LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S STARTER at MARLINS: LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW (12-4, 2.48 ERA in 20 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- In his last start against the Diamondbacks on August 29, he tossed 5.0 innings, giving up three hits, one run, one homer, and three walks while striking out five in the win…with his 209th career win, he tied Don Drysdale for second place in franchise history…Don Sutton ranks first with 233 wins Over 20 starts, the Texas native owns a 12-4 record with a 2.48 ERA (31 ER/112.1 IP) with 120 strikeouts against 29 walks and has generated a 1.02 WHIP Notched his 200th career win in his start on April 18 against the Mets, making him the only Los Angeles Dodger to win 200 games with the same franchise…joins Don Sutton (233) and is currently tied with Don Drysdale (209) on the Dodger all-time list Currently 21st all-time on the Major League strikeout list with 2,927…he needs 73 more to become the 20th player in Major League history with 3,000 strikeouts Has fired 6.0+ strikeouts in 12 out of his 20 starts this season He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April after posting a 5-1 record with a 1.89 ERA (8 ER/38.0 IP) and 41 strikeouts and a 0.76 WHIP
VS. MARLINS:
- Will face Miami for the 15th time in his career…is 7-5 with a 2.68 ERA (27 ER/90.2 IP IP) and 113 strikeouts against 24 walks Last faced the club on May 14, 2021, tossing six innings, giving up six hits, five runs, one home run and one walk while punching out 11 in the win
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the series opener of a three-game set vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. The club then heads back out on the road to visit Philadelphia (Sept. 8-10), and Milwaukee (Sept. 11-14). Miami returns home following a one-city road trip that saw the Marlins record a four-game sweep over the Nationals. Following an off day yesterday, the Marlins will play 16 straight games before their next day off on September 21.
SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER
The Marlins, who are just 0.5 game back of the final NL Wild Card spot, entered September with a .500 or better record for the 1st time in a full season since 2016, and 8th time overall in club history. The last time the Marlins reached 4-or-more games over .500 in September of a full season was 2010, when the club was 4 games over at 73-69.
FISH BYTES
- Miami reached 70-win mark for the first time since 2017, when the team went 77-85. The Marlins are looking to extend their winning streak to 5 games. Last time the club had a streak of 5-or-more was on June 24-29, 2023. The longest win streak of the season is 6, done from June 2-7. Miami ranks 3rd in the NL with a .260 batting average (6th in the Majors), behind Atlanta (.275) and Philadelphia (.260), and ranks 3rd in the NL with 1,212 hits. With 52 games of 10+ hits, the Marlins rank 4th in the NL, behind Atlanta (61), St. Louis (53) and Philadelphia (53). The Marlins pitching staff ranks 2nd in the NL with 1,268 strikeouts (5th-most in Majors behind MIN, TOR, ATL and CWS). Miami established a club record last year with 1,437 strikeouts. The Marlins have never led the NL in strikeouts in a season.
SUNDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins had an early 3-0 lead slip away, but were able to tie the game with 1 run in the 6th and pulled out the victory, 6-4, in the 9th for a series sweep over the Nationals. RHP Sandy Alcantara picked up his 7th win, allowing 4 runs over 8.0 innings pitched. LHP Tanner Scott closed the game for his 4th save on the year. Miami’s offense was led by 2B Luis Arraez (2×4; 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI), who open the game with a leadoff home run and scored the deciding run in the 9th on an error by Washington.
HOUSE OF BLUES
Since moving to loanDepot park, Miami is 14-19 vs. the Dodgers in home games, having won 4 of 10 home series. The last series win at loanDepot park was in 2021, when Miami took 3 of 4.
HOME SWEET HOME
In 16 starts at home this season, LHP Jesús Luzardo owns a 3.15 ERA and is holding opponents to a .223 average, compared to 4.34 and .273 marks in 11 road starts. The Marlins began the season winning 10 of the 13 home games started by Luzardo, but have dropped the last 3 contests started by him.
LEFTIES ASSEMBLE
LHP Jesús Luzardo and LHP Braxton Garrett have combined to go 17-13 with a 3.73 ERA (289.1/120), both making a career-high starts and throwing a career-high innings. Both have held opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs in 13 of their starts this season – tied for the most such starts in MLB with SD’s Blake Snell, PIT’s Johan Oviedo, LAA’s Shohei Ohtani, and TOR’s Yusei Kikuchi. The Marlins are the only team to feature two starters with at least 13 starts of 1/0 ER.
