Marlins in San Francisco

Little League Ready: Dressing Your Toddler for Their First Baseball Game

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Taking your toddler to their first game can be an exciting and memorable experience. Dressing your toddler in adorable and comfy clothes can make the experience much more pleasurable. While there are plenty of online boutiques and retailers that offer a wide variety of toddler girl and toddler boy clothes, you need to understand how to dress your kid for the occasion. 

Comfort is Key

Before heading out to the game, ensure that your toddler is dressed in comfortable clothing. Opt for breathable fabrics like cotton that will allow their skin to breathe and keep them cool on a hot day. 

Protection from the Sun

Clothing

Sun protection is crucial, especially when spending time outdoors during peak sun hours. Dress your toddler in a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt to protect their delicate skin from harmful UV rays. 

Go for light colors that reflect the sun’s rays instead of soaking them up. Darker colors tend to retain more heat and can make your child feel uncomfortable. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to any exposed areas, such as the face, neck, and hands. 

Accessories

A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses will also provide additional protection for their eyes and face. Make sure to look for hats with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating to ensure you get maximum sun protection.

Sunglasses with UV protection are essential for shielding your toddler’s eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Make sure to choose sunglasses that fit securely and comfortably, as little ones are more likely to keep them on if they’re comfortable.

Team Spirit

Get your toddler excited about the game by dressing them in team colors or a cute little baseball jersey. Not only will they look adorable, but it will also help them feel like part of the action. Many online retailers offer a wide range of baseball-themed clothing options for toddlers, so you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect outfit. 

Footwear Matters

When it comes to footwear, choose closed-toe shoes that provide adequate support and protection for your toddler’s feet. Avoid sandals or flip-flops that may pose a tripping hazard or expose their feet to potential injuries. 

Comfortable sneakers are a great option, as they will enable your little one to run around and enjoy the game without any discomfort. Look for shoes with a non-slip sole to ensure stability and traction on different surfaces.

Be Prepared for Weather Changes

Weather can get pretty unpredictable, so it’s important to be ready for any changes. Don’t forget to pack a light jacket or sweater in case it gets chilly or bring an umbrella if there’s a chance of rain. It’s always better to be ready for anything than caught off guard by unexpected weather conditions.

Don’t Forget the Snacks!

A day at the ballpark wouldn’t be complete without some tasty snacks. Here are some snack ideas that are convenient, portable, and toddler-friendly:

  1. Fruit Kabobs: Skewer bite-sized pieces of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries onto wooden skewers for a refreshing and nutritious snack.
  2. Cheese and Crackers: Pack some sliced cheese and whole-grain crackers for a protein-packed and satisfying snack. You can also try using fun-shaped cookie cutters to make the cheese into exciting shapes.
  3. Trail Mix: Create a custom trail mix with a mix of nuts, dried fruits, and whole-grain cereal. Avoid adding any sugary ingredients and opt for unsalted nuts to keep it healthy.
  4. Veggie Sticks with Dip: Cut up carrot sticks, celery sticks, and cucumber slices and pair them with a small container of hummus or ranch dip for a crunchy and refreshing snack.
  5. Mini Sandwiches: Make some mini sandwiches using whole-grain bread and fillings such as turkey, cheese, and lettuce. Cut them into bite-sized pieces for easy snacking.
  6. Homemade Energy Balls: Prepare homemade energy balls using ingredients like oats, nut butter, honey, and dried fruits. These bite-sized treats are packed with nutrients and provide a quick energy boost.
  7. Popcorn: Air-popped popcorn, lightly seasoned with a sprinkle of salt or herbs, is a low-calorie snack option that little ones will enjoy.
  8. Mini Muffins: Bake a batch of mini muffins using whole-grain flour and add ingredients like blueberries, shredded carrots, or mashed bananas for added flavor and nutrition.

Remember to pack some extra wipes and tissues for any spills or sticky fingers. 

Capture the Memories

Finally, don’t forget to capture those adorable moments of your little one’s first baseball game. Whether it’s their first bite of a hot dog, their excitement at seeing their favorite player, or their attempts at imitating the players on the field, these memories are absolutely priceless.

 

How do the Marlins get back on track?

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Miami (66-65) hosted the Washington Nationals (61-70) for a three-game set and Washington ended up taking two out of three games from the Fish.

 

The inconsistencies with this Marlins squad continued as they struggled all weekend with putting the bat on the ball and driving in enough runs to win games. 

 

The post All-Star break numbers are abysmal for Miami. They hold the third-lowest record in baseball since the break with a record of 13-26 and are just 8-15 in the month of August. 

Things need to turn around quickly if Miami wants to keep their Wild Card chances alive. 

 

Here are takeaways from the series. 

 

Braxton Garrett’s solid start is not enough

 

Garrett struck-out three in six innings of work. He also gave up seven hits and three earned runs that included a two-run home run. 

 

The home run came off the bat of Nationals third baseman Carter Kieboom in the sixth inning when Garrett threw him a mistake hanging curveball that Kieboom crushed to left field. 

 

But besides that mistake pitch, Garrett pitched very well. At least enough to keep it close for the Marlins to have a chance to win. 

 

“I wanted the shutdown inning there and I just felt like I let the team down a little bit,” Garrett said about the home run he gave up in the sixth inning after the game. “But overall, it was good…I didn’t make a ton of mistakes tonight at all and made really good pitches.”

 

The Marlins had just three hits and no runs against Washington’s starting pitcher Joan Adon. So it was another day where a Miami starting pitcher failed to get run support. 

 

“I think he honestly threw one bad curveball that kind of cost him a couple runs,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said about Garrett’s performance after the game. “Otherwise Brax (Garrett) did what he needed to do…to win a game and we just couldn’t get anything going against their starter.”

 

Luis Arraez does not like the month of August

 

Arraez has been dealing with a cold stretch at the plate throughout the month of August. 

 

This month, Arraez is batting 22-for-97 (.227 avg) with his on-base percentage at just .235. 

 

His batting average has also dipped mightily as the season has progressed, sitting at .350 after getting it as high as .402 back on June 23. 

 

During the three-game series, Arraez was just 2-for-12 at the plate which is extremely uncharacteristic for a guy with elite bat-to-ball skills.

