Baseball is a funny game, honestly. One week you’re watching a team crumble under the weight of a franchise-record injury list, and the next, they’re suddenly playing like world-beaters against teams fighting for their playoff lives. That’s exactly what happened with the Miami Marlins last 5 games of the 2024 season.
It was a strange, bittersweet stretch.
Basically, the Marlins entered the final week of September with nothing to play for but pride and maybe a little bit of "spoiler" energy. They had already secured their place in the "100-loss club," a mark no team ever wants to hit. Yet, in those final five contests, they looked almost unrecognizable compared to the squad that started the year 0-9.
Why the Miami Marlins Last 5 Games Actually Mattered
You've gotta look at the context here. Most people see a 62-100 record and just look away. It’s ugly. But the final stretch was a glimpse into what Peter Bendix and the front office are trying to build for 2025.
The Marlins didn't just crawl to the finish line; they sprinted.
They finished the year on a four-game winning streak. Think about that. A team that lost 100 games ended the season by winning 80% of its final five matchups. It started with a bit of a thumping in Minnesota—a 8-3 loss to the Twins on September 25th—but then something clicked.
The Turning Point at Target Field
On September 26th, the Marlins took down the Twins 8-6. It was a chaotic game. Valente Bellozo, a guy who basically came out of nowhere (Double-A, to be exact) after being acquired from Houston, gave them five solid innings.
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The bullpen nearly gave it away, but they held on.
This win was significant because it started the "Spoiler Tour." The Twins were desperate for wins to keep their Wild Card hopes alive. Miami, with a roster full of guys most fans couldn't pick out of a lineup in April, effectively helped push Minnesota out of the postseason picture.
Dominance in Toronto: A Finale No One Expected
The final three games of the season took place at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays. If you bet on the Marlins to sweep this series, you're either a genius or a liar.
- September 27: Marlins 15, Blue Jays 5. This was a bloodbath. Xavier Edwards went 4-for-6. Jonah Bride, who has been a "pleasant surprise" (to use manager Skip Schumaker's words), mashed two home runs.
- September 28: Marlins 8, Blue Jays 1. Another blowout.
- September 29: Marlins 3, Blue Jays 1. A tight, professional win to cap off the year.
In that Friday night 15-5 win, the Marlins tied a season-high for runs. It was sort of surreal. You had guys like Otto Lopez and Connor Norby—players picked up on waivers or through mid-season trades—looking like cornerstones.
The Ryan Weathers Statement
In the very last game of the year, Ryan Weathers took the mound. He had missed a huge chunk of the season with a finger injury, but his return was a massive "what if" for the fans.
He went 6.1 innings and gave up only one run.
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It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder where this team would have been if the rotation hadn't been decimated. Remember, this is a team that used a Major League-record 70 different players this year. Seventy! That is basically three entire rosters cycled through one clubhouse in six months.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Stretch
The common narrative is that these games don't matter because "it's September and the rosters are expanded."
That’s kinda lazy analysis.
For the Marlins, these games were an audition. Skip Schumaker was managing his final games for the Fish, and the atmosphere was emotional. He had already won NL Manager of the Year in 2023, but 2024 was a different beast. Ending with four straight wins was a tribute to his leadership and the "grind" culture he instilled, even when the ship was sinking.
Key Performers in the Final Five
- Xavier Edwards: He proved he’s a legitimate lead-off hitter. His 4-hit game in Toronto was a masterclass in contact hitting.
- Jonah Bride: Finished with an OPS over .800. For a guy designated for assignment twice before landing in Miami, he’s earned a 2025 roster spot.
- Jake Burger: He didn't hit 30 homers this year (finished with 29), but his presence in the middle of the order during those final wins kept the pressure on.
What Really Happened with the Pitching?
Honestly, the pitching was a disaster for 90% of the year. The rotation posted the second-highest ERA in the majors. But in the Miami Marlins last 5 games, the staff suddenly found its backbone.
They allowed only 14 runs over those five games. That’s an average of 2.8 runs per game. Compare that to the rest of the season where they were routinely giving up 10 or more (shoutout to that 20-4 loss to the Dodgers earlier in the month).
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It was a mix of young arms like Bellozo and the return of a healthy Weathers that stabilized things. It gives the fans a reason to actually buy tickets for 2025, especially with Sandy Alcantara expected back for Opening Day.
The Actionable Takeaway for 2025
If you're following this team, don't let the 100 losses blind you to the progress made in the final week. The "next steps" for the Marlins involve trimming the fat from that record-breaking 70-man player pool and leaning into the young core that emerged in Toronto.
What to watch for moving forward:
- The Rotation Health: If Weathers, Alcantara, and eventually Eury Pérez (post-Tommy John) are healthy, the Marlins go from a 100-loss team to a .500 team almost instantly.
- Infield Decisions: With Norby and Edwards playing well, the Marlins have a surplus of young infielders. Look for a trade involving one of these pieces to land a power-hitting outfielder.
- New Leadership: With Schumaker gone, the choice of the next manager will dictate if the "never quit" attitude seen in the last 5 games carries over into the next era.
The season ended on September 29th with a 3-1 win and a sense of relief. It wasn't the year anyone wanted, but the way they finished proved that there's still a pulse in South Florida baseball.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire moves this February. If the front office can supplement the production we saw from Bride and Edwards with one or two veteran bats, the 2025 Marlins won't be nearly as easy to push around as they were for most of 2024.