TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays were blanked by the Marlins last night, 11-0, in the opener of their three-game series…Have allowed 11+ runs in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 15-16, 2020 (20-6 L at NYY, 13-2 L at NYY)…Dropped to 13-11 in series openers this season. Toronto has lost three straight games and seven of its last 10…Has still gone 10-8 over its last 18 games and 13-10 over the last 23…Need a win tonight to avoid losing their fourth straight series and dropping to 13-11-0 in series play this year (6-8-0 on the road).
THE CENTURY MARK: Bo Bichette singled in the 4th and 9th innings last night, part of a 2-for-4 effort…Marked his AL-leading 28th multi-hit game of the year…Reached 100 hits in his 74th game of the season, the 5th-fastest to reach the mark in franchise history. The shortstop currently leads the AL in hits (100), trailing only Luis Arraez (102) for the most in the Majors…His .317 batting average ranks 2nd in the AL (5th in MLB), while he sits 2nd in total bases (160), 6th in OPS (.856), 7th in SLG (.508), T-8th in XBH (31), T-10th in home runs (14), and 10th in RBI (46).
DANNY DOING DAMAGE: Danny Jansen notched Toronto’s only extra-base hit of the game last night, doubling to right in the 3rd inning…Has six hits over his last five games, four of which have gone for extra bases (2B, 3HR). Over his last 18 games, the Elmhurst, IL, native has gone 18-for-65 (.277) with five doubles, six homers, and 15 RBI for a .631 SLG% and a .929 OPS…His .458 slugging percentage this season ranks 3rd among AL catchers (min. 140 AB), trailing only Salvador Perez (.488) and Jonah Heim (.462).
HOT START, HORWITZ: Spencer Horwitz made his 2nd career MLB start on Monday, going 1-for-4 while batting 5th in the lineup… Has hit safely in both of his big league games, the first Blue Jay to do so since Alejandro Kirk on Sept. 12-15, 2020…Has combined to go 2-for-6 (.333) with an RBI and a pair of walks over his career.
GEORGE GETS ON: George Springer picked up a single in his final at-bat of Monday’s game, part of a 1-for-4 effort…Has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, batting .342 (13-for-38) with five extra-base hits and three RBI. Since May 19th, the Connecticut native has gone 36- for-115 (.313) with eight doubles, a triple, five home runs, 12 RBI, and 12 walks during his 30 contests… Over that span, ranks 5th among AL hitters in times on base (49), 6th in total bases (61), 7th in OPS (.913), and 11th in OBP (.383).
KIKUCHI KICKS AND DELIVERS: Yusei Kikuchi gets the ball tonight for his 15th start of the season…Owns a record of 6-2 this year…The six wins are tied for 11th in the AL and are one off his career best (7 in 2021)…Has surrendered two runs in each of his last four starts…Is the only Blue Jay starter to pitch into the 5th inning in every one of his outings this season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are off on a three-city, nine-day road trip (2-5 so far)…Own a 20-22 road record this season for a .476 win% (8th in the AL)…After this trio of games against the Marlins, will have an off-day on Thursday before heading home for a nine-game homestand against the Athletics, Giants, and Red Sox. Blue Jays hitters lead all MLB teams in road hits (389)…Also rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.263), 2nd in road SLG (.427), 3rd in road OPS (.754), and 4th in road OBP (.327)…The pitching staff ranks 13th in the AL in road ERA (4.64), 14th in road opponents’ AVG (.268), and 14th in road WHIP (1.42).
INTERTAINMENT: Toronto is playing its 7th interleague series of the year…Has gone 12-6 vs. NL clubs so far…The .667 win% is 3rd best among MLB teams (MIA – .773, NYY – .706)…Led the AL with 13 interleague wins last season, which was one off the franchise’s all-time single-season record (14 in 2021)…Since the beginning of the 2021 campaign, Toronto’s .672 win% in Interleague Play (39-19) is the best among all MLB clubs (2nd: TB – .656). The Blue Jays have hit 661 home runs all-time in Interleague Play, the most among all 30 teams (2nd: NYY – 635).
