Wednesday, September 02

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KANSAS CITY -- The final month of the regular season is upon us, and though the Marlins’ postseason odds aren’t promising, their remaining regular-season schedule works in their favor.

Eighteen of Miami’s final 23 games are against clubs ahead of them in the standings. Though the Marlins (70-69) are three games behind the Padres (73-66) for the third and final National League Wild Card spot, they will face their direct competition in a race to the finish.

“It's a great thing,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “You'd rather have it that way, that the people that are next up are those that you can control your own destiny a little bit, say within a series. So, I'd rather have it that way. Competition is great. There's not an easy series in this league, and certainly we're going to need to get hot here and start winning some games, and you'd hope that type of sprint for a month would set you up well if you're able to get in.”

Around this time last year, the Marlins were 65-74 and 10 games back with seven teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings. By season’s end, the club had finished four games back and hadn’t been eliminated until the second-to-last series, thanks to a stretch of 11 wins in 12 games.

Let’s look at what remains of the 2026 regular-season schedule and what to expect from each matchup.

Wednesday and Thursday at Kansas City
The Royals (62-77) are very much on the outside looking in when it comes to the American League race, but they have won 12 of 15 and are playing some of their best baseball. A big reason for the turnaround is University of Florida product Jac Caglianone, who hit .411 with six home runs and 26 RBIs in August.

Friday-Sunday vs. Cubs
It might be the final month of the season, but this will be the first time these clubs square off this season. The Cubs (78-61) are one game behind the Phillies (79-60) for the top NL Wild Card spot, which would determine home-field advantage in the first round. They are also trying to track down the Brewers for the NL Central crown. Leading the way is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is making a strong case to supplant Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP. Former Marlin Edward Cabrera and Dansby Swanson are working back from injuries.

Sept. 7-9 vs. Mets
This will be Miami’s final series against a team not in the postseason picture. When these clubs met prior to the Trade Deadline, the Marlins took three of four in Queens. Although the Mets are last in the NL East, they will probably be rolling out a healthy Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, plus a promising young outfield. While Miami is 6-4 against New York this season, this could be the Mets’ turn to play spoiler after the Marlins did so during last year’s final weekend.

Sept. 11-13 vs. Dodgers
The two-time reigning World Series champions will come to town with the NL West all but locked up and battling Milwaukee and Atlanta for first-round byes. It’s anyone’s guess which Dodgers will be available to wrap up the long homestand. Ohtani hasn’t resumed pitching, while closer Edwin Díaz, Roki Sasaki and Andy Pages, among others, are eyeing September returns. The Marlins won two of three at Chavez Ravine in April.

Sept. 14-16 at Arizona
If the Marlins miss out on the postseason, a number of things can be to blame. Near the top of the list would be the club’s road record (28-42) compared to a 42-27 home record. Assuming Miami is still in the picture by then, this three-city, nine-game trip will be the ultimate chance to gain ground or bid its playoff aspirations adieu. The Marlins swept the D-backs during a historic June, so the head-to-head tiebreaker is very much attainable. Arizona will likely have pitchers Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen back then.

Sept. 18-20 at San Diego
The Padres and D-backs continue to leapfrog each other in the standings, so this will also have direct implications. During a franchise-worst 12-game skid, Miami was swept at home by San Diego. This makes the head-to-head tiebreaker a tough one to crack, needing a sweep to break even. If there’s any consolation, the Marlins lost two of the three games by two runs. Like the D-backs, the Padres look poised to gain some pitching reinforcements in Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Jason Adam.  

Sept. 22-24 at Chicago
Miami closes out its road slate with three at the Friendly Confines, including two night games. Will the Cubs be out of the NL Central race by then? Will they still be in a dead heat with the Phillies for the first NL Wild Card spot? Will they be lining up their pitching staff and resting players?

Sept. 25-27 vs. Braves
Some of those questions also relate to the final series of the season. Will the Braves have clinched the NL East by then? Will seeds for the division winners be set? The Marlins are 2-8 vs. the Braves, most recently being swept in Atlanta following the Trade Deadline. When the Marlins made the postseason in 2023, they swept the Braves at home in mid-September under similar circumstances.

Ryan Gusto joined MLB Now to discuss the keys to the Marlins’ pitching success and the advantages of calling pitches from the dugout.

• The Marlins recalled right-hander Bradley Blalock and infielder Graham Pauley as rosters expanded. Pauley drove in a career-high four runs in the series-opening win. More >> 

• Xavier Edwards is on the injured list with a sprained left thumb. More >>

• How was Heriberto Hernández able to turn around his season? More >>

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