Miami Marlins Make Stunning Deadline Deal—How the Trade Reshapes the 2025 MLB Playoff Picture

MIAMI – Kyle Stowers revived the Miami Marlins’ postseason hopes Friday night, launching a two-run, 10th-inning walk-off homer that sealed an 8-7 thriller over the Kansas City Royals at LoanDepot Park. The blast capped Stowers’ fifth multi-homer game of the season and extended Miami’s torrid 20-10 run since mid-June, drawing the club within 3.5 games of the final National League Wild Card slot. Stowers’ heroics came after closer Tanner Scott surrendered a two-run lead in the ninth. With one out in extras and rookie Javier Sanoja on first, the All-Star outfielder turned on a 96-mph sinker from Royals reliever Carlos Hernández, sending it 426 feet to the right-field seats. The swing pushed Stowers to 21 homers and 67 RBI, numbers that now rank top-10 among NL outfielders. Manager Skip Schumaker praised his slugger’s resilience. “Kyle’s heartbeat never changes, and that’s exactly the presence you want in pressure spots,” he said. “Our clubhouse feeds off it.” The crowd of 28,014—Miami’s largest Friday turnout of 2025—echoed that sentiment, chanting “Stow-ers! Stow-ers!” long after he crossed the plate. The victory overshadowed another strong outing from second-year right-hander Max Meyer, who allowed three runs over 6 ⅔ innings while striking out eight. Meyer owns a 2.91 ERA in five July starts, solidifying a rotation currently missing ace Sandy Alcantara. The Cy Young winner remains on the injured list with right forearm tightness, and speculation swirls that the coming homestand could be his last in teal amid growing trade chatter. Front-office sources indicate Miami is fielding calls on Alcantara and veteran infielder Tim Anderson ahead of the July 30 deadline, but Stowers’ timely surge may sway executives toward buying rather than selling. The schedule offers opportunity: following Saturday’s series finale with Kansas City, the Marlins host sub-.500 Detroit before visiting division-leading Atlanta. Offensively, Miami’s month-long resurgence has been powered by a top-five MLB OPS (.823) since June 13. Alongside Stowers, 23-year-old first baseman Troy Johnston continues a breakout campaign, adding a 417-foot three-run shot Friday to give him 18 homers. Jazz Chisholm Jr. returned from a strained oblique and immediately sparked the lineup with a pair of triples, reminding fans how dynamic the All-Star center fielder can be when healthy. Key numbers • 19 – Wins in Miami’s last 26 home games, best in the National League. • 11 – RBIs for Stowers across his past two starts, placing him in rarefied company with Ty Cobb (1925) for most RBIs in a two-game span before age 27. • 3.27 – Bullpen ERA since July 1, sixth-best in MLB and a dramatic turnaround from its 4.71 mark through June. What’s next Left-hander Jesus Luzardo (7-5, 3.62) opposes Royals rookie Ben Kudrna (0-1, 4.50) in Saturday’s matinee. A series sweep would push Miami two games over .500 for the first time this season and set up a pivotal seven-game stretch that could dictate deadline direction. Search-friendly takeaways Miami Marlins walk-off win, Kyle Stowers home run, Kansas City Royals vs. Marlins, 2025 MLB playoff race, Sandy Alcantara trade rumors, Marlins Wild Card standings, LoanDepot Park attendance, Marlins injury updates, upcoming schedule, MLB trade deadline buzz