ALL GOOD THINGS…: The Blue Jays have notched 671 hits this season, behind only Texas (687) for the most in the Majors… Are currently 4th in the AL in team AVG (.262), 5th in OBP (.330), 6th in SLG (.417), 6th in OPS (.747), and 6th in extra-base hits (221). The Blue Jays were shut out on Monday for the first time this season, snapping a streak of 91 straight games without being shut out, the longest active streak in the Majors…Was their longest such streak ince scoring in 93 consecutive games from April 13-July 15, 1986.
VS. THE MARLINS: All-Time: 17-22
2023: 0-1 Road: 9-11
Road: 0-1 loanDepot Park: 7-4
The Blue Jays last met the Marlins in 2021, sweeping both two-game series in Toronto and Miami…Have won five of the last six meetings between these teams, surrendering just a single run on four occasions…Are 13-5 over the last 18 games vs. MIA.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit safely in all four games against the Marlins in 2021, going 8-for-15 (.533) with a double, a triple, a home run, and four RBI (1.522
OPS)…Has met Miami nine times in his career, batting .364 (12-for-33) with four extra-base hits and five RBI for a .400 OBP and a 1.036 OPS.
Bo Bichette has met Miami seven times in his career, going 12-for-28 (.429) with a triple, two homers, and seven RBI…Recorded his first of three career five-hit games on Aug. 12, 2020 vs. MIA, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a solo homer and a walk.
Kevin Kiermaier owns an .807 OPS against the Fish in 35 career meetings, notching nine doubles, two triples, and 16 RBI…Hit a leadoff, inside-the-park home run on the 1st pitch vs. MIA last season on May 24th…Became the 3rd player since pitch-tracking data was available (1988) to do so (Span on Aug 19, 2017 vs. PHI & Buxton on Oct 2, 2016 at CHW).
STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 15th start of the season and his 9th on the road…Took a no-decision his last time out, on 6/15 at BAL, giving up a pair of runs over 4.2 frames (6H, 2BB, 7K)…Has allowed 2 runs in each of his last 4 games… Has pitched into the 5th inning in all 14 outings this season, the only Blue Jays starter to do so.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings on 6/9 vs. MIN, giving up 4 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts…Marked his 4th straight outing with 5.0 innings pitched.
Took a no-decision on 6/4 at NYM, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 8 strikeouts…Induced a season-high 19 swing-and-misses. Improved to 6-2 on 5/30 vs. MIL, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a season-high 5 walks over 5.0 frames with 4 strikeouts…Punched out Joey Wiemer in the 4th inning for the 500th strikeout of his career…Became the 9th Japanese-born player to record 500 strikeouts and 500.0 innings pitched in the Majors. Shouldered the loss on 5/24 at TB, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks over 5.0 frames with 5 strikeouts…The outing was his 100th career start, becoming the 11th Japanese-born player to reach the century mark. Improved to 5-0 on 5/7 at PIT, tossing 6.1 shutout frames with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts…Marked his longest outing as a Blue Jay, and his 3rd quality start this season. Improved to 4-0 on 4/26 vs. CWS, throwing 5.2 frames of shutout ball while scattering four singles and a walk along with eight strikeouts…Has allowed one run or fewer in four of his five starts this year while the Blue Jays have won all five of his outings. Earned his 3rd win of the year on 4/21 at NYY, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts…Has back-to-back starts of 6.0+ innings and 0-or-1 runs allowed for the first time since 6/18-25 of his 2021 All-Star campaign. Improved to 2-0 on 4/15 vs. TB, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, a walk, and a season-high 9 strikeouts…Marked his most punchouts in a single game as a Blue Jay…Completed 6.0 frames for the 1st time since 6/30/22 vs. TB. Took a no-decision on 4/9 at LAA, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits and a walk over 4.1 innings with 6 strikeouts…Threw 99 pitches (59 strikes) on the day, his most pitches in a single outing since 7/28/21 vs. HOU (101). Picked up the win in his season debut on 4/4 at KC, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts…Was his 1st start since 8/15/22 vs. BAL, and his 1st win as a starter since 7/28/22 vs. DET.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today continue a 7-game homestand, with the second of 3 games against the Toronto Blue Jays. Following this series, Miami will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 4-game set (June 22-25). The Marlins are coming off a 3-city, 9-game, 11-day road trip, which saw the club take 2 of 3 from the White Sox, drop 2 of 3 against the Mariners, and finish the trip with a sweep at the Nationals in a 3-game set.
