Louis Addeo-Weiss

Cabrera again struggled to find the strike zone, spoiling an otherwise solid effort from the offense as the Marlins settled for a split in Philly. Good teams will always find a way to beat you. Call it trite deference, but the concept of regression to the mean generally tends to win out more often than not. Fortunately, for the Phillies, Edward Cabrera was their task at hand if they were to avoid a two-game sweep at the hands of the Miami Marlins, thirty games under .500 with the prospects of playoff baseball long in the rearview. Keeping it Cabrerian, the hard-throwing right-hander struggled to find the strike zone, walking four in Miami's 9-5 loss to the East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, now 39-22 at home. He was tagged with six earned runs, matching the total he had allowed in his five previous starts combined. Cabrera has now walked 35 in just 59 ⅓ innings pitched this season, right in line with his career 5.3 BB/9. "Fastball command is the biggest weakness right now...Only threw first-pitch strikes fifty percent (10-for-20) today," noted manager Skip Schumaker. Jonah Bride Has a Day There is such a thing as capitalizing on an opportunity at regular playing time, and then there is what Jonah Bride has been doing. Driving a career-best four runs in the loss, including three on a home run in the top of the first, Bride is now hitting .276 with an .852 OPS in 105 plate appearances this season, including a .967 OPS in the month of August. He has reached base safely in all 15 of the games he's played since the MLB trade deadline passed. Bride, 28 years old and acquired for cash considerations from Oakland in the prior offseason, appears to be playing himself into a potential role for 2025. Schwarber Comes Through in Grand Fashion Entering the evening 0-for-his-last-18 dating back to August 9, it felt inevitable for Phillies OF/DH Kyle Schwarber to come through in a big way. Following a first-inning strikeout, Schwarber came to the plate with the bases loaded and Philadelphia trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Upon what looked like a miscommunication between Cabrera and catcher Ali Sánchez, the right-hander left a 94 mph changeup over the heart of the plate, a pitch Schwarber sent in the left field seats for a grand slam, giving the Phillies a lead they would never relinquish. The Phillies clearly had a plan against Cabrera. Each of their first 15 batters took the first pitch they saw, patiently waiting for an advantageous count if not a free pass altogether. Assuming that Cabrera remains in the Marlins rotation through season's end, he could have up to eight more outings to show he belongs in their future plans. However, it will be difficult to change anybody's mind about his viability as a starter after so many examples of being derailed by poor control. Of Note - In 54 career starts, Cabrera has now walked four or more hitters in 16 of those outings. Miami is now 7-9 in those games. - Groanin' over Cronin: After pitching to a minuscule 1.21 ERA through June 5, the other side of the coin has bit Declan Cronin (0.2 IP, 4 H. 3 ER) hard, as the Miami reliever has posted 5.84, 8.03 and 12.60 marks in June, July and August, respectively, raising his season ERA to 4.79. His 7.96 ERA since June 8 appears misleading, though, as Cronin had a 1.87 FIP from that date through August 13. - Kyle Stowers' struggles with the Marlins lived to see another day Wednesday, as the outfielder acquired in the Trevor Rogers trade struck out three more times, bringing his total to 22 in 49 PA since joining Miami. Looking Ahead From the City of Brotherly Love to the burrow of Queens, the Marlins will continue their intradivision trek Friday when they open up at Citi Field for a three-game, weekend set against the Mets. Roddery Muñoz (2-6, 5.67 ERA) will meet the Mets for the third time in his young career, turning in two of his better starts at the Major League level when he previously faced them. Opposite him, Sean Manaea (8-5, 3.44 ERA) will look to right the ship against Miami, as he has a career 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Fish. First pitch is slated for 7:10 EST. View full article

Recently traded by the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres right-hander Bryan Hoeing discusses how he has handled the midseason transition to a new team and the change he has already made to his pitch usage. View full video

Meyer shows flashes of his April self, Burger continues his torrid pace as Marlins win despite close call in the ninth. MIAMI, FL—Skip Schumaker's first notable remark following Sunday's 7-6 thriller of a win over the Padres says all you need to know about the Miami Marlins over the last four days: "If I'm gassed, I can't imagine what those guys feel." After losing not one, not two, but three consecutive games in extra innings, the Marlins temporarily found themselves faced with the prospect of a fourth consecutive day of free baseball. Andrew Nardi was clinging to a 7-6 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth. Already the author of a hat trick at the plate with three strikeouts, Ha-Seong Kim squared up Nardi's fastball and hit a deep fly ball to left field. It deflected off the wall and then Kyle Stowers' glove, ultimately rolling over the wall. And just like that, the Marlins had blown another lead late. Or did they? Upon umpire review, the ruling was changed to a ground-rule double. Even without touching the ground, because the ball had impacted the wall before Stowers, it was to be treated as a ball in play. 44475ad1-0537bfb3-aca4ce7f-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 One batter later, in relief of Nardi, George Soriano locked down the victory over the Padres. It was redemption on a personal level as well considering Soriano was on the mound for the blown save in Friday's 9-8 loss. Marlins Bats Cease Dylan Entering Sunday amid a five-start stretch where he has allowed just six hits and one run—including a no-hitter on July 25—Dylan Cease had been in a groove unlike any other in recent vintage. However, Miami would figure Cease out early, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of RBI singles from Jonah Bride and Otto Lopez. But the first was merely an appetizer for the entree that awaited in the bottom of the second. Scoring their first run of the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Jake Burger continued a torrid run of hitting (1.036 OPS since July 2) when he drilled a Cease fastball into the center field ivy. It was his 22nd home run of the season and fifth in his last five games. Going 3-for-4 in the win, Burger now has a 1.284 OPS in the month of August. The Padres ace would settle in enough to make it through five innings, with only two of his five runs allowed being earned. Meyer Strong in Victory In his fourth start since being recalled from Triple-A, Max Meyer resembled the pitcher who allowed just four runs over his first three starts to begin the season...at least during his initial trip through