Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/05/2026

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Friday, June 5, 2026

Venue:  LoanDepot Park, Miami, FL 

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -140, Marlins +120; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -140, Marlins +120; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -140, Marlins +120; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  36-23 (1st place, AL East)

Miami Marlins:  29-34 (4th place, NL East)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  2-8 last 10

Miami Marlins:  5-5 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a loss and got swept in their 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 36-23 record overall and have a road record of 15-14. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Marlins on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 9th in the MLB with a .720 OPS. Nick Martinez was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Drew Rasmussen is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA this season. His team lost their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 5 ER, 1 HR, and 2 BB with 4 SO on 4 hits through 4 IP against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Marlins are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Washington Nationals 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 29-34 record overall and have a home record of 18-15. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 16th in the MLB with a .704 OPS. Max Meyer was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Ryan Gusto is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA this season. His team won their only 2 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 0 homers, and 0 walks with 3 strikeouts on 5 hits through 2 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals.

The current betting odds have the Marlins listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Marlins haven't looked great in their games this season with their 29-34 record overall which has them right near the bottom of the NL East. They have looked a lot better in their own ballpark though with their 18-15 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Rays have looked great in their games this season with their 36-23 record overall which has them right at the top of the AL East with one of the best records in MLB. They have been a good road team too with their 15-14 road record this year. The Rays have looked great for a lot of the year, but lately they have been slipping into a big slump. They are 2-8 in their last 10 games and just got swept at home by the Tigers in their last series. The Marlins haven't looked great themselves lately, but they have still been better since they are 5-5 in their last 10 and they just swept the Nationals in their last series, so they can carry that momentum into this one. The Marlins offense has looked a lot better than the Rays offense lately and the Marlins are going to have the better pitching matchup too. The Marlins are going with Gusto in this one and he hasn’t looked great this season. He is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, but the team has been having success with him. He did give up 3 earned runs in his last appearance, but his team has won 2 games in a row now with him starting and he will likely only be an opener in this one. The Rays are also going with Rasmussen in this one and he hasn't looked great this year. He is 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA and he hasn't looked bad either, but he has been having a lot of trouble lately. His team has lost 2 games in a row now with him starting and he is off a terrible start in which he gave up 5 earned runs. The Marlins have looked a lot better lately and they can take advantage of the Rays in the midst of a slump. The best way to place a bet here is on the Marlins to win this game. 

Rays Marlins Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, June 5, 2026 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Marlins 6 Rays 2.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 193-190 (-7.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 88-102 (-5 units) on the moneyline in road games. 143-141 (-7 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 24-12 OVER against NL East opponents.

Miami Marlins: 21-25 (+5.4 units) on the moneyline against AL East opponents. 170-217 (+8.1 units) on the moneyline in all games. 128-170 (+25 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 30-16 OVER against AL East opponents.

Tampa Bay Rays:  T. Walls (SS) Day To Day - Hamstring. J. Heasley (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. C. Kimbrel (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Wrist. G. Lux (LF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. J. Scholtens (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Wrist. J. DeLuca (RF) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. J. Fraley (RF) Ten Day IL - Groin. R. Pepiot (SP) Sixty Day IL - Hip. E. Uceta (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. M. Grove (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. S. Wilson (RP) Sixty Day IL - Back. M. Rodriguez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Miami Marlins:  J. Ekness (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Calf. A. Nardi (RP) Sixty Day IL - Ribs. G. Conine (LF) Sixty Day IL - Hamstring. J. Junk (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Shin. E. Perez (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Gracilis. R. Snelling (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. A. Mazur (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Henriquez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“We got beat in every facet of every possible way in this series.” - Kevin Cash after his team got swept by the Tigers in their last series. 

“You start with Max. He was, again, fantastic. Other than the third inning [when the Nats scored], only time he really ran into a little bit of trouble -- there was some traffic, but he was able to ge the double play ball to get out of it and leave it with one run.” - Clayton McCullough after his team’s win against the Nationals in their game on Wednesday.

Chandler Simpson (L) LF

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Richie Palacios (L) 2B

Ben Williamson (R) SS

Cedric Mullins (L) CF

Nick Fortes (R) C

Victor Mesa Jr. (L) RF

Heriberto Hernández (R) LF

Otto Lopez (R) SS

Kyle Stowers (L) RF

Xavier Edwards (S) 2B

Christopher Morel (R) DH

Esteury Ruiz (R) CF

Connor Norby (R) 1B

Javier Sanoja (R) 3B

Joe Mack (L) C

Batting Average:  Yandy Díaz (.313)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (67)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (14)

RBI:  Jonathan Aranda (43)

Stolen Bases:  Chandler Simpson (14)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (6)

Saves:  Bryan Baker (16)

ERA:  Cam Booser (0.00)

Batting Average:  Otto Lopez (.336)

Hits:  Otto Lopez (82)

Home Runs:  Liam Hicks (12)

RBI:  Liam Hicks (46)

Stolen Bases:  Jakob Marsee (15)

Wins:  Max Meyer (6)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (7)

ERA:  William Kempner (0.00)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (12th season)

Miami Marlins: Clayton McCullough (2nd season)