Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays: Three Stories To Watch

As Miami Marlins fans well know, it was for earth-shaking matchups such as these that Interleague Play was designed for.

Welcome to another Citrus Series between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays.

Alright, maybe it’s not quite Mets-Yankees. But there is substance here. The Rays get to have winning seasons, while the Marlins get to win World Championships.

The Rays used to exist to many fans just so a former Yankee could reach 3000 hits, whereas the Marlins currently serve that purpose. Then, of course, the biggest debate of them all:

Which city, Miami or Tampa, is right about the Cuban Sandwich?

Kidding aside though, the Marlins could really use 2017 bragging rights in this one, especially heading into a weekend series against the Mets.

Considering the schedule will be following what has become the traditional Citrus Series template of just spending four days going up and down Alligator Alley, we’ll go with one Series Preview for the “four” game, home and home set.

Without further ado, your three stories to watch. Let’s dive in.

Can the Miami Marlins Expect More From Bour? 

Just in time, the Marlins first baseman might just be shaking out his slumber. Justin Bour essentially was the offense in Sunday’s finale against the Pirates, clubbing 6 RBI along with a HR.

The big question though is can he keep this production going?

Naturally not at that pace, but can he build on this and get to hitting .250? Bour has been struggling to stay over the Mendoza Line all season long. To the point that visions of starting one of Miami’s two multi-purpose infielders at first instead, have started dancing in my head.

Three of the four projected starting pitchers for Tampa are righties, so Bour will get to face the Rays at his best. If we continue to see hard-hit balls and quality at bats, Marlins fans might be able to breathe a little easier.

However, I would also add a subplot here. If Bour himself DHs at any point in this series, pay extra-special attention to the performance of whoever starts at first in his place. Don Mattingly might just be working on Plan B.

Can Dan Straily Become the Miami Marlins (Gulp) Ace? 

All off-season, the mantra for the Miami Marlins starting rotation has been the ace by committee approach, that it will take a village to get the job done without a true ace of the staff.

But we also always expected someone to emerge as at least a Ryan Dempster like stopper. Someone who would be reliable enough to give fans slightly more confidence than the other four front men. That much, at least, seemed essential if the team was going to be successful.

So everyone had Dan Straily in the pool right?

Even after walking in two runs in Friday’s loss, it really just might be Straily that has proven himself most worthy of the title thus far in 2017. Since that flame-out in Washington, the “veteran” has compiled four straight starts where he has allowed 3 ER or less.

He’s flirted with a no-hitter, even if he was effectively wild in that game. He’s notched 14 Ks in another, and has never put the Marlins in a position where the game seemed over early.

If Straily can put together another quality performance this Thursday, and especially if it is paired with another disappointing offering from off-season favorite Edinson Volquez, this is one Marlins fan that is ready to consider the matter closed. For better or worse, he will have earned it.

Next: Fernandez Memorial Proper?

Fingers crossed the rest of the rotation does their best to make a good start by Straily in the series finale not stand out too much though. That’s it for this series. Enjoy a proper, salami-less Cuban sandwich, and we’ll catch you in Queens.