2020-08-28 19:10:00 EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins meet in MLB action from Marlins Park on Friday.
The Tampa Bay Rays come into this one fairly rested after having their last game against the Baltimore Orioles postponed on Thursday due to the numerous protests going on across the country. Brandon Lowe is Tampa Bay’s leader in a lot of statistical categories when it comes to swinging the bat, posting team-highs of 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and 32 hits with 73 total bases and a .296 batting average in 108 at-bats this season. Yandy Diaz is slightly better than Lowe with a .297 batting average to lead the Rays with 101 at-bats with a team-high 34 strikeouts and a .427 on base percentage this season. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to start this one and is 0-2 with a 4.45 ERA and 21 strikeouts this season. This will be Yarbrough’s second career start against Miami.
The Miami Marlins had a chance to fly home early after their game against the Mets on Thursday was postponed due to protests as well. Jesus Aguilar and Brian Anderson share the team-high with 4 home runs this season, with Aguilar boasting a team-high .280 batting average with 20 RBIs as well while Anderson has 18 RBIs and a .356 on base percentage this season. Jonathan Villar has a team-high 28 hits in 103 at-bats for the Fish this season as well. Sixto Sanchez starts here for Miami and is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA and 4 strikeouts this season. This will be Sanchez’s first career start against Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay is 17-5 in their last 22 games overall and 7-2 in their last 9 games against the NL East while the over is 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games against a team with a winning record. Miami is 6-2 in their last 8 series opening games and 2-5 in their last 7 home games while the over is 4-1 in their last 5 games as a home underdog. Tampa Bay is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams.
The Marlins are sliding as of late, and while Yarbrough hasn’t been the same dominant middle reliever/long relief pitcher we’ve become accustomed to seeing in recent years, the Rays have been red hot behind him and right now, the Rays aren’t a team I’m trying to step in front of right now. I’ll side with the Rays here.
