Way back in summer camp, Fish Stripes found a few true believers in the 2020 Marlins. But by and large, experts and fans alike estimated that it would take another year for this rebuild to yield a postseason contender. When most of the active roster caught COVID-19 in late July, it seemed like far too much adversity to overcome during a shortened MLB season.
And yet, here we are. The Marlins enter Thursday with a 25-22 record, controlling their own destiny in the pursuit of October baseball. If certain results around the majors go Miami’s way, this club could be hosting a first-round series.