Rays at Marlins
A four-game losing streak has dropped Miami from a share of first place in the NL East to fourth in the division. The skid continued for the Marlins on Friday, dropping the first game of a Sunshine Series showdown with AL East leader Tampa Bay at Marlins Park. The Marlins have gone ice cold on offense, scoring just four runs during the four-game skid. Tampa Bay has won its past two games after dropping two in a row to the Yankees earlier in the week, and holds a half-game advantage on New York.
Despite a myriad of injuries, the Rays remain at the top of baseball’s tightest division. That resiliency showed in Friday’s series opener. Starter Jeremy Hellickson walked seven hitters in a shaky 4 1/3 innings, but Matt Joyce homered and the Rays pulled away for a 5-1 victory. Miami finished with seven hits but left 13 runners on base against the team with the best ERA in the AL.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tampa Bay LH Matt Moore (2-5, 4.45 ERA) vs. Miami RH Carlos Zambrano (4-3, 2.81).
Moore won his first game since the first of May on Sunday, allowing seven hits but just one earned run against Baltimore. The left-hander struck out a season-high 10 in his previous start May 28 against the White Sox.
After a turbulent decade in Chicago, Zambrano appears to have found stability in Miami. The right-hander has won three of his past four starts, ranks 13th in the NL in ERA and is holding opponents to a .207 batting average. He held Philadelphia to four hits and one earned run in 7 2/3 innings on Sunday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria will run Saturday, and how he fares will help shape when the All-Star will go on a minor-league rehab assignment for his torn hamstring.
2. Miami 1B Logan Morrison did not start Friday. He struck out as a pinch-hitter and is hitless in his past 18 at-bats.
3. Tampa Bay’s bullpen allowed just two hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings of work Friday, striking out four.