Every year, in addition to the teams we figure are gonna do well, there's always one that has a strong start that nobody is expecting to. A couple years ago the Pirates were one of the best teams in April, and then a joke by June. Last May the Twins had a ridiculous winning streak and by July the Pohlads decided it wasn't sustainable. I like to think, at this point, that I know the difference between the start of something beautiful [the 2015 Mets in April] or a complete mirage [the 2013 Brewers].
But I'm looking at this Marlins team right now and I don't know what I believe. Yes, it is more likely than not that the Braves, Mets and Phillies will come storming back and control the division like everyone is expecting them to. But the Marlins...look good. I know they played the Rockies in the first series and have had to play the White Sox this week, but even if it is against bad teams, this is a more confident, well-assembled Marlins team. Clearly.
There's so many pieces of this team that, in 2025, were thought as perfunctory or auxiliary pieces, and those guys are now plugged into this team firmly. Javier Sanoja seems to have a permanent infield position and is hitting .583. Liam Hicks is no longer a fledgling backup catcher and now he currently leads the league in RBIs with 12. Janson Junk was a swing guy who took a few starts when the Marlins had no options, and now he's a trusty fifth man who does what he's supposed to. Additionally, there was a spot on this team to fit Owen Caissie [perpetually blocked behind PCA and co], and he's been tremendous in Miami, hitting .350 with 8 RBIs. I do think about what the outfield is gonna look like when Kyle Stowers gets back, and how he, Caissie and Jakob Marsee could form a pretty powerful unit out there.
The new factors of this team are also reestablishing just how well-ironed some of the preexisting aspects are. Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez, their first couple years in Miami, felt like potential place-filler options until better guys came along, and as something resembling elder statesmen on this team, they still have a big role to play. Edwards's contact game has been sharp, as he's currently hitting .409 with a steal. Lopez is hitting .318 and has a homer. Sandy Alcantara is back to his old self, 2-0 with no earned runs and 12 Ks through his first 2 starts. There's a chance some may be dealt later on this year, but knowing how impressive the youth movement is on this team, it could just be for all the right reasons. Besides, considering how ready Deyvison de los Santos looks for the majors, I kinda wish for any sort of move to justify bringing him back up.
The real test for this Marlins team will be how they do against the Yankees this weekend. There's a good team with a much fuller lineup and a much scarier pitching staff. Can they show they can be a spoiler, even this early? Or will this go...just about as well as everyone's thinking it will?
Coming Tomorrow- A guy that made a postseason roster, than an Opening Day roster, then he hit a ton of home runs.
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