WASHINGTON NATIONALS NOTES:
ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD
The Washington Nationals close out this three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Thursday afternoon…Following the game, the Nationals will travel back to D.C. where they will open a six-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres on Friday night.
- Corey Dickerson returned to the lineup last night and clubbed a two-run home run on his first swing of the bat…He added a single later in the game.
- Washington is looking to avoid its second three-game sweep of the season on Thursday…The Nationals were swept by the Marlins three times in 2022.
THE CANDY MAN
Jeimer Candelario has reached base safely in nine of his last 12 plate appearances, going 8-for-11 (.727) with two doubles, a triple, one RBI, one walk and three runs scored across his last three games…He has at least one extra-base hit in all three games.
- The eight hits in three games match a career-best (2x) and the most hits he’s had in a four-game span is nine (2x, last: April 17-20, 2018).
- From Monday vs. New York (NL) through last night, Candelario reached safely in eight straight plate appearances.
STREAKS ON STREAKS
Some streaks to keep your eyes on:
- Lane Thomas has reached safely in 14 straight games – matching a career-high – and has hit safely in 12 of the 14…Thomas is hitting .328 (19-for-58) with two doubles, a triple, four homers, eight RBI, three walks, one hit by pitch, two stolen bases and 12 runs scored during this streak.
- Joey Meneses has reached safely in 10 straight games, going is 16-for-42 (.381) with four doubles, a homer, 12 RBI, three walks and six runs scored during the streak…It is the second-longest on-base streak of his career behind his 11-game streak from Aug. 5-17, 2022.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT DOM
In his last 18 games, Dominic Smith is hitting .355 (22-for-62) with a .431 on-base percentage (8 BB, HBP, 8 SO)…He has posted multi-hit efforts in three of the last five
- Smith has reached base safely in 10 consecutive games and 16 of 18 games during this stretch…The 10-game streak is the fourth-longest of his career (15 G, Aug. 5-25, 2020).
STINGY WITH THE LONG BALL
Washington’s starting pitchers have allowed just two home runs in nine games since May 8…The staff did not allow a homer in six games from May 10-16, tied for the the third-longest this season behind Pittsburgh (11 G) and Atlanta (8 G), per the Elias Sports Bureau.
- The starting staff has pitched to a 3.33 ERA (18 ER/48.2 IP) during this nine-game stretch.
WINNING WAYS
The Nationals have won five of 10, eight of 15 and nine of their last 17 games…They are 13-12 (.520) dating to April 21 at Minnesota…The Nationals have won four of their last eight series with one split.
- Washington is 17-19 (.472) after losing six of seven games to start the season…That stretch included series against the Atlanta Braves (1-2) and Tampa Bay Rays (0-3) as well as a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on their Opening Day.
DEFENSE NOT RESTING
Thanks to strong infield defense so far this season, Nationals opponents have a .229 batting average on ground balls, sixth-best in the National League (MLB avg: .243)…In 2022, the Nationals had the third-highest opponents’ batting average on ground balls in Major League Baseball (.260).
- Washington ranks fifth in Major League Baseball with 43 double plays turned this season
TODAY’S STARTING PTICHER – #32 TREVOR WILLIAMS
Veteran right-handed starter signed a two-year contract with the Nationals in Dec. 2022…From 2018-21, Williams was exclusively a starter, but he transitioned to a versatile swingman in 2021 and 2022…He is 35-41 with a 4.33 ERA in 118 career starts and 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 41 relief outings…Was a second-round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2013 but was traded to Pittsburgh in 2015 while pitching in the Arizona Fall League.
LAST START
Tossed 2.1 innings of two-hit, one-run ball before rain delayed and eventually postponed his outing on May 12 vs. New York (NL).
vs. MIAMI
Faces yet another former club, as he was selected by the Marlins in the second round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft before eventually being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates following the 2015 season… Williams is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in nine games (four starts) against the Marlins…In those four starts, he’s pitched to a 2.95 ERA (7 ER/21.1 IP)…He faced them four times (one start) in 2022, going 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP)…The lone start came on July 7, 2022 vs. Miami (7.0 IP, 2 H, 7 SO).
