MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (24-24) at Colorado Rockies (20-28)

MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the second of four games at the Rockies. Continues a three-city, 10-game road trip that started with three at San Francisco, where Miami took one of three, and wraps up back in California with three games at Los Angeles (AL).

• Miami is in a current stretch of 13 straight days with games until their next off day on Memorial Day (May 29).
• Are looking to win their first series at Coors Field since 2018.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami fell in the series opener at Coors Field, 5-3. RHP Edward Cabrera allowed 2 runs on 3 straight first-pitch doubles by the Rockies in the bottom of the first inning, but settled in to allow just 1 run through the next 5.0 innings. RF Bryan De La Cruz stayed hot, recording his second-career 4-hit game in a 4×4 effort with 2 runs scored. C Jacob Stallings played a part in the action, going 1×3 with 2 RBI.

DE LA CRUZIN’
OF Bryan De La Cruz yesterday recorded his second-career 4-hit game (other, Sept. 24, 2022 vs. WSH). Has hit safely in 17 of 19 gms played in May, batting .368 (25×68) with 11 runs scored, 5 doubles, 3 HR, 9 RBI, and a .968 OPS. Has raised his batting avg. from .253 entering May to .302 for the season.

• De La Cruz’s 12 multi-hit games rank 2nd on the team. Ranks t-3rd in MLB with 6 games of 3+ hits (7 way tie, with also Arraez)
• De La Cruz and Arraez make the Marlins 1 of 3 teams in the league and the only NL club to have 2 players batting over .300.
• In his last 15 gms (May 6-22), has posted a .393 avg (22×56), the second-highest mark in MLB behind only D-Backs OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s (.404).

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
During Miami’s last trip to Coors Field on June 1, 2022, Miami and Colorado split a doubleheader that featured a combined 26 runs scored and 33 hits by the Marlins (14-1 W in G1, 13-12 L in G2). The high-scoring day marked the first time in club history that the Marlins scored 12 or more runs in both halves of a doubleheader. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Marlins became the first team to score at least 12 runs in both games of a DH since the Twins at Baltimore on 9/13/2008. The last team to do that and not win both games was St. Louis at Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 1993 (Cardinals lost the opener, 14–13, before winning the nightcap, 15–2).

HE’S HERE AND HE’S PERFECT
RHP Eury Perez made his second Major League start last Wednesday vs. Washington, earning his first career win after going 5.0 innings in which he held the Nats to 1 run on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts. Became the youngest starter in MLB to win a game since LAD’s Julio Urias at 19 years and 321 days on June 28, 2016. Marks the fourth-youngest pitcher to earn a win in the Majors since 1993, behind SEA’s Felix Hernandez (19 yrs and 123 days on Aug. 9, 2005), Urias, and LAD’s Edwin Jackson (20 yrs and 0 days on Sept. 9, 2003).

• Made his Major League debut on May 12 at 20 years and 27 days, becoming the youngest pitcher in Marlins history. The previous youngest pitcher was Jose Fernandez, who debuted at 20 years and 250 days.
• Became the second youngest player (position / pitcher) to debut with the Marlins in club history, behind only INF Edgar Renteria who debuted at 19 years and 277 days.
• Became the youngest Dominican-born starting pitcher to debut in MLB, and the third-youngest DR-born pitcher (reliever / starter) at the time of his debut behind Elvis Luciano (TOR, 2019, (19 yrs, 44 days) and Jose Rijo (CIN, 194, 18 yrs, 328 days).

GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .383 batting avg. (62×162) and a .436 OBP and ranks 4th with 62 hits. Is tied for 3rd with 18 multi-hit gms. Has struck out 9 times in 179 PA (.050 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualified batters.

• Is the highest avg. through a player’s first 44 gms to start a season since Cody Bellinger’s .404 avg. through his first 44 gms with the Dodgers in 2019. Only Dee Strange-Gordon (70) has more hits for a Marlins player through his first 44 games of a season.
• Is batting a Major League-best .408 (31×76) on the road this season. Has hit safely in 17 of 20 games away from Miami.
• Marks the best start to a stint with a new ballclub through 44 gms since Daniel Murphy’s .389 avg. with the Nationals in 2016 after they signed him as a free agent.
• With two hits last Wednesday, reached the 500-hit plateau, becoming the seventh active player to reach 500 hits within their first 428 career gms. Joined Bo Bichette (407), Mookie Betts (408), Mike Trout (423), Jose Altuve (426), Whit Merrifield (426), and Jose Abreu (428).

CLOSE CALLS
The Marlins have had each of their last nine games decided by two runs or less. Overall, Miami is 15-2 (.882) in games decided by one run, the best such win pct. in the Majors. The second-best mark is Milwaukee (11-8, .727). The 17 one-run contests are tied for the fifth most among Major League teams. Miami went 24-40 in one-run games in 2022.

DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Thus far in 2023, Miami is 23-3 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less and has gone 1-21 when allowing 5 or more runs.

PODER SOLER
DH/OF Jorge Soler has hit safely in 12 of his last 16 games, including 5 multi-hit efforts. Has collected 7 home runs and 17 RBI and is slashing .303/.378/.636 with a 1.014 OPS in this span. Is currently tied for 5th in HR in the NL (12).

• With yesterday’s home run, Soler has now homered in 7 of Luzardo’s 10 starts this season, including 2 multi-HR games. Owns a .500 batting avg. (20×40) in these starts with 9 HR and 21 RBI.
• 8 of his 12 home runs this season have tied the game or given the Marlins the lead.
• Recorded fourth career 4-hit game Sunday and first since Sept. 11, 2019 at Chicago-AL.

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS
The Marlins today selected the contract of OF Jonathan Davis from Triple-A Jacksonville who was acquired via trade yesterday from Detroit in exchange for minor league OF Brady Allen. Davis, 31, has played in 171 career gms in the Majors and has boasted a .985 fielding pct. in over 700.0 innings in center field.

• As corresponding moves, Miami optioned OF Peyton Burdick to Triple-A Jacksonville and transferred RHP Johnny Cueto to the 60-day IL.

TODAY’S STARTER – #37 EURY PEREZ
Eury Rafael Perez will make his first career start on the road tonight at Colorado.

• Earned his first MLB win on Thursday, May 18 vs. the Washington Nationals, becoming the youngest pitcher in Club history to earn a win (20 years, 33 days). Threw 5.0 innings, struck out 6, and allowed only 3 hits and 1 run.
• Made his Major League debut on Friday, May 12 vs. the Reds and became the youngest pitcher in Marlins history and youngest Dominican-born starting pitcher (20 yrs, 27 days). Pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.
• In his debut, recorded 7 strikeouts over 4.2 innings, the second-most for a pitcher in Club history in their debut with Anthony Desclafani (May 14, 2014 at LAD), Scott Olsen (June 25, 2005 at TB), and Dontrelle Willis (May 9, 2003 vs. COL). Falls one behind the club record of 8 set by Jose Fernandez on Apr. 7, 2013 vs. NYM and matched by Dillon Peters on Sept. 1, 2017 vs. PHI.
• Pre-2023 was ranked Miami’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline. Was also named the No. 3 RHP prospect.
• In 6 starts this season with the Blue Wahoos, went 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA (31.0/8 ER), allowing 5 home runs and striking out 42 batters against 9 walks.
• In his last 2 starts with Double-A Pensacola combined to pitch 11.0 innings and allow 2 runs on 4 hits with 20 strikeouts.
• Recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts on April 29, 2022 at Double-A Biloxi.
• His fastball was ranked No. 1 in the Minors by Baseball America.

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

BRING IT IN

• The Colorado Rockies play the second game tonight of a seven-game homestand against the Miami Marlins (May 22-25) and New York Mets (May 26-28) … coming off a brief three-game trip to Texas, where they were swept by the Rangers for the first time.
• The Rockies are in the midst of a stretch of 17 straight games without an off-day from May 19-June 4, their longest stretch without an off day this season.
• Colorado has won four of their last six series since May 2 and five of their last eight series since April 24 … had lost or split each of their first seven series of the season prior to this stretch.
• The Rockies are 12-8 over their last 20 and 14-11 through their last 25 since April 24, a .560 winning percentage that is the fifth-best mark in the NL over that span.

BRING ON MIAMI

• The Rockies have won 12 of their past 15 home games over the Marlins and nine of the last 10 … overall, the Rockies are 107-117 against their fellow expansion team, 68-44 at home.
• In 37 career games against the Fish, Kris Bryant is 36-for-136 with 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs and 29 RBI … is slashing 265/.396/.610 in the match up.

BLUE ARROW

• OF Jurickson Profar holds an active 30-game on-base streak, the longest active streak in the Majors and tied for the second-longest streak in the Majors this season with Xander Bogaerts, trailing Yordan Álvarez (36 games) … slashing .275/.362/.433 through the streak with 17 walks.
• Since May 7, Profar is batting .360 (18-for-50) with seven doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and eight multihit games over this span … has multiple hits in each of his last four games (9-for-19), one shy of tying his career-best multi-hit streak set in 2016 and matched in 2022.
• Last night, Profar recorded two doubles, his third game of the season with multiple extra-base hits … all have come since May 7.

SOMBOR SHUFFLE

• Over his last eight games, rookie outfielder Brenton Doyle has gone 9-for-26 (.346) with seven runs, two doubles, one triple, three home runs, eight RBI and two stolen bases.
• Despite playing in only 23 games, Doyle’s four home runs are tied for sixth-most among NL rookies.
• Has reached base 34 total times and has stolen seven bases, tied for the third-most among all NL rookies and tied for the 12th-most among all NL players.

