Marlins Sweep

How sports help to write the best essay problems

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At first glance, it may seem that sports have little to do with helping young people overcome their struggles and challenges best assignment writing. After all, sports are often seen as a bit frivolous, fun activities that offer little in the way of real world benefits. However, research shows that engaging in sports can actually help young people develop important life skills like resilience, determination, and focus.

 

There are a number of ways in which sports help to build these critical skills. For one, they encourage young people to push themselves physically and mentally, setting high standards for themselves and striving to meet them. Additionally, they provide opportunities for individuals to learn from their mistakes, recover from setbacks, and find new ways to achieve their goals. And perhaps most importantly, sports offer a supportive community where young people can develop meaningful relationships and build confidence in themselves.

 

So if you’re looking for tools to help your child navigate the challenges of growing up, consider encouraging them to get involved in sports. Not only will it keep them active and happy, but it will also help them become stronger, more resilient individuals in the long run.

 

How playing sports helps to clear the mind and focus on the task at hand

Playing sports is a great way to clear the mind and focus on the task at hand. By getting physically active and engaging in a challenging activity, we are able to take our thoughts off of other things that may be causing stress or anxiety. Additionally, being in an environment where there is a strong sense of teamwork and support can help us feel connected to a larger community that we can turn to for guidance and support.

 

Whether it’s yoga, running, basketball, or another sport, there are countless ways to get involved in activities that can help clear the mind and focus on what really matters. And by getting in touch with our physical and mental well-being through sports, we can better manage the challenges and obstacles that come our way. So if you’re looking for ways to improve your focus and mental clarity, consider giving sports a try!

How sports help to relieve stress and anxiety

When we are feeling overwhelmed by stress and anxiety, engaging in sports can be a great way to find relief. By moving our bodies and focusing on the task at hand, we are able to shift our focus away from whatever may be causing us distress. Additionally, many types of physical activity offer opportunities for mindfulness and reflection, helping us to better manage our emotions and stay grounded in the present moment.

 

Whether you prefer team sports or solo activities like running or yoga, there are many different ways to get involved in sports that can help relieve stress and anxiety. And by taking the time to care for ourselves through physical activity, we can better manage the challenges and worries of everyday life.

 

How sports can help to improve writing skills

Sports can help to improve writing skills in a number of ways. For one, they encourage us to set goals and work towards achieving them. This can be particularly helpful for aspiring writers, who may struggle with self-discipline or motivation when it comes to getting their words down on paper. Additionally, many types of sports involve collaboration and teamwork, which can help us develop the skills needed to work well with others and build strong relationships.

 

Whether you enjoy writing poetry, essays, or fiction, there are countless ways to get involved in sports that can help improve your writing skills. So if you’re looking for tools to enhance your writing abilities, consider giving sports a try!

The importance of taking breaks when writing an essay

Or other piece of writing cannot be understated. By giving our minds and bodies a chance to rest and recharge, we are able to approach our work with renewed focus and energy. And when it comes to improving our writing skills, sports can be a great way to do just that.

 

Whether it’s yoga or running, playing team sports or enjoying a solo workout, there are many different ways to get involved in sports that can help improve your writing abilities. From boosting your focus and discipline to honing your collaborative skills and building strong relationships, the benefits of getting active go far beyond just improving your writing.

 

So if you’re looking for tools to take your writing to the next level, consider exploring the world of sports and see how they can help you achieve your goals. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or someone just starting out, there are endless possibilities to explore and enjoy!

Title: Sona9 – Online Platform For Sports Betting And Casino Games

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Although the field of gambling and sports betting is certainly very popular in 2022, you should be very careful when choosing a new bookmaker as there are a large number of scammers who abuse the trust of inexperienced users. In the end, the scammers get what they want and new users are left with nothing.

 

To choose a new bookmaker you must be sure that the company whose services you will use is safe. As for the bookmaker Sona9 India, you can fully trust it. Although the company was founded not long ago – in 2021, it has already managed to get a license from the Malta Gaming Authority. In addition, the proof of safety is a large number of users from India and positive feedback about the company.

 

Why is the company so popular in India? All thanks to the hard work of the company’s staff and the range of services which you will be able to use after the registration. By creating an account on the website, the company will offer you a wide variety of sports on which you can bet at the most competitive odds. In addition to sports betting, you’ll be able to play live casinos, slots, phishing, lotteries, and bet on E-sports which is gaining popularity among the younger generation.

 

To familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the company in a short period, read the following headline.

 

Sona9 Pros and Cons

The pros and cons header is a good way to assess all the strengths and weaknesses of any bookmaker, so read this header carefully and you will learn about all the pros and cons of the company and you can decide whether to become a new user of the company or not.

 

Pros:

  • Sona9 offers the opportunity to use the services through a mobile app, as it is available for download for iOS and Android users;
  • Availability of a live casino with a real dealer that creates an environment like in a real gambling establishment;
  • A large number of ways you can contact the support center;
  • Opportunity to bet on eSports which has gained popularity in recent years;
  • Great bonuses and offers for both new and registered members.

 

Cons:

  • The sportsbook of the company is not as extensive as other bookmakers who have a great experience in the sports services market;
  • Because the company mainly focuses on the residents of India, users from other countries will not be able to use the services of the company;
  • A limited number of payment and withdrawal options.

 

If you got acquainted with all the advantages and disadvantages of the company and decided to become a new user and start earning money then you have to go through the registration process first.

 

Sona9 Registration and Verification Process

Creating an account or going through the registration process is one of the prerequisites on the way to using the services of Sona9. Let’s find out how to quickly create an account from which you can bet and play in the casino.

 

Registration is as simple as possible, just follow the suggested instructions:

 

  1. Visit the official website of the company. Go to the official website of the company and find the button for registration. This button is highlighted in orange and will be called join now. Click it;
  2. Fill in the necessary data. Now you have to fill in the blank fields, namely to enter the player’s ID and in the line below come up with a strong password which you have to enter twice. It is desirable that the password is strong and that you were hard to hack. Yes, this is not excluded;
  3. Mobile number. Now enter a valid cell phone number to which you will receive a confirmation code. To send the code click on the purple button and send a message;
  4. Agree to the privacy policy. Now you must agree with the privacy policy, enter the four-digit confirmation code and click the Join Now button.

 

Remember you have to be at least 21 years old to become a user. So it is not allowed to create an account on behalf of another person, for example, your friend.

 

After registering, the company will ask you to verify, to do that you only need to confirm the phone number you entered at registration. This is done to make sure that it was you who created the account.

