There will never be a more opportune time for the Marlins to strike at the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets than in the next two weeks. The ease of schedule pendulum swings back in favor of the Marlins over the course of the next two weeks, giving them the perfect opportunity to get within 2-3 games of 1st place in the NL East.

Over the next two weeks the Florida Marlins have 6 games (3 home, 3 road) against the Atlanta Braves, 3 at home against the Mets, and 3 on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals. Not as easy as the Mets and Phillies had it the past two weeks, however, the Mets and Phillies now have significantly more difficult competition facing them. In the next two weeks the Mets have 1 game at home versus the Houston Astros, 3 in Miami against the Marlins, 3 games at Milwaukee, and 6 games (3 home, 3 road) against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets and Phillies may do enough damage to each other to assist the Marlins even if they falter a little.

The next two weeks become even more important when you look at the final 19 games for each team. The Mets by far have the biggest cake walk, with 12 of their final 19 games against the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. The Phillies have 9 of their final 19 against those same two clubs. The Marlins have only 6 games, all against the Washington Nationals.

The Braves and Nationals are a combined 103-159, 56 games BELOW .500 and have terrible records against the rest of the NL East. The Marlins on the other hand have the 2nd best record in the division, against the other teams in the division, the Mets are two games better.

The window is open starting today. The Marlins get a day off to travel to Atlanta while the Phillies finish a 4 game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Mets finish a 4 game set with the Houston Astros. By this time tomorrow, the Marlins (without playing a game) could be back within 4 games of 1st place, and all the chips in front of them to make their run.