The Oakland Athletics and Miami Marlins conclude their three-game series at loanDepot Park on Sunday, May 4, 2025, with the A’s looking to secure another road series victory and continue their climb in the standings, while the Marlins aim to salvage the finale and stop the bleeding after a difficult start to the year. The Athletics enter the game at 17-15, having won eight of their last ten, and are playing with confidence and chemistry that has been absent in recent seasons. Their resurgence has been powered by balanced contributions across the board, particularly from rising star Jacob Wilson, who leads the team with a .331 average and continues to drive in runs in clutch moments. Pitching has also played a central role in Oakland’s success, with the staff posting a 3.13 ERA over the last 10 games, and the bullpen proving reliable in preserving leads and closing tight games. The A’s offense has been opportunistic rather than explosive, focusing on smart base running, timely hits, and manufacturing runs when the long ball isn’t available. Their overall discipline at the plate has improved, reducing strikeouts and increasing on-base traffic, which has set the stage for big innings when they apply pressure. On the mound Sunday, Oakland will likely look for another solid performance from their rotation, supported by a bullpen that has stabilized and gained trust from manager Mark Kotsay. Meanwhile, the Miami Marlins come into the finale with a 12-18 record and have yet to find their rhythm in 2025. While they’ve flashed some offensive potential—particularly from Kyle Stowers, who’s batting .323—the Marlins have struggled to string together complete games.

Defensively, the team has been shaky, with untimely errors costing them momentum and often leading to big innings for opponents. Their pitching staff has underwhelmed so far, allowing nearly five runs per game on average, and while there have been strong individual outings, consistency has been elusive, especially out of the bullpen. The Marlins’ lineup has not been without talent, but run production has often come in spurts, leaving them unable to mount comebacks or capitalize on early leads. Manager Skip Schumaker has rotated players in search of the right mix but has yet to see the results translate into wins. Sunday presents a critical opportunity for Miami to show resilience and avoid a deflating sweep at home, though they’ll need their pitching to hold Oakland’s steady offense in check while maximizing their own scoring chances early. This game presents a stylistic contrast between two rebuilding teams trending in opposite directions: Oakland, playing disciplined, fundamentally sound baseball with young players stepping up across the roster, and Miami, still searching for answers in all phases of the game. The Athletics have covered the spread in eight of their last ten and are averaging over five runs per game during that span, while the Marlins have seen the total go over in four of their last five games due to pitching volatility. The key factors Sunday will be whether Oakland can continue their hot stretch with efficient starting pitching and a solid defensive backbone, and if the Marlins can break through with early offense and avoid bullpen meltdowns. Should Oakland strike first and settle into their game plan, they could ride that momentum to another series win, whereas Miami will need to reverse their recent trends quickly to give their home fans something to build on moving forward.