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BOLD PREDICTIONS Which of these 15 Marlins predictions is most realistic?

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May 24-25: Marlins at Rays Citrus Series Preview

A 2-game Citrus Series begins tonight in St. Petersburg.

By Nicole Cahill
/ new
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) checks as Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Joey Wendle (18) leads off of first base during the first inning of a game at Tropicana Field. Photo by Mary Holt/USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins lost their weekend series against the Atlanta Braves, but they finally won a one-run ballgame on Sunday. As disappointing as they’ve been, Miami is still bunched up in the middle of the NL East with Atlanta and Philadelphia.

The Rays are coming off a tough loss of their own, getting walked-off by the Orioles in the 11th inning of Sunday’s game. The Marlins will play a quick two games in St. Petersburg, take Thursday off, then play the Braves in Atlanta this weekend.

The series preview will give you all the details:

  • Schedule, Watch, Listen
  • Probable Pitchers
  • Recent Lineups
  • What To Watch For
  • Poll: How Will This Series Play Out?

Schedule, Watch, Listen

Tuesday, May 24 at 6:40 pm

Wednesday, May 25 at 6:40 pm

  • TV broadcast for both games: Bally Sports Florida
  • Radio broadcast for both games: 940 AM WINZ, WAQI 710
  • Pablo López, Marlins’ starting pitcher on Tuesday Photo by Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports
  • Shane McClanahan, Rays’ starting pitcher on Tuesday Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports
  • Cody Poteet, Marlins’ starting pitcher on Wednesday Photo by Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports
  • Drew Rasmussen, Rays’ starting pitcher on Wednesday Photo by Lindsey Wasson/USA TODAY Sports

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday: RHP Pablo López vs. LHP Shane McClanahan

  • López: 1.57 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 27.0 K%, 21.3 HardContact% in 46.0 IP
  • McClanahan: 2.33 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 36.7 K%, 20.3 HardContact% in 46.1 IP

Wednesday: RHP Cody Poteet vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen

  • Poteet: 0.78 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 22.4 K%, 26.2 HardContact% in 23.0 IP
  • Rasmussen: 2.33 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 22.4 K%, 28.5 HardContact% in 38.2 IP

Projected Lineups

Marlins most recent lineup: Chisholm Jr. (2B), Aguilar (1B), Cooper (DH), Garcia (RF), Anderson (3B), Sanchez (CF), De La Cruz (LF), Gonzalez (SS), Stallings (C).
Marlins recent lineups.
Roster Resource / FanGraphs
Rays most recent lineup: Kiermaier (CF), Arozarena (LF), Choi (1B), Ramirez (DH), Brujan (2B), Paredes (3B), Phillips (RF), Zunino (C), Walls (SS).
Rays recent lineups.
Roster Resource / FanGraphs

What to watch for on...

Tuesday: Battle of the aces.

  • NL ERA leader Pablo López matches up against Rays lefty Shane McClanahan.
  • We know how great López is, so let’s give McClanahan some love. His 36.7% strikeout rate is the second-highest among all qualified starting pitchers. He doesn’t have one pitch he favors heavily in two-strike counts, splitting evenly between his curveball, changeup, and slider. All three of these pitches generate frequent whiffs and induce soft, ground ball contact.

Wednesday: Will the young studs be healthy?

  • Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. left Sunday’s game after just two innings with left hamstring tightness.
  • Rays’ Wander Franco has been sidelined with leg injuries over the past few days.

Poll

May 24-25: How will the Citrus Series play out?

This poll is closed

  • 12%
    Marlins sweep, 2-0
    (1 vote)
  • 37%
    Tie, 1 win apiece
    (3 votes)
  • 50%
    Rays sweep, 2-0
    (4 votes)
8 votes total Vote Now

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