PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #87 RECAP: The Phillies won a wild one on South Beach as they defeated the Miami Marlins, 4-3 … Starter Zack Wheeler (ND) went 6.0 innings and allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 0 walks and 7 strikeouts … Held scoreless until the 6th, J.T. Realmuto homered and brought the Phils within 2 runs at 3-1 … Jeff Hoffman followed Wheeler with 2.0 scoreless innings before the Phillies rallied in the 9th … Craig Kimbrel picked up his 14th save in 14 opportunities as the Phillies moved to a season-best nine games over .500
REMEMBER THE FIGHTINS: Entering play last night, the Phillies were 3-36 this season when trailing after 8 innings (.077 win %) and the Marlins were 42-1 when leading after 8 (.977 win %) … Down 3-1 at the start of the 9th, J.T. Realmuto singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch, before scoring on an Alec Bohm double … With two outs, and the Phillies down 3-2, and Bohm on 2nd base, Cristian Pache stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and proceeded to hit a sweeper 397 feet to center field that cleared the fence and gave the Phils a 4-3 lead that Craig Kimbrel would preserve with a four-pitch save … Per Elias, prior to today, only once in the Expansion Era (since 1961), had there been an instance of a Phillies pinch hitter hitting a game-winning home run on the road when trailing with 2 outs in the 9th inning or later – On July 4, 1978 against the Mets at Shea Stadium (game 2 of a doubleheader), and with the Phillies trailing 2-1 in the 9th inning with two outs, pinch-hitter Jose Cardenal hit a two-run home run off Mets starter Craig Swan to put the Phils ahead 3-2, a lead they would preserve with a scoreless 9th from Ron Reed.
THE STREAK: The Phillies have won 13 straight games on the road which is tied for the longest road winning streak in franchise history with another 13-game streak from April 17-June 2, 1976 … When this current streak started, the Phillies were 10 games under .500 on the road at 13-23 – they have run off 13 straight wins to get back over .500 at 26-23 and are the first team in MLB history to be 10 games or more under .500 on the road before winning 11+ straight to get back over .500 … Philadelphia’s 13-game road winning streak is the longest in MLB this season and the longest since Atlanta won 13 straight on the road from July 29-Aug. 22, 2021 … The last MLB team to win 14 straight games on the road were the 2017 Cleveland Guardians who won 14 straight from Aug. 28-Sept. 21, 2017 … Dating back to June 3, the Phillies have won 15 of 16 on the road which is the best 16-game span on the road within a season in franchise history.
WHAT A RELIEF: The Phillies bullpen has an active 25.1-inning scoreless streak (8 G, since 6/29) which is the longest by a Phillies relief corps since a 28.0-inning streak from Sept. 1-11, 2004 … It currently stands as the 5th-longest scoreless streak by a Phillies bullpen in the Expansion Era (since 1961) … During this streak, the bullpen has faced 86 batters and limited them to a .133 AVG and .295 OPS with 0 extra-base hits allowed (fewest in MLB, next: ATL -3 XBH) – for context – 21 of the 30 bullpens in MLB have allowed at least 10 extra base hits since June 29 when this streak began for the Phils … The only thing preventing this from being a 33.0-inning scoreless streak was an unearned run in the 9th inning on June 28 at CHI – the Phillies bullpen hasn’t allowed an earned run since the 7th inning on June 25 vs NYM, a span of 33.0 innings.
I’M GIVING IT MY ALL: The Phils have won 8 of their last 10 series (since 6/2: 2-1 at WSH, 3-0 vs DET, 2-1 vs LAD, 3-1 at ARI, 3-0 at OAK, 0-2 vs ATL, 2-1 vs NYM, 3-0 at CHI, 1-2 vs WSH & 3-0 at TB) … Over the last two months of June and July combined, the Phils are 30 games over .500 at 57-27 (.679 win %).
ARMS RACE: Over the last 30 games (since 6/3), the Phillies’ starting rotation has gone 15-4 with a 2.69 ERA (53 ER, 177.1 IP) with 186 strikeouts to 44 walks (4.23 SO/BB ratio) – they have faced 709 batters and held them to a .614 OPS … The staff has gone at least 6.0 innings in 21 of those 30 games … Philadelphia’s starters and relievers have combined for 13.5 fWAR which leads MLB (next: MIN, 13.0) and is more than two full wins clear of the next closest NL club (MIA, 11.0 fWAR).
SEE YOU IN SEATTLE: Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos was selected as an All-Start for the second time in his career (other: 2021 with CIN) … Castellanos, in his second season with the Phillies, has raised his OPS 155 points from .694 last year to .849 entering play today … With his home run Wednesday night in Tampa (108.2 MPH/437 feet), Castellanos has already matched his total of 40 extra-base hits and 13 home runs from a season ago – he is one double shy of matching his total of 27 in 2022.
