Two Miami Marlins injuries have put the team in a tough spot. How will the loss of Jorge Soler and Sandy Alcantara impact the wild card race?
Today’s roster update.
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— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 6, 2023
The Marlins placed both players on the injured list Wednesday evening, though they showed no signs of slowing down their recent hot streak. Miami beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-4 for their sixth straight win. They now hold a half-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild-card spot.
All Hands on Deck
The Marlins’ injuries leave the rest of the roster in a precarious position at a crucial point in the season. Alcantara and Soler are the team’s top two contributors. Alcantara, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, has struggled at points this year, posting a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts this season. His reputation as a workhorse is solidified, as he’s tied for the league in complete games with three. He is second in the major companies in innings pitcher (184.2). His placement on the injured list comes retroactive to September 4th, so he is eligible to return from his forearm strain on September 19th.
Soler shelved for ten days with a right oblique strain, leads Miami in home runs and OPS. His 71 RBI are tied for the team lead as well. He’s eligible to return on September 16th, though oblique injuries are notoriously finicky and often take more than ten days to heal.
A Race to the Wire
Despite the injury news, the Marlins authored a convincing victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night. They secured a series win behind a nine-run fifth inning and go for the sweep on Thursday. For the Marlins, the loss of Soler is arguably more impactful than their ace. Miami’s offense ranks just 19th in the league in OPS and 20th in WRC+. The chase for a playoff spot gets more stressful without their biggest power threat. The Marlins have not made the playoffs since 2020. 13 of their remaining 22 games will come against presumptive playoff teams. These recent Marlins injuries will make it tougher to hold onto a postseason spot in a tight race, with four teams within 2.5 games of each other with less than a month to play.
Main Photo Credits: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
