Marlins’ Mattingly: ‘It’s only natural’ to scoreboard watch as playoff push continues
The Miami Marlins’ focus is on the task in front of them. They play the second of a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday and control their path to a playoff berth over the final six games of this 60-game, pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
But Marlins manager Don Mattingly would be remiss if he said he wasn’t looking around at what was happening in games around the league. There are pivotal games going on that could give the Marlins an easier path to clinching the third-ever postseason appearance in franchise history.
“I always kind of watch the scores,” Mattingly said, “knowing the teams that are around you and where you’re at in the race.”
The primary team to keep an eye on from afar at this point is the division rival Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins (28-26) entered Tuesday with a one-game lead over the Phillies for second place in the NL East, a position that guarantees a playoff berth with 2020’s expanded field.
Philadelphia dropped the first game of its doubleheader with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, 5-1. That loss dropped the Marlins’ magic number to secure its playoff spot by one to four before Miami even took the field on Tuesday.
Should the Marlins win on Tuesday and the Phillies drop their nightcap with the Nationals, Miami would be in a position to potentially clinch its playoff spot on Wednesday.
“This time of year, it’s only natural that you’re watching all the teams that are involved,” Mattingly said. “Guys know who’s playing who, who’s involved with different races, trying to win your division, all the different scenarios. I think it’s natural that you’re watching. It is nice when you’re in a tight race and you lose a tough game and see the team that’s chasing loses one also. It’s kind of a breath of fresh air.”
Why the large taxi squad?
The Marlins have a dozen players on their taxi squad for their final road trip of the season, up from the normal five that have been allowed for the season.
The reason: Players who are eligible to be on a team’s postseason roster have to begin a mandatory quarantine starting Wednesday. That means the Marlins had to bring everyone who they wanted to have available should they make the playoffs with them for the trip through Atlanta and New York to close the regular season.
“That’s your group,” Mattingly said. “You can’t make any changes after that.”
The Marlins’ group breaks down as follows:
▪ Right-handed pitchers: Sandy Alcantara, Brad Boxberger, Edward Cabrera (taxi squad), Brett Eibner, Yimi Garcia, Jordan Holloway (taxi squad), James Hoyt, Brandon Kintzler, Pablo Lopez, Nick Neidert, Sixto Sanchez, Josh A. Smith, Ryne Stanek, Jose Urena, Nick Vincent
▪ Left-handed pitchers: Richard Bleier, Dan Castano (taxi squad), Braxton Garrett (taxi squad), Trevor Rogers, Stephen Tarpley (taxi squad), Alex Vesia (taxi squad)
▪ Catchers: Jorge Alfaro, Ryan Lavarnway (taxi squad), Brian Navaretto (taxi squad), Chad Wallach
▪ Infielders: Jesus Aguilar, Brian Anderson, Jon Berti, Jazz Chisholm, Garrett Cooper, Jose Devers (taxi squad), Lewin Diaz (taxi squad), Miguel Rojas
▪ Outfielders: Lewis Brinson, Corey Dickerson, Monte Harrison, Matt Joyce, Starling Marte, Jesus Sanchez (taxi squad), Magneuris Sierra (taxi squad)
Of the group, Sierra and Tarpley are on the 10-day injured list respectively with hamstring and oblique injuries. Mattingly said he anticipates Tarpley being activated before the regular-season comes to an end. Sierra might not be on the active roster until the playoffs should Miami make it.
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