The Miami Marlins may want to thank whoever designed their 2026 schedule.

After opening the season with six home games against last year’s two worst teams, the Marlins have already taken full advantage. On Sunday, Miami completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, who lost 119 games in 2025.

Next up, the Marlins will host the Chicago White Sox, who finished last season with 102 losses, marking their third straight 100-loss campaign.

Monday’s opener of the three-game set features a matchup of right-handers Chris Paddack for Miami and Davis Martin for Chicago.

Paddack, 30, makes his Marlins debut 11 years after the team drafted him in the eighth round. Before reaching the majors, he was traded to San Diego for Fernando Rodney in 2016. Over seven seasons with the Padres, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers, Paddack went 32-36 with a 4.64 ERA.

In February, he returned home, signing a one-year, $4 million deal to join a rotation that includes standouts Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez. Paddack, who is 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA in five career starts against Chicago, relies on a fastball (94-96 mph) and a plus changeup, complemented by a slider/cutter and curveball.

Martin, 29, has never faced the Marlins. Known for his finesse, he struck out just 6.6 batters per nine innings last season, finishing 7-10 with a 4.10 ERA. In his three-year career, he is 10-21 with a 4.32 ERA.

Miami will also field a team with a significant Canadian influence. Canadian natives catcher Liam Hicks, outfielder Owen Caissie, and bench coach Carson Vitale are part of the squad, while shortstop Otto Lopez was raised in Canada from age 10.

“We have a lot of Canadian support,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said.

Rookie Caissie, acquired from the Cubs in the Edward Cabrera trade, hit a two-run, walk-off homer in Sunday’s win over Colorado, giving Miami a 4-3 victory.

“Just how we drew it up,” Caissie joked after receiving a Gatorade bath from his teammates. “We have a lot of fun. We're going to have fun and win ballgames.”

Meanwhile, the White Sox are off to an 0-3 start after being swept in Milwaukee. They are without standout catcher Kyle Teel due to a hamstring injury and traded slugging center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets in January. Over the past three seasons, Robert hit 66 home runs and already has a walk-off homer for New York.

On the bright side for Chicago, first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who signed a two-year, $34 million deal in December, has delivered one home run in each of his first three games. Murakami, 26, won the Triple Crown in Japan in 2022 and is the first player in White Sox history to homer in his first three games with the team.

“I need to keep studying the pitchers,” said Murakami, a left-handed hitter batting .333 with a 1.872 OPS. “The pitchers are going to be studying me, so I have to keep improving so I can help us win games.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters