MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight begin a six-game road trip with the first of three games at Texas before heading to Cincinnati for a three-game set Monday-Wednesday. Are coming off a 3-4 homestand after taking two of three from the Tigers and dropping three of four to the Phillies.
- Miami is in the midst of a 13-game stretch without a day off from July 28-Aug. 9.
FISH BYTES
- The Marlins are tied for their 3rd-best start to a season through the club’s first 110 games (58-52, .527), with the 2008 and 2016 teams. The only better starts came in 1997 (64-46, .582) and 2003 (60-50, .545).
- Miami leads the National League with 992 H (2nd in MLB behind Texas), and ranks 3rd in the Majors in batting average (.265), behind only Atlanta (.270) and Texas (.272).
- The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 1,036 strikeouts.
- The Marlins own the National League-lead with 46 games in which the offense has collected 10+ hits, behind only Texas (53) in MLB. In 2022, the Marlins collected 10+ hits in 43 of their 162 games.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series finale to Philadelphia, 4-2. RHP Johnny Cueto allowed all 4 runs in 6.0 innings of work in the losing effort. LF Bryan De La Cruz (2×4) doubled and homered – his 15th of the year. CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2×4) also doubled and drove in a run. The Marlins were 0x4 with runners in scoring position.
NEWBIE
The Marlins tonight are playing their first-ever game at Globe Life Field. Since 2000, have gone 6-8 when playing their first game at a new ballpark as the visiting team. Won their last such game on June 16, 2017 at Atlanta Truist Park (née SunTrust Park), however, have lost four of their last seven such games. Since 2000, also have wins in their debuts at Busch Stadium III, Citizens Bank Park, Great American Ball Park, American Family Park, and Minute Maid Park.
TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
The Marlins are making their first visit to Arlington since July 2017, when Miami took two of three from the Rangers, and just their fifth visit all time. The Marlins are 11-14 vs. the Rangers, but have gone 7-4 in Arlington, winning 5 of their last 7.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Marlins will play 14 of their next 23 games against teams currently in the playoff picture. Of their remaining 52 games, 30 are against teams currently in playoff position (58%).
CLOSE CALLS
The Marlins have had each of their last 5 games decided by two runs or less and 12 of 18 since the All-Star Break. Overall this season, have played 55 games decided by two runs or fewer (tied for 5th most in the Majors). Included is a 24-9 record in one-run games – the highest winning percentage in such games this season (.727).
- Miami played 64 one-run games last year, going 24-40 – the most one-run losses in a season since the 1975 Astros (41).
RING THE BELL
1B Josh Bell has reached base safely in 6 of his first 10 plate appearances since joining the Marlins on Wednesday. He matched a club record with 4 hits in his first game as a Marlin, becoming the 5th player in Marlins history to do so and the first since JB Shuck on April 13, 2018. The 4 hits are a club record for most in a Marlins debut by a player acquired during the season. Matches his career high in hits, done 7 times previously, and the first since April 29, 2022 at SF.
- Hit his 12th home run of the season vs. Philadelphia in his Wednesday debut, a solo shot and the first leg of back-to-back home runs. Bell became the 19th player in franchise history to homer in his first game as a Marlin, first since Jerar Encarnacion on June 19, 2022 at Citi Field, and first to do so at loanDepot park since Nick Fortes on Sept. 18, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh.
SMOOTH JAZZ
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. has hit safely in 11 consecutive games, matching his career-high hitting streak (also April 26 – May 8, 2022). Is hitting .341 (15×44) with 9 runs, 4 doubles, 5 home runs, 9 RBI, 2 walks, and 1 stolen base dating back to May 12 with 2 IL stints in between. Has an extra-base hit in 9 of the 11 contests.
SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 6th in the National League (t-8th in MLB) with 26 home runs. 15 of his 26 home runs (58%) have either given the Marlins a lead or tied the game.
- In 917 career ABs post-ASB, Soler has 66 HR (13.9 AB/HR). In 1,849 ABs pre-ASB, Soler has 86 career HR (21.5 AB/HR).
TODAY’S STARTER – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 23rd start of the season today. Marks his third career start (fifth app.) against the Texas Rangers.
- In 7 Interleague starts this season, has gone 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA (38.1/16) and 46 strikeouts.
- Last faced Texas on August 24, 2020 at Globe Life Field (w/ Athletics). Set a career high at the time with 6.2 innings, allowing 3 runs (1 home run) on 7 hits and 2 walks. Matched career high with 7 strikeouts.
- In his most recent start on July 30 vs. Detroit, allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 4.2 innings. Struck out 3.
- His 147 strikeouts in 22 starts lead all Marlins’ pitchers; ranks sixth among NL pitchers and 13th in MLB.
