Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies Picks and Predictions May 7th 2025

Rays Await Yandy Diaz Status Ahead of Game 2 Clash With Phillies

As the Tampa Bay Rays look to even their series against the Philadelphia Phillies, all eyes are on the status of Yandy Diaz. The team’s hottest hitter exited Tuesday’s 8-4 loss with right hip tightness after an awkward swing, casting doubt on his availability for Wednesday’s rematch at Tropicana Field.

Diaz’s Availability Looms Large

Yandy Diaz had already homered earlier in the game before leaving in the sixth inning, a worrying sight for a Rays squad that has struggled to string together wins of late. Diaz is slashing 16-for-46 with two home runs and nine RBIs over his last 12 games—one of the few bright spots in a lineup that has been shut out twice during its current 2-5 slide.

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“I think he’s OK… Maybe avoided a little bit of a scare.”
— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

“I’m hoping he’ll be in the lineup (Wednesday).”
— Kevin Cash

Tampa Bay has been desperately in need of consistent offense, and losing Diaz—even briefly—could magnify their recent struggles.

Shane Baz Looks to Rebound on the Hill

Right-hander Shane Baz (3-1, 3.86 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays, looking to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. Baz was knocked around for seven runs on nine hits in just 5 2/3 innings during a loss to Kansas City last week.

“I just never settled in and never took advantage of the defense bailing me out… I’ve got to bear down and make better pitches.”
— Shane Baz, Rays Pitcher

Baz had been rolling in April with a 3-0 record and 2.45 ERA before that rough start. He’s made one career start against the Phillies, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

Phillies Offense Comes to Life

Philadelphia’s lineup came alive in the series opener, tagging Rays pitching for 13 hits and three homers. Nick Castellanos led the charge with a single, double, and homer en route to four RBIs. Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm also went deep, while Bryce Harper broke out of a slump with a two-hit night.

“Any of those guys in that lineup, they’ve got a track record of hitting and doing damage.”
— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

The Phillies have now won four of their past five and will look to keep the pressure on with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on the mound.

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Sanchez Faces Former Club

Cristopher Sanchez (3-1, 3.45 ERA) gets the start for Philadelphia against the team that originally signed him as an international free agent in 2013. He’s coming off a solid five-inning outing against Washington, allowing two runs and five hits.

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“He looked a little rusty… Command was off a little bit, but the stuff was really good.”
— Rob Thomson, Phillies Manager

Sanchez has made two career starts against the Rays, holding them to a 0.75 ERA with no decisions. The 27-year-old has settled in nicely over his past four starts, showing improved command and pitch efficiency since recovering from forearm soreness.