Marlins vs. Rays Series Preview

The Miami Marlins last road trip of the 2021 season is upon us. A 3-game Citrus Series begins tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays, holder of the best record in the American League. They have officially clinched a spot in the postseason. After the weekend series, the Marlins will take on the Mets at Citi Field then return for three final games against the Phillies at LoanDepot Park.

This series preview will give you all the details:

• Schedule, Watch, Listen
• Probable Pitchers
• Recent Lineups
• What To Watch For

Schedule, Watch, Listen

Friday, September 24 at 7:10 pm

Saturday, September 25 at 6:10 pm

Sunday, September 26 at 1:10 pm

• TV broadcast for all 3 games: Bally Sports Florida
• Radio broadcast for all 3 games: 940 AM WINZ, WAQI 710

Grid View

• Edward Cabrera, Marlins starting pitcher on Friday Photo by Jim Rassol/USA TODAY Sports
• David Robertson, Rays starting pitcher on Friday Photo by Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports
• Sandy Alcantara, Marlins starting pitcher on Saturday Photo by Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
• Shane McClanahan, Rays starting pitcher on Saturday Photo by Mike Watters/USA TODAY Sports
• Jesús Luzardo, Marlins starting pitcher on Sunday Photo by Jim Rassol/USA TODAY Sports
• Shane Baz, Rays starting pitcher on Sunday Photo by Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

Probable Pitchers

Friday: RHP Edward Cabrera vs. RHP David Robertson

• Cabrera: 5.31 ERA, 1.623 WHIP, 17.4 K%, 45.8 HardHit% in 20.1 IP
• Robertson: 5.63 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 36.1 K%, 40.0 HardHit% in 8.0 IP

Saturday: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs. LHP Shane McClanahan

• Alcantara: 3.05 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, 24.1 K%, 39.3 HardHit% in 194.2 IP
• McClanahan: 3.51 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 27.9 K%, 45.0 HardHit% in 115.1 IP

Sunday: LHP Jesús Luzardo vs. RHP Shane Baz

• Luzardo: 7.01 ERA, 1.674 WHIP, 20.6 K%, 39.0 HardHit% in 86.0 IP
• Baz: 3.60 ERA, 0.400 WHIP, 29.4 K%, 50.0 HardHit% in 5.0 IP

Recent Lineups

Baseball-Reference.com

Baseball-Reference.com

What to watch for on...

Friday: Lewin Díaz is on a roll.

• Díaz’s over last 14 days: 15-for-49, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 14 K.
• He seems to have found his groove now that he’s starting every day at first base. When he’s put the ball in play over the last 14 days, he has a .375 batting average. Díaz is even better lately, with a .438 BABIP over the last seven days. He’s playing well defensively, too. Louis Addeo-Weiss wrote about why Lewin deserves the 2022 first base job here. Because they’ll be in an AL ballpark, the Marlins will take advantage of the extra bat with the DH in play.

Photo by Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports

Saturday: Alcantara the ace.

• Alcantara’s lasting outing against Pittsburgh: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
• Sandy Alcantara takes the mound for the Fish on Saturday. He wasn’t as sharp against the Pirates last weekend as we’ve seen lately, but he kept the Marlins in the game and they were able to walk it off courtesy of a Lewin Díaz home run in extra innings. Sandy hasn’t seen the Rays a ton, but he’s kept them quiet in the few times facing Tampa Bay — .154 batting average against with 12 strikeouts.

Sunday: Rays top prospect Shane Baz.

• Baz’s MLB debut last week: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
• MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 prospect made his debut last week against the Blue Jays, collecting five strikeouts and securing his first win. The two hits he allowed were solo home runs, one to Teoscar Hernández and the other to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Baz’s fastball flirts with triple digits. He struck out Triple Crown hopeful Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a 99.5 MHP four-seamer in his debut. He also used a slider and curveball against Toronto.