Lopez Drives In Run During Seventh Inning
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez scored a run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at LoanDepot Park, according to Sports Illustrated. The play was captured by photographer Jim Rassol for IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect.
The game featured pitching from Sandy Alcantara, who took the mound to close out the contest in the ninth inning. Alcantara’s appearance against Atlanta occurred during a season where the Marlins posted a 4.09 team earned run average (ERA), finishing 13th in Major League Baseball.
The matchup at LoanDepot Park was part of a 2026 schedule that saw Miami improve its offensive metrics significantly. The team ranked ninth in team OPS at .726 and third in triples with 37, an increase from their 17th-place ranking in OPS the previous year.
Statistical Improvements Outpace Record
While the Marlins improved their overall win total by only one game in 2026 compared to 2025, with no movement in the divisional standings, internal metrics suggest a different trajectory for the franchise.
Miami posted a positive run differential of +3 in 2026, scoring 715 runs and allowing 712. This marked a substantial shift from their -88 run differential in 2025.
The team’s pitching staff also demonstrated progress. Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer, and Eury Perez formed a starting trio with ERAs below 4.00 during the 2026 season.
Max Meyer specifically recorded a 2.68 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 20 starts in 2026. The Marlins’ team ERA improved to 4.09, moving up from their 25th-place ranking and 4.60 ERA in the prior year.
Mid-Season Performance Highlights
The Marlins’ performance varied throughout the season, with notable stretches of success. In June 2026, the team ranked first in MLB with a 3.01 team ERA and fourth with a .798 OPS.
During that same month, Miami won 20 games. These results contributed to the perception among observers that the team had progressed more than their final standing indicated.
Otto Lopez was cited as having taken meaningful steps forward in 2026, helping to raise the floor of the Marlins' lineup alongside Xavier Edwards.