The Miami Marlins roll into West Sacramento tonight riding a legitimate hot streak, and they couldn't have picked a better opponent to keep it rolling against.

Miami is 7-3 in their last 10 games, outscoring opponents by 19 runs during that stretch. They've got their ace on the mound in Sandy Alcantara (9-4, 4.20 ERA), and their offense is clicking with Owen Caissie clubbing three homers in the last 10 games.

Then there's the Oakland Athletics, who are everything the Marlins aren't right now. Oakland is 3-7 in their last 10 games, their starting rotation ERA sits at 5.64, and they're absolutely decimated by injuries. Brent Rooker (knee), Zack Gelof (hand), Jacob Wilson (thumb), and Tyler Soderstrom (hip) are all on the injured list. That's four key bats missing from a lineup that already struggles to score.

The A's send Aaron Civale (5-5, 5.05 ERA) to the mound, and manager Mark Kotsay has been openly frustrated with a rotation that's struggled to get past the fifth inning in six of the last nine outings. Even catcher Shea Langeliers is day-to-day with a thumb contusion after taking a foul ball off his hand yesterday.

This is just a brutal matchup for Oakland right now. They're facing a hot team with an ace pitcher while running out a depleted lineup and a struggling rotation. The Marlins are playing meaningful baseball in July, while the A's are looking toward another lost season in their temporary West Sacramento home.

Sometimes the story writes itself. Miami keeps rolling.

Sal is 14-11 (+2.9u YTD).

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