Executives consider Chisholm 'most likely to be traded' by deadline

On Wednesday, RHP Valente Bellozo (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 72 pitches/46 strikes) exceeded all expectations in his major league debut. Bellozo had not made a scoreless start in the minors all season! However, the BABIP gods finally got their revenge against Huascar Brazoban. Entering the day allowing a .184 batting average on balls in play this season, Brazoban surrendered five consecutive hits with two outs in the eighth inning. The Marlins lost, 5-1. 

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 12-11. RHP Max Meyer pitched into the fifth inning for the first time since his demotion, though the results were unremarkable. Double-A Pensacola won, 7-6. RHP M.D. Johnson exited in the first inning after getting hit on the arm by a comebacker. RHP Austin Roberts recorded his farm system-leading 12th save. High-A Beloit lost, 8-6. Three-hit games for INF Carlos Santiago and INF Josh Zamora. Low-A Jupiter won, 5-4. LHP Justin Storm is looking like the Hammerheads' latest bullpen success story with a 1.21 ERA and strikeouts in 13 of his 14 relief appearances (36.0 K% overall). FCL Marlins won, 5-3. OF Andrés Valor has 13 stolen bases in his last 13 games without being caught, Business as usual for RHP Juan De La Cruz (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K).

Here's more Marlins news and content:

🔷 Christian Bethancourt cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Jacksonville. Now we wait to see whether he'll elect free agency or stick around as organizational depth.

🔷 According to Jim Bowden's survey of more than 35 baseball executives, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the (non-rental) position player most likely to be traded by the July 30 trade deadline. Several survey respondents also remain hopeful that Jesús Luzardo (lumbar stress reaction) could still be dealt "if the medicals are eventually cleared with little risk." I find that highly implausible, though—the Marlins are better served giving Luzardo the chance to restore some value by pitching for them over the final quarter of the season.

🔷 Cool news for out-of-market Marlins game viewers like me: MLB.TV is now showing live Bally Sports Florida pregame and postgame covering. Every other Bally-affiliated team already had this included on their MLB.TV streams entering the season, but better late than never.

🔷 Through 26 Marlins series, here's an updated look at the Prediction Time leaderboard. Make series predictions with us all season long when you become a Fish On First SuperSub.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, Dodgers rookie Gavin Stone pitched a shutout against the White Sox. Aaron Judge blasted his 30th home run. Former Marlins prospect Nasim Nuñez recorded his first major league hit with the Nationals

🔷 Today's MLB game: the Marlins (probable starter LHP Trevor Rogers) begin a four-game set against the Phillies (RHP Zack Wheeler). The first-place Phils own MLB's best home record at 31-12. The Marlins have a 32.0% chance to win the series opener, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 6:20 p.m. ET.

🔷 Join us for a new episode of Fish On First LIVE tonight from 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET on YouTube/Twitter/Facebook. Special guest: Locked On Marlins stud Peter Pratt. FOF LIVE is presented by Berger & Hicks. If you’ve been injured as a result of somebody else’s negligence, give them a call at (305) 670-7050.

🔷 Today's MiLB schedule: 

• Triple-A Jacksonville vs. Nashville, 7:05 p.m. ET
• Double-A Pensacola at Biloxi, 7:35 p.m. ET
• High-A Beloit at Cedar Rapids, 7:35 p.m. ET
• Low-A Jupiter at Daytona, 6:35 p.m. ET
• FCL Marlins at FCL Astros, 12:00 p.m. ET
• DSL Marlins vs. DSL Tigers 1, 10:00 a.m. ET (resumption of suspended game followed by regularly scheduled game)
• DSL Miami at DSL Tigers 2, 11:00 a.m. ET

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