Miami Marlins 5 Takeaways: Jon Berti a surprise at top of the lineup
Just when their playoff chances seemed to be fading, the Miami Marlins have new life after sweeping the Colorado Rockies in a three-games series.
The Marlins (32-36) still have ground to make up, and they have a big opportunity this weekend with a three-game series against the National League East-leading New York Mets at loanDepot park, starting Friday night.
Miami enters the series 11½ games behind New York, and six games off the pace for the third Wild Card spot.
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As the Marlins aim to stay within striking distance, The Palm Beach Post offers these five takeaways:
Jon Berti emerges as unlikely hero
Injuries to Brian Anderson and Joey Wendle created more playing time for utility specialist Jon Berti, and the 32-year-old has become an energizer at the top of the order.
In his last seven games heading into the weekend, Berti is hitting .310 with a .375 on-base percentage and seven stolen bases.
Manager Don Mattingly recently did a lineup switch at the top of the order. Berti has been leading off more with Jazz Chisholm Jr. hitting second. The duo provide more speed and athleticism to the top of the order.
In Thursday’s 3-2 win over Colorado, Berti set a couple of franchise stolen base marks. He’s now swiped 21 straight bases without being caught. Emilio Bonifacio previously held the record with 20 set in 2012. And his 17 stolen bases are the most by any Marlins’ player in the month of June.
The Jazz Chisholm Jr. voting campaign is working
Chisholm’s appeal is not just contained to South Florida – it’s universal. MLB fans everywhere are making that known.
Chisholm is the leader in early voting to be the starting second baseman for the National League. With 634,762 votes, Chisholm is followed by Atlanta's Ozzie Albies (589,804) and the Mets’ Jeff McNeil (580,257). Albies is currently injured, and you can’t count out McNeil, and the market size of New York, from making a push.
What Phase 1 of the voting shows us is that Chisholm’s personality, coupled with his performance, connects with fans.
It’s always a challenge to get Marlins voted into the starting lineup, for reasons everyone is aware. Even though voting is on-line these days, Miami still ranks near the bottom in league attendance, and deserving players don’t always receive national attention. The last Marlins’ regular voted into the game as a starter was outfielder Marcell Ozuna in 2017, when the All-Star Game was hosted at loanDepot park (then Marlins Park).
Remember that year, Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t voted in as a starter, although he did start as the designated hitter. Stanton went on to be the National League Most Valuable Player.
Voting ends on June 30, and Chisholm is primed to be in the starting lineup in the Midsummer Classic, scheduled for July 19 at Dodgers Stadium.
Efficiency is key for Sandy Alcantara
All the deserving accolades are going to ace Sandy Alcantara. Now in his prime, the 26-year-old appears to be a lock to be an All-Star for the second time. (Fans don’t vote for pitchers).
Alcantara paces the Majors with 99 1/3 innings pitched, and his 1.72 ERA is second. Working deep into games has become common for Alcantara, who has logged at least seven innings in eight straight starts.
What is Alcantara’s secret to staying in games so long? Efficiency. Alcantara averages 14.36 pitches per inning, which is the second lowest of any starter in the Majors. Only Jordan Montgomery of the New York Yankees (14.22) averages fewer pitches per frame.
The Marlins' season record for most innings pitched is 237 1/3, set by Kevin Brown in 1997. Alcantara likely won’t challenge that, but he could top 220 innings, something that hasn’t been done by a Marlins’ starter since Dontrelle Willis’ 223 1/3 in 2006.
Three-run homer by Avisail Garcia swings momentum
One big hit doesn’t dismiss an overall disappointing first half, but Avisail Garcia’s three-run home run in the fourth inning on Tuesday was the biggest hit of the Rockies’ series.
The Marlins trailed 4-0 and starter Daniel Castano was lifted after 3 1/3 innings before Garcia’s big blast made it a one-run game. Jesus Sanchez followed with a homer, and the Marlins went on to win, 9-8. In Thursday’s win, Garcia’s fielder’s choice RBI drove in the winning run.
Signed for four years and $53 million, Garcia has struggled most of the year. He’s hitting .230 with five homers, 21 RBIs and a .600 OPS.
Still, the 31-year-old right fielder is a threat. He belted 29 homers with the Milwaukee Brewers last year, and he has game-changing power. He just hasn’t shown it much so far.
Braxton Garrett showing signs of improvement
Miami’s starting pitching depth is being tested, especially with Edward Cabrera on the injured list with right elbow tendinitis.
Lefty prospect Braxton Garrett has been promoted from Triple-A Jacksonville, and he threw 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts.
Garrett has been finding a way to minimize big innings and keeping his starts close. The southpaw has a 4.08 ERA. While he has struck out 17, he’s also allowed 25 hits. His WHIP (walks/hits per innings pitched) is high at 1.70. That means he’s regularly dealing with runners on base.
Thus far, he’s been mostly navigating through the traffic.
Joe Frisaro covered the Marlins from 2002 to 2020 for mlb.com. He is the founder of ManOn2nd Baseball. Follow him @ManOn2nd and his podcast on the Five Reasons Sports YouTube channel.