Miami Marlins
Record: 62-56
Remaining Opponent Winning Percentage: .493
The Marlins recently found out they will be without slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the rest of the season. With him and first baseman Justin Bour injured, the Marlins are now missing two of their key power threats. That being said, they are 15-15 since the All-Star break and are tied with St. Louis for the final Wild Card spot.
Why They’ll Make the Playoffs:
With Stanton out, the Marlins have lost some major pop in their lineup. If they want to play in October, Miami will have to pitch their way there. Starters Jose Fernandez, Tom Koehler, and Adam Conley provide a solid top three with Fernandez being one of the nastiest right-handers in baseball. Those three will need to be solid down the stretch. Outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich will also need to be even better than they already have been to compensate for Stanton’s injury.
Why They’ll Miss the Playoffs:
The absence of Giancarlo Stanton will be too much to overcome. After a subpar first half of the season, Stanton was just now starting to find himself at the plate. Stanton’s absence could very well put to much pressure on the other hitters. Even when he’s struggling, his sheer presence gets other hitters more pitches to hit. There is also the possibility of Jose Fernandez reaching his innings limit and getting shut down at some point. If that happens, the Miami Marlins will not make the playoffs.
Next, we handicap the Pittsburgh Pirates. Can they pull it off?
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