 

Now the account is created, but how to log in?

 

How to Log in to Sona9 Account

Logging into your account is as easy as registration, just follow these instructions:

 

  1. Go to the Sona9 official website and find the login button. It will be called login. Click on it;
  2. In the window that opens, enter the player’s ID that you typed in the registration. In the line below, enter the password.

 

All users have the option to use the remember password function so you don’t have to enter it every time you log in to your account. And if you forget your id or password, you need to contact the customer support center via live chat.

 

Let’s have a closer look at the official website of the company, its design, and its navigation.

 

Sona9 Official Website Overview

The quality of the company’s official website depends on its popularity of the company as you may not want to use the company’s services if it is not convenient. There is no problem with the Sona9 official website as it is created as a result of the work of high-quality developers who have done everything possible for the site to look nice and for the necessary information to be found quickly.

 

Going to the official website of the company you will be pleasantly surprised and see the following:

 

  • The top line. Here are the most popular tabs, i.e. those that are most often used by customers. Using the top line you will be able to see the company’s sportsbook, live casino, slots, phishing, cybersports, and lotteries. Here you can also find tabs to log in to your account and register. If you want to change the language, you can do so in the top right corner. Residents of India can use Hindi;
  • Homepage. There will be information about the most popular games of the company. By studying them you can choose what will be to your liking;
  • Bottom part. There will be described the benefits of the company, namely information about its security and fast payment and withdrawal methods. Here you will also find a list of all providers;
  • Quick links. The company has a large number of quick links that will allow you to learn about the privacy policy, possible payment methods, withdrawal, and frequently asked questions.

 

Now let’s take a look at the services the company offers every day.

 

Sona9 Sport Betting

The field of sports betting is at the peak of popularity and is on par with live casinos and slots. Sona9 sports betting is a good way to make money at the best odds. To see the company’s sportsbook, just go to the sports tab at the top of the official company website, there you will see the following disciplines:

 

  • Cricket;
  • Basketball;
  • Football;
  • Tennis;
  • Golf;
  • Baseball.

 

Although the sportsbook is not as extensive, it contains the most popular sports. For example, cricket is very popular in India. Also by going to the sports tab you can see the schedule of all upcoming sporting events. 

 

To make users feel good, the company has developed a system of bonuses and offers. The specific bonuses you can read further.

 

Sona9 Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are a nice way to get cash bonuses from the company that will appear in your Bonus Account. 

 

Here’s a list of possible bonuses:

 

  • Referral link. Each user can invite new players through the referral link and the main user and the new one will receive 300 INR each provided that the invited user deposits at least 2,000 INR. The number of players that can be invited is unlimited;
  • Welcome Bonus for betting on sports + 100% on first deposit up to 12,000 INR. To get this type of bonus chooses the Welcome Bonus on Sports Betting on your deposit. The minimum deposit amount is INR 600 and the maximum bonus amount is 12,000 INR. It’s a good way to start down the sports betting path, isn’t it?;
  • Casino Welcome Bonus +100% on first deposit up to 20,000 INR. Just like with the sports bonus, choose a casino bonus when you make a deposit. Once a deposit is made, the deposit amount will be multiplied by 100%. The minimum deposit amount to activate the bonus is 600 INR. The maximum bonus amount is 20,000 INR;
  • 10% cashback on casino bets. If your bet loses you will be able to receive a 10% cashback, but the cashback amount can not exceed 5,000 INR. 

 

All welcome bonuses can be activated only by new users on their first deposit. It is impossible to activate the sports bonus and casino bonus at the same time, so choose the bonus you like.

 

You already know that you have to deposit to activate the bonus, but what payment methods are available on the company’s website?

 

Sona9 Payment Methods

New users resort to payment methods when they want to make a deposit or withdraw money. Although Sona9 does not offer many payment methods, they are fast and reliable.

 

Here are the payment methods you will be able to use:

 

  • UPI Payment system;
  • PayTM;
  • PhonePe;
  • Local bank.

 

When choosing one or another method remember that the minimum deposit amount for any method is 200 INR. And when withdrawing funds you will be able to do this if you have accumulated at least 2,000 INR. As for the maximum withdrawal amount, there is no information about it.

 

When you got acquainted with the possible payment methods it’s time to know how to make a deposit and withdraw funds.

 

Sona9 How to Make a Deposit and Withdrawal

No matter what your objective is, like betting on sports or activating a bonus, you have to make a deposit first. To do this uncomplicated for new users, you can read the step-by-step instruction below.

 

How to Deposit:

  1. Log into your account and find the button to deposit. Click on it;
  2. Choose the most suitable way of deposit from the offered ones. If you choose the UPI payment system or for example PhonePe then it’s enough to enter a deposit amount that can’t be less than the minimum deposit amount and click on the deposit button;
  3. If you’ve chosen the local bank as a way to deposit, then you need to make additional steps. Namely, contact the company’s support center to get the bank account number of the company. Then choose the way with a local bank and transfer money to the account given to you by the employees of the company. You will be able to check the actual balance in the wallet tab.

 

If you’ve saved enough money, you can withdraw it anytime, just follow the instructions below.

 

How to Withdraw:

  1. Just like you did when you deposited, log into your account and find the withdrawal tab. Click on it;
  2. You will only be able to use your local bank method for withdrawal. So you have to enter the name of the bank, the account number, and the name of the recipient;
  3. Click on withdraw funds and wait for the transaction to be approved. This may take a few days.

 

If you still have unresolved questions, you can refer to the FAQs on the official website.

8 Baseball Facts Even The Biggest Fans May Not Know

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Baseball is a great sport for facts and stats, but some fall through the cracks, and not even the biggest fans know them. Here are eight of the greatest.

Two Yankees Managers Share The World Series Win Record

The New York Yankees have been dominating baseball since the glory days of Babe Ruth. It should come as no surprise that two of their managers share the record for most World Series wins at seven each; Joe McCarthy (1931-1946) and Casey Stengel (1949-1960)

 

The Manager With The Most Wins Also Has The Most Losses

The manager who has achieved the most career wins is Connie Mack, who managed the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 to 1950. He has also racked up the most career losses. This is probably because of his 50-year managerial career and may not be repeated with the level of staff turnover we see today.

 

Joe DiMaggio Married Marylin Monroe

For non-baseball fans, this is probably the only fact you know about any baseballer. Joe DiMaggio married Marylin Monroe in 1954, but the union only lasted 9 months; less than a full season. Joe’s biggest achievements on the field include his 56-game hitting streak, a record that still stands today. The linked article on Joe DiMaggio has even more great facts about the legendary player. 

