Marlins showing they’re more than a team in waiting

ST. PETERSBURG — With a little more than a quarter of the season behind them, the Marlins have essentially been treading water in the National League East’s four-team logjam.

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the Nationals and the defending-champion Mets have been the class of the division, the surprising Phillies have been playing over their heads and the Marlins seem to be a team in waiting.

“We’re not in waiting; we’re in the mix,” owner Jeffrey Loria said. “We’ve got to get people healthy.”

Considering the negatives that have slowed the Marlins this season, that they’re in fourth place, just 3 1/2 games behind first-place Washington entering play Friday, is encouraging.

Miami will spend the weekend in Atlanta against the Braves, who aren’t in the mix, having won just 12 of their 46 games. The jury is out on the Phils and whether they can continue their amazing pace or if they’ll drop back as the season progresses.

In comparison to the Nats and Mets, the Marlins fall short, but I believe this is a team, when at full strength, that has the ability to remain close. A postseason berth is not impossible.

Thus, a “team in waiting.”

Miami begins the weekend having won three of four games against Tampa Bay in the Citrus Series, with Thursday’s 9-1 rout at Tropicana Field the most decisive.

That victory and Wednesday’s created an air of confidence in the clubhouse, because the Marlins’ offense was without Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich. Despite the absence of this duo, Miami’s 15 hits were the most since it had 16 against the Brewers on May 1.

In the two games, the Marlins totaled 13 runs and 28 hits, and they did it with the makeshift lineup.

Stanton, who’s fifth in the NL with 12 homers, was out the past two games because of soreness in his right side. Yelich, who’s batting .320 and may …

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