On paper, this Miami team is talented up and down the lineup. However, apart from the late-game heroics in the season opener and the first inning of the win in Washington, the team had largely failed to string together key at bats when it was their turn at the plate. That was until the second inning in Queens on Monday night.
The Marlins scored seven times in the top of the second, chasing Mets started Steven Matz out of the game and leaving him with a 37.80 ERA after his season debut. The scoring included RBI hits for Adeiny Hechavarria, Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich, and a monster big fly for Giancarlo Stanton to put an exclamation point on the inning. Later in the game, Marcell Ozuna hit his first homer of the campaign and J.T. Realmuto also joined the RBI parade.
This is exactly what the Fish are capable of, but they cannot be called a playoff contender until they can produce such long and successful innings at the plate on a regular basis. Last season, Miami was 23rd in the league in batting average with runners in scoring position, hitting at a .246 clip, and that will not cut it in the NL East this season.
Given the concerns that surround the current rotation, namely Jose Fernandez's health, Adam Conley's inexperience, and Tom Koehler's perpetual mediocrity, this team needs all the runs it can get if it wants to win a lot of ballgames this year, and that involves getting on base in pressure situations. If the first few games of the year are anything to go by (and they are most likely not, due to the tiny sample size), then the Marlins are trending in the right direction.
Before taking to the field last night and hammering out 15 hits, of which eight were with runners in scoring position, Miami was third in the league in such situations, and top of the league when there were also two outs. This clutch hitting displays a level of confidence and maturity in this lineup, which will only lead to good things down the stretch.
This is still a young team, but they are getting better with every game, and the scoreline against the defending National League Champions last night is evidence of this. The importance of a good start to the season on the offensive side of the ball cannot be understated. Yes, the Marlins have only played five games and they do own a losing record, but the wins will come if they can continue hitting well in key situations