ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Atlanta drew a season-most nine walks last night, its most in a game since also collecting nine on April 12 of last season vs. Washington. The Braves’ 118 bases-on-balls for the season are fourth most in the majors, and the club’s 10.4 walk percentage is highest in Atlanta franchise history (since 1966). Atlanta had two walks with the bases loaded in last night’s game, and its eight such walks on the season are most in baseball, two more than any other club.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Marlins tonight continue a three-game series in what is the sixth of 13 games between the teams this season…The two met just six days ago in Atlanta, and are in a stretch of seven games in 11 days against each other.
• The Braves shut out the Marlins last night, 6-0, to win the opener of the series…Atlanta is 4-1 against Miami this season.
• 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 303-202 (.600) all-time against the Marlins franchise since it was founded in 1993… The Braves’ 303 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 Kyle Wright has made six career starts against Miami, compiling a 2-2 record with a 3.33 ERA (10 ER/27.0 IP)…The 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander has not allowed a run in any of his last three starts against Miami, pitching 14.0 consecutive scoreless innings dating to 2020…Wright led the majors with 21 wins last season, but is looking for his first victory of 2023 after going 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA through four starts.
• LH Braxton Garrett has pitched in four career games against Atlanta, all starts, and is 0-2 despite a 2.70 ERA (5 ER/16.2 IP) versus the Braves… The 6-foot-2, 202-pound native of Foley, AL, pitched against Atlanta six days ago, April 27 at Truist Park, and went 3.0 scoreless innings before rain halted play.
WIN: Atlanta blanked Miami, 6-0, last night to win the first game of the series, and improved to a perfect 6-0 in series openers on the road…Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna each had two hits for the Braves, while three Atlanta pitchers combined for the shutout.
• Albies collected the game’s only home run, and Atlanta improved to 19-3 when hitting at least one homer this season.
• Albies’ eight homers are easily most by a second baseman in the majors, three more than anyone else…His 24 RBI are tied for most at the position with Texas’ Marcus Semien, and are nine more than any other second baseman in the N.L.
• Atlanta improved to 8-3 in intra-division games these season, the best record in the N.L. East
RECORD: Atlanta’s win last night improved the club to 20-10 on the season, its best 30-game start since opening the 2000 season 21-9.
• This marks just the ninth time in the modern era (since 1900) that the Braves have won 20 of their first 30 games, doing so in 1932, 1969, 1982, 1983, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.
• Atlanta opened a franchise-best 22-8 in 1997, won 21 of their first 30 games in 1969 and 2000, and went 20-10 in the other five years.
• Atlanta’s 20-10 record is tied with Pittsburgh for best in the National League, and stands as the third-best mark in the majors…Only Tampa Bay (24-6, .800) and Baltimore (20-9, .690) have been better.
ACUÑA JR. STEALS: Ronald Acuña Jr. went 1-for-3 with his majors-leading 14th stolen base of the season last night…He has stolen at least one base in 11 different games this season, also most in the majors.
• Acuña Jr.’s 14 stolen bases are most by a Braves player in the modern era (1900) through 30 games… Six Braves players had 13 steals through 30 games, with Ender Inciarte being last to do so in 2018.
• His 14 stolen bases are most by any player through 30 games since 2018, when Dee Strange-Gordon had 14 for Seattle.
• Acuña Jr. is on pace for 76 stolen bases on the season…The current franchise record is 72, set by Otis Nixon in 1991.
• No player in baseball has stolen 70 bases since Jacoby Ellsbury reached that exact total in 2009.
• Acuña Jr. has 16 stolen base attempts in 61 total times reaching base safely (hits + walks + hit by pitch), and is running 26% of the time when reaching.
ROTATION: RH Bryce Elder started for Atlanta last night and pitched 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and no walks while fanning six…Atlanta is 3-0 this season when its starter completes at least 7.0 innings.
• Atlanta starters have compiled a 3.14 ERA (56 ER/160.1 IP) on the season, lowest in the majors.
