2020-08-29 18:10:00 EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins meet Saturday in MLB action from Marlins Park.
This will be the second matchup of a three-game weekend series between these teams. In the Friday opener, Tampa Bay cobbled together a couple of runs in the later innings to get by on a 2-0 victory and take an early lead in the series. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Rays out-hit Miami 10-5 in the Friday game, but didn’t get any scoring going until the eighth inning. Austin Meadows had a solid game there with a 2-for-4 outing and a run. Starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough logged 6.2 innings with four hits, no earned and five strikeouts, but had to settle for a no-decision.
For the Saturday start, Tampa Bay is sending out Josh Fleming to the mound. In his lone start so far in 2020 (and his career in the MLB), Fleming has 5.0 innings, a 1-0 record, a 3.60 ERA and three strikeouts.
Over on the Marlins’ side, they got a great start out of Sixto Sanchez on Friday, but it was all for naught. Sanchez went 7.0 innings with six hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts, but Miami couldn’t hold on. Jon Berti and Garrett Cooper each went 2-for-4 in that one.
For the Saturday start, Miami is rolling with Pablo Lopez on the mound. Lopez is 3-1 over his five starts so far this season, and rocks a 1.98 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. Lopez is 10-13 on his MLB career with a 4.38 ERA and 168 Ks in 197.1 innings.
The Rays are 4-0 in their last four games as a road favorite and 5-0 in their last five during game two of a series. Tampa Bay is 10-1 in the last 11 road games and 10-1 in their last 11 on grass.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are 6-2 in their last eight interleague games and 5-2 in their last seven versus the American League East. Miami is 21-47 in their last 68 during game two of a shire sand 4-12 in their last 16 games as a home underdog.
Pick: I have to stick with Tampa Bay here. Granted, this looks like a nice spot for Lopez to settle in and tear up some innings, but considering how tepid Miami’s offense was in the Friday game I don’t expect a ton of run support. Going against a talented bullpen like the Rays, it’s going to be difficult for the Marlins to find scoring opportunities. I like Fleming to have a solid outing here and help the Rays continue to roll in the American League East.
