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Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays – September 24/26
Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays
When: Friday, September 24 – Sunday, September 26
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
The Miami Marlins hit the road for their final road-trip of the 2021 season, with a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend up first. This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season, with the first coming in the very-first series this season where the Rays took two-of-three in Miami.
Miami enters this series after dropping two-of-three to the Nationals at home during the week, followed by a scheduled off-day Thursday.
The Marlins enter play with a 64-88 overall record on the season, and sit in fourth place in the NL East. Miami sports a 4-6 record across their last 10 games, and now faces their final interleague opponent of the season, an area where the Marlins have struggled this season holding a 3-14 record against AL opponents.
Tampa Bay enters play over the weekend fresh-off clinching a postseason-berth as they took two-of-three from the Blue Jays during the week.
The defending American League Champions, the Rays sport a 94-59 record on the season, and sit atop the AL East holding a six-game lead. Tampa Bay could potentially clinch the division in this series here, as well as help their chances of clinching the No. 1 overall seed in the AL.
Miami Marlins Players to Watch
SS Miguel Rojas
Rojas is by-far the Marlins current leader in hits for the season, as well as currently posting a .722 OPS for the season with eight home runs, 45 RBI’s, and 13 stolen bases. Rojas has collected a hit in seven of his last nine games.
2B Jazz Chisholm
Chisholm is on the verge of a 20/20 season as he is currently sitting on 17 home runs and 22 stolen bases for the season. Across his last seven games, Chisholm has posted a .776 OPS with two home runs.
OF Bryan De La Cruz
While he has cooled-off in recent games, the impressive rookie season for De La Cruz continues since being called-up. For the season, the 24-year-old outfielder is slashing .313/.375/.470 with five home runs and 18 RBI’s.
RP Anthony Bender
While not quite the run that he had to begin the season, Bender is quietly in the middle of another impressive scoreless streak. Across his last 11 games, the right-hander has thrown 11.2 scoreless innings with five hits, six walks, and 10 strikeouts.
OF Jesus Sanchez
Sanchez has continued his phenomenal month of September in which he currently posts a .925 OPS with seven home runs and 18 RBI’s. For the season, the 23-year-old outfielder has hit 13 home runs across 57 games.
Tampa Bay Rays Players to Watch
2B Brandon Lowe
Lowe is enjoying a career-season where he has slashed .236/.334/.490 with 34 home runs, 86 RBI’s, and seven stolen bases. The 27-year-old has posted a .750 OPS so far this month with three home runs and eight RBI’s.
3B Joey Wendle
Another player who is enjoying a career-season is Wendle, who currently has a career-high 11 home runs in a season in which he made his first-ever All-Star appearance. Wendle has slashed .258/.333/.419 so-far this month.
C Mike Zunino
Year three in Tampa Bay has brought the veteran catcher his first-career All-Star appearance, as well as a career-high 31 home runs and .854 OPS. Zunino has a hit in four of his last five games which includes two home runs.
OF Randy Arozarena
The Rays team-leader in hits, Arozarena has enjoyed a strong first full major league season after last seasons historic-showing in October. So far this month, Arozarena has posted a .762 OPS.
CF Kevin Kiermaier
The veteran outfielder has struggled at times this season slashing .248/.313/.367 for the year. Kiermaier has however enjoyed success so-far this month slashing .286/.362/.452 across his last 18 games.
Start Times & Probable Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Friday, September 24 at 7:10 pm ET
Probable Starters: RHP Edward Cabrera vs RHP David Robertson
Cabrera (MIA): 0-2, 5.31 ERA, 1.623 WHIP, 13 BB, 16 K – Marlins No. 2 prospect
Robertson (TB): 0-0, 5.63 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 3 BB, 13 K
Game 2: Saturday, September 25 at 6:10 pm ET
Probable Starters: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs LHP Shane McClanahan
Alcantara (MIA): 9-13, 3.05 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, 49 BB, 189 K
McClanahan (TB): 9-6, 3.51 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 36 BB, 135 K
Game 3: Sunday, September 26 at 1:10 pm ET
Probable Starters: LHP Jesus Luzardo vs RHP Shane Baz
Luzardo (MIA): 5-8, 7.01 ERA, 1.674 WHIP, 46 BB, 82 K
Baz (TB): 1-0, 3.60 ERA, 0.400 WHIP, 0 BB, 5 K – Rays No. 1 prospect
Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays Series Prediction
While these two teams are headed in different directions for the remainder of the 2021 season, this three-game set should provide three very-good pitching matchups.
Game 1 will include a Tampa Bay bullpen-game up against Miami’s top pitching prospect, while Game 3 involves the second-career start for the Rays No. 1 prospect. While those matchups will already be entertaining, Game 2 will truly be must-see between Alcantara and McClanahan.
Next. Looking back at the Marlins 2011 Top 10 Prospects. dark
Tampa Bay is clearly the better team at the moment between the two, and will be playing to potentially clinch the AL East, as well as the top seed in the American League. This series has too-much importance for the Rays to lose at home, but don’t count out the Marlins, especially in Game 2 behind Alcantara.
Prediction: Rays 3-0