- 12 of his starts this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters and is tied for the third-most among left-handed pitchers in MLB (last, July 23 vs. Colorado).
- Has struck out at least 8 batters in 9 starts this season; tied for second-most among NL pitchers this season.
- His 10.6 SO/9 ranks second among left-handed NL starters (min. 100 IP).
- Is 4-2 this season at loanDepot park with a 2.64 ERA (78.1/23) in 13 starts and 4-3 with a 4.63 ERA (46.2/24) in 9 starts away. Is 14-12 in his career with a 3.82 ERA (230.2/98) in 40 starts (47 apps.) at home and 7-11 with a 4.75 ERA (161.0/85) in 27 starts (36 apps.) away.
- Left-handed batters are hitting .192 (19×99) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with only 1 home run and a .521 OPS while right-handed batters are hitting .252 (94×373) with 12 home runs and an .745 OPS.
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas beat the White Sox yesterday, 5-3, and club has a 3-0 record to begin this 6-game homestand vs. CWS (3-0) and MIA (3 G)…TEX has won 3 straight after a 3-G losing streak, and has still lost 5 of 9 and 7 of 12 since a season-high 6-G win streak (7/14-19) out of the break, club’s longest since going 6-0, 6/22-28/19…team is 11-7 (.611) to start the 2nd “half”, 3rd-best in the A.L…TEX is 12-9 in last 21, 13-13 in last 26 G, and 14-15 in last 29 G… team is 23-26 (.469) beg. 6/7, a stretch which came after club reached season high point at 20-over on 6/6 (40-20)…team’s 49-35 (.583) record since 4/28 is still 2nd-best in A.L. and 5thbest in MLB over that span (ATL: .650, 52-28; LAD: .605, 49- 32; BAL: .595, 50-34; SF: .588, 50-35; TEX: .583, 49-35)… TEX is 53-40 in last 93 G and 58-42 last 100 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 63-46 (.578), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in the A.L. and 5th-best in MLB (ATL: .651, 69-37; BAL: .615, 67-42; TB: .595, 66-45; LAD: .579, 62-45)…63 wins rank 3rd in A.L. and 4th-most in MLB (69-ATL, 67-BAL, 66-TB, 63-TEX).
- The 63-46 mark is the T4th-best 109-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
STANDINGS: Texas owns a 1.5-game lead in A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU, club’s largest lead since being 2.0 GA after loss last Fri. at SD…TEX has lost 3.0 G on the lead in last 12 G since 7/19 (4.5 GA)…held leads of 2.0+ G in the division for 63 consecutive days from 5/23-7/24…TEX was 4.5 GA on 7/18-19, which was largest advantage since 7/1 (5.0 GA)… season-best 6.5-G lead in West after win 6/23 at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place for 89 straight, 96 of 97, and 109 of the last 111 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 125 of the season’s first 126 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: This week’s series sweep vs. CWS (3-0) snapped span of 3 straight series losses, which matched longest drought in ’23 (0-3-0 to finish 1st half’)…was also TEX’s 7th time to win all games of a series in 2023, 1st since 7/17- 19 vs. TB (3-0)…club is now 3-3-0 in series since break… club is now 3-6-0 in last 9 series and 3-7-1 in last 11 series… TEX is 5-9-1 in last 15 series following a season-best 6-0- 0 span from 5/19-6/7…is 20-13-2 overall in series this year, going 11-5-2 at home and 9-8-0 on the road…team is 16-10-2 in last 28 series and 19-11-2 in last 32.
AT HOME: TEX is 37-20 (.649) at home, T2nd-best in MLB: TB (.661, 37-19), ATL (.649, 37-20)…marks TEX’s best 57-G start at home since 2016 (37-20)…club has won 4 straight and 10 of last 12 G at home and owns a 15-7 mark in Arlington beg. 6/17…has won 18 of 30, 23 of 35, 27 of 42, and 32 of last 50 at GLF (beg. 4/11)…TEX owns a 123-126 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 43-27 last 70 G beg. 9/11/22.
VS. MIAMI: The 3-G series marks the only scheduled meeting between the Rangers and Marlins in 2023…also Miami’s first ever visit of Globe Life Field (regular or postseason), one of 6 teams that has still never played an official game at this facility (also CHC/CIN/MIL/PIT/NYM)…Texas went 2-1 vs. Marlins last year in Miami, all games that were rescheduled as a result of the season being pushed back…prior to last year, clubs had not met since 2017, which was the last Fish visit to Arlington (TEX lost 2 of 3, including last game by a 22-10 score)…TEX is 14-11 all-time vs. MIA, but is 4-7 at home.
