Marlins vs. Rays: Start time, how to watch, game thread and Fish Picks—August 28, 2020

Welcome to Friday’s Marlins (14-12) vs. Rays (21-11) game thread. It’s the beginning of Impact Week for the Marlins organization and only the second true “homestand” for the Fish this season. With the usual Apr. 15 Jackie Robinson Day wiped out by the pandemic, that league-wide celebration is taking place today instead.

Fish Picks is BACK and better than ever! Our free-to-play daily prop bets contest is open to all fans. Courtesy of a new Fish Stripes partnership with Fantom Drip, weekly points leaders will win their choice of a Marlins face covering (five different varieties available) or the exclusive Fish Stripes design.

Miami Marlins Face Cover

• $12

• $12 at Fantom Drip

And the overall 2020 season points leader will receive an Air Rojas t-shirt!

Air Rojas t-shirt

• $28

Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL

• $28 at BreakingT

The Fish Picks leaderboard will update daily to let you know where you stand.

Rays Lineup

1. LF Austin Meadows
2. RF Brandon Lowe
3. 3B Yandy Díaz
4. 1B Ji-Man Choi
5. SS Willy Adames
6. 2B Joey Wendle
7. CF Manuel Margot
8. DH Yoshi Tsutsugo
9. C Mike Zunino

P Ryan Yarbrough (4.45 ERA, 5.20 FIP, 15.9 K%, 29.6 Hard Hit% in 30.1 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: Would you believe that since 2018, Yarbrough leads the Rays in innings pitched? That’s despite ranking sixth on the team in total starts during that span. In previous seasons, Tampa Bay frequently utilized him as the “bulk guy” who would enter the game following an opener. He’s in a conventional starting role so far this season...Lowe (.296/.397/.676, 188 wRC+, 1.9 fWAR in 126 PA) is the best MLB player you haven’t heard of. In Rays-like fashion, they already inked him to a team-friendly, long-term contract extension.

Marlins Lineup

1. CF Jon Berti
2. LF Corey Dickerson
3. 3B Brian Anderson
4. DH Garrett Cooper
5. 2B Jonathan Villar
6. C Jorge Alfaro
7. 1B Lewin Diaz
8. RF Lewis Brinson
9. SS Miguel Rojas

P Sixto Sánchez

Notes: In addition to Cooper’s return, the Marlins also activated Yimi García from the injured list. That forced them to clear a 40-man roster spot by placing the struggling Logan Forsythe (right oblique strain) on the 60-day IL, which ends his regular season...Craig Mish dropped the hint about Cooper earlier in the day on a new Swings and Mishes episode. Mish also had pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. join the podcast for a compelling interview...The Marlins have officially parted ways with right-hander Sterling Sharp by returning him to the Nationals. He expressed his appreciation for the organization on Twitter.

How to watch/listen/follow

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Watch on FOX Sports Florida and via MLB.TV or listen on 940 WINZ. It’s also being nationally broadcasted on FS1!

Fish Picks

Please comment below or tweet to @fishstripes with your picks for the following props. The contest locks at first pitch.

1. Which starting pitcher lasts longer? (Yarbrough/Sánchez)
2. Over/Under 99.9 mph as fastest pitch of the game?? (Over/Under)
3. Over/Under 3:05 time of game? (Over/Under)
4. Will Garrett Cooper get a hit? (Yes/No)
5. Who wins? (Rays/Marlins)