ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Atlanta makes its first trip to loanDepot park with tonight’s game, the first of six scheduled meetings here. Since the park opened in 2012, the Braves have gone 64-32 (.667) here, easily the most wins by any team other than Miami. Atlanta’s 64 wins are 10 more than any other club in this park (Mets, 54). The Braves’ .667 winning percentage is second-best in baseball by a team with at least 30 games here, trailing just St. Louis (22-10, .688). For comparison, Miami has just a .476 winning percentage in this stadium.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Marlins tonight open a three-game series in what is the fifth of 13 games between the teams this season…The two met just five days ago in Atlanta, and are in a stretch of seven games in 11 days against each other.
• The Braves took three-of-four against the Marlins in Atlanta last week.
• Atlanta went 13-6 against Miami last season, including wins in nine of their final 11 games between the clubs…The Braves beat Miami, 2-1,
on October 4 in the penultimate game of the season to clinch the NL East division title.
• Atlanta has won the season set against Miami for eight consecutive years, dating to 2015…Moreover, the Braves have won double-digit games over the Marlins in 17 of the last 19 full seasons…They went 9-10 in 2014 and 8-10 in 2009…Since 2015, the Braves are 94-51 (.648) against Miami.
• Atlanta is 302-202 (.599) all-time against the Marlins franchise since it was founded in 1993… The Braves’ 302 wins versus Miami since the
start of 1993 are its most against any one team in baseball…Per Elias, since 1993, only one MLB club has beaten another club more times than Atlanta has beaten Miami…The New York Yankees have beaten the Baltimore Orioles 310 times since that year.
• RH Bryce Elder has made five career starts against Miami, his most against any single team, and is 0-2 in these games despite a 3.54 ERA (11 ER/28.0 IP)…The 6-foot-2, 225-pound right-hander faced them just six days ago, April 26 at Truist Park, and allowed five hits, including three homers, and four runs over 5.1 innings in a no-decision.
• RH Sandy Alcantara has made 11 career starts against Atlanta, compiling a 4-2 record with a 2.48 ERA (20 ER/72.2 IP)…He faced off against Elder in that game six days ago, and allowed four hits and two runs over 5.2 innings…In five total starts this season, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound native of the Dominican Republic is 1-2 with a 5.04 ERA (17 ER/30.1 IP).
YESTERDAY: Atlanta split a pair of games with the Mets yesterday, winning the opener of the doubleheader, 9-8, before falling in the nightcap, 5-3…It was the first doubleheader of the season for Atlanta.
• Atlanta scored all 12 of its runs on the day in four three-run innings, scoring three in the first, second and seventh innings of Game 1, and the sixth inning of Game 2.
• The Braves have 24 innings this season in which they have scored at least three runs, the most such frames in the National League…Only the Rangers and Rays, both with 26, have more such innings.
• Atlanta scored nine times in its win, and just three in its loss…For the season, the Braves are 18-3 when scoring four or more runs, but just 1-7 when being held to three runs or fewer.
SEAN MURPHY: Reached base in five of his eight plate appearances yesterday, going 4-for-7 with a walk, two home runs and six RBI…Both home runs and all six RBI came in Game 1.
• He became just the fourth catcher in franchise history with at least two homers and six RBI in a game, joining Gene Oliver (1966), Javy López (twice in 2003) and Travis d’Arnaud (2022).
• Murphy is batting .282/.413/.647 on the season, and he leads all major league catchers in homers (8), runs (19), RBI (tied, 22), on-base percentage (.413) and OPS (1.061).
• Murphy’s eight home runs are the most by a Braves player in their first 25 games with the club since Austin Riley had nine in 2019, and the most by a player acquired by the club since Justin Upton had 12 in 2013…His eight homers are also most by a Braves catcher through 30 team games since López also had eight in 1998.
• He ranks fifth in baseball with 1.5 fWAR on the season, most among catchers in the majors.
ON THE ROAD: Atlanta’s win in Game 1 yesterday secured the series for the Braves, and Atlanta is a perfect 5-0-0 in series on the road this year…They are the only team in baseball yet to lose a set on the road this season.
• This season also marks the first time in Atlanta franchise history that the club has won each of its first five road series to begin a season.
• The Braves’ 12-3 (.800) record in road games is best in the majors…The Pirates at 11-5 (.688) have the second-best mark.
• Atlanta has outscored its opponents by 43 runs in 15 road games, scoring 82 and allowing just 39…The Braves are batting .257/.328/.465 as a club in road games, and are averaging 5.47 runs/game.
• The Braves’ pitching staff has pitched to a 2.67 ERA (38 ER/128.0 IP) on the road this season, lowest in the majors…Opponents are batting just .230 against them in these games.
