The Miami Marlins’ 3-1 walk-off loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday served as a microcosm of their recent performances, with their season-worst six-game skid reflecting their quality of play.

Marlins closer Pete Fairbanks surrendered a three-run homer to the Brewers’ William Contreras while trying to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. Miami arrives in Houston for Monday’s opener of a three-game series against the Astros not only seeking an end to its losing ways, but a reversal of its current string of poor showings.

“I didn’t think it was a specific (stink); I thought it was an all-encompassing type of (stink),” Fairbanks said following the defeat. “So we’re going to try and rectify that. But for right now, I’m going to be pretty (angry) about it.”

The Marlins’ loss in the series finale followed an 8-6 defeat on Saturday that left Miami manager Clayton McCullough displeased. To make matters worse, the Marlins lost All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez to a right ring finger injury in the middle contest of that three-game set. Lopez did not play on Sunday, and his status against the Astros is unclear.

“There’s still some swelling there in the nail area,” McCullough said. “A day-to-day thing with how he responds over the next few days. Hopefully, some of that soreness gets out of there, and he’s able to ramp up some more baseball activity.”

Right-hander Janson Junk (4-5, 4.57 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Marlins on Monday.

Junk has won consecutive decisions after dropping three straight decisions in May. Junk beat the Seattle Mariners 8-4 on July 9, when he allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts over five innings. That marked the first start for Junk in six weeks following a stint on the injured list.

Junk is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts against the Astros. In his previous appearance against Houston on Aug. 6, 2025, Junk allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts across five innings in a 6-4 home victory.

Right-hander Ronel Blanco (3-4, 4.10 ERA in 2025) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut for the Astros on Monday. It will mark the first start for Blanco since May 17, 2025, when he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings in a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.

Blanco underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter and missed the remainder of the season.

In five rehab appearances (four starts) across three levels this season, Blanco is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings.

The Astros remain in a desperate search for quality starting pitching and are hopeful that Blanco, who tossed a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays in his eighth career major league start and first in the 2024 campaign, can provide a boost to their fortunes.

“He feels good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff looked really good in his outings. I’m excited to have him back.”

–Field Level Media

Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman was snubbed from last week’s Home Run Derby, but he already is making a case for next year’s event.

Goodman has a team-high 30 homers for the Rockies, who face the Washington Nationals in the opener of a three-game series on Monday in Denver.

Washington took two of three from the Athletics over the weekend to move two games back from the final National League wild-card spot.

“These guys in the clubhouse have done a lot to get to this point that we are at today,” Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “We still have a lot of work that needs to be done, but overall, I’m happy with the way these guys come out ready to play every single day.”

Despite owning the NL’s worst record (40-61), the Rockies have provided several reasons for optimism. The team boasts a promising young core led by Goodman, right fielder Troy Johnston and first baseman TJ Rumfield.

Goodman hit three home runs in a game for the second time this season and drove in five runs in the Rockies’ 9-6 loss to the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

“His body looks like it’s flowing right. He looks dangerous. He just looks in-sync,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “You can see the confidence seep out of him.”

The 26-year-old Goodman has five multi-homer games this season and is batting .257 with 56 RBIs.

Another player who could be considered for next year’s Home Run Derby is Washington shortstop CJ Abrams, who hit his career-high 21st homer in a 5-2 victory over the host Athletics on Sunday.

Abrams started at shortstop for the NL in the All-Star Game, but he said that wasn’t even his most memorable moment of the week.

“My favorite part was probably the Home Run Derby,” Abrams said. “It was fun to watch.”

The pitching matchup for the series opener features a pair of left-handers as Washington’s Andrew Alvarez (2-3, 4.04 ERA) faces Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (2-8, 7.36).

Alvarez, 27, is set to make his first career start against the Rockies. He has appeared in 13 games this season, including six as a starter.

Alvarez last pitched on July 12, when he replaced starter Cade Cavalli in the seventh inning and allowed three runs over two frames in a home loss to the New York Yankees.

Control has been an ongoing issue for Alvarez, who has walked 22 batters in 49 innings this season. He owns a 4.99 ERA in eight games (three starts) at home this season compared to a 2.45 mark in five games (three starts) away from Nationals Park.

The Rockies will counter with Freeland, who allowed four runs with nine strikeouts over six innings in a 4-2 road loss to the San Francisco Giants on July 11.

“Kyle was excellent,” Schaeffer said. “He was efficient. He attacked the strike zone. His fastball was really good. His changeup was really good. He just felt like he was in command of the game.”

Freeland, in his 10th major league – all with Colorado — is one win away from securing his 68th career victory, which would tie him with German Marquez for third in franchise history. Jorge De La Rosa (86) and Aaron Cook (72) sit atop the list.

Freeland, 33, is 5-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 10 career starts versus Washington.

–Field Level Media

Catcher Tyler Stephenson has been with the Cincinnati Reds since 2020, the longest-tenured player on the roster.

Whether he’s still with the team two weeks from now — or even beyond the Reds’ three-game interleague series that begins Monday in Seattle — remains to be seen.

With the Reds in last place in the National League’s Central, they’ll likely be sellers by the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Stephenson, who hit two homers in a 9-6 victory Sunday at Colorado, could be an attractive option for a contender looking for a backstop.

“I’ve got no control,” said Stephenson, whose contract is up after this season. “I guess it’s as real as it’s ever been in my career. So whatever happens, happens. I’m enjoying it. I love these guys and I’ve been very grateful to be here with this organization, and whatever happens is going to take care of itself.”

Nathaniel Lowe, another potential trade chip, and rookie Sal Stewart added three-run shots for the Reds, and right-hander Hunter Greene pitched six quality innings with seven strikeouts.

Reds manager Terry Francona has been around long enough to know what could transpire before the trade deadline.

“There’s a good word, and I want to use it because it’s how I feel,” Francona said. “It’s not uneasiness, but the unknown a little bit. It’s like you want it to be over, like now. And that’s not the way it is. Because you’re with these guys every day, and it means something.

“I’m realistic enough to know things happen. That’s the way the game is. When you’ve played to our record, there’s going to be conversations. That’s just the reality of it.”

The Mariners are in the opposite boat. Sunday’s 6-3 victory against visiting San Francisco got them back to .500. They’re a half-game behind Texas in the American League West and one back in the AL wild-card race.

“We know where we’re at. It’s hasn’t been exactly what we wanted up to this point, but (manager Dan Wilson) keeps talking about everything’s right in front of us,” said Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert, who got the victory against the Giants with six quality innings in which he tied his season-high with 10 strikeouts.

Pinch hitter Luke Raley hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning, and Cole Young added a two-run shot an inning later for the final margin.

“It’s just hard going into a game that’s in full swing, coming in cold off the bench. You haven’t seen any pitches yet and a lot of times you’re getting a nasty bullpen arm,” Raley said. “It’s just one of those things you got to go up with plan.”

Monday’s series opener is set to feature Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (5-5, 4.11 ERA) against Mariners right-hander George Kirby (7-8, 3.76).

Abbott lasted just four innings in his last start July 12 against the visiting Chicago Cubs and didn’t get a decision. He allowed four runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a game the Reds lost 8-4.

Abbott lost in his one career start against Seattle on the road April 17, 2024, when he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings.

Kirby is coming off a quality start in a 2-0 loss July 8 at Miami. He went six innings and yielded two runs on eight hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Kirby won in his only start against Cincinnati on April 15, 2024, when he surrendered two runs on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts in six innings.

–Field Level Media