Tampa Bay Rays vs. Miami Marlins Prediction 7-25-23 MLB Picks

The Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays meet in game one of their three-game Sunshine State interleague series in MLB action from Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Two teams with serious playoff aspirations, who takes game one? Let’s dive in and find out.

Miami Marlins Team Preview

The Miami Marlins came into the second half of the season full of optimism, but the lid on the panic button has been hovering after the Marlins lost 8 straight games before finally securing a 3-2 win over the Rockies in Sunday’s series finale. The victory brought the Marlins to 54-47 on the year, still behind double-digits in the win column behind the Braves in the NL East but tied for the second wild card spot in the NL alongside the Diamondbacks and Giants. Jorge Soler leads the Marlins with 24 home runs and 54 RBIs while Bryan De La Cruz is right behind with 53 RBIs this season. Luis Arraez also has 139 hits and a .379 batting average to lead the Marlins in those categories this season. Edward Cabrera will start for the Marlins and is 5-5 with a 4.50 ERA and 90 strikeouts this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Team Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays have definitely cooled off from the team that ran roughshod through the MLB through the better part of the first half of the season and now come in sliding once again, losers of 7 of their last 8 games following a 5-3 loss in Sunday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, losing the four-game set with the O’s in the process. The loss spiraled the Rays to 61-42, now sitting 2.5 games back of the Orioles for the AL East lead, while sitting four games to the good in the first AL Wild Card spot. Jose Siri leads the Rays with 20 home runs while Randy Arozarena has a team-high 62 RBIs this season. Yandy Diaz also has a team-high 103 hits with a .317 batting average as well on the season. Tyler Glasnow will start for the Rays and is 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA and 80 strikeouts this season.

Miami Marlins Team Facts

The Marlins have lost each of their last nine road games.

The Marlins have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games.

Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts

The Rays have won each of their last seven games against the Marlins.

The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven night games against National League opponents following a loss.

Miami Marlins Player Prop Facts

Luis Arraez has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Marlins' last six games.

Jesus Sanchez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances after not playing the previous day.

Jesus Sanchez has recorded at least one total base in each of his last seven appearances after not playing the previous day.

Jorge Soler has hit at least one home run in six of the Marlins' last 10 night games against opponents that held a winning record.

Luis Arraez ranks 1st amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.379) this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

Randy Arozarena has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Rays' last four games against the Marlins.

Wander Franco has hit a home run in each of his last two home appearances after not playing the previous day.

Tyler Glasnow has recorded nine or more strikeouts in four of his last five home appearances against NL East opponents.

Wander Franco has recorded at least one RBI in eight of his last nine home appearances after not playing the previous day.

Yandy Diaz has recorded two or more hits in each of the Rays' last three games against NL opponents that held a winning record.

Wander Franco ranks T4th in the league in Steals (28) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for ERA this season (3.70).

The Tampa Bay Rays ranks 1st in the league for opponent batting average this season (.226).

The Miami Marlins ranks 3rd in the league for hits this season (909).

The Miami Marlins ranks 3rd in the league for strikeouts this season (958).

Chris’ Pick

I went back and forth on this game, as the plus money with the Marlins is tempting considering they still have a 20-10 interleague record this season. However, Edward Cabrera has just been a Jekyll and Hyde pitcher home and away and on the road is where he’s really struggled this season, with an ERA close to six. The Rays are still playing their best baseball at home by a fair margin, and I look for this game to end up being no different. Give me the Rays -1.5 to get the ML price down.