VERSUS N.L. EAST: This series continues a run of 10 consecutive games against the N.L. East for Atlanta, and the Braves are 5-2 over the first seven such contests…For the season, Atlanta is 7-3 inside its own division.
• Since 2018, when Atlanta’s run of five consecutive division titles began, the Braves have gone 219-135 (.619) in intradivisional games, by far the best record among N.L. East teams.
• New York has the second-best record in divisional games in that span, going 193-164 (.541)…Miami is fifth, with a 145-213 (.405) mark against teams in the N.L. East.
• In the National League, Atlanta’s .619 winning percentage against the East is the second-best intradivision record since 2018…Only the Dodgers, who have gone 234-124 (.654) against fellow N.L. West opponents, has been better.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #55 Bryce Elder RHP
2023 Record: 2-0, 2.17 ERA
vs. RHB: .322 (19-59), 1 HR • vs. LHB: .143 (7-49), 2 HR
Home: 0-0, 2.04 ERA (4 ER/17.2 IP) • Away: 2-0, 2.38 ERA (3 ER/11.1 IP)
Tonight’s Game
• Set to make his sixth career start against Miami and sixth on the season.
• Surrendered a season-most five runs in his last turn while facing the Marlins.
• Enters play with 10 consecutive outings of at least 5.0 innings pitched.
• His 2.17 ERA on the season is the sixth lowest in the National League among qualified starters.
• Teammates Max Fried (1st), Spencer Strider (12th), and Charlie Morton (14th) are also rank among 15 lowest ERA’s (min. 4 starts).
• His groundball rate of 54.9% of balls put in play is the eighth highest in the majors among qualified starters.
• Has recorded an out on 65.5% of those grounders put in play, the fifth highest rate in baseball among qualified starters.
• Is 3-1 with a 1.90 ERA over his last 10 games started after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, dating to his August 14, 2022.
• In that stretch, Elder is averaging 6.1 innings pitched per outing, tied for the second-highest rate in the National League.
• Through 14 career starts, Elder has pitched 80.2 innings.
• The 80.2 innings pitched through his first 14 games started are the most by an Atlanta player to begin their career since Michael Soroka in 2018-19.
2023 Recap
• Elder has held opponents to one run or less in three of his five starts this season while pitching at least 5.0 frames in every outing.
• His seven appearances of at least 5.0 innings pitched while holding opponents to one run or less are the second most through a player’s first 14 games started to begin a career…Michael Soroka has the most with eight such games.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the first of three games against the Braves as they wrap up their third homestand of the year. Continues a six-game ‘stand which began with a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs before a day off on Monday. Will finish their season series vs. the Cubs with a three-game set in Chicago this weekend from May 5 – 7 before heading to Arizona for three against the D-Backs from May 8 – 10.
• After starting the year 1-4, the Marlins have gone 15-9 since.
• Lost three of four to the Mets in their first home series of the season, but have won nine of 12 home games since.
• Have won their last four home series (MIN, ARI, SF, CHC), the most consecutive home series victories since winning four straight from August – September 2021 (WSH, CIN, PHI, NYM).
SUNDAY’S RECAP
Miami swept their first series of the year with a 4-3 win over the Cubs on Sunday, powered by clutch offensive games from 2B Luis Arraez (1×3, 2 RBI) and RF Garrett Hampson (2×3, 2 2B, 1 RBI). RHP Bryan Hoeing made his second start of the season, holding the Cubs to 2 runs on 5 hits over 5.0 innings. LHP A.J. Puk recorded his 5th save of the season in a perfect ninth inning to give the Marlins their fourth consecutive one-run victory.
SPRING CLEANING
The Marlins sweep of the Cubs marks their first series sweep at home since June 21 – 23, 2022 vs. Colorado. The last series sweep against the Cubs came on Aug. 13 – 15, 2021 at loanDepot park.
WINNING START
The Marlins’ 15 wins in the month of April tie the second-best mark in franchise history (also; 1997, 2004, and 2008 and marks the most wins in April since the team moved to Miami. The 15 wins mark the most since 2011 when the club set the all-time record with 16 wins.
• Miami secured a winning record in April for a second straight year – prior to last year’s April, the Marlins had not had a winning record in April since 2016. Marks the first time the Marlins recorded back-to-back seasons of winning records in April since the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
ONE-RUN WONDERS
The Marlins are 10-0 in one-run games in 2023, marking the most consecutive wins in games decided by one run to start a season in franchise history. Are the only team yet to lose a one-run game this season.
• Marks the most consecutive wins in games decided by one-run to start a season since the 2004 Los Angeles Dodgers also went 10-0. The last team to start a season with a better stretch in such games was the 1972 New York Mets, who own the all-time record (courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau).
