Marlins prevent Cubs from clinching a playoff spot again with a 3-2 victory

The Miami Marlins halted the Chicago Cubs' bid to secure an NL wild-card playoff spot for the second consecutive night, defeating them 3-2 in a game played on Wednesday. Kyle Stowers led the Marlins' charge with a 21st home run, a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Kevin Gausman to break a scoreless tie. Dansby Swanson contributed significantly for the Cubs, driving in both runs as they required a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to clinch the wild-card position.

The Diamondbacks overcame the Rockies with a 5-3 victory. Joe Mack's groundout to second base brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, after which the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters. Stowers secured his 21st homer, his 30th career homer and his first with the Marlins. The Cubs evened the score in the bottom of the inning when Swanson hit a broken-bat single into left field, bringing home two runs.

Cade Gibson (6-2), one of four Marlins relievers, struck out two in the seventh inning. Sandy Alcantara added to Marlins' relief efforts by working a scoreless inning in the ninth, earning his second save of the game. Ryan Rolison (9-2) was the losing pitcher for the Marlins. After the game, Chicago's Pete Crow-Armstrong came short of the 40-40 club milestone, achieving 45 home runs and 39 steals, but failed to reach the mark in both categories.

The Cubs have not yet announced a starter for their home finale on Thursday afternoon. In the upcoming matchup, the Cubs have selected RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) to start for them, while the Marlins will send their starting pitcher, Ryan Gusto, to the mound.