Well it's come down to this for the Miami Marlins, as they play Game 162 of the 2026 schedule on Sunday, and they will take on a worthy opponent in the National League East Division Champion Atlanta Braves.

For Miami (79-82), it's been a wild ride all year long, with some major highs (a 20-6 record in June, the best in franchise history) and some harsh lows (a 12-game losing streak in July that sunk the season) along the way. 

On the flip side of the ledger, the Braves (94-67) are cruising into another postseason appearance, and that's a place the franchise has often found itself comfortably slotted in. Atlanta has been to the postseason 25 out of the last 37 years, dating back to 1990. That includes 11 consecutive seasons from 1995-2005. An astounding run of excellence and consistency, they have clinched the third seed in the National League's postseason party in 2026.

But, before the playoffs can start, the curtain must close on the regular season, and with one game to play, the Marlins will look to take two out of three in the weekend set, tripping them up before their trip to the dance of diamond destiny.

On the hill, the Fish will start right-handed pitcher Janson Junk, who has gone 6-9 with a 4.31 ERA, 84 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a WHIP of 1.31 in 25 appearances. Being one of the names who could be in the mix for the Miami rotation next season, the 30-year-old will certainly want to end things off with a high note.

But so will Braves starter JR Ritchie who comes into the season's 162nd game sporting a record of 1-4, with a 4.79 ERA, 66 Ks and 40 free passes. The 23-year-old has made just 16 appearances on the mound this year, with 10 coming in the starter's role. He's a developing arm on an already-deep Atlanta roster.

Infielder Otto Lopez enters the game with an extremely long-shot chance of eeking out the NL batting title, but almost everything (including a four-for-four kind of day and two other players going ice cold) would have to go his way on Sunday. For now, the Marlins' young star is hitting .305 and trails both the Philadelphia Phillies' Luis Arraez (.310) and the Arizona Diamondbacks' catcher Gabriel Moreno (.311). 

Still, being in the race this long is a building block for the speedy All-Star going forward. Even falling short, he will conclude a terrific season of growth... for both him and the Marlins.