Marlins continue uninspired play, swept by Padres

With the Marlins officially eliminated from postseason contention, the focus shifts from competing in 2026 to finishing strong and laying the groundwork for a superior 2027 campaign. This weekend was not too encouraging from that standpoint. The Marlins fell to the San Diego Padres, 7-3, to wrap up a three-game sweep.

Overall, Miami ends the season having gone 0-6 against the Padres, marking just the eighth time in franchise history they failed to collect a win in a season series of six-plus games.

Making his first start since earning his first career save on Wednesday, Sandy Alcantara surrendered four runs over six innings of work, raising his season ERA to 3.91. Miami have now lost each of Alcantara's last eight starts, a stretch in which Alcantara has a 5.21 ERA. 

The Padres wasted little time in getting to Alcantara thanks a second inning, two-runner homer off the bat of Jake Cronenworth.

Of the 209 MLB hitters who entered Sunday with at least 375 plate appearances this season, Cronenworth's 72 adjusted OPS+ ranked as the seventh-worst. At just 325 feet, Cronenworth's home run is tied for the third-shortest in Petco Park history.

Cronenworth's role as the Marlins villain was far from over though, as he would follow up his home run with an RBI double in the fourth. His coup de grace, however, came in the eighth when he launched his second two-run homer of the day. 

Miami's comeback attempt came in the top of the seventh when Walker Buehler, working into the seventh inning for the first time this season - surrendered a three-run home run to Javier Sanoja. The long ball gave Sanoja the first double digit home run season in his career.

Winners of nine of ten, the Padres 87-69 record sees them tied with the Marlins' next opponent, the Chicago Cubs, for the top NL Wild Card spot. The Marlins will have to win out to finish above .500 and go at least 4-2 to surpass last season's record.

Of Note

In what will be a light schedule in Major League Baseball on Monday, the Marlins will fly to Chicago, where they will open up a three-game series Tuesday against the Cubs.

Janson Junk (6-9, 4.50 ERA) will get the ball for Miami in the series opener.

First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 7:40 EST.