MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight play the final game of a three-game series in Boston. Wraps up the first stop of a six-game road trip that continues with a three-game set in Atlanta this weekend. Are coming off a 4-3 homestand vs. TOR (1-2) and PIT (3-1).
- At 47-34, have the third-best record in the National League and sixth-best in Baseball.
- Miami is off to its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 81 games in franchise history, behind the 1997 World Series team (48-33).
- Have won 4 straight, 5 of 6, and 18 of their last 24.
- The Marlins are 22-18 on the road, winning 5 straight and 11 of their last 14 games outside Miami. On the season, the club has won 7 of 13 road series, including 4 of the last 5.
WINNING WAYS
At a season-high 13 gms over .500, marks just the fourth season the Marlins have been at least 13 gms over .500 (also 1997, 2003, 2009). Have not been more gms over .500 since the end of the 2003 Championship season (finished 20 gms over).
SWEEPING SENSATIONS
The Marlins today are looking to complete their seventh sweep of the season (only swept 4 series last year). A win today would clinch their third sweep on the road in 2023 (also LAA, May 26-28, and WAS, June 16-18). Would be Miami’s second sweep against Boston – also Aug. 11-12, 2015 (2-G set).
HEY, JUNE
With an 18-7 record in June, Miami has matched their most wins ever for the month of June (18-7 in 2006). The 18 wins this month are tied for the third-most for any month in franchise history, trailing May 2012 (21 wins) and August 1997 (19).
- Only Atlanta (19) has won more games this month.
- The starting rotation has posted a 2.64 ERA this month, the 2nd-best mark in MLB, leads the Majors with a 0.92 WHIP this month, and ranks second with 154 strikeouts (matching their club record for June). On offense, the Marlins’ .272 batting average is the 4th-highest in the Majors.
- LHP Braxton Garrett finished June 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA, walking just 3 batters while striking out 38 in 5 starts with a 0.78 WHIP. The only two Marlins players to finish the month of June with a lower WHIP (min. 25.0 IP) were Jose Fernandez in 2016 (0.70) and Brad Penny in 2001 (0.73).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami won their fourth straight game, defeating Boston, 6-2. Scored 3 runs in the 6th following a 1 hr, 13 minute rain delay to break a 1-1 tie. 1B Garrett Cooper (1×3) hit a solo home run and scored twice. 3B Jean Segura (1×4) drove in a pair of runs in the sixth. CF Jazz Chisholm (1×4) added a solo homer. LHP Braxton Garrett earned his fourth win, holding the Red Sox to 1 run in 5.0 innings, allowing just 4 baserunners (3 hits, 1 walk).
JOEY BATS
SS Joey Wendle has hit safely in 9 of his last 11 games with a plate appearance, going 15×39 (.385). Is batting .365 (27×74) in the month of June after entering the month with a .170 AVG (9×53).
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins are batting .263 this season, the third-highest mark by an NL club in 2023. Marks the club’s highest batting average prior to the All-Star break since 2017 (.269). Have recorded 33 games this season with 10+ hits, the second-most such games in the NL, trailing only Atlanta (36).
- Since losing 10-1 to the Padres on June 1 at loanDepot park, the Marlins have outscored opponents 122-70 (+52).
BRAX ATTACKS
LHP Braxton Garrett leads the National League with 10 starts in which he has allowed 1 or 0 ER. The Marlins are now 12-3 in Garrett’s starts this year, including 6 consecutive victories.
ARMS RACE
Marlins starters have combined to limit opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs 35 times – most by any NL starting staff in 2023.
- Marlins starters have held opponents to just 21 runs in the first inning this season, the fewest in MLB.
HOLD ‘EM DOWN
Marlins pitching has held opponents to 3 earned runs or less in each of the last 6 gms, Matches their longest such streak of the season (also April 12-18). Over the stretch, Marlins starters have combined to allow just 3 ER over 37.0 IP of work – a 0.73 ERA.
BOSTON BLUES
The Marlins can complete their first-ever three-game sweep in Boston today after entering the series on a 10-game losing streak at Fenway Park. Had not won a game in Boston since June 18, 2009. Miami is 8-19 all-time in Beantown, trailing the overall series, 15-31.
- The Marlins are 19-7 (.7231) in Interleague play this year, the highest such winning pct. among MLB teams.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .396 AVG (114×288), .447 OBP, and 114 hits. Has struck out just 16x in 318 PA (.050 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers. • His .396 AVG is the highest through a player’s first 75 gms in club history. Is highest by any Major Leaguer through a team’s first 81 gms of a season since Nomar Garciaparra in 2000 (.396).
