SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners open a three-game series Friday night at T-Mobile Park, with clear skies and a temperature of 83 degrees expected at first pitch. Tampa Bay (68-47) enters the weekend with the stronger record and has held the edge in this season series. The Rays won two of three against Seattle on July 10-12, outscoring the Mariners 15-11. Seattle did salvage the finale with an 8-2 victory, and the Mariners will look to carry that into the opener. Right-hander Nick Martinez is expected to start for the Rays. Martinez is coming off a strong outing Wednesday at Colorado, where he worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed six hits and struck out four in a 4-0 win. He also threw six scoreless innings against Cleveland on July 25. Over his past four starts, Martinez has won three of his past four decisions, with his only loss coming July 31 against the Chicago White Sox, when he allowed six earned runs in six innings. Seattle (56-60) will counter with right-hander Bryce Miller, who has lost four straight starts. In his most recent outing Thursday against Detroit, Miller allowed four earned runs on five hits over five innings as the Mariners fell 11-0. He gave up two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings at Minnesota on July 31 but did not get enough support in a 5-3 loss. Miller has permitted at least two earned runs in each of his past four appearances. The Mariners enter on uncertain footing after losing two of three at home to Detroit. Seattle was shut out twice in that series, including an 8-0 loss Tuesday and the 11-0 loss Thursday. The offense did break through for a 4-2 win Wednesday. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, swept a three-game set at Colorado, scoring 26 runs in the series and finishing with a 4-0 shutout Wednesday. The teams play again Saturday and Sunday before the Rays travel to Oakland. Seattle will open a road trip Tuesday at the New York Yankees. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-4 Rays victory, and its ELO model gives Tampa Bay a 51.4 percent chance to win. Despite that, Seattle has been installed as a 1.5-run favorite, with the over/under set at 7. The Rays have won three of four overall and are looking to build momentum on the road. The Mariners, who have struggled to score consistently, need a strong start from Miller to keep the series opener close. With Tampa Bay’s offense clicking and Seattle’s bullpen coming off a taxing series, Friday’s matchup could hinge on whether Miller can keep the Rays off the board early.