Seattle Mariners at Miami Marlins

MIAMI – Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers has never played in the postseason. But he imagines grinding out games like the first two against the Mariners this week is what he can expect should his ballclub make it to October baseball. Right-hander Tyler Phillips tossed five innings and Stowers went deep in the 2-0 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday night at loanDepot park as the Marlins (51-42) improved to an MLB-best 25-8 since June 1 with its fifth consecutive win. The club is nine games over .500 for the first time since July 18, 2023 (53-44). The Marlins have won 15 of their past 17 home games, which is the best home mark in the Majors during that span (dating to May 22). Miami has captured six consecutive home series, with a chance to sweep in righty Janson Junk’s return from the injured list on Thursday. By taking at least two of three from Seattle, Miami passed its latest litmus test against a quality opponent. The Mariners not only won the American League West in 2025, but they also fell just short of the World Series by losing the AL Championship Series in seven games to the Blue Jays. “Innings one through nine, game's never over,” Stowers said. “We kind of saw that yesterday, their ability to just keep knocking on the door and staying in it, and our ability to respond and not fall flat. That was really cool. “Obviously, they're a really, really good team, but we believe in ourselves against everyone. We think we're a really good team as well, and we prepare well. It's always fun playing against teams that you see make deep postseason runs.” Stowers homered for the fourth time in as many games to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead in the second as he continues to regain his 2025 All-Star form (.960 OPS since June 1). He ambushed righty George Kirby’s first-pitch knuckle curve to open the inning, sending it to straightaway center. Thanks to Stowers’ tater, the Marlins hold a 31-3 record (.912) when outhomering their opponent, trailing only the Rays (24-1, .960) for the best winning percentage. Miami is certainly not reliant on the long ball, having knocked the eighth-fewest homers in the Majors (94), but the lineup has found a power surge of late with 16 home runs this month – second most in MLB. Miami added a run in the third on Xavier Edwards’ two-out RBI triple, which scored All-Star Otto Lopez. On the pitching side, Phillips worked around four hits and two walks to keep Seattle off the scoreboard. Lefty Cade Gibson followed with two scoreless fram