MLB Preview: Miami Marlins (58-55) at Cincinnati Reds (59-55)

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MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:

MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight play the first game of a three-game series at Cincinnati. Is the second stop on their current six-game road trip which opened with the Marlins getting swept in a three-game set in Texas. Following this series, return home for an off day on Thursday followed by a six-game homestand against the Yankees (3G) and Astros (3G).

  • Miami is in the midst of a 13-game stretch without a day off from July 28-Aug. 9.
  • Miami has dropped 13 of its last 14 road games.

FISH BYTES

  • The Marlins are off to one of their best starts to a season through the club’s first 113 games (58-55, .513). The only better starts came in 1997 (66-47, .584), 2003 (62-51, .549), 2016, 2009, 2008 (60-53, .531) and 2005 (59-54, .522).
  • Miami leads the National League with 1,015 hits (2nd in MLB behind Texas), and ranks 3rd in the Majors in batting average (.264), behind only Atlanta (.270) and Texas (.272).
  • The Marlins are tied with St. Louis and Atlanta for the National League-lead with 47 games in which the offense has collected 10+ hits, behind only Texas (54) in MLB. In 2022, the Marlins collected 10+ hits just 43 times.
  • The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 1,068 strikeouts (3rd most in Majors).

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami suffered their 8th shutout of the season, 6-0, at Globe Life Field in Texas. RHP Sandy Alcantara allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 3 home runs in 6.0 innings of work with no walks and 7 strikeouts. 1B Yuli Gurriel (2×3) recorded Miami’s lone multi-hit effort, including a double. Marlins batters went 0x6 with runners in scoring position.

FALSE STARTS
The Marlins are 14-22 in the 1st game of series in 2023, dropping the last 5 such contests on the road and 9 of the last 12 overall.

QUEEN CITY GAMBIT
The Marlins have dropped 9 of their last 11 games at Great American Ball Park and own a 24-39 all-time record at this ballpark. Have gone 98-128 all-time vs. the Reds with a 43-71 mark all-time in Cincinnati.

DUCKS ON THE POND
The Marlins are batting just .185 with runners in scoring position since the All-Star Break, including a .127 (7×55) mark in August. Batted .266 with RISP prior to the break, which was 4th-highest in the National League.

HE’S BACK
RHP Eury Perez was recalled prior to tonight’s game, returning to the Majors for the first time since July 6 vs. St. Louis, when he held the Cardinals to 1 run in 6.0 innings. Was optioned to Double-A Pensacola on July 7. Made two starts with the Blue Wahoos – a start of 2.1 innings on July 26 and a 3.0-inning start on Aug. 1.

  • Made his MLB debut on May 12 vs. Cincinnati, holding the Reds to 2 runs in 4.2 innings with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.

JOHNNY BEISBOL
Wednesday’s starter RHP Johnny Cueto was originally signed by the Reds as an international free agent in March 2004. Made his Major League debut on April 3, 2008 vs. Arizona at GABP. Went on to pitch 8 seasons with Cincinnati, going 92- 63 with a 3.21 ERA, including an All-Star selection in 2014 when he was a runner up for the NL Cy Young Award.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Of Miami’s remaining 49 games, 27 are against teams currently in playoff position (55%).

CLOSE CALLS
The Marlins have had 13 of their 21 games since the All-Star Break decided by two runs or less. Overall this season, have played 57 games decided by two runs or fewer (3rd most in the NL). Included is a 24-10 record in one-run games – the highest winning percentage in such games this season (.706).

  • 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 all 5 games (6×19, 4 walks) since joining the Marlins. Matched a club record with a career high-tying 4 hits in his first game as a Marlin last Wednesday vs. Philadelphia, 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.

  • 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.

SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler is tied for 6th in the National League (t-9th 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 927 career ABs post-ASB, Soler has 66 HR (14.04 AB/HR). In 1,849 ABs pre-ASB, has 86 career HR (21.5 AB/HR).

LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .375 AVG (157×419) and 157 hits. Marks the most hits and highest AVG by a Marlin through his first 107 games of a season. Is hitting .458 (38×83) with RISP, also the best mark among qualifiers.

