MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight begin a three-game series at St. Louis. Is the second stop on a six-game road trip that opened in Baltimore as the Marlins suffered a three-game sweep. Following this series, the Marlins return home for an off day on Thursday followed by a three-game weekend series against the Rockies before they head back out on the road.
FISH BYTES
- The Marlins are off to their second-best start to a season through the club’s first 95 gms.
- Miami is tied w/ LAD for the second-most wins in NL, behind Atlanta (61); t-5th most in MLB.
- Miami ranks fourth in MLB with a .264 AVG trailing only Texas (.275), Atlanta (.270), and Boston (.265). Ranked 27th last year.
WINNING WAYS
Miami sits at 11 G over .500, three games shy of their season-high mark. This year is just the third season the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 at any point (also ’97 – finished 22 games over; and ’03 – finished 20 games over).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series finale in Baltimore, 5-4. LHP Steven Okert served as an opener, making his first career start and allowing 3 runs while recording only 1 out. Marlins pitching didn’t allow an earned run the rest of the game. The Marlins scored all 4 runs in the ninth, including a two-run double by 3B Jean Segura (1×4). CF Dane Myers went 3×3 in the contest. 2B Luis Arraez (0x5) went hitless in 5 AB for just the 3rd time this season.
THE ZEUS IS LOOSE
LHP Jesus Luzardo has held opponents to 2 runs or less in each of his last 5 starts and 9 of his last 12 outings. His 129 strikeouts this season have set a career high (previously, 120 K in 2022) and are tied for 4th-most among National League pitchers. Only San Diego’s Blake Snell (139 K) has fanned more batters among Major League left-handed pitchers.
FISH IN THE LOU
The Marlins took 3 of 4 from the Cardinals in their visit to loanDepot park last month. Need just one win in this set to secure their first winning season series against the Cardinals since 2016. Are 46-61 all-time in St. Louis, including a 21-29 mark at the current stadium, and are looking for their first series win here since 2018.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .380 AVG (130×342), .431 OBP, and 130 hits. Has struck out just 20x in 376 PA, a .053 K/PA, the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers. Is hitting .456 (31×68) with RISP, also the best mark among qualifiers.
- Marks the most hits and highest avg. by a Marlins player through his first 89 gms of a season.
- His 36 multi-hit games are tied for 2nd most in MLB. Has a Major League-most 13 games of at least 3 hits. Owns 6 games with at least 4 hits this year, most in the Majors and most ever by a Marlins player in a single season.
- Is one of only 4 batters since 1990 to hit .380 or higher through his team’s first 95 games of a season, joining Nomar Garciaparra (.400, 2000), Larry Walker (.404, 1997), Tony Gwynn (.398 in 1997) and John Olerud (.397 in 1993).
THE ONEDERS
Miami has suffered one-run losses in each of their last two contests, the first time this season they have lost back-to-back one-run games. Are still an MLB-best 21-8 in games decided by one run this season, including a 13-1 mark (.929) in one-run games played at loanDepot park.
- Miami played 64 games decided by one run last year, going 24-40 and recording the most one-run losses in a season since the 1975 Astros (41).
SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 5th in the NL with 24 home runs this season (tied for 7th in the Majors). His 23 homers before the break marked the most home runs by a Marlins player prior to the All-Star break since 2017 – Marcell Ozuna (23) and Giancarlo Stanton (26). Mike Lowell owns the club record for most home runs before the All-Star break, with 28 in 2003.
- 13 of his 24 homers (54%) have tied the game or given the Marlins the lead. Has hit 15 HR on the road in 2023, tied for third-most in MLB behind Shohei Ohtani (17) and Pete Alonso (16).
GOLDEN GLOVES
Marlins infielders have combined for a .989 fielding position in 2023, committing just 21 errors in 1,838 total chances. Marks the 2nd-best fielding pct. by an infield in the Majors behind the Padres (.991).
ON THE MOUND
The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 888 strikeouts. Miami starters combined to strike out 509 batters in the first half, the most in club history prior to the All-Star Break. Relievers combined to strike out 359 batters, good for the second-most prior to the Break in club history (365 in 2018).
- Marlins starters have combined to limit opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs 39 times – only San Diego (40) and Tampa Bay (50) have recorded more such starts in 2023.
ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
OF Dane Myers (who was taken by the Marlins in the minor league phase of the 2022 Rule 5 Draft) has reached base safely in 7 of his first 9 career games with 5 multi-hit contests, batting .406 (13×32) with 6 runs, 2 doubles, 1 HR, and 8 RBI. Matches the club record for most hits by a Marlins player in his first 9 career games.
WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
- This Friday at loanDepot park: HEAT Celebration Night – the special ticket package is available at Marlins.com/HEAT and features an exclusive limited edition, co-branded Marlins-HEAT shirt, with a portion of the proceeds – $3.05 – from each sale benefitting the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund; and Flashback Friday (info below).
