Miami Marlins: Three reasons the Marlins are winning other than Giancarlo Stanton

Brad Ziegler is perfect since becoming Miami Marlins closer

Who saw this coming? Less than a month ago, Brad Ziegler was free agency signing enemy number one to most fans. He was a plan B for the Marlins after they whiffed on Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, and he didn’t get off to a great start.

Being paid $7 million this season, it’s easy to understand why Marlins fans were frustrated with Ziegler’s performance. He was battling injuries, and wasn’t effective when he was in the game.

Prior to becoming the Marlins closer, Ziegler was sporting a 6.52 ERA over 29 innings of work. He’d walked 9.4-percent of the batters he faced, hit five batters, and was allowing a .342 BAA coming out of the pen. Since becoming the closer, he’s 180’ed like nobody’s business.

He’s appeared in 12-games as the closer of the team, nine of which were save situations. He’s perfect in them, successfully recording a save in each opportunity.

In the 12 innings he’s logged over his last 12 appearances and hasn’t allowed a run. His walk rate is down to 2.1-percent, he’s surrendered only nine hits, and his BAA is down to .205. In short, he’s been lights out.

Ziegler on the back end has provided the Miami bullpen the stability it has lacked all season.

Lineup picking up the slack while Realmuto slumps

There is little doubt that J.T. Realmuto is one of the most unique players in baseball. He’s an athletic catcher, capable of legging out an inside-the-park home run when he needs to. But he hasn’t been contributing in a major way while the Marlins are winning.

In fact, Realmuto is having his worst month of the season. In August, his OBP is only .208, and struck out 22 times. Those are both season lows for any month for Realmuto. Signs indicate to him not seeing the ball well, having drawn only two walks the entire month.

It’s been all or nothing in August for the talented young catcher. He’s managed only 16 hits in 96 plate appearances, four of which were home runs, another four being doubles. He’s also managed three sacrifice flies, including the go ahead run in a 9-8 victory of the Philles on Thursday.

Realmuto continues to be rock steady behind the plate though. The rest of the lineup is hitting  well enough that his slump hasn’t slowed the teams winning ways. There is little doubt that Realmuto will come out of the slump at some point, and when he does, watch out.

He’s managed to stay productive despite his struggles. He’s a part of the core for a reason.

Miami Marlins winning close games

One of the most encouraging parts of the Miami Marlins recent success is their ability to win close games. Throughout the month of August, they’ve managed to answer back when the other team scores, and hold on to a lead when they have one.

Since sweeping the Colorado Rockies, the Marlins are 13-3 overall. Nine of those games have been decided by three runs or fewer, Miami has won them all. The margin for error is small the rest of the season if the Marlins want to make the playoffs. Winning close games is essential.

After spending most of the year on the short end of the stick when it came down to the wire, the Marlins are suddenly finding ways to win. The previously mentioned 9-8 victory over the Phillies was prime example. The Marlins trailed by as many as five runs during that game.

Winning close games is a team effort. The lineup, the starting pitcher, and the bullpen all have to do their job. They’ve been doing it, and it’s showing up in the boxscore.

The three games the Marlins lost over their recent run were out of hand fairly early on. Those games are often easier to swallow than nail-bitters that come down to the last out. Winning in extra innings against the Padres on Saturday was huge for morale.

It’s the kind of games the Miami Marlins have learned to win recently. If it continues, they’re poised for October baseball.