Marlins links, 8/20/18: Back-to-back wins, rehab updates, JDF16 MVP count

Marlins take two from Nationals

The Marlins are coming off back-to-back wins and just won their first series of the month. José Ureña was on the mound Sunday for the first time, coming through with the best of any Marlins starting pitcher this season and the best start of his career. Ureña went the distance to give the Marlins their first complete game since since Edinson Vólquez’s no-hitter in June 2017. He was pitching with something to prove against the Nationals, limiting them to one run on two hits. Ureña’s strikeout of Michael Taylor for the last out of the game was on a 97 mph fastball on his 108th pitch of the game.

The newly rejuvenated offense got contributions up and down the lineup, led by Starlin Castro who was 5-for-6 (first five-hit game in his career). JT Riddle and J.T. Realmuto each pitched in with three RBIs of their own. Isaac Galloway drove his first career home run. Miami’s newest outfielder Austin Dean drove in two runs with his first multi-hit game. The Marlins would go on to win by a final score of 12-1.

Injured Marlins are struggling

Lewis Brinson and Garrett Cooper are both fighting their ways back from injuries and are trying to get healthy enough to join the big league club.

However, both are struggling at the minor league level. Brinson is 1-for-14 with the one hit being a home run in his second game of his rehab assignment with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Cooper hasn’t fared much better with Advanced-A Jupiter (1-for-8).

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Marlins were hoping to get Brinson and Cooper regular at-bats down the stretch at center field and first base, respectively. There’s still an expectation that they will get reinstated to the roster on/around September 1.

Crowded NL ROY field

There was a stretch during the first half of the season where it seemed as if Brian Anderson might run away with the NL Rookie of the Year award. Even now, it’s hard to find other candidates who have held down a starting major league job for the entire season like he has.

However, his offensive production has quietly slipped and Ely expects BBWAA voters who decide the award to go with a sexier pick like Ronald Acuña Jr. or Juan Soto.

JDF16 MVP of the Game leader

We have a JDF16 MVP of the game chain leader. After his complete game yesterday against the Nationals, Jose Ureña was the Marlins MVP of the game and rightfully so. He retired the last 16 batters he faced en route to his fourth win this season.

Here are the current “standings” in the clubhouse: