The Miami Marlins are tired of hearing that they haven’t won a baseball game since sweeping the Seattle Mariners July 9 at loanDepot park.
Losers of nine consecutive games, two shy of a franchise record, the Marlins (52-51) return to loanDepot park on Friday to open a six-game, six-day homestand.
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Up first is the start of a three-game weekend series against the San Diego Padres (50-53), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
The Marlins are treating Friday’s contest as a bullpen game, sending 6-foot-4 right-hander Ryan Gusto (0-2, 4.70 ERA) to the mound.
Gusto, 27, is replacing All-Star right-hander Max Meyer, who was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 19, because of a neck strain.
There is no timetable for when Meyer is expected to return to the rotation.
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The Padres, who lost three of four in their most recent series against the Atlanta Braves, enter the series looking to rebound.
Veteran right-hander Germán Márquez (4-2, 5.24 ERA) will get the start, and the Marlins have seen plenty of him during his career with the Colorado Rockies.
Márquez is 4-3 with a 5.09 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins, striking out 49 batters in 40 2/3 innings.
His most recent start against Miami came on June 2, 2025, when he earned the win while allowing four runs on nine hits over five innings with six strikeouts.
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The Marlins will look to get their offense going after struggling to find consistency during their season-long losing streak.
Miami has been unable to string together enough quality at-bats during the skid, putting additional pressure on its pitching staff to keep games within reach.
Speaking of pitching, the Marlins received great news on the injury front before first pitch as the club activated left-handed reliever John King (left lateral ankle sprain) from the 15-day injured list.
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King, 31, hasn’t pitched since July 7 and has posted a 2.48 ERA in 40 relief appearances this season.
The team’s recent struggles have come at an inopportune time, with the Marlins trying to remain in the postseason conversation as the season continues through the second half.
Entering Friday, the Marlins, who were once three games ahead for the final National League Wild Card spot, sit two games out.
A return home could provide an opportunity to reset after a difficult stretch and regain some momentum in front of the home crowd.
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