Ely Sussman

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Edwards' incredible streak of contact hitting makes him an even more intriguing call-up candidate for the Marlins.Baseball fans adore Luis Arraez. One key to that is his ongoing flirtation with an unfathomable .400 batting average, but the manner in which he accrues those hits is also part of the appeal. Regardless of the pitch type or the location, Arraez believes he can get his bat on the ball. His 5.3% strikeout rate is by far the lowest among qualified major leaguers this season and on pace to be the best we've seen since Juan Pierre in 2007, back when triple-digit fastball velocity was a rarity. That brings us to Xavier Edwards. The speedy switch-hitter had a couple MLB stints in May, but only received limited playing time (.381/.391/.429, 125 wRC+ in 22 PA). Since the latter stint ended about a month ago, he's been thriving in a familiar way. Behold Edwards' recent game logs and all of the zeroes that populate the "SO" column: Baseball-ReferenceThree total strikeouts in 25 games, including a three-week period in which he never K'd. He's been slashing .362/.396/.448 since being optioned. His overall strikeout rate in Triple-A this season is down to an Arraez-like 5.4%, ranking him first among all qualified minor leaguers at full-season levels. Edwards seldom lets a hittable pitch pass by without offering at it. During his 4-for-6 performance on Tuesday, he saw 13 total pitches (2.2 P/PA). While Arraez is a line-drive machine, Edwards compiles his hits in a wider variety of ways. He registered a blazing sprint speed of 29.7 ft/sec on his latest bunt single. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/632d497b-0e04-43fa-828b-41c632fadec0.mp4Edwards continues to utilize his legs once he reaches base, having gone seven-for-seven on steal attempts during the last month-plus. A lifetime infielder, he began to learn center field this spring. He has played nearly half of his defensive innings there in 2023. I mention that because in the midst of an otherwise-awesome Miami Marlins win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, Jonathan Davis went down with a right knee injury. The Marlins were already thin at the center field position as Jazz Chisholm Jr. is expected to miss several weeks with a left oblique strain. Davis filled in admirably during Chisholm's previous IL stint, coinciding with incredible team success. In 34 games since being acquired from Detroit, he has slashed .244/.307/.378 (88 wRC+) with good defense. The Marlins own a 20-7 record with him in their starting lineup. The Marlins are describing Davis' injury as a right knee contusion for now. However, once he undergoes an MRI and further testing, he may be facing his own long-term absence. Newly called up Dane Myers completed Tuesday's game in CF. He can contribute there in emergencies, but Myers' promotion was primarily about his offensive upside and versatility to handle the corner infield and corner outfield spots. The converted pitcher made only eight appearances in center during his MiLB career. /news/dane-myers-call-up-interview/ The Marlins have the option of using Jesús Sánchez in CF on days when Myers or Jorge Soler occupy right field. In 81 MLB games at the most challenging outfield position, Sánchez has accrued plus-3 defensive runs saved and minus-2 outs above average. His glaring issue is a lack of range. Also, he's got a lousy track record at the plate against left-handed pitchers, so he wouldn't be an everyday solution. I suspect that in the event of a Davis IL stint, the Marlins will recall veteran Garrett Hampson, and that wouldn't be entirely unreasonable. The 23-year-old Edwards is among their best prospects and they'd prefer to get him everyday playing time with the Jumbo Shrimp while gaining more CF experience, rather than shoehorn him into a platoon role. That being said, Edwards' refusal to swing-and-miss would raise the floor of Miami's offense.

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Today's Marlins news roundup also includes an encouraging note about LoanDepot Park attendance.Monday's Games/game-coverage/marlins-cardinals-highlights-skip-schumaker-reunion/https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-07/03/fdd5fb53-d23590a5-c8059ff8-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Marlins Podcast Episodes Monday's Marlins MiLB notes: Johnny Cueto (Jacksonville) continues to have trouble with the long ball during his rehab assignment (6.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 BB, 3 HR). He's now fully stretched out as a starter, but the next steps for him are unclear considering the diminished quality of his stuff. INF Kahlil Watson (Beloit) tied up the game in the bottom of the ninth by stealing home. The Sky Carp would win it on a OF Davis Bradshaw walk-off single. Matt Barnes (Jupiter) pitched a scoreless inning of relief in what's expected to be his penultimate rehab appearance. INF Marco Vargas (FCL Marlins) reached base safely three more times to raise his on-base percentage to .475.The Marlins came from behind to pick up their 20th one-run win of the season, closing in on their 2022 total of 24. The game was followed by a fireworks show. The announced attendance of 19,638 was by far the Marlins' highest for a Monday home game since COVID.Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left oblique strain) expressed optimism that he'll be able to return at "110%" following the All-Star break, though his recovery timeline will depend on the severity of the strain. Dating back to the start of the 2021 season, Chisholm has played in only 55.9% of the Marlins' regular season games.Hot-hitting Dane Myers was called up from Triple-A to fill Chisholm's roster spot. Our own Kevin Barral details his first day as a big leaguer./news/dane-myers-call-up-interview/Elsewhere around the majors, the Mets made another minor trade, sending LHP Zach Muckenhirn to the Mariners for MLB right-handers Trevor Gott and Chris Flexen (Flexen was a salary dump and has been designated for assignment). The Braves won for the 17th time in their last 18 games, now 7.5 games ahead of the next-best National League team. The Rangers erased a 10-2 deficit to take an 11-10 lead over the Astros, but then blew the save and lost. Yankees rookie Anthony Volpe has recorded multiple hits in six of his last seven games, raising his batting average 30 points during that period.On Monday's episode of , we discussed Chisholm, Myers and whether the Cardinals will be sellers at the trade deadline. 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 have a 58.5% chance to win their next game against the Cardinals, per FanGraphs. Double-A Pensacola (5:05 p.m. ET), Low-A Jupiter (6:00 p.m. ET), FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) and DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) are at home, while Triple-A Jacksonville (6:35 p.m. ET) and High-A Beloit (7:40 p.m. ET) are on the road.Daily Luis Arraez batting average update: he enters today at .388. He went 0-for-3 in his only previous matchup with Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright. Additionally, Arraez is hitting .425 in home games this season and .399 in day games.Garrett Cooper explained to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald how Miami's hitting coaches are personalizing plans for how each hitter on the team should attack their upcoming opponents. “They cover everything—how the pitcher is going to attack you if you have runners in scoring position, if it’s a double play possibility," Cooper said. "There’s so much more information that we didn’t have in the past.”Photo by Isaac Azout/Fish On First