- Saturday: Nicaraguan Heritage Celebration with a first pitch by UM basketball player and Nicaraguan native Norchad Omier.
- Sunday: The first 8,000 fans can complete their summer wardrobe with the Marlins tropical shirt, presented by Goya.
WHEN MIGGY COMES TO TOWN
The Marlins will celebrate the legacy of Miguel Cabrera – originally signed by the Marlins in 1999 out of Maracay, Venezuela – during the Tigers’ visit to loanDepot park July 28-30. The club will don their 1993 teal pinstripe throwback uniforms as part of the 2023 Flashback Friday series, and there will be a special pre-game ceremony that Friday (July 28) for Miggy. Fans should arrive early with ceremonies expected to start at 6:15 p.m.
TODAY’S STARTER – #44 JESUS LUXARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 20th start of the 2023 season and third career start against the St. Louis Cardinals today.
- Last faced St. Louis on July 4 at loanDepot park. Earned the win, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks over 6.0 scoreless innings. Struck out 8. Marked his third consecutive scoreless outing.
- In his most recent start on July 9 vs. Philadelphia, allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk over 6.1 innings with 9 strikeouts. Had thrown 26.1 scoreless innings prior to allowing a 2-run homer in the fifth inning, marking the longest such streak by a Marlins pitcher this season.
- His 129 strikeouts leads the Marlins starting staff; tied for fourth among NL pitchers and tied for 10th in MLB.
- 11 of his 19 outings this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters and is tied for the second-most among left-handed pitchers in all of MLB (behind only HOU’s Framber Valdez – 13)
- Has 8 starts of 8+ strikeouts; tied for the second-most among NL pitchers this season.
- Is 4-2 this season at loanDepot park with a 2.43 ERA (66.2/18) in 11 starts and 4-3 with a 4.64 ERA (42.2/22) in 8 starts away. Is 14-12 in his career with a 3.82 ERA (219.0/93) in 38 starts (45 apps.) at home and 7-11 with a 4.76 ERA (157.0/83) in 26 starts (35 apps.) away.
- Left-handed batters are hitting .193 (17×88) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with only 1 home run and a .512 OPS while right-handed batters are hitting .249 (80×321) with 11 home runs and an .744 OPS.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and visiting Miami Marlins play the opener of a three-game series tonight at Busch Stadium as the Cardinals continue their six-game homestand … St. Louis took two-of-three from the Nationals this weekend to clinch its first season series win (4-2 record) against an NL team (3-0 at Boston; 2-1 vs. Yankees; 2-1 vs. Toronto), while also marking consecutive series wins at home (July 1-3 vs. Yankees) for the first time since May 15-21 vs. the Brewers and Dodgers.
FLIGHT PATTERN: Winners of five of their last seven (July 6-present), the Cardinals enter today in last place in the National League Central, 11.5 games behind 1st place Milwaukee and 1.0 game back of 4th place Pittsburgh (41- 52) … St. Louis has spent 79 of 106 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1995 when they were 38-55 (.409) after 93 games.
TEPERA JOINS CARDINALS: The Cardinals today signed free agent RHP Ryan Tepera, and designated LHP Génesis Cabrera for assignment … Tepera (pronounced tuh-PAIR-uh) will be active for tonight’s series opener with Miami and will wear uniform no. 38 … The 35-year-old reliever famously received an MVP vote following the 2020 pandemic-shortened season by the late St. Louis Post-Dispatch Hall of Fame writer Rick Hummel due to a clerical error, after fashioning a 0-1 mark and 3.92 ERA that season with the Cubs.
FISH FRY: The Cardinals’ all-time .600 winning percentage (129-86) against the Marlins (1993-present) is their 3rd-best against any opponent (since 1901) behind the Diamondbacks (.615, 104-65) and Royals (.607, 74-48) … Only the Braves (.604, 308-202) have a better win pct. over Miami since the Fish joined MLB as an expansion team in 1993.
WELCOME TO THE CARDINALS: The Cardinals today agreed to terms with the following 2023 MLB draft picks & undrafted free agents: OF Travis Honeyman (3rd), RHP Jacob Odle (14th), RHP Tyler Bradt (16th), C Graysen Tarlow (19th), and 1B Ross Friedrick (NDFA) … The complete list can be located on the left.
FAST BREAKS: The Cardinals best starts coming out of the All-Star break include an eight-game win streak in 1935 and a seven-gamer in 2010 … Their best 10-game mark coming out of the break was 9-1 in 1935 … Most recently, the 2015 Cardinals raced out to a 8-2 start after the break, while the 2022 Redbirds stumbled out of the gate 1-3 before winning nine of their next 10 games. (Elias)
MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN THAT TEA?: Willson Contreras has been on a tear since his final game in London in which he went 4-for-4 … Since June 25, Contreras leads MLB in batting average (.514, 19-37) and OBP (.600) while ranking 2nd in OPS (1.519) and slugging (.919) … Contreras has an extra-base hit in six straight games (3 HR & 4 2B) since July 3, MLB’s longest active extra-base streak.
