Weathers awes in season debut while Stowers, Ramírez power offense to a getaway win at Wrigley Field. 

What’s the best next-day remedy for blowing a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth? The return of your best inning-for-inning pitcher from a year ago and a multi-homer effort from a burgeoning middle-of-the-order bat. That’s what propelled the Marlins past the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.

In his season debut on a foggy and cold Wrigley Field night, Ryan Weathers flashed the overpowering stuff that reminded fans of his 122 ERA+ a season ago. He limited the Cubs to one run and just a pair of hits in his five innings of work in Miami’s 3-1 victory to leave the Windy City on a high note.

Topping out at 99 mph with a fastball up nearly two ticks from a year ago, Weathers’ strong effort couldn’t have come at a better time for a Marlins rotation that entered the day with the second-worst ERA in the majors (6.17). With the win, Weathers became the first Marlins starter to earn a win since Cal Quantrill back on April 25.

“To get through five with the number of pitches he had…The stuff, I just thought he threw great,” said manager Clayton McCullough. In 17 starts since the start of 2024, Weathers owns a 3.53 ERA.

The bullpen, in relief of Weathers, held Chicago scoreless in their four innings of work, an effort highlighted by a moment for Jesús Tinoco, who authored the blown save in Tuesday’s 5-4 defeat.

In the batter’s box, Kyle Stowers continued his ascension on the list of feared sluggers, hitting a pair of home runs—one to each side of the field—in his third multi-homer game of the season. In doing so, he became just the fourth Marlin since the start of 2018 with three such games in a single season. 

Stowers continued endearing himself to fans when he became just the third player in franchise history to triple and have a multi-homer effort in the same game, joining Juan Encarnación (9/24/02) and Gary Sheffield (4/10/94). After a .915 OPS in April, Stowers owns a 1.032 OPS in the month of May.

“It’s all about sticking to my plan…I know it sounds simple, but that’s the secret sauce,” said Stowers after his third multi-homer effort in 13 days. 

And in keeping with the theme of home runs, a conversation of this nature is not complete without mentioning Agustín Ramírez, who went back-to-back with Stowers in the fourth. Through 20 career games, Ramírez’s 14 extra-base hits are the most to begin a career in Marlins history since Miguel Cabrera had 10 in 2003. 

Otherwise effective when you exclude the trio of home runs, Jameson Taillon allowed just four hits in his six innings of work, striking out seven and walking none. After allowing seven home runs over his past two starts, Taillon now leads the Major Leagues with 13 home runs allowed. 

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Looking Ahead

Miami will travel home where they’ll spend their off day awaiting the arrival of the in-state rival Tampa Bay Rays in what will be the latest edition of the Citrus Series.

Max Meyer (2-4, 4.37 ERA) will look to get back to his early-season ways in the series opener, having allowed five runs in each of his last three starts. Taj Bradley (3-2, 4.24 ERA) will oppose him in what will be his second career start against Miami. He took the loss against them after allowing four runs over five innings back on July 31 last season.

First pitch from loanDepot park is slated for 6:40 EST.

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