Christian Yelich out for the season with fracture knee

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Christian Yelich will not be the Superman that took the Brewers to the NLCS in 2018 again this season.

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday yet took a major hit in their playoff push.

National League MVP Christian Yellich fractured his knee on a foul ball in the fist inning and left the game. The Brewers announced that he will be out for the remainder of the season.

“We’ll fly him back to Milwaukee (Wednesday) for further testing,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said after the game. “We don’t have a definitive timeframe other than we know that he’ll be out for the remainder of the season right now. We also don’t know whether surgery is required. He’ll need further diagnostic imagining (Wednesday) in Milwaukee then meet with our doctors and we’ll plot a plan going forward.”

Yelich hit .329 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs along with 30 stolen bases this season for a Brewers team that entered the game only two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wildcard spot. He led the majors in slugging percentage and OPS prior to the inury.

“We feel awful for Christian,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s the thing that resonates with me right now. He’s a special player and it’s a joy to watch him play every day. He’s the best at what he does. Not being able to see that every day is not good.”

What makes this extra tragic is the injury occurred at his original stomping grounds. Yellich’s career began in Miami and his last two years with the Marlins were Don Mattingly’s first two as manager.

“Obviously awful, we all know Yeli and what kind of guy he is,” Mattingly said. “You hate to see a player like that get hurt down the stretch. He’s stepped into the superstar realm as a player, and MVP last year. You don’t want to see that happen to a team down the stretch.”

The injury may be the difference between whether or not Yellich wins his second consecutive MVP. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger now has 2 1/2 weeks to improve on his 44 home runs, 106 RBI, 11 stolen bases, .306 batting average and 1.049 OPS.

Brewers took the loss in a social media battle in Miami

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The Milwaukee Brewers community manager decided to be funny on Monday before the first game of the four-game series between Milwaukee and Miami.

The Brewers official account made fun of the Marlins using Christian Yelich – of course -, and his MVP award bobblehead.

However, the joke turned back to the Brewers, when some Marlins fans reminded the account they have not won any World Series, ever…

The Brewers made fun of the Marlins, and the joke came back to them real quick. Some fans in Miami still defend their team.

For now, the Brewers are fighting to get into the playoffs, a couple of games back in the National League wildcard, and the Marlins are in the middle of a rebuilding process that might take a while.

But don’t you ever forget. They have two World Series titles…

 

We talked to outfielder Harold Ramírez before the second game of the homestand. Check it out clicking here!

Help the Bahamas donating at Marlins Park!

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You can help our neighbors in the Bahamas donating at Marlins Park!

The Miami Marlins Foundation will donate all 50/50 Raffle proceeds – and match those funds raised – from the upcoming homestand to the relief efforts after Dorian did a lot of damage in the Bahamas.

In addition, fans attending games this homestand can help donating $1 at any Marlins Park concession and round up their purchases at the Marlins Park retail stores. Donations by fans will be matched by the Miami Marlins Foundation.

Needed items include water, canned goods, can openers, mosquito spray, sunscreen, diapers, baby formula, first aid items, flashlights, batteries, and small generators.

The Marlins thank partners Pepsi, Sedano’s Supermarkets, W.B. Mason, and Goya for their pledged donations to the Marlins organization’s efforts.

For more information on the Miami Marlins, please visit the team’s official sites, Marlins.com and MarlinsBeisbol.com.

 

GCL Marlins win division as Dorian cancels playoffs

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Dorian is already impacting Florida sports.

The Gulf Coast League announced on Wednesday that the final two games of the season and the league playoff series has been canceled.

The decision was made in preparation of the incoming impact of Hurricane Dorian heading towards Florida.

“In an effort to ensure that all players, coaches and staff members have a chance to evacuate and prepare for the storm, we have decided to cancel the final two regular-season games, as well as the playoffs,” said Tim Brunswick, Minor League Baseball’s senior vice president of baseball and business operations. “After discussing the options with the teams, the decision to end the season early was the best choice for the safety of everyone involved as that is our top priority.”

Thursday, Aug. 29, will serve as the final game of the season. The GCL Marlins don’t have games scheduled for that day and have a half-game lead in the East division. The GCL Phillies West claimed the North division title and GCL Orioles clinched the South division championship. With the hurricane Dorian, they’ll have to settle for that achievement.

The GCL Marlins were comprised with mostly players selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. There was plenty of bright spots from the backfields of Palm Beach County’s spring training complexes. Shortstop Nasim Nunez posted a .340 on-base percentage with three more hits than walks and stole 28 bases. He was selected in the second round of the draft. Victor Mesa Jr., an 18-year-old outfielder who signed with his brother, Victor Victor, as an international free agent, led the GCL Marlins with a .284 batting average and a .764 OPS.

First baseman Zachary Owens had the second highest batting average with .280. He was selected in the 33rd round out of Eastern Michigan University.

Lorenzo Hampton, who played college ball at FIU, also batted .280 with a .747 OPS and led the team with 31 RBIs. He was selected in the 28th round.

Andrew Narni was drafted in the 16th round out of the University of Arizona and was the most impressive reliever of the group. He posted a 0.98 ERA in 13 games with 30 strikeouts in 18.1 innings pitched.

Anthony Maldonado (11th round out of Bethune-Cookman) and Zach King (13th round out of Vanderbilt) were two other impressive relievers on the GCL Marlins. King went 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. Maldonado struck out 15 batters in 11.1 innings and posted a 1.59 ERA.

Evan Fitterer was a fifth-round selection out of high school in California and the most impressive starting pitcher on the team. He started the most games of the group (8) and posted a 2.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched.

Most of these guys will move on to the next stage, which will be Batavia. The Muckdogs are also experiencing success in the New York-Penn League and the Clinton Lumberkings punched their ticket into the Midwest League playoffs. These are certainly good signs for an improved farm system.

Anthony DeSclafani went full circle on the Marlins

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Anthony DeSclafani did what many pitchers have done this year: dominate the Marlins offense.

The Miami Marlins once again fell to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. This time it was Miami’s 18th shutout loss of the season, three of such came against the Reds, who are one win away on Thursday to complete the season sweep.

Wednesday was a bit different because Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani threw his longest outing of the season. He tossed seven scoreless innings allowing two hits with eight strikeouts and only one walk.

“My last few outings I’ve felt very good,” DeSclafani said. “Trying to get ahead and mix speeds. I made the pitch when I needed to and had some defensive plays. It’s all good.”

DeSclafani entered the game with a three-run advantage thanks to a first-inning home run by rookie Aristides Aquino off Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, who finished with one extra run and eight strikeouts in six innings.

“I just missed one pitch,” Alcantara said of the homer to Aquino. “After that I was competing. I just want to finish strong.”

DeSclafani went full circle with this start in Miami. His career started with the Marlins in 2014 and was traded to the Reds for starting pitcher Matt Latos in the offseason leading up to the 2015 season. Months later, the Marlins shipped Latos and first baseman Michael Morse to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a mid-season trade for three prospects including stater-turned reliever Jeff Brigham.

Both DeSclafani and Brigham finally pitched in the same game. Brigham came into the game in the eighth inning and gave up a solo home run to third baseman Eugenio Suarez. It was his fourth home run in as many games and 38th of the season.

Jorge Alfaro’s power taking shape

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Jorge Alfaro and his swing are coming back to their original shape.

The Miami Marlins lost 8-5 to the Cincinnati Reds but at least one of their young franchise cornerstones continued producing.

Jorge Alfaro hit his second consecutive home run in the sixth inning against Reds starter and former Marlins prospect Luis Castillo. The two-run had an exit velocity of 110.7 mph, with an estimated distance of 399 feet, according to Statcast. It’s the longest home run of his young career. 

“When he doesn’t chase, he’s pretty good,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “When he puts the ball in play — we’ve said it the whole time — he hits the ball hard. He’s been successful. I think that’s where we’ve got to make strides.”

Jorge Alfaro is now hitting .271 with a .429 slugging percentage, with a career high 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. There’s still time to finish the season with 20 home runs, which is the usual benchmark for power hitters. 

“I’m just trying to be on time,” Alfaro said. “That’s it. That’s all I’m trying to do, and look for a good pitch.”

Alfaro’s success at the plate is due to his ability to make constant contact. He entered the night with a 34.3 percent strikeout rate and a 45.5 hard-hit percentage. According to Statcast, that number is in the 86th percentile.

“He’s been swinging the bat good,” Mattingly said. “He seems better up there.”

J.T. Realmuto set the Marlins single season mark with 21 home runs in 2018. Alfaro was part of the return package in the February trade that sent Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies, and is currently at No. 9. For context, John Buck (2011), Miguel Olivo (2006-07) and Ivan Rodriguez (2003) are tied for the fifth most with 16.

Only two years separate Alfaro from Realmuto but the Marlins will have the Colombian catcher under team control until after the 2023 season. He’ll be 30 by then, but hopefully there will be a powerful finished product by then.

 

Pablo Lopez Returns to Marlins

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Prior to tonight’s game, the Marlins activated RHP Pablo Lopez from the 10-Day IL and optioned LHP Jose Quijada to Triple-A New Orleans. Lopez has been on the injured list since June 19th with a right shoulder strain. Tonight, he finally makes his return after more than two months out of Major League action.

Before being put on the injured list, Lopez accumulated a 5-5 record with a 4.23 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 76.2 innings pitched. Those are not terrible numbers, in fact, he would have a sub-4 ERA if it weren’t for his disastrous start against the Mets back in May where he allowed 10 earned runs in three innings of work.

Pablo’s time rehabbing in the minors was definitely rough. In five games started, he has an 8.79 ERA and only 14.1 innings pitched. However, he did finish his time in the minors on a positive note. His last start, he logged six innings, allowing one earned run with five strikeouts.

Shoulder injuries are one of the toughest injuries to come back from. Pitchers have to get a feel for their pitches again and have to make sure their mechanics are in sync. It’s definitely a tedious journey but Pablo can definitely bounce back from this injury, he done it before.

In order to make room for Pablo on the roster, Jose Quijada had to be optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. Quijada has been struggling lately at the Major League level. In his last seven games, he’s pitched five innings of relief and allowed 8 earned runs with 7 walks. His last appearance against the Phillies didn’t do him any favors. He pitched 0.2 innings, walked four and allowed two earned runs. He has good stuff, just needs to work on his control, like many young pitchers.

Let’s see if we see the same Pablo Lopez tonight who throws pitches like this… (via @IanPostPL)

Starlin Castro comes through for Marlins

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Starlin Castro came through in the clutch with a two-run double off Aaron Nola in the bottom of the sixth to give the Miami Marlins a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Castro was set up by shortstop Jon Berti, who got the Marlins on the board with a base hit, driving in catcher Bryan Holaday, who reached on his lone hit of the day. The third baseman is batting .322 with five home runs and 22 RBI through the month of August.

Elieser Hernandez gave the Marlins their first quality performance from a starting pitcher in the weekend series. The 24-year-old gave up only three hits and two runs with five strikeouts in six innings. His lone blemish came from a two-run home runs by Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins in the top of the sixth inning. After the Marlins gave up 10 walks in each of the last two games, Hernandez didn’t allow a single walk.

“That’s the goal,” Hernandez said. “That’s what we work for.”

Starlin Castro and the meerting before the game

“We had a meeting before the game,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said, “and said, `Let’s throw the ball over the plate. It’s got to start there. You can’t defend the walk. Let’s get it in the strike zone, and don’t be afraid if they hit it. Every one is not going to be a home run.”

Ryne Stanek, who was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, gave up a leadoff walk but retired the side for his first career save. The game last 2 hours, 38 minutes, which is a big contrast to the first two games of the series, which each lasted more than 3 1/2 hours.

“Super efficient,” Stanek said. “I didn’t realize how fast the game was moving until I looked up and it was the fifth inning and they both had like 55 pitches.”

The last place Marlins are 9-7 against the Phillies, who are within two games from the wildcard.

Pablo Lopez to return Monday

Marlins manager Don Mattingly announced before the game that staring pitcher Pablo López is returning from the injured list to make his first start since June 15 on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. He has been out with a right shoulder strain.

“We’re going to fit him in tomorrow, and that way it gives everybody an extra day,” Mattingly said. “He’s ready to go. We were happy with his last outing.”

The move will push Caleb Smith to Tuesday and Sandy Alcantara to Wednesday. Lopez is 5-5 with a 4.23 ERA in 15 starts.

“It feels like forever since I’ve been on this mound,” Lopez said. “I’m really excited. I’ve been working on some things.”

The Marlins never transferred Lopez from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL, which means his status does not impact the 40-man roster, which currently is at 39. It’s unclear what move will be made to make room for Lopez. The Marlins optioned reliever Tyler Kinley to Triple-A New Orleans to bring up Kyle Keller.

“This move is all about having to have pitching today,” Mattingly said.

Logan Morrison returned to Miami as a rival

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Former Miami Marlin Logan Morrison returned to his old stomping grounds to find the place completely redone. He returned as a member of the rival Philadelphia Phillies during a Players’ Weekend series.

“It looks great,” Morrison said of the new-look Marlins Park, “more uniform, classy. I like it.”

Morrison was the Austin Dean of a previous era, a fan favorite who played both left field and first base. He was on the 2012 Opening Day lineup when the Marlins open the new ballpark against the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

“A couple of things I remember fondly enough was the awesome energy, the electricity, sold-out crowd,” Morrison said, “being able to get a hit in that game was cool. It was fun, man.”

Morrison played on the Marlins during their first two seasons at Marlins Park (2012-13), a time when the record books were being established. At one time he hit the second furthest home run in Marlins Park, but he played with a certain slugger named Giancarlo Stanton, so it was only a matter of time before that changed.

“Now he has like 18 of the farthest 19 home runs and I’m like 19th or 20th,” Morrison said with a chuckle.

Logan Morrison and his Marlin moments

Logan Morrison was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Carter Capps in the offseason leading up to the 2014 season. He hit a career-high 38 home runs and 85 RBI for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 but a disappointing, injury-riddled 2018 season with the Minnesota Twins that ended with hip surgery in August found him out of the loop throughout the offseason.

“The thing was I was healthy and I was playing every day,” Morrison said. “I had the opportunity to do it and I was healthy. Last year I was hurt, probably shouldn’t have been playing, didn’t have the year I wanted to have.”

The New York Yankees signed Morrison to a minor league contract after spring training and his season didn’t begin until May in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He slashed .289/.341/.658 with 15 home runs in 43 games and was picked up by the Phillies after the Yankees granted his release on the fourth of July.

Morrison said he started to, “feel like himself” in Triple-A prior to making it back to the big leagues with the Phillies. The role he has there now is similar to what fellow former Marlins Justin Bour had a year ago, a first base bat off the bench. Even if Morrison was back to his 2017 form, we wouldn’t know with his current role.

“At the end of the day, you’re not going to be putting up those kind of numbers without 500 at-bats,” Morrison said.

Morrison has gone 3-for-12 since being called up to Philadelphia. His lone appearance in this series came as a pinch hitter and resulted in a strikeout.

 

Visit the voices or news section for more Marlins coverage.

Marlins avoid season sweep by Dodgers

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The Miami Marlins had been dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers for each of the five games they played each other this season.

The Dodgers were about to secure their first ever season series sweep over Miami but the Marlins, powered by Celeb Smith and a barrage of bats, exacted revenge on Thursday by way of a 13-7 win.

Unlike the Dodgers in the previous two game, the Marlins scored all 13 runs without a home run.

“Obviously it took a lot of hits to get those runs, but that’s who we are right now,” manager Don Mattingly said.

Smith was flirting with a no-hitter through four innings until Kevin Garlick hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. It was the only hit and run he gave up all outing, finishing with four strikeouts and three walks through five innings. He was in line for the win after Jon Berti scored two runs on a single by Brian Anderson in the first inning and a sacrifice fly by Starlin Castro in the third inning.

The Marlins then unloaded on the Dodgers with six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Berti was hit by pitch for the second time in the game and scored along with Isan Diaz on a Anderson two-run double. He then scored on an RBI single by Castro. Jorge Alfaro and Lewis Brinson — who made a diving catch in the fourth inning to preserve Smith’s no-hit attempt at the time — drove in the final two runs of the rally.

“It feels good, man,” Brinson said. “That’s a good team over there. Their record and all their numbers show it. We just said we’ve got to fight every at-bat against these guys, because they’re a good squad. That’s exactly what we did.”

The Dodgers got the remainder of their seven runs through the long ball. Cody Bellinger hit his MLB leading 40th home run while Corey Seager homered for the third consecutive game. Max Muncy also hit his 29th home run of the season.

“It’s pretty cool,” Bellinger said on the milestone. “There’s still a lot of baseball left to be played, so I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully more to come.”

Once again, Alfaro, Brinson and Anderson drove in the Marlins remaining five runs in the sixth inning. The bullpen held the lead the rest of the way. Alfaro was 2-for-14 in his last four games but went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs on the afternoon.

“It wasn’t a good day of pitching for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.