MIAMI -- Excuse Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas’ French, but the ballclub needs to come back with a "(expletive) attitude" after the All-Star break.

Wrapping a stretch of 17 games without a day off to end the first half, the Marlins were swept by the Phillies following a 4-0 defeat on Sunday afternoon at loanDepot park. Philadelphia -- which is ahead of Miami in the National League Wild Card standings -- outscored its NL East rival, 16-1, in the three-game series.

For a club needing to make a push before the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline, the Marlins lacked energy and a sense of urgency. Despite having a record above .500 in three of this season’s four months, they have been streaky, floating along rather than creating consistent momentum.

“I think we're just at a point where we're going to have to play,” manager Don Mattingly said. “All the load management and trying to rest guys and give guys days off, I think we've got to get away from it. Honestly, let's go. And we are in that part of the season that we're not going to be able to afford losses or afford losing series. If it's not a straight-out going for every win and pushing guys, then it's not going to work.”

Here are three storylines that could dictate how the second half goes:

Is Trevor Rogers turning the corner?
Last year’s NL Rookie of the Year runner-up has struggled to regain his form, fighting his mechanics and seeing it in the results during the most trying portion of his career “hands down.” Of 71 pitchers who threw at least 75 innings in 2021 and ‘22, Rogers has the largest increase in ERA (+2.78).

On Sunday, Rogers went a season-high-tying six innings, with the Phillies scoring all four of their runs in the fourth. He didn’t walk a batter for just the second time in 2022.

“You look at it from a number standpoint, not good, but I think for me growing as an individual and as a baseball player, I think I've learned quite a bit,” Rogers said. “Really just able to step back and just grow as a pitcher. There's really light at the end of the tunnel, I guess you could say. I'm really looking forward to the second half. Really just found myself again. Mentality, mechanics, everything's there. So really just put this in the rearview, learned a lot and ready to get after it in the second half.”

Even with Rogers’ numbers, the Marlins entered the finale with the third-lowest starter’s ERA (3.59) in the NL. The club has needed its depth, using 11 starters so far in 2022. Miami’s chances at staying in the chase depend upon the starting staff, and reinforcements could be on the way. Jesús Luzardo and Edward Cabrera began rehab assignments this weekend, while Cody Poteet joined the bullpen. No. 2 prospect Max Meyer made his MLB debut on Saturday.

Is the bullpen more reliable than it seems?
The relief corps has 15 blown saves -- fourth most in the NL, but setup men Anthony Bass (1.36 ERA) and Steven Okert (2.27 ERA) have been dependable. Richard Bleier and Dylan Floro are reliable again.

The issue has been the final three outs. Without an established closer, Miami has had five pitchers record a save. Anthony Bender and Cole Sulser got chances before landing on the injured list. Tanner Scott has been the guy since, going 12-for-16.

The Marlins have played 36 one-run games, 20 of them losses, both most in the Majors. That has made the margin for error slim to none.

Can the offense show consistency?
Miami didn’t score a run in 25 consecutive innings to close out the first half, and it hasn’t gone deep in eight consecutive games -- the Marlins’ longest streak since April 6-15, 2019. Jesús Aguilar epitomized the club’s frustration when he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes following his second-inning strikeout.

Miami’s marquee free agents Avisaíl García and Jorge Soler have underperformed. All-Star Garrett Cooper is 4-for-47 (.085) since July 2. All-Star Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jon Berti (MLB-leading 28 steals) are missed.

The Marlins have scored three runs or fewer in 48 games -- fifth most in MLB – trailing only the rebuilding Tigers, Nationals, A’s and Pirates. Rojas sees guys putting too much pressure on themselves.

“Hitting is contagious, either good or bad,” Rojas said. “I feel like when you struggle at the plate, you don't want everybody to struggle at the same time, but it's kind of what it is in the game of baseball. We don't have really a guy that is carrying us right now, and that's been missing. That's what I'm seeing from the outside. And personally, I feel like when that happens, you put too much pressure on yourself trying to be that guy, and that works against you as well.”

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