(Photo credit score: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
The Marlins could wish to thank whoever made their 2026 schedule.
That’s as a result of Miami’s first six video games are at dwelling in opposition to the 2 groups with the worst information within the majors final season.
On Sunday, Miami accomplished a three-game sweep over the Rockies, who misplaced 119 contests in 2025.
Next up, the Marlins will host the White Sox, who misplaced 102 video games final yr. It was Chicago’s third straight 100-loss season.
Monday’s opener of a three-game set will characteristic a matchup between right-handers Chris Paddack of Miami and Davis Martin for Chicago.
Paddack, 30, will make his Marlins debut 11 years after Miami drafted him within the eighth spherical. Before he might make the majors, the Marlins traded him to San Diego for Fernando Rodney in 2016.
From there, Paddack developed right into a stable main leaguer, going 32-36 with a 4.64 ERA over seven seasons with three groups (Padres, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers).
In February, he got here again dwelling, signing a one-year, $4 million contract to be a part of a rotation that features standouts Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez.
Paddack, who’s 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 5 begins in opposition to the White Sox, depends on a fastball (94-96 mph) and a plus changeup. He additionally has a slider/cutter and a curve.
Martin, a 29-year-old changeup artist who has by no means confronted the Marlins, depends on finesse. He struck out simply 6.6 batters per 9 innings final season for Chicago and completed 7-10 with a 4.10 ERA. For his three-year profession, he’s 10-21 with a 4.32 ERA.
On Monday, Martin will face a Marlins squad that boasts a big Canadian affect. Miami’s Canadian natives are catcher Liam Hicks, outfielder Owen Caissie and bench coach Carson Vitale. In addition, shortstop Otto Lopez was raised in Canada for the reason that age of 10.
‘We have loads of Canadian assist,’ Marlins supervisor Clayton McCullough mentioned.
In truth, Caissie, a rookie acquired from the Cubs in January within the Edward Cabrera commerce, hit a two-run, walk-off homer with two outs within the ninth Sunday, lifting Miami to a 4-3 win over Colorado.
‘Just how we drew it up,’ Caissie joked after getting a Gatorade bathtub from his teammates. ‘We have loads of enjoyable. We’re going to have enjoyable and win ballgames.’
Meanwhile, the White Sox are off to a 0-3 begin after getting swept at Milwaukee.
The White Sox are with out standout catcher Kyle Teel, who has a hamstring harm. In January, Chicago traded slugging heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets. Over the previous three seasons, Robert hit 66 homers and already has a walk-off dinger for New York.
However, the constructive White Sox news is that they signed first baseman Munetaka Murakami in December to a two-year, $34 million contract. So far, Murakami has delivered one dwelling run in every of his three video games this season.
Murakami, who received the Triple Crown in Japan in 2022, is in his prime at 26. He’s the primary participant in White Sox historical past to homer in his first three video games with the franchise.
‘I have to preserve learning the pitchers,’ mentioned Murakami, a left-handed hitter who’s batting .333 with a 1.872 OPS. ‘The pitchers are going to be learning me, so I’ve to maintain enhancing so I can assist us win video games.’
–Field Level Media