The visiting Miami Marlins will turn to right-hander Eury Perez as they look to avoid a sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Perez (5-7, 3.78 ERA) will be opposed by left-hander Robert Gasser (2-4, 5.24), who struggled in his last start.
Milwaukee rallied for an 8-6 win Saturday, extending the Marlins’ losing streak to a season high-tying five games.
Hot-hitting Garrett Mitchell keyed a four-run sixth inning with a two-run double that put the Brewers up 6-3. Milwaukee starter Shane Drohan gave up three runs in the second, but none the rest of the way over his six innings, retiring the final nine hitters he faced and 13 of the last 14.
Griffin Conine’s three-run homer in the ninth inning brought Miami within two runs at 8-6.
The Marlins committed three errors, allowed seven stolen bases and their pitchers combined for seven walks. Miami pitchers walked eight batters in the 2-1 loss in 10 innings during the series opener.
Milwaukee’s 412 walks as a team are second in the majors.
“The walks are completely within our control,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “Eight yesterday, seven today. We just have to do better. Certainly, Milwaukee has a very good team, capitalize on opportunities, they were able to do that today. We were able to wiggle out of some early jams, but you put that many people on base via free pass or error, eventually you’re going to get bit.”
Perez is 2-1 over his last five starts, allowing just four earned runs in 27 innings over that span.
He took the defeat in his last start, allowing two runs on eight hits in six innings in a 4-1 loss to Cleveland.
Perez is 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA in three career starts versus Milwaukee, including once this season. He allowed one unearned run on three hits over six innings to get the win in a 5-3 victory in mid-April.
Miami shortstop Otto Lopez hurt his finger on a fielding error in the second inning Saturday but remained in the game. McCullough did not have a postgame update on Lopez.
Mitchell, hitting .230 at the end of May, also had two singles Saturday to raise his average to .283. He is hitting .411 with two homers, seven doubles, a triple and nine RBIs in 15 games in July.
Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang did not play Saturday after fouling a ball off his foot Friday. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said X-rays were negative, but Turang could miss additional time.
Gasser lasted just three innings in his last start, allowing seven runs on eight hits in a 14-5 loss at Pittsburgh.
“When the big pitch needed to be made, I didn’t make it,” Gasser said afterward. “I feel like I made a lot of good pitches today, got a lot of swings through on all my offerings.”
Gasser has allowed 10 home runs in 46 1/3 innings and also issued 14 walks.
He has faced the Marlins once, allowing five runs (four earned) in six innings, but did not get the decision in a 7-5 victory in 2024.
–Field Level Media
