Cubs vs Marlins — The Cubs really needed to go at least 3-1 against the Brewers to keep even the slimmest of hopes for the division alive this week. Unfortunately, they came up one game short. Normally, there’s no shame in splitting a four-game set against the best team in baseball, even at home, though this one was particularly frustrating given that they could’ve hit Robert Gasser better on Tuesday and DID hit Jacob Misiorowski really well on Wednesday in their two losses. Alas.
Now, it’s time to just focus on winning as many games as possible, while keeping an eye on the Phillies, who have a half-game lead for the top Wild Card slot at the moment.
The good news on that front is that the Phillies are scheduled to face the Braves this weekend, beginning tonight with a Cy Young runner-up(?) matchup between Chris Sale (2.06 ERA) and Cristopher Sanchez (2.52 ERA). Meanwhile, the Cubs are headed out on the road, but they’re facing the Marlins, who are one of their weaker remaining opponents.
To that end …
The Cubs are throwing Shota Imanaga tonight in Miami, and he is once again stuck in one of his awful, awful home run ruts. Since July 31, the Cubs lefty has allowed 11 dingers in just 29.1 IP. That’s the most in baseball. So are the 33 total homers he’s allowed this season. At this point, he’d have to go on an elite run the rest of September to justify throwing him in the postseason. But until then, he’s going to keep getting starts.
My only concern is that by throwing today, Imanaga lines up for the final start in Milwaukee next week. I know our head-to-head matchups with the Brewers don’t matter as much, but winning still does. I wonder if the Cubs will try to move things around to change that. Maybe Javier Assad comes back up at some point.
The Cubs don’t have pitchers listed for Saturday and Sunday, though Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd are lined up on normal rest. The former, Holmes, has allowed just one earned run over his last four starts with the Cubs while averaging a tick over six innings per outing. The latter, Boyd, had been up-and-down a bit before two back-to-back solid games against the Diamondbacks and Brewers. I would not say Boyd is locked in by any means, but those games were definitely better. As of today, he’s lined up as the Cubs third-best starter (i.e., a Game 3 Playoff starter), so I really hope he can find it down the stretch.
On the flip side tonight, the Marlins are throwing Janson Junk (great name), who’s just a typical 4/5 back-end starter with a low strikeout rate. Tomorrow, Ryan Gusto takes the mound following a successful six-game stretch (1.88 ERA), but a meh season overall, particularly under the hood (4.48 xERA). And on Sunday, it’s another righty, Tyler Phillips, with the same story (good results lately, but a meh season overall with weak peripherals).
I’m not saying none of these pitchers can shut down the Cubs, but I am saying these are about as easy as matchups get. So Chicago better be ready to take advantage.
Offensively, overall, the Marlins are exactly league average (100 wRC+, 15th in MLB), but that’s not evenly split. Against lefties (like Imanaga and Boyd), Miami is slashing just .233/.316/.375 (91 wRC+, 23rd). Against righties (like Holmes), they are above average (104 wRC+, 10th).
With that said, they do have some hot hitters in the second half, specifically Kyle Stowers, who has had a scorching hot last 51 plate appearances: .364/.451/.614 (189 wRC+). He’s the guy to stay away from.
On the Cubs, if you can believe it, Alex Bregman is actually having a HOTTER second half than Pete Crow-Armstrong, slashing .300/.365/.622 (169 wRC+) with 15 home runs. Though it’s not like PCA (165 wRC+, 18 HRs) is too far behind. Ditto Seiya Suzuki (160 wRC+), though he hasn’t hit as many homers in the second half (9 HR).
In his hunt for a 40/40 season, PCA is one homer and eight stolen bases away. I have no doubt he’ll get the home runs. But I’m starting to think he’s running out of time for the stolen bases to add up. Then again, the Marlins have allowed 116 stolen bases this season, which is tied for the third most in MLB. They’ve also caught a lot of would-be base stealers too, though. So watch out.
Cubs vs Marlins — Matchups and Probables:
PITCHING PROBABLES Three-game series · loanDepot park, Miami, FL GAME 1 Fri, Sep 4 GAME 2 Sat, Sep 5 GAME 3 Sun, Sep 6 First Pitch Watch Listen 6:10 PM CDT Marquee Sports Network 104.3 The Score HOME Shota Imanaga LHP #18 8–10 ERA 4.01 148 K VS AWAY Janson Junk RHP #26 6–8 ERA 4.11 70 K First Pitch Watch Listen 3:10 PM CDT Marquee Sports Network 104.3 The Score HOME Clay Holmes RHP 6–6 ERA 2.09 63 K VS AWAY Ryan Gusto RHP #65 1–3 ERA 3.86 57 K First Pitch Watch Listen 12:40 PM CDT Marquee Sports Network 104.3 The Score HOME Matthew Boyd LHP 8–3 ERA 4.05 79 K VS AWAY Tyler Phillips RHP #30 4–6 ERA 3.43 90 K Cubs 79–62 · Marlins 71–70 · Entering September 4, 2026Cubs vs Marlins — Key Injuries:
INJURY REPORT Cubs vs. Marlins · entering September 4, 2026 CUBS Dansby SwansonStrained oblique · 10-Day ILSS 15-DAY IL Gavin HallowellShoulder inflammationRP Edward CabreraBlister, right middle fingerSP 60-DAY IL Justin SteeleElbow surgery (UCL revision repair)SP Shelby MillerTommy John surgeryRP Tyler AustinKnee surgery (patellar debridement)1B/OF Hunter HarveyTriceps inflammationRP Cade HortonTommy John surgerySP Porter HodgeTommy John surgeryRP Riley MartinStrained elbow (flexor)RP Ben BrownStress reaction in neckSP Phil MatonKnee discomfort (partially torn patellar tendon)RP MARLINS Xavier EdwardsSprained thumb (left) · 10-Day IL2B 15-DAY IL Max MeyerStrained neckSP Anthony BenderStress reaction in shinRP Pete FairbanksArm median nerve irritationRP 60-DAY IL Ronny HenriquezTommy John surgeryRP Adam MazurTommy John surgerySP Robby SnellingTommy John surgerySP William KempnerElbow surgeryRP Andrew NardiElbow surgeryRP Cubs 79–62 · Marlins 71–70 · Data via MLB.comHence then, the article about can t slow down now cubs vs marlins pitching probables who s hot more was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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