(Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays will look to extend their home winning streak to 11 games on Friday night when they face the in-state rival Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Rays boast a sterling 14-4 record at Tropicana Field. Their most recent loss at home came on April 21 to the Cincinnati Reds.

So, what's so special about playing at home? Specifically at this home, which was unavailable last season due to damage from Hurricane Milton?

The Rays played their home games in 2025 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training site of the New York Yankees.

'You know what you're going to get,' Rays right-hander Jesse Scholtens (3-2, 3.29 ERA), who will start at the domed stadium on Friday, said about Tropicana Field.

'You know there's not going to be any crazy wind. There's not going to be any crazy weather. The mound is going to be the same. Everything's going to be consistent. So you can kind of take some confidence into it, knowing that you're only fighting against yourself pitching and you're not fighting against the elements as well.'

Credit Drew Rasmussen for summing up the Tropicana Field advantage.

'It's home, for starters. (Steinbrenner Field) was awesome, really cool getting the opportunity to play there. It was great of the Yankees, but it's not our home, right?' Rasmussen said. 'It's like sleeping on a buddy's couch.'

Unfortunately for the Rays, they likely didn't get a good night's sleep after returning home following a 5-3, 10-inning setback at the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Tampa Bay was undone by a season-high-tying 10 walks, with the lack of control contributing mightily to its third loss in the past 19 games.

'Very fair (to say) too much traffic,' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. 'And generally, when you walk that many, it's tough to win.'

Yandy Diaz had an RBI single among his two hits on Wednesday. He had gone 1-for-17 in his previous four games.

Scholtens saw his modest winning streak end at two games after allowing two runs on two hits -- both homers -- in 4 2/3 innings of a 2-0 setback to the Boston Red Sox last Friday. He permitted four walks, which drove up his pitch count to 91.

Scholtens has yet to face the Marlins in his career. Similarly, Miami starter Janson Junk (2-3, 3.25 ERA) will oppose Tampa Bay for the first time in his career.

Junk, a right-hander, did not receive a decision on Saturday after yielding four runs on seven hits in six innings in an 8-7 win against the Washington Nationals.

On Thursday afternoon, Otto Lopez had an RBI single among his two hits in the Marlins' 9-1 setback to the Minnesota Twins. The loss was Miami's seventh in its last 11 games, but manager Clayton McCullough cautioned against making more of it than what it is.

'It's baseball,' he said. 'It's how it goes. You just go up and try to get a pitch and move forward, and try to make a good pass on it. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.'

It doesn't get any easier for Miami, which will follow its series vs. the American League East-leading Rays with four games against the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves. Each of those opponents has the best record in its league.

--Field Level Media