Podcast: Marlins season comes to an end, but not before they play playoff spoiler
The Miami Marlins’ lost season, this fifth year of a rebuild with no end in sight and seventh under manager Don Mattingly whose end is in sight, is just about over.
Miami has two games left against the Atlanta Braves before heading into what should be a busy offseason.
Before that, though, the Marlins managed to make a big impact on a playoff race they had hoped to be involved in themselves.
Over the span of the past seven games, Miami has impacted the playoff fates of five teams — three directly, two indirectly — while going 5-2 against the New York Mets (1-1), Milwaukee Brewers (3-1) and Braves (1-0 entering Tuesday). Taking three of four against the Brewers eliminated Milwaukee from playoff contention and allowed both the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies to clinch wild card spots.
Meanwhile, the race between the Braves and Mets for the NL East title and a first-round bye in the playoffs continues. After Atlanta swept New York last weekend, the Braves need either just one win against Miami or New York to lose one of its three games against the Nationals to win the division. Miami halted Atlanta’s first chance to celebrate Monday with a 4-0 shutout win.
On the latest episode of Fish Bytes Miami Herald Marlins beat writer Jordan McPherson and deputy sports editor Andre Fernandez discuss this and more, including a recap of Sandy Alcantara’s Cy Young-worthy season and a look ahead to our offseason coverage plan.