San Diego's order. Meyer allowed 4 runs over a career-best 6 ⅓ innings pitched en route to his third win of the season. The former first-round pick started the afternoon retiring the entire Padres lineup in order before allowing a Luis Arraez single to begin the fourth. Meyer would surrender runs in fifth and sixth before a David Peralta double would put the lid on a four-run outing for the Marlins right-hander. "He on the attack...he threw fastballs down and away...Overall, just a very good outing when we needed length," noted Schumaker. Dating back to Thursday, the Marlins bullpen had thrown 13 ⅔ innings in the three games prior to Meyer's start on Sunday. Sánchez provides insurance With Miami leading 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Jesús Sánchez ultimately proved the difference with his two-run home run off San Diego's Yuki Matsui, tying a season-high with fourteen in the process. The Padres would make it a one-run affair once again, though. Half an inning later, and nearly ten years to the day of his only home run at loanDepot park (then Marlins Park) on August 12, 2014, Donovan Solano took Andrew Nardi over the left field wall for a two-run blast of his own. 0c575a88-cdec4387-5cd5ceb5-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Of Note - Some minor controversy ensued following an inning-ending double play that saw Jake Cronenworth take an aggressive slide into the second baseman Lopez, resulting in a clearing of the benches albeit a brief, uneventful one. - 'Ole stomping grounds: Luis Arraez picked up his fifteenth career three-hit game at loanDepot park Sunday, including a single to break up Meyer's no-hitter in the top of the fourth. Looking Ahead When Miami resumes play Tuesday, they will do so when commencing their final series of the season in Philadelphia, where they take on the division-leading Phillies. Taijuan Walker (3-3, 5.60 ERA), the owner of a 3.10 ERA in 12 career starts against the Marlins, starts the opener for the Phillies. First pitch from Citizen's Bank Park is slated for 6:40 EST. View full article

Fish get improbable series split via rare shutout win. Back on April 23, Max Fried needed just 92 pitches to shut out the the Miami Marlins. The lineup he faced 107 days later was almost unrecognizable and inarguably less talented, yet the Braves left-hander would be anything but efficiently brilliant. Making his first start since July 11 following a stint on the injured list with forearm neuritis, Fried battled reduced fastball velocity and command issues, tying a career-high with five walks and being charged with 5 runs in his 3 ⅓ innings. This would prove more than enough for Edward Cabrera and Co., as Miami would ride a six-run fourth to a 7-0 victory to secure a series split in Atlanta. With the win, Miami concludes a winning road trip going 5-4 and improving to 42-70 overall. "I'm really proud of the group," noted manager Skip Schumaker. "A lot of those guys are really just meeting each other for the first time...To put out that effort, you would never know what our record is." Cabrera Figures Out the Braves After struggling to a 4.85 ERA in his first three career starts against them, Edward Cabrera put forth his best effort opposite the Braves the fourth time around. Featuring a fastball that routinely touched 98 mph, Cabrera showed no ill effects after departing his last start with a knee injury. He limited Atlanta to just 3 hits over 5 scoreless innings, striking out 8, walking a pair, and throwing a season-high 98 pitches en route to first career win over the Braves. Illustrative of Cabrera's dominance Sunday are the 18 whiffs he generated. The only real scoring threat against Cabrera came on an Austin Riley second-inning double initially thought to have scored Jorge Soler on a play ultimately challenged and overturned. "He's got top-5 stuff in the league. Fastball 95-to-98 mph," Schumaker said. "We had a lot of (relievers) down, so for him to provide five innings was big for us." Bats Do Damage After failing to capitalize on three walks in the first three innings, the Marlins broke through against Fried in what would ultimately turn out to be a six-run top of the fourth. Newly claimed Cristian Pache opened the scoring with his first Marlins hit, singling home Emmanuel Rivera (2-4, R) before a pair of run-scoring at-bats courtesy of Ali Sánchez and Xavier Edwards, the latter now hitting .382 after another multi-hit day Sunday. The hit of the day, though, would come courtesy of Jonah Bride, whose third home run in five games increased the Miami lead to 6. Of Note - The win saw Miami pitchers shut out the opposing team for the sixth time this season. It was their first shutout since May 24. - Sunday marked the thirteenth multi-hit game of the season for Xavier Edwards through 31 games played. Luis Arraez had the same number of such games in his first 31 games to begin the 2023 season. Edwards' .382 average is the fourth-highest through a player's first 31 games of any season in Marlins history. - Welcome back: Since commencing his second go-around with Miami, Jesus Tinoco has yet to allow a run over three appearances (3.1 IP). Looking Ahead Miami will resume play at home on Monday when they begin a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Roddery Muñoz (2-3, 5.45 ERA) will get the first look at Cincinnati in the series opener. First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST. View full article

The Miami Marlins had a busy trade deadline, stripping their roster of veteran assets to uplift a feeble farm system to respectability. The 2024 MLB trade deadline has come and gone, and with it, the Miami Marlins underwent a facelift. Already buried in the standings and destined for one of the worst seasons in franchise history, they negotiated with contenders to clear their selves in exchange for younger, more controllable talent that sets them up for success in the near and distant future. In a sell-off that unofficially began with the dealing of Luis Arraez to the Padres on May 4, Miami offloaded nine players from their big league roster over six days from July 25-July 30. Miami kicked off deadline festivities when they sent RP A.J. Puk to the Diamondbacks in return for INF Deyvison De Los Santos and OF Andrew Pintar. Two days later, INF/OF Jazz Chisholm Jr. was dealt to the New York Yankees for a three-player package that included INF/OF Abrahan Ramírez, C/1B Agustín Ramírez, and INF Jared Serna. On deadline day, Bendix cashed in two years of ensuing control of Trevor Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles for a return of INF/OF Connor Norby and OF Kyle Stowers. JT Chargois would be sent to Seattle for his second stint with the Mariners (3.00 ERA, 2021) with SP Will Schomberg going the other way. 1B/DH Josh Bell would see his way out, too, as he was sent to Arizona in his third consecutive trade deadline dealing. Miami will receive cash considerations or a player to be named later in the exchange. OF Bryan De La Cruz became a Pittsburgh Pirate, addressing an