The Marlins currently sit at a 33-28 record on a five-game winning streak, exceeding almost everyone's expectations on where they would stand so far this season. Although the Marlins aren't my favorite team, they sure have been fun to watch.
For the past couple of years, the Marlins have had focused a lot more on their pitching than their hitting and it hurt them for awhile until this year. The Marlins made a crucial move in the offseason that seemed like a win-win for both teams as they acquired Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez.
Arraez would give the Marlins more offense while sacrificing a pitcher that they already had a surplus of in their congested rotation. Has Arraez provided the offense, you ask? Well why don't you take a look at his batting average and tell me if .401 is good.
Arraez has by far been the Marlins best player throughout the first 61 games. It seems like every time he steps up to the plate, he is going to get on base somehow and that is usually going to be a base hit. After winning the batting title in the AL last season, he looks like he is going to cruise to win the NL batting title this year as well. He was the exact offense the Marlins were looking for and got.
The Marlins also have gotten good contributions from other parts of their offense in Jorge Soler. Bryan De La Cruz, and more. Although one of their faces of the franchise in Jazz Chisholm has been on the IL, the Marlins have not missed his presence much. They also have a ton of depth and signed some key veterans this offseason that were sneaky good moves.
Those vets being guys like Yuli Gurriel who has been one of the best hitters in the AL in recent history after his time with the Houston Astros and has carried this over to Miami. It's not often you see a guy still raking like he is at 38 years young.
The area that the Marlins have addressed much more than others in previous years has been their pitching. Their pitching staff is more on the underrated side in all of baseball, featuring former CY Young winner Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara has not been as sharp as he was last season when he had a sub 2.30 ERA and went the distance in almost every start, but the Marlins have not been as dependent on him this year.
Although the Marlins did essentially give up their #2 starting pitcher in Pablo Lopez, that deal is right now looking like a total win for the fish with the way Luis Arraez has been raking. They still have other guys such as Jesus Luzardo who they acquired just a short time ago from the A's. Also, one of their best prospects in Eury Perez was just called up and has not disappointed thus far.
With all of the talent the Marlins have in the majors right now, they also have a stacked farm system to go along with it. This gives the team a ton of depth that they can rely on within the next couple of years.
The biggest weakness the Marlins currently have right now is their division. Right now, the NL East is arguably one of the best, if not the best, division in baseball. To show how good it is, the defending NL champion from a season ago, the Phillies, are in 4th place. Right now the division has four potential playoff teams that includes the Marlins.
In the past and so far this season, the Marlins have struggled succeeding winning games against teams in their own division. Excluding their games against the Nationals this year, against the other three teams in the NL East, the Marlins are 5-12. If the Marlins want to have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, they need to first handle their business within their own division.
The Marlins currently find themselves within the thick of an NL Wild Card race in the second wild card spot between the Dodgers and the Pirates. They have been exceeding expectations left and right so far this season and if they continue to keep it up they should be back in the playoffs and could be a scary team to play when fully healthy.
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