The Miami Marlins close out their Sunday afternoon home slate against the Chicago Cubs at loanDepot park, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 PM ET on September 6, 2026. Miami sends right-hander Tyler Phillips to the mound against Cubs starter Clay Holmes in a late-season regular season matchup that carries real weight for both clubs. With September baseball in full swing, every game in the standings matters, and the Marlins have a chance to make a statement in front of their home crowd in Little Havana.
Marlins vs. Cubs Game Preview: September 6, 2026 at loanDepot park
Starting Pitchers: Tyler Phillips vs. Clay Holmes
Tyler Phillips takes the ball for Miami in what shapes up as a pivotal assignment. Phillips has worked to carve out his role in the Marlins rotation, and a strong Sunday outing at home would go a long way toward building momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Marlins will need him to attack the zone early and limit deep counts against a Cubs lineup that is capable of grinding out at-bats.
On the other side, Clay Holmes gets the call for Chicago. Holmes, who has experience working in high-leverage situations throughout his career, will look to keep the Marlins offense in check. Miami hitters will need to be disciplined and look for pitches to drive rather than expanding the zone against a pitcher who can be difficult to square up when he is on.
Keys to Watch for Miami
- Phillips and the first two innings: Getting through the heart of the Cubs order early without damage will set the tone for Miami's afternoon. Keeping Chicago off the bases in the first three innings is critical.
- Run support early: Holmes can be tough as a game wears on, so the Marlins offense needs to put crooked numbers on the board before he settles in. Getting on base and manufacturing runs in the early frames is the priority.
- Bullpen management: September rosters are expanded, giving the Marlins more options out of the bullpen. Smart deployment of relievers behind Phillips could be the difference in a close game.
- Home crowd energy: loanDepot park in September can be a real advantage when the Marlins are playing well. A strong start from Phillips could energize the crowd and create a genuine home-field edge.
Broadcast Information
Sunday's game can be seen on Marlins.TV presented by Werner, Hoffman, Greig and Garcia, with radio coverage available on 104.3 The Score and WQAM 104.3 in English and WAQI 710 AM in Spanish. Cubs fans can catch the action on Marquee Sports Network.
Prediction
This one comes down to whether Phillips can keep the Cubs lineup manageable through five or six innings. If he does that, the Marlins bullpen gives Miami a real shot to close it out. Look for Miami to take advantage of home comforts and earn a hard-fought win, 4-2, in a game that feels like a grind from the first pitch. The Fish take this one.
