MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today begin a two-city, seven-game road trip with the opener of a three-game set at Philadelphia. Following this weekend series, Miami heads to Milwaukee for four games (Sept. 11-14). Miami is coming off a three-game homestand vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, which saw the club win 2 of 3. The Marlins are in the midst of 16 straight games before their next day off on September 21.
FACING PHILLY
Miami and Philadelphia have split the season series thus far, going 5-5. In the Marlins lone trip to Citizens Bank Park this season, Miami took two of three from the Phillies (April 10-12). Overall, Miami is 98-154 in road games at Philadelphia.
SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER
The Marlins enter today just 0.5 behind Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot. The club entered September with a .500 or better record for the 1st time in a full season since 2016, and 8th time overall in club history. The Marlins reached 4 games over .500 in September of a full season for the first time since 2009, when they finished the season 12 games over.
FIGHTING FISH
Through 6 games of the final month of the season, Miami is tied for the most wins in September. Despite yesterday’s shutout, the Marlins rank 2nd in the NL, tied for 5th in MLB, with 42 runs scored in September. Miami’s 13 home runs this month are tied for 2nd most in NL and tied for 4th most in MLB.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins could not secure a three-game series sweep vs. the Dodgers, suffering a 10-0 defeat, their 11th shutout loss of the season. LHP Braxton Garrett (8-6) suffered the loss, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts, over 3.2 innings of work. Miami recorded its first hit of the game in the 7th inning on a single by DH Josh Bell. LF Garrett Hampson recorded the club’s other hit, a pinch-hit single.
IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE
Miami has won 6 of its last 7 games, having a 6-game winning streak snapped yesterday vs. the Dodgers. The 6-game streak matched its longest winning streak of the season, from June 2-7 (vs. OAK, vs. KC).
SWEET SIX-CESS
The Marlins had a streak of 6 consecutive games with 6-plus runs snapped yesterday, marking just the third such streak in franchise history and the first time since August 8-16, 2009, when they did so in club-best 8 consecutive games. The only other such streak was 6 games from June 26-July 1, 2003.
FISH BYTES
- Miami ranks 3rd in the NL with a .259 batting average (7th in the Majors) and ranks 3rd in the NL with 1,235 hits.
- With 53 games of 10+ hits, the Marlins rank 4th in the NL, behind Atlanta (64), St. Louis (55), and Philadelphia (54).
- The Marlins pitching staff ranks 2nd in the NL with 1,296 strikeouts (T-4th in Majors behind TOR, ATL, and MIN). Miami established a club record last year with 1,437 strikeouts. The Marlins have never led the NL in strikeouts in a season.
HOMER HAPPY
Miami matched a season high with 3 home runs in the 5th inning on Wednesday vs. the Dodgers, marking the third time this season they have recorded 3 homers in a single inning. The most home runs ever hit in a single inning by the Marlins was 4, on Aug. 26, 1998 at St. Louis (9th inning). The Marlins have hit a combined 15 home runs during the recent 6-game wining streak, their most homers in any 6-game span in franchise history.
BABY GOAT
Marlins rookie Eury Perez on August 26 vs. Washington became the youngest pitcher to make 4 starts of 6.0+ innings pitched, 0 ER, and 3 hits or fewer since earned runs became official, passing Rube Bressler (3 such starts, 1914) and Charles Bender (3 such starts, 1904). Among MLB rookie pitchers with at least 10 starts, Perez leads with a 2.86 ERA (78.2 ip/25 er), and ranks 2nd with a 1.08 WHIP, behind Seattle’s Bryce Miller (1.07).
GETTIN’ JAZZY
CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. is batting .342 (13×38) with 2 doubles, 4 home runs, and 11 RBI in his last 9 games dating back to Aug. 29. Also owns a 1.053 OPS in this span. Has homered in 2 of his last 3 games, accounting for his 15th and 16th home runs of the season to become the 6th player in Marlins history to reach the 15 HR and 15 SB plateau in multiple seasons (Had career-high 18 HR in 2021). He joins Cliff Floyd (3x), Derrek Lee (2x), Hanley Ramirez (5x), Gary Sheffield (2x), and Preston Wilson (3x).
GOLD GLOVE LOVE
Among National League second basemen with at least 400 chances, 2B Luis Arraez ranks 1st with a .992 fielding percentage (516 TC/4 E), ahead of Bryson Stott (523/5). Arraez leads NL 2B with 90 double plays turned.
SMASH BURGER
3B Jake Burger, who Miami acquired at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, is hitting .306 in his first 32 games with the club. Has 7 2B and 6 HR (31 on the year). Burger joins Luis Arraez earlier this year as the first Marlins to hit .300 and post an OPS above .900 over 30 games since Dee Strange-Gordon in 2015.
TODAY’S STARTER – #39 EURY PEREZ
- Eury Rafael Perez, 20, will make his 17th career start today. Marks his first career start against the Philadelphia Phillies. In his most recent start on Sept. 1 at Washington, allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 4.2 innings while striking out 5. All 3 runs came on solo home runs (career-high). In 5 starts since being recalled from Double-A Pensacola, has gone 0-1 with a 3.91 ERA (25.1/11) holding opponents to a .204 AVG (19×93). On Aug. 26 vs. Washington, became the youngest pitcher to make 4 separate starts of 6.0+ innings pitched, 0 ER, and 3 hits or fewer since earned runs became official, passing Rube Bressler (3 such starts, 1914) and Charles Bender (3 such starts, 1904). With his career-high 10 strikeouts on Aug. 19 at Los Angeles-NL (G1 of DH), became the youngest pitcher (20-162) to record double-digit strikeouts in a game since Seattle’s Felix Hernandez (19-129) struck out 11 on Aug. 15, 2005 vs. Kansas City. His 2.86 ERA is the lowest among all rookie starters in MLB with at least 15 GS. Struck out 90 batters through his first 15 MLB starts; the second-most by a Marlins rookie through the same amount of starts behind only Trevor Rogers (96). 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. 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.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #139 RECAP: The Phillies took another series as they defeated the Padres in a rubber match, 5-1, at Petco Park in San Diego … Starter Zack Wheeler (W, 11-6) retired the first 11 batters in order and went 6.0 scoreless innings in the win … Offensively, Kyle Schwarber hit his franchise record 10th leadoff home run, J.T. Realmuto went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk and Bryce Harper snapped an 0-for-20 streak with a 2-run double in the 4th inning.
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: The Phillies return home to Citizens Bank Park where they own a 41-26 record with a +77 run differential (348-271) and a .612 winning percentage that ranks 3rd in the National League, and 5th in MLB, behind LAD (.662), TB (.653), ATL (.652) and BAL (.618) … The Phils have won three straight series at home (since 8/21), six of their last seven (since 7/24) and seven of nine since the All-Star break (since 7/14) … Since July 1 at home, the Phillies are slashing .291/.362/.537 with an .899 OPS in 1,195 plate appearances – they have scored 196 runs and hit 61 homers over 31 games since July at CBP, averaging 6.3 runs per game and 2.0 homers per game.
SERIESLY THOUGH: In their recently completed series against the Padres, the Phillies took two of three games and improved their series record on the year to 25-17-3 … They have already eclipsed last year’s series record of 24-22-5 … The Phils are 15-7-0 in series play at CBP and 10-10-3 in on the road. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
WITH YOU: Philadelphia’s double play combo of Trea Turner (25 SB/0 CS) and Bryson Stott (27 SB/2 CS) have combined for 52 stolen bases and have only been caught twice (96.3% success rate) … Per Elias, caught stealing has only been fully recorded since 1951 – since then (73 seasons), no two teammates (much less SS/2B) have combined for 50+ stolen bases with fewer than three caught stealings in one season.
