Marlins, Rays hope to play above their pay grade in two-game set

Two Florida teams with low payrolls and losing records are set to start a two-game series when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. The Marlins have the fifth-lowest payroll in the majors at $97.2 million, while the Rays are sixth-lowest at $101 million. Tampa Bay has a track record of doing more with less, making the playoffs five years in a row with two division crowns and one World Series appearance in that span. The Rays also haven't won a playoff series since 2020, and it's possible their small-market magic may be running out, at least for the moment.