Miami Marlins: What the Lineup Should Look Like Going Forward

The Miami Marlins offense has seen its fair share of ups and downs up to this point in the season.

It is no secret that the Miami Marlins have struggled mightily offensively at times this season. There is no greater evidence of this than simply going back and watching the Marlins game in St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon.

While things may not look the best at times, this lineup actually has a lot of potential when all the pieces are there. Now yes, Miami will be without a few players including Brian Anderson, Garrett Cooper, and Corey Dickerson for the foreseeable future, but the pieces are still there to be very good.

So why not take a guess or two at what the Marlins lineup should look like going forward? While it might not necessarily be 100% correct, it’s still fun to guess so let’s do it.

This is what we think the Marlins lineup should look like, not what it will look like, going forward.

This is what the Miami Marlins lineup should look like going forward.

1. Jazz Chisholm – 2B

2021 Season Stats: .265 AVG, .330 OBP, .459 SLG, .789 OPS, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 9 SB

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 1-5

While there are a few candidates to fill the leadoff spot going forward, Jazz Chisholm makes the most sense. Sporting a .330 OBP, Chisholm has shown an ability so far this season to get on base consistently, and most importantly make teams pay for it on the base-paths with a team-high nine stolen bases on the season. While he also provides power and home run potential, Chisholm’s ability to get on base and provide an electric base runner is too much to not put in the leadoff spot.

2. Starling Marte – CF

2021 Season Stats: .333 AVG, .432 OBP, .538 SLG, .970 OPS, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 1-3

As we’ve seen in previous weeks, Starling Marte is becoming the perfect 2-hole hitter behind Chisholm. The 32-year old outfielder is having a career-year across the board, in particular a by-far career-high .432 OBP. It is clearly working with Marte hitting second in the Marlins everyday lineup, why change that now?

3. Jesus Aguilar – 1B

2021 Season Stats: .273 AVG, .333 OBP, .485 SLG, .818 OPS, 12 HR, 49 RBI

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 2-4

The team leader in almost every major statistical category offensively, Jesus Aguilar you could make a case is the Marlins offensive MVP up to this point in the season. Aguilar leads the entire NL in RBI’s with 49 making him a prime candidate to remain in the No. 3 spot in this lineup. When looking up and down the Marlins lineup, Aguilar hitting third might be the easiest decision to make.

4. Adam Duvall – LF

2021 Season Stats: .205 AVG, .252 OBP, .414 SLG, .667 OPS, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 4 SB

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 3-5

It’s clear that the first three batters in this Marlins lineup is very, very good which is why we need an important player in the cleanup spot. That comes from the big bat of Adam Duvall who, despite a .205 AVG, is tied with Aguilar in the team lead with HR’s while not far behind in RBI’s. Yes, the strikeouts need to go down and he may be a bit streaky at the plate, but when Duvall is on at the plate it is must-see.

5. Miguel Rojas – SS

2021 Season Stats: .275 AVG, .354 OBP, .433 SLG, .787 OPS, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 4 SB

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 1-6

Miguel Rojas is a player who could eventually move around to multiple spots in the lineup, but he could be best batting fifth going forward. Rojas spent a majority of the 2021 season batting in the 1-2 spot in the lineup before suffering an injury, but the Marlins could benefit from batting the veteran shortstop fifth to provide opportunities to drive in runs. Currently on the IL, Rojas is nearing a return which could potentially come later this week in Chicago which will be massive for this Miami team.

8. Jon Berti – 3B

2021 Season Stats: .214 AVG, .319 OBP, .308 SLG, .627 OPS, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 4 SB

Other Potential Lineup Options: Anywhere from 6-8

There are multiple options as we’ve seen to fill the third base position with Anderson down with an injury. However, Jon Berti seems like the most likely option going forward. Berti got off to a rough start to the season, but has had a phenomenal month of June hitting .319 which includes five multi-hit games.

9. Pitchers Spot

Whether fans like it or not, there is no universal DH in the NL for the 2021 season. Marlins pitchers this season have however collected 10 hits and one RBI in 114 at-bats so far this season.

While the Marlins have a few starters set as 100% everyday starters, if this lineup produces runs going forward, it will allow Miami to mix-and-match with players such as Jose Devers, Magneuris Sierra, and more.

Despite the Miami Marlins struggles at times offensively this season, this lineup has potential when healthy. Now while they might not be 100% healthy currently, this Marlins lineup can still be one of the best in the NL when things are fully clicking.