 

The Marlins offense relies on the play from Arraez. If he’s playing well, Miami plays well. But if he doesn’t, well, we’ve seen what’s been happening. 

 

Eury Pérez is going to be special

 

Pérez threw six innings and allowed two hits, one run (unearned), one walk and collected seven strikeouts. 

 

Despite Pérez throwing a gem, the Marlins decided to take him out of the game after six innings and 76 pitches to preserve his arm. 

 

“He’s still on innings limits here,” Schumaker said about pulling Pérez out of the game after six innings. “You’ve got to pick and choose when to push and when not to and we’ve got a fresh bullpen and so we were maybe going to get one more inning out of him.”

 

Schumaker went on to say, “Where he’s (Pérez) at in his career and this season, that was going to be it right there no matter what.”

 

In 15 games for the Marlins this season, Pérez has an ERA of 2.68 and is averaging 10.95 strikeouts per nine innings. 

 

“I feel great,” Pérez said after Game 2. “…Feeling great, I’m healthy. Trying to have fun out there and trying to put my team in a good position (to win).”

 

Miami’s scouting department has been doing a fantastic job as they continue to find young and talented pitchers. Guys like Sandy Alcantara, Braxton Garrett and Pérez are going to make this rotation elite for the coming years. 

 

Let me remind you that Pérez is also just 20 years old. 

 

What happened to David Robertson?

 

This is not what Miami had in mind when they traded for a veteran relief pitcher in David Robertson back on July 28 in exchange for a couple of young prospects in Marco Vargas and Ronald Hernandez. 

 

In nine games for the Marlins this year, Robertson has an 8.00 ERA and just three saves in six save opportunities. He’s also given up two home runs and opponents are batting .289 against him.

 

“He’s done it before. That’s why we got him,” Schumaker said about Robertson’s struggles in a Marlins uniform. “He’s been the ninth inning, big spots, postseason tested. And it’s not a lack of effort…All the guys are giving everything they’ve got and I think that’s what makes it even tougher.”

 

Miami was holding onto a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning of Game 2 and Robertson came in the game to close it out. 

 

He had some traffic on the bases but eventually found himself with two outs and two strikes against Nationals left fielder Jake Alu. But, Alu would hit a grounder up the middle to tie the game at two a piece. 

 

The next batter, catcher Jacob Stallings was charged with a passed ball which drove in another run for the Nationals and ultimately gave them a 3-2 victory. 

 

“This is just a crappy outing by me,” Robertson said about his blown save after Game 2. “Went out there and blew the game for the guys. It was pathetic. Threw the ball like crap, didn’t get any outs. Just didn’t make any pitches.”

 

It’s not like the Marlins traded for a bad reliever by any means. This guy was lights out with the New York Mets this season. He had a 2.06 ERA with 12 saves in 15 opportunities. Opponents were batting just .207 against him as well. 

 

Miami needs Robertson to somehow get back to his previous form if they want to make a final push for the postseason. 

 

The Marlins will have a day off tomorrow and play the Tampa Bay Rays for a two-game series. Game 1 is on Tuesday, August 29 with the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Florida. 

 

Miracle comeback gives Marlins the series vs. Yankees: 5 Takeaways

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The New York Yankees (60-58) rolled into LoanDepot Park to play the Miami Marlins (62-57) in a three-game set and the cardiac Fish were in full force. 

 

Trailing 7-3 heading into the ninth inning, Miami would end up scoring five runs to come back and not only win the game, but the series as well. I’m telling you, this team does not quit. 

 

But pitching was a bit questionable for Miami. 

 

Other than Sandy Alcantara’s complete game on Saturday, the Marlins starting pitchers really struggled against New York’s lineup.

 

Shortstop Anthony Volpe came up big for the Yankees as he hit a couple of home runs over the series. Right fielder Aaron Judge made his presence known by hitting a moonshot to center field in Game 1. Second baseman Gleyber Torres stole a career-high three bases in Game 3. 

 

But in the end, the Marlins found a way to win and are very much alive in that playoff chase. 

 

Here are five takeaways from the series. 

 

Jesus Luzardo’s outing to forget

 

It was a rough time on the mound for Marlins left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo. 

 

Luzardo got the start in Game 1 of the series and he did not look comfortable at all out there right from the jump. 

 

In just 3.1 innings, Luzardo gave up nine hits, seven earned runs that included a couple of homers off the bat of Anthony Volpe and Aaron Judge and one walk. We’re so used to seeing him put up impressive strikeout numbers but he only had two on the night. 

 

The second inning was where most of the damage was done. 

 

He allowed five hits and both of the home runs came in the second inning. 

 

The 3.1 innings were his lowest of the season while also giving up a season-high in hits and earned runs. 

 

ANOTHER complete game from Sandy

 

Alcantara looked the best he’s looked all year in Saturday’s game. 

 

He threw a complete game, the 12th of his career and an MLB-leading third on the season. 

 

“I think my consistency, throwing a strike,” Alcantara said about what was working for him after the game. “I think they (Yankees) just was (were) very aggressive today.”

 

In nine innings, Alcantara allowed five hits, one earned run, two walks and struck-out 10 Yankee hitters on 116 pitches. 

 

He now has 13 career double-digit strikeout games which puts him at a tie for second on the Marlins all-time leaderboard with Ricky Nolasco. Jose Fernandez sits at the top of the list with 18 games. 

 

“It was a really impressive outing at a time where our team needed it the most,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said about Alcantara’s outing after the game. 

 

If he can get back to his form that he was at a season ago, the Marlins just might have their ace back. 

 

Luis Arraez hit a ball into the upper deck 

 

Yes, you read that right. Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez hit just his fourth home run of the season against Yankees reliever Michael King in the first inning of Game 2. 

 

Arraez turned around a 97 mph fastball from King and sent the ball to the upper deck in right field. The home run ball’s distance was 409 feet, the longest of his career. 

 

“I just prepared my mind,” Arraez said about what he was looking for before his home run. “…I just lay action to that pitch. 97 (mph) inside and I just used my hands.”

 

Of course, Arraez isn’t known for his power, but by the way he consistently finds a way to put the ball in play.

 

“That was a tough pitch, 97 (mph) in on his hands,” Shumaker said about Arraez’s home run after Game 2. “He’s been working, he’s been kind of pissed off that he hasn’t been producing lately…He’s hitting .370 still so I think he’s going to be ok.”

