Stanton needs one last surge to match record

Giancarlo Stanton asked to sit out a game — not so much because he was tired of playing, but because he was tired of making outs.

Swinging a weary bat and stalled for a week at 54 homers, Stanton requested a day off Sunday and was held out of the Miami Marlins’ starting lineup.

“I don’t like doing that, but also you’ve got to be smart,” he said. “It’s just that time of the year.”

The pause in his pursuit of 61 homers, or even more, seemed to help.

On Monday, the Marlins slugger hit a three-run homer, an RBI single and a 118-mph lineout against the New York Mets.

With 55 homers, he needs six in the final 12 games to match Roger Maris’ hallowed 1961 total of 61, meaning he needs one more power surge.

What is Stanton thinking about those numbers?

“Don’t play like I have been,” he said. “We’ll worry about it when we’re done. I haven’t had the greatest atbats lately, so just have better at-bats and good things will happen.”

The most prodigious, prolific home run hitter in the major leagues might also be the streakiest. His latest homer snapped a 9-for-62 slump (.145).

Before that, he hit 18 homers in a 25-game span with a batting average of .387 and an OPS of 1.489.

Some consider Stanton the front-runner in the National League race for most valuable player.

But Marlins manager Don Mattingly doesn’t even consider him the team MVP, giving the edge to All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna because he has been more consistent.

Ozuna has hit at least .295 with at least 18 RBI in every full month this season.