Marlins Look For 2015 Victory Against Rays
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MIAMI (AP) -- Dan Haren considered retirement during the offseason before deciding to pitch for the Miami Marlins, who have tabbed him as Friday night's starter.
That's more than the Tampa Bay Rays can say about who will start this weekend in the "Citrus Series."
The Marlins swept all four meetings from the Rays last season and will search for their first 2015 victory in the opener of this three-game set.
Haren went 13-11 with a 4.02 ERA in 2014 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded him in the offseason to Miami. The West Coast native didn't want to move across the country, and the Marlins (0-3) explored trade possibilities since he wanted to pitch close to his family.
With one year and $10 million left on his contract, the 34-year-old Haren eventually decided he would continue his career.
"It's hard to leave that much money on the table," he said during spring training. "Can I walk away from it? That was definitely a factor."
Haren has made at least 30 starts each of the past 10 seasons, the second-longest active streak in the majors behind Mark Buehrle's 14 years. His 3.09 career ERA in April is easily his best of any month.
The right-hander hasn't faced the Rays since 2012 but has a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts against them and could enjoy some favorable matchups Friday. Asdrubal Cabrera is 2 for 26 with eight strikeouts against him and David DeJesus is 5 for 24.
Miami is seeking to avoid matching club-worst 0-4 starts from 1995 and 2001.
The Marlins scored three runs and batted .202 with no homers in a season-opening sweep at the hands of Atlanta. The Braves pitched around Giancarlo Stanton, who went 1 for 8 with four walks.
"It's disappointing, no doubt," manager Mike Redmond said. "I thought we had a really good spring, and to come in and get swept is definitely a big blow."
Stanton went 5 for 14 with a homer against the Rays in 2014.
Tampa Bay (1-2) also batted .202 in its home series against Baltimore. The Rays avoided a sweep by winning 2-0 on Wednesday for manager Kevin Cash's first victory.
"Very exciting, nice to get it out of the way for all of us," Cash said.
An injury-plagued rotation has left Cash undecided on who to start in this entire series, though there's a strong possibility he will bring back Chris Archer and Nathan Karns for the final two games.
The likely choice for Friday is Matt Andriese or fellow right-hander Erasmo Ramirez.
Andriese, a 2011 San Diego Padres' draft pick, has never pitched in the majors. Ramirez was acquired March 31 from Seattle after going 1-6 with a 5.26 ERA in 17 appearances - 14 starts - with the Mariners in 2014. He failed to make Seattle's rotation in spring training.
Redmond will likely re-insert Jarrod Saltalamacchia into his starting lineup. The veteran catcher went 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in the first two games before backup Jeff Mathis went 0 for 2 with a walk in Wednesday's 2-0 defeat.
Tampa Bay's John Jaso hasn't played since spraining his wrist opening day. He is 6 for 20 with three homers off Haren, though the Rays may be forced to stick with Rene Rivera (0 for 11) behind the plate with no designated hitter available in Miami.
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