 

Eury Perez hasn’t looked good

 

It’s been a rough couple of starts since being called back up to the Marlins for right-hander Eury Perez. 

 

He was on the mound for Game 3 of the series and it didn’t go as smooth as he hoped for. 

 

Perez logged four innings, allowed four hits, four earned runs, two walks and had five strikeouts. 

 

Perez allowed four runs in his last outing also which was against the Reds. 

 

He looked lights-out before being sent down back in early July and he just hasn’t performed at the same level as of late. It’ll be interesting to see if he can get it going going forward. 

 

A comeback for the ages

 

It was all Yankees in Game 3, at least for the first eight innings. 

 

Trailing 7-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, things looked bleak for the Marlins. 

 

“Let’s go Yankees” chants can be heard echoing around LoanDepot Park, fans were heading out of the stadium to beat the traffic and it was all smiles in the Yankees dugout. Until, Yuli Gurriel hit a leadoff double off of right-handed reliever Clay Holmes. 

 

The Marlins suddenly started to find their groove, stringing together some great at-bats. Nick Fortes hit an infield single, Jazz Chisholm Jr. drew a walk and next thing you know, the bases are loaded for Josh Bell. 

 

Bell would put a ball in play and Holmes had an errant throw to first base which allowed two runs to score for Miami. 

 

Arraez would then hit a two-RBI triple to tie the game at 7-7. In a blink of an eye, that Yankee lead evaporated. 

 

Jake Burger would eventually hit a single to walk it off for the Marlins in what was the game of the year. 

 

The Fish rallied for five runs in the ninth to win the game 8-7 and the weekend series two games to one. 

 

The Marlins will play the Houston Astros next for a three-game series in Miami. Game 1 will be on Monday, Aug. 14 with a 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch on Bally Sports Florida. 

Kim Ng Marlins

Miami Marlins need to be deadline buyers

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The Marlins find themselves in the midst of one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. Waking up on Sunday morning with a record of 56-49, they are 0.5 GB of a wild card spot, with a game left in the Detroit series and the most important series of the year coming up against the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

The Fish need reinforcements. As currently constructed, I find it to be a difficult task to reach the postseason. Skip and the coaching staff have managed the team to this point, but now they need help. They already have traded for two relievers in Jorge Lopez in a deal that sent Dylan Floro to the Twins and secured David Robertson in a deal with the Mets for two promising Minor Leaguers. 

 

However, they need more.

 

In this article we will look at names that the Marlins have been linked to.

 

Cody Bellinger, Cubs

 

Cody is in the midst of a bounce back season. He is slashing .315/.368/.540 with an OPS+ of 142. All of this with elite defense in the outfield as he is in the 91st percentile in Outs Above Average. 

 

The Marlins have been linked to Cody for the second trade deadline in a row, there is no secret that they are fans of his. But with the Cubs on an 8 game winning streak and seemingly resurging their season, I find it unlikely that they will deal for him as the Cubs now view the season as salvageable. 

 

Jeimer Candelario, Nationals

 

Candelario is an interesting name as his market in the offseason seemed to be limited. His 2022 campaign with Detroit was not what he had hoped for as he hit .217/.272/.361 with an OPS+ of 82. He signed with the Nationals as a sort of “prove it” deal and he has greatly outperformed the expectations. 

 

Now he sets himself as a prime candidate to be traded due to his .823 OPS so far this season. I can confirm the Marlins are greatly intrigued by what he could bring to the table, and that they have inquired on his services.

 

Paul DeJong, Cardinals

 

The St. Louis Cardinals are an interesting team. They are not normally sellers, they have been one of the model organizations for a long time in this sport. The 2023 season has not treated them nicely as they are greatly underperforming finding themselves in last place of the NL Central with a record of 46-60.

 

DeJong is another candidate that the Marlins have been linked to. Per Andres Bolivar from Con Las Bases Llenas, the Marlins have inquired on him as well as an outfielder. DeJong is an elite defensive shortstop with his bat coming in second in terms of his skillset. 

 

I find him as an interesting name to be linked to as he is not known for his offensive prowess and that is what the Marlins are in dire need of. Slashing .236/.300.417 with an OPS+ at 94 and a Baseball Savant page that looks disenchanting, I would only see him being dealt to Miami in a case where the Marlins cannot get what they want elsewhere.

 

Eloy Jimenez, White Sox

 

Eloy would immediately become the second best bat in the lineup behind Luis Arraez. He is a slugger who will bring power to a lineup that desperately needs it. He is slugging .477 and has an OPS+ of 119. The issue with Eloy is durability. Since 2021, he has only played in 211 of 431 possible games. His talent is unquestionable but for a team who is looking for a late season push it is a risk to take him on, especially when one of the team’s stars is also hurt a lot in Jazz Chisholm Jr. 

 

Another caveat to a potential Eloy deal is the fact that the roster fit is not necessarily the best. He is exclusively a DH. The Marlins already have Jorge Soler, who is having a fine season. Perhaps you can teach him to play 1st Base, but do you want to plug in a player to a new position when they already have an injury history while playing minimal defense? These are all valid questions.

 

Tim Anderson, White Sox

 

Possibly the ultimate buy-low candidate is none other than the shortstop on the Southside of Chicago. Having the worst season of his career by far, Anderson is an interesting name to monitor as we approach the deadline. 

 

Slashing .245/.286/.293 he surely won’t net much of a return for the White Sox unless attached with someone else which might influence the team to keep him, as they have claimed they do not want to undergo another rebuild. 

 

Whatever team trades for him, they must remember that Anderson has a club option for the 2024 season, which if it is picked up, he will be owed $14 Million Dollars.

 

The Rest:

 

While I spoke on some offensive players the Marlins are linked to, below are some pitchers as well.

 

These names include Jordan Montgomery* and Jack Flaherty from the Cardinals as well as Michael Lorenzen from the Detroit Tigers.

 

Montgomery is having the best season of his career, sporting a solid 3.42 ERA with a 108/35 K/BB ratio. Adding him would make an already solid rotation, all the more competitive.

 

*Montgomery was traded to the Texas Rangers, as I was working on this article.

