Rays vs Marlins Odds: Florida Teams Clash in Short Series

The Tampa Bay Rays travel south to face their instate counterparts, the Miami Marlins, for a quick two-game series that begins Tuesday. The Rays are keeping the pressure on the Baltimore Orioles, while the Marlins have dropped out of a playoff position. The Rays vs Marlins odds see Miami -110 in the series opener.

Tampa Bay is going to send Aaron Civale to the mound. Civale is 6-3 with a 2.59 ERA. His teams have gone 10-7 in the games he’s started this MLB season. Tampa Bay has won three of his four starts since picking him up from Cleveland. He has pitched that well in Tampa, but the Rays have won his two home starts 9-8 and 6-5, which is all that really matters.

The Marlins will throw Sandy Alcantara, who is 6-11 with a 4.16 ERA. The Marlins are 10-16 when he starts and just 3-8 in the 11 games he’s started in Miami. To be fair to Alcantara, the Marlins have scored three runs or less in eight of his 11 home starts.

Scoring runs has been a problem for Miami all season. The Marlins are No. 7 in team batting average, but No. 27 in runs scored. Miami simply isn’t getting the hits they need and don’t hit for much power. The Marlins are No. 22 in slugging percentage. Miami is No. 15 in team ERA, so the pitching staff has been average.

The Rays are No. 4 in team batting, with Yandy Diaz leading the way. Diaz is No. 4 among the MLB leaders 2023 in batting average. Tampa Bay is No. 4 in runs scored. The Rays are No. 6 in team ERA.

The Marlins are 3-7 over their last 10 games, falling 3.0 games back in the Major League Baseball standings wildcard race.

Tampa is trailing Baltimore by 2.5 games but is 6.0 games up in the wild card race.

Tuesday’s Game

It’s a little surprising to see the Marlins favored in the opener. But Miami does need the game more. Alcantara hasn’t been his normal self this year. Opponents are hitting .247 against him after hitting .226, .223 and .212 against him the last three seasons. He has pitched a little better his last seven starts, where he has a 3-3 record and a 3.02 ERA.

Civale is having his typical steady season and went from an uphill battle to almost a sure thing as far as the playoffs go. Tampa Bay’s blistering start is a thing of the past. But the Rays are almost certainly going to make the playoffs.

While this isn’t quite a must-win game for the Marlins, it’s pretty close. The Rays vs Marlins odds of Miami -110 is fair, considering Miami is 38-29 at home this season. The Marlins should be the right side in Tuesday’s game.

The MLB lines of 7.5 on the total is about right considering the quality of pitchers and Miami’s scoring woes.

Wednesday’s Game

The Rays vs Marlins odds should again be pretty close to even, as Zach Eflin starts for Tampa Bay, while Jesus Luzardo goes for Miami. Eflin is having a nice season for the Rays, going 13-8 with an ERA of 3.55 Tampa Bay is 17-8 when he takes the mound, although one of those losses was a 7-1 setback against Alcantara and the Marlins on July 26. On the road, the Rays are 6-4 with Eflin and 3-7 in totals. Eflin has lost his last seven starts against Miami. His last win over Miami came in 2019.

Luzardo is 9-8 with a 3.77 ERA on the season. Miami has gone 16-10 when he starts and 10-5 when he starts at home. The Rays are 19-7 against left-handed starters and score 6.23 runs per game. Tampa Bay scores 5.12 runs against right-handed pitchers.

The Rays hit lefties well, but think Luzardo can keep their bats somewhat quiet and will take the Marlins in the second game of the series.

For MLB betting news, Rays vs Marlins odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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