The Miami Marlins are using the final 14 games of the regular season to evaluate younger players for potential 2027 roles after losing 6-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers at loanDepot park. The defeat was Miami’s seventh in eight games and left the Marlins’ postseason chances all but finished.
Manager Clayton McCullough said the players receiving opportunities must contribute immediately while showing whether they can help the team in the future.
“They wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe they couldn’t help us win games right now, so you just go out there and play your part, and in some ways just do your job,” McCullough said pregame.
Ryan Gusto strengthens rotation case
Ryan Gusto allowed two runs over six innings against the Dodgers and recorded his second quality start of the season. He has a 2.97 ERA over his last eight starts while competing for a potential 2027 rotation spot.
Barring subtractions or injuries, Gusto is expected to compete alongside Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Max Meyer, Tyler Phillips and Janson Junk. His recent stretch has given him an opportunity to establish himself as a starting option.
“I definitely want to establish myself as a starter,” Gusto said. “You want to be in the rotation. You want them to have confidence in you, and you want to bring competitiveness and doing your job to the table and let them know that you can do that. So it’s really cool for me to have had a good stretch of starts here, to have been doing well and seizing that opportunity. I think that we just have to keep capitalizing on the opportunities that I get.”
Agustin Ramirez adjusts to expanded role
Agustin Ramirez was demoted May 4 and recalled Aug. 4. Since his recall, he has gone 15-for-72 (.208) with four doubles, one home run, five RBIs, 11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 28 games, and he has gone hitless in 10 of his starts.
Ramirez has made three starts at catcher since his recall, including Friday’s game, and 16 starts at designated hitter. He has also continued pregame work at first base without appearing there in a game.
Against the Dodgers, Ramirez went 1-for-2 on ABS challenges and threw out Josue De Paula in De Paula’s first Major League steal attempt. Ramirez later hit a 10-pitch RBI double to the right-center gap against Evan Phillips.
Joe Mack is establishing himself as the Miami Marlins’ catcher for the foreseeable future. Ramirez could back him up and also serve as the designated hitter if his bat returns to the form that produced 21 home runs as a rookie in 2025.
“I just want to show that I can play at this level,” Ramirez said via interpreter Luis Dorante. “That’s what I want.”
Dax Fulton makes relief audition count
Dax Fulton pitched two scoreless innings after Victor Vodnik loaded the bases and Cade Gibson allowed a grand slam to Kyle Tucker. Fulton allowed one ground-ball single and struck out two.
Fulton had also held the New York Mets scoreless for three innings Tuesday, striking out four and walking one in a 42-pitch outing. He has a 3.04 ERA in 12 Major League relief appearances.
With Andrew Nardi having undergone elbow surgery, Cade Gibson, Fulton and Patrick Monteverde are the only left-handed relievers on the Miami Marlins’ 40-man roster.
“That’s kind of how I’m taking it is like an audition for next year with the opportunities I’m given,” Fulton said pregame. “Trying to put my best product out there on the field, try to give myself more of a chance next year to make the team at a camp and just kind of go from there.”
Brandon Compton adds prospect context
Brandon Compton was identified by MLB Pipeline as the Miami Marlins’ breakout prospect of the year. He batted .273/.414/.580 with 35 home runs in 121 games from High-A to Triple-A.
The Miami Marlins’ regular-season finale is scheduled for Sept. 27 against the Atlanta Braves. The remaining games will give Gusto, Ramirez, Fulton and other younger players additional opportunities as the organization evaluates its potential 2027 group.
Source: Original report