The Miami Marlins (32-45) kicked off their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants (44-35) at Oracle Park on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, with an unexpected 4-2 victory, leveling the season series at two games apiece. The win marked a significant upset for the Marlins, who entered the series with a considerably worse record than the Giants.
Game 1 Recap: Marlins Edge Giants 4-2
The series opener saw a pitching duel between Miami’s RHP Cal Quantrill and San Francisco’s RHP Justin Verlander. Both starters had struggled this season, with Quantrill holding a 3-7 record and a 5.68 ERA coming into the game, and Verlander at 0-4 with a 4.45 ERA. The game ultimately saw both pitchers concede runs, but the Marlins’ offense capitalized more effectively.
Miami took an early lead in the second inning with an RBI double from Eric Wagaman and an RBI single from Connor Norby, making it 2-0. They extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning on an RBI single by Otto Lopez. The Giants responded in the bottom of the fifth when Christian Koss hit a two-run home run, narrowing the deficit to 3-2. However, the Marlins added an insurance run in the seventh inning with an RBI double from Xavier Edwards, securing the 4-2 win. (Reddit r/SFGiants)
Quantrill pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and striking out 3, bringing his ERA to 5.56. Verlander, who took the loss, pitched 5.0 innings, giving up 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, and striking out 5, pushing his record to 0-5 with a 4.52 ERA. The win was credited to Marlins reliever C. Gibson (2-3, 1.90 ERA), while R. Faucher earned his 8th save of the season. (Reddit r/SFGiants)
Series Context and Team Form
The Marlins entered the series after winning two of three games against the Atlanta Braves, including a 5-3 victory in their last outing. Despite the series win, they were outscored 12-11 by the Braves. Kyle Stowers notably homered on Sunday, breaking a 31-game drought. (Sportsbook Wire)
The Giants, on the other hand, had won two of three games against the Boston Red Sox, clinching their series with a 9-5 win. Left fielder Heliot Ramos was a key contributor, driving in four runs in the finale. The Giants recently made a significant acquisition, trading for designated hitter Rafael Devers from Boston. While Devers went 2-for-12 with a home run and two RBIs in his first three games against his former team, he is still settling into his new lineup. (Sportsbook Wire, DraftKings Network)
Game 2 Preview: Webb vs. Cabrera
The series continues on Wednesday, June 25, with another intriguing pitching matchup. The Giants will send their ace, RHP Logan Webb (7-5, 2.49 ERA), to the mound. Webb has been a consistent performer for San Francisco, boasting a 1.12 WHIP through 101.1 innings. He will face Miami’s RHP Edward Cabrera (2-2, 3.81 ERA), who has a 1.39 WHIP over 59.0 innings this season. (ESPN)
Betting odds for Game 2 favor the Giants heavily, with a moneyline of -215 compared to the Marlins at +180. The over/under is set at 6.5 runs. ESPN Analytics gives the Giants a 72.5% chance of winning, reflecting Webb’s strong performance and the Giants’ overall home record of 25-15. (ESPN)
A key factor in this series, as highlighted by pre-game analysis, is the bullpen strength. The Giants boast the best bullpen ERA in MLB, while the Marlins’ bullpen ranks 24th. While Miami’s bullpen held strong in Game 1, the long-term trend suggests San Francisco has an advantage in late-game situations. (DraftKings Network)
Series Outlook
With the series now tied 2-2, Game 2 becomes pivotal. The Giants will look to bounce back at home with their top pitcher on the mound, while the Marlins aim to continue their momentum and secure a surprising series victory. The three-game set concludes on June 26, promising more exciting baseball action at Oracle Park. (Fish On First)
