Chicago Cubs Preview: Everything you need to know about the Marlins

Cubs, Marlins offense not going to provide sparks

As a team, the Marlins offense is not one that will be feared by opposing pitchers.

Miami finished with 60 home runs (26th-MLB), a .244 BA (16th-MLB), and a .703 OPS (23rd-MLB).

Granted, the team statistics of the Cubs are slightly worse and not much better in some categories, but the idea is the difference in talent.

The Cubs have superstar players who have struggled for the majority of the season, so the hope is they find a way to turn it on in the postseason.

Miami doesn’t have a group of star-studded position players, but they have a mix of veterans and youth that have gotten them to this point, which could be dangerous in the playoffs.

In his sixth big-league season, infielder Miguel Rojas has put together his best offensive numbers through 40 games played: 4 HR 20 RBI .304 BA .888 OPS.

Other key members of the offense include first baseman Jesus Aguliar. The big right-hander is having a solid first season in Miami (8 HR 24 RBI .277 BA .809 OPS) but surprisingly isn’t leading the team in home runs.

That honor belongs to third baseman Brian Anderson (11 HR .255 BA), who also led the team in RBI (38) and games played (59) this season.

Other Marlins Position Players:

DH Garrett Cooper: 6 HR 20 RBI .283 BA .853 OPS

INF Jonathan Villar: 2 HR 9 RBI .259 BA .660 OPS

2B Jon Berti: 2 HR 14 RBI .258 BA .738 OPS

LF Corey Dickerson: 7 HR 17 RBI .258 BA .713 OPS

RF Starling Marte: 6 HR 27 RBI .281 BA .770 OPS

C Jorge Alfaro: 3 HR 16 RBI .226 BA .624 OPS

These names aren’t flashy, and you probably won’t see their jerseys being sold any time soon.

The scary part about a team like this is they know they have nothing to lose, and that type of confidence of playing with their backs against the wall is the same way the 2003 Marlins played.

Granted, that ’03 team had a few Hall of Famers, and these Marlins probably do not, but still, they are capable of pulling off an upset or two in the postseason.

That is why the Cubs need to come out and set the tone from the start in game one. They have multiple players and coaches who have won a World Series not too long ago, and this experience is something they need to use to their advantage against the Marlins.