Back at full strength, Marlins offense mashes Mets

[Ely Sussman]

NEW YORK — Throughout the 2026 season, there has always been something missing from the Miami Marlins offense. It took until the game No. 112 for the stars to align. Shortly before the start of Saturday's contest, Owen Caissie returned from a right calf strain. With that, every hitter on the Marlins 40-man roster is now simultaneously healthy for the first time this year.

Caissie didn't start on Saturday as Miami was matched up with left-hander Zac Thornton. He didn't even play—with the Marlins leading the New York Mets from wire to wire, his pinch-hitting services were not required.

Thornton labored through arguably the worst start of his young MLB career. He allowed 10 baserunners while lasting 4 ⅔ innings.

A Francisco Lindor fielding error helped the Marlins manufacture a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. They tacked on two more runs in the following inning when Javier Sanoja took Thornton deep to left field.

In the lineup against a lefty for only the third time this season, Griffin Conine singled off Thornton in the top of the fourth. That pushed Esteury Ruiz to third base, where he scored on Otto Lopez's sacrifice fly. Conine's louder contribution came in his next plate appearance when he connected on a towering solo shot against reliever Daniel Duarte. Conine raised his season wRC+ to 153 (with 100 representing league average), putting him on pace for the best single-season mark by any lefty batter in Marlins history.

"He's performed...He has done nothing but hit and put together at-bats," manager Clayton McCullough said of Conine postgame.

Liam Hicks had a pair of RBI singles. That snapped his season-high 10-game drought without driving in a run.

The weakest link in Miami's lineup on Saturday was Xavier Edwards. The switch-hitting second baseman went 0-for-5 and twice stranded the bases loaded.

Overall, the Marlins compiled 10 hits and five walks. They are 10-1 this season when reaching both of those marks in the same contest.

Tyler Phillips (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) did a great job of attacking the bottom of the strike zone. Tyrone Taylor ripped a sinker for a two-run homer in the second inning, but even that pitch was well-located. Keeping the ball down was crucial to inducing a 55.6% ground ball rate on the day.

For the first time since June 28, Phillips had the opportunity to pitch into the sixth inning. McCullough promptly called to his bullpen after Bo Bichette recorded a leadoff single, though.

The 6-2 victory was the Marlins' fifth in their last six games. That hot streak coinciding with a Philadelphia Phillies skid leaves just one game between them in the race for the National League's third wild-card spot.

The four-game series between the Marlins and Mets concludes Sunday afternoon. Sandy Alcantara starts for the road team, having historically fared very well at Citi Field (2.70 ERA in nine career outings). First pitch by New York's still-to-be-announced starter is scheduled for 1:40 p.m.

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