The Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins close out their three-game series on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at loanDepot Park, as both Florida clubs seek traction in what has been a frustrating first half of the season for each. The Rays, at 21–24, have shown signs of life recently and are working to claw their way back to .500 in the highly competitive AL East, while the Marlins, sitting at 17–27, continue to search for answers after a disappointing start to the year that has included extended losing streaks, inconsistent pitching, and lackluster run production. The pitching matchup features right-hander Shane Baz for Tampa Bay, who comes in with a 3–2 record and a 5.02 ERA, looking to rebound from a pair of shaky outings but still showing the strikeout stuff and upside that once made him one of baseball’s top prospects. Opposing him is Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, whose 2–5 record and alarming 8.10 ERA underscore how far he’s fallen from his Cy Young form of just a couple of years ago; Alcantara has been roughed up consistently in 2025, struggling with command, high pitch counts, and hard contact. For the Rays, the offense has leaned heavily on Jonathan Aranda, who’s slashing .339/.393/.568 and has emerged as a major offensive force in a lineup that has lacked consistent star power.

Junior Caminero has offered flashes of his immense potential with a .247 average and six home runs, while Kameron Misner (.257/.356/.421) has helped lengthen the order and provide much-needed balance. Tampa Bay will likely look to pressure Alcantara early, forcing him into deep counts and capitalizing on his tendency to fall behind hitters, and if Baz can limit damage and get through five or six innings, the Rays’ superior bullpen and more consistent defensive play could tilt the game in their favor. On the other side, Miami’s offense has shown sporadic bursts of productivity but lacks firepower beyond the reliable bat of Kyle Stowers, who enters the game hitting .287 with a .507 slugging percentage and leads the team in home runs and RBIs. Xavier Edwards has been solid in a supporting role, hitting .263 and creating traffic on the basepaths, but the Marlins have been unable to consistently turn baserunners into runs, which has put a massive burden on their pitching staff. Miami’s defense has also been inconsistent, often contributing to big innings with untimely errors, and unless they can play a cleaner game and get a quality outing from Alcantara, they risk dropping another home series and falling further behind in the NL East standings. While both clubs have struggled, Tampa Bay’s superior depth, more trustworthy pitching staff, and momentum from recent solid performances position them as the favorite in Sunday’s finale. If they can exploit Alcantara’s struggles and support Baz with early run support, the Rays could walk away with a much-needed series win as they continue to fight their way back into relevance in the American League playoff picture.