Recent History Says Miami Marlins About To Really Enjoy June

It’s been a shaky season so far, but if recent history is any guide, the Miami Marlins are about to take off this June.

More often than not, the third time has been the charm for the Miami Marlins.

When it comes to the third month of the MLB season, that is. Between all-time track record and some favorable matchups, it should come as no surprise if the Marlins string together a winning record this June.

Historically, June has been the best month to be a Miami Marlins fan. Just in time for summer, play has almost always picked up. Fourteen times across the franchise’s twenty-eight seasons, the Marlins have had a record of .500 or better in June. In nine of those twenty-eight seasons, the won-loss record churned out in June has been the best monthly winning percentage of the season. Both of those records represent the high water mark for monthly goodness by Miami.

In fact, if you throw out a strike shortened August in 1994, the first time the Marlins ever posted a winning record in a month was June- back in 1995. Even the 2013 and 2018 squads, two of the worst in team history, found a way to keep their heads above water. If they could do it, this much more talented 2021 edition should be able to do so as well.

Naturally, past success is only so predictive. Although I would throw out that current Marlins manager Don Mattingly is 3-1 when it comes to having that .500 or better June. Yet for the skeptical, glass half empty among you, I’ll give you three guesses as to which month saw the team put up their worst monthly won-loss total in franchise history. But you’ll only need one.

Considering the Marlins had three different managers that month (June 2011), I’m hoping we can just agree to call that month the outlier that it was.

Of course, it’s not just team history that should give Marlins fans reason for optimism. There’s plenty of solely 2021 driven evidence that suggests a big June could be just around the corner. Counting a makeup game with the Red Sox, Miami plays nine teams this month. Five of them have losing records. 

Admittedly, so do the Marlins. But I stress that abundance of mediocrity on the schedule because the first two months of the season couldn’t have been more different. In April, 5/7 teams Miami faced were over .500 clubs. In May, 4/7 were. Past opponents thus far have included both World Series teams from last season, three current division leaders, and seven games against the surprising Giants.

This month though, this June, only 4/9 opponents on the schedule are winners. Entering June, the Miami Marlins pitching staff ranks Top 10 in both ERA and WHIP. No opponent on the schedule this month can say that in terms of WHIP, and only one (Chicago) can make the ERA claim. Two of this month’s opponents are bottom six.

Lastly, Starling Marte is back. And before the month is over, that Marlins pitching staff described above is expected to be adding Elieser Hernandez and Sixto Sanchez back to their ranks.

Yes, it’s looking like it should be a beautiful June for the Miami Marlins.