We’re not going to mince words here: The Miami Marlins are for real.
We can talk about it now, because the Marlins, arguably Major League Baseball’s most forgotten franchise, have reached the .500 mark after a rousing weekend sweep of the New York Yankees, who have their own issues to worry about.
But there’s one team – the Milwaukee Brewers – that’s played as well as the Marlins since June 13, when they began a roll that’s now at 30 wins in 44 games and resulted in them being very much alive rather than a carcass to be picked over at the July 31 trade deadline.
Heck, they even held onto franchise bulwark Sandy Alcantara, which may or may not portend positive things for a winter to build upon this surprise season. Miami’s pitching staff leads the majors in WHIP (1.06) and the NL in ERA (3.16) since June 27, a 31-game stretch.
For now, though, the Marlins have zoomed up four more spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings – and are even loitering on the fringes of the NL wild-card race, six games out but with three teams to pass.
But if they keep up this pace, there’s no ceiling that can stop them.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)
Banged out a franchise-record 56 hits in three-game sweep of Nationals.
2. Chicago Cubs (-1)
All-Star Game headed to Wrigley in 2027. Which uniform will Kyle Tucker be wearing?
3. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)
Don’t look now, but Max Scherzer has struck out 16, walked none and won each of his past two starts.
4. Detroit Tigers (-)
Can they unlock a closer-like performance from newly acquired Kyle Finnegan?
5. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)
Jhoan Duran’s dominant stuff accompanied his personal intro on trip from Minnesota to Philly.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
Max Muncy is ready to return, with Tommy Edman likely replacing him on the IL.
7. New York Mets (-2)
Cedric Mullins will fit very snugly on their playoff roster.
8. San Diego Padres (+2)
Has anyone ever rebutted A.J. Preller when he simply asked, ‘Why not?’
9. Houston Astros (-1)
Carlos Correa still eight days away from playing his first home game at Minut-, errr, Daikin Park since Game 6 of the 2021 World Series.
10. Boston Red Sox (+1)
Once again, a pretty lame deadline, but Steven Matz is low-key a useful bullpen piece.
11. Seattle Mariners (+2)
Big series win against a Rangers team suddenly right in their way.
12. New York Yankees (-3)
Hard for Brian Cashman to blame Aaron Boone when the players he acquired blew up in the skipper’s face.
13. Cincinnati Reds (+1)
Survived the Speedway semi-debacle. Will rest of season be a red flag?
14. Texas Rangers (-2)
Jacob deGrom the fastest to 1,800 strikeouts in both innings (1,493 ⅓) and games (240).
15. San Francisco Giants (-)
A ‘soft sell’ at the deadline, if you will, but now they’re back at .500. One more run in ’em?
16. Miami Marlins (+4)
Kyle Stowers with a shot at 40 homers.
17. Cleveland Guardians (+1)
You’d think Emmanuel Clase would be the cautionary tale that gets ballplayers’ attention.
18. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)
.500 looking like their destiny.
19. Kansas City Royals (-)
Mike Yastrzemski kind of a nice ‘Why the hell not?’ pickup.
20. Tampa Bay Rays (-7)
Have now lost 11 of 16 since break.
21. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
Taylor Ward now with a career-high 26 home runs, his latest a walk-off.
22. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)
The Jordan Montgomery Era really was something.
23. Minnesota Twins (-)
Like many Americans, they’re struggling to be debt-free.
24. Baltimore Orioles (-)
The deadline decimated entire roster, but lineup has responded; bullpen has not.
25. Atlanta Braves (+1)
Don’t think anyone will complain if someone calls the Speedway trophy ‘a piece of metal.’
26. Athletics (-1)
Just 23 wins in Yolo County; only Rockies, Nationals have fewer at home.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)
The trade of moderate success story Bailey Falter was moderately depressing.
28. Washington Nationals (-)
Run differential now minus-134; only Rockies (-277) are worse.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
Luis Robert is still here.
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
At least a few of their bros on the Yankees give them something to root for.