Gina: Corbin Carroll just stole the show last night with a walk-off homer, and now the Marlins have to face him again tonight. Can Miami’s young lineup survive another night in Arizona?
Wes: It’s going to be a tough test. The bullpen is stretched thin, and Arizona is playing for their playoff life. This series is on the line.
Gina: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, America's number one daily sports podcast! I’m Gina, and this is your Miami Marlins preview show. We are live from the desert as the Marlins head back to Phoenix for Game 3 against the Diamondbacks.
Wes: And I’m Wes. We’ve got a packed card tonight. First, we’ll break down the pitching matchup and how Miami handles the D-backs’ power-heavy offense. Then, we’ll look at the key hitters who need to step up, especially given the injury list. Finally, we’ll give you our keys to the series and a bold prediction for tonight’s game.
Gina: That’s right. We’re looking at a critical late-season series. The Marlins are sitting at 74-77, third in the NL East, while the Diamondbacks are 80-71, third in the NL West. Let’s dive into Segment One: The Series and the Pitching Probables.
Wes: So, let’s talk about the rotation situation. Last night, Max Meyer was on the 15-Day IL, and Anthony Bender was also out. That leaves a very thin staff. Who is starting tonight for Miami?
Gina: Good question, Wes. The brief doesn’t explicitly name the probable starter for tonight, but we know Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, and Janson Junk are in the mix. Given the injuries to Meyer and Bender, they might be leaning on someone like Ryan Gusto or even a reliever if they’re in a must-win spot.
Wes: Right. And look at the Diamondbacks’ side. They just won 8-7 in extra innings thanks to Corbin Carroll’s two-run homer. Their offense is clicking. If Miami starts a veteran like Alcantara, he needs to go deep into the game because the bullpen is so depleted.
Gina: Exactly. And remember, Pete Fairbanks is Day-To-Day, not out yet. So the Marlins can’t rely on him being available tonight. This puts pressure on the starters to eat innings. It’s a classic late-season grind.
Wes: Let’s talk about the ABS challenge system. You mentioned it in the headlines. How does that impact the umpires tonight? The D-backs are aggressive with challenges.
Gina: Great point. The ABS challenge system tracker shows team rankings for batters and catchers. If the D-backs are high on that leaderboard, they’re going to challenge every close call. That slows down the game and can frustrate pitchers.
Wes: Frustration leads to mistakes. If a Miami pitcher gets rattled by constant challenges, that’s when you give up those big innings. It’s a mental game as much as a physical one. We saw it last night with the comeback.
Gina: The Marlins rallied from a three-run deficit last night but fell short. That resilience is good, but can they sustain it? Stick with us, because in Segment Two, we’re diving into the injuries and who needs to produce offensively.
Wes: Okay, let’s get into the weeds of the roster. We have a lot of names on IL. Ryne Nelson, Tyler Locklear, Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk, Andrew Saalfrank, Ronny Henriquez—all on the 60-Day IL. That’s a huge chunk of the bullpen gone.
Gina: It’s brutal. And then you add Owen Caissie on the 10-Day IL, Max Meyer on the 15-Day IL, and Anthony Bender on the 15-Day IL. Who is left to pitch? Josh Ekness, Calvin Faucher, Cade Gibson, Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips, Jack Ralston, Victor Vodnik, Tyler Zuber. That’s it.
Wes: That’s a very young, unproven group. Victor Vodnik and Jack Ralston might see heavy usage. But offensively, who is carrying the load? We know Jakob Marsee has been crucial, as we discussed yesterday against the Dodgers.
Gina: Marsee is key. But don’t forget Agustín Ramírez. He hit that walk-off homer against the Dodgers on Sunday. Pinch-hitter, two-run shot, four-run ninth inning. That’s clutch performance. He’s the DH here.
Wes: Ramírez is having a huge moment. And Otto Lopez had a four-hit game against LA. The middle infield of Lopez and Xavier Edwards—if Edwards is healthy—provides speed and contact. But Edwards was mentioned in the injury context earlier, right?
Gina: Yes, Edwards was highlighted in the injury recap for previous games. If he’s not 100%, Jared Serna or Javier Sanoja might be filling in. The defensive positioning changes too. Platoon splits matter against Arizona’s lefty-heavy lineup.
Wes: Speaking of platoon splits, Corbin Carroll is a nightmare for right-handed pitching. He hit that game-winner in the ninth. If Miami starts a righty, they need to keep him off the plate. Plate discipline is everything here.
Gina: Agreed. And Griffin Conine and Esteury Ruiz in the outfield need to be sharp. No errors allowed. Every mistake costs runs in this ballpark. Let’s move to Segment Three: Keys to the Series and Our Bold Prediction.
Wes: Here are my keys. One: Starters must go seven innings. No burning out the bullpen. Two: Get ahead in the count against Carroll and the top of the D-backs order. Three: Small ball. Bunt, steal, move runners over. Make them work.
Gina: I love that. And for me, it’s about confidence. After the walk-off win against LA, there’s momentum. But after the loss to Arizona, there’s doubt. Which version of the Marlins shows up? I think the hunger to split the series will drive them.
Wes: Hunger is real. But Arizona is fighting for a playoff spot. They’re desperate. Miami is 74-77, still mathematically alive but not guaranteed. The stakes feel different. I’m going to predict Arizona wins tonight. 5-3. They’ll exploit the bullpen depth issues.
Gina: I disagree, Wes. I think the Marlins steal this one. 4-3. Ramirez drives in two, and the young arms hold on. It’s a gritty win. What do you think, listeners? Are you picking Miami or Arizona? Check the link in the episode description to vote!
Wes: There you have it. Two different predictions, one exciting series. The Marlins are fighting hard despite the injuries. It’s been a wild ride this September.
Gina: If you love this show, please subscribe, rate, and review us! And hey, we want to keep this network free for everyone. No ads, no paywalls—just pure baseball talk. Your support keeps us daily. Tap the link in the episode description to help us out.
Wes: We appreciate every listener. Keep rooting for the Fish.
Gina: Go Marlins! See you tomorrow!