 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 SO).
• AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 38 career starts at The Big A, is 18-6 with a 2.08 ERA (229 IP – 53 ER) and 293 strikeouts…This season, is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA (33 IP – 9 ER) and 41 strikeouts after five starts…In 14 starts last season, was 7-4 with a 1.82 ERA (89 IP – 18 ER)…In 2021, went 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA (78.1 IP – 17 ER) and 93 strikeouts after 13 home starts.
• 500K: Reached 500 total MLB strikeouts for career with a 13 strikeout performance on May 3 at St. Louis…Fourth game in MLB history where a pitcher recorded 13+ strikeouts in 5.0-or-fewer innings (also, Jacob deGrom in 2022, Alex Cobb in 2013 and Zack Greinke in 2012).
• OFF THE BOARDS: Had franchise record streak of 12 straight pitching starts allowing two-or-fewer runs snapped on April 27 vs. Oakland (Nolan Ryan had previous record with nine game streak across the 1972-73 seasons)… Overall, has yielded two-or-fewer runs in 21 of last 26 starts and one-or-fewer runs in 18 of last 26 starts.
• CAN’T HIT THIS: Had streak of 10 straight pitching starts allowing three-or-fewer hits from Sept. 17, 2022 – April 27, 2023…The streak was snapped May 3 at St. Louis and finished tied with Jacob deGrom (10 game streak for Mets in 2021) for the longest streak all-time (excluding Openers).
• SCORELESS AT THE BIG A: Had streak of 35.0 consecutive scoreless innings pitched at Angel Stadium snapped April 27 by A’s…Finished as second longest streak in ballpark history, behind a 36.2 IP streak by Mark Clear in 1979.