HATS OFF TO YOU THOMS: Rob Thomson, the 56th manager in Phillies history, is 142-108 through his first 250 games at the helm … His 142 wins and .568 winning percentage are the best through a Phillies manager’s first 250 decisions since Dallas Green from 1979-81 (.580 win %, 145-105) … Thomson’s 142 wins rank 6th in Phillies history for the 56 managers through their first 250 decisions, behind only Bill Shettsline (151 wins from 1898-1899), Pat Moran (147 wins from 1915-1916), Steve O’Neill (146 wins from 1952-1954), Dallas Green and Arthur Irwin (145 wins from 1894-1895).
ARMS RACE: The Phillies starting staff ranks 1st in the National League and 4th in MLB with 773.1 innings pitched this season – they have 15.2 fWAR as a staff which is 1st among all MLB rotations (next: TB, 14.6) and is more than 3.0 full wins in front of the next closest NL club (SD, 11.9) … Consequently, Philadelphia’s bullpen has thrown the fewest innings of any relief corps this year at 461.0, yet Philadelphia’s relief pitchers have combined for 5.8 fWAR which leads the NL and ranks 2nd in MLB (BAL, 7.5) … Combined, Phillies pitching has put up 21.0 fWAR this season which leads MLB (next: SEA, 19.4) and is 4.5 wins in front of ATL who ranks 2nd in the NL at 16.5.
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Shortstop Trea Turner was activated yesterday after a two-day stint on the Paternity List for the birth of his second son, Tatum … It’s been a busy week for Turner who was named NL Player of the Week for the games played Aug. 28-Sept. 3 … Over that stretch, Turner slashed .423/.464/1.231 with a 1.695 OPS over 28 plate appearances … Turner scored 9 runs, 8 of his 11 hits went for extra bases (2B, 3B, 6 HR), he had 14 RBI, a HBP, 1 BB and 2 SB … Saturday, Turner tied a franchise record with a home run in five straight games (8/28-9/2) … It was the 8th time in franchise history a player has homered in five straight games (7 total players) … Last Friday, Turner became only the fourth MLB player since 1920 (when RBI first became official) to hit a home run and have 3+ RBI in four straight games … Prior to Turner, Chris Davis did so in four consecutive games (4/2-5/13), Hall-of-Famer Bill Dickey did so in five consecutive games (6/20-25/37), and Hall-of-Famer Loug Gehrig did so two times; in four consecutive games (6/21-25/32) and in five consecutive games (8/29-9/1/31) … Turner is the first Phillies player since at least 1900 (Modern Era) to do so … Over his last 28 games (since 8/4), Turner is slashing .362/.395/.767 with a 1.162 OPS, 26 R, 9 2B, 3B, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 6 walks and 4 stolen bases … Turner has hit safely in 26 of those 28 games played since Aug. 4 and he has reached base safely in 27 of those 28 … He has an active 15-game hitting streak (.358 AVG, since 8/19) and an active 9-game RBI streak (since 8/26) – the last Phillies player with a 9-game RBI streak was Chase Utley (9G streak, May 25-June 3, 2008) and the last with a 10-game streak was Bobby Abreu in 2005.
LEADING MAN: On Wednesday in San Diego, Kyle Schwarber set a franchise record with his 10th leadoff home run this season, eclipsing Jimmy Rollins’ previous record of nine in 2007 … On the road trip, Schwarber led off all six games – in his first plate appearance of the game he went HR, HR, groundout, BB, BB, HR – he finished the trip 3-for-4 (3 HR) with 2 walks in the first plate appearance of the game … Since the All Star Break, Schwarber has posted a .976 OPS in 49 games with 19 home runs and 54 walks with a 23.5% walk rate (230 PA) … Schwarber is up to 112 walks on the year, and is averaging 1.1 walks per game in the second half – the franchise record for walks in a season in 129, set by Lenny Dykstra in 1993 … Since July 21 (Harper first game at 1B), Schwarber has DH’d 18 times and played left field 24 times, and, since July 21, Schwarber ranks 21st in the National League in fWAR at 1.3 which is T-2nd on the Phillies in that span (Harper and Stott) and trails only Trea Turner (1.8)
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: Since 6/3, the Phils are 52-30 with a +115 run differential (441-326) … Philadelphia’s .634 win % since 6/3 ranks T-2nd in MLB (with BAL), behind only ATL (58-24, .707 win %).