 

The First Pro Team Was The Cincinnati Red Stockings

Back in 1866, the first professional baseball team was formed. The Cincinnati Baseball Club wore red stockings and was the first team to recruit and pay players. This was so they could tour the country and play other amateur teams at Union Cricket Club Grounds.

 

Two Players Share The Longest Career Record

Both these players had an astonishing 27-year career in professional baseball, though they did it in different centuries. Cap Anderson played from 1871 to 1897, setting his record in baseball’s early days. Nolan Ryan managed to play for 27 seasons between 1966 and 1993, an amazing amount of time for the modern game.

 

Yogi Berra Holds Two World Series Records

No player has won more World Series titles than Yogi Berra, and he also holds the record for most World Series appearances. The hall-of-famer played in 14 World Series in his career, walking away with 10 wins and the rings to match; one for all his fingers and thumbs.

 

Only Three Players Have Hit Over 700 Career Home Runs

Babe Ruth hit three homers in his last game in May 1935, setting a career record of 714 home runs. It took another 39 years for his record to be broken by Hank Aaron in 1974, who finished his career on 755. This record lasted until Barry Bonds hit his 756th in 2007, finishing his career on 762 which is the career record to this day.

 

Speaking Of Hank Aaron…

The career record for the most runs batted in (RBI) stands at 2,297, set by Hank Aaron over his 21 years as a pro-baller. He played for the Braves for 19 seasons and finished up at the Milwaukee Brewers for the last two years of his astounding career.

Baseball is the sport of kings, and the names featured in these facts are true kings of the game. Next time you are shooting the breeze with a baseball fan, drop some of these big facts into the conversation.

Mets easily sweep Marlins: 5 Takeaways

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The New York Mets (64-37) came to town to face the Miami Marlins (47-55) in what felt like a one-sided series. 

Not only did the Marlins get swept in the three-game weekend series, but to make things worse, LoanDepot Park was flooded with Mets fans. It felt like the Mets were the home team and with nothing much for Marlins fans to cheer about through each game, there was nothing they could do to drown out the “Let’s go Mets!” chants that echoed throughout the ballpark.

I don’t blame Marlins fans for not showing up to the stadium though. Why would they spend the extra money to watch a losing product on the field? Until some major changes start to happen and the Marlins win consistently, the fans won’t show up and support.

It was a disappointing weekend for the Miami Marlins. 

Here are five takeaways from the series. 

 

Trouble For Sandy

Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara pitched Game 1 of the series and he didn’t look like his usual self. 

The Marlins actually gave Alcantara run support, something that hardly occurs, and produced three runs in the bottom of the first inning. 

But that 3-0 lead didn’t hold for long, as the Mets answered right back in the second inning and scored three runs of their own. The Marlins did score another run of their own in the second inning to regain the lead, but a home run by former Marlin Starling Marte in the fourth inning tied the game at four. Alcantara would eventually pitch the fifth inning but shortly after, his night was done. 

Alcantara finished the game pitching five innings and allowed eight hits, four earned runs, and three walks. He also posted five strikeouts. 

The Marlins’ ace had his worst outing of the year and the only thing that I can think of that explains why is that he had faced the Mets four times already this year. Because New York’s offense had already seen him a number of times, his stuff isn’t as deceiving as it normally would be against any other club.

It seems as if when Alcantara is on his game, the Marlins fail to produce runs. But when Miami does score runs, Alcantara has an off night. 

 

Mets Offense Too Much To Handle

The Mets lineup is good. Like really, really good.

It felt like Miami had no idea how to get New York’s hitters out. And if they did get someone out, the next guy in the order did damage. 

Marte was a double shy of hitting for the cycle against Alcantara in Game 1. That’s when Miami could guess that they were in for a rude awakening. 

Over the three games, Mets hitters had an absurd average of .339 (39-for-115). They also averaged 6.3 runs per game and had 18 extra-base hits. If you’re the Marlins and you know that you’re on the brink of a possible wild-card spot, that cannot happen. 

“Every guy seems to fight you,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about the difficulties facing the Mets. “There’s no really easy outs up and down that lineup. It’s a battle to get through there.”

If the Mets can hit like this now, imagine how they will be after the trade deadline. There were some rumblings about a possibility of acquiring catcher Willson Contreras from the Chicago Cubs. Plus Jacob deGrom is making his 2022 debut this week, so there’s no doubt this team will be scary. 

 

Leblanc Excels In Debut Series

Marlins third baseman Charles Leblanc made his MLB debut on Saturday and he made his name known on both sides of the ball.

In the seventh inning of Game 2, Leblanc made a spectacular diving play on a ground ball hit in his direction and he threw to first base just in time to get the runner out. 

During the two games he played in, Leblanc went 3-for-7 (.428 BA) and hit a couple of doubles. He was the only player in Marlins history to record a double in each of his first two MLB games. 

On top of that, Leblanc hit his first career home run in the bottom of the sixth inning during Game 3. 

“It was a blacked out moment, I don’t remember much,” Leblanc said about what he felt during his first home run. “I saw something over the plate and that was it.”

In Triple-A Jacksonville, Leblanc had a .302 batting average and an OPS of .884. He also had 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. 

Marlins fans have been begging for the organization to call Leblanc up to the Majors and you can see why. 

 

Why Did Miami Start Pablo?

All week, right-hander Pablo Lopez’s name has been swirling around the league as the trade deadline draws closer. 

Many people assumed that because of Miami’s current situation, Lopez would be on the move as soon as the front office received a deal they liked. 

“A deal that really helps us has to present itself,” Marlins General Manager Kim Ng said about Lopez’s trade situation. “We’re not out there looking to move Pablo (Lopez)…but we’re listening on all fronts.”

Because Miami had yet to make a move with Lopez, he started Sunday’s game against the Mets and looking back on it now, I’m sure the front office surely regrets throwing him out there. 

Lopez had without a doubt his worst start of the season. By the top of the third inning, all nine Mets batters had a hit. Lopez finished his brief afternoon with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing six earned runs and a career-high 12 hits. 

Lopez’s trade value has in all likelihood plummeted and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Marlins just hold on to him and not trade him at all. If the front office didn’t like the returns they heard for Lopez earlier in the week, they for sure won’t like them after his performance on Sunday. 

 

What Exactly is the Front Office’s Approach?

What is Ng and the Marlins organization currently thinking? 

Surely they would be sellers, right? Apparently, that’s not so easy to tell because we haven’t gotten a clear-cut answer as of now. 

Starting Lopez just a couple days prior to the trade deadline looked suspicious. Why risk having a player like Lopez’s value go down when they can trade him while his value’s high after a spectacular outing against the Reds earlier in the week? Maybe Lopez has been a player that Miami has been planning to keep all along amidst the trade rumors. But why keep him when his contract is set to expire by the end of the season? 

“I think the objective is always to try and better yourself,” Ng told the media about the team’s objective heading into the trade deadline. “I think where we are in the standings…I’m not sure whether we’re going to be a clear buyer or a clear seller. I think it’s a little bit more complex than that.” 

It’s obvious that Ng doesn’t want to reveal the team’s exact plans to the public, but given that they are eight games under .500 and have around a 1.5% chance to make the playoffs, it would be surprising if they buy at the deadline. We’ll see what the Marlins do in the next couple of days. 

The Marlins will try and bounce back from this brutal series as they face the Cincinnati Reds (40-61) for a three-game series from Monday through Wednesday. 

 

******

Photo by Tony Capobianco

Marlins split series vs. Reds: 5 Takeaways

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The Miami Marlins (47-52) split the four-game series against the last-place Cincinnati Reds (38-60). 

It was an up-and-down four-game stretch for the Fish, but they rallied in the end and found a way to win the last game to split the series. 

The Marlins have not been playing the way they wanted to and I’m positive that they are not happy with splitting a series against a poor Reds team. They should’ve won at least three out of the four games, but the offense hit a wall during the bulk of the series and their pitching couldn’t win them games on their own without having enough runs on the board. 

It was a tough Game 1 as the Marlins lost 11-2. Game 2 was better because they won 2-1 but then the next day, they fell 5-3. The offense finally woke up in Game 4 of the series as they won 7-6. But this theme of inconsistency keeps showing up throughout the season. At the end of the day, how can the Marlins be a consistent ball club?

Here are five takeaways from the series. 

 

Trevor Rogers Likely Getting Sent Down

It was a dreadful outing for starting pitcher Trevor Rogers. 

Rogers went just 3.2 innings, gave up eight hits, and allowed six earned runs that led to a Marlins loss in Game 1. To make things sound worse, he did this against a Cincinnati Reds offense that ranks in the bottom-third in baseball in batting average and runs per game. 

The struggles for last year’s All-Star have reached an all-time high and given how his outings have been all season long, it’s likely that the organization will send him down to work on his mechanics and get back to his form from last season. 

Rogers’ velocity is definitely there, but his slider and changeup don’t have the same amount of depth as it did a year ago. Plus, a couple of starters on the IL, Jesus Luzardo and Edward Cabrera, are nearing their returns to Major League action, so it gives the Marlins another reason to pull Rogers from the starting rotation.

 

Joey Wendle Hits Everything

Marlins utility player Joey Wendle had himself a series against the Reds. 

During the three games he played, Wendle went 5-for-14 (.357 BA) and had three RBIs. Wendle now has a batting average over .300 (.303) which is a great sight to see for an abysmal Marlins offense. 

Wendle ended his great play this week with a go-ahead RBI double in the ninth inning to seal the victory and give the Marlins a series split. 

“When Joey’s (Wendle) on the field, it’s been great”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about how valuable Wendle has been for the team. “He plays hard everyday and he’s a great example for our guys with the way we want to play the game.”

Of course, like many of Miami’s best players, there’s the question of whether or not this was Wendle’s last week playing for the Marlins. We’ll find out soon enough.

 

Pablo Lopez Found A Groove

Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez has probably made his last start with the Miami Marlins. But, at least he went out with a bang. 

The right-hander pitched through seven innings of work and gave up just two hits and one earned run while striking out 11 batters. The 11 strikeouts by Lopez matched his career-high in a game. 

After his last outing against the Rangers where he gave up five earned runs in just five innings, Lopez found a way to bounce back and have his best showing of the season. 

“It had been a while,” Lopez said about the last time he’s felt this good on the mound. “It’s one of those starts that you really need because it reminds you that the work we put in between starts really pays off…it was a good start to build up from.”

It’s uncertain if this was Lopez’s last start with the Marlins with all of the trade rumors up in the air, but if it was, he definitely made it a good one. 

 

The Young Guys Show Out

Marlins outfielder J.J. Bleday made his debut last weekend against the Pirates and he’s been nothing short of what Miami’s been hoping for at the plate. 

His numbers on the stat sheet won’t jump out at you, but if you’re watching his at-bats, they’ll tell you that he’s “just” missing his pitches. It’s probably what explains his low batting average in Triple-A (.228). 

On the bright side, Bleday was able to hit his first career home run against Reds All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo in the fourth inning of Game 3. 

First baseman Lewin Diaz has been nothing short of impressive during the series. Diaz went 3-for-9 (.333 BA) and had three walks. He showed great patience at the plate for a young player and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him a great target to throw to at first base. 

Right-handed reliever Huascar Brazoban looked terrific in his outing in Game 3. In two innings, he gave up just one hit and racked up five strikeouts. Brazoban made his MLB debut on July 24th against the Pirates and he’s been a great asset for an injury-ridden bullpen. 

 

Marlins Are Probably Sellers 

Given that it’s impossible for Miami to reach the .500 mark before the trade deadline, it might be safe to say that they will look to be a selling club yet again. 

Even though the Marlins are just a few games out of the final wild card spot, it’s too tough of a task to clinch it at the end of the season with all of their injuries and inconsistencies with their play on the field. So, the front office might not want to take that risk and ship their most valuable players in exchange for young and talented prospects. 

As of now, the players with the most value that teams are keeping their eyes on are Lopez, first-baseman Garrett Cooper, and Wendle. 

Other names to keep in mind from the bullpen are right-handers Anthony Bass and Dylan Floro, as well as left-hander Steven Okert.

The Marlins are desperately in need of a center fielder and shortstop. They don’t have any of those positions in the minor leagues that will be ready by next year. Interestingly enough, a report by the Athletic came out and mentioned that the Marlins “have not stopped calling” about Pittsburgh’s All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds. 

At this point, we don’t exactly know what general manager Kim Ng and the front office have planned out. All we can do is let it play out and see what the organization really believes this team can achieve for the remainder of the season. 

The Marlins come back home to play the New York Mets (61-37) for a three-game weekend series from Friday through Sunday. 

 

Marlins take 2 of 3 vs. Pirates: 5 Takeaways

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Struggling is an understatement when it comes to the Miami Marlins (45-50).

But after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-56) in a three-game series, there still might be some hope. 

Before winning Game 1 on Friday, the Marlins were on a four-game losing streak where they were outscored 24-1. 

Yes, you read that correctly. It has been a brutal couple of weeks for the fans and organization, but the series win against the Pirates has to feel good for them. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing. A win is a win and the Marlins will certainly take it. 

Here are five takeaways from the series. 

 

The Scoreless Streak is Over

The Marlins have finally scored a run! They snapped a 37 straight scoreless inning streak in the fourth inning of Game 1 thanks to a double by shortstop Miguel Rojas. 

“It felt great to break out offensively, for everybody to do their part and play the game that we played today,” Rojas said after the game. “It’s a little bit of a relief because we didn’t play good at home…we’re continuing to work hard, get better, and that’s what we’re doing right now.”

What’s crazy is that they not only scored in that game, but they put up a total of eight runs. It came out of nowhere. Once they got a run through, it felt like the gates just opened up. Miami had 13 hits including five going for extra bases.

But that wasn’t the only streak the Marlins ended that night. Miami had a nine-game streak without a home run that was put to an end when right fielder Avisail Garcia hit a solo shot into the seats in right field during the seventh inning. That had to feel good not only for the team but for Garcia as well because he hadn’t hit a home run since June 29th in St. Louis. 

“He’s (Garcia) been swinging the bat actually pretty good”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about Garcia’s home run that ended the homerless streak. “It’s good to get that home run out of the way too because it’s another thing that gets written about and all that kind of just comes together.”

 

Braxton Garrett’s Stellar Start

Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett (2-3) got the start in Game 1 and he pitched a fantastic game.

Garrett pitched through six innings of work and struck out seven Pittsburgh hitters and allowed just one earned run. He gave up two hits that included a solo home run by Pirates catcher Jason Delay that traveled a mere 354 feet into left field. Given the dimensions of PNC Park, that home run wouldn’t have counted in a lot of major league ballparks. Nonetheless, Garrett had a terrific outing. 

The former first-round pick has been playing great in his last couple of starts. In his last game against the Pirates, Garrett racked up 11 strikeouts and allowed only two hits and no earned runs. He has been a nice piece for this young and talented starting rotation.

“He (Garrett) was ahead in the count all night,” Mattingly said about Garrett’s performance. “He was ahead all night I felt like, changed speeds, mixed his locations, and was pretty sharp after that first inning.”

 

Sandy Alcantara Shouldn’t Worry

Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (9-4) was given the start in the third game of the series and he pitched a great game. But for Sandy’s standards, it wasn’t the greatest of starts. 

The All-Star starting pitcher pitched through six innings and gave up two hits and two earned runs. He did however rack up 10 strikeouts but the three walks ended up hurting him. It was an unusual start by Alcantara because he pitched in just six innings. 

“It was a little bit of a battle for him”, Mattingly said after Alcantara’s outing. “He’s had a lot go on since his last start. He flew to L.A. and pitched out there, then came back. There’s a lot going on. But with all that, Sandy is just Sandy and he hangs in there and gives us a chance to win.”

We’re so accustomed to seeing him working through seven, eight, or nine. But, his pitch count just ballooned up 105 at the end of the sixth inning, so Mattingly had no choice but to take him out. 

He was visibly upset with his performance, but he shouldn’t be that hard on himself after a great outing. If it just adds fuel to the fire towards his next start, so be it.

 

Welcome to the Show J.J. Bleday

The day has finally come, Marlins fans. 

Outfielder J.J. Bleday made his Major League debut on Saturday after he was subbed into the late innings of Game 2. Bleday was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville due to a roster move that sent Soler to the IL. 

The former first-round pick and No.4 ranked prospect in the Marlins system showed flashes of what he can potentially become for this team. Someone who not only gets on base, but has some power to his bat.  

Bleday’s first plate appearance in the Major Leagues came in the ninth inning against the Pirate’s All-Star closer, David Bednar. And wouldn’t you know it? Bleday showed patience at the plate and drew a walk. 

In Sunday’s game, Bleday was batting in the fifth spot of the order and went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. In the two games he’s played in so far, he’s been one of the more productive hitters in the Marlins lineup. 

“I’m just blessed to be here,” Bleday said following the victory on Sunday. “Especially to be here in Pittsburgh. I grew up two and a half hours north of here so it’s a little surreal, but I really enjoyed this.”

 

Injuries Are Piling Up

The Marlins have been hit by the injury bug and it has really been hurting the team.

Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been sitting on the IL since the end of June due to a back injury. On Friday, Chisholm was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back and will be transferred to the 60-day IL. It’s more than likely that the All-Star second baseman’s season has come to an end. 

On Saturday, the Marlins placed left fielder Jorge Soler on the 10-day IL due to back spasms. On that same day during Game 2, rookie right-hander Max Meyer had to exit the game after just 10 pitches due to right elbow discomfort. Also during Game 2, another Marlins All-Star, first baseman Garrett Cooper, was forced to leave the game after getting hit by a pitch in the eighth inning. That pitch hit him in his right wrist and he’s now day-to-day in terms of game status. 

But wait, there’s more. 

Third baseman Brian Anderson was forced to leave the game after making a diving play on the ball in the sixth inning that caused pain in his left shoulder. Anderson was diagnosed with a shoulder sprain on Sunday and was placed on the 10-day IL.

Injuries have clearly hurt this team and it shows on the field. The offense just isn’t there when a lot of the better players on the squad are out. Miami will have to learn how to overcome this obstacle or else their season might be over. 

The Marlins travel to Cincinnati (36-58) for a four-game series from Monday through Thursday. 

 

Photo by Tony Capobianco.

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Max Meyer Marlins

Max Meyer Gets Marlins Promotion

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The Miami Marlins made fans, and perhaps more importantly, one of their top prospects very happy on Thursday night. The team posted a video of Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp manager Daren Brown relaying the news to Max Meyer that he’d received the call to pitch at the MLB level with the Marlins.

 

Meyer recently worked his way back from a ulnar nerve irritation injury before getting this well-desvered call. He will reportedly make the start for the Marlins on Saturday at home versus the Philadelphia Phillies, a team Miami’s chasing the in the Wild Card race.

Marlins (Finally) Call Up Max Meyer

The Marlins find themselves three games back of the final NL Wild Card spot after splitting a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. Miami (43-45) continues to deal with injuries and ineffectiveness among their pitchers outside of Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez, which only added to many Marlins fans clamoring for Meyer’s call. The timing here coincides with a pivotal three-game series with the Phillies before the All-Star break.

Max Meyer finally getting the call from the Marlins puts one of baseball’s top pitching prospects on display. MLB Pipeline lists Meyer as Miami’s No. 2 prospect, behind only 19-year-old phenom Eury Perez. He’s MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 prospect overall.

With Triple-A Jacksonville, Meyer dominated competition for stretches of the season. His first six starts the season, prior to the issues surrounding his injury, saw Meyer post a 1.72 ERA over 31.1 innings pitched. He allowed just six earned runs over those six starts, registering 39 strikeouts along the way. Meyer handled Atlanta Braves slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. during that stretch.

It’s clear that the ulnar nerve irritation, which eventually landed him on the IL, affected his next two starts. Meyer adjusted his approach and mechanics to deal with the discomfort, ultimately to disappointing results. But after a month to heal and recuperate, Meyer found his form once again with Jacksonville.

During his rehab stint in Jupiter, Meyer told MLB.com: “I’ll get my shot, and I’ll be up there for a long time.”

In the four starts before this Marlins promotion, Max Meyer looked ready. He went 18.1 innings with 21 strikeouts and just four earned runs (1.96 ERA). Opponents managed a meager .119 batting average against in those starts.

Meyer’s Path to the Majors

The Marlins selected Max Meyer with the third overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota. He was the first pitcher off the draft board and started his time in Miami’s system with Double-A Pensacola in 2021. (There was no minor league season in 2020.)

With the Blue Wahoos, Meyer earned the Double-A South Most Outstanding Pitcher award. He did so following a season where he registered a 2.41 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 101 innings.

In 2022, Meyer made 12 starts for Triple-A Jacksonville, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 65 strikeouts over 58 innings. He averaged 10.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings, registering a 28.4 percent strikeout rate along the way. He induced ground balls at a 50 percent rate this season, and kept his walk rate to just 8.3 percent.

In his 35 minor league starts, Meyer pitched to a 2.77 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, recording 199 strikeouts in those games.

Meyer sports a repertoire of three pitches, including a dominant, wipe-out slider many scouts called the single best pitch in the 2020 draft. His fastball velocity sits in the mid-to-upper-90s and has touched triple digits. This third pitch is a changeup, which the organization wanted to see him develop ahead of his promotion.

There’s been some talk of Meyer ultimately being a bullpen arm, but the Marlins maintain they view him as a rotation piece.

“I see Max as a starting pitcher,” Marlins amateur scouting director DJ Svihlik said on Wednesday. “We knew when we selected Max, there was that reliever-starter conversation. Any starter of that caliber with that kind of two-pitch combination can go into the back of a bullpen.”

Svihlik did note: “I see Max as a playoff starter.”

A spot on Miami’s 40-man roster opened recently when the Baltimore Orioles claimed reliever Louis Head off waivers. The Marlins need to add Meyer to the 40-man prior to his scheduled start on Saturday.

More on Marlins Prospects

5 Takeaways from the Marlins Series Split vs. Angels

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The Miami Marlins (39-41) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Angels (38-45) came to play for a cross-league series.

Miami split the two game series, winning Game 1 by a score of 2-1 and losing Game 2 by a score of 5-2. 

The stars were showcased during those two games as a couple of perennial all-stars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, came to town to play against the fish. 

The seats at LoanDepot Park were filled up which was a surprise for a midweek series. But also, how could you not watch these once in a lifetime players in person? There were many Japanese fans that showed out to the park to not only watch Ohtani, but also because the Marlins were celebrating Japanese Heritage Night during Tuesday’s game. 

Although the Marlins didn’t get the series sweep, it was still a very entertaining couple of games to watch from both sides.

Here are five takeaways from the series.

 

Sandy paints another masterpiece

Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara had another one of his lights out performances.

Alcantara took the mound in the first game of the two-game series and he knew that this wasn’t going to be particularly easy. 

Although Alcantara was facing an Angels offense that suffered the most strikeouts per game in the MLB at 9.66, he still had to get through Trout and Ohtani. 

Of course for Alcantara, that was not a problem. 

Alcantara ended up having arguably his best outing of his career where he pitched through eight innings, gave up just two hits, and struck out 10. Out of those 10 strikeouts, two were to Trout. Ohtani didn’t have a hit as well against Alcantara. 

If you’re fooling those two talents even during the third time through the order, then that’s when you know there’s something special. 

Alcanatra continues to make his case for the National League Cy Young Award and he is pretty much the favorite at this point in time if he keeps putting up these incredible numbers. 

 

Garrett Cooper is slowly becoming one of baseball’s best hitters

Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper is the definition of consistent. 

Game after game, Cooper has been big for Miami when they needed that big hit or a ball in play.

And the numbers show that he’s been getting better and better as the season progresses. Cooper’s batting average has increased to an incredible .311 which ranks as the 12th-highest in baseball. His on-base percentage of .377 puts him ninth in the National League. 

Although Cooper didn’t have a great two games, only producing one hit, he did come up clutch when the Marlins needed him. 

In the bottom of the third inning during Game 1, Cooper hit a 3-2 pitch just over the left field wall for a home run that gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

During the first inning of Game 2, Cooper hit a sacrifice fly that also gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead. 

It just goes to show that when the Marlins need him, Cooper produces the big hit. 

 

Marlins shutdown Trout

Miami didn’t let Trout get hot during his short stay in Miami. 

The three-time MVP was just 1-for-7 and struck out four times during the two-game series. 

It’s definitely odd to see a player of that caliber struggle that much over those couple of games. It’s like he couldn’t see the ball well at LoanDepot Park, but he did say the same exact thing in Houston during their last series where he struggled to hit the ball as well. 

Maybe it has nothing to do with Miami’s pitchers and has more to do with himself. Miami’s lucky that they got scheduled to play the Angels during a time where Trout is cold because if he was playing like his usual self, I don’t see how the Marlins split the series. 

I’m not discrediting the Marlins pitching staff by any means, but seeing a player like Trout have those struggles at the plate makes you wonder how much of a factor is his mental approach as opposed to the pitcher he’s going up against. 

 

There’s no answers when facing Ohtani

The Marlins offense looked clueless against Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. I mean CLUELESS.

The only time the batters really got to Ohtani was in the first inning where they racked up a couple of hits and ended the inning with a 1-0 lead.

At that point, many were probably thinking that the offense had a plan against Ohtani and maybe they could get him out of the game before six innings.

