The Marlins have clawed their way back into the conversation at just the right time.
After a brutal 12-game losing streak, Miami flipped the script with a sweep of the Phillies, and the turnaround came with all the ingredients: a three-run ninth-inning comeback, a Sandy Alcantara gem, and two straight Pete Fairbanks saves. Now the next test arrives in New York, where the Marlins open a four-game series against the Mets on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.
This is the first meeting between the teams since they swept each other in back-to-back series in late May, and the standings give the matchup a very different feel now. The Mets come in 17 games under .500 and 11 games back of a playoff spot. Miami is one game above .500 and just two games out.
Eury Perez is expected to take the ball for the Marlins opposite Nolan McLean. Perez is 5-8 with a 3.56 ERA, while McLean is 7-7 with a 3.32 mark.
Perez has been at his best since coming off the injured list in late June. This month, he has a 1.73 ERA and has not given up more than three runs in any of his last eight starts. His slider has been the difference-maker all year, holding hitters to a .154 average with a 42.7 whiff rate.
The active Mets bats have not done much against him in limited looks. The one exception is Bo Bichette, who has a .875 OPS in eight at-bats against Perez.
McLean’s rookie season has had its rough patches, especially in May, when he posted a 6.10 ERA. But he has settled in nicely since then. He has allowed more than two runs only once since May 25 and owns a 1.50 ERA this month.
He already saw Miami once, and the outing was solid enough: one run on two hits and five walks across five innings on May 31. Owen Caissie had the only two hits against him that day, but Caissie is now on the injured list.
For Miami, the timing matters. The Marlins have reached the final series before the August 3 trade deadline with momentum and a real chance to keep pushing. In a season that has swung wildly from one extreme to another, this weekend’s series could go a long way toward shaping what the front office decides next.
In Other News...
Marlins Deadline Plan Just Put One Huge Roster Decision In Focus
With the trade deadline closing in, the Marlins are still trying to address the same broad problem that has shadowed much of their season: the roster needs help, and it needs it in more than one place. Third base remains a clear area to monitor, while the pitching staff also needs reinforcements, and owner Bruce Sherman has already given president of baseball operations Peter Bendix the go-ahead to add if the right move presents itself.
One of the more interesting parts of Miamis deadline planning is how specific the pitching search has become. The club is looking for a versatile arm who can cover multiple roles and help fill the spot Tyler Phillips has occupied, which gives the front office a little more flexibility as it sorts through the market. There are also names being floated as possible fits, but for now the bigger story is simply that the Marlins are trying to thread the needle between immediate upgrades and longer-term roster management. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Running Out Of Time To Fix A Familiar Problem
The Marlins are still weighing whether to make a move at third base before the deadline, and the search has already turned into the kind of familiar summer dilemma that can define a front office. Miami has been linked to several possible fixes at the position, with the market offering different levels of production, control and cost as the club tries to decide whether a short-term upgrade is worth the price.
What makes the decision trickier is the timing. The Marlins are trying to stay relevant in a crowded wild-card picture, while clubs such as San Francisco and Philadelphia sit in very different spots on the standings spectrum and can shape the trade market in their own ways. For Miami, the question is not just whether a third baseman is available, but whether the right one can be found quickly enough to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins And Telemundo 51 Just Opened A Big Door For South Florida Fans
South Florida Marlins fans are getting a new way to follow the club this season, with Telemundo 51 Miami and the team announcing a partnership that will bring live Spanish-language game broadcasts to local viewers. It is a notable step for a franchise that has long tried to deepen its connection with the region, and it puts two loanDepot park dates in the spotlight for fans who want to watch on familiar, free television.
The first telecast is set for the Aug. 9 game against the Los Angeles Angels, followed by the Sept. 27 matchup with the Atlanta Braves. Both broadcasts will air over the air in South Florida, opening the door to a wider audience and giving the Marlins another way to reach households that might not otherwise catch a game from start to finish. [Read more 🡒]