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Miami Marlins Officially Eliminated From Postseason Contention

 

 

MIAMI — The Miami Marlins' 2026 season will end without a trip to October.

Miami was officially eliminated from postseason contention following Friday night's 8-2 loss to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, bringing an end to a season that featured plenty of promise but ultimately fell short of the organization's postseason goal.

The Marlins entered the 2026 campaign with legitimate expectations of competing for a playoff spot after improving by 17 games in 2025. The organization reinforced the roster during the offseason, including signing closer Pete Fairbanks to a franchise-record deal while adding Chris Paddack and John King to the pitching staff.

For a stretch, Miami looked like a team capable of making that vision a reality.

The Marlins went 20-6 in June, carrying that momentum into early July and positioning themselves in the National League postseason race. But a 12-game losing streak later in July dramatically changed the trajectory of the season.

Injuries also played a significant role. Fairbanks, Anthony Bender and All-Star Max Meyer were among the players who dealt with significant injuries, while several offseason additions, including Paddack, King, Christopher Morel and Austin Slater, were no longer with the club by the end of the season. Top prospect Owen Caissie also finished the year on the injured list.

A Tough Finish

Miami's elimination came against a Padres team fighting for its own postseason opportunity.

San Diego jumped on the Marlins in the fifth inning Friday night, scoring six runs in the frame. Ty France delivered the biggest blow with a three-run home run, turning a 1-1 game into a 4-1 San Diego advantage. The Padres eventually pulled away for the 8-2 victory.

Agustín Ramírez provided Miami's first run with a solo home run in the third inning, while Javier Sanoja added an RBI single later in the game.

The loss dropped Miami to 76-78 at the time of elimination. The Marlins entered the final week of the regular season officially out of the National League playoff race.

What Went Wrong?

The Marlins' season can largely be viewed as a tale of two halves.

Miami went 52-45 during the first half of the season, averaging 4.53 runs per game while allowing 4.28. Following the All-Star break, however, the Marlins fell to 24-33 while their run prevention numbers worsened and their offense struggled to consistently produce.

Miami scored three runs or fewer in 27 games following the All-Star break — nearly half of its games during that stretch.

The result was a team that struggled to put all three phases together consistently. On some nights the pitching kept Miami in games while the offense struggled. On other nights, the offense produced while the pitching couldn't hold the opposition down.

Manager Clayton McCullough acknowledged the disappointment following the elimination.

“We came into this season wanting to, expecting to be one of the six National League teams that would play beyond the regular season, and we're not going to be able to do that.”

Looking Toward 2027

Although Miami's postseason hopes are officially over, the final games of the season still provide an opportunity for the organization to evaluate its young players and determine what needs to change heading into 2027.

With eight games remaining following the elimination, the Marlins were scheduled to finish the regular season against the Padres, Cubs and Braves — three teams involved in the National League postseason picture.

The Marlins now have to turn their attention toward the offseason.

After showing enough progress to become a legitimate postseason contender during portions of 2026, Miami will have to determine how it can avoid another late-season collapse and build enough depth to withstand the injuries and adversity that affected this year's club.

For a franchise looking to establish itself as a consistent contender in the National League, the lessons from 2026 could be just as important as the results.

The postseason may be out of reach, but the work toward 2027 has already begun.

 

 

 

 

Written by: Daniel Torres