MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the final game of a three-game series at Cincinnati. Wraps up their six-game road trip which opened with the Marlins getting swept in a three-game set in Texas. Following today’s game, return home for an off day on Thursday and then a six-game homestand against the Yankees (3G) and Astros (3G).
- Today’s game wraps up a stretch of 13 straight days with games for Miami from July 28-Aug. 9. Will have a stretch of 16 straight games without a day off from Sept. 5-20.
- Miami has dropped 14 of its last 16 road games.
FISH BYTES
- The Marlins are off to one of their best starts to a season through the club’s first 115 games (59-56, .513). The only better starts came in 1997 (67-48, .583), 2003 (63-52, .548), 2009, 2008 (61-54, .530), and 2016 (60-55, .522).
- Miami is tied with Atlanta for most hits by a National League team with 1,027 hits (3rd in MLB behind Texas and Toronto), and ranks 3rd in the Majors in batting average (.262), behind only Atlanta (.271) and Texas (.272).
- The Marlins own 47 games in which the offense has collected 10+ hits, tied with St. Louis for 3rd-most in MLB behind Texas (55) and Atlanta (49). In 2022, the Marlins collected 10+ hits just 43 times.
- The Marlins pitching staff leads the National League with 1,089 strikeouts (2nd most in Majors behind MIN-1,101).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami picked up a 3-2 win at Cincinnati. DH Jorge Soler (3×3) reached base four times and hit a go-ahead 2-run home run in the 7th inning. 3B Jake Burger (1×4) doubled and scored. LHP Braxton Garrett held the Reds to 2 runs in 6.0 innings with no walks and 3 strikeouts. RHP David Robertson earned the save with a scoreless 9th.
SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 5th in the National League (8th in MLB) with 28 home runs. 17 of his 28 home runs (61%) have either tied the game or given the Marlins a lead. Last night’s game-winning home run was his Major League-leading 6th this season in the 7th inning or later that has tied the game or given Miami the lead.
- Is looking to become the 13th player in franchise history to reach the 30-homer plateau in a season, first since Stanton and Ozuna in 2017.
- In 934 career ABs post-ASB, Soler has 68 HR (13.7 AB/HR). In 1,849 ABs pre-ASB, Soler has 86 career HR (21.5 AB/HR).
WRAP IT UP
The Marlins are 21-14 in the third game of a series this season – their best mark for any game of a series.
QUEEN CITY GAMBIT
The Marlins today look to win their first series at this ballpark since 2018. Have dropped 10 of their last 13 games at Great American Ball Park and own a 25-40 all-time record at this ballpark. Have gone 99-129 all-time vs. the Reds with a 44-72 mark all-time in Cincinnati.
DUCKS ON THE POND
The Marlins are batting just .184 (36×196) with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break, including a .134 (9×67) mark in August. Batted .266 with RISP prior to the break, which was 4th-highest in the National League.
CUETO BACK
Today’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.
RING THE BELL
1B Josh Bell has reached base safely in all 7 games (8×27, 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. 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 debut last Wednesday, 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.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .370 AVG (157×424) and 157 hits. Marks the most hits and highest AVG by a Marlin through his first 109 games of a season. Is hitting .447 (38×85) with RISP, also the best mark among qualifiers.
- Recorded his 600th career hit in Saturday’s loss at Texas. Came in his 495th gm – just the 6th player in the last 20 yrs to record 600 hits prior to playing his 500th gm, joining: Bo Bichette, Jose Altuve, Ryan Braun, Dustin Pedroia, and Hanley Ramirez.
- His 45 multi-hit games are 3rd-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 .370 AVG or better through his team’s first 115 games of the season, and the first since Nomar Garciaparra (.392) in 2000.
CLOSE CALLS
The Marlins have had 14 of their 23 games since the All-Star Break decided by two runs or less. Overall this season, have played 58 games decided by two runs or fewer (3rd most in NL). Included is a 25-10 record in 1-run games – the highest winning pct. in such games this season (.714).
- Miami played 64 one-run games last year, going 24-40 – the most one-run losses in a season since the 1975 Astros (41).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #47 JOHNNY CUETO
- Johnny Cueto, 37, will make his fifth start (sixth app.) of the season today. Will mark his sixth career start against the Cincinnati Reds.