SWEET SIX-CESS
The Marlins have scored 6-plus runs in each of the last 4 games, marking the second such streak this season. The longest streak of games with 6-plus runs in each was a 5-game streak from June 3-7.
ARRAEZ AND SHINE
2B Luis Arraez, who had 4 multi-hit performances in August, has a streak of 4 games with multiple hits. It marks his first streak of 4-plus games since June 3-7 (5-game streak). Arraez leads MLB with his .356 average and ranks 3rd in multi-hit games with 50. He owns the second-highest average by a Marlin through his first 130 games of a season, trailing Hanley Ramirez (.360 in 2009). Is looking to record the 6th 200-hit season in franchise history.
GOLD GLOVE LOVE
Among National League second basemen with at least 400 chances, 2B Luis Arraez ranks 2nd with a .992 fielding percentage (512 TC/4 E), just behind Bryson Stott (516/4). Arraez leads NL 2B with 90 double plays turned.
PODER SOLER
DH Jorge Soler ranks 5th in the National League and tied for 6th in MLB with 35 home runs. Marks the most home runs by a Marlin since 2017 (Ozuna – 37 & Stanton – 59) and marks the 6th-most homers in a single season in club history. His 19 go-ahead homers lead MLB. Each of his last 5 home runs have given the Marlins a lead.
Had 10 home runs in August, tied for the lead in MLB (Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Corey Seager). Tied for the second-most homers by a Marlin in the month of August with Giancarlo Stanton in 2012. The record is 18, set by Stanton in 2017.
GETTIN’ JAZZY
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 1 home run away from recording 15 HR and 15 SB in the same season for the second time (also 2021). Would become the 6th player in franchise history with multiple 15/15 seasons, joining Cliff Floyd (3x), Derrek Lee (2x), Hanley Ramirez (5x), Gary Sheffield (2x), and Preston Wilson (3x).
NICE TO SEE YOU
The Miami Marlins have surpassed last year’s attendance total (907,487) as the 2023 season total stands at 969,829 through 69 home games. Attendance at loanDepot park is up 25% this season compared to the 2022 season.
HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS
The current Marlins homestand, September 5-7 vs. the Dodgers, will be brief but action-packed and filled with special guest appearances. Here is a rundown: Tuesday, Sept. 5: Go Gold For Cancer Awareness Night – Patients from Alex’s Place will be hosted for VIP experience. Wednesday, Sept. 6: Florida Panthers Night – Panthers forward Sam Reinhart will throw out ceremonial first pitch. Thursday, Sept. 7: UD Night – Miami sports icon Udonis Haslem to throw out ceremonial first pitch.
TODAY’S STARTER – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 28th start of the season today. Marks his third career start (fourth app.) against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last faced Los Angeles-NL on Aug. 19, 2022 at Dodger Stadium. Tossed 6.1 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 over a season-high 100 pitches. In his most recent start on Aug. 30 vs. Tampa Bay, tossed his second consecutive scoreless outing, allowing 1 hit and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts over 6.0 innings. His 175 strikeouts mark the second-most by a left-handed starter in Marlins history, trailing only Al Leiter (200, 1996). Has allowed 1 or 0 ER in 13 of his 27 starts; tied for the second-most such starts in MLB. Only SD’s Blake Snell has more (14). 14 of his starts this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters. Ranks 5th among left-handed pitchers in MLB. Has recorded 8+ strikeouts in 11 starts this season; is tied for the third-most such starts in the NL (behind Blake Snell, SD – 12 and Spencer Strider, ATL – 22). His 10.5 SO/9 ranks second among left-handed NL starters (min. 100 IP), behind SD’s Blake Snell – 11.7. Is 4-4 this season at loanDepot park with a 3.15 ERA (91.1/32) in 16 starts and 5-4 with a 4.34 ERA (58.0/28) in 11 starts away. RHB vs. Luzardo in 2023: .253 AVG (113×447), .314 OBP, .764 OPS. LHB vs. Luzardo in 2023: .207 AVG (25×121), .256 OBP, .603 OPS.
