Marlins’ June Run Fuels Break Into Top 10 MLB Power Rankings

A dominant June performance has catapulted the Miami Marlins (46-42) from 16th in Week 13's MLB Power Rankings to 9th in Week 14's edition released on Thursday morning.

Miami posted a 20-6 record last month, and it was historic for the club. Winning 77% of its games eclipsed the previous franchise record, which was 72% in May 2012. The team finished that month with a 21-8 record.

June was such a turnaround month for the Marlins. They entered at eight games under .500 (26-34), and the season looked bleak as the MLB trade deadline continued to inch closer. The team finished six games over .500 (46-40) due to its scorching hot run.

One of the best parts about the 26-game stretch is that the club is sitting in third place in the National League East Division. They are also competing for the last NL Wild Card spot, aiming to make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

The offense fueled Miami's dominant run. They outscored opponents 129-78; Otto Lopez, Kyle Stowers and Joe Mack were at the forefront of an explosive offense that defenses couldn't stop.

"As a team, Miami had a staggering .798 OPS, with Otto Lopez, Joe Mack and Kyle Stowers all hovering around .900," ESPN MLB expert Buster Olney wrote. "Miami hitting coach Pedro Guerrero was an assistant hitting coach with the Giants when Marlins GM Gabe Kapler was their manager -- and the two reunited last year."

Lopez is leading the MLB in batting average at .336. He still stands at the top of the league in July.

Stowers, who has a .255 batting average, recorded four multi-hit games, including a four-hit performance against the Philadelphia Phillies (49-39) on June 17. His hits came at crucial moments for the Marlins, driving home 23 RBI.

Mack has emerged as a talented young catcher for Miami. He nearly batted just under .300 (.294) in June and also tallied four multi-hit games.

The emergence of the offense has propelled the Marlins into earning recognition as one of the better teams in the MLB. Now, the next step is to continue their dominance in July, which hasn't gotten off to a hot start so far.

Miami started the month 0-2, allowing the Colorado Rockies (35-53) to even the four-game series that started on Monday. It is a road-heavy second 81 games for the Marlins, who struggle on the road.

A dominant June helped the team break into the top 10 of Week 14's power rankings, but a cold July could easily see them slip once more. It's imperative for Miami to keep its hot streak going since the trade deadline is a month away.

July's performance determines whether the team is a buyer aiming to capitalize on a playoff run or a seller capitalizing on breakout seasons from young prospects.

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