Rays at Marlins
The Tampa Bay Rays squandered a chance to keep some distance between themselves and the rest of the American League East over the weekend while dropping two of three at home to the New York Yankees. The Rays will try to bounce back against the worst team in the majors when they visit the in-state rival Miami Marlins on Tuesday in the opener of a two-games interleague series.
Tampa Bay, which needs to avoid overlooking Miami with a three-game series at New York set for the weekend, dropped three of its last four games and totaled six runs in those three setbacks. The Rays went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position in Sunday's 7-1 loss and were 2-for-27 in that situation during the last three losses. The Marlins know all about problems on offense and failed to score more than two runs in eight of the last nine games, suffering losses in each of those eight contests. Miami, which avoided a chance at a sixth straight setback when Sunday's finale at the New York Mets was rained out, will send ace Caleb Smith to the mound Tuesday while Tampa Bay counters with veteran righty Charlie Morton.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Charlie Morton (3-0, 2.64 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (3-0, 2.11)
Morton surrendered two or fewer runs in seven of his eight outings and limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs and seven hits over five frames in an interleague outing Wednesday. The 35-year-old struck out eight against Arizona but issued four walks and is up to 21 free passes in 44 1/3 total innings. Morton spent the first nine seasons of his career in the National League and is 6-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 starts against Miami.
Smith struck out a career-high 11 and yielded two runs over 6 2/3 innings at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday but settled for a no-decision. The Sam Houston State product recorded his sixth straight quality start and owns a 1.42 ERA over his last five outings. Smith allowed two runs over 3 1/3 innings in his lone previous appearance against Tampa Bay and is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career interleague starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rays CF Austin Meadows (thumb) is 5-for-12 with two home runs and three runs scored in three games since coming off the injured list.
2. Miami 2B Brian Anderson is 5-for-33 with 13 strikeouts over the last nine contests.
3. Tampa Bay OF Tommy Pham is 5-for-27 over the last seven games.