Marlins hope the good times roll
Surprise of postseason savors role of underdog
Houston The Miami Marlins have been the biggest surprise of the postseason so far.
They say they aren’t done, either.
In the playoffs for the first time since 2003, the Marlins swept the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round and open their best-of-five series against NL East rival Atlanta on Tuesday in Houston.
“We fully understand how good they are, and we have respect for them,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “But we think we can beat anybody, quite honestly. … We’re as good as anybody.”
The Marlins, losers of 105 games in 2019, have brought a youthful exuberance to the playoffs that has both surprised and delighted people around the league.
Even Braves star first baseman Freddie Freeman has enjoyed watching the Marlins rise from one of the league’s worst teams over the past few years to one of the last eight standing this season.
“I just see a passion and them having a joy for the game and things get crazy,” he said. “People are hitting homers. People are throwing 100. You never know what’s going to happen. No one’s surprised to see those Marlins on the other side.”
The Marlins have fully embraced their underdog role and have had T-shirts made with the words “Bottom Feeders” after Phillies broadcaster Ricky Bottalico called them that early this season.
“He fired up the wrong people I’ll tell you that and we’re going to run with that,” Miami rookie outfielder Monte Harrison said. “So, if you want to talk trash on us, talk trash on us. It’s perfectly fine. The Cubs did the same thing, look at where we at now.”
The Marlins are 7-0 in postseason series and won the World Series in 1997 and 2003.
While the Marlins have exceeded expectations, the Braves are trying to live up to theirs. Winners of the NL East, Atlanta ended a streak of 10 consecutive losses in postseason rounds by shutting out the Reds in a twogame sweep in the wild card round for their first playoff series win since 2001.
The Braves also won their division in 2018 and 2019 before falling in the NLDS.
Atlanta is looking for a big series from Freeman this year after he was hampered by a nagging elbow injury in the playoffs in 2019.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said that Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson will start Game 2 for the Braves and Kyle Wright will get the start in the third game.