The injury sheet is where this gets ugly for both sides. The Rays are without Chandler Simpson (thumb) again, and the bullpen is a triage center: Craig Kimbrel, Jonathan Heasley, Manuel Rodriguez, Steven Wilson, Edwin Uceta, Michael Grove and Jesse Scholtens are all on the IL, with Ryan Pepiot already done for the year after hip surgery. Miami isn't faring much better — Thomas White is expected to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder capsular sprain, and Eury Perez and Janson Junk are both on the 15-day IL. Whoever blinks first in the middle innings probably loses this game.
- Day-To-DayChandler Simpson (LF) — Simpson (thumb) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/06
- Day-To-DayAustin Vernon (RP) — The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.05/08
- Day-To-DayTre' Morgan (1B) — Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga (RP) — no05/08
- 10-Day-ILJonny DeLuca (RF) — DeLuca is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/25
- 10-Day-ILJake Fraley (RF) — Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Fraley (hernia) will require surgery and will face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/18
- 15-Day-ILJonathan Heasley (RP) — Heasley cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILCraig Kimbrel (RP) — The Rays placed Kimbrel on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right wrist strain.05/31
- 15-Day-ILJesse Scholtens (RP) — Scholtens was charged with a blown save and dropped to 5-3 on the season in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles in 13 innings after yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits across 1.1 frames. He struck out one batter.05/27
- 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILSteven Wilson (RP) — The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP) — Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Uceta (shoulder) suffered a setback and received a PRP injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILMichael Grove (RP) — Grove (shoulder) started a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Rays on Saturday.05/28
- 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF) — The Rays transferred Lux (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/27
- 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP) — Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayThomas White (SP) — White was diagnosed with a left shoulder capsular sprain Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.06/06
- Day-To-DayKemp Alderman (RF) — Triple-A Jacksonville placed Alderman on the 7-day injured list Tuesday due to a left wrist injury, Michael Germanese of Roundtable.io reports.05/25
- 15-Day-ILJosh Ekness (RP) — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.06/02
- 15-Day-ILJanson Junk (SP) — The Marlins placed Junk on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shin bone inflammation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILEury Perez (SP) — The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.05/29
- OutJesus Tinoco (RP) — The Marlins re-signed Tinoco (elbow) to a minor-league contract Jan. 5.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGriffin Conine (LF) — Conine (hamstring) appears to be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.05/22
- 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
The total sits at 8.5 with the under juiced slightly to -112, which feels right with Alcantara coming off a 95-pitch quality start and Jax capable of grinding through 5 if he has it. Game 1 of this series went 6-0 Rays behind a Drew Rasmussen one-hitter; Game 2 was a 4-3 nail-biter the Marlins took. A third tight one would not surprise anyone.
First pitch is 12:40 PM ET from loanDepot park. Tampa needs a road win to avoid dropping a series to a sub-.500 division rival; Miami gets a shot at a statement series win over the team sitting first in the AL East. Rubber matches with two starters running mid-4 ERAs tend to come down to whose pen breaks first, and right now that's a coin flip neither side wants to flip.