MIAMI—If the 2025 Miami Marlins were not playing for October themselves, the best they could do on the season’s final day was make sure the Mets suffered the same fate.

For the Mets, who committed over $1 billion in new player contracts during the previous offseason, a victory on Sunday was absolutely vital to their playoff hopes. After enduring last-day keel-overs against the Fish in both 2007 and 2008, would this be the third installment of that arc?

Behind five erratically effective innings from Edward Cabrera and a four-run bottom of the fourth, history indeed repeatedly itself. In front of a sell-out loanDepot park, Miami closed out their thirty-third season of play by defeating New York 4-0.

With the win, Miami concludes the season 79-83, a 17-win improvement year over year. The Marlins also won the season series 7-6 over the Mets, marking the first time since 2017 that they’ve done so. 

After being a season-best 21 games over .500 through play on June 12, the Mets began a free fall that would see them go 39-54 over their final 93 games of play. The team sported a 4.93 ERA over that stretch, which would see their five-and-a-half game lead in the NL East dwindle to the point of having to win and hope for the opposite to happen for their NL Wild Card hopeful foes in Cincinnati. Although the Reds did their part by stumbling to a 4-2 loss, the Mets failed to capitalize. 

When Tyler Phillips—acquired for pocket change on the eve of the season—induced the ground ball double play off the bat of Francisco Lindor, there stood $765 million man Juan Soto in the on-deck circle.

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Continuing a breakout season with his 26th start, Cabrera walked five in his five shutout innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.53 over a career-high 137 ⅔ innings. 

“I’m very thankful for this season, the best of my career,” noted Cabrera.

When asked about what changed for him in 2025, Cabrera remarked on the consistency he showed, something that eluded him in years past. “I was battling a lot of injuries in the past. This season, I was able to stay healthy and do my best out there.”

That consistency manifested in better on-field results as well, as Cabrera allowed three or fewer runs in 20 of his 26 starts.

As they did in Friday’s win, Miami needed just one inning to do the requisite damage at the plate, putting up four runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to run-scoring extra-base hits from Eric Wagaman, Brian Navarreto, and Javier Sanoja.

The Mets’ best opportunity came in the top of the fifth. After a walk to Juan Soto to load the bases, Pete Alonso, who confirmed his intent to opt out following Sunday’s game, lined out to Sanoja to extinguish the threat.

On the day, New York went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

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The end of Miami’s 2025, while overachieving against the expectations most had set for them, still leaves many pontificating on the what-ifs:

What if Sandy Alcantara delivered a full season of the performance he showed in the second half?

What if Kyle Stowers didn’t get hurt and miss extended time?

What if the team added at the trade deadline? 

The list goes on.

As we turn the page towards 2026, here’s a note from first-year manager Clayton McCullough:

“To have seen so many take advantage of opportunities and watch this group as the season continues to progress, they really enjoy playing with each other. There’s a desire to win and a belief in themselves…And I think we have a lot of confidence heading into an important offseason for the guys in there and our staff as we continue to look to get better.”

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