MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today look to win the rubber match as they play the final of three games at Chase Field, wrapping up a six-game road trip that began with three against the Cubs where they took one of three. After an off-day on Thursday, will begin a six-game homestand with three against the Reds from May 12-14 before hosting the Nationals from May 16-18.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami evened the series with a 6-2 win over Arizona. LHP Jesus Luzardo recorded a quality start, keeping the D-Backs to 1 run on 7 hits through 6.0 innings, with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. DH Jorge Soler recorded his second multi-HR game of the season and drove in a team-high 5 RBI. RF Jesus Sanchez (2×4, 2 2B) and CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (1×2, 2 R, 2 BB) also contributed to the Marlins’ strong offensive showing. The bullpen held it down once again, highlighted by RHP Huascar Brazoban who tossed a scoreless seventh to extend his scoreless innings streak to 13.2, both a career-best and 2023 team-high mark.
PODER SOLER
OF Jorge Soler recorded his second multi-HR game of the season (also, April 5 vs. MIN), and the 12th of his career. His first home run was a 3-run shot in the second inning that traveled 468 ft., the longest by a Marlin this season and matched his longest home run tracked by Statcast (also, April 29, 2022 vs. SEA off Matt Brash).
• His 2-run homer in the fifth inning gave him 5 RBI on the night, setting a season-high for any Marlins hitter. Is his most RBI in a game since he drove in 5 runs on Aug. 11, 2019 at DET with KC. Was one shy of career-high in RBI (6) set on May 11, 2021, also at DET when he was with the Royals.
ON THE RISE
OF Jesus Sanchez hit 2 doubles in back-to-back games, marking the 11th time in club history and the first time since Christian Yelich did so on July 25-26, 2017. Is tied for 4th in MLB with 2 games of 2+ doubles.
• Has now hit safely in 9 of his last 11 games, including 4 multi-hit efforts. Is batting .389 (14×36) over this span with 6 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI. Has improved his batting avg. from .172 to .281 over this 11-game span.
SO YOU LIKE JAZZ?
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. has stolen 13 bases this season (2 last night at ARI), for his 49th and 50th career stolen bases. Leads the team and is tied for first in MLB (with PIT’s Ji Hwan Bae) with 4 games of 2+ stolen bases. Ranks fourth in MLB in steals, behind only Esteury Ruiz (17), Ronald Acuña Jr. (15), and Ji Hwan Bae (14).
• His 11 steals in April tied the club record for most steals in the month of April (also, Luis Castillo, 1997).
CATCH US IF YOU CAN
The Marlins have stolen 31 bases this season, seventh most in the Majors (third in NL).
• Since the start of the 2020 season, the Marlins have combined to steal 167 bases on the road, the most of any team in MLB.
SIT ‘EM DOWN
After a career-high 12 strikeouts in 5.0 innings against the Cubs on Apr. 29, RHP Edward Cabrera struck out 8 Cubs in 5.0 innings in his last start on Friday, May 5. The combined 20 K’s in back-to-back starts that lasted 5.0 innings each are the most in a 10.0 inning span in his career. 20 strikeouts in two starts of 5.0 innings or less is a club-most.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
The Marlins are now 11-0 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 in MLB history, matching a record set by the 1972 New York Mets (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).
DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Thus far in 2023, Miami is 17-0 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less and has gone 1-17 when allowing 5 or more runs.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .408 batting avg. (49×120) and .463 on-base pct., ranks 2nd with 49 hits, t-3rd with 13 multi-hit games, and 8th with his .963 OPS. Is currently riding an 12-game hitting streak, the second longest this season by any NL player, behind only PHI’s Bryson Stott’s 17-game hitting streak.
• Trails Dee Strange-Gordon (61, 2015) and Mike Lowell (50, 2002) for the most hits in club history by a Marlins player through their first 33 gms of a season. • His current 12-game hitting streak is the longest by a Marlin since 2021, when Brian Anderson had a 13-game streak from May 16 – July 31.
• 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.
• Is coming off of the best April in club history, setting records 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).
• Has struck out 8 times in 134 PA (.063 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualified batters
TODAY’S STARTER – #27 EDWARD CABRERA
• Edward Cabrera, 25, will make his first career start against the Diamondbacks and eighth start of the season tomorrow.
• In 13 career starts at home, owns a 4.43 ERA (63.0 IP/31 ER) and has gone 5-4 with 63 strikeouts. In 15 starts away is 3-6 with a 3.63 ERA (67.0 IP/27 ER) and 84 strikeouts.
• Lefties are hitting .164 (10×61) vs. Cabrera in 2023 with 3 home runs and 22 strikeouts while righties are hitting .288 (17×59) with 2 home run and 22 strikeouts.
• Walked a combined 13 batters in his first 2 starts of 2023. Has walked 7 in last 3 outings.
• Made 14 starts at the Major League level last year after being recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on May 31, 2022. Was named to MLB.com’s All-Rookie Second Team.
• In 7 starts at home in 2022, went 3-3 with a 4.58 ERA (35.1 IP/18 ER). Posted a 1.49 ERA (36.1 IP/6 ER) in 7 starts away, allowing 10 less hits than at home.
