The Miami Marlins are on the outside looking in on the postseason if the playoffs started today.They are currently three games back of the Padres and Phillies, who are tied for the final two spots.
Of all the teams that are not leading a division in the National League, the Marlins have the best run differential at +20 (excluding the Cubs, who own the first Wild Card spot and are +100).The Marlins played fairly consistent baseball this season in the first half, but had a really rough stretch to start the 2nd half of the year, losing nine straight.
In fact, the entire second half has been streaks: 9 losses, three wins, one loss, three wins, four losses, four wins, two losses, two wins.They will need to break out a winning streak if they want to make it to the postseason.Miami Marlins pitcher Janson Junk speaks with catcher Brian Navarreto in the third inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, Aug.
6, 2026, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)They also need to find a way to get their starting pitching to line up well.
Tonight, they send out Janson Junk to the hill in hopes that he can battle against a Cy Young contender.Junk is 6-7 for the season with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.
He has made 17 starts for the club this season.He has been substantially worse on the road than at home for Miami this season.
On the road, he has allowed 20 earned runs compared to 23 at home.However, those 20 earned runs came in 33.2 innings compared to 54 innings of work at home.
He has only faced the Phillies once this year, and he was solid against them, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run.The Philadelphia Phillies were the hottest team in baseball at one point, but they have since cooled off.Now, they find themselves in a battle just to make the postseason.
Sure, if the season ended today, they would earn the second Wild Card spot.However, I wouldn't call them a lock by any means.
There are a lot of teams breathing down their neck, and the Ph...