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One week remains in the Major League Baseball regular season and the Miami Marlins are close to ending the National League’s longest playoff drought.
Although the competition wasn’t superb, Miami had another winning week. The remaining slate for Miami however, is very difficult.
For the Marlins to make the playoffs, they will almost certainly have to play well against two postseason-bound teams. Miami has not made the postseason since 2003. The Marlins have not finished with a winning record since 2009.
Week in Review
Philadelphia Phillies 2, Miami Marlins 6
Monday, Sept. 14
After a rough start in Atlanta, Pablo Lopez returned to form for the Miami Marlins. Lopez allowed just a run on three hits in seven innings to earn the win. Starling Marte and Miguel Rojas each had two hits, two runs scored and solo homers. Jesus Aguilar drove in two runs in the victory. Andrew McCutchen and Scott Kingery each homered for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Boston Red Sox 2, Miami Marlins 0
Tuesday, Sept. 15
The Marlins had no answer for Boston starter Tanner Houck, who shined in his big-league debut. Houck worked five shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven. Sandy Alcantara allowed just a run in six innings for Miami, but took the loss. Xander Bogaerts had two hits and a run scored for Boston. Corey Dickerson had two of the five hits for Miami.
Boston Red Sox 4, Miami Marlins 8
Wednesday, Sept. 16
Jorge Alfaro hit a pair of 2-run home runs and Garrett Cooper added one of his own as the Miami Marlins won their eighth game in 12 tries. Alex Verdugo finished with three hits for Boston while J.D. Martinez homered and drove in three runs. Yimi Garcia worked a scoreless eighth to earn his first win of the season.
Boston Red Sox 5, Miami Marlins 3
Thursday, Sept. 17
As was the case in the series opener, the contest was scoreless through five innings. Boston broke through in the sixth with a 2-run single by Kevin Plawecki. The Red Sox added three runs in the seventh on a homer by Rafael Devers. Nathan Eovaldi allowed just two hits and struck out seven in five shutout innings for Boston. All three Miami runs came in the seventh. Garrett Cooper was 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Marlins.
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Washington Nationals 5, Miami Marlins 0
Friday, Sept. 18 (Doubleheader Game 1 — 7 innings)
Sixto Sanchez was knocked around for the first time for Miami. The rookie allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings. Andrew Stevenson drove in two runs for the Nationals. Yan Gomes and Luis Garcis each had two hits and two runs scored for Washington.
Washington Nationals 3, Miami Marlins 14
Friday, Sept. 18 (Doubleheader Game 2 — 7 innings)
Brian Anderson tied club records with three home runs and seven RBIs and Miami avoided the doubleheader sweep. Corey Dickerson also homered in the win. Dickerson and Lewis Brinson were each 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Garrett Cooper and Jesus Aguilar each scored three times. Juan Soto was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI for the Nationals.
Washington Nationals 3, Miami Marlins 7
Saturday, Sept. 19
Miguel Rojas and Garrett Cooper each homered as the two combined for five hits and four RBIs. Six different Marlins had multiple hits as Miami recorded 15 as a team. Andrew Stevenson plated two runs for Washington in the loss.
Washington Nationals 1, Miami Marlins 2
Sunday, Sept. 20 (Doubleheader Game 1 — 7 innings)
The Marlins used two unearned runs to win a pitchers’ dual and clinch the series against Washington. Starling Marte reached on an error with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to put Miami ahead for good as Max Scherzer took the loss. Sandy Alcantara went six strong innings, yielding just a run on five hits and two walks. With runners on second and third and no one out, Brandon Kintzler worked out of the jam in the seventh to earn the save for Miami.
Washington Nationals 15, Miami Marlins 0
Sunday, Sept. 20 (Doubleheader Game 2 — 7 innings)
In Miami’s final home game of the regular season, the Washington Nationals pounded out 18 hits to just two for the Marlins. Asdrubal Cabrera, Kurt Suzuki, Trea Turner, Michael A. Taylor and Victor Robles all homered for Washington. Juan Soto finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored in the win. Cabrera and Suzuki combined for seven RBIs. In his first career start, Washington pitcher Ben Braymer held Miami to just a run in five shutout innings.
In the Standings
28-25, second place in National League East. With one week left in the season, the Miami Marlins trail the Atlanta Braves by three games in the National League East and hold a 1-game lead over the third-place Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins have the second best record among non-division leaders in the National League. Miami is among six teams vying for four playoff spots — all separated by 1.5 games.
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not
Who’s Hot
Sandy Alcantara, P
Although he went just 1-1 this week, Sandy Alcantara allowed just two runs on 10 hits in 12 innings of work. Alcantara posted a 1.50 ERA this week and yielded just four walks while striking out nine. Since a rough outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 30, Alcantara has lowered his ERA from 5.06 to 2.88.
Pablo Lopez, P
After a rough outing in Atlanta, Pablo Lopez returned to form for Miami in two home starts. Lopez was 2-0 this week and allowed just three earned runs in 12.1 total innings — good for a 2.19 ERA. Lopez allowed just six hits, three walks and struck out 13. His five wins leads the team.
Who’s Not
Braxton Garrett, P
After pitching well in his debut last week, Braxton Garrett was knocked around by the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Garrett lasted just 2.2 innings and allowed five runs — four earned — on five hits and three walks. He also gave up a pair of home runs in a 15-0 loss.
Jazz Chisholm, IF
Rookie Jazz Chisholm saw plenty of action this week, but couldn’t get anything going offensively. In six games, Chisholm was just 1-for-17 with an RBI single. Chisholm struck out eight times and is hitting just .125 for the year.
News, Notes and Recognitions
With his three home runs on Friday night, Brian Anderson became the third player in Marlins’ history to homer three times in one game. Anderson tied Mike Lowell (2004) and Cody Ross (2006). His seven RBIs also equaled a club record. That was done by Greg Colbrunn (1995), Gary Sheffield (1995), Ross (2006) and Adeiny Hechavarria (2013).
With the series win over Washington, the Miami Marlins won’t finish last in the N.L. East. It is the first time since 2017.
Jon Berti was reinstated from the 10-day Injured List on Sunday. Infielder Sean Rodriguez was designated for assignment.
Entering Monday, Miami is listed with an 84% chance to make the playoffs.
Upcoming This Week
Monday, Sept. 21 through Thursday, Sept. 24: at Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Florida)
Friday, Sept. 25: at New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Florida)
Saturday, Sept. 26: at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Florida)
Sunday, Sept. 27: at New York Yankees, 3:05 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Florida)
Mike Ferguson is the managing editor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.