Making the postseason remains the Marlins’ objective, but simply getting into the playoffs isn’t their ultimate aim.

“It’s not the end goal just to make the playoffs,” left fielder Corey Dickerson said. “We want to make some noise and show people what we’re capable of doing.”

As one of the core veterans and leaders on this surprising squad, Dickerson made it clear the Marlins want to play their way into the postseason and not simply rely on other clubs helping them along the way. In the past few days, Miami lost Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Nationals at Marlins Park, then followed that up with setbacks on Monday and Tuesday in Atlanta.

Still, they have been able to steadily reduce their magic number for clinching either second place in the National League East or a Wild Card berth because the Phillies have also been losing.

“We’re trying to preach to take care of our business,” Dickerson said. “Play for one another. Be a good teammate. There’s no reason to play a different way right now. We’re thankful to have this opportunity ahead of us.”

Manager Don Mattingly echoed that in the final few games of the regular season, the Marlins don’t need to do anything differently. They are aiming to build a culture of winning and not looking to be a one-year surprise team that needs a helping hand from other clubs to assist them along the way.

“You play to a standard all the time,” Mattingly said. “Honestly, the best of the best do that. They put pressure on themselves all the time. You put pressure on yourself on a daily basis: To have a good plan, to get a good pitch to hit, to be able to make a pitch [and] to have a good plan as a pitcher or a hitter.

“The best players don’t get to the playoffs or down to the last week of the season and say, ‘Now, I’ve got to be really good.’ You’ve got to be just what you’ve been. That standard should be really high, and it should be higher than your standard for them.”

From the first day MLB announced there would be a 60-game season, the Marlins stressed that they were part of a sprint to the postseason.

“That standard stays high from Game 1 to 162 or Game 60, whatever the length of the season,” Mattingly said. “The simplicity in that really becomes the grace of it. Now, you’re not putting extra pressure on yourself. You’re putting the same pressure on yourself as you’re doing today, or you did 10 days ago.”

Expectations for Cabrera
Hard-throwing right-hander Edward Cabrera, Miami’s No. 6 prospect and No. 84 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, is currently part of the team’s 12-man taxi squad. One of the organization’s top prospects, Cabrera could remain an option to pitch, as a reliever, in the final few games of the season. If not, he could be on the postseason roster, should Miami qualify.

In a season of high roster turnover, the Marlins have had 18 different players make their MLB debut. Had it not been for some arm discomfort at Summer Camp, Cabrera would have been the 19th. Projected as a future top-of-the-rotation talent, Cabrera’s role, if he is activated, would be as a reliever.

Cabrera has a fastball that sits between 93-97 mph, and he occasionally runs it up to 100 mph. He also has a wipeout slider and changeup, which might be his best pitch.

“Physically, he wasn’t built up to the point where he was going to make a start,” Mattingly said. “His stuff is good enough that you would have wanted him in there.”

Worth noting
The Marlins reinstated left-hander Stephen Tarpley from the 10-day injured list. He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 22 due to a strained right oblique muscle. Right-hander Brett Eibner was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.