Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays: A AL East matchup

The Miami Marlins are visiting the Tampa Bay Rays today in the Florida Derby at Tropicana Field.

The Marlins have a season to forget

The Miami Marlins are at the bottom of the NL East with a 39-67 record, including 17-33 on the road. They have won 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Miami has a 4.51 ERA, a .251 batting average, a .328 on-base percentage, and 1.36 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Bryan De La Cruz is the best player on the team, with 104 hits, 44 runs, and 18 home runs for the season.

Can the Rays climb the standings?

The Tampa Bay Rays are fourth in the AL East with a 54-52 record and 29-28 at home. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Tampa Bay has a 4.08 ERA, a .239 batting average, a .305 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Yandy Diaz leads the team with 106 hits, Randy Arozarena is on top with 45 runs, and Isaac Paredes has 16 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Rays are 6-3 SU in their last 9 games overall, 7-1 SU in their last 8 home games against Miami and 10-3 SU in their last 13 games against teams from the NL East. Tampa Bay has played under the total run line in 4 of their last 6 games overall, in their last 6 home games and in 7 of their last 8 games against teams from the NL. The Marlins are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games overall, 1-12 SU in their last 13 games against the Rays, 1-7 SU in their last 8 visits to Tampa Bay and 3-10 SU in their last 13 games against teams from the AL East. Miami has played over the total run line in 6 of their last 7 games overall, in 6 of their last 8 games on the road and in their last 5 games against teams from the AL.

Prediction and Conclusion

The Tampa Bay Rays finally managed to get to a winning record, but given the competition in the AL East, they will have to do much better than that in order to have a chance in the playoffs. The Rays are 8.5 games behind the leading Orioles but only 2.5 games behind the Red Sox, who are third. Tonight, the Rays will host the Marlins, whom they have beaten in nine of the last 10 head-to-head games. The Rays will start Jeffrey Springs, who will make his debut this season. The Marlins will go with Edward Cabrera, who is 1-3 for the season with a 7.04 ERA, 49 K, 38.1 IP, and 1.62 WHIP. The Rays are way better at the moment, and Springs will have a winning start of his season.