Tampa Bay @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2018 ) Tampa Bay 2, Miami 3

The Tampa Bay Bays were cooled off in the opener of the Citrus Series and will try to avoid falling back below .500 when they continue the three-game set at the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Coming off an 8-1 homestand, the Rays managed just six hits in 10 innings of a 3-2 loss to the Marlins on Monday.

Tampa Bay (42-42) allowed more than two runs for the first time in a span of seven games while falling to 2-12 in its last 14 road affairs. The Rays will attempt to continue their recent success on the mound behind left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, who will be making his fifth start of the season. Yadiel Rivera's infield hit in the 10th scored Brian Anderson to give the Marlins the game-winning run Monday in front of an announced attendance of 6,004. Starlin Castro went 4-for-4 in the victory and he is 12-for-22 over a six-game stretch for Miami, which is 5-10 at Marlins Park against the Rays.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (7-4, 3.76 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (2-5, 5.06)

Yarbrough allowed one run across 6 1/3 stellar innings of relief but was still charged with the loss in a 1-0 decision against Houston on Thursday. The rookie out of Old Dominion has a 5.23 ERA in his four starts, compared to 3.24 in 15 games out of the bullpen. Yarbrough was rocked for 15 runs (11 earned) in his first 15 innings of interleague action.

Richards followed up a solid start at Colorado two turns ago with four innings of three-run ball in a loss to Arizona at home Thursday. He has gone four straight outings - spanning 19 1/3 innings - without allowing a home run. The 25-year-old gave up 11 runs and 17 hits in 7 2/3 innings in his first two career interleague starts earlier this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins LF Derek Dietrich is 1-for-18 with six strikeouts during a six-game slump.

2. Tampa Bay starters own a 1.82 ERA over their last 15 games.

3. Realmuto has four home runs in five interleague contests this year.

PREDICTION: Rays 6, Marlins 5