MIAMI - The Phillies have the worst record in baseball at 52-84. But after taking three out of four games from the playoff-contending Miami Marlins this weekend, it's possible the Phillies aren't that bad.
The Phillies continued to show signs of life Sunday, beating Miami, 3-1, at Marlins Park on a two-out, two-run, single by Nick Williams in the top of the 12th inning (see observations).
As for the big picture …
"We've had injuries like everybody else," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We've had guys coming and going - I think 16 guys who have made their (major-league) debut.
"I feel like this team has a lot of potential."
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To Mackanin's point, the Phillies are tied for eighth in the majors in fielding percentage, and the organization's vision no doubt has that ranking improving in the near future with the addition of athletic infield prospects such as J.P. Crawford and Scott Kingery.
True, the Phillies are 24th in the majors in ERA (4.72) and 28th in runs scored. The pitching deficiencies have a lot to do with injuries to Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez, a pair of starters the Phillies hope to have ready for 2018.
Aaron Nola leads the staff with 10 wins, and this weekend saw good starts from Ben Lively, Nick Pivetta and Jake Thompson, the latter of whom struck out a career high seven batters in a one-run, six-inning performance Sunday.
Mark Leiter Jr., who pitches Monday against the Mets in New York, has been impressive so far with a 3.88 ERA.
And here's the thing: All seven of the aforementioned pitchers are 26 or younger.
The bullpen, meanwhile, looked great Sunday, as four pitchers combined to limit Miami to one hit and no runs over six innings. Hector Neris got his 19th save, but Juan Nicasio, Luis Garcia and Adam Morgan also contributed out of the 'pen.
Thompson, who has bounced four times this year between the Phillies and Triple A Lehigh Valley, was grateful things went his way Sunday.
"It's nice to have one of those days after the things I've gone through this year," Thompson said. "It makes me feel good."
As for the offense, it struggled considerably Sunday when Rhys Hoskins sat out with a bruised right hand. But if Hoskins and Williams continue to develop, perhaps the Phillies can rise from out of the NL East basement next year.
Williams, who is batting .271, now has 35 RBIs since making his major-league debut June 30, tops among NL rookies during that span.
But he had stranded the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning Sunday and had left runners on the corners with one out in the 10th, unable to get even a sacrifice fly on either occasion.
Finally, with two outs in the top of the 12th, Williams pulled his two-run single to right.
"It's weird," Williams said. "I've been getting out like crazy (lately). It's not like I was striking out. I've just been hitting balls right at people."
As long as good contact is being made, though, hits will eventually fall, and that's what the Phillies are hoping for more of in the future.
Perhaps it's not entirely crazy to think the Phillies could make a Marlins-type run at .500 in 2018. Miami's pitching is not much better than Philadelphia's, ranking 21st in the majors with a 4.63 ERA.
The Marlins are 15th in runs scored and 16th in homers. The Phillies are 27th in homers.
So, to make a significant stride, the Phillies would have to get healthy, improve their pitching and hope that Hoskins and Williams become their version of Miami's Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna.
Morgan (3-1), who got the win Sunday with three hitless and scoreless innings, is bullish on the Phillies' future. And the same can be said about Thompson.
"It's good to have something to feel good about as we go into the offseason," Thompson said. "That's huge.
"Hopefully, we can finish the season strong."
