The Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics will meet on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Sutter Health Park to close out a three-game series that has been defined by the vastly different trajectories of the two franchises. The Phillies come into the finale with a commanding 33–18 record, riding an eight-game winning streak and sitting near the top of the National League standings, while the Athletics have plunged to 22–30, weighed down by a brutal ten-game losing skid that has exposed both roster weaknesses and overall inconsistency. Philadelphia has been firing on all cylinders, combining elite starting pitching, timely power hitting, and a shutdown bullpen to become one of the league’s most complete teams through the first two months of the season. Kyle Schwarber has brought his signature left-handed power back to the lineup with authority, and Trea Turner has been white-hot at the plate, slashing 16-for-41 (.390) with six home runs and numerous multi-hit games over his last ten. Their offensive production has allowed the Phillies to build early leads and put pressure on opposing pitchers, something they’ve done with ease against Oakland in the first two games of this series. On the mound, Zack Wheeler has been the ace of the rotation, boasting a 6–1 record and routinely neutralizing even the most potent lineups, while the rest of the rotation has backed him with quality starts and strong innings. The bullpen, featuring José Alvarado and Gregory Soto, has been airtight during this win streak, converting close games into wins and preserving sizable leads without drama. Philadelphia has also covered the run line in six straight road games, underscoring just how dominant and dependable they’ve been against lesser opponents. In stark contrast, the Oakland Athletics are reeling, both on the scoreboard and in the standings, having lost ten consecutive games and failing to find stability either at the plate or on the mound. Their offense has struggled to produce consistently, managing just enough isolated home runs to stay on the fringe of games but not enough to build sustainable rallies.

The lone standout in the lineup has been Brent Rooker, who has launched 18 home runs and slugged .536, giving Oakland at least one legitimate power threat in the heart of the order. Lawrence Butler has also shown some life recently, going 10-for-32 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in the last ten games, but outside of those two, the lineup has been quiet and inefficient in run-producing opportunities. The pitching staff has been an even bigger issue, unable to contain aggressive offenses and constantly putting the team in early deficits. Walks and defensive miscues have compounded their problems, leading to high-scoring losses that drain the bullpen and demoralize the team. Despite playing in a more hitter-friendly temporary home at Sutter Health Park, Oakland has failed to leverage any offensive advantage from the ballpark and continues to be outslugged in most matchups. Their 0–9 record ATS over the last nine games reflects not only losses but losses by wide margins—indicative of a team outclassed in every facet. With the series on the line, the Phillies will look to cap off a sweep and extend their winning streak to nine, while the A’s will simply try to avoid another embarrassing home loss. Philadelphia’s odds are heavily in their favor, sitting as -225 moneyline favorites, and with the over/under set at 9.5 runs, oddsmakers are anticipating another offensive showcase, particularly from the visiting team. With Will Warren providing solid innings and the offense clicking behind stars like Turner and Schwarber, the Phillies appear well-positioned to control the pace from the first pitch to the final out. The Athletics, meanwhile, need an inspired performance from their rotation and a near-perfect night at the plate to remain competitive, let alone win. Unless Oakland can reverse their alarming trends in all phases of the game, the Phillies are likely to leave Sacramento with another decisive victory and one of the league’s longest active winning streaks intact.