Sanoja hits grand slam, Meyer pitches 6 sharp innings as Marlins rout Braves 12-0

MIAMI (AP) — Javier Sanoja hit his first career grand slam, Joe Mack drove in four runs and the Miami Marlins shut out the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves 12-0 on Monday night.

Max Meyer (4-0) continued his strong start to the season, limiting the Braves to just three hits over six innings while striking out six and lowering his team-leading ERA to 2.85.

John King, Calvin Faucher and Lake Bachar combined for a one-hitter the final three innings as the Marlins (22-26) took the first of four games between NL East rivals. It was the largest home shutout win in Marlins history.

The Braves (32-16) were shut out for only the third time this season. Their 12 runs allowed were a season high, and 11 of those came during a disastrous two-inning stretch.

Sanoja's 375-foot drive against reliever Aaron Bummer highlighted a six-run fifth. It was his first homer of the season, and he became the first Marlins player since Justin Bour (June 10, 2016, at Arizona) to hit a grand slam batting ninth in the lineup.

Xavier Edwards hit a 397-foot shot in the next at-bat against Bummer, who allowed six runs on three hits and walked five.

Mack hit a run-scoring groundout against starter JR Ritchie (1-1) in the second. The rookie catcher followed with a two-run single during a five-run fourth that included Edwards' run-scoring single and Liam Hicks' two-run double. Mack also drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

Ritchie allowed six hits and struck out four in four innings. Short stop Jorge Mateo pitched the eighth.

The Braves activated right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who had been on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.

Plate umpire Alfonso Márquez left in the second inning after being hit by Mauricio Dubón’s foul ball off a 95 mph siker from Meyer.

The game was delayed for roughly 16 minutes before continuing with a three-man crew of Jonathan Parra, Lance Barrett and Mike Estabrook.

Braves LHP Martin Perez (2-2, 2.25 ERA) will start the second game against Marlins LHP Braxton Garrett (0-1, 33.75) on Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Aaron Bummer reacts as he leaves the field after pitching during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher JR Ritchie pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Joe Mack celebrates with teammates after grounding out to bring in a run by Jakob Marsee, during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Max Meyer pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Javier Sanoja celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a grand slam to bring home Jakob Marsee, Connor Norby, and Joe Mack, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will undergo surgery Tuesday to remove loose bodies from his elbow, general manager Brandon Gomes said.

The Dodgers are optimistic that the procedure will allow Snell to return to the mound earlier than other treatment options, although the $182 million starter will still be sidelined for a significant amount of time. Gomes said Snell will have the same surgery as Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who has the same elbow problem, with the intention of returning this season.

“Hopefully it's the shorter timeline,” Gomes said. “That's the hope and the expectation right now. Obviously don't know 100% until we're in there, but that's what we expect.”

The injury-plagued World Series champions also signed veteran reliever Jonathan Hernández and optioned reliever Chayce McDermott back to the minors after one appearance, making their latest pitching shuffle Monday before they faced the NL West rival San Diego Padres for the first time this season.

Hernández opted out of his minor league contract with Philadelphia on Monday after making 13 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 15 innings.

Hernández appeared in parts of five seasons for the Texas Rangers before bouncing through the minors with Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Phillies over the past two years. He hasn't pitched in the majors since making three appearances for the Mariners in August 2024.

McDermott made his Dodgers debut with one scoreless inning in their 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. The Dodgers acquired the right-hander in a trade with Baltimore last month.

The Dodgers are going through another year of significant injury problems for their pitching staff, forcing them to shuffle their rotation and bullpen on a weekly basis yet again. Los Angeles still has the majors' second-lowest ERA at 3.21 entering its trip to Petco Park.

“We've dealt with this in the past,” Gomes said. “It's the reason you try to go in with as much depth as you can, knowing that things can happen. You hope that they don't pile up at the same time, which has been happening as of late, but we'll keep navigating it and work through it like we have in the past.”

High-priced starters Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out of the Dodgers' rotation due to injuries.

Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Glasnow's injured back recently “flared up,” preventing him from throwing off a mound yet. Snell has made one start for the Dodgers this season, while Glasnow left his seventh start of the year with his injury nearly two weeks ago.

Edwin Diaz, the majors' highest-paid reliever, is likely out for at least three months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow after just seven appearances with his new team. The Dodgers then lost left-hander Jack Dreyer, their most-used reliever this season, to shoulder discomfort last weekend.

Roberts also said long-injured reliever Brusdar Graterol has had another setback in his recovery from a back injury. The hard-throwing Graterol, who hasn't pitched in the majors since the 2024 World Series, had been pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

“He'll be shut down for a while,” Roberts said.

Gomes said surgery on Graterol's lower back is a possibility.

The Dodgers' other injured pitchers with significant major league experience include right-handers Brock Stewart, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Jake Cousins.

Utilitymen Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman have also missed the entire season to date with injuries, but both are tentatively expected back within the next month.

The Dodgers transferred Casparius to the 60-day injured list to make room for Hernández on the 40-man roster.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chayce McDermott throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)