Sixty-two games down, one-hundred to go.
The Tampa Bay Rays are on a roll.
They just swept the Texas Rangers in a three game series and the last time they lost a series was the May 16-18th series against the Miami Marlins, who coincidentally are the Rays’ opponents this weekend.
With the sweep, the Rays improved to 33-29 on the season and are 5.5 games back of the New York Yankees for the division lead, but are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for the 3rd wild card spot and are just one game back of the Minnesota Twins for the top wild card spot.
The Miami Marlins meanwhile seem to have another lost season on their hands as they enter play with a 23-37 record and have lost four in a row and seven of their last 10. Since defeating the Rays on Sunday, May 18th, the Marlins have a 5-10 record while the Rays actually have the best record in baseball, having won 12 of 16.
There aren’t many bright spots on the Marlins roster, but Kyle Stowers is looking like a potential star as he is hitting .282/.351/.485 with 10 HR (130 wRC+ | 1.3 fWAR). Dane Myers and Liam Hicks have also been solid contributors. Meanwhile, the Marlins pitching has been an inconsistent mess and the Rays will fortunately avoid Max Meyer this series. But it’s been a struggle for the Marlins hurlers to get outs.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING FRIDAY’S GAME
Friday’s game will start at 1:10 to allow for less congestion as Metallica will be holding a concert at Raymond James Stadium later tonight
Frivolities
- The top players by career WAR to have played for the Rays and Marlins:
- Cliff Floyd
- Charles Johnson
- Nathan Eovaldi
- Joey Wendle
- Matt Joyce
- The Rays best player offensively against the Marlins all-time (min. 25 PA):
Logan Morrison: .522/.560/.783 with 2 HR over 25 PA.
The next four are Fred McGriff, Josh Lowe, Brandon Guyer, & Randy Arozarena - The Rays most previous transacation with the Marlins
— 3/27/24: Rays trade Shane Sasaki to the Marlins. Yankees trade John Cruz to Marlins. Yankees trade Ben Rortvedt to Rays. Marlins trade Jon Berti to Yankees. - The Rays first transaction with the Marlins
— 12/12/11: Rays trade Jake Jefferies to Marlins for Burke Badenhop
Probable pitchers are projected by FanGraphs
GAME ONE
Friday, June 6th
1:10 PM EDT
RHP Zack Littell vs RHP Edward Cabrera
GAME TWO
Saturday, June 7th
4:10 PM EDT
RHP Taj Bradley vs LHP Ryan Weathers
GAME THREE
Sunday, June 8th
12:10 PM EDT
RHP Drew Rasmussen vs RHP Connor Gillispie