 

Flaherty, while he has dealt with injuries in the past, is finally healthy and is putting up a decent season. 106/54 K/BB with a FIP of 4.23. Perhaps the Marlins believe they can unlock something from the former 1st rounder to make a final .

 

Lorenzen is having a solid year and is garnering a lot of interest around the league, the Marlins being one of them. His 3.58 ERA along with his 83/27 K/BB ratio and his ability to come out of the bullpen, would give the Marlins a swiss army knife as the season winds down. 

 

The Fish have dealt with injuries to their rotation all season. Cueto was out for multiple months and Trevor Rogers has only pitched in 18 innings this season. The Marlins are looking for a starter to come in and provide solid outings and eat innings, especially as the team gears up for Eury Perez’ return.

 

2023 has treated the Marlins nicely and team interest in South Florida is on the rise. Nearly 33 thousand showed up on Saturday afternoon to watch the Marlins take on the TIgers on Venezuelan Heritage day at the park.

 

It would be wise of the team to capitalize on the buzz surrounding the team and prove to the fans they are committed to win by making some win-now moves.

 

5 Takeaways after Marlins Snap 8-Game Losing Streak

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The Miami Marlins (54-47) were hoping to get back on track as they hosted the Colorado Rockies (39-60) for a three-game series at LoanDepot Park. 

 

This was the perfect opportunity for Miami to halt their post-All Star break skid against the worst team in the National League. But, it was still a bumpy ride for the struggling Fish as the Rockies went on to win the series two games to one. 

 

But the Marlins were able to finish the series on a high note, winning Game 3 in walk-off fashion and hope to ignite a little bit of momentum. 

 

Miami is 1-8 since the break and if they don’t turn things around quickly, they might turn into sellers at the trade deadline.  

 

Here are the takeaways from the series.

 

Rocky start from Garrett

It was an outing to forget for left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett. 

 

Starting Game 1 of the series for the Marlins, Garrett logged just three innings while allowing seven hits and six earned runs. 

 

Garrett gave up three home runs which is something you don’t see too often when the Marlins are playing home at LoanDepot Park. 

 

“Today, I thought the curveball was just getting hit more than usual,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said about Garrett’s outing. “A couple home runs off that and I don’t think the sinker had the movement that he was used to.”

 

It’s been a downhill slope for Garrett in his recent outings. In his last start, he went just 4.2 innings and allowed six hits and four earned runs. 

 

“My cutter hasn’t been great,” Garrett said about his recent struggles. “It hasn’t been in good spots and they (Rockies) just had a really good approach. They were aggressive early and I was just leaving balls a little bit too much over the plate.”

 

The Marlins need Garrett to be pitching deeper into games or else it’s going to take a toll on their bullpen.

 

Cueto is here

Johnny Cueto made his first start on the mound for the Marlins since the beginning of April, and he did not show any signs of rust. 

 

In six innings, Cueto allowed just two hits, one earned run and a walk. But what really stood out were his eight strikeouts. 

 

“I thought he elevated his fastball really well,” Shumaker said about what was working for Cueto. “…Not a ton of hard hits either.”

 

Cueto, with just 81 pitches in the seventh inning, still looked like he had plenty of gas left in the tank. But Schumaker decided to make a pitching change and bring in right-handed reliever J.T. Chargois. 

 

Chargois would end up giving up a single which led to a three-run home run by Rockies right fielder Nolan Jones that tied the game 3-3.

 

“We had a really fresh bullpen,” Schumaker said on why he took Cueto out in the seventh inning. “And you like your chances when you’re up three runs…We just didn’t get it done today.”

 

Jesus Luzardo: A strikeout machine

Did Miami find their new ace? 

 

Marlins left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo got the start for Game 3 in hopes to avoid the sweep and he absolutely blew everyone away. 

 

Luzardo pitched seven innings and allowed four hits, two walks and one earned run. He also tallied a career-high 13 strikeouts which tied the Marlins record for most strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. Along with that, Luzardo tied his career-high in innings pitched and set a career-high in total pitches thrown with 115. 

 

Luzardo is now up to 144 strikeouts on the season, placing him second in the National League and fifth in all of baseball in total strikeouts. 

 

Questionable calls by Skip

Since the All Star break, there have been some decisions that some might shake their heads at from Shumaker. These decisions point directly to pitching. 

 

There’s no doubt that Miami’s pitching staff hasn’t been performing at the same level they had been pre-All Star break. Starting pitchers are struggling to go deep into games which, as previously mentioned in the article, can be a burden on the bullpen. 

 

But to take Cueto out after six shutout innings with a reasonable pitch count is really bizarre. It’s easier to say in hindsight after the Rockies ultimately ended up winning the game, but it’s unlike Shumaker. We saw him make great decisions in the first half of the season and all of a sudden, it feels as if he’s making choices that he himself isn’t fully confident with. 

 

Also in Game 2, Shumaker decided to use his closer, A.J. Puk, in the eighth inning instead of the ninth. That left Tanner Scott with the job of taking care of the ninth inning and that decision would backfire, as the Rockies took a 4-3 lead that sealed the game and the series. 

 

“(A.J.) Puk has not lost his closing role,” Shumaker said about reversing the roles of Puk and Scott during Game 2. “It’s just (that) there’s certain pockets that I wanted Tanner (Scott) in.”

 

Schumaker went on to reiterate, “He (Puk) hasn’t lost the (closer) role, it’s just (that) we’ve flipped it as far as where the pockets are.”

 

Of course, these hiccups aren’t particularly unusual for a first-year manager. Hopefully, Shumaker can get through these growing pains and get the Marlins back on track. 

 

Arraez walks it off for the Fish

With the Marlins on the verge of being swept and losing their ninth-straight game, Luis Arraez decided that enough was enough. 

 

With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Miami had a runner on second base because of the extra-inning rule. The Rockies would intentionally walk Jesus Sanchez to put runners on first and second base. 

 

Marlins outfielder Dane Myers would strike out and catcher Nick Fortes drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for Arraez. 

 

Even with Colorado positioned in with six infielders (they moved the right fielder to the infield), Arraez still found a way to hit the ball into play. 

 

Arraez hit a curveball into the outfield and hit his first-career walk-off hit for the Marlins. 

 

“I (saw) they’ve got six infielders and I want(ed) to hit the ball into the outfield and I did it,” Arraez said about his walk-off hit after the game. “But I didn’t see anyone in right field and then the pitcher threw a lot of breaking pitches and I said ok.”

 

The Marlins will head to St. Petersburg and face the Tampa Bay Rays (61-42). Game 1 is on Tuesday, July 25 at 6:40 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Florida.

5 Takeaways after Marlins Swept to Start Second Half

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After playing their best first half of baseball in recent memory, the Miami Marlins (53-42) started their second half on a bad note, getting swept by the Baltimore Orioles (57-35) in three games. 

 

There were plenty of opportunities to win some of these games but Miami just failed to deliver when they were given those chances. 

 

In Game 2, the Marlins had a 4-0 lead in the second inning that immediately vanished and they’d end up losing by a score of 6-5. 

 

Looking to avoid the sweep in Game 3, Miami was down 5-0 heading into the ninth inning. But they showed some fight and tacked on four runs to cut the lead to 5-4. 

 

The Marlins had two outs with a runner on second and had the perfect guy at the plate in Luis Arráez. Arráez, with the best batting average in baseball (.380), had a chance to potentially tie the game but ended up flying out to left field, which perfectly summarizes how the series went for the Fish. 

 

Here are five takeaways from the series. 

 

Sandy inching his way back…

 

After winning the National League Cy Young Award last season, it’s been a rather disappointing year for pitcher Sandy Alcantara. 

 

With an ERA of 4.72 in the first half of the season, Alcantara is hoping that he’ll turn things around in the second half and get back to that elite level that we’ve been so accustomed to seeing. 

 

Alcantara got the start in Game 1 of the series and aside from a couple of mistake pitches over the heart of the plate that resulted in Oriole homers, the right-hander pitched a solid game. 

 

Through six innings, Alcantara allowed two earned runs on eight hits, a walk and struck-out five batters. He couldn’t find his command in the first few innings but ultimately settled in and pitched well. 

 

“They made me throw a lot of pitches,” Alcantara said about his outing after the game. “But that’s part of the game.”

 

“I thought he did good,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said about Alcantara’s performance after the game. “I think he’ll (Alcantara) tell you that he made two big mistakes on the couple home runs.”

 

Little by little, Alcantara’s outings have gotten better and better. Only time will tell if we’ll see him perform at the level he did last year. 

 

Bullpen showed signs of shakiness 

Miami’s relievers didn’t particularly pitch well against Baltimore. 

 

In Game 1, LHP Robert Garcia made his major league debut and he couldn’t get settled in, pitching just 0.1 inning giving up a hit and a walk. RHP Bryan Hoeing came in the game in hopes to clean up Garcia’s inning and immediately gave up a two-run home run to Baltimore’s second baseman Adam Frazier. 

 

Game 2 was no different as RHP Huascar Brazobán would enter the game during the seventh inning with the Marlins holding onto a 5-4 lead. The first pitch Brazobán threw resulted in an Oriole home run off the bat of third baseman Gunnar Henderson to tie the game.

 

Unable to shake the homer off, Brazobán would allow three more hits and another run to give the Orioles a 6-5 lead, forcing Schumaker to take the right-hander out of the game. 

 

Sunday’s Game 3 was no different as right out of the gates, the Orioles found themselves with a 3-0 lead after the first inning. LHP Steven Okert was used as an opener and just couldn’t fool Baltimore’s bats. 

 

RHP George Soriano pitched really well in the second and third inning, but all of a sudden, lost control of his pitches during the fourth, hitting two Oriole batters which led to a 5-0 lead for Baltimore. 

 

Dane Myers continues to impress 

Injuries to both of the Marlins’ center fielders Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jonathan Davis forced Miami to call up Dane Myers from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, their Triple-A affiliate team. 

 

Since making his major league debut on July 4, Myers has been nothing short of productive with his bat. 

 

In nine games, Myers is batting .406 with 8 RBI, a home run and an on-base percentage of .424. 

 

Although he did misread a flyball in center field during Game 2 that allowed Baltimore to score two runs, you have to give him a break. It’s his first time playing in center field and he’s still getting the feel of the position.

 

“He’s still growing,” Schumaker said about Myers adjusting to the center field position. “He hasn’t played out there that much and for him to do that on a winning team in a big league uniform is pretty impressive. 

 

Cueto solid in his return to action

After pitching just one inning this season, Marlins right-hander Johnny Cueto made his first major league appearance in over four months. 

 

Miami signed Cueto as a free agent on a one year deal for $8,500,000 in hopes that they’d add more depth to their starting pitching rotation. Unfortunately, Cueto would face just seven batters against the Minnesota Twins before having to leave the game because of right-bicep tightness that placed him on the IL. 

 

In Game 3 of the series, Cueto made an appearance coming out of the bullpen during the fifth inning and really looked good out there. 

 

In his first inning of work, he threw eight pitches that forced three Oriole flyouts. In three innings, Cueto allowed just one hit, a walk and tallied a strikeout.

 

“He attacked,” Shumaker said about Cueto’s outing after Game 3. “I thought his velo(city) was up…I thought overall, really encouraging outing.”

 

As of now, we should expect Shumaker to keep Cueto in the bullpen. 

 

No answers for the Oriole hitters

Pesky and scrappy are words I’d use to describe this Baltimore lineup. You look one through nine and there doesn’t seem to be an easy out anywhere. 

 

Over the three-game series, Baltimore had 16 runs that included five home runs, 27 hits and walked seven times. 

 

The Marlins pitching staff had trouble finding ways to produce 1-2-3 quick innings and the Orioles did a good job of fighting off pitches and finding ways to reach base to raise the pitch count on Miami’s starting pitchers. 

 

The Orioles have a lot of young talent and they’re a team to keep an eye on as potential contenders in the American League, not only in the future but also this season. 

 

Miami looks to bounce back as they face the Cardinals (40-53) in St. Louis for a three-game series. Game 1 is on Monday, July 17 at 7:45 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Florida.

Marlins series Phillies

Five Takeaways after the Marlins Sweep the Red Sox

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The Miami Marlins are a wagon.

 

Winners of five straight, the Fish completed the three-game sweep in Boston on Thursday night.

 

In what could have easily been a let-down series for Miami, perhaps looking ahead to Atlanta this weekend, the Marlins dominated the three-game set from beginning to end.

 

Entering the series, the Marlins hadn’t won a game at Fenway since 2009, hadn’t won a series at Fenway since 1997, and had never swept a series at Fenway in franchise history.

 

History was rewritten.

 

Dominant pitching performances, an offensive explosion, and the return of a familiar face propelled the team to reach 14 games over .500.

 

The Marlins join local counterparts the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers on the list of teams to decisively take care of business against Boston teams in their own building in the last 60 days.

 

The inevitable restraining order from the City of Boston should be arriving in South Florida any second.

 

The takeaways:

 

Ya Like Jazz?

 

He’s back.

 

After missing six weeks with a toe injury, Jazz Chisholm Jr. made his highly anticipated return to the diamond.

 

With the middle of the line up struggling to produce for much of the season, manager Skip Schumaker immediately slotted the budding superstar into the clean-up spot in each of the three games.

 

Jazz made his presence felt immediately.

 

In his first at-bat since May 13, Chisholm ripped a double off the center-field wall. On the next pitch, Garrett Cooper lofted a single to right field — and it was showtime for Jazz. The 25-year-old went flying around third base, topping the play off with an absolutely insane slide at the plate, avoiding the tag. That speed, aggression, and just overall excitement are things the Marlins are ecstatic to have back. 

 

The MLB the Show cover athlete went 5-12 (.417), driving in five runs over the three-game set, including three hits and three RBIs in his first game back on Tuesday. 

 

Following his big game in the opener, Jazz homered in each of the next two games, both no-doubt shots to dead center. Thursday night’s long ball was especially memorable, as Chisholm gave us one of the most cold-blooded pimp jobs in recent memory. 

 

Immediately after contact, the “Bahamian Prince” turned his back to the field, staring down the Red Sox faithful behind home plate. This celebration was right out of the Steph Curry playbook, as the Warriors’ point guard is known to occasionally turn his back to the basket before his three-point shot goes in. When asked postgame if he knew the ball was gone right off the bat, the Marlins star said, “A hundred percent.” 

 

As you can imagine, Fenway Park erupted in boos as Chisholm rounded the bases and finished with his patented “Euro-step” before crossing home plate. What did Jazz think about being booed by more than 36,000 people? 

“I love it.” 

 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. joins Matthew Tkachuk and Jimmy Butler as the latest South Florida superstar to add their name to the City of Boston’s “Most Hated Athletes” list. 

 

Marlins’ Starters Shine

 

Sandy Alcántara, Braxton Garrett and Jesús Luzardo got the start in Games 1 through 3 respectively, and they absolutely shoved. 

 

Alcántara: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K

Garrett: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 K

Luzardo: 6 ⅓ IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 9 K

 

Utter dominance.

 

Alcántara bounced back in a big way after getting knocked around in his previous start against the Blue Jays. The reigning Cy Young Award winner has not pitched up to his standards set last season, but Tuesday’s start is a massive step in the right direction. 

 

Garrett continued to add to his under-the-radar, All-Star-caliber season. Aside from a hanging curveball that Rafael Devers hit into the right-field bleachers, the southpaw was untouchable. His sinker-cutter combo induced weak contact all night, and would have continued to do so had it not been for a 1-hour, 13-minute rain delay that ultimately ended Garrett’s night. 

 

Luzardo arguably had his best start of the season last time out against the Pirates, and he followed it up with another masterclass. The lefty was toying with Boston hitters, and at one point retired 17 consecutive batters. The Parkland native has now thrown 17 straight scoreless innings.

 

This might be a hot take — but I don’t care: The Miami Marlins have the best rotation in the National League, top to bottom.

 

Marlins starters own the National League’s best ERA, WHIP, opponent AVG, opponent OPS, and K/9.

 

Give them the respect they deserve.

 

Bullpen? Nails.

 

In addition to the starters, the bullpen was lockdown as well, only giving up one run over 8 ⅔ innings and striking out 13. 

 

Huascar Brazobán, Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi were terrific in middle-relief roles, and closer A.J. Puk converted both of his save opportunities.

 

The pen has been a pleasant surprise for Miami, and Puk has been at the forefront of that success.

 

With 13 saves and a 2.88 ERA, the former University of Florida standout has given the Marlins stability in the closer’s role for the first time in recent memory.

 

In addition to Puk, Scott and Nardi have been revelations.

 

After subpar performances in 2022, the two southpaws have come out sharp in 2023.

 

Tanner Scott has pitched to a 3.23 ERA compared to a 4.31 ERA last season, and has shown a major improvement in control this season (6.61 BB/9 in 2022 to 3.69 in 2023).

 

Andrew Nardi is as unsung of a hero as you’ll find. Last season as a rookie, the lefty pitched in 13 games. Over 14 ⅔ innings, the former University of Arizona Wildcat surrendered 25 hits, 16 earned runs and 14 walks. Yikes. 

 

But so far this season Nardi has transformed himself into one of Schumaker’s most trusted relievers, pitching to a 2.55 ERA over 35 ⅓ innings. Nardi is one of the best bullpen pieces in baseball, and absolutely deserves All-Star consideration.

 

The Marlins have been waiting years to have a bullpen they can feel confident in. 

 

And, man, does it feel good.

 

Luis Arráez: All-Star Starter

 

The fans got it right.

 

The most notable acquisition of the offseason, Arráez was coming off a stellar 2022 campaign, making the American League All-Star team and winning the AL batting crown.

 

Due to that success, coupled with the Marlins giving up a potential ace (Pablo Lopez) to acquire the 26-year old second baseman, expectations for Arráez were sky high entering the season.

 

He has exceeded every single one of them.

 

From hitting for the first cycle in franchise history, to flirting with .400 all season, to almost putting a hole in first-base coach Jon Jay’s chest every time he gets a hit, Arráez has given Marlins fans something that they have not had in a long time — belief. 

 

And now, he will make the organization proud yet again, representing them as the NL starting second baseman in the Mid-Summer Classic. 

 

When asked about hearing the news from Skip Schumaker on Thursday, Arráez was humbled.

 

“I almost cried there, [it was] emotional… I give it [all] to my teammates, to my family, to the fans who support me,” Arráez said.

