TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series Friday night at George Steinbrenner Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. under a forecast of 82 degrees and rain. Arizona (41-39) arrives having won two straight, capped by a 9-4 victory Wednesday at St. Louis. The Diamondbacks have taken four of their last six but remain three games above .500 in a crowded National League wild-card race. Tampa Bay (45-33) enters after a 13-2 rout of Kansas City on Thursday — its third win in four games — and sits second in the American League East. Diamondbacks right-hander Mitch Bratt is expected to be a key factor. The 22-year-old earned the win Wednesday in St. Louis, tossing three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts, allowing two hits and one earned run. Bratt has emerged as a reliable arm in Arizona’s bullpen during a stretch that has seen the club go 6-4 in its last 10. Rays third baseman Junior Caminero has been the hottest hitter in Tampa Bay’s lineup. He was 3-for-5 with three home runs and six RBIs in Thursday’s win over Kansas City, extending a stretch in which he has five homers and 10 RBIs over his last four games. Caminero is hitting .300 over his past 10 contests. Thursday’s victory also featured a standout start from left-hander Ian Seymour (6 2/3 innings, no hits, no runs, seven strikeouts) and a three-RBI night from right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. For Arizona, Ketel Marte homered and drove in a run Wednesday, while first baseman LuJames Groover added a two-run homer. The Interstat game simulator projects a 6-4 Arizona win. After Friday, the teams meet again Saturday and Sunday before the Diamondbacks return home to face San Francisco on Monday. Tampa Bay travels to Kansas City on Tuesday.