FISH BYTES
- Miami ranks 2nd in the NL in win percentage at home (.629; 22-13) this season and is tied for 3rd in wins at home. • The Marlins have won 12 of their last 14 games at loanDepot park.
- With a 13-4 record in June, Miami is tied for the most wins in MLB this month with Atlanta and Philadelphia.
- Miami’s current 5-game win streak is its second-longest this season behind a 6-game streak from June 2-7.
UP THE RANKS
At 42-31, Miami has its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 73 games in franchise history, behind the 1997 World Series team. See chart to right for the top starts.
- The Marlins currently own the third-best record in the NL, behind only Atlanta and Arizona.
- The Marlins are 11 G over .500 for 1st time since the conclusion of the 2009 season (87-75).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The Marlins recorded a season-high 19 hits in their fifth shutout victory of the season, taking the series opener over Toronto, 11-0. 2B Luis Arraez went 5×5 for the third time in June and raised his batting average to an even .400. DH Jorge Soler opened the scoring in the third inning with a 2-run homer, his 21st of the season. Four other Marlins recorded multi-hit games, including 3B Jon Berti who notched his second consecutive 3-hit effort. RHP Bryan Hoeing tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with a career-high 5 strikeouts in his third start of the season.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .400 AVG (102×255), .450 OBP, and 102 hits. Also leads MLB with 30 multi-hit games, including an MLB-most five 4+ hit games. Has struck out just 15 times in 282 PA (.053 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- Has recorded 102 hits through his first 67 games, becoming the second-quickest Marlin to reach the 100-hit plateau behind only Dee Strange-Gordon who did so in 65 games in 2015. His .400 AVG is the highest through a player’s first 67 games in club history.
- The last player to post an AVG of .400 or higher through his first 67 games was Nomar Garciaparra in 2000.
HIGH 5
2B Luis Arraez went 5×5 again last night to tie his career high in hits, done three times this month (also, 6/16 at WSH and 6/3 vs. OAK).
- Joins Ty Cobb in 1922 as the only players in the Modern Era to record three 5-hit games in a 15-game span (courtesy of OPTA Stats).
- Becomes first player in MLB to record three 5-hit games in a season since Ender Inciarte did so in 2017 with Atlanta. Only four players have recorded four 5-hit games in a season, the last being Ichiro Suzuki in 2004.
- Set club record for most 5-hit games in a season; Juan Pierre had two 5-hit games in 2005.
- Leads MLB with five 4+ hit games and ties the Marlins record set by Hanley Ramirez in 2007.
FIRE VS. ICE
The Marlins recorded their fifth shutout of the season in the club’s 73rd game. Miami went 10-14 in shutout games in 2022.
- The 11-0 win was their largest shutout since June 4, 2019 at Milwaukee (16-0) and their largest shutout at home since July 30, 2016 vs. St. Louis (11-0).
PLAYING THE HITS
The Marlins’ season-high 19 hits in last night’s game vs. Toronto marked the club’s most since a 21-hit affair at Colorado in G1 of a DH on June 1, 2022. Marked Miami’s 30th game this season with 10+ hits, the second-most such games in the NL trailing only Atlanta (32), and rank tied for 4th in MLB.
INTER-STELLAR
The Marlins are 17-5 (.772) in Interleague play this year, marking the highest winning pct. among MLB teams in such games. The second-best mark in Interleague action is held by New York-AL at 12-5 (.706). Miami’s winning percentage this year is the 2nd-best in club history, behind the 1997 team that went 12-3 (.800). Heading into this season, the Marlins owned a 103-148 record in Interleague play dating back to 2010, which ranked as the worst in MLB.
PODER SOLER
DH/OF Jorge Soler ranks 3rd in MLB with 21 home runs this season and leads all of MLB with 11 go-ahead home runs. Is the 10th Marlins player (14th occurrence) to hit 20-or-more by the All-Star break. The last time a Marlins player reached the 20 home run mark in the first half was 2017, when Justin Bour (20), Marcell Ozuna (23), and Giancarlo Stanton (26) accomplished the feat. Mike Lowell owns the club record for most home runs before the All-Star break, with 28 in 2003.
- Soler ranks 3rd in MLB in home runs, trailing LAA’s Shohei Ohtani (24) and NYM’s Pete Alonso (22).
BABY GOAT
RHP Eury Perez is sporting a 1.80 ERA (35.0 IP/7 ER) through his first 7 career starts, setting a club record for lowest mark in that span. RHP Josh Beckett previously held the record, with a 2.38 ERA (41.2/11) in his first 7 starts in 2001. The last MLB pitcher to record an ERA lower than 1.80 in his first 7 career starts was Chris Paddack in 2019 with San Diego.
- At 20 years and 60 days old, Perez became the fourth-youngest pitcher to post a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 7 career starts, behind Felix Hernandez (19-150, 1.59 ERA, 2005), Frank Shellenback (19-188, 1.65 ERA, 1918), and Jack Bentley (19-196, 1.08 ERA, 1913-14).
- Among NL rookie pitchers this season (min. 30.0 IP), Perez owns the lowest ERA and ranks second in wins (4), behind NYM’s Kodai Senga (6).
FLASHBACK FRIDAY
The Marlins this weekend will continue their 30th anniversary celebration with their next Flashback Friday when the club hosts Marlins alumni
Robb Nen and Preston Wilson. Nen, the Marlins’ all-time save leader, and Wilson, who leads multiple categories for all Marlins’ centerfielders,
will be available for pictures with fans in the Marlins Museum presented by Fanatics at 5:45 p.m
TODAY’S STARTER – #39 EURY PEREZ
- Eury Rafael Perez, 20, will make his eighth career start today and his first against the Toronto Blue Jays. 4 of his first 7 career starts have been vs. Interleague teams; has gone 3-0 in those appearances with a 0.43 ERA (21.0/1) and struck out 20 batters.
- In his last outing on Wednesday, June 14 at SEA, tossed a career-high 6.0 innings and held batters scoreless for the third time this season. Walked 1 batter and struck out 6. Has allowed just 1 run in last 3 starts (16.0 IP).
- Perez has limited opponents to 3 or fewer earned runs in each of his first 7 career starts, becoming just the sixth pitcher in club history to do so.
- Is the fourth-youngest pitcher (20 years, 60 days) to post a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 7 career starts since ERA became an official MLB statistic in 1913. – Per Elias Sports Bureau.
- Earned his first MLB win on Thursday, May 18 vs. the Washington Nationals, 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 Friday, May 12 vs. the Reds 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 debut, recorded 7 strikeouts over 4.2 innings, the second-most for a pitcher in Club history in their debut with Anthony Desclafani (May 14, 2014 at LAD), Scott Olsen (June 25, 2005 at TB), and Dontrelle Willis (May 9, 2003 vs. COL). Falls one behind the club record of 8 set by Jose Fernandez on Apr. 7, 2013 vs. NYM and matched by Dillon Peters on Sept. 1, 2017 vs. PHI.
- Pre-2023 was ranked Miami’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline. Was also named the No. 3 RHP prospect.
