Marlins week in review: Braves sweep isn’t everything but is reminder of where Miami stands

The Miami Marlins were excited about the matchup, and why wouldn’t they be? They had just swept the Boston Red Sox over the past three days and were at the tail end of one of the most successful calendar months in franchise history as they headed into a three-game weekend series against the Atlanta Braves.

In the Marlins’ eyes, it was a matchup against two of the top teams in the National League and a chance to stake their claim as one of the top teams in baseball midway through the 2023 season. In the grand scheme, it was a three-game affair that could gauge just how good this Marlins team might be.

“It’s always going to be a fun game,” Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. said Thursday about facing the Braves. “That’s probably what you guys are gonna see in the NL Championship [Series] — and that’s what we’re planning on it to be.”

Just one problem — the Braves once again showed just how dominant they are against the Marlins. Miami was swept in the three-game series and is now 1-9 in 10 games this series against Atlanta.

Miami lost the first two games in blowout fashion before being slightly more competitive in the finale only to fall in that game, too.

It was just the second time Miami was swept this season — the other also coming against the Braves.

“We learned that we’ve got to come here and we’ve got to fight every single at-bat and every pitch we throw,” said Chisholm, who exited Sunday’s series finale with left oblique soreness. “These guys are really good here, and we knew that before we got here. They’re really hot right now. We’ve just got to find a way to keep on going and battle against them. They’re the best team in the league, but we can be better and we can beat them.”

Chisholm is right about the Braves being the best team in the league. Atlanta leads all of baseball with a 56-27 record. The offense is arguably the best in the league, leading the way in OPS (.838) and home runs (158) while ranking third in runs scored (470). They went 21-4 in June, averaged seven runs per game and hit a staggering 61 home runs in that stretch.

“That’s a really good team that we faced,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “They’re really hot right now, and they beat up on us. That’s just kind of what happens when certain teams are really hot at certain times of the year. We felt really good coming into this series. They just beat us three times.”

Now, that one series — or the Marlins’ history against the Braves in general — doesn’t take away from what the team has accomplished to this point. Miami still has the third-best record in the National League at 48-37 with a week until the All-Star Break. They have a cushion in the standings that was built by winning games they are supposed to win.

But at the end of the day, if the Marlins want to obtain their bigger goal, they’re most likely going to have to face the Braves again with much bigger circumstances at stake — and they’re going to have to find a way to win against them, too.

Luis Arraez and Jorge Soler the All-Stars

For a second consecutive season and the 17th time in franchise history, the Marlins have multiple representatives in the All-Star Game.

Luis Arraez on Thursday was named the National League’s starting second baseman while designated hitter Jorge Soler on Sunday was named a reserve for the NL roster after being voted in on the players ballot.

This is the second year Arraez is an All-Star and his first time being named a starter. For Soler, it’s his first All-Star nod of his 10-year MLB career.

Game recaps from this week

▪ Tuesday — Marlins 10, Red Sox 1: A season-high-tying 19 hits and solid pitching from Sandy Alcantara pave the way for a series-opening win at Fenway Park.

▪ Wednesday — Marlins 6, Red Sox 2: The Marlins scored five consecutive runs following a nearly 75-minute rain delay to win the series.

▪ Thursday — Marlins 2, Red Sox 0: Miami goes from being no-hit for seven innings to sweeping Boston.

▪ Friday — Braves 16, Marlins 4: The Braves slugged six home runs to trounce Miami in the series opener.

▪ Saturday — Braves 7, Marlins 0: Rookie Eury Perez gave up six runs and recorded just one out in the worst start of his young MLB career.

▪ Sunday — Braves 6, Marlins 3: The Marlins were more competitive but three more Braves home runs sink Miami in a series sweep.

Eury Perez through 10 starts

Yes, Perez’s 10th start of his MLB career was a dud, but it further shows just how dominant he was through his first nine starts.

Perez’s one-out outing against the Braves nearly doubled his ERA, but his ERA is still just a 2.47 — making him still one of just five pitchers to debut before his 21st birthday to have an ERA of 2.50 or lower through his first 10 starts. Fernando Valenzuela (1.24 ERA in 1981), Bob Moose (2.38 ERA in 1967/1968), Bert Blyleven (2.44 ERA in 1970) and Don Robinson (2.50 ERA in 1978) are the others.

He also still ranks among the top-five in Marlins history in a slew of statistical categories through the first 10 starts in of career for a pitcher.

For a full breakdown, read the story here.

In case you missed it

▪ One key player who has sort of been flying under the radar: Shortstop Joey Wendle, who was dominant at the plate in June after a slow start to the season.

▪ The Marlins are pleased with their success in the first half of the season, but they remain focused on what’s still ahead.

▪ Marlins general manager Kim Ng on Tuesday was sworn in as a member of President Joe Biden’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.

▪ While Chisholm was sidelined, Jonathan Davis more than held his own as the Marlins’ replacement center fielder.

Upcoming Marlins schedule

Monday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:40 p.m.

Tuesday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 1:10 p.m.

Wednesday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:40 p.m.

Thursday: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:40 p.m.

Friday: vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 6:40 p.m.

Saturday: vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 4:10 p.m.

Sunday: vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 1:40 p.m.