MLB NEWS

Bullpen leading Marlins surge

The Sports Xchange

May 05, 2016 at 11:50 pm.

MiamiMarlinsLogoMIAMI — The Miami Marlins have won 10 of 11 games for just the fifth time in franchise history.

There are lots of reasons for this success, which started when they took a West Coast trip to play the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.

But perhaps the biggest reason has been the bullpen, which on Thursday extended its scoreless streak to 11 2/3 innings.

Closer A.J. Ramos saved his third game in three nights and will get a rest on Friday, when the Marlins open a weekend series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Look for David Phelps to step in as the closer if he is needed on Friday. Rookie Kyle Barraclough, who has a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings this season, will also be ready.

Those are the three key members of the bullpen. Veteran Bryan Morris is the fourth key reliever. Left-hander Mike Dunn and long man Edwin Jackson are due to return from the disabled list shortly, and that could make the unit even stronger.

As for the Phillies, it should be an interesting series. The teams are in a virtual tie for third place in the NL East behind the division’s two titans, the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets.

“The Phillies are a club that last year, you saw a lot of good young players,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “They made a lot of trades. They kept bringing young players in, and they are a team on the move with quality arms. They are playing with confidence.”

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