The OOTP21 COVID-19 Simulation 3: Miami Marlins

Week three of the COVID-19 simulation sees the Miami Marlins start with a 6-7 record, a full game ahead of the last-place New York Mets.

April 9th

Braves 6, Marlins 4

With 12,561 in attendance at Marlins Park, the Atlanta Braves opened a four-game set with a win against the Miami Marlins. Jonathan Villar led the Marlins offense with a three-for-five game, and Jesus Aguilar had a pair of hits.

Sandy Alcantara lost his third game in three starts to begin the 2020 campaign. He surrendered six earned runs on eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Trevor Rogers, Yimi Garcia, and Tommy Eveld combined to pitch 5 2/3 innings of perfect ball the rest of the way, but it wasn’t enough.

Post-Game Transactions

The Marlins placed right fielder Matt Joyce on waivers, and called up recently signed Melky Cabrera from the Wichita Wind Surge.

April 10th

Marlins 4, Braves 1

Pablo Lopez won his fourth straight game to start the season, keeping the Braves to one run on five hits and zero walks over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five batters. Drew Steckenrider pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save, but did allow the opposition a hit for the first time this season.

Offensively, no Marlins player finished with more than one hit. Seven finished with one hit each, and RBI were collected from Corey Dickerson, Jesus Aguilar, Francisco Cervelli, and Lopez.

Post-Game Transactions

Adam Conley was placed on waivers following the game, and Alex Vesia had his contract purchased from the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

April 11th

Braves 6, Marlins 1

Caleb Smith took the loss to drop to 1-3 for the season, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits and zero walks in four innings.

Jon Berti and Jesus Aguilar finished with two hits apiece, and Aguilar had the only Marlins RBI in the game.

Post-Game Transactions

The Marlins placed Yimi Garcia on waivers and took right-handed reliever Jeff Brigham off the injured list.

April 12th

Marlins 2, Braves 1

The Marlins earned a four-game split with the Atlanta Braves with two first-inning runs. Brian Anderson and Jesus Aguilar had an RBI each. Miami Marlins starter Jose Urena struck out four and allowed just one run on three hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. Drew Steckenrider pitched a hitless ninth for his sixth save.

Post-Game Transaction

Matt Joyce was claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Adam Conley cleared waivers and joined the Wichita Wind Surge, as did Jeff Brigham. RHP Sixto Sanchez was called up to the Miami Marlins.

April 14th

Marlins 2, Angels 1

The Miami Marlins only got four hits in total against Los Angeles Angels pitchers Andrew Heaney & reliever Ty Buttrey. It was enough to score twice, which was twice as many as the Angels could manage off Sandy Alcantara, who finished with no-decision.

Alcantara gave up seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, allowing a run and striking out two. Sixto Sanchez struck out two in 1 1/3 innings to earn his first victory in his first major league appearance. Drew Steckenrider pitched another perfect ninth for his seventh save of the season, getting the Miami Marlins to .500.

Jonathan Villar hit a single and a triple, Jon Berti had a two-run double, and Matt Kemp hit his second double in two games to complete Miami’s offensive stat line for the night.

Post-Game Transaction

Sixto Sanchez was sent back to Jacksonville, and Dylan Lee was recalled from the Shrimp to the Marlins in his place.

April 15th

Marlins 7, Angels 6

Jesus Aguilar and Corey Dickerson each went deep and Julio Teheran earned no decision after seven strong innings to sweep the Angels in a two-game set in Miami. Teheran struck out five and allowed a pair of runs on one walk and four hits. Tommy Eveld earned the win.

Dickerson’s shot was one of three hits in the game for the Marlins. Miguel Rojas, Brian Anderson, and Aguilar each also finished the game with multiple hits.

Summary

Unexpectedly competitive at 10-9 after three weeks, the Marlins sit just one game behind the division leading Washington Nationals in third place in the National League East.

The Road Ahead

The Miami Marlins have a nine-game road-trip starting on Friday April 17th, with three games each versus the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets, and the Cardinals.

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