After spending most of the season surprising many around the league, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Miami Marlins have been scuffling since the start of July and have seen their playoff hopes continue to slip after promising starts to 2023.
With both teams making splashes at the trade deadline, they will hope to turn things around with the season entering the final stretch.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Entering the month of July with 50 wins, the Diamondbacks have spiraled out of control, going 7-23 in their 30 games since Jul. 1. As a result, their three-game lead in the National League West turn into a 10-game deficit with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking the division lead.
The Diamondbacks are now 0-7 since the Trade Deadline passed.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 9, 2023
Arizona was once 16 games over .500, but have now fallen to 57-57. pic.twitter.com/IR6OONFdSR
After making four trades before the trade deadline, their unfortunate collapse has been highlighted by their lack of pitching and an almost non-existent offense.
With a 5.92 ERA over the last 30 days, the Diamondbacks pitching staff has allowed the most runs in baseball over that period with 129 in 196 innings.
The offense has hardly been better, scoring the third-fewest runs in the MLB over the last 30 days with 87.
At 57-57, the Diamondbacks remain two games out of a wild-card spot and will need to end their current seven-game losing streak to begin that turnaround to a playoff berth.
Miami Marlins
Currently 59-56, the Marlins have gone 11-20 since the start of July and just recently snapped a five-game losing streak for their second win since the trade deadline.
Marlins break a 5 game losing streak. 3-2 F. Jorge Soler hit a 2 run homer late. He was on base 4 times from the lead off spot. Second road win for Miami since the end of June. 59-56.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) August 9, 2023
While their pitching staff had been middle-of-the-pack during that span, their offense has been one of the worst in baseball. With 79 runs scored over the last 30 days, the Marlins only top the Oakland Athletics by one run during their rough stretch.
The Marlins tried to address the scuffling offense, acquiring first baseman Josh Bell and third baseman Jake Burger before the trade deadline.
After hitting only 19 home runs in their last 23 games, the new additions will hope to help the team slug their way out of the tailspin they find themselves in.
Only a half-game out of a wild-card spot and with last year's National League Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara starting to look like his former self, the Marlins could easily fight their way into a rare playoff spot for the franchise.
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