Marlins, Padres Prepare for Upcoming Series Amid Injury Concerns

MIAMI, FL — The Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres are set to face off in a three-game series starting Monday. The Marlins, currently 21-30, are struggling in the National League East, trailing 12 games behind the division leader. Despite winning two of three games against the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend, they are also eight games out of a wild-card spot.

The Marlins have shown some potential recently, winning six of their last ten games. However, they hold a minus-75 run differential, which is the fourth-worst in Major League Baseball. Their struggles are further highlighted by rankings of 16th in OPS (.704), 29th in rotation ERA (5.65), and 25th in bullpen ERA (4.91).

Key players for Miami include third baseman Connor Norby and outfielder Jesus Sanchez, both contributing five RBIs and hitting home runs in their last six games. Norby leads the team with a 1.055 OPS during this stretch, while Sanchez follows closely with an .870 OPS. In addition, right-handed pitcher Ronny Henriquez has struck out six batters in 3⅓ innings without allowing a run over his last six outings.

The Padres, standing at 29-22 and third in the NL West, recently broke a six-game losing streak by taking two out of three games in Atlanta. They are currently just two games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and one game behind the San Francisco Giants.

Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets has been on fire, hitting four home runs and driving in eight runs during the last road trip. His 1.084 OPS is second only to third baseman Manny Machado‘s 1.096 OPS over that same span. Despite some struggles from players like first baseman Luis Arraez and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., the team appears poised for a turnaround.

In the upcoming series, the Marlins will start left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers (1-0, 1.80 ERA) on Monday, who has not faced the Padres since 2023. Weathers is looking to build on his strong performance after returning from injury this season. The Padres will counter with right-hander Randy Vásquez (3-4, 4.49 ERA), who has improved recently with an ERA of 2.70 over his last 16 ⅔ innings.

Miami will also feature right-hander Max Meyer (3-4, 4.15 ERA) and Cy Young award winner Sandy Alcantara (2-7, 8.04 ERA) in subsequent games. Alcantara has struggled since returning from Tommy John surgery, allowing a league-worst 42 earned runs this season. On the other side, the Padres will send out Stephen Kolek (2-1, 2.84 ERA) and Nick Pivetta (5-2, 2.72 ERA).

Injuries continue to plague both teams. Miami’s right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez is nearing a return from Tommy John surgery, while several key players are on the injured list. San Diego recently placed pitcher Michael King on the injured list due to a shoulder issue. They are hopeful King will only miss two starts, but other players continue to face extended recovery timelines.