• Braves starters also lead the majors with just 12 home runs allowed and a 1.8% home run rate, and pace the National League in FIP (3.29).
• Among pitchers to make at least four starts this season, Max Fried leads the National League with a 0.45 ERA, Elder ranks third with a 1.75 mark, Spencer Strider ranks 12th with a 2.57 ERA, and Charlie Morton is 20th with a 3.38 mark.
• Atlanta is the only team with four such pitchers in the top 20 in ERA in the National League.
ON THE ROAD: The Braves’ 13-3 (.813) record in road games is best in the majors…The Rays at 9-4 (.692) have the second-best mark.
• Atlanta has outscored its opponents by 49 runs in 16 road games, scoring 88 and allowing just 39.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #30 Kyle Wright RHP 2023 Record: 0-1, 4.86 ERA • 2022 Record: 21-5, 3.19 ERA vs. RHB: .255 (12-47), 0 HR • vs. LHB: .250 (5-20), 2 HR Home: 0-1, 5.73 ERA (7 ER/11.0 IP) • Away: 0-0, 3.18 ERA (2 ER/5.2 IP)
Today’s Game
• Slated to make his second start of the season against Miami and fifth on the year.
• Faced the Marlins in his last outing, going 3.0 scoreless innings and scattering two hits while fanning six before a three-hour rain delay ended his start.
• Owns a career 3.33 ERA against the Marlins, the best against any single opponent (min. 5 appearances).
• Went 2-0 without allowing a run scored in two starts (11.0 IP) against Miami last season.
2023 Recap
• Snapped a career-long eight-game winning streak against Houston on April 22.
• At the time, it was the longest active streak in the National League.
• Prior to the loss, Atlanta had won 11 consecutive games started by Wright.
• It was just the fourth time in his career he failed to record more than two strikeouts and first since July 4, 2022 against against St. Louis.
• Allowed four hits, four runs and four walks with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched during his season debut against Cincinnati.
• It was his shortest outing as a starter since tossing 2.0 frames on June 23, 2021 at New York (NL).
• The Braves returned Wright on April 11 from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list.
• Wright opened the season on the injured list, being placed on the IL on March 27 with right shoulder inflammation.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the second 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 15-10 since.
• Lost three of four to the Mets in their first home series of the season, but have won nine of 13 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).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series opener to the Braves 0-6 for their third shutout loss of the season. RHP Sandy Alcantara went 5.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. 1B Yuli Gurriel accounted for Miami’s lone extra-base hit with a ground-rule double in the ninth inning. INF Xavier Edwards made his Major League debut with a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth, lining out to left.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .435 batting avg. (40×92) and .495 on-base pct., ranks 3rd with 40 hits, t-3rd with 12 multi-hit games, and 4th with his 1.038 OPS. Is coming off of the best April in club history, setting club history with his .438 avg. and .500 on-base pct. in 23 gms, becoming one of only two Marlins players to own a .400 avg. entering May (also, Dee Strange-Gordon, .409 in 2015).
• Trails only Dee Strange-Gordon (46, 2015) for the most hits by a Marlin through their first 26 gms of a season in club history. • Became 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 26 gms to a season since Yasiel Puig’s .436 mark to start the 2013 season.
• Has struck out 5 times in 102 PA (.049 K/PA), the lowest mark in the Majors among quailfied batters.
WINNING START
The Marlins’ 15 wins in the month of April tied 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 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.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
LHP Braxton Garrett will make his fifth start (sixth appearance) of the season today vs. Atlanta, his second consecutive start vs. the Braves. Has posted a 2.45 ERA (22.0 IP/6 ER) with 3 walks and 19 strikeouts, including 3.0 scoreless innings at Truist Park last Thursday prior to the rain delay. In 9 starts dating back to Aug. 14, 2022, has gone 2-1 with a 2.24 ERA (44.1/11 ER) with 39 strikeouts.
