Marlins vs. Rays: Start time, how to watch, game thread and Fish Picks—September 24, 2021

Welcome to Friday’s Marlins (64-88, -51 RD) vs. Rays (94-59, +178 RD) game thread. This is the final interleague series that the Marlins will play in 2021.

During every Marlins game, join in on the Fish Picks prop bets fun. They give you something to focus on even with the team out of World Series contention. Please use this link!

Picks are only valid if submitted to us prior to first pitch.

The Fish Picks leaderboard is updated daily. Nobody picked a Perfect Game on Wednesday.

At the end of each month, the Fish Picks winner—whoever has the percentage of correct picks (among qualifiers)—will receive a hand-painted Trevor Rogers baseball card.

Everybody’s point totals have been reset for the start of September.

Marlins Starting Lineup

1. SS Miguel Rojas
2. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
3. CF Bryan De La Cruz
4. RF Jesús Sánchez
5. LF Lewis Brinson
6. 1B Lewin Díaz
7. DH Nick Fortes
8. 3B Eddy Alvarez
9. C Payton Henry

RHP Edward Cabrera (2021 season stats: 5.31 ERA, 7.29 FIP, 17.4 K%, 45.8 HardHit% in 20.1 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: The Marlins own a meager 3-14 record in interleague play...I’m a broken record on this topic, but it’s still bizarre how rarely Cabrera is using his fastball (36.0% usage). Who cares about his poor results with it thus far? Cabrera will eventually need it to upset hitters’ timing and change their eye level...The Marlins have not had the same catcher start consecutive games since September 13-14.

Rays Starting Lineup

1. 2B Brandon Lowe
2. SS Wander Franco
3. 1B Ji-Man Choi
4. DH Nelson Cruz
5. LF Austin Meadows
6. RF Randy Arozarena
7. 3B Joey Wendle
8. C Francisco Mejía
9. CF Kevin Kiermaier

RHP David Robertson (2021 season stats: 5.63 ERA, 2.66 FIP, 36.1 K%, 40.0 HardHit% in 8.0 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: Robertson hasn’t pitched more than one inning in any game since joining the Rays roster earlier this month. This will be his 701st major league appearance—regular season and postseason combined—but his very first in a “starting” role...Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times anticipates lefty Ryan Yarbrough serving as the club’s bulk guy tonight...Star rookie Wander Franco (.285/.347/.463, 127 wRC+, 2.2 fWAR) has recovered from his strained right hamstring just in time for this series...Old friend Adam Conley is here! The Rays seldom use him in important situations, but he’s been great against left-handed batters (albeit in a tiny sample).

How to watch/listen/follow

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Watch on Bally Sports Florida or listen to the radio broadcast on 940 WINZ.

I will handle the game recap article.

Fish Picks

Please submit your picks for the following props. The contest locks at first pitch.

1. Which team throws more pitches in the dirt? (Marlins/Rays)
2. Over/Under 4.5 Marlins pitchers used? (Over/Under)
3. Over/Under 3:07 time of game? (Over/Under)
4. Will Lewis Brinson get a hit? (Yes/No)
5. Who wins? (Marlins/Rays)