NL Wild Card Break Down

Florida Marlins (72-62)

Current standing: The Marlins are 1? games behind the leaders, but arguably the most dangerous team among the contenders, because of their pitching and postseason experience.

Why they could make the playoffs: Nobody among the NL wild-card teams can match the quality or depth of their pitching right now. Carl Pavano is a Cy Young Award contender, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett have started pitching like Cy Youngs, and the back end of the bullpen is daunting with Guillermo Mota and Armando Benitez. And it doesn't hurt that Juan Pierre and Miguel Cabrera are hitting .364 and .339 since the All-Star break, and Paul Lo Duca has a .311 average and .376 on-base percentage since becoming a Marlin.

Why they might not make the playoffs: Hurricane Frances already complicated the Marlins' schedule, and now Hurricane Ivan could approach Florida as the team prepares to play five games at home against Montreal next week. The Marlins already have 28 games to play in 25 days, so their advantage in starting pitching is already compromised. A suggestion for Major League Baseball: Prepare to move the five games to Montreal. Right now. Don't wait and create another debacle like that of the Tampa Bay-Yankees. And let's face it -- games in Olympic Stadium are like playing in a neutral site, anyway.

Telltale number: The Marlins' staff ERA in August was 3.22, about a run lower than in July -- and their ERA is 3.25 in September.

Checking the schedule: The Marlins have seven games left with Philly, a team they routinely trounce, and eight with Montreal, along with two series against the Braves.

Difference makers: The youngsters who get the chance to pitch in the upcoming doubleheaders, like Logan Kensing, who is scheduled to throw against the Cubs Friday.

Their gift from the baseball gods: They are young, so while they must play a lot of games, they've got the juice and the adrenalin to deal with it.

Their burden from the baseball gods: Hurricane season in south Florida.

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