Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The National League East division has been led by the Atlanta Braves through the first two months of the season, as no other team has been able to catch them. The Miami Marlins had an impressive weekend series, sweeping the Los Angels Angels on the road. How did the rest of the teams in the division perform this week?
Let’s take a look at how the NL East stands on May 30.
Atlanta Braves (32-22)
Last 10: 5-5
Who’s Hot: Austin Riley, 3B
Austin Riley had a slow start to the season by his high standards, but the third baseman is having a really solid finish to the month of May. The 26-year-old slugger is 10-f0r-28 with a total of eight extra base hits, three home runs and six RBIs over his last seven games. Riley has 10 home runs and 28 runs batted in with a .802 OPS in 232 plate appearances this season.
Who’s Not: Charlie Morton, SP
The two-time All-Star has struggled over his last two starts, giving up eight earned runs in 10 1/3 IP. Allowing hitters to reach via base on balls has hurt him during that stretch, surrendering a total of six walks over his last two appearances. Morton is 5-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 57 2/3 IP this season.
Injury News
Michael Soroka was recalled by the Braves big league ball club and will started against the Oakland Athletics Monday night. He gave up four runs in six innings. The right-hander has not appeared in the majors since 2020, when he tore his Achilles’ tendon in a start against the New York Mets. Soroka is 15-6 with 2.86 ERA in his career, and he was an All-Star back in 2019.
Miami Marlins (28-26, 4.5 GB)
Last 10: 5-5
Who’s Hot: Jorge Soler, DH/OF
Jorge Soler is maybe the hottest hitter in the league, homering in five consecutive games prior to Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The slugger is 9-for-31 with an .806 slugging percentage and a 1.159 OPS over the last seven games. Soler is up to 17 home runs and 35 runs batted in 219 plate appearances this season.
Who’s Not: Jean Segura, IF
The 33-year-old has struggled in his first season with the Miami Marlins, slashing .150/.227/.150 with a total of three hits over the last seven games. His batting average has dipped to .197 for the season, and he has yet to hit a home run. Segura has a .492 OPS and a 37 OPS+ in 46 games this season.
Injury News
Jesús Sánchez is expected to rejoin the Marlins big league team prior to the start of their series with the San Diego Padres after going 3-for-5 with a home run on rehab with Triple-A Jacksonville Sunday. The outfielder last played on May 13, missing the last two weeks with a hamstring strain.
New York Mets (27-27, 5.5 GB)
Last 10: 6-4
Who’s Hot: Francisco Álvarez, C
Francisco Álvarez is on a tear as of late, slashing .400/.429/.950 with three home runs and eight runs batted in over the last seven games. The young catcher has hit a three-run home run in each of the last two games, showing off his power in the weekend series against the Colorado Rockies. Álvarez is up to a .269 average with an .885 OPS in 113 plate appearances since being called up.
Who’s Not: Daniel Vogelbach, DH
Daniel Vogelbach is in the midst of a very difficult stretch at the plate, going 6-for-4o with 14 strikeouts and a .517 OPS over his last 15 games. The slugger has a total of six extra base hits on the season, failing to provide the power the Mets need from the designated hitter spot in their lineup. Vogelbach is hitting .223 with a .680 OPS in 41 games this season.
Injury News
Omar Narváez is set to continue his rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Syracuse. The catcher began his assignment with High-A Brooklyn, but has since been moved as he nears a return to the big leagues. Narváez has not appeared for the Mets since Apr. 5 against the Milwaukee Brewers, suffering with a calf injury over the last seven plus weeks.
Philadelphia Phillies (25-28, 7 GB)
Last 1o: 5-5
Who’s Hot: Bryson Stott, 2B
Bryson Stott has given the Phillies some much needed production at the top of the order, consistently providing quality at bats. The young infielder is 9-for-28 with a home run, three runs batted in and three stolen bases over the last seven games. Stott is up to a .292 batting average with a .739 OPS for the year.
Who’s Not: J.T. Realmuto, C
The 32-year-old catcher has been performing well in the early stages of the season, but the last week has been difficult for him. Realmuto is slashing .143/.280/.190 with one extra base hit, no runs batted in and four strikeouts over his last seven games. The former Miami Marlin is down to a .751 OPS and a 104 OPS+ in 185 plate appearances this season.
Injury News
Alec Bohm was out of the lineup for Sunday’s night loss against the Atlanta Braves due to hamstring tightness. He was available off the bench, although he did not appear. Barring any sort of setback, Bohm should be back in the lineup for the Phillies next game against the Mets Tuesday.
Washington Nationals (23-31, 9 GB)
Last 10: 5-5
Who’s Hot: Luis García, 2B
Luis García has become the everyday second baseman for the Nationals this season, and he has certainly thrived at the plate as of late. The 23-year-old is slashing .370/.379/.444 with two extra base hits and three runs batted in over the last six games, raising his batting average to .272 for the year. García matched a franchise record with six hits in Friday’s 12-10 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Who’s Not: Keibert Ruiz, C
Keibert Ruiz has failed to produce at the level that many expected when he was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline. Those struggles at the plate have continued to start 2023, as the catcher is 3-for-17 with a .440 OPS over his last five games. Ruiz is slashing .229/.299/.343 with four home runs and 19 runs batted in this season.
Injury News
Sean Doolittle began his rehab assignment in High-A Wilmington on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief. The left-hander has yet to appear for the Nationals big league team this season due to an elbow injury. Doolittle was a part of the Nationals team that won the World Series in 2019.
