Marlins in middle of six-team fight for wild card spots. Where each team in the mix stands

The race for the National League’s three wild card spots for the 2023 MLB playoffs remains extremely tight approaching the home stretch.

With six weeks left in the regular season, at least a half-dozen teams remain in the mix for three playoff spots.

And the Marlins, in their first year under manager Skip Schumaker, are right in the thick of it. Entering Monday’s series opener against the San Diego Padres, Miami is 64-61, in a three-way tie with the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks just on the outside of the playoffs. The Marlins, Diamondbacks and Reds are a mere three-and-a-half games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top wild card spot, one-and-a-half games back of the San Francisco Giants in the second wild card spot and just one game behind the Chicago Cubs who currently have the final wild card spot.

The Marlins know close they are and how intertwined all six teams are with their remaining schedules.

But Schumaker isn’t paying too much attention to what other teams in the playoff hunt are doing. At least not yet.

“I think the last month is when you start looking at everything,” Schumaker said. “People ask about the schedule and the scoreboard watching and are teams winning or losing around you. I think that’s when guys are gonna naturally look at the scoreboard and see what the teams are doing. We’ve got to get to September 1 to make sure we’re still in the hunt.”

The Marlins have the eighth-toughest remaining schedule based on opponent win percentage. Of Miami’s final 37 games, 18 are against teams currently in a playoff spot — seven games against the Brewers, three apiece against the Braves, Phillies and Dodgers, and two against the Rays. The other 18 games are seven against the Nationals, six with the Mets, three with the Pirates and their three-game set with the Padres.

Here’s what to know about the other five teams the Marlins are competing with for those three playoff spots. Stats and records are accurate through games played Sunday.

Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 67-57 (currently No. 1 wild card)

Remaining schedule: Three vs. Giants, three vs. Cardinals, three vs. Angels, three at Brewers, three at Padres, three vs. Marlins, four vs. Braves, three at Cardinals, three at Braves, four vs. Mets, three vs. Pirates, three at Mets

Breakdown: The Phillies are the reigning National League pennant winners and have a chance for a second consecutive deep playoff run. They beefed up their starting rotation by acquiring Michael Lorenzen and their lineup with the likes of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber is playoff tested.

San Francisco Giants

Record: 65-59 (currently No. 2 wild card)

Remaining schedule: Three at Phillies, three vs. Braves, three vs. Reds, four at Padres, three at Cubs, three vs. Rockies, three vs. Guardians, four vs. Rockies, two at Diamondbacks, four at Dodgers, three vs. Padres, three vs. Dodgers

Breakdown: A 10-game win streak in mid-June brought the Giants from being a .500 team to having wiggle room. They have been inconsistent since July, though. Their past 42 games have gone as follows: A four-game losing streak followed by a seven-game win streak followed by a six-game losing streak followed by seven wins in nine games followed by their current stretch of 10 losses in 14 games.

Chicago Cubs

Record: 64-59 (currently No. 3 wild card)

Remaining schedule: Three at Tigers, four at Pirates, three vs. Brewers, four at Reds, three vs. Giants, four vs. Diamondbacks, three at Rockies, three at Diamondbacks, three vs. Pirates, three vs. Rockies, three at Braves, three at Brewers.

Breakdown: At the All-Star Break, the Cubs were five games under .500 and it looked as if they would be sellers at the trade deadline. And then they got hot at the right time. And now they’re a legitimate contender. They held on to Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger and acquired infielder Jeimer Candelario at the trade deadline. They have gone 22-12 in the second half.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 64-61 (one game out of wild card)

Remaining schedule: Two vs. Rangers, four vs. Reds, three at Dodgers, three vs. Orioles, three vs. Rockies, four at Cubs, four at Mets, three vs. Cubs, two vs. Giants, three at Yankees, three at White Sox, three vs. Astros.

Breakdown: The Diamondbacks were one of the surprise teams of the first half, going 52-39 before the All-Star Break. Then they lost 20 of their first 25 games of the second half to fall to 57-59 to fall to the outskirts of the playoff picture. And then they won seven of their past nine to return to postseason relevance. A tough 12-game stretch is ahead that could make or break their hopes.

Cincinnati Reds

Record: 64-61 (one game out of wild card)

Remaining schedule: Three at Angels, four at Diamondbacks, three at Giants, four vs. Cubs, three vs. Mariners, three vs. Cardinals, three at Tigers, three at Mets, three vs. Twins, three vs. Pirates, two at Guardians, three at Cardinals.

Breakdown: The Reds have leaned on their youth — primarily rookies Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McClain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand — to fuel an unlikely playoff run. Their starting pitching has been questionable, but Cincinnati has the chance to be a surprise playoff team.