- Matches Dee Gordon (2015) for most hits by a Marlin through a player’s first 75 gms of a season.
- Has hit safely in his last 11 games (his second double-digit hit streak in 2023). Is batting .489 (23×47) with 2 HR and a 1.167 OPS over the stretch dating back to June 16 at WAS.
- Leads MLB with 33 multi-hit gms – his most ever before the All-Star break and three games shy of the club record held by Miguel Cabrera (2006). His MLB-most five 4-hit games are tied with Hanley Ramirez (2007) for the most in a season in Marlins history. His three 5-hit games are the most in a single season in Marlins history.
BABY GOAT
RHP Eury Perez has not allowed a run over his last three starts and is currently riding a 21.0-inning scoreless stretch. Has allowed just 1 ER over his last six starts (33.0 IP), holding opponents scoreless in five of the six starts.
- His 1.34 ERA is the lowest in club history through a player’s first 9 career starts. LHP Dontrelle Willis previously held the record, with a 2.38 ERA in his first 9 starts in 2003. Perez’s 1.34 ERA is the 3rd lowest in the Expansion Era (since 1961) through 9 career starts, trailing Fernando Valenzuela (0.91) and Steve Rogers (1.20).
- His 1.34 ERA is the second-lowest for a pitcher his age or younger (20 yrs, 71 days) through their first 9 career starts since 1913, when ERA became an official MLB stat, trailing only Jack Bentley’s 1.27 ERA from 1913-14 (credit: Elias).
PITCHING ZEROS
LHP Andrew Nardi leads the Marlins bullpen with his 32 outings in which he has allowed 0 ER, most such outings among all NL relievers and tied with Emmanuel Clase for second-most behind Toronto’s Tim Mayza (34).
TODAY’S STARTER – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 17th start of the 2023 season and first career start against the Boston Red Sox today.
- In his most recent start on June 23 vs. Pittsburgh, tossed 7.0 innings and allowed 0 runs on 2 hits for his eighth quality start of the year. Struck out 9 batters and walked just 1.
- 8 of 16 outings this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters (last, June 23 vs. Pittsburgh).
- His 103 strikeouts in his first 16 starts lead all Marlins’ pitchers; ranks ninth among NL starters.
- Has 5 starts of 8+ strikeouts; tied for seventh-most among NL pitchers this season.
- Held streak of 17 consecutive starts with 5+ strikeouts from Sept. 16, 2022 to June 6, 2023 before striking out just 3 batters at Seattle on June 12. Streak is the fifth-longest in MLB since 2022.
- Has allowed 3 or fewer runs in 12 of 16 starts; tied for first among Marlins starters (w/ Braxton Garrett).
- Is 2-2 this season at loanDepot park with a 2.65 ERA (54.1 IP/16 ER) in 9 starts and 4-3 with a 5.45 ERA (36.1 IP/22 ER) in 7 starts away.
- Is 12-12 in his career with a 3.96 ERA (206.2 IP/91 ER) in 36 starts (43 apps.) at home and 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA (150.2 IP/83 ER) in 25 starts (34 apps.) away.
- Left-handed batters are hitting .181 (13×72) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with only 1 home run and a .495 OPS while right-handed batters are hitting .265 (72×272) with 10 home runs and an .789 OPS.
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have lost each of their last 4 games and 6 of their last 7, following a 6-game winning streak from 6/14-20…They’re 7-6 in their last 13 games. At 40-41 (.494), Boston entered today tied with Cleveland for MLB’s 16th-best record. The Sox have fallen below .500 for the first time since 6/14…They entered that day 34-35 and defeated NYY to begin a 6-game winning streak.
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox are 8-13 in their last 21 games at Fenway Park, after going 13-7 in their first 20. The Sox have recorded 8+ hits in each of their last 8 home games, their 2nd-longest streak of 2023 (10 games, 4/20-5/13)…They have 31 XBH in those 8 games.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Red Sox have lost the 3-game series vs. MIA, falling to 13-11-2 in series play (7-6-0 at home). The Sox are 2-5 in their last 7 home series, beginning 5/12-14 vs. STL, after going 5-1 in their first 6.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Red Sox are 4-5-1 in Interleague series this year…They’ve lost all 5 home series vs. NL teams, going 2-12 in those games (0-3 vs. PIT, 0-3 vs. STL, 1-2 vs. CIN, 1-2 vs. COL, 0-2 vs. MIA). The Red Sox are 299-212 (.585) all time in Interleague play, but 11-17 (.393) this season (2-12 home, 9-5 road). They lead MLB in all-time Interleague wins and own the 2nd-best record (NYY: 293-206, .587).
