The Tampa Bay Rays are set to face off against the Miami Marlins in a crucial wild-card battle. Despite a slight dip in performance after their impressive start to the season, the Rays are still in a comfortable position with an 8 1/2-game lead in the American League wild-card race.
One thing that sets the Rays apart is their refusal to back down, even when facing teams with more tradition and pedigree. This was evident in their recent victory over the New York Yankees, where they triumphed amid heated on-field incidents. Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe dismissed the Yankees, stating that they were a last-place team and not worth worrying about.
The Rays, aiming for their fifth consecutive playoff berth, will start right-hander Aaron Civale against the Marlins. Civale, acquired from the Cleveland Guardians, has performed well since joining the Rays, with a 1-1 record and a 3.54 ERA in four starts. Although he has never faced the Marlins before, Civale has a better ERA on the road than at home throughout his career.
On the Marlins’ side, they will counter with right-hander Sandy Alcantara. While Alcantara has not quite matched his impressive performance that earned him the National League’s Cy Young Award in 2022, he has shown improvement in recent months. July and August have been the best months of his season, with ERAs of 3.31 and 3.03, respectively. Alcantara has a decent record against the Rays, with a 2-2 record and a 2.90 ERA in five career starts.
Offensively, the Marlins rely on outfielder/DH Jorge Soler, who leads the team in home runs and RBIs. Soler has been instrumental in securing victories for the Marlins, hitting seven home runs in his last 12 games and leading the majors in go-ahead homers. However, Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, who leads the majors in batting average, has struggled in August with a batting average of just .227. The Marlins have also had a tough stretch, losing eight of their last 11 games.
For the Rays, third baseman Isaac Paredes leads the team with 26 home runs and 80 RBIs, while several other players have contributed with at least 17 homers this season. Outfielder/DH Harold Ramirez, a former Marlin, has been performing well with a .298 batting average, nine home runs, and 51 RBIs in 98 games.
As the Rays and Marlins face off, both teams have their strengths and weaknesses. The Rays aim to maintain their dominance and secure another playoff berth, while the Marlins look to close the gap in the wild-card race. It promises to be an exciting battle between these two Florida teams.
