Florida Marlins Look Like Challengers to Phillies in NL East

It may be early, it may be an aberration, it may be a smokescreen, but the Florida Marlins might be the Philadelphia Phillies‘ biggest threat in the 2011 season.

As of now in the NL East standings, the Philadelphia Phillies are on top with a record of 11-6 while the Florida Marlins have are a tight second with a record of 10-6, which means they are a half-game back from the Phillies and first place.

As the stats show, it is going to be a wire-to-wire rivalry between Florida and Philadelphia.

Batting Average

Philadelphia Phillies: .273

Florida Marlins: .265

Home Runs

Philadelphia Phillies: 13

Florida Marlins: 8

Runs Batted In

Philadelphia Phillies: 80

Florida Marlins: 63

Stolen Bases

Philadelphia Phillies: 11

Florida Marlins: 7

ERA

Florida Marlins: 3.04

Philadelphia Phillies: 3.56

WHIP

Florida Marlins: 1.20

Philadelphia Phillies: 1.24

Strikeouts

Philadelphia Phillies: 133

Florida Marlins: 113

While it looks like the Phillies have an edge on the Marlins, it is by a slight margin.

As for the pitching, two (Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco) against three (Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee) may not be fair odds, but all the Marlins have to do is catch the Phillies with one or two of their three aces in order to really give them trouble.

The next time these two rivals meet is on the second week of May.

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