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Marlins Bid for Series Sweep in Season Finale vs. Blue Jays
The Miami Marlins will look to end a disappointing season on a high note by completing a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon. After an 8-1 victory on Saturday and a dominant 15-5 win in the series opener, Miami aims to carry its recent momentum into the final game of the regular season.
Marlins Building Momentum
The Marlins (61-100) have won three straight games and four of their last five, showcasing a strong finish despite a challenging year. This series against the struggling Blue Jays (74-87) has been characterized by aggressive offense and consistent scoring early in games.
With bench coach Luis Urueta at the helm for the last two games due to manager Skip Schumaker’s absence for a family medical issue, the Marlins haven’t missed a beat.
“The boys have been playing super hard,” Urueta said. “It was a pretty easy game to manage.”
The Marlins benefited from a big game from Dane Myers on Saturday, who smashed a three-run homer and added a two-run double for a career-best five RBIs. Additionally, Griffin Conine, a former Blue Jays prospect, has had a strong series, going 3-for-4 with an RBI on Saturday after contributing 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs in the opener.
“Everyone is just taking care of their at-bats,” Conine said. “Everyone wants to finish strong. Hitting is contagious.”
Miami has also made a habit of getting on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning on Saturday and three runs in the first inning on Friday. Over the past four games, the Marlins have managed nine first-inning runs, putting immediate pressure on opposing pitchers.
“Guys are ready; they’re game-planning against the starters,” Urueta said. “It gives you a little bit of confidence to start the game.”
Blue Jays Seeking Redemption
The Blue Jays have struggled in recent weeks, losing nine of their last 11 games. Their offense has faltered, managing just four hits in Saturday’s game. Despite the slump, Toronto has something to play for in the final game: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is chasing his 200th hit of the season, which would make him the sixth player in franchise history to reach that milestone.
Manager John Schneider mentioned that batting Guerrero at the top of the lineup on Sunday instead of his usual spot at third might be considered to give him more opportunities to get that milestone hit.
One positive moment for the Blue Jays on Saturday was Nathan Lukes hitting his first career major league home run in the first inning.
“It’s every kid’s dream to knock that off the bucket list,” Lukes said. “It was amazing.” At age 30, Lukes is the fourth-oldest Blue Jays player to hit his first career home run.
On Saturday, Alejandro Kirk saw his 18-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0-for-3 with a walk. Toronto’s bullpen saw a positive contribution from newly recalled right-hander Nick Robertson, who pitched a clean ninth inning.
Pitching Matchups
The Marlins will send left-hander Ryan Weathers (4-6, 3.81 ERA) to the mound for Sunday’s finale. This will be his first career start against Toronto.
The Blue Jays have yet to officially name a starter for Sunday’s game, but they will likely use an opener followed by left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (5-2, 3.32 ERA). Yarbrough has had success against Miami in the past, posting a 3-2 record with a 1.89 ERA in eight career outings (three starts) against the Marlins.
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Game Outlook
With little more than pride at stake, both teams are looking to end the season on a positive note. For the Marlins, sweeping a series and getting a fourth consecutive win would provide a morale boost going into the offseason. Miami’s offense, led by Myers and Conine in recent games, has shown they can be explosive, particularly early on, and they will be hoping for another strong start.
Toronto, meanwhile, will be looking to avoid the embarrassment of being swept at home. Guerrero’s chase for 200 hits, and the desire to end a rough season with a win, may motivate them to put together a better performance in the finale. They will also hope Ryan Yarbrough can replicate his past success against Miami to give the Blue Jays a fighting chance.
With both teams set to wrap up their campaigns, Sunday’s game is all about ending things on a positive note. For Miami, a sweep would be a nice finishing touch to an otherwise forgettable season, while the Blue Jays are simply looking for a consolation win as they prepare for what comes next in the offseason.
