Daily Recap: Maybe the Marlins Should Play a Doubleheader?
Not many games across baseball yesterday, but the New York Mets finally won a game! The Miami Marlins, uh, did not.
Let's look at what each team did yesterday, where they currently stand in the division as of this morning, and what today's game has in store. It's The Daily Recap!
Who is winning the National League East right now?
(divisional standings as of April 4th)
Braves - 3-2 (.600), -- GB, +21 run diff
Phillies - 2-4 (.333), 1.5 GB, -14 run diff
Nationals - 2-4 (.3330), 1.5 GB, -11 run diff
Mets - 1-5 (.167), 2.5 GB, -13 run diff
Marlins - 0-8 (.000), 4.5 GB, -30 run diff
Well, New York winning a game now means that the Marlins are not only firmly ensconced in the basement of the division, but the door’s chained shut. While yes, one winning streak can get Miami into 4th place, do we really have any confidence that Miami can pull that off?
Game recaps from yesterday
Atlanta Braves
Atlanta opens a three game set against the defending NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks tonight in Truist Park. Spencer Strider’s starting the home opener, with Max Fried and Chris Sale to follow on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a definite rotation advantage for Atlanta this weekend, with Arizona not having any of their big four of Zac Gallen (started Tuesday), Merrill Kelly (started Wednesday), Eduardo Rodriguez (still on injured list), or Jordan Montgomery (not ready to debut). Instead, the Diamondbacks will send Tommy Henry, Brandon Pfaadt, and Ryne Nelson out against Atlanta.
Philadelphia Phillies
Philly got a day off on Thursday and now are set for a three game set against Washington in Nationals Park. Aaron Nola and two lefties, Ranger Suárez and Christopher Sánchez are set to take on Patrick Corbin, Jake Irvin, and MacKenzie Gore.
Washington Nationals
Boy, Josiah Gray is not having the start to the 2024 season that anyone wanted. Gray went only 4.1 innings against Pittsburgh, giving up six runs (all earned) on seven hits and walking the same number of batters (three) as he struck out. CJ Abrams (2-5, HR, R, RBI) did everything he could to will Washington to a win, but going 3-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding eight runners is an easy way to underperform. Michael A. Taylor went 3-4 with a run scored for the Pirates with Martin Pérez allowing only two runs on 6.2 innings for the 7-4 win.
New York Mets
New York won a game! The Mets split their doubleheader with Detroit, dropping the first game 6/3 in eleven innings before winning the nightcap 2-1 thanks to a walkoff homer from Pete Alonso. New York actually get pretty good starting pitching in this one, with Adrian Houser giving five innings of one-run ball in the first game and José Buttó countering with six innings of one-run ball in the nightcap.
Miami Marlins
Okay, this start is officially a problem. Miami’s bullpen blew yet another lead in their 8-5 loss to the Cardinals, entering the 7th inning up 5-3 and allowing St. Louis to hang five runs on the board. Sixto Sánchez took the loss, having allowed three runs (two earned) in one-third of an inning. Miami’s bullpen has now gone 0-4 on the year with a 6.58 ERA in their 39.2 innings, allowing an opposing batting average of .304 and an OPS of .888.
Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera, both slated to have rehab starts in AAA Jacksonville over the weekend, can’t come back soon enough.
MVP's for Wednesday
Hitter: Miami’s Jake Burger, playing in his hometown of St. Louis, went 2-2 with two homers and two walks. Cool story.
Pitcher: New York’s José Buttó - 6.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 3BB to 6Ks
Who's playing today?
Miami being off and a divisional matchup means we get only three games among four NL East teams tonight.
Mets (Quintana) @ CIN (Greene) - 6:40 PM ET (on Apple TV+)
Philly (Nola) @ Washington (Corbin) - 6:45 PM ET
Atlanta (Strider) vs ARI (Henry) - 7:20 PM ET
Enjoy the games, everyone.
Managing Editor for Blackerby Media, covering the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins Also: Senior Baseball Writer for Auburn Daily, member of both the National College Baseball Writers Association and Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (where he won the 2023 Prospects, Minors, & College Writer of the Year award)