The Miami Marlins head into Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago White Sox with a chance to secure a much-needed series win and build momentum as they attempt to climb out of the bottom tier of the NL East. Sporting a 15-23 record, the Marlins have struggled to find consistent footing in 2025, battling through erratic offense, underwhelming pitching, and the frustrating regression of ace Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara, once the rock of the Marlins’ rotation and the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, has seen a steep decline in form this season, entering Sunday’s start with a 2-4 record and an alarming 8.42 ERA. His control has been erratic, his strikeout rate has dipped, and he’s been far more hittable than in past years, putting additional pressure on the Marlins’ bullpen and lineup to play near-perfect baseball. Still, the Marlins remain hopeful that a matchup against a struggling White Sox team—one that has failed to generate consistent offense—could be exactly what Alcantara needs to get back on track. Offensively, the Marlins are leaning heavily on Kyle Stowers, who leads the team with a .300 batting average and has become a steady run producer despite the club’s struggles. Xavier Edwards adds a valuable dimension with speed and defense, already swiping six bases while consistently putting pressure on opposing pitchers. However, the rest of Miami’s lineup has lacked both power and depth, often failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities and making it difficult to support even strong pitching performances.

The Marlins’ bullpen has shown flashes of capability, but it has also contributed to several blown leads, adding another layer of volatility to late-game situations. If Alcantara can provide a quality start and keep the White Sox off the board early, Miami will need to manufacture runs through smart base running, situational hitting, and defensive sharpness. That latter point has improved in recent weeks, but the Marlins remain vulnerable to miscues, especially when playing on the road. Their ATS record of 19-17 reflects a tendency to keep games close and competitive, even when they don’t come out on top, and Sunday’s finale presents a real opportunity to secure back-to-back series victories for the first time this season. To do that, Miami must not only count on Alcantara finding his form but also see greater contributions from the heart of their lineup, minimize bullpen mistakes, and execute clean, focused baseball. A win would not only lift their record to a slightly more manageable 16-23 but could also serve as a pivotal confidence builder heading into the next stretch of their schedule. For a team still trying to rediscover the spark that propelled them to last year’s postseason appearance, Sunday’s game is about far more than just a win—it’s about finding direction, regaining belief, and reminding themselves that the season is still salvageable with the right mix of execution and resilience.