MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today open a three-game set at Washington, the final stop on a 3-city, 9-game, 11-day road trip. The first stop of the road trip saw Miami take 2 of 3 against the White Sox. The Marlins then traveled to Seattle, where the club dropped 2 of 3. Following this road trip, Miami returns home for a 7-game homestand, with 3 games against the Toronto Blue Jays (June 19-21) and 4 games against the Pittsburgh Pirates (June 22-24).
FISH BYTES
- In games following an off-day, the Marlins are 2-5 this season.
- Miami is 17-18 on the road, winning 6 of the last 9 road games; on the season, the club has won 5 of 11 road series, including the two prior to this Seattle series (swept the Angels in a 3-game series and took 2 of 3 vs. White Sox).
- The Marlins have won 11 of their last 13 games at loanDepot park; lead the NL with 21 home wins this season.
UP THE RANKS
At 38-31, Miami has its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 69 games in club history. See chart to right for the top starts in Marlins history.
- The Marlins currently own the fourth-best record in the NL, behind only the Braves, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers.
WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins escaped with a 4-1 win over Seattle on Wednesday, with a game-saving catch by RF Jesús Sanchez who robbed 3B Eugenio Suarez of a game-tying grand slam in the 9th inning. RHP Eury Perez tossed a career-high 6.0 innings, holding the Mariners scoreless, with just 2 hits and 1 walk, to pick up his 4th win of the season. Miami took the early lead on a wild pitch in the 3rd inning, added a solo home run by DH Jorge Soler in the 6th, and 2 runs in the 8th with an RBI double by C Nick Fortes and an RBI single by CF Jonathan Davis.
BABY GOAT
RHP Eury Perez is sporting a 1.80 ERA (35.0 IP/7 ER) through his first 7 career starts, setting a club record for lowest mark in that span. RHP Josh Beckett previously held the record, with a 2.38 ERA (41.2/11) in his first 7 starts in 2001. The last MLB pitcher to record an ERA lower than 1.80 in his first 7 career starts was Chris Paddack in 2019 with San Diego.
- Among qualified NL rookie pitchers this season, Perez owns the lowest ERA and ranks second in wins (4), behind NYM’s Kodai Senga (6).
- At 20 years and 60 days old, Perez became the fourth-youngest pitcher to post a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 7 career starts, behind Felix Hernandez (19-150, 1.59 ERA, 2005), Frank Shellenback (19-188, 1.65 ERA, 1918), and Jack Bentley (19-196, 1.08 ERA, 1913-14).
3-0-LESS
In his last outing on Wednesday at Seattle, RHP Eury Perez tossed a career-best 6.0 innings with 0 runs, 2 hits and 1 walk. In his first 7 career starts, Perez has limited opponents to 3 or fewer earned runs in each outing, becoming just the sixth pitcher in club history to do so. The last pitcher to do so in club history was Zach Thompson from June 7 – August 4, 2021, when he set the franchise mark with 9 consecutive starts of 3 earned runs or fewer.
TURNING 20
With a solo home run on Wednesday at Seattle, DH/OF Jorge Soler now has 20 home runs this season, becoming the 10th Marlins player (14th occurrence) to hit 20-or-more by the All-Star break. The last time a Marlins player reached the 20 home run mark in the first half was 2017, when Justin Bour (20), Marcell Ozuna (23), and Giancarlo Stanton (26) accomplished the feat. Mike Lowell owns the club record for most home runs before the All-Star break, with 28 in 2003.
- Soler ranks 3rd in MLB in home runs, trailing NYM’s Pete Alonso (22) and LAA’s Shohei Ohtani (22).
DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Thus far in 2023, Miami is 33-4 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less, the second-best mark in MLB, behind only Arizona (29-2). The Marlins have gone 5-27 when allowing 5 or more runs.
PRESIDENTIAL RUN
The Marlins make their first visit of the season to the nation’s capital, having gone 8-2 at Nationals Park in 2022. Miami recorded 2 series sweeps at Washington last season – a 3-game sweep from April 26-28, and a 4-game sweep from July 1-4. In the first meeting between the clubs this season, the Marlins swept the Nationals in a 3-game set at loanDepot park on May 16-18.
THE CAPITAL ACE
After starting his career with a 1-6 record in 7 starts vs. Washington, RHP Sandy Alcantara has gone 5-0 in 6 starts against the Nationals, dating back to September 13, 2021, with Miami winning each of the 6 games. Over that span, Alcantara owns a 0.75 ERA (48.0 IP/4 ER) vs. the Nats, with 41 strikeouts and 6 walks. He has gone 8.0+ innings in 5 of the 6 outings, with 2 9-inning performances, and one complete game (Sept. 18, 2022 at Washington).
