Miami’s Max Meyer keeps making history in 2026, and Sunday’s performance against Pittsburgh might have been his most impressive yet. The 27-year-old right-hander outdueled Pirates ace Paul Skenes, leading the Marlins to a 4-2 win — and in the process, joined an exclusive club in franchise lore.
Meyer improved to 7-0 on the season, becoming just the third pitcher in Marlins history to win his first seven decisions in a single season. He now stands alongside Livan Hernandez (1997) and Dontrelle Willis (2005), two names synonymous with the franchise’s most memorable campaigns. That’s not bad company for a guy who entered 2026 with a career ERA north of 4.70.
Against the Pirates, Meyer went six innings, surrendering just one run on six hits and three walks while punching out nine batters. It’s the kind of outing that has become routine for him this year — he’s racked up at least five strikeouts in all but one of his 14 starts. His season ERA sits at 2.85, with an 86-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
What’s maybe more telling is how he’s responded to adversity. Back in May, the New York Mets tagged him for five runs in a rough outing. Since then? Meyer has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three starts. Pitching wins aren’t the purest measure of individual success, but the Marlins will take them — especially when they come with this kind of consistency.
This version of Meyer looks nothing like the one who struggled through the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Once ranked as high as the No. 3 prospect in baseball (as recently as 2024), he posted a 5.68 ERA in 2024 and a 4.73 mark last year. Those numbers had some wondering if the top prospect from the University of Minnesota would ever fulfill his potential. But 2026 has been a different story. Meyer has found another gear — sharper command, more swing-and-miss stuff — and finally looks like the frontline arm Miami hoped for when they drafted him third overall in 2020.
Even with Meyer’s heroics, the Marlins sit at 36-36, 10.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Miami has shown flashes this season, but finding consistency remains the biggest hurdle if they want to make a serious playoff push.
As the Marlins continue to build toward that goal, Meyer is making a strong case for a long-term spot in the rotation. For now, he’s got his name in the team record book — and a growing reputation as one of the most improved pitchers in the game.
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