  • Recorded his 600th career hit in Saturday’s loss at Texas. Came in his 495th game. Became just the 6th player in the last 20 years to record 600 hits prior to playing his 500th game, joining: Bo Bichette, Jose Altuve, Ryan Braun, Dustin Pedroia, and Hanley Ramirez.
  • His 45 multi-hit games are tied for 2nd-most in MLB. Has a Major League-most 16 games of at least 3 hits. Owns 6 games with at least 4 hits this year, most in the
    Majors and most by a Marlins player in a single season.
  • Since 1990, is one of only 6 players to carry a .375 AVG or better through his team’s first 113 games of the season, and the first since Nomar Garciaparra (.392) in 2000.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #39 EURY PEREZ

  • Eury Rafael Perez, 20, will make his 12th career start today and his second against Cincinnati. Marks the first time he will face an opponent twice.
  • Recalled from Double-A Pensacola prior to today’s game. Last started in the Majors on July 6 vs. St. Louis. Tossed 6.0 innings and allowed 1 run on 3 hits (1 home run) with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.
  • Was optioned to Double-A Pensacola on July 7. Made 2 starts with the Blue Wahoos – a start of 2.1 innings on July 26 and a 3.0-inning start on Aug. 1.
  • Made his Major League debut on May 12 vs. Cincinnati 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 first 11 Major League starts, posted a 2.36 ERA (53.1/14) with 17 walks and 61 strikeouts, going 5-3.
  • Among rookie pitchers in MLB with at least 50.0 innings pitched prior to the All-Star Break, Perez posted the lowest ERA (2.36), ranked 2nd with his 1.09 WHIP, and was tied for 3rd in wins (5).
  • Had a 21.0-inning scoreless streak before allowing 6 runs at Atlanta on July 1. Allowed just 1 ER in 6 starts (33.0 IP) from May 28 to June 25, holding opponents scoreless in 5 of the 6 starts.
  • Earned his first MLB win on Thursday, May 18 vs. Washington, 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.

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TRANSACTIONS

  • The Reds recalled from Louisville RHP Brett Kennedy (#66) and optioned to Louisville RHP Lyon Richardson.
  • Kennedy was on the Reds’ roster on 7/4 & 7/5…started and earned the 8-4 win on 7/4 at Wsh in his only Major League appearance since 2018 (5+ip, 5h, 4er, 2bb, 3k).
  • RHP Casey Legumina, who since 6/21 has been on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder pain, has been returned from a rehabilitation assignment, reinstated from the IL and optioned to Louisville.

TONIGHT’S GAME

  • Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Skip Schumaker’s Marlins, Game 4 (0-3) of a 6-game homestand (0-3 vs Wsh, 0-0 vs Mia) and Game 4 (0-3) of a stretch in which the Reds will play at Great American Ball Park in 11 of the 14 games (0-3 vs Wsh, 0-0 vs Mia, 3g at Pit, 2g vs Cle, 3g vs Tor).

SERIES NOTES

  • The Reds and Marlins are meeting for the second time this season, including a 2-1 series win by the Reds in May at loanDepot park.
  • The Reds went 15-6 vs Mia over the previous 3 seasons (6-1 in 2019, 5-2 in 2021, 4-3 in 2022) following 4 straight losing season series to the Marlins.
  • Between the 2014 and 2019 winning season series, the Reds went 10-18 vs Mia (3-4, 3-4, 2-5, 2-5).
  • Marlins manager Skip Schumaker made 214 apps for the Reds during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

SERIES NOTES

  • The Reds are 2-5 vs Pit this season, both series in April and including 2-1 at Great American Ball Park and 0-4 at PNC Park.
  • From 4/20-4/23 the Reds were swept in a 4-game series at PNC Park for the first time since April 2019.
  • The Reds are 14-33 at Pit’s PNC Park the last 6 seasons, including an 11-game losing streak spanning 2018-2019 and an 8-game losing streak there to begin the 2019 season…are 0-4 there this year.
  • The 2-0 loss on 4/23 at Pit was the Reds’ 100th loss at PNC Park.