• Has held opponents to 2 runs or less in all 9 starts since Aug. 14, the most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 earned runs since RHP Sandy Alcantara did so in 9 starts from May 5 – June 19, 2022. The last time a Marlins pitcher made more consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 earned runs was Jose Fernandez from July 13, 2013 – April 5, 2014.
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).
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
On Tuesday, the Marlins recalled INF Xavier Edwards from Triple-A Jacksonville. Edwards, rated by MLB Pipeline as Miami’s No. 12 prospect, was acquired by Miami from Tampa Bay in November 2022 alongside RHP JT Chargois in exchange for RHP Santiago Suarez and RHP Marcus Johnson. His pinch-hit at-bat last night marked his Major League debut, making him the Marlins’ first hitter to make their big league debut in 2023.
• In 20 gms to start his season with Triple-A, went 22×72 (.306) with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 4 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.
PRINCE OF APRIL
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. has stolen 11 bases this season (in 12 attempts), which tied 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 14 stolen bases.
• In his last 7 G, is batting .321 (9×28) with 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, and 4 SB. Prior to this stretch, was hitting .207 (17×82).
BIG LEAGUE READY
Prior to today’s game, Miami recalled OF Peyton Burdick from Triple-A Jacksonville. Burdick, who hit .207 with 4 home runs in 32 games with the Marlins last season, currently leads the Jumbo Shrimp in hits (29), home runs (10), RBI (24), and OPS (1.017) through 25 gms.
DO YOU LIKE PIÑA COLADAS
1B/DH Yuli Gurriel has hit safely in his last 4 gms, in 12 of 15 gms played this season, and has four multi-hit efforts with 1 double, 2 home runs, and 5 RBI. Has 3 walks and 7 strikeouts in 57 plate appearances.
• His inside-the-park home run last Tuesday at Atlanta was the second of his career (also; July 23, 2019 vs. OAK) and the first in MLB in 2023. Marked his fourth career home run against RHP Jesse Chavez, his most against any opposing pitcher in the league (secondmost is 3 HR against four different pitchers, including teammate Jesus Luzardo).
DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Thus far in 2023, Miami is 15-0 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less and has gone 1-14 when allowing 5 or more runs.
TODAY’S STARTER – #29 BRAXTON GARRETT
• Braxton Garrett, 25, will make his fifth start (sixth appearance) of the 2023 season and fifth career start against the Atlanta Braves today. Owns a 2.70 ERA (16.2 IP/5 ER) with 14 strikeouts against ATL.
• His last outing on Apr. 27 came against the Braves at Truist Park – held them to 1 hit over 3.0 innings with 3 strikeouts prior to rain delay.
• Made his last outing of 2022 at loanDepot park against the Braves on Oct. 4, when he tossed 4.2 innings allowing 2 runs and struck out 7 batters. In 2 starts vs. ATL in 2022, went 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA (10.2 IP/ 2 ER).
• Made 8 starts at loanDepot park in 2022, going 1-3 with a 2.63 ERA (41.0 IP/12 ER) with 53 SO. Had 9 starts on the road in 2022, going 2-4 with a 4.40 ERA (47.0 IP/23 ER).
• Career average when facing RHB is .285 with .353 OBP and .815 OPS. When facing LHB is .241 with .323 OBP and .628 OPS. Has faced 161 LHB, has allowed only 1 HR.
• In 15 career starts (16 apps.) at home, owns a 3.18 ERA (76.1 IP/27 ER) and has gone 3-6 with 88 strikeouts. In 15 starts away (16 apps.), is 3-4 with a 4.54 ERA (75.1 IP/38 ER) and 61 strikeouts.
• Made 17 starts at the Major League level in 2022 after entering the year as the Marlins No. 11 prospect. Went 3-7 with a 3.58 ERA (88.0 IP/35 ER) with 24 walks, 90 strikeouts, and 9 home runs allowed.
