PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #108 RECAP: The Phillies lost a tough one to the Marlins, 9-8, in extra-innings on South Beach … Starter Zack Wheeler (ND) went 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts … The Phillies blew three saves for only the second time since saves became official in 1969 – Brandon Marsh hit a 2 run home run in the 10th to put the Phils ahead but the Marlins rallied with 2 runs in the bottom half – the Phillies scored again in the 11th, but the Marlins tied it in their half – the Phils were held scoreless in the 12th before Miami won it on a walk-off single.
ZEN MASTER: Today, right-hander Michael Lorenzen will make his Phillies debut after being acquired by the club in a deadline deal with the Detroit Tigers that sent minor league infielder Hao-Yu Lee to Detroit … A first-time All-Star for the Tigers this season, Lorenzen has made 18 starts and has posted a 3.58 ERA (42 ER, 105.2 IP) with 83 strikeouts to 27 walks … Lorenzen has faced 418 batters this season and his 6.5 % walk rate ranks 22nd among the 77 major league pitchers with at least 100.0 innings pitched … Additionally, his 1.10 WHIP ranks 16th among those 77 pitchers and his 122 ERA+ ranks 26th (Zach Eflin ranks 27th with a 119 ERA+) … Lorenzen has gone at least 5.0 innings in 17 of his 18 starts this year.
TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS: Following today’s finale in Miami, the Phillies will return to Philadelphia for a 10-game homestand that begins tomorrow night (3 G vs KC, 4 G vs WSH, 3 G vs MIN) … Of Philadelphia’s remaining 54 games, 33 will take place at CBP (61%) … The Phillies have a 28-20 record at CBP this season and their .583 winning percentage at home ranks 7th in MLB, but they have played the fewest home games of any club in MLB thus far.
ARMS RACE: Over the last 51 games (since 6/3), the Phillies’ starting rotation has gone 19-11 with a 3.12 ERA (105 ER, 303.1 IP) with 298 strikeouts to 76 walks (3.92 SO/BB ratio) … During this current run, they have the lowest OPS among all starting staffs in MLB at .659 (next: SD, .670), the lowest opponents AVG at .228 (next: MIL, .231), the lowest opponents OBP at .282 (next: MIA, .290), the lowest WHIP at 1.10 (next: MIA, 1.13) and the most innings pitched at 303.1 (next: HOU, 294.1) – their 3.12 ERA ranks 2nd in MLB (best: SD, 2.88) and their .378 opponents SLG ranks 2nd (best: SD, .373) … The staff has gone at least 6.0 innings in 34 of those 51 games (67%), at least 7.0 innings in 14 of those 51 games (27%) and of their 51 starts, 28 have been quality starts (55%) … Since June 3, the Phillies bullpen has tossed the fewest innings of any relief corps in MLB at 162.2 (29th is MIN at 165.0 and most is SF at 249.2) but have the 6th-lowest ERA in MLB at 3.38 … Philadelphia’s starters and relievers have combined for 15.8 fWAR this season which leads MLB (next: SEA, 14.4) and is more than three full wins clear of the next closest NL club (MIA, 12.7 fWAR).
GREAT STOTT!: Second baseman Bryson Stott picked up his 20th stolen base last night (20-for-22) to go along with 21 doubles and a .303 batting average – should he keep his AVG above .300 for the rest of the season, Stott would be the first Phillies player with 20 steals, 20 doubles and a .300 AVG in a single season since Bobby Abreu, who did so five straight years from 1999-2004 … Stott (25 years old) would join Abreu (age 25 in 1999), Dick Allen (age 25 in 1967) and Richie Ashburn (age 24 in 1951) as the most recent Phillies to do so at age 25 or younger.
YOU’RE SO GOLDEN: Second baseman Bryson Stott has played in 861.1 of the Phillies total 960.1 innings in the field this season … His 861.1 innings at second base rank 2nd in the National League behind only Ozzie Albies (943.0) … With 7 defensive runs saved at 2nd base, Stott is tied for the National League lead in DRS at 2nd base among those who qualify with CHI’s Nico Hoerner who also has 7 … Stott set a franchise record earlier this season when he began his career with 84 consecutive games at second base without an error, eclipsing the previous mark held by Tomas Perez (57 G) from 2001-02 … The last Phillies player to win a Gold Glove Award was J.T. Realmuto in 2022 – Manny Trillo is the only Phillies second baseman to ever take home a Gold Glove, doing so three times (1979, 1981, 1982).
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: The Phillies have won 33 of their last 51 games (since 6/3) and their .647 winning percentage since June 3rd ranks 2nd in MLB behind only ATL (36-13, .735) … The Phils opened the 2023 season on the road and went 1-5 in six games through TEX (0-3) and NYY (1-2) … Since then (4/7- current), they are 57-45 with a .559 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League behind only ATL (.636) and LAD (.566) and 7th in MLB.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE: Kyle Schwarber enters today’s game with 80 walks which ranks 2nd in MLB (Soto, 98 BB) and is only six shy of his career-high 86, which he set last season … On this road trip (7/28-current), Schwarber has 13 walks in 30 plate appearances and has drawn multiple walks in five of six games – he has seen 143 pitches in these past six games (most in MLB) and is averaging 4.77 pitches per plate appearance… Schwarber became the first Phillies player to walk at least twice in five straight games since Pat Burrell, July 11-16, 2002 (6 G) … Schwarber also became only the second Phillies player in the Modern Era (since 1900) with 12+ walks in a five-game span, the other being Roy Thomas who walked 12 times over a five-game stretch in April of 1907 – the last MLB player before Schwarber to walk 12 times in a five-game span was Shohei Ohtani (13 BB) in September of 2021.