BIG ROAD MACHINE

  • Beginning 5/26, the Reds are 24-11 over their last 5 road trips covering 11 road series.
  • The Reds won 8 of their previous 11 road series, including a streak of 7 straight road series wins snapped by the Brewers in the last series before the All-Star Game break…also lost at Mil in the first road series of the second half.
  • From 5/26-7/6, the Reds won at least 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history (3-0 at Cubs, 2-1 at Bos, 2-1 at StL, 3-0 at KC, 3-0 at Hou, 2-1 at Bal, 4-0 at Wsh)…won 8 straight road series in 1923 (7/2-8/25) and 1976 (6/25-8/12)…courtesy @EliasSports.

RUNNING MEN

  • The Reds lead the Major Leagues with 127 stolen bases, their highest total since 2016 (139sb)…in 2022, the Reds recorded 58 steals…are trying to lead the National League in SB for the first time since 2015 (134sb).
  • The Reds recorded 50 stolen bases in June, their highest steals total in a calendar month since September 1912 (53sb).
  • 5 times this season recorded at least 5 stolen bases in a game (6sb on 6/2 vs Mil, 9sb on 6/3 vs Mil, 5sb on 6/25 at Bal, 6sb on Tue at Wsh, 5sb on 7/8 at Mil)…prior to 6/2, the Reds hadn’t recorded 5 stolen bases in a game since 4/10/17 at Pit.
  • Their 9 stolen bases on 6/3 vs Mil (Jake Fraley 3, Spencer Steer 2, Jonathan India 2, Will Benson, Stuart Fairchild) was their highest single-game total since 5/30/1976 vs LAD (9sb)…the Reds’ single-game record since 1900 for stolen bases in a game remains 10 (5/29/1913 at StL).
  • With Elvis Peguero pitching, Elly De La Cruz on 7/8 at Mil became only the fourth Reds batter ever to steal second, third and home in the same inning (Hans Lobert 9/27/1908, Dode Paskert 5/23/1910, Greasy Neale

8/15/1919)…became the first Major League batter to steal second, third and home in the same inning since Mia’s Jon Berti did it on 8/25/2020 at NYM…became the first Reds batter with a straight steal of home since Brandon Phillips did it on 7/10/2009 at NYM.

RED HOTS

  • 13 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season, the most in the Major Leagues (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher, RHP Randy Wynne, RHP Jake Wong, IF Christian EncarnacionStrand, RHP Lyon Richardson)…17 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
  • The Reds have used 54 players…RHP Michael Mariot was on the roster for 1 day (7/8) but did not appear in a game…in 2022, the Reds used a club record 66 players.
  • The Reds are the first team in Major League history to move into first place alone in 9 games or fewer after falling 5 or more games under .500 while facing a deficit of at least 5 games…on 6/9 were 29-35 and trailed the first-place Pirates by 5.0 games…beginning 6/10 won 9 straight games to move into first place alone on 6/19…courtesy @OptaSTATS and @EliasSports.
  • The Reds’ 12-game winning streak from 6/10-6/23 tied their modern club record (5/16-5/27, 1939 & 4/30-5/12, 1957).
  • The Reds went 18-9 in June, their highest victory total in any month since June 2014 (18-10).
  • From 6/14-7/8 Reds batters established a new franchise record for consecutive games with at least 1 home run (22g, 45hr), a streak snapped in the 1-0 loss at Mil in the final game heading into the All-Star Game break…the 1956 Reds held the team record by homering in 21 consecutive games.

Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP

  • Tonight is making his 15th career appearance and start, his first vs the Marlins.
  • In his last 6 starts beginning 7/1 went 2-1, 3.60 (30ip, 23h, 12er, 12bb, 26k, .221baa).
  • 2 of his starts were shortened by rain and a third appearance was suspended & completed the next day.
  • In the top of the third inning on 6/26 at Bal did not return after a 1 hour, 44-minute rain delay.
  • On 7/6 at Wsh, remained in the game following a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay in the top of the second inning.
  • On 7/17 vs SF, the game was suspended with the score tied at 2-2 with 1 out in the eighth inning (completed the next day, 4-2 loss in 10 innings).
  • Twice picked runners off second base, KC’s Bobby Witt Jr. (PO/CS 145) and SD’s Fernando Tatis Jr. (PO/CS 165).
  • On 6/26 at Bal walked his second batter, Adley Rutschman, to snap at 10.0 his consecutive innings streak without issuing a walk.
  • On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19.
  • Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k).
  • Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari).