With Trevor Rogers on the injured record for the remainder of the season, the Miami Marlins have but to announce a beginning pitcher to take his spot within the rotation for Friday evening’s recreation in opposition to the visiting Washington Nationals.
The Marlins recalled left-hander Braxton Garrett from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. Garrett, who made 14 begins for Miami this yr, is one possible candidate for Friday’s begin.
But with the Marlins (61-89) and Nationals (52-97) each out of playoff rivalry, this three-game collection is extra about 2023 than 2022.
One of the few feel-good tales of Washington’s misplaced season has been Joey Meneses, who belted a two-run house run within the seventh inning on Wednesday to rally Washington to a 3-2 win over the surging Atlanta Braves.
Meneses, a 30-year-old undrafted rookie out of Mexico, is hitting .328 and has scored 27 runs. He additionally has 11 doubles, 10 homers, 25 RBIs and a .927 OPS in simply 43 video games.
Prior to signing with Washington in January, Meneses performed in Mexico and Japan and bounced across the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.
“I can’t say enough about what Joey has done for us since he’s been here,” Nationals supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “He’s been hitting balls, doubles, homers, getting on base.”
The Nationals have introduced their Friday starter: right-hander Josiah Gray (7-9, 5.14 ERA).
Gray, who turns 25 in December, has set his private highs this yr in begins (26), innings (136 2/3) and wins.
In seven profession video games in opposition to the Marlins, Gray is 1-2 with a 4.81 ERA. In 4 begins in Miami, nevertheless, he’s 1-0 with a 2.74 ERA.
The Marlins will use the rest of the season to proceed younger gamers resembling catcher Nick Fortes, first baseman Lewin Diaz, infielders Jordan Groshans and Charles Leblanc, and outfielders JJ Bleday, Bryan De La Cruz and Jerar Encarnacion.
While Diaz is Miami’s greatest defensive first baseman, offensively, he has only a .574 OPS in 314 profession plate appearances over the previous three years. This yr has been even more durable for Diaz, who turns 26 in November. He is hitting simply .167 with a .515 OPS.
Every recreation is vital to Diaz, who’s hoping the Marlins do not quit on him.
“His (batting) average is not very good, but we are seeing some production,” Marlins supervisor Don Mattingly mentioned in reference to Diaz’s 4 doubles and 4 homers in 46 video games.
Of the aforementioned younger Marlins gamers, Fortes probably is the one one who has nailed down a job for 2023.
A Marlins fourth-round choose in 2018, Fortes made his MLB debut final yr and has a .773 profession OPS. He additionally has 12 homers in simply 78 video games. In distinction, beginning catcher Jacob Stallings has a .584 OPS this yr with simply 4 homers in 108 video games.
Fortes hit an opposite-field house run within the Marlins’ 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.
“I’ve been working on that hard recently, trying to use the whole field, because my strength is the pull side,” Fortes mentioned. “So I’ve been kind of trying to get better at going the other way. Literally the past two weeks that’s been all my work, and thankfully it’s kind of helping me out recently here.”
–Field Level Media