Rays drop first Citrus Series since 2018 as Marlins' offense awakens in finale

The Rays were on a roll heading into Miami for a series against their in-state rival Marlins. They had won back-to-back series against fair competition in the Brewers and Blue Jays. On top of that, Tampa Bay was much more successful on the road during the young season, as they held a 10-8 away record compared to their 11-17 record at Steinbrenner Field. To add even more confidence to the minds of Rays' fans, they hadn't lost a Citrus Series since 2018.

Rays lose first Citrus Series in seven years

However, the tides would suddenly turn in favor of the young, inexperienced Marlins club. In the first game of the 3-game set, the Marlins exploded for nine runs against the Rays' pitching staff. Their offense was led by sophomore infielder Eric Wagaman's three hits and former Orioles prospect, Connor Norby's three RBIs. The south Florida club has averaged just over four runs a game, so the nine-run outburst was a pleasurable sight.

Meanwhile, the Rays have scored a disappointing 3.89 runs per contest and hovered around there in the 9-4 game one loss. Game two was another story. While the Rays didn't blow up the scoreboard with any crooked numbers, the scrappy club put together a 4-run fifth inning that allowed them to cruise to victory. Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Chandler Simpson all recorded RBIs and Drew Rasmussen tossed his best game of 2025. The veteran starter threw six scoreless frames, allowing only four hits.

The Rays' game 3 loss that ultimately resulted in their Citrus Series defeat was a combination of insufficient pitching and an inability to take advantage of run-scoring opportunities. After an unbelievable start to the season, Shane Baz has struggled to keep runs off the board. The 25-year old hurler gave up only eight runs in his first five starts which equals 1.6 runs allowed per start.

However, Baz has descended quickly as of late, averaging over five runs per start and striking out a total of 12 opponents in four starts. It's a concerning trend for the former Pirate that should be assessed with the plentiful options the Rays have in Triple-A.

The offense also lacked starpower as they never took advantage of their chances. In the top of the 3rd inning, the Rays had a huge opportunity with former top prospect Junior Caminero at the plate and the bases loaded. The 21-year old star crushed a go-ahead grand slam days prior against the Blue Jays, but he wound up grounding into an inning-ending double play in the rubber match. That play may have set the tone for the rest of the game, as a few timely home runs led the Marlins to a 5-1 win.