Tampa Bay @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 29, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 3, Miami 1

The Miami Marlins have dropped a season-high eight straight games, but at least they won’t have to face eight-game winner Matt Moore next. The Tampa Bay Rays decided to move Moore back one game and Alex Colome will make his major-league debut at Miami on Thursday. The Rays have won four straight, including the first three of the four-game, home-and-home Citrus Series against the Marlins. Kelly Johnson continues to lead the Tampa Bay offense with 26 RBIs in May – eight in the last three games.

The Rays are a season-best four games over .500 and have climbed within three games of first place in the American League East. The Marlins managed only three hits in the 3-1 loss Wednesday. Chris Coghlan scored the Marlins’ only run and is batting .351 since getting more playing time 11 games ago. Miami has scored 23 runs during its winless drought – with 12 coming in two games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa), Fox Sports Florida

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Alex Colome (NR) vs. Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (3-5, 3.65)

Colome was called up Wednesday to add support for an over-used bullpen, but will get the start against the Marlins with Moore moving back to Friday against Cleveland. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic is 4-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Durham this season, his seventh in the Rays’ minor-league system. Colome struck out 61 in 55 1/3 innings for Durham.

Nolasco is getting better as the season goes along, allowing one run each in three of his last four starts. The veteran right-hander is only 1-1 in those outings though as the Marlins scored a combined three runs for him. Nolasco has struck out 56 and walked only 14 in 69 innings. He is 2-4 in six starts against Tampa Bay with a 7.71 ERA. Yunel Escobar is 10-for-27 against Nolasco with a home run.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami OF Marcell Ozuna has hit safely in 14 straight games, one shy of tying Chuck Carr (1993) for the second longest streak for a rookie in club history.

2. Tampa Bay C Jose Molina is 11-for-20 in his last nine games with four doubles.

3. The Rays have won six of their last eight games on the road to improve to 11-14 away from home.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Rays 3