Marlins Show Why No One Wants To Face Them In A Play-In Game

Is this the year Big G is healthy for the Marlins all season? Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Is this the year Big G is healthy for the Marlins all season? Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody wants any part of THAT.

Something to that effect likely crossed the mind of many a St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates fan following that 1-0 Miami Marlins victory over the Washington Nationals Tuesday night at Marlins Park.

Not NOBODY. Because that win, that seemingly inconsequential and hardly intimidating 1-0 squeaker actually serves as a screaming declaration of what the Marlins can do at the height of their powers.

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For every fifth day at least, if you make a single mistake, you are probably going to lose.

That’s what Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Stanton demonstrated yesterday, with Jose mowing down the opposition for eight shutout innings in what was arguably the biggest game of his young career, and Stanton providing all the offense required with one mighty swing. And it is that combination of power and precision that has the rest of the remaining NL Wild Card chasers rooting for the Braves this weekend.

What you just saw was a glimpse of the Marlins best punch, the reason they broke open the piggybank to extend Stanton to that gargantuan contract and will be willing to wait another year to seriously shop Fernandez to other clubs.

Every fifth day, so long as those two are healthy, you have to be perfect to beat us.

The Dodgers Clayton Kershaw is the only true trump card when it comes to listing pitchers you don’t want to face in a must-win game, but no one in that lineup has the same terrifying impact that Stanton does. One mistake, one hanging pitch over the plate before you get a chance to throw an outside slider, and you might as well just head for the showers if Fernandez is on the mound.

Next: Jose Will Stay Put- For Now

Still worth keeping your fingers crossed the Marlins get a chance to unleash that combination October 5th. But if not, look forward to another year of that duo anchoring the Fish in 2017.