The New York Mets face the Miami Marlins this afternoon in desperation mode.

After last night’s 6-2 loss in the first game of this final regular-season series, the Mets are tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final NL Wild Card spot.

But because the Reds own the tiebreaker, New York is effectively a game back. That means the Mets need to win both today and tomorrow, and hope Cincinnati drops at least one of its last two. In other words, this is a must-win game.

The problem for the Mets is that they’re not sending one of their most reliable arms to the mound. Clay Holmes has had a rough second half, carrying a 3-4 record and 4.31 ERA — nearly a full run higher than his first-half numbers. He hasn’t won since August 23, and the Mets’ fortunes have dipped right alongside him.

Eury Pérez starts for Miami. The 22-year-old is 7-5 with a 4.20 ERA. He looked sharp early in his return from Tommy John surgery before faltering in August. But he’s regained form lately with two straight scoreless outings, allowing just three hits across nine combined innings.

He did get knocked out by the Mets back in late August, giving up five runs and two homers in the first inning, and New York desperately needs a repeat of that performance to keep their season alive.

Prediction

The Mets are in must-win territory, but Holmes’ struggles on the mound tilt this matchup toward Miami. With Pérez seemingly finding his rhythm again, the Marlins have the edge in a tight, low-scoring game.

Prediction: Marlins 4, Mets 3

Starting Lineups

New York Mets

1. Francisco Lindor — SS

2. Juan Soto — RF

3. Pete Alonso — 1B

4. Brandon Nimmo — LF

5. Starling Marte — DH

6. Jeff McNeil — 2B

7. Francisco Álvarez — C

8. Ronny Mauricio — 3B

9. Tyrone Taylor — CF

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes (RHP) — 11‑8, 3.66 ERA

Miami Marlins

1. Xavier Edwards — 2B

2. Jakob Marsee — CF

3. Connor Norby — 3B

4. Liam Hicks — C

5. Troy Johnston — DH

6. Griffin Conine — RF

7. Otto López — SS

8. Graham Pauley — 1B

9. Heriberto Hernández — LF

Starting Pitcher: Eury Pérez (RHP) — 7‑5, 4.20 ERA

How to Watch Mets vs. Marlins

First pitch for this afternoon’s Mets–Marlins game is set for 4:10 PM at loanDepot Park in Miami.

The game airs nationally on the MLB Network in some out-of-market regions and locally on SNY and FanDuel Sports Network Florida. Out‑of‑market viewers can stream the game via MLB.TV.

Looking to catch the game for free? MLB Network is available via streaming on DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which offer free trials.

New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Time: 4:10 PM Eastern / 3:10 PM Central

Venue: loanDepot Park, Miami, FL

TV: MLB Network, SNY, FanDuel Sports Network Florida

Streaming: MLB.TV