ON THE PLUS SIDE: The Phillies currently have seven players with an OPS+ (league average is 100) of 105 or greater (min. 200 PA): Nick Castellanos (130 OPS+), Brandon Marsh (118), Bryce Harper (114), J.T. Realmuto (111), Bryson Stott (107), Alec Bohm (106) and Kyle Schwarber (105) … Among all clubs in MLB, Philadelphia’s total of seven players with an OPS+ of 105 or better ranks T-4th (with TOR) and trails only Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Texas, who all have eight players with an OPS+ of 105 or better … For context, last season the Phillies had five players with an OPS+ of 105 or better: Harper (146 OPS+), Schwarber (131), Realmuto (130), Hoskins (123) and Segura (105) … The last time a Phillies team had seven or more players post an OPS+ of 105 or better was 2002 (also 7): Abreu, Burrell, Giambi, Ledee,
Lieberthal, Polanco, Rolen.
THE VIBES ARE BACK: This season, the Phillies were seven games under .500 at 25-32 (.439 win %) when they entered play on June 3, which was also the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as Phillies manager … Since then, they have gone 23-7 (.767 win %) with a +61-run differential (158-97) and enter today a season-best nine games over .500 at 48-39 – this marks their best 30-game stretch since another 23-7 run from July 29-Sept. 2, 2011 … When Thomson took over last year on June 3, the Phillies were also seven games under .500 at 22-29 (.431 win %), and in their first 30 games with him as manager (6/3-7/5/22), they went 21-9 (.700 win %) with a +55-run differential (166-111) … Since Thomson was hired on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 113-85 and their .571 winning percentage ranks 5th in MLB, behind only ATL (.685), LAD (.638), HOU (.610) and BAL (.577).
TODAY’S STARTER – #98 RANGER SUÁREZ • LHP #55
2023: 2-3, 3.67 ERA Career: 27-18, 3.20 ERA
LAST START: 7/2 vs WSH: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO … Suárez vs
Taillon … The Phillies fell to the Washington Nationals, 5-4, at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly Offensively, the Phillies had 10 hits, 5 walks and only 3 strikeouts – they had been 29-0 in their last 29 games when doing so, with their last loss coming on July 13, 2003 at Shea Stadium against the Mets TODAY’S START:
- Road Warrior: Suárez has a 3.46 ERA (21 ER, 54.2 IP) in his last 10 road starts … Since the start of last season, Suárez’s 2.88 ERA on the road ranks 3rd among NL pitchers and 9th among ML pitchers with at least 100.0 IP … In 9 of his last 10 road starts, Suárez has allowed 3 earned runs or fewer
- Beast In the East: Today marks Suárez’s 23rd career start against NL East teams … He has a 3.13 ERA (40 ER, 115.0 IP) in starts against the division and a career ERA of 3.39 … He has earned a quality start in 5 of his last 6 starts against the division and in that stretch has posted a 2.43 ERA (10 ER, 37.0 IP)
- Trouble With the Curve: Suárez has thrown his curveball 195 times in 56.1 IP this season after only throwing it 198 times in 155.1 IP last year … He is holding batters to a .075 average (3-40) with his curveball and has struck out 17 batters with a whiff rate of 36.4% … Suárez’s 0.75 OPP AVG against his curveball is the best among all ML pitchers who have thrown at least 150 curveballs
- Pitch Usage: Sinker (28.7%), Curveball (21%), 4-Seam Fastball (19.6%), Changeup (18%), Cutter (12.2%), Slider (0.4%)
2023 SEASON:
- Recorded a 5-game streak with at least 6 IP and 1 or no runs (6/4-27) … It was the 10th time a Phillies Pitcher had done so and the first time since Cole Hamels in 2014
- Struck out at least 7 batters in four straight starts, which is the longest streak of his career
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today continue the second leg of their homestand and final series before the All-Star Break, with the second of three games against Philadelphia. Are coming off a four-game set vs. St. Louis (3-1). Miami comes out of the break with a two-city road trip that begins with three games in Baltimore (July 14-16) and three-game set in St. Louis (July 17-19).
FISH BYTES
- At 51-39, Miami has set a franchise record for the most wins prior to the All-Star Break. The previous record was 50 wins, done in 2008 (50-45) and 1997 (50-36).
- Is the second-best start to a season through the club’s first 90 games in franchise history.
- The Marlins own the second-best record in the NL, behind only Atlanta, and fifth-best in MLB.
- Have won 9 of their last 15, 22 of 33, and 27 of 42.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
The Marlins are 28-18 at home this season. Miami ranks 4th in MLB in win percentage at home (.609) this season and is t-3rd overall in wins at home. Lost five straight home games from May 2-4 (Braves sweep) and May 12-13 (first two against Cincinnati). Since then, have gone 16-6 including winning 14 of the last 18.
- Own the best record at home through this many games since the team moved to Miami and is the 4th-best record in Marlins history, behind 1997 (30-16), 2001 (30-16), and 1996 (29-17).
WINNING WAYS
Miami sits at 12 G over .500, 2 shy of matching its season-high mark. Marks just the 3rd season the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 at any point (also ’97 and ’03).