• Made four consecutive scoreless outings (22.2 IP) after returning from injury from Aug. 1 until Aug. 22, becoming the second pitcher in franchise history to make four consecutive scoreless starts, joining Chris Hammond in 1994.
• Set a new career-high with 8.0 innings pitched at Oakland on Aug. 22, 2022.
• In his first start back in almost 2 months on Aug. 5, 2022 tossed 5.0 no-hit innings against Chicago Cubs.
• Was the first pitcher in club history to pitch 6.0 innings or more and allow two hits or less in each of his first two starts of a season.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 3-2 in their 10-game homestand vs. Nationals (2-1), Marlins (1-1) and Giants (May 11-14).
♦ The D-backs are currently second in the NL West, 1.5 games behind the Dodgers…Arizona has spent 23 total days this season in or tied for first place (April 2-30).
♦ The D-backs look to win their second straight series and fifth in their last 7.
♦ The D-backs are 7-4 in their last 11 games vs. Marlins (5-1 in 2022, 2-3 this season), including 5 1-run games (Arizona is 4-1).
♦ The D-backs have homered in 10 straight games, including 7 consecutive to begin May…their 14 home runs in May are tied for the most in the NL (also: Dodgers).
♦ Merrill Kelly is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER in 13.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts in his last 2 starts…has tossed 3 quality starts in his last 4 bids…made his last start vs. Marlins on May 11, 2022 @ Chase Field (ND; 3 ER in 5.0 IP).
Earned his first home win and struck out a season-high 10 batters in his last start on May 5 vs. Nationals.
SNAKE BITES
♦ Christian Walker’s 7 homers since April 18 lead the Majors while his 17 RBI are tied for the second most (also: Adolis GarcÃa/TEX)…has hit safely in 6 of his last 7 games, including 5 multi-hit eff orts… in his last 17 games, is hitting .361 (26-for-72)/1.134 OPS with 6 doubles, 7 home runs, 16 runs and 19 RBI.
♦ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hitting .563 (9-for-16) with 4 homers, 9 runs, 6 RBI and 5 walks in his last 5 games.
♦ Corbin Carroll is batting .362 (17-for-47) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer and 3 RBI in his last 14 games.
LONGO-ING & GONE
♦ Evan Longoria collected his 335th career home run last night vs. Marlins.
♦ His 335 homers rank sixth among active MLB players:
Miguel Cabrera – 507; Nelson Cruz – 462; Giancarlo Stanton – 382; Mike Trout – 358; Joey Votto – 342; Evan Longoria – 335
RUN AT YOUR OWN RISK
♦ Gabriel Moreno’s 9 caught stealings (CS) are the third most in the Majors, behind Shea Langeliers/OAK (12) and ElÃas DÃaz/COL (10), while his 56.3 pct. caught stealing pct. (9-of-16) is second best.
OFFENSE AMONG THE REST
♦ The D-backs rank in the Majors in strikeouts (2nd fewest, 269), average (2nd, .273), triples (2nd, 9), sac flys (3rd, 14), hits (3rd, 334), doubles (4th, 74) and stolen bases (8th, 30).
EXTRA! EXTRA!
♦ Since April 6, the D-backs’ 108 extra-base hits (64 2B, 9 3B, 35 HR) are tied for the second most in the Majors (also: Braves), behind the Dodgers (110).
ON DECK: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
♦ The D-backs went 10-9 vs. Giants in 2022 (6-3 @ home and 4-6 on the road).
♦ Josh Rojas is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with 5 doubles, 1 homer, 9 RBI, 10 walks and 7 stolen bases in his last 19 games vs. Giants.
♦ Evan Longoria spent the previous 5 seasons with the Giants (2018-2022).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP MERRILL KELLY ♦ #29
AT A GLANCE: In his fi fth season with the D-backs.
• Played 5 seasons in the Rays’ system (2010-14) then 4 seasons (2015-18) with the SK Wyverns in the KBO League.
• Rays’ eighth-round pick in the 2010 draft.
• Grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., and attended Desert Mountain High School, Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz. (2008-09) and Arizona State University (2010), helping the Sun Devils reach the College World Series in 2010.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER in 13.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts in his last 2 starts… has tossed 4 quality starts in his last 5 bids.
• Earned his first home win and struck out a season-high 10 batters in his last start on May 5 vs. Nationals.
• His 534 strikeouts are eighth all-time among D-backs starters: Randy Johnson (2,077), Brandon Webb (1,065), Robbie Ray (998), Patrick Corbin (897), Curt Schilling (875), Zack Greinke (683), Dan Haren (570).
LAST START: Earned his second consecutive win on May 5 vs. Nationals (W; 1 ER in 7.0 IP, 10 K).
VS. MARLINS: Is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA (13 ER in 17.1 IP) in 3 starts.
• Looking for his first career win.
• Made his last start on May 11, 2022 @ Chase Field (ND; 3 ER in 5.0 IP).
BATTED BALLS: His 49.0 ground ball pct. is currently the highest of his career while his 6.3 barrel pct. is currently tied for the lowest of his career (also: 2021).