• Miami played 64 games decided by one run in 2022, the most such games in the Majors last season. Miami’s 40 one-run losses were the most in a season in club history, the most since the 1975 Astros (41), and just three shy of the single-season record for one-run losses during the Live Ball Era (since 1920) held by the 1968 White Sox (44).
TRENDING FOUR-WARD
Miami is currently riding a four-game win streak dating back to April 27 at Atlanta. Are looking to reach their first five-game streak since June 29 – July 5, 2022 when they won six consecutive games.
• All four wins in this stretch have been decided by one-run, marking the first time the Marlins have played four such straight games since July 12 – 15, 2022, when they went 2-2. Marks just the third time in club history the Marlins have won four straight one-run games (also, Aug. 5 – 7, 2020 and May 1 – 4, 2012).
• Another one-run game tonight would mark the first such occurrence since May 2 – 6, 2022 (team went 0-5). A victory in such scenario would mark the second-time in club history that the team won five straight games decided by one-run (Aug. 8 – 13, 1999; 1 vs. COL, 3 vs. SF, and 1 at SD).
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .438 batting avg. (39×89) and .500 on-base pct., becoming the first player to finish the month of April with a batting average of .435 or better and an OBP of .500 or better since Barry Bonds (.472 AVG and .696 OBP) in 1994 (min: 50 AB) – courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau. • His .438 batting avg. is the highest through 25 gms to a season since Darin Estad’s .449 mark to start the 2000 season (min: 50 AB).
• According to StatMuse, Arraez is the only player in MLB in the last 25 years to have a batting avg. over .425 and 5 or less strikeouts through the first 25 games of the season.
• Set a club record for the highest average in the month of April, becoming one of only two Marlins player to own a .400 avg entering May (also, Dee Strange-Gordon’s .409 in 2015).
• Trails only Dee Strange-Gordon (45, 2015) for the most hits by a Marlin through their first 25 gms of a season in club history.
• His 39 hits rank 5th in MLB, with 12 multi-hit games (tied for third-most in MLB).
• Has struck out 5 times in 102 PA (.049 K/PA), the lowest mark in the Majors among qualified batters.
PRINCE OF APRIL
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. has stolen 11 bases this season (in 12 attempts), tying the club record for most steals in the month of April (also, Luis Castillo, 1997). His team-leading 11 steals are tied for second in MLB behind only Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 13 stolen bases.
• In his last 6 G, is batting .375 (9×24) with 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB and 4 SB. Prior to this stretch, was hitting .207 (17×82).
GREAT WHEN LATE
The Marlins offense is batting .279 (87×312) in the seventh inning or later, the second-best mark in the Majors this season behind only Houston (.290). 41 of Miami’s 98 runs scored this year (42%) have come in these final three innings, including 9 of the club’s combined 26 home runs.
TODAY’S STARTER – #22 SANDY ALCANTARA
• Sandy Alcantara (Al-CON-ta-ra), 27, will make his sixth start of the season and 12th career start against the Atlanta Braves today. Owns a 2.48 ERA (72.2 IP/20 ER) with 64 strikeouts against ATL.
• Alcantara currently has 115 career starts with the Marlins, tied with Pat Rapp for the ninth-most in club history.
• Last faced at loanDepot park on May 22, 2022, when he tossed a complete game (9.0 IP) allowing 0 runs and struck out 7 batters. In 3 total starts vs. ATL in 2022, combined for 22.0 innings and allowed 7 runs (2.86 ERA).
• Alcantara’s fourth career shutout on April 4th marks the fourth time in club history that a Marlins pitcher has thrown a complete game shutout in the first six team games of the regular season (Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, 2005 and Brad Penny, 2002).
• Alcantara finished his historic 2022 season with 32 starts going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 228.2 innings, along with 6 complete games, a 0.98 WHIP, and a .212 opponents’ batting average in 32 starts. He led Major League Baseball in innings pitched and complete games and led all NL pitchers with an 8.1 WAR (Baseball Reference). During Alcantara’s entire life (born Sept. 1995) only two pitchers reached the same statistical totals since the 1996 season: Felix Hernandez, SEA (2010) and Pedro Martinez, MON (1997).
• Won Baseball Digest’s MLB Pitcher of the Year Award. Became the second Marlin to win this honor (Dontrelle Willis, 2005). Was named the second annual Juan Marichal Award recipient, an honor given to the league’s best Dominican player.
• Posted a 1.64 ERA (121.0 IP/22 ER) in 16 starts at loanDepot park in 2022. Marked the best home ERA by a Marlins starter with at least 15 starts since Jose Fernandez in 2016 and is the fourth-lowest mark in Club history (J. Fernandez, 1.19 – 2013; J. Johnson, 1.57, 2010; J. Fernandez, 1.63 – 2016).