outfield with a collective 93 wRC+ through July 30, netting Miami RHP Jun-Seok Shim and INF Garret Forrester in return. RP Huascar Brazoban stayed in the NL East, moving from Miami to Queens to join the New York Mets in exchange for INF Wilfredo Lara. Inarguably, though, the most notable move made by the Fish came when the long-awaited Tanner Scott sweepstakes crowned a winner, with AJ Preller and the San Diego Padres acquiring the best available reliever and swingman Bryan Hoeing in exchange for SPs Robby Snelling and Adam Mazur, INF/OF Graham Pauley, and INF Jay Beshears. "Peter Bendix aced his first test as Marlins general manager," noted ESPN's Paul Hembekides. What was once a largely barren minor league pipeline has now been rejuvenated. Here are my favorite attributes of each of the newest Marlins. Deyvison De Los Santos: Raw Power From being left unprotected in last year's Rule 5 Draft to being the crown jewel of the A.J. Puk trade, De Los Santos has had a whirlwind last seven months. Looking at his numbers this season, though, you would be hard-pressed to assume as such, hitting 14 home runs in 38 games at AA Amarillo before a promotion to AAA Reno that saw him continue to torch minor league pitching to the tune of a .588/.926 (SLG, OPS) clip. For lack of hyperbole, the power is real, receiving a 70-grade on FanGraphs 20-80 scouting scale, and De Los Santos further proved that, homering in each of his first two games with AAA Jacksonville following the trade. Of the 263 players across all minor league levels with at least 350 plate appearances, no one has more than De Los Santos' 30 home runs. Did we mention that he has done all of this at just 21 years old? Eschew the questions surrounding his defense, and Marlin fans have to be salivating at the prospect of seeing De Los Santos bringing his light-tower power to loanDepot park in the not-so-distant future. Andrew Pintar: Plate Discipline While his 60-grade speed is his best tool, I am deferring to Pintar's plate discipline following a lower-body injury (foot/ankle) sustained last season. The second piece coming back in the Puk trade, Pintar, while boasting an inconsistent track record in the minor leagues, has managed to show an aptitude for plate discipline. Of the 50 hitters in the Advanced-A Northwest League, the outfielder sported the eighth-best walk rate (13.8%), all while slugging .512. He still has a lot to prove at the higher levels of the minors, but a simultaneous harnessing of his eye and 50-grade power could prove the difference between him being a big-league regular or a reserve. Agustín Ramírez: Raw Power The prospect of a catcher with plus power is an alluring one regardless the era in baseball history. Never hitting more than nine home runs in any prior season, the 22-year-old broke out with 16 in 58 games for Double-A, with his .570 slugging percentage ranking first among the 80 Eastern League hitters with at least 250 plate appearances. Ramírez does not profile as a quality catcher long term, not unless his blocking and framing improve. Despite those concerns, given Miami's lack of an answer at the position and the fact that he is already at Triple-A, Ramírez may be on the verge of reaching the Majors. Abrahan Ramírez: Plate Discipline I am sure what I am about to say will surprise you, but I will say it anyway: it is hard to project teenage ballplayers. Now, dry humor aside, onto the other Ramírez. Not yet playing above the Complex League, what sticks out in the 19-year-old's first 400 plate appearances is the almost-Soto-like eye at the plate, as evidenced by a 17.8% BB rate. While it remains to be seen if he can produce offensively outside of taking pitches, a .447 on-base percentage and 161 wRC+ are great regardless of where you do it. Jared Serna: Bat-to-ball Serna is striking out in just 16 percent of his minor league plate appearances (72nd among 865 minor leaguers to take at least 1,000 PA since 2021), and doing so while crushing 41 home runs in 316 games. A 120 wRC+ at Advanced-A Hudson Valley after repeating the level in 2024 saw him make the jump to Double-A following his arrival in the Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade. A strong offensive performance there could see his stock rise further. Although seeing a majority of his innings in the minors at shortstop, Serna profiles more as a second baseman long term, thus the current-45/future-60 field grade. Connor Norby: Power Buried in a treasure trove of Orioles hitting prospects that at one time included Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, and Jordan Westberg, Connor Norby seemed the most expendable. Seeing him included in the deal for Trevor Rogers was not much of an eyebrow-raiser as much as that it only took dealing Trevor to acquire him. After a strong start a la a .785 OPS upon being drafted in 2021, Norby proved his worth with back-to-back 20 home run seasons, highlighted by four home runs in nine games at Triple-A Norfolk to put the power on a terrific 2022 season. After an 80-game stint at Norfolk where he hit at a 32-home run pace in 2024, Norby struggled in two abbreviated big league stints, striking out in nearly 38 percent of his plate appearances before being dealt on deadline day. Of the 15 players acquired by Peter Bendix and Co., and despite an optioning to Triple-A upon being acquired, Norby and his plus-power feel to be the best balance of right-now impact that looks to be a long-term asset. Kyle Stowers: Raw Power In Kyle Stowers, the Marlins got a lot of power, but quite a bit of swing-and-miss to boot. In his big league career of just 172 plate appearances, Stowers has struck out in 33.7% of his trips to the plate, including a golden sombrero in his Marlins debut on July 31. When he has connected, though, Stowers has shown above-average power and exit velocity, already putting 10 balls in play at or above 100 mph. For a team long starved of young, controllable power, Stowers has the potential to provide that beginning immediately. Will Schomberg: Swing-and-miss After signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Schomberg quickly showed a profile susceptible to extremes. What could be a better example of this than the right-hander boasting the seventh-highest BB/9 (4.48) and fifth-highest K/9 (11.31) among 94 minor league hurlers with at least 90 innings pitched? He has also allowed 14 hit by pitches, contributing to the variance between Schomberg's 2.83 ERA and 4.23 FIP. Acquiring a starter who's limiting hitters to a sub-.200 batting average aligns with Bendix's ethos of acquiring the best possible player, and for someone like JT Chargois, it is hard to argue he could have done any better. Jun-Seok Shim: Fastball Coming back with Garret Forrester in the trade with Pittsburgh for Bryan De La Cruz, aged just 20, not playing above the Florida Complex League, and having missed all season due to a shoulder injury, Shim and his electric fastball feel more apocryphal than reality. Normally sitting 94-96, Shim's fastball has touched 100, drawing comparisons