RISP AND REWARD: Since June 3, the Phillies rank 3rd in the National League and 5th in MLB with a .281 AVG with runners in scoring position (126-for-449) and trail Only BAL (.302 AVG), ATL (.286 AVG), CHI (.283 AVG) and DET (.283 AVG) … Philadelphia’s .362 OBP with RISP since June 3rd ranks 4th in MLB behind only LAD (.388 OBP), ATL (.371 OBP) and BAL (.366) … Philadelphia’s 126 hits with RISP since June 3 ranks T-2nd in MLB (with BOS) and trails only CHI (141) … League average since 6/3 with RISP is a .258 AVG/.337 OBP.
HATS OFF TO YOU THOMS: Since Rob Thomson was named manager of the Phillies on June 3, 2022, the Phils are 27 games over .500 at 123-96 with a .562 winning percentage that ranks 6th in MLB, trailing only ATL (.671), LAD (.636), HOU (.614), BAL (.585) and SEA (.566)
TODAY’S STARTER – MICHAEL LORENZEN • RHP #22
2023: 5-7, 3.58 ERA Career: 36-36, 4.02 ERA
LAST START: 7/27 vs LAA: L, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO … Lorenzen vs Ohtani … The Tigers lost both games to the Angels on Thursday, dropping the first game, 6-0, and the second game, 11-4 … Michael Lorenzen started the first game, allowing three runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings … Kerry Carpenter had the only hit of the game
TODAY’S START:
- Shut Down and Shut Out: In his last 4 starts, Lorenzen has posted a 1.14 ERA (3 ER, 23.2 IP), with 3 of those 4 starts being scoreless (7/6-20) … It marked the first time in his career that he had a 3-game streak in which he tossed at least 5.0 scoreless innings … He is one of 9 pitchers to do so this year and only Zac Gallen has a longer streak (4)
- Life in the Fast Lane: This season, Lorenzen’s .178 OPP AVG (19-107) against his 4-seamer ranks 8th in MLB and his OPP SLG (.262) ranks 3rd (min. 100 PA) … His fastball is averaging 94.4 mph and he has struck out 34 batters with it
- Quality Control: Lorenzen has 8 quality starts so far this season (44.4%) … That ties his mark from last year, which was the most in his career
- In Play? No Problem: Lorenzen’s .268 BABIP is tied with Merrill Kelly for the 12th best mark in baseball among pitchers with at least 100.0 IP (best: Tyler Wells, .206)
- Left in Charge: Lorenzen is holding left-handed batters to a .201 AVG this season which ranks 13th in MLB (min. 130 batters faced)
- Start Your Engines: Since becoming a full-time starter at the beginning of last year, Lorenzen has posted a 3.90 ERA (88 ER, 203.1 IP) with 168 strikeouts and 71 walks while holding batters to a .228 AVG (170-744)
- Hey Now, You’re an All-Star: Lorenzen was named to the AllStar Game for the first time in his career … Representing the AL, he tossed a scoreless 0.2 IP with 1 hit, 1 walk and 1 strikeout
- Pitch Usage: 4-Seam Fastball (33.7%), Slider (24.2%), Changeup (20.8%), Sinker (11.7%), Sweeper (7.6%), Cutter (1.2%) and Curveball (0.8%)
- vs NL East: 5-8, 3 SV, 3.82 ERA (54 ER, 127.1 IP) in 60 games (11 starts)
ROAD:
- 2023: 2-3, 3.17 ERA (17 ER, 48.1 IP) in 8 starts
- Career: 17-21, 4 SV, 4.30 ERA (151 ER, 316.0 IP) in 165 games (29 starts)
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today conclude a seven-game homestand with the final of four games against Philadelphia. The ‘stand began with a three-game series against Detroit, with Miami taking two of three. Miami is in the midst of a 13-game stretch without a day off, as the club heads to Texas and Cincinnati for a six-game road trip from Aug. 4-9.
FISH BYTES
- The Marlins are tied for their 3rd-best start to a season through the club’s first 108 games (58-51, .532), with the 2016 and 2008 teams. The only better starts came in 1997 (63-46, .578) and 2003 (59-50, .541).
- Miami ranks first in the National League with 985 H (2nd in MLB), and ranks 2nd, behind Atlanta (.270), with a collective .265 AVG, which is the 3rd-best in MLB.
- The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 1,026 strikeouts.