SOX STOPPED: The Rangers pitching staff combined to hold the White Sox to the following totals over this week’s 3-game series at Globe Life Field: 16 H, 4 R-ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 42 SO…according to STATS LLC, it was the 1st instance in baseball’s Modern Era (beg. 1901) in which a team was limited to 16-or-fewer hits, 4-or-fewer runs, 3-or-fewer walks, and 42-or-more strikeouts over the course of a 3-game series…a few additional notes from Texas’ historically-dominant pitching performance this week:
- It was just the second time in MLB history in which a team’s pitching staff compiled those totals over any 3-game span, joining the Washington Nationals from 6/6-8/17 vs. LAD (2 G) and BAL (1 G): 11 H, 4 R-2 ER, 3 BB, 43 SO.
- Just the third 3-game series in the Modern Era (beg. 1901) in which a club issued 3-or-fewer BB while tallying 42+ SO… the others, both done by Tampa Bay, came from 8/16-18/19 vs. DET (49 SO, 3 BB) and 8/8-10/14 at CHC (44 SO, 2 BB).
- 42 strikeouts were the Rangers’ 2nd-most ever in a 3-game set (43, 3/31-4/3/13 at HOU), and T3rd-most by any MLB club in a 3-game series this season (45-TOR from 4/28-30 vs. SEA, 43-MIA from 7/21-23 vs. COL).
HI MAX: After being acquired by the Rangers via trade with the New York Mets on Sunday, Max Scherzer earned the win and posted a quality start in his Texas debut yesterday vs. CWS (W, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB, 9 SO, 105 pitches/70 strikes)…his 9 strikeouts were one shy of matching his season high (10 on 6/7 at ATL w/ NYM) and the most by any pitcher in a Ranger debut since Jamie Moyer on 4/8/89 vs. TOR (13 SO)…he also became just the 2nd pitcher in WSH/TEX franchise history to post a quality start (6.0+ IP, 3-or-fewer ER), earn a win, and punch out 9+ batters in his club debut, joining fellow “3,000 Strikeout Club” member Fergie Jenkins on 4/6/74 vs. OAK (W, 9.0 IP, 0 R, 10 SO).
- At 39 years, 7 days old at the time of yesterday’s start, Scherzer became the oldest Texas pitcher record 9+ strikeouts in a single outing since Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan on 8/6/92 vs. OAK (12 SO; 45 years, 188 days old).
LONG GONE: Mitch Garver hit a game-tying, 457-foot solo HR in the 5th-inning yesterday…per Statcast, it was the longest HR by a Ranger this season (prev. 448 ft. by Adolis García on 7/26 at HOU) and longest of Garver’s career (prev. 447 ft. on 4/8/22 at TOR)…it was also the farthest-hit HR by a Texas catcher in the Statcast Era (beg. 2015), surpassing a 456-ft. shot by Robinson Chirinos on 7/20/18 vs. CLE.
SIMMY SHOT: Marcus Semien yesterday extended his active 11-G on-base streak with a walk (3rd inn.) and go-ahead solo HR (4th inn.)…his team-high 6 HR since the All-Star break are T5th-most in the A.L. and 2 more than any other Ranger (4-Seager)…Semien is batting .324/.397/.588/.986 (22-68) over 18 G in the 2nd “half”, and his 18 runs over that span are 2nd-most in the A.L. to only Shohei Ohtani (21).
THE “VOICE” RETURNS: Tonight will mark the return of Hall of Fame broadcaster Eric Nadel to the air on the Texas Rangers radio network…Nadel has missed the entire 2023 season while addressing mental health issues with his last broadcast being the final game of the 2022 regular season on October 5 vs. the New York Yankees…in his 45th season as a Rangers’ announcer, Nadel will resume the lead play-by-play duties working with Matt Hicks and Jared Sandler on the team’s radio broadcasts.
TRANSACTION: RHP Joe Barlow was acquired by the Kansas City Royals today via waiver claim…he was designated For assignment by Texas on July 30.
