Season-ending sweep boosts Marlins' optimism for 2025

TORONTO -- In a disappointing season that featured triple-digit losses (62-100) for the fourth time in franchise history, Miami’s campaign concluded with a celebratory handshake line and a team photo.

With a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre, the Marlins’ 2024 campaign ended on a season-high-tying four-game winning streak. Those inside the postgame clubhouse expect more of that in '25.

“It's a good moment, especially to end the season this way, with a sweep here in Toronto, and the way they played throughout this last road trip,” acting manager Luis Urueta said. “Just congratulating them and wishing them a good offseason. It was a special moment, and the team picture at the end, it wasn't the same one as last year in Pittsburgh, but it's a family, and they'll all be brothers for the rest of their life.”

For the second consecutive regular-season finale, lefty Ryan Weathers dominated. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first unscathed, kicking off a stretch of 19 of 20 batters retired (including 16 in a row) until Luis De Los Santos’ one-out double in the seventh. That runner came around to score with reliever Lake Bachar on the mound, closing Weathers’ line at 6 1/3 innings, three hits, one earned run, two walks and six strikeouts.

If history is any indication, bigger things are to come for Weathers. After tossing six scoreless frames in last year's season finale, he took that momentum into the offseason and the first half of 2024, when he posted a 3.55 ERA. A fluke left index finger strain sidelined Weathers for more than three months this summer, but his return to form represents a major reason for optimism in 2025.

Starting-pitching injuries played a major role in Miami’s downward trajectory this season. Weathers, ace Sandy Alcantara, Eury Pérez, Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera combined for 55 starts and a 4.62 ERA.

“It felt good,” the 24-year-old Weathers said. “Anytime you can do well against a quality lineup is a good bridge going in the offseason. [I’ve] still got a lot of things to work on and get better at and get sharper at, so I'm just excited with how the year ended. I'm just excited to get back for Spring Training next year with all the guys. I think that we showed a lot these last couple weeks, since I've been back, to go into Minnesota and win a couple, and then come here and finish with a sweep. Those are two really good ballclubs. So I'm excited for next year.”

Miami's offense also added some optimism in the last stretch.

Weathers received all the support he needed in the first inning. Jake Burger, who batted leadoff in an attempt to notch his second consecutive 30-homer season, and Xavier Edwards opened the game with singles. After Connor Norby’s groundout, Jonah Bride brought both runners home with a single up the middle. Miami tacked on a run in the sixth on Otto Lopez’s RBI double.

Despite the roster overhaul at the Trade Deadline, the Marlins seem to have found pieces to count on in 2025, as inexperienced ballplayers with something to prove boosted the club’s offensive numbers.

• Pre-Deadline: .237/.291/.364, .654 OPS, 38.9 AB/HR
• Post-Deadline: .257/.318/.407, .725 OPS, 32.8 AB/HR

Bride, whom Miami acquired from Oakland for cash on Feb. 7, was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville during Spring Training before being recalled for Opening Day. He shuttled back and forth a couple of times before starting on a regular basis in late July.

Since July 25, the 28-year-old Bride compiled a slash line of .276/.363/.483 (.845 OPS) with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 59 games. His .919 OPS in September ranked 22nd out of 187 Major Leaguers (min. 76 PA).

“I think it's great,” said Bride, who finished on a career-best eight-game hitting streak. “You look at the last two road trips, especially ending the year [winning] five of our last six. In Minnesota, it was a good atmosphere. Obviously, they’ve got everything on the line. And then coming here, another great atmosphere, and [a] sweep to end the year. I just think that this is the kind of energy that we want to bring to spring. And that's kind of what Burger illustrated when we had our little get-together after the game.”

Edwards, 25, established himself as an everyday player after being recalled from Triple-A on July 2. Since then, his .332 average ranked third behind Bobby Witt Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and his 31 steals were second behind Shohei Ohtani among Major Leaguers with at least 250 plate appearances.

“I know we can swing the bat well, so getting those arms back, I think, will help a bunch, keep us in a ton of games,” said Edwards, who was learning shortstop at the MLB level. “We'll probably clean up a [few] little things over the offseason on defense, and there's no reason why we couldn't be one of the best teams in our division or the league.”