Offishial news, 9/4/23: Marlins mop Nationals; Johnston goes 20/20

[Ely Sussman]

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[Guest Leo Armbrister]

The key to the Marlins making the playoffs is hitting and good defense. I believe the Marlins will get enough good pitching over the next three weeks to be competitive. However the opposing pitching will probably be better than they faced when they swept the Nationals.

[Guest kommenter]

I fear this may be the high water mark of the Marlins season. Still, as I understand the convoluted tiebreaker rules the Giants, not the Marlins, would get the third NL wild card slot as of today. The Braves and Dodgers series are going to be crucial. Need to win one game in each, no more sweeps. Then hope for better than 500 play against the other teams. Phils and Brewers look tough, Mets and Pirates not so much. I'd be willing to bet that the arrogant NY fans don't show their faces with anywhere near the same numbers as they have in the past for the Met series. Too busy rooting for the Jets. With three games against the Pirates to end the season, if we stay close, we could have a nailbiter entry into the post season.

[Ely Sussman]

Yup, that last part is an understatement. Dodgers, Phillies, Brewers and Braves each have very tough pitching staffs and have gotten stronger as the season has progressed (top 10 in MLB in ERA since the All-Star break).

[Guest OneRegend]

I have to say that the Dodgers rotation has been decimated by injuries and Julio Urias being a complete moron, and outside of Bobby Miller, their farmhands holding the fort don't show much promise. Not to mention we played them particularly well last time we faced them. (the Dodgers Stadium series was VERY winnable, but of course, the Marlins got in their own way)

 

I'm slightly more optimistic about our chances with the Dodgers, though it is heavily cautious optimism.

 

The Braves, yeah, won't surprise me one bit if we get swept by them again.