MAXIE THE MINER

• Catcher Elias Díaz ranks third in the Majors with a .333 batting average and seventh with a .450 batting average (18-for-40) with runners in scoring position.
• Has appeared in 40 games at catcher, tied for the second-most in the Majors … his 10 catcher caught stealing are tied for second in the Majors, while his 44.0 caught stealing percentage ranks second (min. 20 games).

BALL ARENA

• Jake Bird ranks first among Major League relievers with 32.1 innings pitched … his 33 strikeouts are tied for the fifth in the Majors among relief pitchers … has posted a 0.68 ERA (26.2 IP, 2 ER) with nine walks and 29 strikeouts over his last 17 appearances since April 11.
• Brent Suter’s 28.2 innings of relief are fourth in the Majors and are second in the NL behind Bird … his 0.94 ERA (28.2 IP, 3 ER) is the sixth-lowest in the Majors among relievers … it is also the third-lowest through a Rockies pitcher’s first 19 games (min. 10 IP) with the club, trailing John Axford (0.50, 2015) and Chuck McElroy (0.93, 1998).

NUGGETS

• The Rockies are the only team in the Majors to have an undefeated record after seven innings, sitting at 18-0 when leading after seven thus far and 20-0 when leading after eight… alternatively, the Rockies are 0-24 when trailing after seven innings.
• Last night’s victory was the Rockies’ third of the season when getting out-hit by their opponent and their first two-run victory (previously 0-5 in two-run games) … fourth victory of the season when seeing a quality start from their opponent.

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #26 AUSTIN GOMBER LHP
HI, I’M AUSTIN

• Winter Garden, Fla., native is in his 10th professional season, his fifth in the Majors and his third with the Rockies.
• Acquired by Colorado, along with four other players including INF Elehuris Montero in exchange for 3B Nolan Arenado.
• Originally selected by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida Atlantic University.

MOTIVATION

• Has earned the win in three of his last five starts with the Rockies going 4-1 … has allowed 11 runs over 28.0 IP for a 3.54 ERA … nine walks and 17 strikeouts across that span with opponents batting .238 (24-for-101).
• Tossed a quality start on May 12, allowing three runs over a season-high 6.2 innings, striking out six and walking none.
• Was on the losing side of each of his first four starts of the season, the eighth time a Rockies starter has started 0-4 through their first four starts of a season … first since Roy Oswalt (five straight, June 20-Sept.14) and Jeff Manship (four straight, Aug.8-24) in 2013.

HOW THE TURNTABLES…

• Since his first win on April 24, has posted a 3.54 ERA (28.0 IP, 11 ER) while his .238 opponents’ batting average ranks as the 16th-lowest in the National League.
• Over his last five starts, opponents have a .250 batting average on balls in play against the lefty, eighth-best over that span in the National League.
• Also over his last five starts, holding NL hitters to a .300 on-base percentage (15th-best) while his 1.18 WHIP over that span is also the 15th-best in the league.
• His 50.0 ground ball percentage ranks ninth in the NL since April 24.

FISHIES

• Today’s start will be his fifth career appearance and third career start against the Miami Marlins … is 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA (13.2 IP, 6 ER) overall against Miami while going 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA (11.0 IP, 1 ER) with 14 strikeouts as a starter.
• Last faced the Marlins on June 22, 2022 in a relief outing, allowing three runs on three hits over 1.2 innings.
• Last start against Miami came on Aug. 7, 2021, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out a career-high nine batters.

ON YOUR LEFT

• Since joining the Rockies, has held left-handed hitters to a .236/.290/.401 slash line with 11 home runs allowed.
• Held opposing left-handed hitters to a .221 average in 2022 (30-for136), the lowest lefty opponent average by a Rockies left-hander since Kyle Freeland in 2018 (.185) and the ninth-lowest in a single season in franchise history (min. 140 batters faced).

HAPPY HOME VS. ROCKY ROAD

• In 54 career home games (29 starts) with both St. Louis and Colorado, is 12-9 with a 4.89 ERA (188.2 IP, 95 ER).
• Since joining the Rockies, has gone 9-7 with a 4.78 ERA (143.0 IP, 76 ER) at Coors Field with 37 walks and 101 strikeouts … in 2021, went 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA (47.1 IP, 11 ER) in nine starts at home, posting a 0.95 WHIP.
• Since 2020, is 9-7 with a 4.42 ERA (156.2 IP, 77 ER) in 38 games (25
  starts) in his home ballpark … in road games through the same span, is
  8-14 with a 5.67 ERA (150.2 IP, 95 ER) in 40 games (27 starts).
• So far this season, opposing number 2-3-4 hitters are hitting .221 (15-for68) against Gomber, striking out 13 times.
• Conversely, the number one spot in the order is 11-for-24, slashing .458/.500/.750 off the southpaw.