For the Marlins, the point of September isn’t really whether they sneak into October. It’s what this stretch says about a team that’s still being built.
Their playoff odds are only 2.2% according to Fangraphs, so the postseason remains a long shot. But a late-season push still matters because it gives this young roster a chance to play games that mean something, and that matters for a club that’s trying to grow into something better by 2027 and beyond.
That kind of experience can’t be faked. The Marlins’ current group is far removed from the one that last reached the postseason in 2023, when they were swept by the Phillies in the Wild Card round.
Since then, the roster has changed a lot, with Edward Cabrera and Jazz Chisholm Jr., among others, leaving in trades or free agency. A lot of what’s here now has come up through the minors, which means the team is still short on seasoning.
That’s why a September full of pressure is valuable. The Marlins have been hovering around .500, and that’s a much better classroom than a lost season where the finish line can’t come soon enough. They’re getting a taste of the kind of late-season environment teams have to handle when they’re trying to win.
There’s also value in seeing this group closer to full strength for longer. Injuries have taken a toll, and Kyle Stowers has had a very affected season in that regard, but the Marlins did avoid a full sell-off at the deadline. That gives Peter Bendex and his front office a better read on what this roster looks like and what still needs to be added before 2027.
The pitching side matters, too. With healthy starters still active in the rotation, the Marlins are getting a look at how their arms handle a longer grind.
If this club is going to be playing in October next season, those pitchers would have to carry their workload for another month, while the bullpen gets managed differently as well. September offers a preview of that test, and for a young team, that kind of rehearsal is worth plenty even if the playoff path stays narrow.
In Other News...
Marlins Move On From Recent Infield Addition After Bat Never Arrived
The Marlins have already moved on from one of their more recent infield additions, parting ways with Leo Jimenez after a short and difficult stint in Miami. Acquired from the Blue Jays shortly after Opening Day, Jimenez never found much traction at the plate, and the club eventually designated him for assignment before opting for a release rather than keeping him in the system outright.
Leo Jimenez now becomes a free agent, able to look for another landing spot with a different organization. For Miami, the move clears another spot on the roster and underscores how quickly the team has been willing to reset around production, especially with infield depth still a talking point as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Preston Wilson Gave Marlins Fans A Comeback Moment Worth Remembering
September 5, 2001, still stands out as one of those nights Marlins fans could file away and revisit anytime they needed a jolt. Preston Wilson delivered the kind of ending that lingers in a ballpark, turning a tense game against the Cubs into a 7-6 Florida win with his only career walk-off home run, a three-run shot that capped a comeback moment worth remembering.
Wilsons place in franchise history only adds to the significance. He is one of just 10 players to reach 100 home runs for the Marlins, and he sits 10th on the clubs all-time list, a reminder that his impact in Miami went well beyond one swing. Even so, there was something fitting about the way he finished that night, working a six-pitch battle against Cubs closer Tom Gordon before sending the crowd home happy. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Just Became Part Of A Cubs Rotation Decision That Matters
Shota Imanaga kept the Marlins from doing much damage in Chicago, working 6.0 innings and allowing one earned run in a game that again put Miami in the middle of a bigger Cubs pitching conversation. The Cubs also got a lift from their everyday pieces, with Miguel Amaya behind the plate and Nico Hoerner collecting multiple hits as his bat continues to look more like itself.
Still, the more relevant storyline for Miami may be what comes next on the Cubs side. Chicago is sorting through its rotation and trying to decide who stays in the mix as the schedule tightens, and the latest turn has only sharpened the focus on how the club wants to line up its arms going forward. [Read more 🡒]