Planning to go to Marlins-Yankees series? Here’s what to know about parking, transportation

The Miami Marlins remain in the thick of the playoff race as they return home for a highly anticipated weekend series against the New York Yankees, one the organization expects to have near sellout crowds all three games.

Game times for the series are 6:40 p.m. Friday, 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:40 p.m. Sunday.

With heavy traffic and road congestion is anticipated at the ballpark throughout the weekend, here’s what you need to know if you are planning to come to loanDepot park for any of the games.

When to arrive

Gates will open two hours before game time for all three games — about 4:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. Sunday — giving fans access to watch batting practice for both teams Marlins and Yankees.

It’s worth noting, however, that teams rarely take batting practice for afternoon games so there will likely be less pregame activity on the field Sunday.

Parking, transportation options

▪ Transportation hub: A Marlins Transportation Hub has been established in downtown Miami at the Government Center, similar to what the team did during the World Baseball Classic. Parking there will cost $15 and includes a complimentary shuttle service to and from loanDepot park.

More details and maps are available at Marlins.com/Transportation.

▪ loanDepot park garages: Parking at loanDepot park will be $30 on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no advance purchasing options for the weekend. Payment is made through the PayByPhone app.

▪ Brightline: If you’re coming from the north, the Marlins have partnered with Brightline for a “Home Runner” train package. There are three trains each day pregame and postgame (with four postgame trains Sunday) that arrive at and depart from the MiamiCentral station that are part of the “Home Runner” package, which also includes a free roundtrip shuttle service to and from loanDepot park. Brightline has stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Aventura.

Times and prices for the Home Runner trains can be found on the Brightline website.

Flashback Friday celebrating 2003 World Series team

On Friday, alumni from the Marlins’ 2003 World Series team will be at the ballpark as part of the team’s season-long Flashback Fridays. They will be available for meet and greets in waves at the Marlins Museum on the Promenade level of the ballpark. The tentative schedule is below:

▪ 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Josh Beckett and Carl Pavano

▪ 5:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Derrek Lee, Mike Lowell, Jeff Conine

▪ 7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Juan Pierre and Alex Gonzalez

Additionally, from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., Conine, Beckett, Pierre and Pavano will take part in an interactive question-and-answer session on the field with Bally Sports Florida broadcaster Tommy Hutton that will go through highlights from the 2003 season.

Pitching matchups for Marlins-Yankees

Left-handed Jesus Luzardo (8-6, 3.52 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Marlins on Friday. The Yankees have not yet announced their starter for the series opener.

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara (4-10, 4.28) will go opposite Yankees lefty and Hialeah native Nestor Cortes (5-2, 4.97) on Saturday.

And for the finale on Sunday, the Marlins’ 20-year-old righty Eury Perez (5-4, 2.79) will face off against the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (10-3, 2.75).