Miami Marlins (0-2) vs Tampa Bay Rays (2-0)
Game Info: Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 6:10 pm (loanDepot park)
Elieser Hernandez (0-0) (0.00) vs Rich Hill (0-0) (0.00)
Betting Odds: Miami Marlins +120 / Tampa Bay Rays -130 --- Over/Under: 8 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Miami Marlins will host the Tampa Bay Rays in the third game of their season opening series. The Rays took the first two games and will be going for the road sweep on Saturday.
The Tampa Bay Rays took the second game 6-4 on Friday. They went yard 3 times in the game including a go-ahead three run home run by Joey Wendle in the 9th. The Rays were 1-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded just 3 runners on base. Ryan Yarbrough started for the Rays and pitched 5.2 shutout innings allowing 4 hits and striking out 3. The bullpen quickly blew the 1 run lead by allowing 4 runs before the offense bailed them out.
The Rays will start the ageless Rich Hill against Miami on Saturday. 2020 was his 18th season in which he went 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 31 strikeouts. During spring training he was 1-0 with a 6.94 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 7 strikeouts.
Miami will look to right the ship after Anthony Bass blew a 2 run 9th inning lead to lose their second straight to open the season. The Marlins had 10 hits in the game, and were 3-11 with runners in scoring position. Miguel Rojas led the way for the offense with 2 hits and 2 RBI in the game. The Marlins are hitting just .100 as a team to start the season but seemed to find a little life in the later innings on Friday.
The Marlins will be sending out fourth year starter Elieser Hernandez on Saturday. 2020 was his best season so far in which he went 1-0 in 6 starts with a 3.16 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 34 strikeouts. During spring training he was 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 12 strikeouts.
The Marlins have not looked good to start this season, getting shut out by the Rays top two pitchers in their first two games. This was a team that over achieved last year, sneaking into the playoffs despite owning a division worst -41 run differential. They have not been able to score runs consistently, having not topped 5 runs scored in their last 14 games dating back to last season. The Rays on the other hand are poised to defend their AL East crown and have come out strong to start the year. Rich Hill has continued to be successful late into his career, and should be able to limit a pedestrian Marlins offense. Give me the Rays win and get the sweep.