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Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Struggling Marlins Aim to Stop Momentum of Surging Yankees

Originally posted on The Forkball | By Abdullah Imran | Last updated 4/9/24

The New York Yankees wore protective glasses to view a solar eclipse above Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon before continuing their strong start to the season. They are currently 9-2, matching their best 11-game start in team history.

Upcoming Series Against the Marlins

The Yankees will aim for a fourth consecutive win on Tuesday as they face the Miami Marlins in a three-game series. This is the eighth time in team history that the Yankees have started 9-2 and the first time since 2020 and they will hope to continue this form against the Marlins. The team is looking to win 10 of their first 12 games for the first time since 2003, matching the starts of the 1949 and 1922 teams.

Recent Game Performances

New York has experienced two shutout losses, but since their 3-0 defeat in the home opener on Friday, the Yankees have scored 24 runs, bringing their season average to 5.1 per game. In a 7-0 victory over the Marlins on Monday, Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto maintained their strong performances by hitting three-run homers in a six-run fourth inning. This marked the Yankees’ largest inning since an eight-run outburst on June 29, 2023, against Oakland.

Player Highlights

Volpe hit his second home run and currently has a batting average of .417 this season, a significant improvement from his .209 average as a rookie last year. Soto has a batting average of .357 and has hit two home runs. He has successfully reached base in nine out of 11 games with his new team.

“It’s only been like 11 games, and we already feel like we are sticking together,” Soto said. “We’re pushing together. We all want the same thing.”

Marlins’ Struggles and Outlook

The Marlins ended their nine-game losing streak with a 10-3 win in St. Louis on Sunday, but they were shut out for the first time on Monday and only had two baserunners. Bryan De La Cruz got both hits, and it was the fifth time Miami scored two runs or less.

Pitching Perspectives

Miami suffered its sixth defeat by a margin of three runs or more, tying the 1998 team for the poorest start in team history through 11 games.

“If you look at it as 1-10, you’re just going to dig yourself into a deeper hole,” Miami starter Jesus Luzardo said after yielding seven runs over 4 2/3 innings in an outing that increased the Marlins’ team ERA to 5.40. “It’s just more of going out there and trying to be your best every day.”

Nestor Cortes pitched a long eight innings for New York in their recent game, and now Carlos Rodon will be starting for the team on Tuesday. Rodon had a tough season last year due to injuries, but he has shown promise in his recent outings this season.

On the other hand, A.J. Puk has been struggling in his transition to the rotation for the Marlins after previously being a reliever. Despite this, Puk has had some success in relief appearances against the Yankees in the past.

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

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