Rays vs Marlins Odds: Major Playoff Implications in All-Florida Matchup

• Rays trail Orioles by 2.5 games in AL East
• Marlins 2.5 games back of third NL Wild Card spot
• Aaron Civale to start for the Rays, Sandy Alcantara to start for the Marlins

Rays vs Marlins Odds

Odds taken from DraftKings Sportsbook. See different MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities!

Rays vs Marlins Picks

• Our Pick: Rays Moneyline (-102)

Rays vs Marlins Predictions

The Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins will face off in an all-Florida affair on Tuesday night in Major League Baseball. Both of these teams are in the vicinity of postseason play this season. But any drop-off in their level of play could change that as the stretch run of the regular season begins. In this contest, we get a superb pitching matchup, as both teams send elite starting pitching to the mound for this significant showdown.

Tampa Bay Rays Predictions

Going into Tuesday night, the Tampa Bay Rays have won two games in a row and four of their last five. Their last two wins came against the New York Yankees, as the Rays came back from a game down to win that three-game series. Now, the Rays open this series with the Marlins with Aaron Civale on the mound, which has meant great things for Tampa Bay of late.

Civale comes into this contest at 6-3 on the season, with an ERA of 2.59, having split his season between the Cleveland Guardians and the Rays. The Rays have won three of Civale’s four starts since he came over from Cleveland, even with Civale lacking consistency in some of those outings. Look for Civale to pitch well in this contest, and for that to have a big impact on this game.

For the Rays, a huge key in this game will be aggression early on against Sandy Alcantara. While Alcantara has a high ceiling, he has had an underwhelming season as a whole in 2023, and he can be beaten. If Tampa can put runs on the board early and force him out of the game, they could cruise to a victory here against a Marlins team that has faltered somewhat late in this season.

Miami Marlins Predictions

The Miami Marlins come into Tuesday’s action having won their last game against the Washington Nationals. However, they lost their previous three games before that, which has been costly in their chase for a Wild Card spot in the National League. Miami is 2.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot, but they can give themselves a big boost both in the standings and from a momentum perspective with a win here.

Sandy Alcantara is set to start this game on the mound for the Marlins, as he looks to help his team get a much-needed victory. Alcantara is just 6-11 on the season so far, but he has won two of his last three starts. His ERA has improved in each of the last four months, and he will aim to finish the month of August on a high note to set up a strong September both for him and for his team.

Offensively, the key to this contest for the Marlins will be Luis Arraez setting the table for the rest of their lineup. Arraez has seen his batting average decline steadily since the beginning of the summer. But if he can set himself up in scoring position for the other hitters in their lineup, the Marlins could find themselves in a position to put runs on the board and keep up with the formidable offense of their in-state rivals.

How to Watch Rays vs Marlins 

• What: Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins
• When: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 6:40 PM ET
• Where: loanDepot Park, Miami, FL
• How to Watch: MLB.tv