Chicago Cubs vs. Miami Marlins preview, Sunday 9/6, 12:40 CT

Sunday notes… TRYING TO EVEN THINGS UP: The Cubs have not swept a series at Miami since April of 2019. Two years ago, they won the first two games and lost the third. A win today will make the Cubs’ all-time record at Miami 59-59 and their record at loanDepot Park 23-23. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53) SPL

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Sunday notes…

TRYING TO EVEN THINGS UP: The Cubs have not swept a series at Miami since April of 2019. Two years ago, they won the first two games and lost the third. A win today will make the Cubs’ all-time record at Miami 59-59 and their record at loanDepot Park 23-23. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE; This is the 14th of the Cubs’ 46 series in which they have won the first two games. They are 7-6 in previous third games, but only 1-5 on the road. Their only win was at New York vs. the Mets on June 24. They lost at San Francisco in June; Pittsburgh, Baltimore and St. Louis in July; and Washington on Aug. 13. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

A MATCHING SET: If the Cubs win today, they will be 41-31 on the road — exactly the same as their record at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HOME RUN FACTS: Since hitting a team-record nine home runs last Monday at home vs. the Brewers, the Cubs have hit a total of four: none in their next game, then one in each of the last four. The Cubs won yesterday despite being outhomered, 2-1. They are 18-36 when they have hit fewer homers than they have allowed, 27-18 when they have hit the same number and 36-8 when they have hit more. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs homer five times, including three by Alfonso Soriano, and lead the Reds 11-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. They have to hold off four-run rallies by the Reds in both the eighth and ninth to win 14-8. It happened 18 years ago today, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008.

Cubs lineup:

Marlins lineup:

Clay Holmes, RHP vs. Tyler Phillips, RHP

Clay Holmes with the Cubs: Five starts, 1.55 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, just one home run allowed in 29 innings.

As a member of the Mets last year, Holmes faced the Marlins four times

and posted a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings — with NO home runs allowed.

Just keep the ball on the ground, Clay. Current Marlins are batting .209 (9-for-43) against him with no home runs and 15 strikeouts.

Tyler Phillips was the Texas Rangers’ 16th round pick in 2015 out of high school in Texas. Eventually he went to the Phillies on waivers in 2021 and to the Marlins for cash considerations last year.

His only career appearance against the Cubs was a scoreless inning of relief May 21, 2025 in Miami. He began this year in the Marlins bullpen, but has been in the rotation since June 16, posting a 4.65 ERA and 1.355 WHIP and 12 home runs allowed in 62 innings. His last start, Sept. 1 vs. the Royals, was very good: five one-hit innings. The Cubs offense, though, is a lot better than Kansas City’s.

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Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. For Cubs fans in the UK, this game will be on BBC as well as other European channels. Details here.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit the Marlins site Fish On First. If you do go there to interact with Marlins fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

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Discuss amongst yourselves.