Tampa Bay Rays Aim to Extend Home Winning Streak Against Miami Marlins

The Tampa Bay Rays are set to host their in-state rivals, the Miami Marlins, in the opener of a three-game series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays aim to extend their current home winning streak to 11 games, bolstered by a strong 14-4 record at the dome this season. Players expressed relief at returning to the consistent conditions of Tropicana Field after playing home games at Yankee spring training facilities in 2025 due to Hurricane Milton damage. Right-hander Jesse Scholtens will start for Tampa Bay, seeking to bounce back from a recent loss to Boston. He faces Miami starter Janson Junk, who is also making his first career appearance against the Rays. Tampa Bay enters the series following a tough 10-inning defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays, marked by poor control and ten walks. Meanwhile, the Marlins are struggling, having lost seven of their last eleven games, including a recent setback to the Minnesota Twins. Miami manager Clayton McCullough emphasized moving forward despite the slump, as his team faces a challenging schedule that includes subsequent games against the league-leading Atlanta Braves.