The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Miami Marlins in a baseball matchup with both teams still vying for a slim chance at making it to the postseason. The Marlins, despite having an outside shot, have struggled recently and are 7.5 games behind the final playoff spot. Conversely, the Diamondbacks remain competitive, just 2.5 games back of the Padres with their final three games against them. Tonight’s starters are Sandy Alcantara for Miami, who has had a rough stretch on the road, and Corbin Burnes for Arizona, making his second return from injury but showing strong performance in his first outing since last year.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
We head back to the diamond now that we have just one football game on the agenda.
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we → head → agenda
With only about 12 games remaining for most teams, we are squarely locked into the final lap of the playoff race.
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we → remain → race
As you'd expect, there are a lot of teams that are pretty much out of it at this point, and a few that still have an outside shot at making it to the postseason.
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that → expect → postseason
Tonight, the Marlins and Diamondbacks, who both have a slim chance of making the postseason, square off.
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who → have → postseason
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page → contain → partners
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The Miami Marlins have a few things left to play for this postseason.
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Marlins → have → postseason
They are currently still alive in the postseason race, but going 3-7 over their past ten games has hindered any real possibility of making it.
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going → go → it
They are 7.5 games back of the final spot in the postseason, which means they need to overcome the Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Padres in 12 games to win the final spot.
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they → mean → spot
This can be looked at as a stepping stone year, but you'd have to have confidence that the Marlins will do something in the offseason to further advance the club.
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Marlins → look → club
Personally, I think they are likely to trade away guys instead of signing someone to help them.
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they → think → them
One guy who they have an option on, and I assume they will pick up, is tonight's starter, Sandy Alcantara.
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they → have → option
He had some strong moments for the team this season with a 13-10 record, 3.78 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP.
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He → have → record
He has struggled a bit on the road with a 4.32 road ERA.
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He → struggle → ERA
It has been a rough stretch for him, though, as he has allowed 15 earned runs over the past three starts.
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he → allow → starts
Collectively, the Diamondbacks have hit .207 against him in 82 at-bats.
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Diamondbacks → hit → bats
The Arizona Diamondbacks still have hope for this postseason run.
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Diamondbacks → have → run
They are just 2.5 games behind the Padres, and they have their final three games of the season against their divisional foes.
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they → have → foes
The Diamondbacks have been pretty reliable to bettors and have looked great most of this season.
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Diamondbacks → look → season
Their offense is sharp, and their pitching staff doesn't have a ton of names that stand out to you, but they do get the job done.
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job → have → you
Tonight, they have one guy who has a history of being one of the best in the game: Corbin Burnes.
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who → have → game
This is just his second start since returning from injury, but should the Diamondbacks make it to the postseason, he will likely have four starts total under his belt and be in a good position to help the club.
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he → return → club
In his start against the Royals, Burnes went three innings, allowed two hits, two walks, and had two strikeouts.
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Burnes → go → strikeouts
He didn't allow a run.
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He → allow → run
The Marlins have only had three hitters see him in 10 at-bats, and he has allowed just two singles.
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he → have → singles
This is not a game that I can trust the Marlins to win, unfortunately.
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I → trust → Marlins
They are playing some pretty poor baseball right now, and Alcantara has looked rough.
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Alcantara → play → baseball
He's had a lot of good stretches, but he's also had some really tough outings, especially lately.
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he → have → outings
The Diamondbacks have a slightly better bullpen, and I think their offense is better, so I'm going to take the Diamondbacks in this one.
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I → have → one
I do have a slight lean to the under, if that helps at all.
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that → have → under
