Marlins embrace 'learning experiences' in latest brush with an ace

PHILADELPHIA -- For the Marlins, getting dealt aces is nothing new this season.

Miami didn’t have much time to revel in Sunday’s win over reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes. Monday’s challenge figured to be just as daunting.

Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star and two-time NL Cy Young Award runner-up, lived up to his reputation, dominating the Marlins over six innings in a 7-0 Phillies win in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.

“If you want to win in the playoffs, you have to be able to beat those types of guys,” Kyle Stowers said. “I think we've done a good job against frontline starters this year. Wheeler was really good tonight and got the best of us; it's going to happen sometimes.”

Miami has indeed seen its share of the league’s top pitchers in 2026, experiencing success against some while looking helpless against others. On Sunday, the Marlins scratched out two runs in six innings against Skenes, which proved to be enough thanks to Max Meyer’s six innings of one-run ball.

“We've seen a number of high-quality arms this year and I think our guys have really stood up well,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “Maybe not put up gaudy run-scoring numbers, but I think in a lot of ways being able to grind them down and maybe get a guy out of a game an inning shorter than maybe they want. Our guys just go up there and try to have a good game plan and approach, move enough balls forward and try to keep the line moving.”

On April 19, the Marlins scored three runs (one earned) in five innings against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, who has emerged as perhaps the league’s best starter.

Nine days later, Miami became the first team this season to score two runs (one of which was unearned) in a game against Shohei Ohtani, who had allowed two runs (one earned) in his first four starts combined.

On May 25, the Marlins scored five runs against Blue Jays rookie phenom Trey Yesavage, who had allowed a total of three runs over his first five starts.

There have also been some tough days similar to Monday, as the Marlins have lost to the likes of the Tigers' Tarik Skubal, the Mets' Nolan McLean and the Braves' Chris Sale and Spencer Strider this season.

“It just really tests you to stick to your plan,” Liam Hicks said. “There are some guys with their stuff where you know you can get away with not following your plan and still have some success, but with those guys, if you're not sticking to your plan, they're going to expose you. It gets the whole hitting group in a good space mentally to embrace that challenge and just try and take it head-on.”

On Monday, Wheeler made the Marlins’ plan moot, striking out nine while allowing only two hits over six scoreless frames.

Wheeler, who beat the Marlins with six innings of one-run ball back on May 1, put the first two hitters on base Monday night before retiring 12 of the next 14 he faced -- eight of them via strikeout. Miami was unable to get anything going against the 36-year-old, who lowered his ERA to 2.01 in 10 starts this season.

“You know you're going to take some punches in these kind of games,” McCullough said. “You're going to have some innings that are tough, but you just keep going, try to win the next inning. I think our guys enjoy it; these guys love to compete, and this is a chance to compete against guys that have been performing at a high level in this league for a number of years. It’s an opportunity.”

Marlins starter Ryan Gusto gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings -- three of them on a pair of home runs by Gabriel Rincones Jr. (solo) and J.T. Realmuto (two-run) -- to give Wheeler all the breathing room he needed.

“Usually to win games against those types of starters, on the other end, you need to pitch well yourself,” McCullough said. “You have to be able to at least try to match up with them through the middle parts of the game to give yourself a shot late.”

On Tuesday, the Marlins will face Jesús Luzardo, while Giants ace Logan Webb is lined up to face Miami in the series opener on Friday. As the old saying goes: If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.

“It's all learning experiences against the good arms,” Stowers said. “There's no shying away from them in this league.”