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Today's Marlins news roundup also includes reporting on the club's postgame social media strategy.Sunday's Games/game-coverage/braves-marlins-highlights-sandy-alcantara-quotes/https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-07/02/2d587dba-0993e112-63d8ae3c-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Marlins Podcast Episodes Sunday's Marlins MiLB notes: OF/1B Jerar Encarnación (Jacksonville) took the Marlins minor league lead with his 15th and 16th home runs of the season. C Will Banfield (Pensacola) established a new career-high with his 12th homer. RHP Karson Milbrandt impressed in his Beloit debut (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 74 pitches/50 strikes), while OF Tanner Allen reached base safely five times. UTIL Javier Sanoja provided Jupiter's only offense with his first home run of the season. Despite lacking over-the-fence power, Sanoja comfortably leads all Hammerheads players in total bases (115) and runs batted in (43).In his 10th MLB season, Jorge Soler received his first All-Star selection. He's been one of the National League's most impactful sluggers throughout 2023, particularly when you account for the context of his hits. Congrats to Soler...and no doubt, this should further boost his earning potential in the offseason assuming that he opts out of his contract. Here are the full rosters.Skip Schumaker admitted that "there's concern" about Jazz Chisholm Jr., who exited Sunday's game with left oblique soreness. If further testing determines that Chisholm suffered a strain, he'll be going back on the injured list just a week after returning to the Marlins lineup. That would mean an expanded role for Jonathan Davis in center field (again).The Braves swept the Marlins for the second time this season and have taken nine of their 10 head-to-head matchups overall. Against all non-Atlanta teams, Miami boasts a .627 winning percentage.Although many of our prognosticators worried about how the Marlins would fare vs. the Braves, nobody anticipated a winless weekend. Participate in Prediction Time prior to every Marlins series opener by becoming a Super Subscriber!/super-subscribers/marlins-prediction-time-leaderboard/Elsewhere around the majors, Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate at the plate. He's up to 31 homers, including 19 in his last 31 games. The Guardians blew a 6-0 lead to the Cubs before eking out a win in extra innings.We’re back with a new episode of Fish On First LIVE tonight, streaming at 5:30 p.m. ET on /Twitch/Twitter. 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! Entering this new week, the Marlins have 63.7% playoff odds, per FanGraphs. They have a 51.4% chance to win their series opener against the Cardinals. Triple-A Jacksonville (6:05 p.m. ET), High-A Beloit (7:25 p.m. ET) and DSL Marlins (11:00 a.m. ET) are at home, while Double-A Pensacola (7:35 p.m. ET), Low-A Jupiter (6:00 p.m. ET), FCL Marlins (12:00 p.m. ET) and DSL Miami (11:00 a.m. ET) are on the road.Daily Luis Arraez batting average update: he enters today at .389. He has no history with Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Additionally, Arraez is hitting .430 in home games this season and .381 in night games.Swimming Upstream interviewed a pair of productive Marlins prospects, Dane Myers and Will Banfield. Find both episodes on the Fish On First podcast channel.Hector Rodriguez did another MLB Draft prospect profile, this time on University of Tennessee right-hander Chase Dollander.You may have noticed that following each Marlins win, the team's social media accounts post graphics featuring selfies of player(s) who contributed during the game. Christina De Nicola of MLB.com explains how that tradition began.Graphic courtesy of Miami Marlins

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MLB's hottest team set a new season-high in runs scored to further assert their NL East supremacy.Bryan Hoeing had a shaky outing at Truist Park in his 2023 Miami Marlins debut on April 25. He returned Friday night as a full-fledged major league starter, but struggled to an even greater extent against an All-Star-studded Atlanta Braves lineup. Miami's bullpen didn't fare much better in the 16-4 loss. The quality of Hoeing's stuff simply wasn't what it needed to be. His best pitch this season, the slider, generated only one whiff and lacked its usual late break. In four career appearances against the Braves (9.2 IP), his lifetime earned run average is 13.03. The Marlins initially showed some resiliency. After falling behind 5-0, Jesús Sánchez and Jorge Soler both homered in the top of the third, narrowing the deficit to 5-3. However, Hoeing yielded two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Then, mop-up man Archie Bradley was equally ineffective (2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). Despite this deflating performance, expect Hoeing to remain in the Marlins rotation and face the St. Louis Cardinals next series. Jacob Stallings (left ankle soreness) exited the game in the fifth inning, aggravating an injury that he says he initially suffered against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. Seems to be a day-to-day issue for now. He's supposed to start again on Sunday afternoon as Sandy Alcantara's battery mate—Alcantara has pitched to Stallings exclusively dating back to the start of the 2022 season. Marlins rookie right-hander Eury Pérez will make his 10th MLB start on Saturday. Charlie Morton, who's nearly twice his age, will toe the rubber for Atlanta. Morton has 12 career wins against the Fish, his highest total against any team. The 39-year-old's first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. Photo courtesy of Atlanta Braves

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