- The Marlins own the National League-lead with 46 games in which the offense has collected 10+ hits, behind only Texas (52) in MLB. In 2022, the Marlins collected 10+ hits in 43 of their 162 games – the second-least such games in the first 30 seasons of the franchise.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins won a wild 12-inning game over Philadelphia, 9-8, after erasing a 5-run deficit that started with back-to-back solo shots in the 6th inning by 1B Josh Bell in his first game as Marlin and CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. Trailing by 1 run in the 9th inning, DH Jorge Soler added his 26th home run of the year to send the game to extra innings. Miami came back again down 2 in the 10th and 1 in the 11th before LHP Tanner Scott’s shutdown 12th inning with 2 strikeouts. LF Jesús Sánchez played hero, driving in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded single for his first career walk-off hit.
STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM
The Marlins’ 5-run comeback win last night vs. the Phillies marked their largest deficit overcome in a win since August 23, 2019, also against the Phillies, in a game Miami won 19-11. Miami had overcome 4-run deficits to win five times this season, last done on July 30 vs. Detroit.
- Per @SlangsonSports, the Marlins became just the 2nd team in the last 50 years to score in the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th innings of a game, joining the San Diego Padres on May 29, 2021.
WALK IT LIKE I TALK IT
Miami last night improved to 7-3 in walk-off games and 6-2 in extra-inning affairs, as RF Jesús Sánchez recorded his first career walk-off hit and second career walk-off RBI (RBI sacrifice fly on June 4, 2022 vs. SF). It marked Miami’s first walk-off since Jon Berti’s walk-off single on June 23 vs. COL.
LONG DAY AT THE OFFICE
Last night’s contest was the longest Marlins game of the season at 4:06. The previous-longest game was on May 7 at the Cubs, when the Marlins won a 14-inning game in 3:49. It marks Miami’s longest game since the second to last day of the 2022 season in a 12-inning game vs. Atlanta on Oct. 2.
RING THE BELL
1B Josh Bell matched a club record with 4 hits in his first game as a Marlin, becoming the 5th player in Marlins history to do so and the first since JB Shuck on April 13, 2018. The 4 hits are a club record for most in a Marlins debut by a player acquired during the season. Matches his career high in hits, done 7 times previously, and the first since April 29, 2022 at SF.
- Hit his 12th home run of the season last night vs. Philadelphia, a solo shot and the first leg of back-to-back home runs in the 6th inning to put Miami on the board. Bell became the 19th player in franchise history to homer in his first game as a Marlin, and the first since Jerar Encarnacion on June 19, 2022 at Citi Field. He became the first Marlin to do so at loanDepot park since Nick Fortes on Sept. 18, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh.
BACK-TO-BACK
1B Josh Bell and CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. last night were responsible for Miami’s first pair of back-to-back home runs this season, and the first since Aug. 7, 2022, when Jacob Stallings and Peyton Burdick went back-to-back at Wrigley Field. Was the last of 6 pairs of back-to-back homers for Miami in 2022, the most since 2019 when they set the club record with 8.
SMOOTH JAZZ
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. went 1×6 with 3 runs scored, 1 home run, and 1 RBI in Wednesday night’s game to extend his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games. Is hitting .325 (13×40) with 9 runs, 3 doubles, 5 home runs, 8 RBI, 2 walks, and 1 stolen base dating back to May 12 with 2 IL stints in between. His career-long hitting streak spanned from April 26 – May 8, 2022, when he had hits in 11 straight games.
SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 6th in the National League (t-8th in MLB) with 26 home runs. 15 of his 26 home runs (58%) have
either given the Marlins a lead or tied the game, including his game-tying solo home run in the 9th inning last night. Is tied
for the 3rd-most such homers in MLB, behind only Luis Robert Jr. (18) and Mookie Betts (17).
- In 913 career at-bats post-ASB, Soler has 66 home runs (13.8 AB/HR). In 1,849 at-bats pre-ASB, Soler has 86 career
homers (21.5 AB/HR).
TODAY’S STARTING PTICHER – #47 JOHNNY CUETO
- Johnny Cueto, 37, will make his fourth start (fifth app.) of the season today. Will mark his 14th career start against the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Last faced Philadelphia on June 18, 2021 at Oracle Park (w/ Giants). Earned the win, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts.
- In his most recent start on July 29 vs. Detroit, allowed 4 runs on 4 hits (2 home runs) and 1 walk over 6.0 innings. Struck out 5.
- In 2 starts (3 apps.) since returning from IL, has allowed 7 hits (2 home runs) with 3 walks and 14 strikeouts, giving up 5 earned runs over 15.0 innings.
- Missed 87 games from April 4 – July 10 on the Injured List with right biceps tightness. Suffered a setback on May 6 with a right ankle sprain.
- Career, RHB vs. Cueto: .246 AVG (1067×4341), .301 OBP, .691 OPS. LHB vs. Cueto: .246 AVG (972×3959), .312 OBP, .707 OPS.
- Pitched to a 3.35 ERA (158.1/59) in 25 appearances (24 starts) with the Chicago White Sox during the 2022 season.
- His 143 wins rank 7th among active MLB pitchers. Also ranks 7th among active MLB pitchers with 356 games started (behind STL’s Adam Wainwright – 403).