OFF TO SEA: Red Sox Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kiyoshi Momose has been selected to manage the American League’s strength and conditioning duties for
the 2023 All-Star Game.
HALFWAY THERE: Last night was the Red Sox’ 81st game out of 162, marking the halfway point of the 2023 season. They own a record below .500 through 81 games for the 1st time since 2015 (37-44). The Red Sox have posted the same record through 81 games as 3 teams that went on to win the World Series: the 2021 Atlanta Braves, 2003 Florida Marlins, and 1964 St. Louis Cardinals.
SOX & FISH: The Red Sox are 31-15 (.674) all time against the Marlins, their 2nd-best winning percentage against any team (15-5 vs. CIN; .750). The Sox have lost back-to-back games vs. MIA, following a 10-game winning streak vs. MIA at Fenway Park which began in 2012…Prior to this series, the Sox hadn’t lost to the Marlins at home since the Florida Marlins won here on 6/19/2009. The Sox are 16-6 (.762) vs. MIA since the start of 2012…They’ve won 9 of their last 12 games vs. MIA.
TOUGH TEST: The current 3-game series vs. MIA is the first of 3 consecutive series for Boston against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better (also
games at TOR and 3 games vs. TEX). Following the Sox’ 3-game series vs. TEX from 7/4-6, 8 of their 11 series from 7/7-8/17 are against teams that entered today with a record below .500. The Red Sox have played 47 games against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better, tied with CWS for 2nd most in MLB (OAK-57). The Sox are 24-23 (.511) in those games, the 4thbest record in the AL and 7th best in MLB…Their 24 wins are tied with NYY for most in MLB.
TO THE LEFT: A left-handed pitcher will start against the Red Sox today for the 3rd time in their last 4 games (also Last night vs. MIA and Sunday at CWS). Prior to Sunday, the Sox had only faced 2 left-handed starters in their last 28 games, beginning 5/26 (McClanahan on 6/5 vs. TB and Gomber on 6/14 vs. COL). The Sox have lost 4 of their last 5 games against lefthanded starters, after going 12-5 in their first 17. Left-handers are 5-9 with a 5.99 ERA (61 ER/91.2 IP) in 22 starts against Boston this season.
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Red Sox rank 4th in the AL and 12th in MLB in SB% (81.0%, 51-for-63)…In 2022, they ranked 22nd in MLB with a 72.2 SB% (52-for-72). 15 players have stolen a base for the Red Sox this season, matching their total from 2022 and tying CIN and LAD for 3rd most in MLB (MIA and PIT-16 each).
PITCHING IN: In their last 7 games, since 6/20, opponents are batting .301 (74-for-246) with 15 HR against the Red Sox…In their previous 7 games, from 6/11-19, the Sox led MLB with a .199 opponent AVG (54-for-272) and allowed just 3 HR.
SLUGGING SOX: In their last 6 games, the Red Sox are batting .193 (38-for-197) with 11 runs scored (1.8 R/game) and 9 XBH (1.5 XBH/game)…In their previous 9 games, they led the AL with a .313 AVG (90-for-288) and 60 runs scored (6.7 R/game), while recording 39 XBH (4.3 XBH/game). The Sox are 8-for-43 (.186 AVG) with runners in scoring position over their last 7 games, after going 23-for-59 (.390) with RISP in their previous 5.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 66 BRAYAN BELLO – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 5-4 3.27 12 12 66.0 24 7 21 62 1.27 .247
CAREER 7-12 3.94 25 23 123.1 54 8 48 117 1.51 .280
Is facing the Marlins for the 1st time in his career. Earned his 5th win of the season Friday at CWS after allowing 1 run over 6.2 IP. The Red Sox have won 8 of his 12 starts this season, including each of his last 3. Has a 2.45 ERA in his last 10 starts (16 ER/58.2 IP)…Prior to Bello, the most recent Red Sox to post a sub-2.50 ERA in a 10-start span before turning 25 years old were Jon Lester, Aaron Sele, Roger Clemens, and Dennis Eckersley. Has allowed 0 HR in his last 5 starts and in his last 32.2 IP. Has tossed 6.0+ innings in each of his last 4 starts (7.0+ in 2 of his last 3). In his MLB career, opponents are 21-for-118 (.178) with 0 HR against his changeup (12-for-60 with 25 SO in 2023).