SCORING CHANGE: Following review, Major League Baseball has changed a passed ball charged to C Mitch Garver in the 8th inning of yesterday’s game to a wild pitch, which will be charged to LHP Aroldis Chapman.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #52 Jordan Montgomery, LHP (6-9, 3.42)
TONIGHT: The 30-year-old left-hander is scheduled to make his Rangers debut in tonight’s series opener against the Marlins…he was acquired in a Sunday trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, along with RHP Chris Stratton and international bonus pool money, in exchange for LHP John King, INF/OF Tommy Saggese, and RHP T.K. Roby…will be pitching for just the 3rd different team in his MLB career, also the Yankees (2017-22) and Cardinals (2022-23)…Montomgery has gone 6-9 with a 3.42 ERA (46 ER/121.0 IP) in 21 G/GS for STL this season, posting 108 SO with 35 BB allowed…at time of the trade, ranked among N.L. leaders in quality starts (T7th, 12), ERA (9th, 3.42), HR/9 (10th, 0.89), opp. GIDP per 9 (11th, 0.97), and WHIP (17th, 1.25)…is 0-2, 6.00 (8 ER/12.0 IP) his last 2 starts with 6 BB/7 SO, but has gone 4-3, 2.47 (18 ER/65.2 IP) with 56 SO/19 BB, a .224 opp. BA, and just 5 HR allowed over his last 11 starts beg. 5/28…his 2.47 ERA since 5/28 is 6th-lowest among MLB qualifiers in that span…acquired by STL from NYY on 8/2/22 in exchange for outfielder Harrison Bader…the Sumter, South Carolina native finished sixth in the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the Topps MLB All-Star Rookie Team after leading the A.L. in starts (29), strikeouts (144), and innings (155.1) that season…selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft out of the U. of South Carolina, Montgomery owns a 34-32 record with a 3.77 ERA (288 ER/687.1 IP) in 130 G/129 GS across seven MLB seasons with New York-AL (2017-22) and St. Louis (2022-23).
LAST START: Last pitched last Fri. vs. CHC (L, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R-ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR, 100 pitches), taking loss in Cardinals’ 3-2 defeat…held a 2-0 lead thru 4 innings, then gave up a single run in the 5th (Patrick Wisdom solo HR) and 2 R in the 6th…lost each of his last 2 starts with the Cardinals, both against the Cubs.
VS. MIAMI: Has no record despite a 1.54 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) over 2 career games/starts against the Marlins…will be facing the Fish for the 2nd time in a span of 4 starts, as he took ND in Cardinals’ 5-2, 10-inning win on 7/18 at Busch Staduim (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 92 pitches)…exited with the game tied 1-1 through 6 innings…lone run allowed came on a Luis Arraez sac fly in the 5th inning…recorded 15-or-fewer pitches in 5 of his 6 innings of work (22-pitch 2nd frame)…the outing was his 1st in 10 days, as he had left previous start (7/7 at CWS) with right hamstring tightness.
IN ARLINGTON: His only career outing in Arlington came at Globe Life Park in Arlington on 9/10/17 w/ NYY (ND, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R-ER), as this will be his 1st career appearance at Globe Life Field…that 2017 start came toward the end of his rookie campaign, as he took ND in an eventual 16-7 Yankees win.
WITH ST. LOUIS: Went 12-12 with a 3.31 ERA (68 ER/184.2 IP) over 32 G/GS with St. Louis after being acquired from the Yankees in a trade on 8/2/22 in exchange for OF Harrison Bader…during his time with STL, led the staff in wins and strikeouts (169), posting easily the lowest ERA among any of the 8 Cardinals with 65+ IP in that span…his 184.2 IP ranked 2nd to only Miles Mikolas (197.1)…St. Louis won 10-of-his-first-13 starts as a Cardinal, but went 5-14 over his last 19.
- STL was shut out in 3 of his 1st 4 losses in 2023, and dropped each of 10 consecutive starts by Montgomery from 4/13-6/3…Montgomery was 0-7 in that span (4/13-6/3), longest losing streak of his career.
- Went 7 consecutive starts (4/13-5/16) with 3-or-fewer runs of support, including 3 starts with no support (4/13, 4/24, 4/29).
- Opened start 7/2 vs. NYY with 5.2 no-hit innings, longest span to open a start in his career.
VS. LEFTIES: Has 2 walks against LH batters in the past 2 seasons, and they each came in his final starts for NYY and STL…issued a walk to Cubs’ Cody Bellinger in the 4th inning of his most recent start last Fri. vs. CHC…it was his only walk to a left-handed batter in his Cardinals career (32 starts), as he had not issued a free pass to a LHB since 7/31/22 vs. KC (Vinnie Pasquantino in 5th inning)…it was his final start as a Yankee.
- LHB have slashed .220/.260/.323/.583 with 11 HR, 19 BB/117 SO in his career. 2023: Opponents are batting .250 (116-464), with a .292 BA from LHB and a .242 BA from RHB…leftties have never batted higher than .250 in any season in his MLB career…has gone 3-0, 2.41 (9 ER/33.2 IP) over 6 starts against A.L. clubs this season…BA by time through the order: 1st (.249), 2nd (.236), 3rd (.276), 4th (0-1)…finished June ranking among N.L. leaders in ERA (7th, 1.71) and opp. BA (12th, .212)…won 3 straight decisions to end June…