- Pitched 8 seasons with Cincinnati, going 92-63 with a 3.21 ERA (1339.0/477), including an NL All-Star selection in 2014 when he was a runner up for the NL Cy Young Award.
- Ranks 3rd all-time in innings pitched at Great American Ball Park (656.1), and ranks 1st with a 2.96 ERA and and 1.089 WHIP (min. 300.0 IP).
- Last faced Cincinnati on May 20, 2021 at Great American Ball Park (w/ San Francisco). Earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts.
- In his most recent start on August 3 vs. Philadelphia, allowed 4 runs on 5 hits (1 home run) and 2 walks over 6.0 innings. Struck out 4. Marked his third consecutive outing of at least 6.0 innings.
- Missed 87 games from April 4 – July 10 on the Injured List with right biceps tightness. Suffered a setback on May 6 with a right ankle sprain.
- Career, RHB vs. Cueto: .246 AVG (1070×4350), .301 OBP, .692 OPS. LHB vs. Cueto: .245 AVG (974×3971), .312 OBP, .706 OPS.
- His 143 wins rank 6th among active MLB pitchers. Also ranks 6th among active MLB pitchers with 357 games started (behind Adam Wainwright – 404)
CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME
- Is Game 3 (1-1) of a 3-game series vs Chamiel Caceres’ Marlins, Game 6 (1-4) of a 6-game homestand (0-3 vs Wsh, 1-1 vs Mia) and Game 6 (1- 4) of a stretch in which the Reds will play at Great American Ball Park in 11 of 14 games (0-3 vs Wsh, 1-1 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.
PIRATES UP NEXT
- 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 lost 3 of their last 4 road series (1-2 at Mil, 1-2 at Mil, 2-1 at LAD, 1-3 at Chc) but have won 8 of their last 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.
- Went 8-1 on their road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (3-0)…for only the second time ever, won 8 games on a road trip of 9 games or fewer (8-0, 9/21-9/27, 1964)…was their first road trip of any length with at least 8 wins since 5/28-6/9, 1999 (9-3)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- The 10-3 loss on 6/26 at Bal snapped the Reds’ 8-game road winning streak, tied for the second-longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
- The Reds’ 27 road wins (27-20) was their highest total prior to the All-Star Game break since 1999 (29-13).
RUNNING MEN
- The Reds lead the Major Leagues with 130 stolen bases (TB 2nd, 121sb), their highest total since 2016 (139sb)…in 2022, the Reds recorded 58 steals…are trying to lead the National League in stolen bases 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.
- 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.
Today’s Pitcher – #51 Graham Ashcraft, RHP
- This afternoon is making his fourth career appearance and start vs the Marlins, his second this season.
- In his first 6 starts through 5/2 went 2-0, 2.00 (.202baa).
- In his first 3 starts (19ip, 3er) became the eighth Reds pitcher, since 1901 and including Nick Lodolo in 2023, to begin a season with at least 17.0 innings while allowing 4 earned runs or fewer.
- Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a non-COVID season with 3 consecutive quality starts since Amir Garrett in 2017 (3qs).
- Became the first Reds pitcher to begin a season with 6 starts without allowing more than 2 earned runs in any of those starts since Luis Castillo began the
2019 campaign by allowing 2 ER or fewer in each of his first 7 starts. - In his next 8 apps from 5/7-6/24 went 1-6, 12.82 (.386baa).
- In the 17-4 loss on 5/7 vs WSox allowed a career-high 8 runs in 1.2 innings…was the shortest start of his career and the shortest start by a Reds pitcher to that point in the season…was charged with all 8 runs in the second inning after throwing a perfect first…entered that 5/7 start leading all National League pitchers in bWAR (2.1), the third-best bWAR among all players in the Major Leagues (Gerrit Cole 2.5, Ronald Acuña Jr. 2.2).
- In his last 7 apps beginning 6/30, including 6 quality starts, went 3-1, 2.05 (44ip, 10er, .226baa).
- His 3-2 win on 7/19 vs SF snapped the Reds’ 6-game losing streak that tied their season high.
- Has made 8 apps since a 15-day stint on the injured list (left calf contusion, 6/9-6/23)…in those 8 starts went 3-2, 3.00 (48ip, 16er, .254baa).
- Was charged with 1 pitch timer violation (5/12 at Mia, Jorge Soler walked).
