The OOTP21 COVID-19 Simulation 6: Miami Marlins

Going into May 2020, the Miami Marlins are tied with the New York Mets for last in the National League Eastern Division at 14-16.

April 30th

Marlins 8, Mets 3

The Miami Marlins closed out their three-game set with the Mets by taking the rubber match, 8-3 with 14,491 in Marlins Park. Caleb Smith (3-4, 3.72) earned the win by turning in 5 2/3 innings and striking out seven. He gave up two runs on two walks and four hits. Drew Steckenrider faced one batter with the bases loaded to earn his 10th save of the season.

Peter Bourjos and Jorge Alfaro led the Miami Marlins offense with three hits. Jesus Aguilar (7) and Corey Dickerson went deep, as the Marlins hit-parade reached 17 in total. Jonathan Villar, Jon Berti, Aguilar, and Miguel Rojas also turned in multi-hit games.

May 1st

Pirates 8, Marlins 5

Ryne Stanek (0-2, 9.35) continued his unsteady start to his Marlins career by taking the loss after giving up four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Jose Urena struck out four and allowed two runs in his six inning start.

Miguel Rojas went three-for-four to raise his average to .294, Corey Dickerson collected a pair of hits, including his fifth home run, and the Marlins collected eight hits in their loss against the Bucs, with 14,302 in the house at Marlins Park.

May 2nd

Pirates 7, Marlins 0

Pirates pitching combined for a five-hit shutout of the Marlins, as Miami didn’t manage any extra base hits. Jorge Alfaro had a pair of singles to lead the offense. Sandy Alcantara (1-5, 6.90) gave up four runs in three innings, on seven hits and three walks while striking out four.

In transactional news following the game, the Marlins recalled Sixto Sanchez and Trevor Rogers, from Jacksonville and Wichita respectively. In their place, the Marlins optioned Tommy Eveld and Dylan Lee. Jake Smolinski cleared waivers and was assigned to Wichita as well.

May 3rd

Pirates 5, Marlins 3, 14 innings

Don’t you hate losing extra inning games? The Marlins don’t like it either, and neither does this version of the extra-dimensional club.

The team only managed seven hits in 54 at bats in the extra long contest, for an in-game average of .130. Miguel Rojas led the offense with his first homer of the season, one of three hits to bring him to .302. Jonathan Villar was two-for-six, and the rest of the club went two-for-35 for the game.

Julio Teheran struck out six and gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings on his way to no decision. Yimi Garcia followed with two scoreless innings of work. Drew Steckenrider also threw two scoreless frames. Trevor Rogers (0-1, 3.60) eventually surrendered the game-winner in the top of the 14th.

May 4th

Marlins 11, Brewers 6

Jesus Aguilar’s eighth-inning shot was a grand slam, and the punctuation on Miami’s big offensive game. Jon Berti and Brian Anderson each collected three hits in the game, while Peter Bourjos added a single and a double.

Pablo Lopez (5-3, 2.86) got the win in a quality start, allowing three earned runs in six innings on eight hits and two walks. Alex Vesia pitched a perfect seventh for his fifth hold of the year.

In more post-game shenanigans, Melky Cabrera was granted his outright release, and Brandon Kintzler was placed on the 15-day injured list. Pitchers Tommy Eveld and Dylan Lee rejoined the Marlins.

May 5th

Marlins 3, Brewers 2

Aaron Sanchez (1-0, 3.55) earned his first decision in his ninth Marlins appearance in a five-inning start. He surrendered two runs on four hits and four walks, also striking four out. Tommy Eveld and Trevor Rogers each pitched a hitless frame, followed by a clean Alex Vesia inning and Drew Steckenrider’s 11th save of the year.

Corey Dickerson led the Miami Marlins offense with a single and a double, and Jonathan Villar added a pair of singles as well. Villar’s .355 average through the first week of May currently leads the N.L., eight points ahead of the Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies.

Tommy Eveld was again optioned to Wichita, and Sixto Sanchez joined in his place from Wichita.

May 6th

Marlins 10, Brewers 2

Trevor Rogers (1-1, 2.57) earned a win with a perfect eighth inning in relief, with one strikeout. He was the recipient of the lucky inning.

The Marlins trailed, 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth after a nice half inning from Rogers, then scored nine runs to put the game out of reach. The Marlins are three-quarters away from a four-game sweep of the Crew.

Jesus Aguilar, Miguel Rojas, Jorge Alfaro, and Matt Kemp each collected a pair of base-hits in the victory, which moves the Marlins to 18-19 for the season. They now sit in fourth in the N.L. East, two games ahead of the Mets.

A Minor Affair

J.J. Bleday .227/.352/.330 88 AB, Jupiter
Sixto Sanchez 2-0, 2.41 ERA, 18.2 IP, 1.07 WHIP, Marlins
Jazz Chisholm .290/.354/.470, 100 AB, five HR, seven SB, Wichita
Jesus Sanchez .256/.317/.378, 90 AB, three HR, two SB, Jacksonville
Edward Cabrera 1-2, 2.89, 28 IP, 1.25 WHIP, Jacksonville
Braxton Garrett 3-0, 1.73, 36.1 IP, 0.94 WHIP, Jacksonville
Monte Harrison .113/.237/.175, 97 AB, one HR, one SB, Wichita
Trevor Rogers 2-2, 2.84, 19 IP, 0.84 WHIP, Marlins
Lewin Diaz .242/.305/.421, 95 AB, five HR, Wichita
Nasim Nunez .269/.328/.370, 108 AB, 11 SB, Jupiter

The Road Ahead

The Marlins will try to regain .500 by completing their Brewers sweep tomorrow night, May 7th. They’ll then split a six-game road trip between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds.