Florida baseball is weird. Honestly, it’s just different. While fans in New York or Chicago are screaming at each other over century-old grudges, the Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins matchup—affectionately known as the Citrus Series—feels more like a sibling rivalry where one brother is an overachiever and the other has a couple of shiny trophies in the basement but hasn't cleaned his room since 2003.
People talk a lot about how Florida isn't a "baseball state." They’re wrong. They just don't see the way the humidity hangs over a Tuesday night game at Tropicana Field or the neon energy of loanDepot park. When these two teams meet, it’s about more than just a notch in the win column. It’s about bragging rights in a state that everyone else loves to make fun of.
The State of the Rivalry in 2026
We're sitting here in early 2026, and the landscape has shifted again. If you looked at the 2025 season, it was a wild ride for both clubs. The Rays did what the Rays do—stayed competitive despite a payroll that looks like a rounding error for the Dodgers. They finished the year leaning heavily on guys like Yandy Díaz and José Caballero, who basically willed that team into the postseason conversation.
The Marlins, meanwhile, have been undergoing a massive identity shift under Clayton McCullough. Last year was actually pretty decent for them—they scratched out 79 wins, which, given the preseason expectations, felt like a miracle in Little Havana. McCullough’s heading into his second year now, and the vibe around the fish is... well, it’s actually hopeful? That’s a dangerous word in Miami.
The head-to-head stats tell a story of total dominance lately. Since 2019, the Rays have basically owned the Marlins. We’re talking about Tampa winning something like 23 out of 26 games at one point. It was getting embarrassing. But 2025 showed some cracks in that armor. Remember that June 7th game?
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That 11-10 thriller was peak Citrus Series chaos. Christopher Morel was absolute lightning for the Rays, hitting two homers and a double, driving in four. You’d think a performance like that locks up a win. Nope. The Marlins put up a seven-run fifth inning, and Heriberto Hernandez ended up being the hero with a walk-off single in the 10th. It was messy. It was long. It was exactly why people shouldn't sleep on this matchup.
Why Nobody Talks About the "Bendix Factor"
There’s a subtext to the Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins games now that adds a layer of corporate espionage flavor. In late 2023, the Marlins reached across the state and hired Peter Bendix to be their President of Baseball Operations.
Bendix was a cornerstone of the Rays' front office. He was the guy who helped build that "win with pennies" culture in St. Pete. Now, he’s trying to do the exact same thing in Miami. It’s like the Marlins admitted they couldn't beat the Rays’ system, so they just stole the architect.
This makes every trade and every roster move between the two feel like a chess match. When the Marlins snag a "Rays-style" pitcher—someone with weird arm angles or a high-spin slider nobody’s heard of—the fans in Tampa start sweating because they know exactly what Bendix is looking for.
Roster Shuffles and 2026 Projections
Looking at the current rosters as we hit the mid-January lull, things are looking a bit "experimental" for the Rays. They just traded Shane Baz to the Orioles and sent Brandon Lowe to the Pirates. It’s the classic Rays cycle: get rid of the guys whose checks are getting too big and bring in a haul of prospects.
- Shane McClanahan is the big "if" for the Rays this year. He’s coming off that radial nerve decompression surgery. If he’s back to his old self, the Rays' rotation is terrifying.
- Taylor Walls is still the defensive anchor at short, even if his bat is sometimes a liability.
- Keep an eye on Carson Williams. He’s the top prospect everyone is buzzing about, even if the early Opening Day predictions have him starting the year in Triple-A.
The Marlins are leaning into their youth. They’ve got Max Meyer looking to build on a solid 2025, and Sandy Alcantara is always the looming shadow that makes every NL East hitter nervous. Their coaching staff for 2026 is almost entirely new, with guys like Rob Marcello getting promoted to assistant pitching coach after helping the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp win a Triple-A title.
The Experience: Trop vs. loanDepot
If you’re planning to catch a Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins game, you have to embrace the weirdness of the venues.
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The Trop gets a lot of hate. It’s a dome. It’s got catwalks that occasionally interfere with the laws of physics. But when it’s 98 degrees with 90% humidity outside, that air conditioning feels like a gift from God. Plus, the Rays fans who actually show up are some of the smartest baseball minds you’ll meet. They have to be; they need a degree in advanced mathematics just to understand their team’s platoon splits.
Miami is a different beast. loanDepot park is beautiful, and the food—man, the food is incredible. You can get a Cuban sandwich that will change your life while watching a game. The energy is more "South Beach party" than "traditional ballpark," but when the Marlins are actually winning, that place gets loud in a way the Trop rarely does.
Practical Steps for Fans This Season
If you want to actually get the most out of this rivalry, stop looking at the national media. They don't care about Florida baseball. Follow the local beats—guys like Marc Topkin for the Rays or the Miami Herald crew for the Marlins. They’re the ones who see the small adjustments that actually decide these games.
- Check the pitching matchups early. These games are almost always decided by a random middle-reliever who hasn't given up a run in three weeks.
- Buy tickets in the lower bowls. Both stadiums have deals where you can get close to the action for way less than you'd pay in Boston or New York.
- Watch the "opener" strategy. The Rays pioneered it, and the Marlins are starting to copy it. If you see a guy starting who only pitches two innings, don't be confused—it's just Florida baseball being Florida baseball.
The Tampa Bay Rays vs Miami Marlins series isn't just a geographical necessity. It’s a clash of philosophies. It’s the established "math-rock" efficiency of the Rays against the new-look, high-energy rebuilding project of the Marlins. Even if the national pundits ignore it, the Citrus Series remains the weirdest, most fascinating pocket of Major League Baseball.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for Shane McClanahan and Sandy Alcantara specifically. Their health will dictate which side of the state holds the power for the next six months. Check the official MLB schedules for the specific May and June "Citrus Series" windows, as these are the only times you'll see these two face off in the regular season.