Cincinnati Reds vs Tampa Bay Rays July 25th 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays will play against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Friday, July 25, 2025. The game is set for 7:10 PM and will be broadcast on FDSSU. Fans can expect a very hot night with light rain and a light breeze.
Both teams have a record of 53-50 this season. The Rays are managed by Kevin Cash, while Terry Francona leads the Reds. Zack Littell will pitch for the Rays, bringing a 3.53 ERA and an 8-7 record. Nick Martinez will start for the Reds with a 4.73 ERA and an 8-9 record.
Rays vs Reds Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Venue: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH
- Date: Friday, July 25, 2025
- Betting Odds: Rays Moneyline -113, Reds Moneyline -105, Rays Runline -1.5 (+140), Reds Runline +1.5 (-167), Total Over 9.5 (-106), Total Under 9.5 (-114)
The Rays Can Win If…
The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a high-scoring game against the Chicago White Sox, where they lost 11-9. Despite the loss, the Rays showed strong hitting with 15 hits and two home runs. Junior Caminero stood out with a home run and three RBIs, while Chandler Simpson added three hits and three runs.
The Rays have strong stats this season, with a team batting average of .258, ranking third in the league. Their on-base percentage is .321, placing them seventh. On the bases, they are first in the league with 136 stolen bases, showing their aggressive base running.

Zack Littell will start for the Rays, bringing an ERA of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.09. Littell’s consistency on the mound can give the Rays an edge. Facing Nick Martinez, who has a higher ERA of 4.73, the Rays have a good chance to capitalize on pitching matchups.
The Reds Can Win If…
The Cincinnati Reds are coming off a strong performance against the Washington Nationals, winning 5-0. Nick Lodolo was impressive, pitching a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts. Jake Fraley contributed with two hits and an RBI, helping the Reds secure the win.
The Reds’ batting lineup shows potential with players like Elly De La Cruz, who has 18 home runs this season. Cincinnati’s team batting average of .246 ranks 11th, and their on-base percentage of .318 ranks 10th. These stats suggest the Reds have the capability to get on base and score runs.

On the mound, Nick Martinez will start for the Reds. He has a 4.73 ERA and a WHIP of 1.22. The Reds’ pitching staff ranks 6th in batting average against, limiting opponents to a .236 average, which could be a key factor in their success.
The Lean
The Rays are slightly favored with a moneyline of -113 against the Reds at -105. The Rays have a strong batting average, ranking 3rd in the league, which could give them an edge. My model projects the Rays to win with a score of 5-4. Based on this, I recommend taking the Rays on the moneyline.
The total for this game is set at 9.5. Both teams have solid pitching, with the Rays having a slightly better ERA ranking. However, their batting stats suggest potential for runs. My model projects a total score of 9. I recommend betting on the under 9.5.
Reds’ Jake Fraley Takes Hot Streak Into Series Opener vs. Rays
Two teams with identical records and similar postseason aspirations meet Friday when the Cincinnati Reds welcome the Tampa Bay Rays for the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati ended a three-game skid Wednesday with a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals, powered by Nick Lodolo’s first career shutout and another big night from Jake Fraley, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
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Fraley has been red-hot since the All-Star break, going 8-for-15 with three doubles and four RBIs despite playing through a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder.
“I feel good,” Fraley said. “I am just putting my head down and going through this. It’s nothing new. I’ve been dealing with the shoulder for four years now. The pain is something that I am used to with it.”
Cortisone shots have helped manage the discomfort, and the Reds’ medical staff continues to monitor him closely. Fraley hinted that another injection might be needed in September but remains confident he can keep producing at a high level.
The Reds sit at 53-50, just 2 1/2 games out of the final NL wild-card spot. The Rays own the exact same record but are only 1 1/2 games out in the American League wild-card hunt.
Tampa Bay enters the series on a slide, losing 15 of its last 22 games. On Wednesday, the Rays blew leads of 4-0 and 7-5 in an 11-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox, thanks to a rough eighth inning where reliever Kevin Kelly gave up six runs.
“We’ve got to find a way to start winning some series and go on a little bit more consistent run of winning,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Following the loss, Tampa Bay optioned starter Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham to work on his mechanics. Joe Boyle is one candidate to fill his rotation spot moving forward.
The Reds will give the ball to Nick Martinez (8-9, 4.73 ERA) for the opener. Martinez has won four of his last five starts, including a five-inning, two-run effort in a 5-2 win over the Mets last weekend. He’s 1-0 with a 6.20 ERA lifetime against Tampa Bay.
The Rays will counter with Zack Littell (8-7, 3.53 ERA), who’s been one of their most dependable arms. Littell tossed six innings of two-run ball in a win over Baltimore last Saturday. In four career appearances against Cincinnati, he’s 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA.
With both teams clinging to postseason hopes, expect a tightly contested matchup as they look to start the weekend series on the right note.
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