to long-time Korean hurler Chan Ho Park. This offering is largely why his eight-inning introduction to pro ball saw him strike out 13 (14.63 K/9). The development of a third pitch to compliment his fastball/slider combination—particularly the curveball—will prove the difference between whether he projects more in the rotation or as a reliever, but Miami should first hope to see him in game action before making any rash decisions. Garret Forrester: Plate Discipline Daulton Varsho's unique skillset of being a capable big league catcher whilst playing Gold Glove-caliber outfield defense gives credence to the notion that today's athletes are better than ever. If Garret Forrester, a catcher/third baseman, were to even replicate approximately half the value Varsho has, consider it a win for Miami. While the power well is largely dry early in his pro career, Forrester's knack for drawing walks is anything but. Showing that his Bondsian .552 OBP in 29 PA in A-ball was anything but an anomaly, Forrester posted a .413 mark in 34 games at the same level in 2024. Whether his future is behind the plate or at one of the corner infield spots, the Oregon State alum should have no problem ascending up the ranks of Miami's system, giving them an element of advanced patience that the current iteration of the big league club sorely needs. Wilfredo Lara: Defensive versatility The Marlins acquired Lara—one year removed from an OPS north of .800 in the Florida State League—for a 34-year-old reliever in Huascar Brazoban. While the potential is still there for more pop, boasting a future 50-grade raw power at just age 20, Lara's biggest present strength is his positional versatility, as he has seen extensive time at all three non-first base infield spots, as well as all three outfield spots. Marlins fans grew fond of Jon Berti in his time here, so the prospect of a utility guy with power would easily make him a fan favorite should the bat continue to develop. Robby Snelling: Slider What is Robby Snelling? He's arguably the most polarizing player featured in this piece. A left-hander whose fastball routinely sits 90-94, Snelling is yet to harness his command, as evidenced by a current-20 grade. In his brief introduction to Double-A to conclude 2023, Snelling walked 5.2 batters per nine, showing the misleading nature of a 1.56 ERA juxtaposed by a 3.98 and 4.84 FIP and xFIP. Repeating Double-A to begin 2024, while still walking hitters at a concerning clip (4.1/9), Snelling now did so with the advent of allowing more home runs (1.7 HR/9). Currently, the southpaw's slider is his best offering, grading out as equal to his fastball (45). However, should the command issues not resolve themselves, Snelling's best-case scenario could be as a long reliever/spot starter. Adam Mazur: Slider From one pitcher in Snelling, who someday hopes to be in the big leagues, to one who was pressed into action in 2024, we meet Adam Mazur. The Padres fifth-ranked prospect prior to coming over in the Tanner Scott deal, Mazur's first taste of the show has been anything but smooth, as he has pitched to a 7.49 ERA in his first eight starts. Despite this, though, there is a lot to like with Mazur. For starters, the command is elite, walking just 1.7 per nine in 151 ⅓ minor league innings. While his command has largely abandoned him early in his Major League career, Mazur's slider—boasting good arm-side run—has played up, as hitters are batting just .216 with a 21.1% hard-hit rate. If he can resume throwing strikes as prolifically as frequently as he has shown capable of, pairing his slider with a fastball that can touch 98 mph could make him someone to watch as Miami trudges through this rebuild. Graham Pauley: Game Power Another guy who has gotten a taste of the Majors in 2024, Pauley has shown throughout his pro career a good balance of above-average power and, at times, advanced plate discipline. His game power showed itself in his 13-game stint with San Diego in 2024, hitting a pair of home runs as Padre fans were briefly greeted by a swing that eerily mirrors that of another former California superstar, Corey Seager. Given his lack of a position, Pauley's best way of sticking in the Majors is predicated on him continuing to hit for power. Jay Beshears: Arm While we noted Graham Pauley largely being a man without a defensive home, Jay Beshears and his 60-grade arm are what could see him stay at shortstop after primarily playing second while at Duke. While he struggled offensively upon promotion to Advanced-A Fort Wayne, further refinement of his defensive skills should see him continue to ascend through the minors, and the return of his line drive power will likely prove the difference in whether or not he ever sees time in the Majors. View full article

Xavier Edwards' cycle serves as the main storyline from Sunday's Marlins game, the team's last before the MLB trade deadline arrives. In the aftermath of trades that shipped Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. elsewhere, Xavier Edwards has an opportunity to cement his place as a building block of the Miami Marlins' future. He took another step toward doing so during Sunday's getaway contest versus the Milwaukee Brewers. The speedy shortstop legged out a ninth-inning ground ball to his positional counterpart, Willy Adames, to complete the second cycle in franchise history in Miami's 6-2 loss. Arraez broke the Marlins' 30-year cycle-less streak against Philadelphia on April 11 last season. Edwards now joins him in that ultra-exclusive club. Acknowledging his lack of raw power, Edwards said postgame that it's the first time he has ever cycled during his baseball career at any level of competition. "It's pretty awesome," noted Skip Schumaker, who was Arraez's skipper in 2023 and working for the Padres when the club drafted Edwards with the 38th pick in the 2018 draft. "To be a part of one again is something I'll always remember." How it Happened Starting things off in not-so-Edwards fashion, the slap-hitting, Coconut Creek native took the first pitch he saw from Milwaukee's Tobias Myers over the right field wall for his first career home run. Following a third-inning walk, Edwards, batting in the top of the fifth and now facing reliever Jakob Junis, checked the double off his list. Two innings later, the rookie would add another first to his résumé, this time a leadoff triple that would shortly turn into the Marlins' second run of the day in the top of the seventh. His final adversary was Milwaukee closer Devin Williams, making his long-awaited season debut. The infield single also secured the first four-hit game of Edwards' major league career. "It means a lot. I don't think it has set in yet...I had been thinking about that for the past two innings or so," said Edwards, who was seen running sprints in the dugout ahead of that final plate appearance. Pitching Hurts Fish Following a nine-hit outing in his last start against Baltimore on July 23, the wheels seemed to further fall off for Kyle Tyler. Though he matched a season-high with five strikeouts, Jake Bauers' eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the first would give Milwaukee a lead they would never relinquish. Failing to cross the five-inning mark for a second consecutive outing, Tyler allowed seven hits and four runs in his four innings of work. Things would not get easier for Miami. In the bottom of the fifth, recently recalled Emmanuel Ramirez, would allow a Jackson Chourio home run and Bauers triple on successive pitches. Ramirez would ultimately settle down to pitch three innings. Now, 39-67, Miami are currently on pace for 59 wins. Of Note - Ahead of authoring the second cycle in franchise history, Xavier Edwards became the first player in Marlins history to hit a home run, triple, double, and draw a walk in the same game. - All seven Miami hits came from the top three spots of the lineup, with everybody else combining to go 0-for-21 against Brewers pitching. - Recently claimed Forrest Wall made his team debut Sunday, striking out on three pitches in the top of the ninth. Looking Ahead While the schedule defines it as such, Monday has the potential to be anything but an "off day" for the Marlins with the looming trade deadline. When Miami resumes play, all eyes will be on Tanner Scott, Josh Bell and which other familiar faces are absent. The Marlins play visitors to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the latest edition of the Citrus Series. Edward Cabrera (1-3, 7.04 ERA) will look to get the walks under control as he starts the series opener. Jeffrey Springs will return to the big leagues following Tommy John surgery, which cost him most of 2023 and the majority of 2024. First pitch from Tropicana Field is slated for 6:50 EST. View full article

Jazz and Burger homer while four Marlins relievers silence Mets offense. Trevor Rogers failed to make it through five innings while his batterymate, Nick Fortes, made three errors. Fortunately, Jazz Chisholm Jr. had another case of the Sunday's while the bullpen in relief of Rogers held down the fort as the Miami Marlins took the third game of their series against the Mets, 4-2. Strong, Sealed, Delivered While only lasting just 4 ⅔ innings in the victory, starter Rogers—pitching on six days of rest—continued his run as the Marlins' most consistent starter. He allowed just two runs (one earned), striking out five. Crossing the 20-start threshold for the third time in his career, Rogers became the first Miami starter to cross the 100-inning mark this season. "I was really happy with how my stuff felt," noted Rogers, who sat 89-92 mph with his fastball. "Trevor was good. I thought could have gone deeper in the game, but we didn't play clean baseball behind him. His last 10 or 11 outings have been outstanding," said manager Skip Schumaker. In his last 10 outings dating back to May 27, Rogers has a 3.31 ERA. Power and the 'Pen Following the Mets touching Rogers for the game's first run in the top of the fourth, back-to-back hits from Xavier Edwards and Vidal Bruján put rookie Christian Scott in danger. Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed with his 13th home run of the season (and fifth on a Sunday) to give Miami a 3-1 lead. Combining the two career starts he has made in Miami, Scott has allowed 14 hits and seven runs across eight innings. Clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Jake Burger, author of a home run in Friday's 6-4 victory, provided Miami some much-needed insurance with a solo blast. Now up to 12 home runs on the season, Burger has rebounded to the tune of a .296/.356/.611 slash line with five home runs in 54 July plate appearances. In relief of Rogers, the bullpen tandem of Declan Cronin, A.J. Puk, Calvin Faucher and Tanner Scott combined to throw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings of three-hit, nine-strikeout ball to help preserve the Miami win. Picking up right where he left off before earning his first All-Star selection, Scott has pitched 2 ⅓ perfect frames, lowering his season ERA to a minuscule 1.27. Miami's closer last allowed an earned run on June 13. Of Note - Vidal Bruján collected his second three-hit game of the season Sunday, having previously done so against Oakland on May 3. - Wrong side of history: Nick Fortes became the first Marlins catcher to record three errors in the same game. - Reliever no-no: Following a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, Tanner Scott completed a "hidden no-hitter," as Miami's closer has now recorded 28 consecutive outs dating back to June 25 without allowing a hit. The league is hitting a collective .128 against the All-Star reliever in 2024. Looking Ahead Miami and New York conclude this four-game wrap-around series on Monday. Yonny Chirinos (0-1, 5.76 ERA) will look to bounce back from his last outing where he allowed 7 runs over 5 ⅔ innings against the Reds on July 12. The Mets will counter with David Peterson (4-0, 3.09 ERA). In eight career games (seven starts) against the Marlins, Peterson owns a 2.70 ERA. First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST. View full article

Marlins escape Cincinnati with a win, thanks to Edwards' late-inning heroics. The Marlins' 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday felt like a throwback across eras of club history. Jazz Chisholm Jr. started his first game at second base in more than two years, Xavier Edwards bore a resemblance to the premier slap-hitters of Marlins past, and Trevor Rogers looked like the guy who was an All-Star in 2021. Though his 58-game score wasn't his best statistically pitched game of the season—allowing 2 hits and 2 runs over 5 ⅔ innings—an outing of this quality heading into the All-Star break after an otherwise disastrous first-half for him and the Marlins could prove the reset needed to Rogers finishing the season strong. Working around 3 walks, Rogers held a Reds team that had hit an MLB-best 28 home runs in July hitless through the first 5 innings. The 2021 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up would not allow a hit until two outs in the bottom of the sixth when a dead-center fastball to that year's winner, second baseman Jonathan India, turned into a double. One pitch later, Elly De La Cruz amended a baserunning error made in the 4th when the next pitch from Rogers found its way into the right field seats to tie the score 2-2. "My pitchability today has probably been the best it's been all year," said Rogers. Eschewing the pitching need for speed, Rogers relied more on spotting the fastball, not throwing any pitch above 92.7 mph. "He spotted his fastball up, his slider was good, his changeup was good...He did enough for us to keep us in the game," manager Skip Schumaker said. Recent Call-Ups Deliver Prior to De La Cruz's sixth-inning heroics, utility infielder Jonah Bride gave the Marlins their first two runs of the day with a single in the top of the fifth. Bride, recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on July 4, has collected hits in each of his last three games dating back to July 10. Most