TONIGHT’S STARTER – CRISTOPHER SÁNCHEZ • LHP #61
2023: 2-3, 3.48 ERA Career: 5-5, 4.30 ERA
LAST START: 8/30 vs LAA: ND, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, HR, 0 BB, 5 SO …
Sánchez vs Detmers … The Phillies lost a wild one, 10-8, to the Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park … Down 5-3 in the 6th, Trea Turner launched a 3-run homer to put the Phillies ahead 6-5 … Down again in the 8th, 7-6, Bryce Harper blasted his 300th career home run, a 2-run shot to put the Phils up 8-7 … Los Angeles rallied for 3 runs in the top of the 9th off Craig Kimbrel and avoided a sweep
TONIGHT’S START:
- Sweet Victory: On 8/25, Sánchez earned his 2nd win of the season and the 4th in his career as a starter … He is currently on a 2-game win streak, which is tied for the longest win streak of his career. Watch Me WHIP: Since being recalled on 6/17, Sánchez’s 1.00 WHIP is the tied for 7th in the major leagues (min. 60.0 IP). Walk the Line: Sánchez ranks in the 97th percentile in walk % and his 1.44 BB/9.0 IP is the 3rd in the NL (min. 60.0 IP) … Sánchez has only issued 12 walks in his first 14 starts this season … There has been 6 other Phillies to do so since 1901 and only 2 since 2000 … Aaron Nola (2022) and Zach Eflin (2021). Left In Charge: Sánchez has held left-handers to a .160 AVG (8-50) this season, which ranks 10th in the NL (min. 50 batters faced) … Against his last 31 lefties faced (since 7/14), he has held them to a .097 AVG (3-31) … Among LHP with at least 10 starts this year, Sánchez’s 3.48 ERA ranks 11th in MLB. Change It Up: Per Statcast, Sánchez has struck out 34 batters with his changeup this season and has recorded a 34.8% whiff % with it, up from a 29.8% whiff % in 2022 … His downward movement of 43.2 inches (with gravity) on his changeup is the best in baseball and it has 9.6 more inches of drop than the ML average … His average exit velocity against it (80.2 mph) is the 3rd best in MLB and his OPP AVG of .172 against it is 19th (min. 200 changeups thrown) … He has collected 62 swings and misses on his changeup this year, which is the 17th most in the NL. Keep it Grounded: Sánchez ranks in the 95th percentile in ground ball % with 57.5% … Sánchez also has the 12th lowest fly ball % with 27.4% (min. 60 IP). Reach for the Stars: Per Statcast, Sánchez’s average release extension (where the ball is released relative to the rubber) of 6.9 feet puts him in the 90th percentile among all ML pitchers … As a result, his sinker velocity, which averages at 91.9 mph, has a perceived velocity of 93.0 mph • vs NL East: 1-3, 4.63 ERA (23 ER, 44.2 IP) in 14 games (6 starts). Pitch Usage: Sinker (47%), Changeup (30.3%), Slider (22.7%).
HOME:
- 2023: 2-3, 4.33 ERA (26 ER, 54.0 IP) in 10 starts
- Career: 4-4, 4.38 ERA (41 ER, 84.1 IP) in 23 games (14 starts)
2023 Season:
- Work Horse: On 8/11, Sánchez set a new career high for pitches in a game with 107, surpassing his previous high of 92 set on 7/24 … It is tied for the 7th most pitches in a game by a Phillie this year … He has thrown 1117 pitches this season, eclipsing his total of 662 in 2022. Carried a no-hitter through five innings before being pulled from the game on 7/30 … It was the longest no-hit bid in his career. On 7/24, Sánchez tossed 7.0 IP for the first time in his ML career and set a career-high in strikeouts (8). Was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA) prior to his start on 6/17 at OAK … Sánchez is in his 2nd stint with the Phillies this season … He was reinstated from the 15-day IL (left triceps strain) prior to his start on 4/22 and was optioned postgame.
