The Marlins recorded an important win over the Brewers today, allowing Miami to keep pace in the tight NL wild card race. The Fish won despite Luis Arraez’s absence, as the second baseman didn’t play after making a late exit from Saturday’s game due to a twisted ankle. Arraez had already missed a pair of games this week due to that sore ankle, and exacerbated the problem in somewhat fluky fashion on Saturday. As he told MLB.com and other reporters, Arraez slipped while walking down the dugout steps at the conclusion of the eighth inning, in part because the ballpark had suddenly dimmed the lights for the entrance of closer Tanner Scott.
“It’s frustrating because I need to play….The good thing is I’ve got the day off tomorrow, and then let’s see how I feel the next day,” Arraez said, in reference to Miami’s off-day Monday.
After that break, the Marlins will play their final six games of the regular season — three games against the Mets and three against the Pirates, all on the road. Today’s result notwithstanding, it is hard to imagine the Marlins can push into the playoffs without the Major League batting average leader in the lineup, so Miami fans can only hope that Arraez’s ankle is okay after some rest.
More from the NL East…
- Right-hander Hurston Waldrep’s season is over, as the Braves prospect won’t pitch again in 2023 after tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first Triple-A start yesterday. The 24th overall pick of the 2023 draft, Waldrep had pitched so well in his first professional season that there had been some speculation that the Braves could turn to the 21-year-old as a secret weapon out of the bullpen for the end of the regular season and into the playoffs. However, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that the Braves didn’t want to rush things with the young hurler, and the Triple-A debut came about because the organization wanted Waldrep to get one more outing since the Double-A season is already over. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline each rate Waldrep as the #2 prospect in Atlanta’s farm system, and the righty has delivered a 1.53 ERA and a 33.3% strikeout rate over 29 1/3 total innings, split between A-ball, high-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.
- Prior to tonight’s game with the Phillies, the Mets called up Anthony Kay from Triple-A while optioning right-hander Peyton Battenfield to Triple-A in the corresponding move. It marks Kay’s first stint on New York’s active roster since the lefty was claimed off waivers from the Cubs in mid-September, and he has a 6.35 ERA over 11 1/3 MLB innings with Chicago this season. Selected 31rd overall by the Mets in the 2016 draft, Kay was a notable prospect in the Amazins’ farm system before being dealt to the Blue Jays as part of the Marcus Stroman swap at the 2019 trade deadline. Kay has a 5.60 ERA in 82 innings with Toronto and Chicago at the big league level, and there’s at least a full-circle moment in his career as he finally looks set to make his debut in a Mets uniform.
I had Marlins winning 80 games. What a great year.
I had it somewhere in the 76-84 range. Nothing surprising whatsoever. Making the playoffs as the 17th wildcard to lose in whatever the first round of the new rules is isnt the goal, and has never been the goal. The goal is sustainable winning, which they are even further away from than they’ve been, after the instant replay of the last 3.5 years from 2014-2017
Waldrep is the Braves secret weapon I’m telling you they should call him up in 5 days and have him on the postseason roster.
I’m a Braves fan, but for reel kudos to the Fish. Happy to see young teams like that on the rise.
League lacking and let Waldrep fall to the Braves. 2024 NL RoY?
I have him being in the minors most of next year but being a Sept call up and being the 2025 ROY. But I think they should call him up in 5 days make a start and have him on the postseason roster. He has the best pitch out of the 2023 MLB draft with that splitter and he can also throw a 98-99mph fastball. With that kind of arm talent he should be on the playoff roster.
I remember making a remark that the Marlins fleeced the Twins in this trade, which made sense at the time and is becoming more and more accurate now. The extension doesn’t count, so basically it’s 3 seasons like this for Arraez vs 2 for Lopez and a few meh prospects. Told you so
Except this is ignoring the fact the Marlins already had 357 2nd baseman in the organization, and have desperate need for pitching, and gave up a top prospect at the time, and the moment Arraez wasnt hitting .400, the team drastically fell off, as predicted, back to where they were before
Okay… were 350+ of these guys on the streets wearing Marlins caps?
Arraez has been good, but a fleece? Pablo Lopez has been pretty good for the Twins. He’s an all-star who might reach 200 innings this year with a well above average ERA. It might become one, depending on how the prospects the Twins acquired alongside Lopez do. But as of right now, it’s a pretty even win-win.
lfg arrez is injuried
Your preschool isn’t blocking this website?
“…in part because the ballpark had suddenly dimmed the lights for the entrance of closer Tanner Scott.”
—–This nonsense was certain to happen. How many more injuries before ballparks knock it off?
Even if the Fish make the post-season, I don’t see them going very far unless Alcantara can contribute. Right now, that’s a long shot.
How about Berti hitting 2 HRs yesterday? Solid reserve player.
I’m liking everything I see with Xavier Edwards. Should be a starter somewhere on the diamond next year.
Sell the team Reinsdork
Another 5+ ERA season for Kay, and Eppler just had to have Kay and his inevitable 5 BB per 9.