Marlins get No. 5 seed, head to Philly for Wild Card Series

Miami begins its quest for a third World Series title in team history and it's now clear after the D-backs' (84-78) loss to the Astros. The Marlins (84-77) secured the fifth seed (second National League Wild Card) by remaining a half-game ahead in the standings. Since Miami won the head-to-head tiebreaker, taking four of six in the season series, resuming Thursday’s suspended game against the Mets on Monday in Queens wouldn’t affect the seeding.

That means the Marlins will head to Philadelphia to face the fourth-seeded Phillies in a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series, beginning on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. It will mark the first time the NL East rivals have squared off in the postseason.

Left-hander Ryan Weathers who is the son of former Marlins Dave Weathers and whom the Marlins acquired from the Padres ahead of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, went six scoreless innings. Weathers, who was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville to make his second start with the organization, allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out five on 99 pitches. He pitched excellent and will be needed if the team goes deep into the playoffs as the starting 5 took some big hits this season losing for the rest of 2023 ACE Sandy Alcantara and Rookie sensation Eury Pérez to injuries. Now going in without your two "best" is hard for any club to over come but this to me just means the rest of the starters and pitchers in the pen have to step up.

What's fantastic about them going is that other than the 2020 plandemic season this is the first time in years they're in the playoffs. First two times lead to world series runs which lead to wins. IN both 1997 and 2003 I remember my dad and myself going to all the home games in 97 for each game of the playoffs, and world series. Great memories and now with today's kids I hope they get to have that here with the current Marlins team. Which on paper has a nice line up top to bottom.

The main concern again is the starting pitching...
 1. Jesús Luzardo
  2. Braxton Garrett
3. Johnny Cueto
   4. Edward Cabrera
 5. Ryan Weathers

Not exactly scary on paper but those arms all have tons of talent... Cueto is old and has done nothing this year... Maybe this will be his one shining moment for 2023. We shall see... Due to need he's probably going to be in the roster pitching 3rd like on the list there.

Either way it's an exciting time to be a Miami Marlins fan... Wish them well. Go FISH!