Offishial news, 9/20/23: Burger does it again; Moore bullpen help; "Make Your Pitch" for tix

Tuesday's Games

Marlins Podcast Episodes

• Tuesday's Marlins MiLB Notes: C/INF Bennett Hostetler and OF Jake Thompson combined for three home runs to account for Pensacola's offense in winning Game 1 of the Southern League Division Series. RHP Noble Meyer (Jupiter) had shaky control, but kept the Clearwater Threshers off the scoreboard in his brief start (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 48 pitches/23 strikes). The Threshers rallied later to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the Florida State League Championship series. 1B Torin Montgomery and LHP Evan Taylor were named 2023 FSL All-Stars.

• The Marlins notched their 31st one-run win of the season. They also grounded into their 145th double play, establishing a new single-season franchise record. Tanner Scott was credited with his ninth win, though that's only because he blew a two-run lead in the top of the ninth. Jake Burger bailed him out with a walk-off single. Burger is slashing .305/.359/.524 (137 wRC+) as a Marlin.

• Luis Arraez sprained his left ankle during pregame drills, preventing him from playing on Tuesday and very likely sidelining him for today's contest.

• Veteran left-hander Matt Moore is expected to be available today after the Marlins claimed him off waivers from the Guardians. To make room for Moore on the 40-man roster, Tommy Nance (left oblique strain) was placed on the 60-day injured list, officially ending his 2023 season before he made any major league appearances.

• The Miami chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America presented their annual Marlins awards to Arraez (MVP), Eury Pérez (Rookie of the Year), Jesús Luzardo (Charlie Hough Good Guy) and Jon Berti (Jeff Conine Heart & Professionalism).

• NL Wild Card race updates: the Cubs and Diamondbacks won, while the Giants, Phillies and Reds lost. The Marlins are a half-game back of the third Wild Card spot.

• Elsewhere around the majors, right-hander Kyle Nicolas made his major league debut with the Pirates. The 2020 draft pick was part of the trade package that the Marlins sent to Pittsburgh to acquire Jacob Stallings. Nicolas really found his groove at Triple-A last month after they converted him into a conventional reliever, though Tuesday was not a good example of that (0.1 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR). Another milestone for NL MVP favorite Ronald Acuña Jr., who recorded his 100th RBI of the season. Acuña's next homer will be his 40th.

• The Marlins have a 44.8% chance to win their series finale against the Mets, per FanGraphs. It is Eury Pérez's final home start of 2023, so if you have not witnessed him in person yet, you better take advantage of this opportunity. There's a giveaway for the first 8,000 fans: a special card commemorating Jazz Chisholm Jr. hitting grand slams in back-to-back games against the Braves. Triple-A Jacksonville (7:35 p.m. ET) is on the road.

• We have begun posting
  for notable Marlins prospects. Up next: INF Jacob Berry. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel!

• Sean Millerick of Call to the Pen wonders whether the Marlins should sell high on Braxton Garrett after his great 2023 season.

• "Nothing about the Marlins makes sense," ESPN's Jeff Passan writes in selecting them as his "biggest surprise" of the 2023 MLB season.

• The Marlins have launched their "Make Your Pitch" ticket-buying partnership with TicketRev. Saves the time and stress of conventional ticket shopping by letting you pick what price you're comfortable with and where you want to sit. You receive the tix when something matches that criteria.

• On this day 20 years ago, Miguel Cabrera blasted an extra-inning homer to lift the Marlins part the Braves.

• One of our Twitter followers, @Marlins305305, created a Marlins crossword puzzle. Took me about seven minutes to complete it. Let me know if any of you beat that!

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