Miami Marlins vs. Oakland Athletics: Three stories to watch

The Fish return to Marlins Park tonight for an absurdly short two-game homestand with the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Seriously, this should just be a Wednesday doubleheader. The Miami Marlins probably aren’t even unpacking for this one.

Chiefly, I’m griping because it is a two-game series. Difficult to win, maddeningly frustrating to split, demoralizing if you lose- the upside is usually minimal. True, the Marlins are playing better than the A’s.

But there’s a lot of room for this to be treated as an opportunity to tread water before ten games that could define the direction the team chooses to take the rest of the season.  Split between off days as it is presents opportunities for distraction, or rest.

These games matter, as the Marlins are burning two of their top three starters on this two-game, interleague spat. Wins are at a premium with the Braves, Nationals, and Cubs all on deck- all teams that the club has had their troubles with in the past.

I’ll make this prediction right now. If the Marlins don’t win at least seven of their next twelve games, the towel is being thrown in by the front office.

So this series carries a fair amount of weight to it. That’s been said for awhile now, but it remains the case every time out. That’s the hole the Marlins have dug for themselves. Taking a series off is not an option. All that is needed is for a runaway contender to lose an outfielder to an injury to suddenly throw a glaring spotlight on just what this team really is.

However, overdramatized stakes aren’t the only reason to tune in for this midweek mini-showdown of the last two MLB teams to have played home games in a football stadium. From a resurgent ace’s prospects, to the return of a top slugger, to a potential showdown at second base, we’ve got you covered with your three Miami Marlins stories to watch.

Let’s dive in.