Miami Marlins: How in the World are the Fins in Second Place?
Who Would’ve Thought the Miami Marlins Would Be in Playoff Contention at This Point?
The Miami Marlins are currently 24-21, second place in the NL East. The team is only 2.5 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves.
Derek Jeter is doing something right in Miami because the Marlins have a legitimate chance at the playoffs. The Phillies are close behind with a 23-23 record, and they were one of my favorites to compete in the playoffs at the beginning of the year.
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Even if the Phillies surpass the Marlins, the team still has a great opportunity to take a Wild Card spot in the National League. Compared to the American League where the Wild Card team will most likely come out of the AL East of Central, the NL Wild Card is pretty wide open.
The Marlins would be competing against the Reds, and Giants. But the Mets and Brewers are not that far behind in fourth place. There is about two weeks of baseball left so things could shake up differently in the next few games.
Let’s meet the mysterious Marlins and find out where their biggest strengths are. Will they make the playoffs?
The addition of Starling Marte has been key for the Miami marlins.
The Miami Marlins made a surprise move and traded for Starling Marte from the Diamondbacks. He was one of the best hitters for the last-place team in the NL West and is a key piece in the unknown Marlins lineup.
The 31-year old has been a household name across the league and has been playing center field since his arrival. Outside of Marte, there really aren’t many familiar names in the starting lineup unless you paid close attention to fantasy baseball waiver wires.
Corey Dickerson is one of those players that was added and dropped often from fantasy teams. He is one of those sleeper waiver players that could be a good pickup while he was on a hot streak.
The one-time All-Star has played really well in the last few years. But in 2020, he has barely been good enough for me. He currently is hitting .243, and .310 OBP.
Dickerson has been hitting leadoff often for the Marlins despite his lack of speed on the base paths.
The other outfield position has been manned by a mix of Matt Joyce, and Lewis Brinson as of late.
Joyce is another one of those players like Dickerson who was a fringe fantasy player and was on my watchlist often. He is now 36-years old and is hitting .253, and .361 OBP.
His plate discipline at the plate has been a strength in his long career and is a reason why his name is in the lineup often. When Joyce is in the lineup, you will see him in the heart of the order. He is an underrated part of the Marlins’ wins.
Brinson on the other hand is still trying to get a grasp of the big leagues. The former first-round pick in 2012 has yet to impress teams. He is hitting above .200 this year, the first time in his four year MLB career. He holds a .243 average and .293 OBP which warrants him a spot in the lineup every once in a while when Joyce is the designated hitter.