Well, the opposite of that ended up happening. 

Ohtani pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs. During that span, Ohtani managed to retire 15 straight Marlins hitters. 

I mean, Ohtani’s tough for a hitter to figure out. He’s got five pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, cutter, and splitter. 

The splitter is his strikeout pitch and is arguably one of the best in baseball. Hitters are batting just .115 against that pitch and it doesn’t help that Ohtani also throws a 100 mph fastball. Having those two combined, along with the curveball and slider, makes it tough for any hitter to have success against this generational talent. 

“He never seems to get rattled”, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about Ohtani. “Pretty impressive tonight seeing him for the first time.”

 

The winning streak comes to an end 

Miami’s winning streak has sadly come to a close. 

Their six-game winning streak started back when they won against St. Louis, the Washington Nationals for four games, and the Angels during the first game of this series. 

Although their winning streak came to an end, there’s still a ton of positive things that came out of it. 

First, Miami has gained some serious ground in the race for that final Wild Card spot. The Marlins are now just three games back of that spot which is crazy because last week, all people were thinking was to trade our players and start fresh for the next season. 

Will the Marlins actually become buyers at the trade deadline? It’s something that Marlins fans aren’t very used to seeing. 

After the winning streak came to an end, Miami is just two games back of .500. A record they haven’t seen since April. 

But, if the Marlins want to make it to the postseason, they’ll have to start beating teams that are above .500. Because that’s where the real test is at. And they definitely can’t afford losing a series against a poor team. 

Miami’s up for a big test as they head to New York against the Mets (51-31) for a four-game series from Thursday through Sunday. 

 

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5 takeaways from the Marlins’ series loss vs. Mets

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The Miami Marlins have really struggled against the New York Mets this season.

Miami is 2-5 so far against the Mets this season and they are still trying to figure out how to beat them. 

With the sweep against the Colorado Rockies earlier in the week, the Marlins thought that they would have enough momentum to beat the first place Mets on their home turf. But, the Mets are in first place for a reason. Their lineup from top to bottom is as good as anyone in baseball and their pitching staff has really proved that they don’t need Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer to win games. 

Don’t get me wrong, the Mets are a really good team. But, the Marlins had many opportunities to give themselves wins in Games 1 and 2. Missed spots from pitchers and too many strikeouts from the offense combined with a little bit of bad luck gave the Mets the series victory.

Here are the takeaways from the series.

 

Sandy Alcantara’s rare tough outing

Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara got the start in Game 1 of the series and immediately from the jump, found himself in some trouble. 

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Alcantara gave up a solo home run to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. It’s not too often that you see Alcantara give up a run so early in the game, but it goes to show that no one’s perfect in professional baseball.

Alcantara would start to settle for the next few innings until Mets left fielder Mark Canha hit a home run to left field that gave New York a 2-1 lead. 

In the sixth inning, with runners on first and second and nobody out, Mets right fielder Starling Marte hit a ground ball towards second baseman Willians Astudillo that should’ve been a routine double play. Instead, because Astudillo picked the ball up with his bare hand, when he tagged the runner, the umpire ruled him safe because Astudillo tagged him with his empty glove. Not only that, Astudillo’s throw to the first baseman was late. So at the end of it all, the Marlins found themselves with the bases loaded and nobody out. And to make matters worse, Lindor was up at the plate. 

Alcantara found himself in a 3-1 count against Lindor and threw a fastball right down the middle. As a result, Lindor hit a double that cleared the bases and gave the Mets a 5-2 lead.

“I think he’s (Lindor) hot right now”, Alcantara said about his struggles against Lindor. “I lost my fight tonight and I’ve gotta get better for myself in the next one.”

Alcantara would end the day with seven innings pitched, four strikeouts, six hits, and four earned runs. 

Don’t worry Marlins fans. Alcantara is still an excellent pitcher. This outing was just a case of some bad luck. What’s even more wild is that after this start, Alcantara’s ERA is at 1.95 which is first in the National League and second in all of baseball.

 

Hitters have figured out Trevor Rogers

I’m afraid that we may never see the Trevor Rogers of last year. I know it sounds like I’m overreacting, but given the numbers from his starts this year, it seems like the opposing teams have figured out how to beat him.

Rogers got the start for Game 2, and after he struck out three consecutive hitters in the first inning, there was a glimmer of hope that this would be a great outing for him. 

I was wrong.

In the second inning, Rogers missed his spot and threw a fastball down the heart of the plate to first baseman Pete Alonso that Alonso hit over the right field wall. 

In the fourth inning, with runners on first and second, Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar hit an RBI-single to give them a 3-0 lead. 

That would end the day for Rogers who had 4.1 innings pitched and gave up seven hits and three earned runs while getting five strikeouts. 

“I made a bad pitch to Alonso so you just tip your cap”, Rogers said after the game. “I made a couple mistakes to Marte and tip your cap there as well, he’s a good hitter. Just little things not going my way.”

So what’s the problem with Rogers? I think that he’s having trouble with his command which is leading to pitches that the hitters can easily hit and has decreased his strikeout percentage. His pitch count is also hurting him and isn’t allowing him to work deep into games.

Rogers’ strikeouts per nine innings this year is 8.29, almost two and a half less than what he had last year which was 10.62. His walks are also up from last year which is also another factor to look at when you’re trying to figure out the struggles that Rogers has dealt with.

 

Anthony Bass continues to be stellar out of the bullpen

Right-handed reliever Anthony Bass has been the best pitcher coming out of the Marlins bullpen this year. After an up-and-down season in 2021 where he logged a 3.82 ERA with zero saves in four opportunities, Bass has really shown another side to him this year. 

Bass’s ERA has gone down to 1.80 and the opponents are batting just .214 against him compared to .241 last year.

Bass was utilized more as a closer last season, especially during the start of that year. It looked like he wasn’t very comfortable in that role and this season, Mattingly noticed that putting Bass in the seventh or eighth inning makes him more effective. A lot of the reason why Bass is having a much better year is because he doesn’t have to deal with the same amount of pressure a closer would have.

In his outing in Game 2, Bass allowed just one hit and got a strikeout in a crucial situation to keep the game tied at three a piece in the seventh inning.

 

Pete Alonso’s two-homer day

Alonso was very effective for the Mets offense, but in Game 2 was when he really propelled them to a win.

The University of Florida alum went 2-for-4 with both of those hits being home runs. Luckily for the Marlins, they were both solo shots. But it still wasn’t enough to contain the scorching Mets lineup.