 

He has made Marlins baseball relevant again.

 

Braves On Deck

 

The biggest series of the season has arrived.

 

The Marlins, winners of 11 of their last 14, travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves, winners of 13 of their last 14.

 

These are two of the hottest teams in baseball, and there should be fireworks this weekend.

 

This series will serve as a litmus test for the Fish, as the Braves have been the standard across Major League Baseball this season.

 

The Marlins have Bryan Hoeing, Eury Pérez and Sandy Alcántara on the bump, three right-handers who are at the top of their game coming into this three-game set.

 

The spotlight will be on the Miami Marlins this weekend, something that hasn’t been said since 2003.

 

Buckle up. 

 

Five Takeaways after Marlins Waste Eury Perez Gem Vs. Jays

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Nearly halfway into the season, the Marlins are among the hottest teams in baseball. Who saw that coming?

 

Despite Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays, this upstart squad is having its best season in over a decade, and the timing is perfect. 

 

Fresh off of championship appearances by the Heat and Panthers, and Inter Miami bringing the soccer GOAT to South Beach (it’s really Commercial Boulevard, but let’s keep that quiet), optimism among South Florida sports fans has never been higher. 

 

The surprising Marlins have elbowed their way into the conversation. This team is fun, this team is likable, and most importantly, this team is winning.

 

Fan favorite Luis Arráez is the second coming of Tony Gwynn, Jorge Soler might hit 50 homers, and Eury Pérez, Tuesday night’s starter, is a 20-year-old pitching prodigy.

 

The takeaways:

 

Eury “ROY” Pérez

 

Eury Pérez’s Rookie of the Year campaign starts now.

 

Entering Tuesday, the 6-foot-8 flamethrower was 4-1, with a 1.80 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and 36 strikeouts. That’ll work.

 

Pérez faced a tough challenge, with a Toronto lineup stacked with studs. Names like Springer, Bichette, Guerrero and Chapman all looked to derail the Eury Pérez hype train.

 

They failed.

 

Pérez should be incarcerated for how bad he made Toronto hitters look on Tuesday night. The righthander had his secondary pitches working, his slider and change-up particularly being unhittable. And, of course, his blazing fastball sat at 98 MPH all night. 

 

The 20-year-old went six innings, giving up three hits, no runs, no walks, and striking out a career high nine.

 

Elite. 

 

With his ERA now at a miniscule 1.54, Pérez has further established himself as an ace. Not a future ace — an ace right now. In his last 5 starts, the rookie has only allowed one run over 27 innings.

 

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker was all smiles discussing his young star.

 

“He’s getting better [with] every result, every time out, learning how to pitch on top of the zone, learning how to attack different hitters different ways,” Schumaker said.

 

Marlins Bats Disappear

 

We’re not going to pretend like the Marlins are a team of hitting machines — other than a couple guys named Arráez and Soler — but the Fish have usually found a way to get that clutch hit when needed.

 

That was not the case Tuesday night. They only managed 6 baserunners, and only had one inning with more than one man on base, and that inning ended with a deflating double play. 

 

Nick Fortes and Bryan De La Cruz each had a single and a double, Soler and Guririel each got robbed at the wall in the bottom of the ninth. Other than that, the bats were quiet.  

 

Costly Double Plays

 

The Marlins lead the MLB in double plays, and it’s not particularly close. Miami hit into their 79th and 80th DPs of the year on Tuesday. The Atlanta Braves are second with 67.

 

A comeback was brewing in the bottom of the eighth, with Fortes at third and Wendle at first, and pinch-hitter Jesús Sánchez at the plate with one out. As Luis Arráez loomed in the on-deck circle, Sánchez did the one thing he could not do. His inning-ending, rally-killing double play sent some fans toward the exits. 

 

Sánchez, who didn’t get the start with Toronto throwing lefty Yusei Kikuchi, has struggled against southpaws his entire career. He looked overmatched against lefty reliever Tim Mayza.

 

It’s hard to question Skip Schumaker, who is firmly in the NL Manager of the Year conversation, but the decision to stick with Sánchez with a lefty on the mound had to be a tough one. Would outfielder Jonathan Davis have had a better result? Who knows.

 

Luis Arráez is Human

 

This man has been on another planet, but on Tuesday night he came down to Earth.

 

Coming off a five-hit night on Monday, the second baseman was the center of attention every time he stepped in the batter’s box. The energy in the park is noticeably different when he comes up. 

 

The 26-year-old had a pedestrian night, finishing with only one hit, which lowered his average to a measly .398. A 1-4 game for Arráez feels like an 0-10 doubleheader for most hitters, which speaks to how dominant he has been this season. 

Arráez has had three five-hit games in June, two in the past six days. For reference, Albert Pujols, one of the best hitters ever, had three five-hit games — in his career.

 

Even with an off-night on Tuesday, Arráez has been nothing short of spectacular, and is currently the leading vote-getter at second base for the National League All-Star team.

 

Fans? Fans!

 

The last three-game series that the Marlins had at loanDepot Park, the average attendance was 7,400. The first two games of the Toronto series have drawn not only more fans, but more passionate fans. 

 

Monday’s series opener had more than 12,000 fans watch the Marlins dismantle the Blue Jays 11-0. That number had not been eclipsed on a Monday-night game since 2021. Tuesday night, it was a little less than 10,000 people. 

 

Beyond the numbers, it was the passion and rowdiness that stood out. When Eury Pérez got to two strikes on Spencer Horwitz in the fifth inning, the crowd stood and roared like it was 2003.

 

Saturday, the Marlins are projecting upward of 20,000 fans for Puerto Rican Heritage Night, and if that crowd is as lively as Tuesday night’s, the roof might blow off. Sunday is Sandy Alcántara Bobblehead Day, and is sure to be a big draw as well. 

 

This ballclub is playing well and the South Florida faithful need to take notice. To quote Marlins color analyst Tommy Hutton: “No Heat, no Panthers, no homework” and “no excuses.” 

4 Ways Sports Broadcasting is Changing

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Keeping up with the changing tastes of viewers as they migrate from TV to digital platforms can be difficult. Still, it is essential for the continued success of broadcast media.

Although television broadcasting is not extinct, it is changing rapidly, and one must adapt or perish. To transform from a TV television channel to an overall broadcaster is to essentially switch from having served a TV audience to catering to audiences regardless of where they may be.