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .378 AVG (91×241), .431 OBP, and ranks 3rd with 91 hits. Also tied for 1st with 28 multi-hit games and tied for 5th with 8 games of 3+ hits. Has struck out just 15 times in 267 PA (.056 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- Arraez is 1 of 12 non-U.S.-born MLB players all-time to post a batting average of .378 or higher through the first 64 games (in which the player registered at least 1 AB) of a season and the first since Albert Pujols in 2003 (.379).
- His .378 AVG marks the highest through a player’s first 64 games in Marlins history. The second-highest mark was set by Dee Strange-Gordon (.356) when he won the NL Batting Title in 2015 and Luis Castillo (.356) in 2000.
- Arraez recorded just 144 strikeouts in his first 450 career games since his debut in 2019. There have been only two players to debut since 1980 to strike out fewer than Arraez within their first 450 career games – Scott Bradley (110) and Terry Francona (119).
- Arraez has gone hitless in 4 consecutive games for the first time since August 21-23, 2022. Had not gone hitless in more than 3 games since Aug. 25-30, 2021 when he failed to record a hit in 5 consecutive contests.
LEFTY LOVE
- LHP Andrew Nardi has not allowed an earned run in his last 18 outings (May 2 to present), the longest such active streak in MLB. He owns a 0.84 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in this span. His 32 relief appearances on the year are tied with two others for most in the Majors.
- LHP Tanner Scott ranks tied for 3rd among NL relievers with 45 strikeouts. Led the Marlins ‘pen with 90 strikeouts in 2022. Has held opponents scoreless in last 15 apps. (14.2 innings). Marks his longest career scoreless innings streak (previously, 9.1 IP from 8/26-9/18/20).
- LHP A.J. Puk, who missed 21 games with left elbow nerve irritation, has made 4 appearances without an ER since returning from IL, with 1 save. Prior to his injury, Puk had 19 strikeouts in 14.2 innings and 6 saves for Miami.
- LHP Steven Okert owns 3-0 mark and 0.98 ERA (18.1 IP/2 ER) over his last 20 outings dating back to May 2, with a 0.71 WHP and 28
strikeouts.
TODAY’S STARTER – #22 SANDY ALACANTARA
- The reigning NL Cy Young Sandy Alcantara will make his 14th career start against the Washington Nationals today. Will mark his 14th start of the season.
- In last outing vs. WSH on Sept. 24, 2022, tossed 8.0 innings and struck out 11 Nationals’ hitters, marking his sixth double-digit strikeout effort of the season and held them to just 1 run on 3 hits. Had faced the Nationals in his prior start as well (Sept. 18) – threw a 103-pitch complete game in which he allowed 1 run on 7 hits with 7 strikeouts.
- In 5 starts last season against Washington, allowed just 4 runs over 40.0 innings (0.90 ERA) with 1 CG and 34 SO.
- In his most recent start on Saturday, June 10 at CWS, went 7.0 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits with 4 strikeouts. Marked the fifth time in 13 starts this season he has gone at least 7.0 innings, tied for the 3rd-most such starts in the National League behind SF’s Logan Webb (7) and Alex Cobb (6).
- Has 791.0 IP w/ Marlins (7th on Marlins all-time list behind A. Sánchez – 794.1). Needs 9 IP to become just the sixth player with 800+ innings pitched as a Marlin. Has 123 starts with the Marlins; ranks 8th on Marlins all-time GS list behind A.J. Burnett – 131.
- Through 13 starts in 2022 pitched to a 6-2 record, with a 1.68 ERA (91.1/17), 82 SO, and 4 HR. Through 13 starts in 2023 has a 2-5 record, with a 4.75 ERA (83.1/44), 71 SO, and 7 HR.
- Since the start of the 2022 season, has gone 6-7 with a 3.49 ERA (144.1 IP/56 ER) and 129 strikeouts in 22 starts away, while posting a 10-7 record with a 2.47 ERA (167.2 IP/46 ER) with 149 strikeouts in 23 starts at home.
- Alcantara’s fourth career shutout on April 4th marked 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).
WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
WELCOME HOME
The Washington Nationals open a seven-game homestand on Friday night against the Miami Marlins…Following this three-game series, the Nationals will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals for three games and the Arizona Diamondbacks for one game – the make-up of the postponed June 8 contest.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
The Nationals beat the Astros, 4-1, on Thursday in their first extra-innings contest of the 2023 season…Keibert Ruiz’s solo home run in the ninth inning broke the scoreless tie…The Nationals went on to score three runs in the 10th inning to pull away…MacKenzie Gore tossed 5.2 scoreless innings while Carl Edwards Jr. earned his second save of the season.
- The Nationals were the last team in Major League Baseball to play an extra-inning game and according to Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports), the 67 games before an extra-inning game is the fourth-most games into a season a team has played its first extra-inning game since 1901, behind only the 2005 Red Sox (99), 2002 White Sox (70) and 2023 Rockies (68).
- The three runs scored in the 10th inning on Thursday were the most by the Nationals in an extra-inning since September 1, 2022 vs. Oakland (4 runs; 10th inn.).
ROSTER MOVE
The Nationals returned from rehab and reinstated outfielder Victor Robles from the 10-day Injured List and optioned outfielder Alex Call to Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
- Robles, 26, hit .292 with four doubles, a triple, eight RBI, 10 walks, 13 runs and eight stolen bases in 31 games this season before he was placed on the Injured List with back spasms on May 8…While making his way back from the injury, he reached base in all four rehab games he played in for Triple-A Rochester. Robles went 4-for-7 (.571) with a double, two home runs, five RBI, a walk and five runs scored in his final two games for the Red Wings.
MAY AND EVERYTHING AFTER
Lane Thomas is hitting .301/.345/.558 with 11 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 21 RBI, 10 walks, four stolen bases and 31 runs scored since May 1.
- He ranks in the National League in hits (5th, 49) and slugging percentage (10th, .558) since May 1.
- All of his nine team-leading home runs have come since May 1.
- On defense, Thomas has recorded six outfield assists, tied for the most among National League outfielders.
WE WANT CANDY!
Jeimer Candelario ranks tied for first among National League third basemen in wins above replacement (1.8) and is tied for third among with three defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.com.
- He also ranks tied for second among NL third baseman with 17 doubles.
ON-BASE MACHINE
Joey Meneses has reached safely in 28 of his last 31 games, hitting .333/.393/.447 with nine doubles, one triple, one homer, 22 RBI, 12 walks and 17 runs scored during the stretch.
- Meneses ranks in the National League in average with runners in scoring position (3rd, .438), hits (6th, 77) and batting average (7th, .297).
- Meneses is hitting .511 (23-for-45) against right-handed pitchers with runners in scoring position, the best mark in Major League Baseball ahead of Toronto’s Marcus Semien (.457).
CHECKIN’ IN ON THE ‘PEN
A few of Washington’s relievers find themselves among the best in baseball:
- Carl Edwards Jr. is tied for second in the National League with 13 holds.
- Hunter Harvey ranks tied for ninth in the National League with 11 holds.
- Kyle Finnegan ranks sixth in the National League with 11 saves.
STARTING PITCHER – #32 TREVOR WILLIAMS
Veteran right-handed starter signed a two-year contract with the Nationals in Dec. 2022…From 2018-21, Williams was exclusively a starter, but he transitioned to a versatile swingman in 2021 and 2022…He is 35-41 with a 4.33 ERA in 118 career starts and 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 41 relief outings…Was a second-round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2013 but was traded to Pittsburgh in 2015 while pitching in the Arizona Fall League.
LAST START
Allowed two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts, one walk and one home run in 5.0 innings on June 11 at Atlanta…His six strikeouts tied a season-high (June 4 vs. Philadelphia).
vs. MIAMI
Faced the Marlins once this season and allowed three earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts, one walk and one home run over 6.0 innings…He took the loss in a 5-3 defeat at Miami on May 18 at IoanDepot Park.
THE OLD NUMBER ONE
Williams’ four-seam fastball ranks fifth among all Major League four-seamers (min. 150 PA) with a .232 opponents’ average and seventh with a .330 wOBA.
HOME SWEET HOME
Williams has pitched to a 3.72 ERA (12 ER/29.0 IP) in six home starts…He has tossed at least 5.0 innings in five of the six outings.
STRONG START
Williams opened the 2023 season going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (8 ER/21.1 IP) with 13 strikeouts and just four walks in his first four starts of the season…After allowing four earned runs on April 27 at New York (NL), he tossed 5.1 innings of four-hit, shutout ball on May 2 vs. Chicago (NL).
