The Miami Marlins quietly set an unfortunate franchise record over the weekend, and they continued to add to it on Tuesday. After the Cleveland Guardians stole two bases against them, the Marlins have now surrendered 143 total steals this season, exceeding their 2024 total of 139. They also rank dead last in the majors in caught stealing rate (11.7%).

The timing and deception of a pitcher’s delivery has the biggest influence on controlling the running game. Left-handers inherently have an easier time monitoring runners at first base and less than 10% of Miami’s pitches this season have been thrown by lefties. Worth noting, though, Marlins opponents have been successful on 20 consecutive stolen base attempts, a streak that coincides almost perfectly with veteran catcher Nick Fortes being traded away.

This shouldn’t be as much of a problem in 2026 and beyond assuming southpaws Ryan Weathers and Robby Snelling are starting rotation staples and highly regarded prospect Joe Mack takes over as the club’s primary backstop.

In the meantime, the Marlins are on pace to allow 195 steals by season’s end. That would be the most by any MLB team since the 2001 Boston Red Sox (223 SB). 

Down on the farm, Triple-A Jacksonville lost, 8-4. William Kempner was thrown into the fire in his Jumbo Shrimp debut, entering with the bases loaded in a tie game in extra innings. He allowed a grand slam. Double-A Pensacola lost, 13-2. High-A Beloit lost, 4-2. Good night for Karson Milbrandt (5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K, 86 pitches/51 pitches), but the Sky Carp bullpen struggled. Aiva Arquette went 1-for-1 with two walks and a sacrifice fly. Low-A Jupiter won, 6-1. Joey Volini threw a scoreless inning of relief in his professional debut. Andrew Salas has homered in three of his last 13 games after going yard zero times in his first 72 games. DSL Marlins lost, 11-7. DSL Miami won, 10-3. Sandy Presbot became the fourth player on the team to reach 25 stolen bases this season. This was only the team’s 51st game!

More Marlins news and content below:

🔷 Miami’s newest international amateur free agent signing is Dominican right-hander Ricardo Arredondo. The 18-year-old is listed at 6’0″, 163. The latest minor leaguers to be released are right-hander Anderson Pilar and left-hander Kevin Vaupel.

🔷 Released by the Fish earlier this month, Matt Mervis and Rob Brantly signed minor league deals with the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees, respectively.

🔷 There is serious doubt about Jesús Tinoco (right forearm strain) returning this season as his body isn’t responding well to throwing sessions. He’s undergoing further evaluation. Tinoco was terrific after being claimed by the Marlins off waivers last summer (2.03 ERA, 2.08 FIP, .141 BAA, 3 SV in 26.2 IP). However, that didn’t carry over into 2025, even before landing on the injured list in June.

🔷 Elsewhere around baseball, despite Shohei Ohtani blasting his National League-leading 43rd home run, the San Diego Padres have pulled even with the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West standings. Pete Alonso surpassed Darryl Strawberry to become the New York Mets’ all-time home run leader. The Milwaukee Brewers won their 11th consecutive game. They’re on pace for 102 victories overall, which would set a new franchise record. Athletics rookie Jacob Lopez extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings. Baltimore Orioles pitchers Zach Eflin (lower back surgery) and Félix Bautista (shoulder injury) have been ruled out for the rest of the season. 

🔷 Today’s MLB game: the Marlins continue their three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians (probable starters RHP Eury Pérez and RHP Gavin Williams). The Guardians have won 10 of their last 12 games. The Marlins have a 42.7% chance to win, per FanGraphs. First pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET.

 

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