Offishial news, 7/31/23: García returns; Puk's slump; upcoming strength of schedule

Today's Marlins news roundup also includes details on the club's pursuit of Gleyber Torres.

Sunday's Games

Marlins Podcast Episodes

• Sunday's Marlins MiLB Notes: For the fourth time in six games since being promoted, 1B Troy Johnston (Jacksonville) had multiple hits. He's slashing .440/.440/.800 with the Jumbo Shrimp. LHP Daniel Castano made just his second start of the 2023 season, shoving four hitless innings and compiling seven strikeouts. LHP José Castillo struggled in the ninth inning and took a loss in his Marlins organizational debut (0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP). 1B Jacob Berry (Pensacola) hit his first Double-A home run. He continues being used exclusively at first base with the Blue Wahoos. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Jupiter) played his first—and potentially, his only—rehab game, going 1-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base, a strikeout and five innings in center field. INF Fabian López and OF Jancory De La Cruz participated in the Dominican Summer League All-Star Game.

• Jesús Luzardo struggled, the offense couldn't string together hits against Tarik Skubal and the Marlins' win probability sunk as low as 7.3% during the middle of Sunday's contest. But a fifth-inning rally ignited by newly reinstated Avisaíl García erased the deficit. Jon Berti drew a crucial obstruction call, as explained by Close Call Sports. The Marlins went ahead for good on Garrett Cooper's two-run homer in the seventh. David Robertson earned the save in his first game with the Fish.

• Out of the 533 MLB pitchers who have made appearances in July, nobody has a lower win probability added than A.J. Puk. It's normal for talented relievers to go through rough patches, but Puk's case is particularly extreme.

• George Soriano lowered his earned run average to 1.98 and graduated from prospect eligibility. MLB Pipeline filled his spot on their Marlins Top 30 prospects list with Juan De La Cruz, an 18-year-old right-hander who's in the Low-A Jupiter starting rotation.

• Chisholm (left oblique strain) could be back in the Marlins lineup as soon as today. Andrew Nardi (left triceps inflammation) could be back on Tuesday. Check out more injury/rehab updates with our tracker below.

• For the second straight trade deadline, the Marlins are trying to acquire Gleyber Torres from the Yankees, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports. Torres would man second base with Luis Arraez sliding over to first. The Yanks wanted major league starting pitching in 2022 (Pablo López) and they're asking for it again, only this time, the Marlins don't have much to spare considering their own postseason ambitions. Miller explains that this scenario is contingent on New York making a separate move for a "quality bat" anyway.

• Elsewhere around the majors, the Cardinals commenced their sell-off by shipping Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton to the Rangers and Jordan Hicks to the Blue Jays. The Marlins are among the teams who've been linked to Jack Flaherty, another pending free agent who's expected to be moved prior to the trade deadline. The Angels brought in more reinforcements via veteran Rockies bats C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk. The Braves got Nicky López from the Royals. Having won eight of their last nine games, the Cubs decided they will hold onto Cody Bellinger through the deadline.

• We've got a new episode of Fish On First LIVE streaming tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET on
  /Twitch/Twitter. Special guest: Alex Carr. Super Subscribers, submit your series predictions before first pitch. With chiropractic care and functional health, La Pop takes a preventative approach that optimizes wellness and quality of life for all ages. Find out more here!

• The Marlins enter this new week with 49.6% playoff odds, per FanGraphs. They have a 54.5% chance to win their series opener against the Phillies. DSL Miami (11:00 a.m. ET) is at home, while FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) and DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) are on the road.

• The hellacious portion of the Marlins' 2023 schedule is finally here. Miami's next 19 games all come against teams with winning records (plus three games against the Padres, who I'd wager will have a winning record themselves by the time that matchup takes place).

• Glenn Geffner's View from the Bleachers analyzes these upcoming opponents in greater detail. Subscribe to his daily Substack to read more.

• We are in the midst of a stretch where the Fish On First staff is providing credentialed, on-site coverage for 31 out of 35 Marlins games. It's time-consuming and expensive to do it right, so your support is immensely appreciated! Please consider becoming a Super Subscriber below.

• I rewatched Jake Eder's final pre-deadline start and came away feeling that the Marlins would still be selling low on him. They might not have a choice, unfortunately, if they're seeking quality big leaguers who are controllable beyond 2023.

• Alex Krutchik reports on how Skip Schumaker and his coaching staff held the Marlins clubhouse together during their longest losing streak of the season.

• Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reflects on the career of Miguel Cabrera and the legacy he left with the Marlins, MLB, and Venezuelan baseball.

Photo courtesy of Danis Sosa/Fish On First