Tampa Bay Rays vs
Miami MarlinsPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays favored to win against Miami Marlins in upcoming series with Taj Bradley pitching

The Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins will face off in a three-game series starting on Friday, with Taj Bradley (4.24 ERA) pitching for the Rays and Max Meyer (4.37 ERA) taking the mound for the Marlins. The Rays are coming off a series in Toronto while the Marlins had a day off after a series in Chicago. The Rays are the favorites in this matchup, with the current line sitting at -116. Stay tuned for our Rays vs. Marlins prediction and for more updates on the game.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays -116 | Marlins +102
• Spread: Rays -1.5 (+142) | Marlins +1.5 (-165)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 54%.

Tampa Bay vs Miami Stats

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently on a challenging road trip, traveling from Toronto to Miami to take on the Marlins. Despite being in a tough division with the Yankees and Red Sox, the Rays are currently 5.5 games behind the division leaders. In Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, the Rays only managed to score one run in a 3-1 loss, with Kameron Misner contributing an RBI single. Misner, along with Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz, have been key players in the Rays' lineup this season. Taj Bradley will be making his 9th start of the season as a 24-year-old right-hander, with a 3-2 record and a 4.24 ERA. The team is currently ranked 23 in offense, 11 in defense, and has a record of 20-23 this season.

Miami Marlins Analysis

The Miami Marlins will have a day off on Thursday to prepare for their upcoming matchup, while the Rays are finishing up their series in Toronto. Despite falling into last place in the NL East, the Marlins are only half a game behind the Nationals in fourth place. In their recent game against the Cubs, the Marlins secured a win with two solo home runs from outfielder Kyle Stowers, who leads the team with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs this season. Xavier Edwards, the team's leadoff man, has 45 hits and is batting .263. Agustin Ramirez also contributed with a home run in the same game. Max Meyer will be making his ninth start of the season with a 2-4 record and 4.37 ERA. The Marlins have a power ranking of 27, are ranked 18th in offense, 29th in defense, and have an overall record of 16-26. Tampa Bay had a 1-2 record in their last three matchups against Miami.

Rays Look to Capitalize on Struggling Pitcher Max Meyer in Road Matchup against Marlins

The Tampa Bay Rays are facing Max Meyer on the road, who has recently struggled in giving up runs. Meyer, typically a reliable pitcher, has allowed five earned runs in each of his last three starts against teams that do not have top-tier offenses in the Major League. This recent string of shaky performances may impact his confidence as he faces the Rays. On the other side, the Rays have a solid starter in Bradley, who has only given up five or more earned runs in one of his eight starts this season. The Marlins, who managed a win in their last game with the help of two home runs from Stowers, are unlikely to have a strong enough offense to secure another win. Therefore, it is recommended to take the Rays to win the opening game of the series.

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