STRONG START
Williams opened the 2023 season going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA (8 ER/21.1 IP) with 13 strikeouts and just four walks in his first four starts of the season…After allowing four earned runs on April 27 at New York (NL), he tossed 5.1 innings of four-hit, shutout ball on May 2 vs. Chicago (NL).
5.0 OF A KIND
Has thrown at least 5.0 innings in six of his eight starts this season…Has pitched to a 3.41 ERA (12 ER/31.2 IP) in starts of at least 5.0 innings.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the final of three games against the Nationals to wrap up a six-game homestand which began with the club going 1-2 against the Reds over the weekend before a scheduled off-day Monday. Following today’s game, will head out to the West Coast for a 10-game road trip that starts with three games at San Francisco, continues with four games at Colorado, and wraps up back in California with three games at Los Angeles (AL).
- The Marlins have won 5 of their last 6 series finales.
- Have won 6 of 9 getaway games.
- Miami is in a current stretch of 13 straight days with games until their next off day on Memorial Day (May 29).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami secured the series win with a 4-3 win over Washington, marking their 12th come-from-behind victory of the season. RHP Edward Cabrera struck out 6 batters without walking a batter over 5.0 innings in which he allowed 2 earned runs. RF Jorge Soler delivered the Marlins a 2-run go-ahead homer for the second consecutive game, putting Miami ahead for good in the fourth. The bullpen returned to form as RHP JT Chargois made his first appearance since coming off the IL (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) and RHP Dylan Floro secured his third save.
FISH OUT OF WATER (ALMOST)
Miami now stands at 22-21 through the club’s first 43 games, improving to a .512 winning pct. Marks the latest in a non-shortened season the club has owned a winning record since August of 2017.
PODER SOLER
DH/OF Jorge Soler has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, including 4 multi-hit efforts. Is batting .326 (15×46) with 6 home runs and 14 RBI in this span. With home runs on Tuesday and yesterday vs. Washington, marks the 16th time in his career he has homered in back-to-back games, just the second time as a Marlin and the first time since May 14-15, 2022.
- 7 of his 11 home runs this season have tied the game or given the Marlins the lead.
- His walk-off home run on Tuesday was also his 144th career home run, marking the most career HR before a walk-off RBI among all active players. The last player to have his first walk-off RBI with that many career HR was Lance Berkman in 2008 (285 HR) – Elias Sports Bureau
- Soler has now hit 11 home runs through his first 41 gms of the season, matching his career-high set in 2022.
- Is the first Marlins player to reach 11 home runs in their first 41 gms since Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna and both did so in 2017. Stanton and Ozuna were both named All-Stars that season which took place here at loanDepot park. Stanton was also named the NL MVP that season.
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .389 batting avg. (56×144) and .444 on-base pct., ranks 3rd with 56 hits, and is tied for 2nd with 16 multi-hit games. Has struck out only 9 times in 160 PA (.056 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualified batters.
- His 56 hits are the second most for a Marlins player through their first 39 games of a season trailing only Dee Gordon’s 64 base knocks to start the 2015 season.
- With two hits last night, reached the 500-hit plateau, becoming the seventh active player to reach 500 hits within their first 428 career games. Joined Bo Bichette (407), Mookie Betts (408), Mike Trout (423), Jose Altuve (426), and Whit Merrifield (426), and Jose Abreu (428).
HE’S HERE AND HE’S PERFECT
RHP Eury Perez made his Major League debut last Friday at 20 years and 27 days, becoming the youngest pitcher in Marlins history. The previous youngest pitcher was Jose Fernandez, who debuted at 20 years and 250 days.
- Became the second youngest player (position / pitcher) to debut with the Marlins in club history, behind only INF Edgar Renteria who debuted at 19 years and 277 days.
- Became the youngest Dominican-born starting pitcher to debut in MLB, and the third-youngest DR-born pitcher (reliever / starter) at the time of his debut behind Elvis Luciano (TOR, 2019, (19 yrs, 44 days) and Jose Rijo (CIN, 194, 18 yrs, 328 days).
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
The Marlins are now 14-1 in one-run games in 2023. Set an all-time record with the most consecutive wins (12) in games decided by one run to start a season (courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau). Surpassed the previous mark of 11-0 set by the 1972 New York Mets. Became the last team in MLB to lose a one-run game this season.
WALK IT LIKE I TALK IT
OF/DH Jorge Soler on Tuesday night delivered Miami’s first walk-off HR this season and first since last June 26 (Nick Fortes vs. NYM, off Adam Ottavino). Was the second walk-off win by the Marlins in 2023 (also, Jean Segura, April 28 vs. Cubs).
- Marked the fifth time in club history that a Marlins player hit a walk-off homer on a full-count in the bottom of the ninth inning (L. Diaz, 9/19/21 vs. PIT; G. Cooper, 5/22/21 vs. NYM; M. Gonzalez, 9/2/09 vs. ATL; M. Kotsay, 6/30/99 vs. NYM).
- It also marked the first time in Marlins history that the team won in walk-off fashion after trailing by 2+ runs with 2 outs and nobody on in the ninth inning or later.
DE LA CRUZIN’
OF Bryan De La Cruz extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games last night (had two career 9-game hitting streaks – Sept. 18-28, 2022 and April 12-22, 2023). In this 11-game span, is batting .372 (16×43) with 6 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI, and 3 walks with a .948 OPS. His 10 multi-hit games rank 2nd on the team behind only Arraez’s 16.
- Has hits in 12 consecutive starts dating back to May 2 (used as pinch-hitter on May 3 vs. ATL).
DON’T LOOK NOW
3B Jean Segura has reached safely in the first 5 games of this homestand, recording at least 1 hit in his last 4 starts. During this stretch, is batting .429 (6×14) with 1 run, 1 triple, 1 RBI, 5 walks, and two consecutive multi-hit efforts.
- HIs fifth inning triple yesterday was the 46th of his career (8th most among active players) and first since July 9, 2021 at BOS.
GROWING THE GAME
The Miami Marlins, the Miami Marlins Foundation, and City of Hialeah tomorrow will hold a special ceremony at Babcock Park in Hialeah, announcing the locaiton as the Marlins Youth Academy programming headquarters. The partnership will add programming to the services already provided by the City of Hialeah Parks and Recreation Department at Babcock Park. The Marlins will introduce educational programs for participants in the youth baseball and softball offerings that give children a place to learn, a place to play the game of baseball and softball, and a place to develop social and emotional competencies. The Marlins will continue with their extensive Youth Baseball and Softball satellite programming throughout Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
DANCING ON A THIN LINE
Thus far in 2023, Miami is 21-2 when limiting opponents to 4 runs or less and has gone 1-19 when allowing 5 or more runs.
TODAY’S STARTER – #39 EURY PEREZ
- Eury Rafael Perez made his Major League debut on Friday, May 12 vs. the Reds and became the youngest pitcher in Marlins history (20 years, 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.
- In 6 starts this season with the Blue Wahoos, went 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA (31.0/8 ER), allowing 5 home runs and striking out 42 batters against 9 walks.
- In his last 2 starts with Double-A Pensacola combined to pitch 11.0 innings and allow 2 runs on 4 hits with 20 strikeouts.
- Recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts on April 29, 2022 at Double-A Biloxi.
- Participated in Major League Baseball’s 2022 Futures Game at Dodger Stadium and worked a perfect 2nd inning (10 pitches, 1 strikeout).
- His fastball was ranked No. 1 in the Minors by Baseball America.
