Here we are, Game 162, and for the New York Mets, it feels all too familiar. Just last year, they went into a must-win series with the Atlanta Braves. They needed just one victory to punch their ticket, and instead all they got was heartbreak only. And now, in true Mets fashion, it seems like the baseball gods have lined up one more time for a painstaking finale.

After rolling and tossing through a rough second half that had fans groaning, the Mets finally made it to the final day. Except everything is on the line now. Sunday’s game against the Marlins is simple—win and then maybe hope. At 83-78, they don’t control their destiny, but with a win and maybe hoping Cincinnati stumbles, they can get the wild card spot.

“You feel good. Obviously, not ideal. We put ourselves in this position, but you’re going into 162 with a chance to clinch a playoff spot,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. And it perfectly sums up the moment, which is filled with hope and anxiety. They had blanked Miami 5-0 on Saturday, but now everything comes down to this one final afternoon in Miami.

How to Watch Mets vs. Marlins

Location: loanDepot Park, Miami, FL
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
First Pitch: 3:10 p.m. ET
TV: SNY, FDSNFL

Marlins vs Mets: Injury Report

Marlins Injuries

• Dane Myers – Knee (10-day IL)
• Tyler Zuber – Lat (60-day IL)
• Ryan Gusto – Shoulder (15-day IL)
• Anthony Bender – Tibia (60-day IL)
• Kyle Stowers – Oblique (10-day IL)
• Jesus Tinoco – Forearm (60-day IL)
• Max Meyer – Hip (60-day IL)
• Andrew Nardi – Back (60-day IL)
• Braxton Garrett – Elbow (60-day IL)

Mets Injuries

• Brett Baty – Oblique (10-day IL)
• Reed Garrett – Elbow (15-day IL)
• Frankie Montas Jr. – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Jesse Winker – Back (60-day IL)
• Dedniel Núñez – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Griffin Canning – Achilles (60-day IL)
• Max Kranick – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Tylor Megill – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Danny Young – Elbow (60-day IL)
• A.J. Minter – Lat (60-day IL)
• Christian Scott – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Nick Madrigal – Shoulder (60-day IL)
• Drew Smith – Elbow (60-day IL)

Starting Pitchers

Miami Marlins: Edward Cabrera

For the Miami Marlins, it is Edward Cabrera who gets the nod, and he will make his 26th start of the season. He has been solid, going 7-7 with a 3.66 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 132⅔ ⅔ innings. The right-hander’s last outing with the Philadelphia Phillies was a little shaky—four innings, three earned runs, and five hits. But the thing is, he is still holding the opponents to a .237 average on the year. Cabrera has gone at least five innings in 17 of his starts, and he has tossed four scoreless outings this season. If he is on his A game, he can keep the team in control.

New York Mets: Sean Manaea

For the New York Mets, Sean Manaea will take the mound, and it will be his 12th start. It hasn’t been smooth sailing though for the lefty who’s 2-4 with a 5.80 ERA. His most recent outing came out of the bullpen against the Cubs, and there he gave up two runs in just one inning. Manaea has strikeout stuff, averaging 11 per nine innings. But consistency has been the major issue. He has yet to record a good start this season and goes just over four innings per outing.

Prediction: Will Juan Soto & Co. Surrender to Miami?

Game 162, and the curtains might close for the New York Mets. It feels like a long soap opera unfolding. And wouldn’t you know it—it all comes down to this—beat the Marlins, pray for the Reds’ loss, and maybe, just maybe, October baseball is still on the table for them. But for them the math is cruel. The Cincinnati Reds hold the tiebreaker, which means that the Mets can’t just win– they need help.

As it stands, Cincinnati controls its own destiny. If the Reds handle the Milwaukee Brewers, then that’s it. But if Milwaukee does Mets fans a favor and ends up delivering, then all eyes turn to Miami, where Juan Soto and his crew have one last chance to keep the hope going. Pete Alonso summed it up perfectly after Saturday’s win: “Wouldn’t have it any other way. This is exciting baseball.” For sure, that’s the optimistic way to look at it, but for fans, it feels like a stress test.

Sean Manaea, who is starting for the Mets, hasn’t been heroic this season. But Mendoza said, “All hands on deck.” The leash will be short, and the bullpen will be busy, and the Mets will try to do everything to get the job done. But of course, Cabrera is against them, and he has been lights out with his performance, making this game tricky. The truth is that the Mets’ $341 million payroll was not built for a “maybe.” Missing the playoffs whilst having the most expensive player in baseball’s history—Juan Soto—would be an embarrassment for the team, for Steve Cohen, and for fans. But right now, that seems to be something thats on the horizon. The Marlins might just come out of this victorious!