The Miami Marlins are heading into their next home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with some real momentum at the plate, and Sunday’s 12-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels was the loudest proof yet.
Griffin Conine did most of the damage, launching two home runs in the victory. That pushed him to 12 homers on the season and gave him a .893 OPS across a small sample of 52 games for Miami this year.
For manager Clayton McCullough, the recent stretch has to be encouraging. The Marlins piled up offense against the Angels and outscored them 19-3 over the final two games of the series, Saturday and Sunday.
That matters even more with uncertainty around Kyle Stowers and his recent injury. If Conine keeps producing, he could carve out a bigger role in the middle of Miami’s push. He is one of the players who needs to get hot if the Marlins want to stay in the National League Wild card race.
Conine was never expected to carry the lineup. The Marlins have bigger sluggers such as Stowers, Otto Lopez, and Heiberto Hernandez. But if Conine can keep finding consistent contact now that he is healthy, that would be a major lift for the Fish and the staff.
Miami still has an outside shot at the playoffs as a wild card, depending on its own results and what happens with the teams ahead of it. If that run is going to happen, the Marlins need production from players like Conine.
His two-homer game, including one blast off a position player, showed the kind of power he can bring when everything is clicking. He has the bat speed to leave the yard and has been warming up at the plate, which gives Miami a chance to keep building.
He is also the type of hitter who can work at-bats patiently and deliver in clutch spots. Nothing is guaranteed here - the Marlins could still miss the postseason - but if Conine and other less-heralded names step forward, Miami has a real chance to make noise down the stretch. McCullough will need his club ready, and he will need that extra gear from the group.
In Other News...
Jakob Marsee Is Forcing A Tough Marlins Decision In Center Field
Jakob Marsee has been one of the more intriguing parts of the Marlins center field picture because his glove has given Miami a real reason to keep him in the conversation. The challenge has been the bat, which has lagged behind the defensive work and left the team weighing what matters most as the season moves along.
Lately, though, Marsee has started to change the conversation with a better run at the plate, and that matters for a Marlins club that has never been shy about turning to younger players when an opening presents itself. If he can keep that momentum going, the decision in center field gets a lot harder, and the next stretch will go a long way toward showing whether this is a brief hot spell or the start of something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Face Another First Base Shakeup After Kyle Stowers Scare
Kyle Stowers latest hamstring issue leaves the Marlins back in familiar territory, looking for a quick fix at first base while one of their most versatile bats tries to get healthy again. Stowers had already opened the season on the injured list because of a right hamstring strain, and his recent departure from a game after left hamstring discomfort only deepened the concern around a spot that has already needed some juggling.
Miami responded by bringing in Graham Pauley from Triple-A Jacksonville, and the internal options now include Griffin Conine, Pauley and Leo Jimnez as the club sorts out the position in the short term. For a team trying to keep its lineup moving, the bigger question is how long this latest shuffle lasts and whether the Marlins can find enough stability at first base before the next roster move becomes necessary. [Read more 🡒]