Marlins could be playoff contenders - or trade partners

As frustrating as the Miami Marlins’ season has been, thanks to the expanded MLB playoffs, the reality is there is still plenty of time to climb into contention.

While the New York Mets are running away with the National League East, the extra wild card creates an opportunity.

Seriously, it does.

With the Trade Deadline on Aug. 2, we’re looking at a six-to-seven-week window to make up ground. If not, we could see some trades that move established players.

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With a wide-lens view of where the Marlins stand, The Palm Beach Post offers these five takeaways as we head into June:

Sandy Alcantara is the staple of the staff

While flashy second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the club’s most marketable player and personality, Sandy Alcantara is the most important player in the organization. Without him, the Marlins have no shot. With him, they have at least some hope every fifth day.

The ace of the staff, Alcantara has now posted five straight starts of at least seven innings. Alcantara threw seven shutout innings on Thursday in Miami’s 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at loanDepot Park, lowering his ERA to 1.81.

Alcantara tops the Majors in innings pitched with 74 2/3. Since 2021, he also leads all starters with 280 1/3. Los Angeles Dodgers’ right-hander Walker Buehler is second in that span at 266 1/3.

His 44 games started is tied with Tyler Mahle of the Cincinnati Reds. At his current pace, Alcantara appears to be a lock to be a National League All-Star, and a strong Cy Young Award candidate.

He’s also the main reason the Marlins still have an outside shot at a Wild Card spot.

How much blame falls on Don Mattingly?

Whenever teams struggle, fingers are pointed at the manager. The Philadelphia Phillies fired former Marlins' skipper Joe Girardi on Friday. Considering the expectations the Marlins set this season, manager Don Mattingly certainly must share some accountability for where the team ranks in the standings.

But to put full blame on Mattingly isn’t fair. The issues the Marlins face are much deeper than the manager.

Important to note, there isn’t a messaging problem with the Marlins. There’s a performance and roster deficiency problem. The offense struggles situationally. The back end of the bullpen was never fully addressed in the offseason, causing a closer by committee scenario.

Ideally, Mattingly would like an established closer and set bullpen roles. And the rotation, the team’s strength, has had underperformances from Trevor Rogers and Elieser Hernandez. Plus, Jesus Luzardo has been on the injured list since May 10.

In Marlins’ history, there’s been plenty of managerial turnover. Mattingly, the 2020 National League Manager of the Year, has provided stability. This is his seventh season in Miami, making him the longest tenured manager in franchise history.

Still, even if Mattingly is safe for the rest of this year, the fact that he’s not signed for 2023 means a change could be made. It’s a matter of when.

Edward Cabrera arrives as advertised

Any doubts about Edward Cabrera being big league ready were put to rest in Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Colorado. In his first big league start of the season, Cabrera struck out a career-high nine over six shutout innings. He allowed one hit.

Four walks and two hit batters showed there were some command issues. Part of that is because his pitches had so much movement. The 24-year-old’s four-seam fastball averaged 97 mph, and maxed at 98.6 mph, per Statcast.

But the pitch that caused the biggest stir within the industry was his changeup. It averaged 93.6 mph, which is faster than many pitchers’ fastball. The hardest changeup Cabrera threw was 95.5 mph.

With Luzardo expected to miss at least a few more weeks, Cabrera should fill his rotation spot.

Is Braxton Garrett next in line?

As loaded as the Marlins are organizationally in terms of starting pitching, there’s some depth concerns for the big league club.

Luzardo and Cody Poteet are on the injured list. Cabrera is already up to fill Luzardo’s spot. But who would be next in line if another starter went down?

Braxton Garrett, the club’s first-round pick in 2016, may top the list. Garrett, who is on the 40-man roster, is back with Triple-A Jacksonville after dealing earlier in the season with a left shoulder impingement.

Garrett last pitched in the big leagues in 2021, appearing in eight games, with a 1-2 record and a 5.03 ERA in 34 innings. Not overpowering, the southpaw's best pitch is a slider to go with a 92-93 mph fastball.

Prospects Max Meyer and Sixto Sanchez are on the Minor League injury list.

Getting Miguel Rojas going

Miguel Rojas is widely considered the club’s unofficial captain. The 33-year-old has always offered leadership, and he sets an example.

But the veteran shortstop also got off to a slow start. Now, he's picking things up.

Rojas had an RBI single in Thursday’s win. And entering Friday, he’s hitting .348 over his last seven games, .280 over his last 15, raising his season average to .229. A career .263 batter, Rojas is tracking towards being the player the Marlins expected.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Marlins have time to get into NL East race, MLB playoffs