SUPERIOR SECOND HALVES: The Cardinals 925-669 (.580 win pct.) won-loss mark post All-Star break since 2000 is 2nd in MLB only to the New York Yankees (949-662, .589) … The Cardinals best post All-Star mark this century was a 51-24 (.680) run in 2004 … St. Louis has sported a winning record after the All-Star break in 19 of 22 seasons since 2000, including a 43-25 record last season (.632) that ranked 5th-best in MLB.
OUCH: The Cardinals have been hit 30 times since June 1, 2nd-most in Major League Baseball over that time period to the Mets (32).
NOOT NEWS: Lars Nootbaar has hit safely in a career-best 10 consecutive games (.293/.370/.439, 11-18) since July 3, tying Milwaukee’s William Contreras for MLB’s 2n -longest active hit streak to Boston’s Justin Turner (12) … Nootbaar has also reached base safely in 13 straight since July 1, two shy of his career best 15 in a row from last season.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP MILES MIKOLAS (5-5, 4.12)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Games Started (20, T-1st), Innings Pitched (115.2, 7th), Hits Allowed (123, 2nd), Walks/9 IP (1.87, 6th), HR/9 IP (0.78, 6th).
- The 2022 N.L. All-Star & team’s Opening Day starter for 2023 is making his team-high 21st start of 2023, 164th career appearance & 136th career start.
- Coming back on two days rest after throwing 3.0 perfect innings on Fri. (7/14) vs. WSH in a game that was suspended by weather. He threw 34 pitches in that game.
- Snapped his four-game losing skid (one shy of career high) with his 50th career win on 7/8 at CWS. It was his 1st road win since 5/25 at Cincinnati.
- Has crossed the 100.0 innings threshold for the 4th time in his ML career. Leads the Cardinals in innings pitched (115.2) and is ranked 3rd on the team in wins (5).
- Has the 2nd-lowest MLB per game run support avg. (3.35), with Kyle Freeland (COL, 3.06) as the lowest. Has received no more than three runs of support in 16 of His 20 starts this season, including one run while on the mound in his first four June starts, losing 2-1, 8-4, 6-1 and 3-0.
- Has allowed 18 of his 54 runs in the 1st inning (8.10 ERA, .371 BA); His ERA after the opening inning is 3.29 (35 ER/95.2 IP).
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2018, Mikolas ranks 1st in MLB (min. 700 IP) in fewest walks (135) ahead of Clayton Kreshaw (146). His 1.63 walks/9 IP are 2nd to Zack Greinke (1.61) for the fewest.
- Hasn’t committed an error since 8/2/18 vs. COL. One of two pitchers (Erick Fedde) with 100+ total chances and zero errors since 8/3/18. Ranks 8th among MLB pitchers in fielding pct. (.987) since 2018. (min. 100 TC). Was one of 10 MLB pitchers and two Cardinals (Wainwright) with a perfect 1.000 fielding pct. (31 total chances) in 2022.
- Ranks 2nd behind only Adam Wainwright (2,619.0 IP) in most career innings pitched (838.2) among active Cardinals.
- Ranks 4th among all-time Busch Std. III leaders in ERA (2.92; min. 300 IP), T-9th in all-time wins (21) & 8th in innings pitched (376.0).
LAST TIME OUT
- Was perfect thru 3.0 IP, striking out two before rain halted the game in bottom of the 3rd inning. Game was suspended & resumed on Sat. (7/15) with Cardinals losing in 10.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/14 WSH L 7-5 (10) — 3.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 34-23
2023
- Posted his 1st win since 5/30 vs. KC with 3-0 win (his 50th career) on 7/8 at the Chicago White Sox. It was his 1st road win since 5/25 at CIN & his 7th Quality Start of 2023.
- Suffered 3-0 loss to Washington at Nationals Park on 6/21, losing his 4th-straight decision in the month of June. Played in a steady rain much of the afternoon, the game took just 2:12 to complete and came on heels of his 2:01 outing in loss to the Mets on 6/16.
- Did not allow more than three runs in 10 starts (4/16-6/4) with a 4-0 record, 2.24 ERA over 60.1 innings pitched.
- Had both his season-best 4-game win streak and season-best 16.0 scoreless innings streak snapped in his start at PIT (6/4) in the Sunday morning Peacock game.
- Finished May 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts, ranking among MLB leaders in innings pitched (38.0, 2nd), ERA (5th), and wins (T-7th).