A GOOD PHIGHT
Miami took their series (2-1) in Philly back in April including the first cycle in Marlins history, by Luis Arraez on April 11 and an extra-innings victory on April 12. The Marlins are 55-47 all-time against the Phillies at loanDepot park. Miami has dropped 7 of its last 9 vs. the Phillies at home, but was 10-5 over the previous 15 games.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series opener vs. Philadelphia after a 9th-inning rally by the Phillies to take the victory, 4-3. LHP A.J. Puk allowed 3 runs in the 9th, suffering his 3rd loss of the season and his 4th blown save, second consecutive. RHP Sandy Alcantara held the Phillies offense to 1 run in 6.2 innings on 8 hits (1 home run), with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks. 1B Garrett Cooper, 3B Jean Segura and SS Joey Wendle each had 2-hit performances, with Cooper hitting his 12th home run on the year.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins offense ranks 3rd in MLB with a .264 AVG and t-3rd with 805 hits in 2023, behind only Texas (.275, 861 H) and Atlanta (.272, 805 H).
- Miami has 10+ hits in 35 games this season, ranking 3rd in the NL behind St. Louis (36) and Atlanta (39).
SUPER COOPER
DH/1B Garrett Cooper is hitting .368 (7×19) with 1 2B, 2 HR, and 7 RBI with a 1.192 OPS during the current homestand.
- His .353 AVG (12×34) with RISP & 2 outs is the 7th-best mark in the National League (min. 30 PA).
BRAX ON THE ATTACK
LHP Braxton Garrett is undefeated in his last 10 starts, dating back to May 14 (team is 9-1 in this span, 13-3 overall in his starts). Has gone 3-0 with a 2.26 ERA over the 10-start stretch, holding opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs in seven of the starts and a .191 batting average with 70 strikeouts and 9 walks.
- Has walked 1 or 0 batters in 14 of 16 starts; the most such games among NL starters, and trailing only SEA’s George Kirby and KC’s Zack Greinke, who each have 16, for the MLB lead.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .386 AVG (125×324), .437 OBP, and 125 hits. Has struck out just 19x in 357 PA, a .053 K/PA, the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- His 35 multi-hit games rank 2nd in MLB (Ronald Acuña Jr. – 36) and is one shy of the club record for most multi-hit games prior to the All-Star Break set by Miguel Cabrera in 2006.
MÁS HISTORIA
With 2 games left before the All-Star Break, we’re keeping an eye on these records:
- 2B Luis Arraez is on pace to post the highest AVG of any Marlins player prior to the All-Star Break. The current record is owned by Luis Castillo, who was hitting .369 at the Break in 2000.
- The Marlins pitching staff, who leads the National League with 850 strikeouts, have also made their mark in the club record books: starters have set a club record with their 497 strikeouts prior to the Break, while relievers have struck out a combined 353 batters, the second-best mark in club history behind only 2018 (365).
SOUTH BEACH TANNER
LHP Tanner Scott has set a Marlins record for most strikeouts as a reliever prior to the All-Star Break with 63, beating the previous record held by Kyle Barraclough in 2016 (60). Surpasses his 55 first-half strikeouts in 2022, which ranked fourth in club history.
- His 63 strikeouts lead all National League relievers in 2023 (2nd in MLB), and his 20 outings of 2 or more strikeouts are
the most among NL relievers (t-3rd in MLB).
TODAY’S STARTER – #29 BRAXTON GARRETT
- Braxton Garrett, 25, will make his fourth career start against the Philadelphia Phillies and 17th start (18th app.) of the season today.
- Last faced Philadelphia on August 9, 2022 at Citizens Bank Park. Went 4.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts. In 3 career starts vs. Philadelphia, has gone 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (14.0/6) and has allowed 18 hits with 5 walks and 11 strikeouts.
- In his last start on Monday, July 3 vs. St. Louis, allowed 3 runs on 7 hits over 5.2 innings pitched.
- Has allowed 3 or less runs in 9 of his last 10 starts. Has held opponents to 1 or 0 ER in 10 of his 16 starts; the most such outings among all NL starting pitchers.
- Dating back to May 14, the Marlins have won 9 of his last 10 starts including 7 consecutive. Has posted a 2.26 ERA (55.2/14) in this span holding opponents to a .191 AVG (38×191).
- Finished June with a 3-0 record and a 2.22 ERA (28.1/7), walking just 3 batters while striking out 38 in 5 starts and posting a 0.78 WHIP. The only two players in Club history to finish the month of June with a lower WHIP (min. 25.0 IP) were Jose Fernandez in 2016 (0.70) and Brad Penny in 2001 (0.73).
- Career, RHB vs. Garrett: .271 AVG (173×638), .333 OBP, .781 OPS. LHB vs. Garrett: .239 AVG (47×197), .309 OBP, .654 OPS. Has allowed only 4 HR in 197 AB vs. LHB.
