Agustin Ramirez, Marlins look to resume torrid pace vs. Brewers

Catcher Agustin Ramirez, who entered this weekend leading all major-league rookies with 13 homers, is a big reason why the Miami Marlins are riding a hot streak.

The Marlins, who will host the Milwaukee Brewers again on Saturday afternoon, have won nine of their past 11 games, and Ramirez is the subject of All-Star discussion.

"Just having my name around that conversation is a privilege," Ramirez said through an interpreter. "I'm not thinking about the All-Star Game (July 15 in Atlanta). I'm focused on helping our team win games. But if it happens, I will say ‘Amen' to that."

Marlins rookie manager Clayton McCullough said Ramirez should be under consideration for a 2025 All-Star bid. If he makes it, Ramirez would join three other All-Star catchers in franchise history: Charles Johnson (1997 and 2001), Paul Lo Duca (2005) and J.T. Realmuto (2018).

"He's had some really big hits," McCullough said of Ramirez. "He's made some adjustments, and he's working hard to get better behind the plate."

The Marlins, who have three starting pitchers on the injured list -- Max Meyer, Braxton Garrett and Ryan Weathers - will turn to right-hander Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.42 ERA) on Saturday.

Meyer and Garrett are out for the year, and Weathers won't return until August at the earliest.

That means the Marlins will have to rely on Quantrill, who is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two career appearances against Milwaukee, including one start.

A former first-round pick, eighth overall, by the Padres in 2016 out of Stanford, Quantrill, 30, hasn't lived up to those lofty standards.

This is his fourth team over the past six seasons, and he hasn't had an ERA under 4.98 since 2022. He has no quality starts this year, failing to last beyond 5 2/3 innings all season.

The Brewers, who won the series opener 6-5 on Friday night, will counter Quantrill with rookie right-hander Chad Patrick (3-7, 3.51 ERA).

Patrick, a 26-year-old Indiana native, entered pro baseball as Arizona's fourth-round pick in 2021. Milwaukee traded for Patrick in November 2023, and the rookie made his MLB debut this year on March 29 -- in relief.

Since then, Patrick has been used exclusively as a starter, but the Brewers are just 6-12 in his 18 appearances. Patrick has never faced the Marlins.

As for Milwaukee's lineup, it continues to get production from unlikely sources, including backup infielder Andruw Monasterio, a 28-year-old from Venezuela.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monasterio can play every position other than catcher and pitcher. His homer on Thursday was his first of the season and the fifth of his career.

"He's a really valuable asset," Murphy said. "He gets a shot just once a week or every two weeks, and he still produces (solid) at-bats."

Also for the Brewers, first baseman Rhys Hoskins is a veteran with 186 career homers, including 38 since the start of last season, and second baseman Brice Turang, who won a Gold Glove last year and stole 50 bases, is batting .283 this season with five homers, 36 RBIs and 17 steals.

And center fielder Jackson Chourio came of age in the second half of last season with a .914 OPS. Chourio, who had the game-winning RBI on Friday, has a .735 OPS this season, with 14 homers and 52 RBIs.

--Field Level Media