COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:
EASTBOUND AND DOWN
- The Colorado Rockies continue the first road trip of the second half today with the finale of a three-game series in Miami followed by three in Washington July 24-26.
- With last night’s win, the Rockies clinched their first series win in Miami since taking two of three from the Marlins Aug. 23-25, 2013 when current Rockies’ Bench Coach Mike Redmond managed the Fish.
- The Rockies are coming off a 3-2 homestand after splitting the series with Houston 1-1 and taking two of three from the Yankees last Friday-Sunday … was the club’s first winning homestand since taking five of seven against the Marlins (3-1) and Mets (2-1) May 22-28.
- Three consecutive series wins mark the Rockies’ second such streak of the season, their first since May 2-10 against Milwaukee (3-0), at New York-NL (2-1) and at Pittsburgh (2-1).
START ME UP…PLEASE
- In 2023, the Rockies have had 55 games in which the starter pitched five or more innings, going 31-24 in those contests with a combined ERA of 3.38 ERA (309.1 IP, 116 ER) … in contests where the starter has failed to make it out of the fifth inning, the Rockies are 8-35 with a combined ERA of 12.76 (146.0 IP, 207 ER).
- The club’s 54 starts of five or more innings pitched stand as the fewest in the Majors tied with San Francisco … left-handers Kyle Freeland (16) and Austin Gomber (13) lead the club in starts of five or more innings.
POWER PLAY
- Nolan Jones hit his eighth home run of the season yesterday, his third in his last six games …on home runs, his average exit velocity of 109.7 MPH and average distance of 440 feet both lead the Majors among players with eight or more home runs.
- In 11 July games, Jones is slashing .152/.200/.424 with three of his five hits leaving the yard.
ARM BARN
- The Rockies bullpen has posted an MLB-best 1.68 ERA (48.1 IP, 9 ER) across the club’s last 12 games since July 4, holding opposing hitters to a .188 average (second-lowest in baseball during that span) with an MLB-low three extra-base hits allowed (two 2B, one HR).
- Colorado used six relievers Tuesday night vs. Houston to toss eight scoreless innings out of the bullpen, striking out five and walking two, the most innings pitched in a single game all-time by Colorado relievers without allowing a run … Rockies relievers are scoreless in six of the team’s last eighth games dating back to July 9, posting a 1.53 ERA (35.1 IP, 6 ER).
- Right-hander Matt Koch tossed a scoreless seventh inning Friday to extend his scoreless inning streak to 11.2 … he overtakes Tim Harikkala (11.0 IP; April 20-May 11, 2004) for the sixth-longest scoreless inning streak to begin a Rockies’ career.
FREQUENT FLIERS
- The Rockies have used 48 total players this season, tied for the sixth-most in the Majors and their most since using 50 total players in 2019.
- 29 different players have made a pitching appearance, the Rockies’ most pitchers used since a franchise-record 31 different pitchers made an appearance in 2019 … Ty Blach will mark the 14th starter for the Rockies in 2023, their most since the 2014 club tied the franchise record with 15 starting pitchers (also: 1993).
STAR OF STARS
- Rockies catcher Elias Díaz was named the Most Valuable Player of the 93rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle on Juy 11 after hitting a pinch-hit go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to give the National League their first All-Star Game win since 2012.
- Díaz, the first catcher in franchise history to be named an All-Star, is the first All-Star Game MVP in franchise history … he is also the sixth catcher in MLB history to win the award, joining Brian McCann (2010), Sandy Alomar Jr. (1997), Mike Piazza (1996), Terry Steinbach (1988) and Gary Carter (1984, 1981).
- Díaz also became the fifth Rockies player to homer in the All-Star Game, joining Charlie Blackmon (2019), Trevor Story (2018), Matt Holliday (2008) and Todd Helton (2003) … at 32-years-236-days-old, he also became the fourth-oldest player to hit a home run in their first career All-Star Game, behind Babe Ruth (38-150), Frankie Frisch (35-300) and J.D. Drew (32-238).
THE ROOKIE, THE FATHER
- Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has begun his Rockies career by starting 100 consecutive games, the longest stretch of consecutive starts without a bench appearance to begin a Rockies’ career, per Elias … the previous streak was 69 games by Trevor Story in 2016.
- The 21-year-old SS ranks among NL rookie leaders in doubles (21, 1st), batting average (.257, 3rd), hits (85, 3rd), extra-base hits (33, 3rd), RBI (46, 3rd), WAR (1.6, T-3rd), triples (three, T-4th), games (90, T-4th) and home runs (nine, T-8th).
- Tovar’s 1.4 defensive WAR is tied for sixth overall in the NL, ranks tied for third among NL shortstops and leads all NL rookies.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today conclude a brief three-game homestand, in their season finale against the Rockies (1-5). Following this series, Miami returns to the road for a short two-game trip to St. Petersburg to face the Rays. The Marlins are coming off a six-game road trip in which the team went winless.
FISH BYTES
- Despite losing 8 straight games to open the second half, the Marlins are tied for their 3rd-best start to a season through the club’s first 100 games. The only better starts came in 1997 (58-43) and 2016 (55-46).
- Miami ranks 3rd in MLB with a .265 AVG trailing only TEX (.273) and ATL (.267). Ranked 27th last year. Have recorded 41 games this season in which they collected 10+ hits in a game, tied for the most in the NL with Atlanta and St. Louis.
- The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 942 strikeouts.
TIME TO SNAP THE SKID
The Marlins have lost a season-high 8 straight games (prev. high was 5, May 2-6). Coming off a winless road trip to Baltimore and St. Louis (0-6), their first road trip without a winning record for just the second time all season (also April 22-27, 3-4 at Cleveland and Atlanta). Marked the team’s first winless trip of 6 or more games since back-to-back roadies in August 2019 (0-6 at TB/NYM; and 0-6 at COL/ATL).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the season series against Colorado yesterday, falling 4-3. RHP Johnny Cueto impressed with 8 strikeouts over 6.0 shutout innings before allowing his 2nd hit of the day to the leadoff batter in the seventh inning. RHP JT Chargois relieved Cueto, and surrendered a 3-run homer to even the game at 3 a piece. LHP Tanner Scott allowed 1 run with 2 strikeouts in the ninth inning. Eight of Miami’s 9 starters had a hit, including 2B Luis Arraez’s 38th multi-hit game (2×4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI).
A TRUE VETERAN
RHP Johnny Cueto made his first start yesterday since an injury-shortened outing on April 3 (1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER), tossing 6.0 innings with 8 strikeouts (his most since an 8 strikeout appearance on Aug. 19, 2020 vs. LAA as a Giant). Allowed 1 run on 2 hits with 1 walk. Marked his third appearance of the season; also pitched in relief on July 16 at BAL, allowing 1 hit over 3.0 scoreless innings
ONCE UPON A TIME
Miami has dropped its last 4 games decided by 1 run after starting the season 12-0 in such contests. The club is 21-9 overall in one-run games, still tied for the most wins among MLB teams in such games with Cincinatti.
- Miami played 64 games decided by one run last year, going 24-40 and recording the most one-run losses in a season since the 1975 Astros (41).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Marlins are 30-20 at home in 2023. Miami ranks 5th in MLB in win percentage at home (.600) this season and tied for 4th overall in wins at home. Lost five straight home games from May 2-4 (Braves sweep) and May 12-13 (first two against Cincinnati). Since then, have gone 18-8 including winning 17 of the last 22.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .375 AVG (136×363), .424 OBP, and 136 hits. • Is hitting .458 (33×72) with RISP, also the best mark among qualifiers.
- Marks the most hits and highest AVG by a Marlin through his first 94 games of a season.
- His 38 multi-hit games are tied for 2nd most in MLB. Has a Major League-most 13 games of at least 3 hits. Owns 6 games with at least 4 hits this year, most in the Majors and most ever by a Marlins player in a single season.
- Is one of only 10 batters since 1990 to hit .375 or higher through his team’s first 100 gms of a season and the first since Joe Mauer in 2006 (.375).
BERTI BALL
UTL Jon Berti has gone 9×15 in 6 games since the All-Star Break, including back-to-back 3-hit games on July 18 and 19 \at St. Louis. Has at least 1 hit in 12 of his last 17 starts, including 7 multi-hit games.
- Berti, who led MLB with 41 steals in 2022, ranks 2nd among Marlins players with 11 stolen bases in 81 games.
TIGHT SHIP
Marlins infielders have combined for a .988 fielding position in 2023, committing just 23 errors in 1,918 total chances. Ties St. Louis for the 2nd-best fielding pct. by an infield in the Majors behind the Padres (.991).
305 ON THE RISE
The Marlins selected 21 players in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft: 14 pitchers, 4 outfielders, 2 infielders, and 1 twoway player (OF/RHP), highlighted by the No. 10 overall selection RHP Noble Meyer out of Jesuit HS (Ore.).
- Meyer, 18, was named the 2022-2023 Gatorade Oregon Baseball POTY, leading his team to the state title with a 10-1 record, 0.33 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and 19 walks over 63.0 innings. At 6’5″ out of West Linn, Ore. was ranked No. 7 overall by Baseball America, No. 8 by MLB Pipeline, No. 9 by ESPN.com and was the top-rated prep pitcher in the draft.
- Miami has signed 19 of its 21 selections, including RHP Noble Meyer (No. 10 overall) and OF Kemp Alderman (No. 47 overall). Miami’s Compensatory Balance Round A pick, LHP Thomas White, is expected to be in attendance today at loanDepot park. He will be available to media on the field at approximately 12:15 p.m. ET.
SUNDAY FUNDAY
The first 8,000 fans in the ballpark today can complete their summer fit with a Marlins Tropical Shirt presented by Goya Foods. • All weekend long, The Change Up concession stand, located at Section 1 on the Promenade Level, is featuring world famous chili dogs from Arbetter’s Hot Dogs in Westchester
TODAY’S STARTER – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 21st start of the season tomorrow. Marks his fourth career appearance (second start) against the Rockies.
- Last faced Colorado on August 7, 2021 at Coors Field. Allowed a career-high 7 runs on 7 hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Walked 4 and struck out 2.
- In his most recent start on July 17 at St. Louis, allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2 batters over 4.0 innings.
- His 131 strikeouts in 20 starts lead all Marlins’ pitchers; sixth-most among NL pitchers.
- 11 of his 20 outings this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters and is tied for the fourth-most among left-handed pitchers in MLB (last, July 9 vs. Philadelphia).
- Has 8 starts of 8+ strikeouts; tied for the second-most among NL pitchers this season.
- Is 4-2 this season at loanDepot park with a 2.43 ERA (66.2/18) in 11 starts and 4-3 with a 4.63 ERA (46.2/24) in 9 starts away.
- Is 14-12 with a 3.82 ERA (219.0/93) in 38 career starts (45 apps.) at home and 7-11 with a 4.75 ERA (161.0/85) in 27 starts (36 apps.) away.
- Left-handed batters are hitting .200 (18×90) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with only 1 home run and a .523 OPS while right-handed batters are hitting .250 (84×336) with 11 home runs and an .744 OPS.
