The Miami Marlins have surged into playoff contention with a 23-8 record since the start of June. At 49-42, the team sits in third place in the National League East and holds the third NL Wild Card spot.
Manager Clayton McCullough emphasized the shift in focus. “We’re looking to play beyond the regular season,” he said. “Eury's going to be an important part of that.”
The Marlins have improved across pitching, hitting, and defense. Their ERA dropped from 4.38 through May to 3.53 in June and July. The lineup OPS rose from .693 to .833 over the same period, while defensive metrics turned from minus-10 to plus-11 Fielding Run Value.
Catcher Joe Mack has anchored the turnaround behind the plate. He has thrown out 16 runners attempting to steal, tying for the best mark in baseball. The team enters a homestand against the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians this week.