Few bright spots as Marlins flounder
The Marlins left South Florida on June 9 knowing the situation ahead of them.
They were embarking on a 10-game, three-city trip against three of MLB’s top teams in the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.
The end result: Four wins, six losses and a relatively thin margin for error with the All-Star break about a month away and the trade deadline a couple weeks after that.
Here are 10 thoughts on the state of the team at the conclusion of the trip:
The road trip could have been worse, but it also could have been better. Considering the state of the Marlins entering the trip — they were five games under .500 getting set to face two division leaders and a third team in the thick of the playoff race — a 4-6 record over this stretch certainly is one that seems justifiable.
But considering how they got to that record, it left something to be desired.
Miami won two of three games against the Astros and had the chance to win at least two games or possibly sweep the Phillies but instead went 1-2 in Philadelphia with a pair of walk-off losses.
And then they learned why the Mets are one of the top teams in baseball, losing three of four games at Citi Field and getting outscored 21-12 in the process.
Treading water isn’t going to cut it with the rest of the division performing. The Mets are 45-24 on the season and have been one of baseball’s top teams since Opening Day. The Atlanta Braves entered Monday at 38-29 and having won 15 of their first 17 games in June. The Phillies have won 15 of 18 games this month and are 36-32 on the season.
The Marlins, trying to dig out of a hole caused by a May in which they went 7-19, are now 10-9 in June and 29-36 on the season overall. They’re 14 games behind the Mets for the NL East lead and eight games out of the final wild-card spot.
When do decisions need to start being made?
The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 2. The Marlins have 38 games between now and then.
That includes 10 games against the Mets but also 20 games against teams that have losing records.
Miami plays its next six games at home, starting with three against the Colorado Rockies before facing the Mets again for three games.
Will the Marlins be able to go on enough of a run to stay in the playoff race? If not, when does it become time to, once again, start thinking about next year?
Key hitters are scuffling. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit .176 (6 for 34) while striking out 15 times on the road trip, with three of his six hits being home runs. Avisail Garcia hit .208 (5 for 24) with eight strikeouts in the eight games he played on the trip. Jorge Soler hit .171 (6 for 35) with 15 strikeouts. That’s three key bats that are underproducing.
Getting healthy would be a help. Miami played the whole road trip without Joey Wendle and Brian Anderson, two of their most consistent hitters and their primary options at third base. They played all four games against the Mets without Jesus Aguilar and Jesus Sanchez, both of whom were placed on the COVID-related IL. That’s four starting position players sidelined.
And that’s in addition to being without starting pitchers Jesus Luzardo and Edward Cabrera along with high-leverage relievers Anthony Bender and Cole Sulser.
Miami could be close to getting some of those pieces back. Wendle and Anderson are nearing rehab assignments. Aguilar and Sanchez should be available immediately once they clear protocols. Anything to provide needed depth to the lineup will be taken at this point.
As for the pitchers, the Marlins are hopeful Cabrera misses minimal time, while Bender is expected to pitch a simulated game or start a rehab assignment this week.
Sandy Alcantara is a bonafide ace. The Marlins’ 26-year-old righty is turning into one of baseball’s top pitchers this year. He’s on a current run that includes eight consecutive outings in which he has thrown at least seven innings and allowed no more than two earned runs. He leads MLB with 99 innings pitched and his 1.72 ERA is second to the Padres’ Joe Musgrove (1.59). An All-Star nod appears all but guaranteed.
Trevor Rogers needs to return to form. The left-hander showed some progress on Monday despite the loss, but the season has not been great for the runner-up for the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year award. Rogers has completed six innings only once through 13 starts. His ERA is 5.83. Fastball command and inconsistent mechanics have doomed him overall through the first two-anda-half months of the season. Miami needs him to steady out to provide another reliable arm in the rotation.
Jon Berti has proven his value over the past month. With Wendle and Anderson sidelined, the utility player has assumed the role of the Marlins’ everyday third baseman in June.
The results: A .300 batting average (21 for 70) with 14 stolen bases and 10 runs scored.
Berti is now tied with the Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez for the MLB lead with 18 stolen bases despite playing in just 38 games. Rodriguez has played in 67 games.
What an MLB debut for Jerar Encarnacion.
The 20th-ranked prospect in the Marlins’ system hit a go-ahead grand slam on Sunday to lead the Marlins to a 6-2 win over the Mets — Miami’s only win in the four-game set. Encarnacion also recorded an outfield assist, stole a base and scored a second run in the win to become the first player since at least 1901 to accomplish all those feats in his MLB debut.
Clarity is coming with the bullpen. After the Marlins opened the season mixing and matching with the closer spot, Tanner Scott is taking over the role. The lefty pitched in four games on the trip, recording a save on June 10 in Houston and Tuesday in Philadelphia as well as finishing Sunday’s win over the Mets while also giving up a walk-off home run on Wednesday in Philadelphia — the only outing in eight relief appearances this month in which Scott has allowed earned runs.