Stanton slams Marlins after dropping series to 'worst team in the league'

Miami Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton couldn't hold it in anymore following Wednesday's 10-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, who own the worst winning percentage (.344) in the majors, expressing his frustration with his scuffling club that has now dropped five of its last six contests.

"If you can't win a series against the worst team in the league, there's not much going for you, right there," Stanton told MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

To his credit, Stanton did his part Wednesday to stave off a second straight series loss. In the bottom of the first inning, with the Marlins already down 2-0, Stanton clobbered a one-out solo shot off Nick Pivetta for his 30th homer of the season, tying Aaron Judge for the MLB lead with his fourth long ball of the series. Though the Marlins managed to tie the game up, 2-2, two innings later, the Phillies reclaimed the lead in the fourth and didn't look back, scoring eight runs over the game's final six frames to drop Miami to 42-51.

Since returning from All-Star break Friday, the Marlins, who now sit 11 1/2 games back of the second National League wild-card spot, have been outscored 36-18, with Stanton accounting for nearly one-third of their runs as well as five of their 17 extra-base hits.

Stanton's frustration over the Marlins' ongoing slide is likely compounded by the incessant trade rumors surrounding him and his teammates, as the Marlins are reportedly preparing to unload key players to facilitate owner Jeffrey Loria's sale of the club. While team president Michael Hill has said the club isn't looking to trade its young stars, with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline looming, and Loria closing in on a deal to sell the franchise, Stanton has been linked in rumors to numerous teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants.

"It's tough on guys in here," veteran catcher A.J. Ellis told Bob Nightengale of USA Today earlier this month. "You're living on edge. It's especially tough for a lot of these guys who have been lifelong Marlins. This is all they know."