The Miami Marlins might be sellers as the trade deadline nears, but they’re also spoilers.
The last-place team in the National League East, Miami dealt center fielder and leadoff man Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the New York Yankees on Saturday. With a win Sunday, the Marlins can sweep a three-game road series with the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
“We’re playing a team that nobody expects much from,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of the Marlins. “They’re playing with freedom. You can say they got nothing to play for, but they’re major league players. They’ve played really good against us, and we’re not playing good.”
The Marlins beat Milwaukee 6-2 on Friday and 7-3 on Saturday. Before this series, Miami took two out of three against the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles and split a four-game series against NL playoff contenders and the Marlins’ division rivals, the New York Mets.
One reason is first baseman Josh Bell, who might end up in another uniform after Tuesday’s trade deadline. He has homered in four straight games and five of the past six contests.
“Josh Bell’s on a heater right now,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “He is barreling everything — righty, lefty, taking his walks.”
In Chisholm’s absence on Saturday, Nick Gordon — who has started 57 games for Miami in left field this season — started in center field on Saturday and shortstop Xavier Edwards led off. Bryan De La Cruz played left and hit second. He had an RBI-single in a five-run seventh-inning.
“Part about being a pro is turning the page quick,” Schumaker said. “That’s not easy to do when one of your friends and teammates gets traded. We’ve had it a couple of times, unfortunately, already this year, but I’m proud of the game and effort. A really good overall game despite losing (our) leadoff hitter and starting center fielder.”
Meanwhile, Milwaukee has hit a rough patch.
Without All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich (lower-back inflammation), who went on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, the offense is limping a bit with 10 runs in the past five games. It’s unclear if or when Yelich will return this season, but he said he plans to rest and rehabilitate his back rather than have season-ending surgery.
The Brewers also are dealing with various injuries to pitchers.
Right-hander Devin Williams (back) remains out, with general manager Matt Arnold expecting him back soon after another rehabilitation assignment. On Saturday, left-hander Bryan Hudson was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, and the team recalled lefty Tyler Jay from Triple-A Nashville. Left-hander Rob Zastryzny went on the 15-day IL on Friday with left elbow tendinitis.
“Our bullpen is kind of beat up,” Murphy said. “We got to go through it. This is an incredibly young ball club that has played their guts out. Things are swinging in the wrong direction for them right now. Concerned? Yeah, I’m concerned, but this is what young people go through.
On Saturday, Milwaukee completed a traded with the Colorado Rockies for right-hander Nick Mears to help bolster the bullpen. Mears has a 1.80 ERA in his past 12 appearances.
Rookie right-hander Tobias Myers (6-4, 3.14 ERA) gets the start for Milwaukee on Sunday. He’s 5-2 in his past eight starts and is coming off a 3-1 loss to the host Chicago Cubs on Monday, when he allowed three runs (two earned), six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Kyle Tyler (0-1, 3.92) is slated to make his fifth start for Miami this season.
Myers has faced the Marlins once, throwing one inning and striking out two in a 7-5 Brewers win on May 21. Tyler has never thrown against the Brewers.
Before the game, Ryan Braun will throw a ceremonial first pitch and be inducted into the Brewers Walk of Fame. He is the Brewers’ all-time home run leader (352), six-time All-Star, 2011 National League Most Valuable Player and 2007 NL Rookie of the Year.
–Field Level Media
