MIAMI, FL – On Tuesday, the Marlins aimed for their second-straight series win. After starting pitcher Ryan Weathers gave the Marlins five strong innings, the bullpen was unable to keep the game tied in the top of the sixth inning as they allowed eight runs on eight hits. The Cubs went on to defeat the Marlins by a final score of 14-1, marking the most amount of runs the Marlins have allowed at home this season. As for the Cubs, this marked their 10th game with 10+ runs. That’s the Cubs’ most such performances in their first 49 games since 1898 (11).

Going into his sixth inning appearance, Calvin Faucher had not allowed an earned run in his last 12 outings (0.00 ERA, 1.98 FIP). On Tuesday, he was unable to record an out and surrendered six earned runs. It marked the first time in his career that Faucher was unable to record an out in an appearance. His ERA spiked from 2.25 to 5.63 following Tuesday’s outing.

“Calvin [Faucher] had been throwing the ball so well and I think outside of the lead-off walk, I really think he was victimized some,” said manager Clayton McCullough following the game. “Some base hits found holes and other balls fell in front of some guys and some found holes through the infield. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stop the bleeding. They did a good job of stringing some at-bats together.”

 

 

After Faucher was taken out of the game, Lake Bachar surrendered two more runs, capping the Cubs’ eight-run top of the sixth and giving them a commanding 9-1 lead. Cade Gibson gave the Marlins two shutout innings and in the ninth inning, the Marlins opted to go with position player Javier Sanoja who surrendered five runs, giving the Cubs a 14-1 lead. It was Sanoja’s fourth relief appearance of the season. 

Ryan Weathers took the mound for his second start of the season on an 85-pitch limit. He was taken out after five innings and 80 pitches thrown. The Marlins lefty had an almost identical final line to his first start last week, allowing one run on four hits, no walks and striking out four. In the top of the first inning, Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker took Weathers deep for his 11th home run of the season.

Postgame, Weathers noted that this was the best his fastball has ever felt since he reached the big leagues. His fastball averaged 97.3 mph and topped out at 99.0 mph, which he hit just once in the top of the first inning. He generated four whiffs and half of his strikeouts came on that pitch.

“I don’t know what’s going on with it, but it just has a lot more carry on it right now, which I’m cool with,” said Weathers. “Just got to keep staying where I’m at with that and I think we’ll keep getting good results.”

 

 

In his rehab assignments, Weathers never surpassed 62 pitches thrown or five innings of work. Although Tuesday’s decision seemed pre-decided, this goes all the way back to how the coaching staff and front office went about preparing their pitchers for the season. Having them go in one-inning increments has seemed to backfire with some of their starters. 

Going into Tuesday’s contest, the Marlins’ bullpen ranked 24th in ERA (4.68) and third in innings pitched (188.1). Part of how much the Marlins have had to rely on their bullpen is because their starting pitchers have not gone deep into games. 

Only two Marlins starting pitchers have completed six innings of work this season: Max Meyer five times and Sandy Alcantara once. Edward Cabrera, Valente Bellozo and Cal Qauntrill have all entered the sixth inning of a ballgame, but have yet to complete it.

Weathers did not attempt to lobby to go back out for a sixth inning of work. “My job is to just go pitch,” said Weathers. “When the ball gets taken from me, that’s when it gets taken from me. We knew of a rough pitch count before the game and I would have more pitches to work with, but I shot myself in the foot and didn’t take care of business early. Like I said, it’s not my job. My job is give whatever I got whenever skip hands me the ball.”

On a positive note, for a third straight game, a Marlins catcher hit a home run. On Sunday, it was Liam Hicks. Agustin Ramirez would homer on Monday and then the lone run of Tuesday’s game was thanks to Nick Fortes‘ first home run of the season. Marlins catchers have now hit a total of 11 home runs in 2025 compared to only six in 2024.

With the loss, the Marlins are now 19-28 on the season and still have an opportunity to take the series. Max Meyer will take the mound on Wednesday with first pitch at 1:10 pm.