Javier

Sanoja

Sanoja knocked a base hit and scored a run in the second inning, then took Tanner Gordon deep for a three-run blast in the third to extend the Miami lead. He later added another single and a run scored in the seventh. The 23-year-old super-utility man is hitting .275/.312/.404 with three homers, 19 runs scored, 32 RBI and five steals across 206 plate appearances.

The triple, which gave him all three of his runs batted in, was a grounder down the right field line that Troy Johnston wasn’t especially quick to get to. It was Sanoja’s first triple of the year. He drove in more runs with that one hit than he had while batting .227/.239/.295 with two RBI in his previous 16 games.

It appears to just be a routine day off for the young infielder, who has struggled to a .192/.286/.192 line through his first 15 games of June. Javier Sanoja is filling in at second base against RHP Landen Roupp.

Sanoja paced the Marlins’ offense here. His fifth inning blast off Rays’ starter Shane McClanahan was the first run that was scored in this game and began the domino effect that forced his exit soon thereafter. To which, his run-scoring single in the following inning was the final blow. He’s been Miami’s swiss-army knife this season, appearing at six different positions and working his way to an acceptable .702 OPS through nearly 150 plate appearances.

It looks to be nothing more than a routine night off for the 27-year-old infielder. Lopez is having a strong season at the dish, slashing .342/.373/.487 with four homers, 21 RBI and eight stolen bases in 212 plate appearances. Javier Sanoja will start in his place at shortstop and will bat ninth against Tobias Myers and the Mets on Friday night in Miami.

Sanoja had six homers in 342 plate appearances as a rookie last season, but he was without one in 102 plate appearances this year until taking Aaron Bummer deep in the fifth. Sanoja has started 25 of the Marlins’ 48 games this season and is batting .260/.317/.354 as a utilityman, though he’s mostly playing third base of late.

The Marlins showed a surprising amount of faith in Pauley going into the season, but he hit just .173/.225/.293 in 81 plate appearances, and his exit velocity numbers are so poor that Statcast actually thinks he’s fortunate to have that line. He might get another look later, but there’s little reason to think he’s going to turn into a quality major leaguer. The Marlins will likely go with Connor Norby and Javier Sanoja at third base for now, opening up more time for Christopher Morel at first.

Sanoja struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, keeping him from having a true monster game. Oh well. The 23-year-old gold glover is now hitting .406/.424/.500 while playing most of the positions in the outfield and infield. It’s early and there’s been just one steal here, but if Sanjoa can keep his average somewhere in this area code, he can have a Luis Arraez-esque fantasy role.

It’s a routine day off for the catcher with a day game after a night game. Ramírez has gotten off to a slow start this season, going 3-for-16 with four walks and four strikeouts. Liam Hicks will start at catcher with Graham Pauley sliding to first base and Javier Sanoja at third base.

De Los Santos was called up this weekend when Christopher Morel (oblique) went on the IL, and it was thought that he might be in Miami to stay. That was not the case. The team claimed INF Leo Jimenez off waivers and will activate him while sending De Los Santos to the minors, where he can play every day. In the meantime, Connor Norby is expected to be the regular first baseman for the Marlins, with Javier Sanoja and Graham Pauley playing third base.