encouraging, though, Xavier Edwards, Miami's everyday shortstop for the time being, continued to assert his case as a big league-caliber hitter, collecting a pair of hits, one of which included a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth. Since being recalled from Triple-A on July 2, Edwards has hit .378. All-Star Finish Closer and lone Miami All-Star Tanner Scott struck out a pair of Reds to lower his season ERA to 1.34. This was the fifth time this season that he has recorded four-plus outs in an appearance. Among the 68 relievers to throw at least 40 innings this season, none have a lower opponent's batting average than Scott's .134. Of Note - OF Dane Myers suffered a fractured left ankle after Saturday's 10-6 loss. Schumaker noted he will "miss a lot of time." Myers told the media postgame that he took a swipe at the clubhouse door out of frustration after being ejected on a checked swing. - With his scoreless inning pitched Sunday, A.J. Puk continues a string of 10 consecutive outings without allowing a run. In 12 outings dating back to June 17, Puk has surrendered just one earned run, lowering his season ERA from 6.91 to 4.73. Looking Ahead As with the rest of the sport, the Marlins will enjoy some time off during the MLB All-Star festivities in Arlington. There are 66 regular season games remaining after the break. Miami will resume play on Friday, July 19, when they host the New York Mets at loanDepot park. Schumaker declined to note the Marlins starter out of the break. First pitch is slated for for 7:10 EST. View full article

Hoeing far less effective in second start as Miami drops an all-around sloppy Game 2 in Houston. If there were ever a pitcher to best expose the offensive shortcomings of the Miami Marlins, Framber Valdez may have been born to play that part. Entering the night with the most double plays (20) among big league hurlers in 2024, Miami and their MLB-high 50.3% groundball rate played the George Martin to Framber's double-play Beatles, as the sinkerballer induced three twin killings over his 7 innings en route to his eighth victory of the season in the Astros' 9-1 win over the Marlins. The two-time All-Star tied a season-high with 10 strikeouts in his latest effort. Miami's lone run came on an Xavier Edwards single in the top of the fifth. Entering Wednesday as the worst offensive team in the Majors according to wRC+ (77), the Marlins are averaging just 3.1 runs per game to begin July. Now 32-60, Miami ties their season-worst as they fall to 28 games under .500. It's the first time in franchise history that they've suffered 60 losses before the All-Star break. Houston, on the other hand, moved to 48-44. Hang with 'Em, Hoeing In his second start of the season, swingman Bryan Hoeing lasted just three innings, surrendering five runs, including four in the bottom of the second that saw rookie Joey Loperfido rip his second career home run. Of his 62 pitches thrown, Hoeing generated just one whiff, notable considering his four-seam and sinker were a tick under their season-average velocities. "I thought his stuff was good...we just didn't always play clean defense behind him," noted Skip Schumaker. Though Hoeing was responsible for the only Miami error on the evening, Houston picked up a run in the second when center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. misjudged a Jake Meyers fly ball that allowed Jon Singleton to score. Largely absent Wednesday was Hoeing's split-changeup, a pitch he featured 13% of the time in his prior appearances this season. In his latest outing, the 27-year-old threw just three such pitches. Of Note - Though otherwise ineffective, surrendering 4 runs, Declan Cronin became the second Marlin to strike out 5 in a single relief outing. Huascar Brazoban previously accomplished the feat on July 6. - Emmanuel Rivera made his fourth appearance on the mound this season, authoring a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth. Primarily a third baseman, Rivera has gone scoreless in each of his last three outings. - Jazz update: Some three weeks ahead of the July 30 trade deadline, Chisholm went 0-for-3 in Wednesday's loss. Miami's center fielder is now hitting .256 with 11 home runs through 89 games played. Looking Ahead In place of commonly seen getaway day games, Miami and Houston will conclude their series with a nighttime contest. Roddery Muñoz (1-3, 5.48 ERA) will make his ninth start of the season in the finale. Jake Bloss (0-0, 4.91 ERA) will oppose him in what will be just his second Major League appearance. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is slated for 8:10 EST. View full article

Trailing into the bottom of the ninth, Jake Burger's walk-off, three-run homer gives Miami series win over White Sox. In a game that commenced with the return of Edward Cabrera as the prevailing storyline, Jake Burger made it so that this was not the case when all was said and done. The Marlins were an out away from giving the Chicago White Sox—a team whose current incarnation is in the conversation for the moniker of "worst team of all-time"—their first road series win of the season. Instead, Burger would put the finishing touches on a comeback that took root in the bottom of the seventh. Facing the hard-throwing Michael Kopech and a 4-3 deficit, second baseman Vidal Bruján led off the ninth by drawing his second walk of the day. Catcher Nick Fortes then laid down a sacrifice bunt that would see Bruján execute a high-baseball IQ move, taking third base upon noticing no one was covering. With the count sitting 3-2, Josh Bell hit a fly ball initially thought to be caught by left fielder Tommy Pham, except it found its way through the 11-year veteran's glove and onto the warning track dirt, tying the score at 4-4. Two batters later, after Kopech had intentionally walked Jesús Sánchez, Burger got the hit that sealed Miami's 7-4 win over Chicago. He squared up a 99 mph fastball from Kopech, sending it 110.3 mph off the bat and 431 feet into AutoNation Alley in left-center for a walk-off, three-run home run. UVd4bzFfWGw0TUFRPT1fQkFsUlhBZFNWQVlBQzFNS1Z3QUFBUThBQUFNQ0JsZ0FWd0ZYVmd0UkJGSlZBUWRY.mp4 "Pretty special," said manager Skip Schumaker. "He was frustrated with his previous at-bats, maybe trying too hard against his former team." Entering that ninth inning at-bat, Burger had been just 1-for-10 during the series. Less than a year ago, Burger was dealt at the deadline by the organization that had drafted and developed him in exchange for pitching prospect Jake Eder. Burger told Fish On First how appreciative he was that the Sox stood by him through two Achilles injuries. Kopech is one of many former Burger teammates that remain with Chicago. So is Gavin Sheets, who was drafted the round after Burger in 2017. The two came up the minors together. “We got called up about six days apart," Sheets said. "We just went through it all together: seeing the good, the bad, the ins and outs.” Burger built bonds with White Sox players that are still going strong. He said he "felt the adrenaline