Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 5/15/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Miami Marlins vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Friday, May 15, 2026

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Miami (+162) Tampa Bay (-196)

The Miami Marlins (20-24) are traveling to Tropicana Field on Friday where they will try to beat the Tampa Bay Rays (28-14). The moneyline on this matchup has Miami at +162 and Tampa Bay is priced at -196. The total is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Janson Junk and Jesse Scholtens.

The Marlins have accounted for 67 doubles as a team and have knocked 33 baseballs out of the park. Miami has a slugging percentage of .375 and have struck out 348 times, while being walked on 147 occasions. As a unit, the Miami Marlins are putting up 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in baseball. They have amassed 174 RBI's and 348 base knocks on the year, and their average at the plate sits at .245. They have notched a total of 185 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .324.

Get all of our MLB Picks

They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.26 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.26. Marlins pitchers have allowed 37 home runs and 187 runs in total (15th in baseball). Miami has conceded 317 base knocks (7.5 per 9 innings) in addition to 171 earned runs. The Marlins have an earned run average of 4.06 this year (15th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 362 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 160 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 3.87 as a squad so far this year.

The Marlins have sent 131 relievers to the mound for the year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 45 base runners so far this season with 24.4% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. The bullpen have recorded 23 holds so far this year (18th in baseball). Marlins pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 31 times in addition to having 39 appearances in high leverage situations. They have compiled 12 saves this season and have not converted 7 of their 19 save chances. The Marlins bullpen have a save percentage of 63.2% and stepped onto the hill in 43 save situations.

The Marlins have turned 71.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of 3,408 innings, which has them sitting at 8th in baseball. The Miami Marlins have earned 1,136 putouts on the campaign, as well as 339 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .981 which has them ranked 28th in MLB, and they have turned 28 double plays.

Junk has pitched in 194 innings and is sitting with 144 strikeouts during his MLB career. Junk (9-10 career win-loss mark) has earned a FIP of 4.43 while he has gone up against 817 hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 4.50 (97 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.262. He has surrendered 211 base knocks (9.8 hits per nine innings) and has had 34 walks.

Tampa Bay has compiled 34 HRs this year to go along with 177 runs batted in. They have tallied 51 doubles, while walking 139 times as well as recording 189 runs. The Tampa Bay Rays hold an on-base percentage of .330 in addition to a team batting average of .257 on the season. The Rays hold a team SLG% of .375 and they earn 4.50 runs per outing (11th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 301 instances (29th in MLB) and have notched a total of 364 hits.

The Rays have a WHIP of 1.169 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.02 as a unit on the campaign. They sit at 3rd in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 306. The Tampa Bay pitching staff have allowed 167 runs this season while having an ERA of 3.50 (147 earned runs surrendered). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 7.80 (327 strikeouts against 136 bases on balls). They have conceded 43 dingers and they relinquish 3.97 runs per 9 innings (7th in the league).

Tampa Bay relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 27.3% of 55 inherited base runners. Their relievers have taken the field 49 times in high leverage situations and on 43 occasions with runners on. With 62 save situations, the Rays have earned 36 holds and 7 blown saves. They rank 5th in MLB with a save percentage of 73.1%, and they have dispatched 138 relievers to the hill over the course of the season.

In 3,408 innings on the diamond, the Rays have earned a defensive efficiency of 73.3% (2nd in baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 25 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .981 (29th in MLB). The Rays have accrued 340 assists, 29 errors and have earned a total of 1,136 putouts so far this season.

During his pro baseball career, Scholtens has surrendered 131 base hits while tallying 91 K's in 120 innings. Scholtens (4-12 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 4.87 earned run average while allowing 9.8 hits per nine innings. He has allowed 65 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.448 and having a FIP of 4.8. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.12 and he has gone up against 530 batters in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Miami (+162)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.