Offishial News: Marlins offense sleeps against starters, feasts against bullpens

[Ely Sussman]

Today's news roundup also includes Baseball America's updated prospects list and a busy afternoon slate in the Marlins organization.

The 2025 Miami Marlins are all too familiar with what it's like to play from behind. You are well aware that their starting pitchers have fared terribly. Beyond that, Miami's offense has been slow to get rolling when opposing starters are in the game. The Marlins have only 14 home runs against starters this season, fewer than any other MLB team. Their .283 on-base percentage is third-lowest.

A switch seemingly flips when they get to face relievers. In Tuesday's upset of the Los Angeles Dodgers, they compiled 10 baserunners in four-plus innings against LA's loaded bullpen. The team's .797 OPS vs. relievers is second only to the Chicago Cubs.

These splits could be spun as a credit to Clayton McCullough for pushing the right buttons in late-game situations, or as a knock on him for constructing sub-optimal, ever-changing starting lineups. For now, I simply find them amusing.

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville won, 4-3. Joe Mack drove in three of their runs, including a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning. Andrew Pintar went 4-for-4 to raise his batting average to .315. Double-A Pensacola won, 6-1. Efficient start for Jacob Miller (7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 89 pitches/53 strikes). High-A Beloit lost, 8-0. Rare game for them without any stolen bases. Low-A Jupiter lost, 8-7. Eury Pérez made his third minor league rehab start and couldn't get out of the first inning (0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 27 pitches/15 strikes). His control was lousy, though defensive mistakes behind him didn't help. Dillon Head launched his second home run of the season. PJ Morlando is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to a left hamstring strain. Morlando previously had IL stints for back and elbow injuries.

More Marlins news and content below: 

🔷 Derek Hill (left wrist sprain) is beginning a rehab assignment with Jacksonville today. He figures to rejoin Miami's active roster at some point during the upcoming road trip, with benchwarmer Graham Pauley being the top candidate to get sent down in a corresponding move.

🔷 With the Los Angeles Dodgers in town, Fish On First interviewed former Marlins Tanner Scott and Miguel Rojas. Watch them here.

🔷 Tennessee LHP Liam Doyle is the subject of Hector Rodriguez's latest MLB Draft profile.

🔷 FOF SuperSub Ron Cox reflects on the state of the Marlins under Peter Bendix.

🔷 Baseball America's updated Top 100 MLB prospects list includes Thomas White (27th), Joe Mack (50th) and Robby Snelling (78th). Starlyn Caba is no longer ranked after entering spring training in the No. 69 spot.

🔷 Kyle Stowers has developed a daily journaling routine to relieve pressure and keep things in perspective, he explains to MLB.com's Christina De Nicola.

🔷 On this day in 2000, Ryan Dempster threw a one-hit shutout against the New York Mets. It's also the third anniversary of Joe Dunand's terrific debut.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, the Texas Rangers fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and hired longtime big leaguer Bret Boone to be their new hitting coach. The New York Yankees pulled away from the San Diego Padres with a 10-run rally in the seventh inning. The San Francisco Giants had their own nine-run rally in the 11th inning to beat the Chicago Cubs.

🔷 Today's MLB game: The Marlins (probable starter RHP Valente Bellozo) have their final head-to-head matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers (bulk guy RHP Landon Knack). Unless Bellozo pitches brilliantly, he's likely to be optioned to the minors following the game in favor of a fresh bullpen arm—Ryan Weathers is on track to take over this rotation spot next week. The Marlins have a 38.6% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 4:40 p.m. ET.

🔷 Today's MiLB schedule:

• Triple-A Jacksonville vs. Syracuse, 12:05 p.m. ET
• Double-A Pensacola at Biloxi, 12:05 p.m. ET
• High-A Beloit vs. Cedar Rapids, 12:10 p.m. ET
• Low-A Jupiter at Palm Beach, 6:30 p.m. ET
• FCL Marlins at FCL Nationals, 12:00 p.m. ET

 

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