MIAMI — Outfielder Marcell Ozuna will start for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, and Miami Marlins teammate Jose Fernandez could open the game on the mound.
In addition, relievers Fernando Rodney and A.J. Ramos will also represent the Marlins, and teammate Giancarlo Stanton will participate in the Home Run Derby.
Four Miami All-Stars and a fifth player headed to San Diego as part of the contingent — that should tell you that it’s been a successful first half for the Marlins.
Was the first half good enough to establish Miami as a sure-fire playoff team?
No, there is clearly much more work to be done. But the Marlins, who swept the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday with a 7-3 win, have a 47-41 record, tied with the New York Mets for the second and final wild-card spot.
Indeed, the Marlins put themselves in position, which is more than this franchise has done lately, given a postseason drought that stretches back to 2003.
“I believe in this team and how we’re playing,” Fernandez said. “We’re good enough to go really far this year. Hopefully we can get a lot better in the second half.
“In years before, by now, we were pretty much impossible to make it (to the playoffs). We were 16 games back, 18 games back. That’s tough. … (But now), we have a chance.”
The Marlins should get a boost on July 28, when Gold Glove second baseman Dee Gordon is set to return from an 80-game suspension after he was caught using a performance-enhancing drug.
Gordon, who won batting and steals titles last season, will return to the leadoff spot, where his speed will immediately put pressure on defenses. He will be followed in the lineup, in some order, by .300 hitters J.T. Realmuto, Martin Prado, Christian Yelich and Ozuna and 15-plus home run hitters Stanton and Bour. Ozuna is actually in both of those clubs, hitting over .300 with at least 15 homers.
In addition to that potent lineup, the Marlins would also have two .300 hitters as backups — Derek Dietrich and Ichiro Suzuki.
It’s a strong lineup, and the Marlins also have a deep and talented bullpen with closer Ramos and set-up men Rodney, David Phelps, Kyle Barraclough, Mike Dunn and even rookie Nick Wittgren.
Fernandez heads the rotation, but after him is where the problems begin for Miami. The Marlins’ rotation, overall, does not match up with the teams in playoff contention.
Adam Conley and Tom Koehler have pitched, in essence, like fourth and fifth starters. Wei-Yin Chen, signed by Miami to an $80 million contract, has pitched like a spot starter/long reliever. And the Marlins have had no success in finding a fifth starter, demoting Jarred Cosart, Paul Clemens and Justin Nicolino (twice) to the minors.
So the choice is clear. If the Marlins want to contend, they need to add starting pitchers — one and preferably two.
The Marlins have a thin farm system, but there is enough there to make a deal if they are willing to sacrifice their few high-end prospects.
What the Marlins front office does before Aug. 1 will indicate to the team and the fans how serious the franchise is about trying to win in 2016.
Regardless of whatever the team does at the trading deadline, though, Marlins manager Don Mattingly is pleased with his team’s position.
“Make sure we don’t do anything stupid over the (All-Star) break,” he said when asked about his message to the players. “Don’t come back sunburned where you can’t pick up your arm or something.
“We’re in a good spot. But we’ve got to keep going.”