Miami Marlins vs. San Diego Padres
at Petco Park
- Game 1: 6:40 p.m. Friday (Padres.TV)
- Game 2: 5:40 p.m. Saturday (Padres.TV)
- Game 3: 1:10 p.m. Sunday (Padres.TV)
In the standings
Miami Marlins (76-77, 3rd in NL East)
The Marlins are eight games behind the Padres in the wild-card chase and arrive in San Diego with an elimination number of 2 (Marlins losses or Padres wins). Those long odds didn’t keep Miami from taking two of three in Arizona. The Marlins were swept at home by the Padres in July.
San Diego Padres (84-69, 2nd in NL West)
The Padres have won nine of 10 and 11 of 14 in September to build a four-game lead on the Diamondbacks in the race for the NL’s third wild-card spot. They have also closed to within one game of the Cubs and Phillies, who are tied for the top wild-card spots in the NL (the Padres lost the season series to both and would have to finish ahead of them in the standings to overtake either). The Padres’ playoff odds, as calculated by FanGraphs.com, have swelled to 89.1%.
Trending
Miami: The Marlins have a .777 OPS (5th) in September and a 5.65 ERA (28th) through a 7-8 start to the month. Former Padres prospects Jakob Marsee (1.094 OPS this month) and Graham Pauley (1.099 OPS) are tied for the team lead with three homers this month with INF Javier Sanoja (1.030 OPS) and El Cajon native Kyle Stowers (.743).
San Diego: The Padres lead the majors with an .841 OPS in September and have a 4.26 ERA (16th) during an 11-4 start to the month. OF Fernando Tatis Jr. leads the team with six homers and a 1.078 OPS this month, while Jackson Merrill (3 HRs, 1.064 OPS) leads the team with 15 RBIs. Only three regulars have an OPS under .700 this month: C Freddy Fermin (.690), C Luis Campusano (.672) and 2B Jake Cronenworth (.610).
Pitching matchups
Friday
Marlins RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.56 ERA) | He’s got a 1.96 ERA in 36 ⅔ innings as a reliever and a 4.26 ERA in 82 ⅓ innings as a starter this year. Phillips has not completed six innings in any of his last 13 appearances (4.22 ERA) and has allowed five runs over his last two starts (8⅔ IP). He’s only faced the Padres as a reliever, throwing four shutout innings across two appearances last year. He struck out one, walked one and did not allow a hit in those games.
Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (2-2, 3.60 ERA) | He’s allowed two runs on five hits over nine innings in two starts since his return from his forearm injury. Both runs scored on a homer. Pivetta has struck out seven without walking a batter through those two starts. He has a 4.62 ERA in 60⅓ career innings against the Marlins. He last faced them in 2024, striking out 10 over seven shutout innings in a no-decision.
Saturday
Marlins RHP Eury Perez (7-11, 3.99 ERA) | His 144 ⅓ career innings are nearly 50 innings more than last year’s previous high. Perez hasn’t completed six innings in any of his last five starts (8.22 ERA). He allowed three runs in seven innings in a loss to the Padres in Miami in July.
Padres RHP Casey Mize (6-9, 3.69 ERA) | He’s got a 5.97 ERA through eight starts since the trade, but the Padres have won his last two trips to the mound (10 ⅔ IP, 4.22 ERA).Mize has a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against the Marlins, including 5⅔ innings of one-run ball in a win earlier this year as a Tiger.
Sunday
Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (13-10, 3.86 ERA) | He entered the weekend leading the majors in innings (206) and hits allowed (195). Alcantara had an 8.02 ERA during a four-start losing streak (21 ⅓ IP before coming out of the bullpen Wednesday for his first career save. Alcantara has a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres, including two last year (11 IP, 6 ER).
Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.58 ERA) | He’s allowed three runs or less in 11 straight starts (3.31 ERA), although he’s completed at least five innings in just seven of those starts. Buehler has a 3.79 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins, including a no-decision this year (5 ⅓ IP, 3 R, 2 ER).
Qualifying leaders
- OPS: Marlins—SS Otto Lopez (.787), OF Kyle Stowers (.782), 2B Xavier Edwards (.735); Padres—OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.817), OF Jackson Merrill (.748), 3B Manny Machado (.721).
- HRs: Marlins—OF Heriberto Hernandez (24), Stowers (19), OF Griffin Conine (16); Padres—Machado (28), Merrill (25), Tatis (23).
- RBIs: Marlins—Lopez (69), Hernandez (64), INF Javier Sanoja (63); Padres—Merrill (85), Machado (84), Tatis (78).
- Steals: Marlins—Lopez (31), OF Esteury Ruiz (30), OF Jakob Marsee (23); Padres—Tatis (35), Merrill (26), SS Xander Bogaerts (21).
- Saves: Marlins—RHP Pete Fairbanks (19-for-23, 6.31 ERA); Padres—RHP Mason Miller (37-for-39, 1.12 ERA).
- Holds: Marlins—RHP Michael Petersen (25, 3.08 ERA), RHP Calvin Faucher (17, 3.50 ERA), RHP Tyler Zuber (10, 5.02 ERA); Padres—LHP Adrián Morejón (26, 2.87 ERA), RHP Jason Adam (17, 2.51 ERA), RHP Bradgley Rodriguez (15, 2.38 ERA).
Training room
Miami: Closer Pete Fairbanks is done for the year after leaving his second start back from the IL with nerve irritation. RHP Max Meyer (neck) has been shut down for the year. The Marlins are also without LHP Robby Snelling (UCL), RHP Adam Mazur (UCL), RHP Anthony Bender (shin), OF Owen Caissie (lumbar), LHP Andrew Nardi (elbow), RHP Ronny Henriquez (elbow) and RHP William Kempner (elbow).
San Diego: RHP Jason Adam (shoulder) has made two rehab starts at Triple-A El Paso. DH Miguel Andujar (wrist) is also rehabbing with El Paso. RHP Joe Musgrove (elbow) is continuing to play catch but has not resumed throwing bullpens following latest setback. RHP Jeremiah Estrada (shoulder) is rehabbing in Arizona, while OF Ramón Laureano (hip surgery) has begun baseball activity but is not close to game action. 1B Gavin Sheets (plantar fasciitis) is playing rehab games in Arizona, while INF Luis Rengifo (knee) is done for the year.