Marlins links, 8/7/18: Marlins break the streak, Marlins prospects promoted, Alcantara optioned, JDF16 MVP update

Marlins beat the streak

With their (home) ace on the mound, the Marlins narrowly beat the Cardinals. Their losing streak is finally over. Wei-Yin Chen was masterful once again, he only gave up one hit in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched, Chen also had four strikeouts and two walks. The Marlins bullpen pitched well up until the ninth inning where Kyle Barraclough almost gave away the game after loading the bases, and walking in the only Cardinals run.

The Marlins offense again was brought to you by two players, Brian Anderson aka The Process Daddy and Starlin Castro provided the Marlins with their two runs. Anderson gave the Marlins an early lead driving in Derek Dietrich with an RBI Single in the first inning.

Starlin Castro came through in the fourth inning with his ninth home run of the season to give the Marlins their second run.

How does he do it?

Chen improved to a 1.94 ERA when pitching at Marlins Park this season. Wow!

But the other side of the story is ugly. We attempt to explain how the veteran left-hander could have such extreme home/road splits.

The future is approaching

The Marlins promoted each of their top four picks of the 2018 draft. Connor Scott, Osiris Johnson, and Will Banfield were playing high school baseball a couple months ago and after some early success with the GCL Marlins, all three will play with A-ball Greensboro. Tristan Pompey was promoted for a second time this season, after playing 24 games with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, Pompey has arrived in Jupiter, accompanied by Jose Devers, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the offseason.

Devers is only 18 years old, but after demonstrating great bat-to-ball skills along with stellar defense, he too was called up. In his first game with the Hammerheads. Devers went 1-for-4 with one RBI and drawing one walk.

Ethan has more details on each of these productive prospects.

Sandy Alcántara optioned to NOLA

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Sandy Alcántara will join the AAA New Orleans after being reinstated from the DL. Alcántara was making his way back from an armpit infection that was discovered after his only start with the Marlins.

Alcántara’s MLB clock will also be put on hold while he’s with the Baby Cakes. The lost service time ensures that the right-hander won’t get arbitration eligibility until 2022. He’s a potential September call-up as the Marlins would like to see how he recovers from his infection with a couple of starts at the triple-A level.

JDF16 MVP update

Photo by @JoeFrisaro/Twitter

With his first save in nearly four years, Javy Guerra received the JDF16 MVP chain after yesterday’s win. Guerra came in for Kyle Barraclough and threw one pitch that induced a game-ending double play.

Ely has too much time of his hands, so he’s been keeping a record of each JDF16 MVP chain wearer since the clubhouse introduced this tradition last month. Here are the updated standings: