Offishial News: More walk-off wizardry in Miami

[Ely Sussman]

Marlins news roundup for 5/21/24

On Monday, the Marlins got lucky. It's okay to acknowledge that! Brewers starter Joe Ross exited after only one inning due to a low back strain. The relievers behind him did a terrific job, nonetheless. With the Brewers leading 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning, Jake Bauers' line drive to right field got wedged into the fence for a ground-rule double; otherwise, it would have surely driven in the runner from first base to extend the lead. Without that insurance run, Otto Lopez's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth was enough to force extras. Josh Bell sealed the victory in the 10th with a bases-loaded single. The Marlins won, 3-2. Miami now has five walk-off wins, tied for the most in the majors.

Here's more Marlins news and content for you:

🔷 Big props to Ryan Weathers. The Marlins wouldn't have kept the game within reach without him. He had never completed seven innings in any of his first 39 career MLB starts. Now, he's done it in back-to-back outings (7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 94 pitches/56 strikes vs. MIL). Weathers' ERA has dropped three full runs, from 6.55 in 2023 to 3.49 in 2024, and that's over near-identical sample sizes (57.2 IP in 2023 vs. 56.2 IP in 2024).

🔷 I'd also like to draw attention to what Andrew Nardi has done lately. The left-hander has stranded the last seven baserunners that he has inherited, including two on Monday. Also, he hasn't allowed a home run since Opening Day.

🔷 Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) has returned to Miami after a two-game minor league rehab assignment and is expected to be reinstated from the injured list today. Skip Schumaker mentioned that Anderson will receive more frequent days off moving forward. Reading between the lines, it's an acknowledgement that Vidal Bruján and Otto Lopez have dramatically outplayed the former All-Star this season and deserve semi-regular playing time.

🔷 Ryan Schlesinger identifies positive stats and attributes for each Marlins position player.

🔷 Happy birthday to Marlins INF Jordan McCants. The 2021 draft pick turns 22 today. McCants leads all Marlins minor leaguers with 19 stolen bases this season. Unfortunately, he's barely hitting his weight (.187/.266/.230 slash line) while repeating the Low-A level.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Chris Sale has thrown 20 straight scoreless innings for the Braves, striking out 37 batters so far in May compared to only one walk. Gunnar Henderson hit his MLB-leading 16th home run. Rafael Devers set a new Red Sox record by homering in six consecutive games.

🔷 Today's MLB game: The Marlins (probable starter LHP Trevor Rogers) host the Brewers (LHP Robert Gasser). Gasser will be making just his third career start in the majors and Milwaukee's bullpen was used heavily in the series opener. The Marlins have a 48.4% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 6:40 p.m.

🔷 Today's MiLB schedule:

• Triple-A Jacksonville at Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. ET (JT Chargois and Bryan Hoeing rehab appearances)
• Double-A Pensacola vs. Tennessee, 7:05 p.m. ET
• High-A Beloit at Great Lakes, 11:05 a.m. ET
• Low-A Jupiter vs. Tampa, 6:30 p.m. ET
• FCL Marlins at FCL Mets, 12:00 p.m. ET

 

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

The Marlins are on the cusp of some important decisions. Obviously, Anderson will have more leeway, but there are quite a few other decisions likely to be the proverbial cans kicked down the road (until the trade deadline moves occur). I figure there will be no moves in the catching department, either. Barring additional injuries or preemptive trades a la Arraez, aren't at least five player decisions imminent (Hoeing, Garrett, Cabrera, Edwards, and Garcia)?