Here are some top sports media to look out for in 2023.

  1. Growth of over-the-top (OTT) services

OTT stands for “over-the-top,” which describes internet-based content distribution that does not necessitate a cable or pay-TV subscription. Simply put, OTT refers to any form of online video playback.  Much like all you need is an internet connection to play and have fun with Slotastic bonus codes.

What gives these OTT players an edge? There are a couple of explanations for this. One is the passing of time and the arrival of new generations. The internet is everything for younger generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

When did you last see them watching a TV program or broadcast? It’s only a matter of time, with the elder (TV-grown-up) generation dwindling in number and the new generations expanding with each new birth. Eventually, television will become obsolete.

You may ask, why is progress in sports so slow? Then meet the owners of these rights! These individuals are monetizing the sports-related content they created or acquired. Long-term partnerships with extremely wealthy television networks have allowed many rights holders to maximize income to this point.

Traditionally, these channels have opted to sell sports to sports fans as part of bundled packages (mainly on TV).

Many of these contracts are about to run out and can thus be renegotiated. TV has lost viewership at a time when there are many fresh potential events to attend.

  1. Information that is both reliable and up-to-date

There is a lot of movement in the media broadcasting sector. As more and more people gain access to weather and news reports, the accuracy and timeliness of these reports will become increasingly important.

Accurate, local, and timely updates will make a media organization successful. Advances in weather tech and modeling are crucial if broadcasters are to satisfy people’s growing appetite for and need for reliable, localized forecasts and predictions.

  1. Potentially successful novel forms of content

Compared to their parents, leave alone their grandparents, members of Generation Z have very diverse tastes. These older audiences continue to anticipate content delivered and created in the same ways they always have.

But keep in mind that the millennial generation isn’t the video generation. The millennial generation has little patience for marathon sporting events. As soon as a game ends, Gen Z is no longer around. They enjoy featurettes or hilarious, offbeat content as well as in-depth looks at the lives of the celebrities they look up to and interviews with those in the public eye. Some of them enjoy tuning in to Twitch to view the live, interactive broadcasts of commentators giving their thoughts on a variety of sports.

Edits on sports content will also likely speed up significantly. The average attention span of a member of Generation Z is decreasing; therefore, the content they consume needs to be engaging and rapid-fire.

There is little doubt that material is evolving and will no longer be limited to the likes of classic video games. In future years, you can expect a lot more diversity.

  1. Social issues are reflected in sports journalism

Sports editors want more from their writers than just box scores and game recaps. Because of sports’ pervasive influence in society, players are mirrors of evolving norms and beliefs.

The coaches, athletes, and other participants in today’s sporting events are treated as human beings rather than plot devices. Athletes have been vocal about a wide range of topics in recent years. The following incidents caused heated discussions on various online platforms and in the comments sections of sports articles:

  • In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a player for the San Francisco 49ers, took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality.
  • In 2020, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team sported their warmups backward as a form of protest against pay inequality.
  • In 2020, in response to the fatal cop shooting of Jacob Blake, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted a game.

ESPN surveyed sports enthusiasts to learn how they felt about professional athletes speaking up on social problems. Seventy-one percent of people who participated in the survey said they agreed, with 44% saying they agreed strongly that athletes should be able to speak out.

Sports media that ignores athletes’ thoughts on current events isn’t meeting the demands of its readers.

Broadcasting media and technology are in a perpetual cycle of change

Although the media landscape is constantly shifting, broadcasting has always had, and always will have, an educational and informative mission. Marketers in the broadcasting industry would do well to consider these points of view and appreciate that satisfying users’ information needs are crucial. They should also remember that making a broadcast exciting and of good quality will imprint them in viewers’ minds long after they’ve stopped watching.

In your opinion, which changes should be monitored closely?

Which MLB Teams Should You Bet on in the 2023 Season?

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Are you a fan of baseball betting? Then you probably want to know who the best MLB teams are to bet on when the 2023 season officially starts. 

In MLB, there are a handful of teams that you can rely on more than others when it comes to placing moneyline bets. At the same time, there are also underdog teams that are known for shocking fans every couple of seasons.

If you don’t know already, a moneyline bet is when you bet on which team you think is going to win – the favorite or the underdog. 

To find out more, check out the list of teams detailed below that will be worth your money when the 2023 season starts. 

Where Can You Bet on MLB Games? 

To bet on MLB games, simply use an online sportsbook like Unibet Sportsbook. 

Providing you’re above the legal gambling age, you can make an account and place as little or as many bets as you like. 

Now, when it comes to MLB betting, it’s highly recommended you start with a budget. There’s a base number of 162 games per season, which is a lot of baseball to watch. You can spread your budget out over the season and adjust it accordingly depending on how many bets you win. As a sports betting fan, you should aim for a 55% success rate or higher. 

With that said, here are the MLB teams that are worth betting on in the 2023 season:

Houston Astros 

The Houston Astros are the defending World Series champions with a lot to prove. In the 2023 season, they’ll be looking to win their third title with the help of their all-star players, including Justin Verlander, Kyle Tucker, and Jeremy Peña. In particular, Justin Verlander is worth looking out for, as he’s currently considered the best pitcher in the world. He’s still young, too, meaning he’s likely to keep on improving throughout the 2023 season and beyond. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

Last season, the Dodgers posted the highest single-season run differential since the previous record set by the Yankees in 1939. This is the main reason why they’re the favorites to win the championship heading into the 2023 season (make no doubt about it, the Dodgers are likely to have an amazing run come October time). 

San Francisco Giants

Thirdly, there’s the San Francisco Giants. 

The Giants are what you would call a ‘sleeper team’ for the 2023 season. This means that they might surprise a few people and have a more successful season than originally imagined. 

If you flashback to the 2022 MLB season, you’ll remember that it was jam-packed with shocks and surprises, such as when the Baltimore Orioles made it to above .500 playoff contenders. 

So, keep your eyes on the Giants in 2023. It was only a couple of years ago, back in 2021, when they hit 107 wins (an all-time record for them). Sure, they slumped again in 2022, but a big comeback could be on the horizon. If they pick a couple of free agents up, such as Aaron Judge, they could start making some positive moves.