His first homerun was against Rogers in the second inning and his other was against right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis in the eighth inning to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

“Thankfully I kind of took a lesson from last night’s at bat (against Yacabonis) and I applied it today”, Alonso said about how he hit his second home run. “I saw the ball a little bit better and I saw the window of where the ball’s coming out of.”

The Marlins did a pretty good job of shutting down Alonso over the series, but his two homeruns in Game 2 was too much for Miami to overcome and win the series. 

Nick Fortes walks it off

After starts in both Games 1 and 2, catcher Jacob Stallings was given a rest day in the series finale which gave way for backup catcher Nick Fortes to get a spot in the lineup.

Fortes has been solid at both catching behind the plate and hitting. 

Over 13 games this season, Fortes has batted .289 with three home runs and seven RBIs. He’s actually been one of the more productive Marlins hitters this season and it showed in Game 3 of this series. 

It’s the bottom of the ninth inning. The score is tied 2-2 with two outs and Fortes is up to bat. The Mets have their right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino on the mound to try and push the game towards extra innings. 

Ottavino throws Fortes a slider that Fortes swings at and misses badly. The next pitch, Ottavino throws another slider and Fortes jumps all over it, sending the ball towards the seats in left field to give the Marlins the win and avoid the sweep.  

Of course, Fortes hits a walk-off home run on the day that his alma mater, Ole Miss, is a win away from winning the College World Series. 

The Marlins head into St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals from Monday to Wednesday.

Marlins sweep the Rockies in three-game series: 5 takeaways

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The Miami Marlins have finally obtained a series sweep against a team not named the Washington Nationals. 

After losing three out of four games against the New York Mets in their previous series, Miami needed to win the series against the Colorado Rockies to regain traction in the standings.

The Marlins would have been happy with a series win against Colorado, but a sweep was the cherry on top. Although Miami managed to win all three games, the series was full of back-and-forth action and wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for the Marlins. 

Here are five takeaways from the series.

 

Pablo Lopez bounces back

It’s been a rocky couple of weeks for starting pitcher Pablo Lopez. 

After a tough outing against the New York Mets last Friday where Lopez allowed eight hits and six earned runs in 5.1 innings of work, he knew that he had to be much better in his next start. 

Lopez started Game 2 of the series and pitched lights out. In seven innings, Lopez struckout six batters and had no earned. He also gave up just four hits to the Colorado hitters. 

It’s no surprise that Lopez played much better than his last start. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and given the fact that the Marlins were playing a struggling Rockies team at LoanDepot Park, it was almost a given that Lopez would be locked in. 

His numbers at home are great so far this year. Lopez is 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA at home compared to a 2-2 record with a 2.81 ERA away. His numbers when he pitches away are still phenomenal, but it’s interesting to see how well he pitches in Miami. 

 

The bats erupt

Was this series in Coors Field or Miami? Because it sure felt like they were playing in Denver with all of the home runs and extra-base hits the Marlins were producing. 

Over the three-game series, the Marlins hit five home runs and 12 extra-base hits.

Miami exploded right out of the gates with nine runs in Game 1 and seven in Game 2. In Game 3, the Marlins had just three runs but they did get the win, which is all that matters. 

In Game 1, the Marlins tallied 13 hits with big performances from right fielder Avisail Garcia and center fielder Jesus Sanchez. Both Garcia and Sanchez managed to hit a home run over the center field wall. Garcia went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and Sanchez was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. 

In Game 2, Miami got 13 hits and put together back-to-back home runs from second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and left fielder Jorge Soler in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

“He (Soler) can hit a ball way further than I can,” Chisholm said about the back-to-back home runs. “It’s just fun playing with these guys and I’m just enjoying it.

Although the Marlins had just three runs in Game 3, they did have nine hits. What does that tell you? They’re still struggling to score with runners in scoring position. They did well in the first two games, but it would be nice to see them have success in that category on a daily basis. 

 

Brendan Rodgers loves to play against Miami

Colorado second baseman Brendan Rodgers has been giving the Marlins fits all season. 

Going back to the last series in Denver where he hit three home runs in a game that included a walk-off to left field, Rodgers was right back to crushing the ball against Miami pitchers.

In the three-game series, Rodgers batted .461 (6-for-13) and had three RBIs. Rodgers also produced three doubles and two triples. 

It felt like Rodgers was the life of Colorado’s offense during the series and he made it difficult for the Marlins pitchers to throw to him. Luckily, guys like first baseman C.J. Cron and right fielder Charlie Blackmon didn’t get going or else Miami would’ve had some problems shutting down the Rockies hitters.

 

Garrett Cooper continues to hit the baseball

First baseman Garrett Cooper has been hot in the month of June. This month, Cooper is batting .386 (27-for-70) with 13 RBIs and an OPS of .962. 

It’s refreshing to see Cooper giving the Marlins much-needed consistency at the plate. It feels like he’s always locked in and rarely swinSet News Imagegs at pitches outside of the zone. As soon as he finds the pitch he likes, he unloads on it and produces hits. 

Over the three-game series, Cooper was 4-for-13 with three RBIs and a home run. Cooper had a hit in each game, extending his hitting streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 15. 

In Game 1, Cooper came up clutch with a tie breaking double in the bottom of the eighth inning that led to a 9-8 Marlins victory. In Game 2, Cooper found his home run swing, as he sent a ball 413 feet over the center field wall in the bottom of the third inning. Game 3 was a bit quieter for the Marlins’ first baseman, but he did get a hit to extend his hitting streak.

 

Jon Berti makes history

Third Baseman Jon Berti has been a base-stealing machine. 

Berti currently leads the MLB in stolen bases with 21 and he is yet to be caught. In the fifth inning of Game 3, Berti stole his 21st base without being caught which broke Emilio Bonifacio’s Marlins record back in 2012.

“He plays with a toughness and an understanding of the game and when to run and when not to run,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about the benefit of having a player like Berti on the team. “The more guys you have like that, the better off you are.”

And it’s not like the opposing pitchers or catchers aren’t prepared for Berti’s speed. They’re well aware that Berti is an excellent base runner because every time he’s on first base, the pitcher would throw at least three times to the first baseman to keep Berti close and prevent him from getting a big lead and ultimately stealing a base. But of course, Berti still manages to do it successfully.

“We kind of won in different ways every single game,” Berti said following the win. “We came ready to go this series and we’re onto the next one.”

The Marlins look to extend their home winning streak as the New York Mets come to town for a three-game series this weekend. Those games will be played from Friday to Monday.