coming to the field" this weekend. But in the heat of competition, he put those feelings aside to defeat them. The Marlins improve to 32-58 for the season and 2-4 in July with their victory. Cabrera's Return to the Hill In what was his first appearance since May 7, Edward Cabrera showed signs of his former self, topping out at 98 mph with his fastball and striking out 4 while generating 14 swings-and-misses. "I thought he was okay," Schumaker said. Though he only walked one in 3 ⅔ innings of work, Cabrera registered just a 41.1% first-pitch strike rate on the afternoon. "He hung a few sliders...The homer was a slider, the Jazz play was on a slider." The homer in question came in the top of the fourth when light-hitting Danny Mendick laced a mistake pitch over the left-field wall for his third home run of the season, ultimately ending Cabrera's day. Miami starters have now gone nine consecutive games dating back to June 28 without completing 6 innings. Cabrera ought to have the flexibility to go well beyond 82 pitches when he makes his next scheduled start. Of Note - Sunday marked the eighth time this season that the Marlins collectively struck out four or fewer times. Miami is now 6-2 in those games. - Jake Burger's walk-off home run was the fifth walk-off hit of his career and second in 2024. - Tanner Scott was announced as the Marlins lone All-Star representative in 2024. The left-hander earned the nod after a sterling 1.42 ERA in the season's first half. Looking Ahead The Marlins are en route to Houston to begin a series against the Houston Astros. Trevor Rogers (1-9. 4.91 ERA) will look to avoid joining the recently DFA'd Dakota Hudson in the double-digit loss club. If Hurricane Beryl permits, first pitch from Minute Maid Park Tuesday is slated for 8:10 EST. View full article

Kyle Tyler, Nick Gordon and Jesús Sánchez help lead Miami to Sunday's rubber match win. You would think a disastrous weekend for a sports franchise is one accompanied by plenty of losing. In the Marlins' case, their misfortune largely transpired off the field. On Saturday, it was announced that Jesús Luzardo would be held out due to a lingering back injury. Accompanying the Luzardo news was that Braxton Garrett, scheduled to start Sunday's series finale, would also miss his next outing due to elbow discomfort. Skepticism would turn to pessimism when the club announced both would be headed to the injured list. It's a huge blow to a club that could have benefited from trading the likes of Luzardo (60-day) and Garrett (15-day) at the deadline, or perhaps felt more confident in them as long-term contributors had they gotten the reps to rebound from mediocre first halves of the 2024 campaign. And yet, in the absence of Garrett, the Marlins still found themselves on the right side of the win column, beating Seattle 6-4 to secure their second consecutive series win. Seattle starter Bryce Miller allowed all six of Miami's runs in his four innings of work, tying his outing against Texas on April 24 for his shortest of the season. In night-and-day fashion, the Seattle bullpen tossed four scoreless frames, allowing just three base runners. Threatening with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with Miami closer Tanner Scott in for the fourth time in five days, the left-hander sealed Miami's 27th victory of the season when a 96.6 mph line drive off the bat of Julio Rodríguez found its way into the netting of second baseman Otto Lopez's glove. Tyler Steps Up In place of Garrett, the recently recalled Kyle Tyler put forth a strong effort in his first career Major League start. Though not pitching long enough to qualify for the win, Tyler limited the AL Central-leading Mariners to two runs over 4 innings of work. "I was definitely nervous to start, but once I got to the bullpen and once the game got going, I was able to go out there and pitch the way I know how," said Tyler. Tyler largely worked around traffic a la three walks and a hit-by-pitch, though one of those walks—a fourth-inning issuance to Dominic Canzone—would come back to bite him when Luke Raley capitalized on a mislocated cutter to hit his ninth home run of the season. "Besides the three walks and hit by pitch, I thought he was really good" noted Skip Schumaker. Though still using the cutter as his primary offering (46%), Tucker found success with his curveball, with two of the four swings-and-misses he got coming on the breaker. Replacement Parts Make Good Playing center field in place of Jazz Chisholm Jr.—who was relegated to designated hitter duties on Sunday—Nick Gordon pitched in early with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first. Vidal Bruján, manning shortstop on what was a scheduled day off for Tim Anderson, reached base twice during his three trips to the plate. Believe in the Bop While hitting just .230 through his first 18 games in June, Jesús Sánchez has managed to slug .459 in those 61 plate appearances. His seventh home run of the season plated the Marlins sixth run of the game in the bottom of the third. While one look at Sánchez's surface-level numbers would lead one to cast off the Marlins' right fielder, his increased power output could be seen as a sign of the bad luck that accompanies his batted ball profile beginning to sort itself out. Of Note - Of his 7 this season, 5 of Nick Gordon's home runs have come on Sundays. He has a 1.183 OPS on this day of the week. - In addition to the news of Jesús Luzardo and Braxton Garrett being placed on the injured list, Miami also announced they had optioned the recently recalled Shaun Anderson to Triple-A. The start of Anderson's tenure with his hometown club has been less than ideal, as the Coral Springs native has allowed 17 hits and 13 runs in his 5 ⅓ innings over his two starts since being acquired from Texas on May 30. Looking Ahead Miami's run of play against competitive teams will continue Monday when they open up the week in Kansas City to face the Royals. Roddery Muñoz (1-2, 5.76 ERA) will make his first career appearance against Kansas City in the series opener. AL Cy Young contender Cole Ragans (4-5, 3.13 ERA) will oppose him. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is slated for 8:10 EST. View full article

