Miami Marlins: Pinch yourself, Miami Marlins are a .500 ball club

A Tuesday night doubleheader put an end to a narrative that has plagued the Miami Marlins all year. After winning both games, they pulled to .500.

It seems fitting that it would end where it all began. The Miami Marlins have spent most of the season trying to get back to having a .500 record. The downward spiral started on April 25th with a rainout against the Philadelphia Phillies.

What followed was the worst month of the season for the Marlins, and they’ve spent the entire year trying to dig themselves out. Thanks to going 8-2 in their last 10 games, they pulled even with a 62-62 record.

No longer a losing team, they’ll need to sustain their success and build upon it.

Just because Miami has clawed their way back to respectability, doesn’t mean their work is done. One bad weekend could undo it all and put them back behind the eight-ball. But with two very winnable games remaining against the Phillies, the opportunity is there for the taking.

The Miami Marlins have nine more games in August, six of them are against teams with losing records. They draw a three-game set against the Nationals, who they’ve performed admirably against this season.

Speaking strictly of their record, without regard to postseason baseball, the Miami Marlins are set up nicely for a successful season. The rest of their schedule is hardly treacherous.

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There are six weeks remaining; 38-games. If the Miami Marlins can manage to sustain the level of success they’ve had over their last 30-games, it could be enough for a wildcard spot. They’d need to go 24-14 the rest of the way to finish with 86-wins.

That means they’d need to win 63-percent of their games.

Over their last 30 games they’re 19-11, meaning they’ve won 63-percent of their games.

Holes still exist

But the issues that put the Miami Marlins in a bind still exist. You could argue that they’re worse off. Their starting rotation hasn’t seen any notable additions. They dealt two of their most reliable bullpen arms at the deadline. 75-percent of their infield is on the disabled list.

And somehow they continue to climb.

The bullpen has found solutions in house. Adam Conley is making the most of his second opportunity. Justin Nicolino has been effective in his two returning starts. Incredibly, Brad Ziegler is holding down his spot like a bonafide closer.

Next: Brian Anderson appears ready for MLB debut

The Marlins have 38-games left on their itinerary. If they play like the second half version of themselves, it’ll make for a wild ride. Who knows, they just mind send Jeffery Loria out in style.

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