After dropping three of four to the, now, first-place Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays look to regroup against the second-place Marlins — who dropped two of three to the Rockies — when they start a brief, two-game series on Tuesday.

At 61-42 on the season, the Rays enter play 19 games over .500.

Tampa Bay was able to put up quality at-bats against the Orioles, however, a couple of things prevented them from splitting or winning a pretty winnable series: big hits still eluded the team, while Pete Fairbanks (twice) and Jason Adam both gave up late, go-ahead runs.

The BABIP luck dragons are still having their way with the Rays’ bats — Tampa Bay’s hitters put up a big-league lagging .271 BABIP over the last week. A spike in their combined strikeout rate over the same stretch should also be noted. Whatever the case, the Rays averaged just 3.5 runs per game against the AL East foe, which is around two runs fewer than their season-per-game average. It certainly doesn’t help that six regulars (Brandon Lowe, Randy Arozarena, Christian Bethancourt, Josh Lowe, Luke Raley, and Wander Franco) performed under the 100 wRC+ mark over the last week, with Franco bottoming out the list at -2 wRC+.

If they are going to beat the Marlins, the Tampa Bay Six are going to have to slip out of their malaise. Fortunately, they’ll be facing a team that should give them more than a few chances. Miami’s pitching staff owns a combined 4.11 ERA and a 3.95 FIP, which can be broken down to a 4.12 ERA and 3.85 FIP for the starters, and a 4.08 ERA and 4.02 FIP for the relievers. Those numbers are even uglier (or, more advantageous for the Rays if you prefer) in the second half, with Miami putting up a combined 4.64 ERA and 4.58 FIP (5.14 ERA and 4.71 FIP for the starters, and a 4.04 ERA and 4.43 FIP for the relievers).

The Rays enter play with an overall 3.70 ERA and 3.94 FIP (3.64 ERA and 3.58 FIP for the starters, 3.76 ERA, and 4.34 FIP for the relievers). Over the last 14 days, Tampa Bay maintains a regressed 3.70 ERA and 3.35 FIP (3.91 ERA and 2.87 FIP for the starters, 3.43 ERA and 3.94 FIP for the relievers) given some pretty ugly numbers running up to the All-Star Break.

Last season, the Rays went 4-0 against the Marlins and outscored them 18-7.

Pitching Probables

Over the next two days, Kevin Cash will lean on Tyler Glasnow (3-3, 3.62 ERA, 3.30 FIP), and Zach Eflin (11-5, 3.36 ERA, 3.03 FIP). Skip Schumaker will counter with Edward Cabrera (5-5, 4.50 ERA, 4.55 FIP), and Sandy Alcantara (3-9, 4.70 ERA, 4.00 FIP).

Tyler Glasnow allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out nine batters on 93 pitches (63 strikes, 68% strike rate, 17% SwStr%) over seven innings against Baltimore on Thursday. Glasnow struck out the first three batters he faced and cruised through three perfect frames before Baltimore got to him for three runs on four hits in the fourth. The veteran was able to recover, however, tossing three more scoreless frames to notch his second straight quality start. Glasnow ended up completing seven innings for the first time this season, and his nine punchouts were the third-most he’s tallied thus far. Even though Glasnow got a late start to the season, he’s been one of baseball’s top strikeout pitchers since his return. On the season, his 35.1% strikeout rate ranks second among big-league starters who have faced at least 200 batters. Overall, Glasnow maintains a 3.62 ERA and a 3.30 FIP, with a 1.19 WHIP, and a 4.44 K/BB across 54.2 innings.

Edward Cabrera struck out six and gave up one run on two hits and three walks across five innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday. The right-hander returned from a month-long stint on the Injured List due to a shoulder impingement and fired five scoreless frames before Brendan Donovan’s leadoff homer in the sixth. Cabrera finished at 74 pitches (44 strikes, 59% strike rate, 11% SwStr%) and could continue to have some workload limitations in his next couple of starts since he rejoined Miami’s rotation without a rehab assignment. Overall, Cabrera maintains a 4.50 ERA and a 4.55 FIP, with a 1.38 WHIP, and a 2.05 K/BB across 72.0 innings. He relies primarily on a hard 93 mph worm-killer changeup, a 96 mph fourseam fastball, and an 84 mph swing-and-miss curveball, while also mixing in a blazing 96 mph sinker and an 88 mph worm-killer slider that has some two-plane movement. Key Matchup: Randy Arozarena (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI)

Zach Eflin allowed two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the Orioles on Friday. He struck out eight and threw 87 pitches (63 strikes, 72% strike rate, 8% SwStr%). Eflin tossed seven scoreless frames for just the second time this season en route to his 11th win — tying his career-best mark (2018). It was a major bounce-back performance for the right-hander, who was roughed up for five runs over three innings against the Royals in his previous turn. Eflin has been as advertised in his first season with the Rays, posting a 3.36 ERA and a 3.03 FIP, with a 0.99 WHIP, and 7.06 K/BB across 19 appearances (112.1 innings).

Sandy Alcantara allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings against the Cardinals on Wednesday. He struck out seven and threw 103 pitches (69 strikes, 67% strike rate, 17% SwStr%). The Cardinals tagged Alcantara for four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of Nolan Gorman. Alcantara was able to settle down and hold the Cardinals off the board over his final five frames. The right-hander has shown some improvement recently, delivering quality starts in three of his previous four outings. Still, it’s been a disappointing campaign overall for Alcantara. His ERA is up to 4.70, with a 4.00 FIP, a 1.28 WHIP, and 2.94 K/BB through 20 starts (126.1 innings). Alcantara relies primarily on a 98 mph sinker that has an obvious tail and some natural sinking action, a hard 91 mph changeup that has some natural sink to it, a whiffy 98 mph fourseam fastball that has some natural sinking action and slight arm-side run, and a hard 90 mph 12-6 slider. Key Matchup: Brandon Lowe (4-8, 3 2B, RBI, 2 BB)

Noteworthiness

— On Saturday, Taylor Walls (left oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Vidal Bruján was recalled from Triple-A Durham and filled the hole on the active roster.

— Good news for a change. The Rays sent LHP Josh Fleming on a rehab assignment to FCL Rays.