Luzardo guts through back stiffness to pitch five solid innings, but Marlins bats remain absent as Nationals secure sweep, concluding a 1-5 road trip for Miami. What do you get when your team scores all of two runs throughout a three-game series? Unless that team pitches like the 1907 Cubs, the answer is usually "swept." The Marlins and their feeble offense would succumb to the norm after the Nationals completed the series sweep with their 3-1 victory on Father's Day. Miami is now 0-7 against the Nationals in 2024 and falls to a season-worst 25 games under .500 at 23-48. Washington, on the other hand, improves to one game under .500 at 35-36. Upon the conclusion of Sunday's game, the Marlins saw themselves tied with the White Sox for the worst OPS in the sport (.630). Miami also joined the White Sox for a first-place tie with their twentieth game of one or fewer runs scored. Miami is now 2-18 in such games this season. "It's not a lack of effort, lack of preparation," said manager Skip Schumaker. "Just a lack of execution right now, but we'll keep going." That lack of execution can be seen in the club's efforts with runners in scoring position, as Miami went just 2-for-17 in those situations over the weekend. One of those hits proved a rare bright spot for Miami when Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s fifth-inning single plated the team's only run of the day. Parker Punches A day after DJ Herz authored a career-best 13 strikeouts, Nationals rookie Mitchell Parker—making his second career start against the Marlins—held Miami to just one run over 6 innings. In 12 starts this season, Parker owns a 3.06 ERA, including a 2.31 mark in four June starts. In 10 innings pitched against Miami, Parker has allowed just two runs. Parker's gem proved the latest in what was a dream weekend for Nationals starting pitching, as the trio of MacKenzie Gore and the aforementioned Herz and Parker combined to allow just two runs and strike out 27 over 19 innings pitched. Luzardo Puts Forth Solid Effort Despite waking up with what Schumaker referred to as "a stiff back," Jesús Luzardo gave the Marlins 5 innings of two-run ball. "I just feel it is our job to go out there. It is frustrating not having my best stuff, but somewhat content in being able to keep my team in it," noted Luzardo. Averaging a career-low 92.1 mph on his fastball, Luzardo worked around five hits and three walks, needing just 77 pitches to get through his 5 innings of work. Washington broke through early, though, when Lane Thomas opened the scoring in the first with his fourth career home run against the Miami left-hander. After Miami tied the game in the top of the fifth, Jacob Young, who robbed Otto Lopez of a hit in the top half, put Washington ahead for good with his first career home run. Despite the strong effort, Luzardo's season ERA sits at 5.00 through 12 starts. Of Note - Washington's 0.67 ERA is tied for their lowest against the Marlins over a three-game series since 9/4-9/6/17. - Lane Thomas' 1.581 OPS against Luzardo is the highest such mark among the 55 hitters with at least 10 career plate appearances against the Marlins lefty. Looking Ahead Returning to Miami in the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Marlins will welcome the playoff-hopeful St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series beginning Monday. Sonny Gray (8-4, 3.01 ERA) will take the ball for St. Louis in the series opener, while Braxton Garrett (2-2, 6.10 ERA) opposes him. Garrett will look to right the ship on what has been both a rough start to the season and against these Cardinals, noted in a 6.14 ERA over three starts against the Redbirds. First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST. View full article

Sloppy flashing of the leather from Miami, home run derby from the Mets, and shaky Brax lead to Game 2 loss for Marlins. After allowing 11 runs over his first two starts of the season, Braxton Garrett settled in to allow just one over his next two outings and 14 innings pitched. Then came his first June outing, one that saw him surrender five in just 2 ⅔ innings of work on June 5. The left-hander's 2024 campaign continues to be a mixed bag. While the defense failed to do him any favors, Garrett's latest effort proved more of the same in the Marlins' 10-4 loss to the Mets. The Marlins, now 23-44, have a minus-102 run differential, third-worst in MLB. Though he would venture further than his previous outing—recording two outs in the bottom of the fifth—the final line still proved another disappointing day at the office for a guy who proved Miami's most consistent arm a season ago (4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 K, 2 HR). "He pitched better than what I think his line shows," said Skip Schumaker, largely eluding to what was an overall poor aesthetic performance from the club's defense. "I felt crappy about it either way," noted Garrett. Of note was the presence of Garrett's curveball a pitch that historically fared poorly for the left-hander in his parts of five seasons. Featuring the pitch just 3.2-percent of the time in his first five outings, Wednesday saw Garrett's curveball account for 10.1-percent (9) of his 89 pitches on the evening. New York would break out early against Garrett when Harrison Bader's fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the first landed in the left-center field seats. Now with an ERA of 15.00 in the first inning this season, Garrett has been scored upon immediately in four of his six starts to begin 2024. The Marlins would respond quickly, though, plating a pair of runs off fellow southpaw David Peterson (5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the second. Unfortunately, Miami's fortunes would only grow bleak from thereon out. Following a Tyrone Taylor leadoff single—the first of four hits for New York's left fielder—an error at the hands of third baseman Emmanuel Rivera exacerbated the jam. Taylor would be chased home by a Francisco Alvarez single before Garrett uncorked a wild pitch that gave Mark Vientos and Alvarez an extra 90 feet. Otto Lopez's second error of the season on a ground ball through his legs allowed Vientos to trot home in what ultimately wound up being a three-run second for the Metropolitans. Garrett would settle into a short-lived groove that saw him hold New York scoreless in the third and fourth innings, with Miami cutting the deficit to 5-4 following run-scoring hits from Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. before former teammate Starling Marte put the cap on Braxton Garrett's night with his first home run in a month of June that has seen him hit .435 with an 1.176 OPS. Francisco Lindor, New York's franchise shortstop, would kick off a two-run bottom of the eighth with his 14th career home run against the Fish. Lindor now owns a career .278/.358/.513/.871 line in 262 PA against Miami. Marte would plate New York's 10th and final run with a single to center. Of Note - Wednesday marked the long-awaited return of JT Chargois, who authored 1 ⅓ scoreless innings in his season debut. Chargois posted a 3.61 ERA in 46 games for Miami in 2023. - Braxton Garrett's first-inning ERA of 15.00 ranks second-highest among the 158 pitchers to make at least six starts this season, trailing only Sixto Sánchez (16.71). Looking Ahead Miami will wrap up their stay in the Big Apple Thursday night as they look to secure their first series victory since taking two of three from Milwaukee from May 20-22. Roddery Muñoz (1-2, 5.95 ERA) will make his fifth career big league start and second since being recalled from Triple-A. Opposing him, Luis Severino (4-2, 3.25 ERA) will make his third career appearance against the Marlins; he limited hitters to a .159 BAA in those two outings while a member of the Yankees. First pitch from Citi Field is slated for 7:10 EST. View full article