Tampa Bay @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 4, 2017 ) Miami 1, Tampa Bay 5

The Tampa Bay Rays completed an impressive 8-1 homestand against some of the top teams in the majors over the weekend and look to carry over the momentum on the road when they begin a three-game interleague series against the Miami Marlins on Monday night. The Rays swept five games combined from the New York Yankees and Washington before taking three of four versus defending World Series champion Houston, capped by Sunday's 3-2 triumph.

The Rays (42-41) gave up 14 runs on the homestand - six in one game against the Yankees - and third baseman Matt Duffy (.321 batting average) continues to contribute at key times offensively, taking a 10-game hitting streak (14-for-39) into the opener of the Citrus Series. Nathan Eovaldi, who went 13-27 in 63 games with Miami from 2012-14, will try to continue Tampa Bay's strong work on the mound when he gets the start Monday against the Rays' former American League East foe Wei-Yin Chen - when he was with Baltimore. The Marlins failed to complete a three-game sweep of the New York Mets when they dropped a 5-2 decision Sunday to fall back into last place in the National League East. All-Star Game candidate J.T. Realmuto had a pair of singles for Miami and is 13-for-37 during a nine-game hitting streak.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 4.08 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Wei-Yin Chen (2-5, 6.14)

Eovaldi rebounded from a four-game winless stretch, in which he allowed 16 runs over 23 1/3 innings, by holding Washington to one hit over six scoreless frames in a 1-0 victory Tuesday. The 28-year-old Texan struck out a season-high nine in that outing, but has served up eight homers in 35 1/3 innings overall this year. Derek Dietrich is 2-for-2 versus Eovaldi, who gave up eight runs in two-thirds of an inning at Miami in 2015 while with the New York Yankees in his only meeting against his former club.

Chen posted his second quality start in three games Wednesday when he limited Arizona to one run on five hits over six innings of a 2-1 setback. The 32-year-old Taiwan native, who is 2-0 versus the American League since joining Miami, has pitched much better at home (1-1, 2.30 ERA) than on the road (1-4, 9.85) this year. Kevin Kiermaier is 4-for-13 with a home run and triple against Chen, who is 5-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 21 career starts versus the Rays - the most outings he has registered against any team in the majors.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays, who host Miami for three games July 20-22, took three of four in the series last season and have won 10 of 14 contests all time at Marlins Park.

2. Miami RHP Kyle Barraclough has strung together 21 straight scoreless appearances, allowing two hits in 20 2/3 innings during the run.

3. Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (abdominal strain), who has been out for a month, is scheduled to make his first rehab start Tuesday for Class-A Charlotte.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Marlins 3