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Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays August 4th 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The game is set for Monday, August 4, 2025, at 9:38 PM. The Rays have a record of 55-58 and are ranked 4th in the AL East. They have lost their last game and have a 2-8 record in their last 10 games.
The Angels also hold a 54-58 record and sit 4th in the AL West. They won their last game and have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. The weather forecast predicts a warm day with a light breeze and broken clouds. Adrian Houser will start for the Rays, while Yusei Kikuchi will pitch for the Angels.
Rays vs Angels Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels
- Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA
- Date: Monday, August 4, 2025 at 9:38 PM
- Betting Odds: Rays Moneyline +107, Angels Moneyline -126, Rays Runline +1.5 (-194), Angels Runline -1.5 (+161), Total Over 8.5 (-108), Total Under 8.5 (-113)
The Rays Can Win If…
The Tampa Bay Rays recently faced the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling 3-0. Despite the loss, Joe Boyle delivered a strong performance on the mound. He pitched five innings, allowing only three hits and no runs, setting a solid foundation for the Rays’ pitching staff.
The Rays are ranked fifth in batting average at .253, showing their ability to get on base. They also lead the league in stolen bases with 145, which can create scoring opportunities. Their pitching staff has a strong batting average against of .237, ranked seventh, making it tough for opponents to score.
Adrian Houser will start for the Rays with an impressive ERA of 2.10. His ability to limit runs gives the Rays a solid chance to win. With key hitters like Junior Caminero, who leads the team with 28 home runs, the Rays have the power to support their pitching and secure a win.
The Angels Can Win If…
The Los Angeles Angels recently won against the Chicago White Sox with an 8-5 score. Zach Neto and Taylor Ward were key players, driving in a combined seven runs. Jack Kochanowicz pitched six innings, allowing five runs but managed to hold the lead for the Angels.
The Angels have strong power hitters, ranking 4th in home runs with 158 this season. Taylor Ward leads the team with 26 home runs and 82 RBIs, providing a consistent threat at the plate. Their slugging percentage of .406 ranks 13th, showing their ability to hit for power.
Yusei Kikuchi will start for the Angels with a 3.31 ERA. He has shown the ability to keep the game close, giving the team a chance to win. With the Angels’ strong lineup and Kikuchi on the mound, they have a solid chance to secure a victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Lean
The Angels are favored with a moneyline of -126, while the Rays sit at +107. The Angels have a higher home run count and a better slugging percentage, which can be key in this game. With these factors, the recommendation is to pick the Angels to win. The model projects the Angels to win with a score of 5-4.
The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs, with the over at -108 and the under at -113. Given the Angels’ pitching struggles, with an ERA ranked 25th, and the Rays’ decent batting average, the game might see more runs. The model projects a total of 9 runs, suggesting a pick on the over.
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Road Warriors? Rays Begin Make-or-Break West Coast Trip in Anaheim
For the Tampa Bay Rays, the season has reached a critical inflection point. Mired in a month-long slump that has seen them fall out of the American League playoff picture, their postseason hopes may very well hinge on the next two weeks. On Monday night, the Tampa Bay Rays will begin a grueling, 12-game, four-city West Coast road trip when they open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. It is a make-or-break stretch for a talented but underperforming team, and it begins with a new face on the mound as they try to get back on the right track.
The Make-or-Break West Coast Swing
The Rays have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball over the past month. They have a dismal record of just 8-22 over their last 30 games, a free-fall that has seen them drop five games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final AL wild-card spot. After a tough series loss at home to the Dodgers over the weekend, the team is looking at this long road trip as a chance to reset and rediscover their winning form.
“It’s an opportunity for us to turn the page,” said pitcher Drew Rasmussen. “It’s a sprint ahead of us, and if we show up to win one game every single day, we will have a good opportunity to play meaningful games down the stretch.”
“There are a lot of positives to take from the (Dodgers) series,” added infielder Brandon Lowe. “Focus on those and get rid of any negative thoughts we have and get ready and go play good baseball on the west coast.”
The table below provides a snapshot of two teams that have been treading water since the All-Star break, both in desperate need of a hot streak. To review the full box score from their most recent games, you can check the official MLB game results.
| Team | Record (Post-ASB) | Wild Card Standing | Runs Per Game | Team ERA |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 6-10 | 5.0 GB | 4.1 | 4.50 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 7-9 | 5.5 GB | 4.8 | 4.20 |
A “Huge” Win for the Angels
While the Rays are trying to turn the page on a bad stretch, the Angels are riding the high of one of their most dramatic and confidence-boosting wins of the season. On Sunday, they erased a five-run deficit to avoid being swept by the White Sox, a comeback capped by a thrilling, three-run, walk-off home run from their star right fielder, Taylor Ward. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak and provided a massive jolt of energy for a team that has been struggling to find consistency.
“Huge (win),” Ward said afterward. “Getting down early like that, and the fight with the boys, it’s what we’ve been doing all year. It’s awesome.” Ward believes the emotional victory can be a catalyst for a second-half push. “A lot (of momentum),” he said. “We’ve just got to keep going out there and doing our thing, play good fundamental baseball, and good things will happen.”
The Pitching Matchup: A Debut and a Duel
Monday night’s game features an excellent pitching matchup. The Rays will hand the ball to their new trade-deadline acquisition, right-hander Adrian Houser (6-2, 2.10 ERA), for his team debut. Houser was fantastic with the White Sox before the trade, having won his last four decisions. How a pitcher performs with a new team is a key topic in our expert betting guide.
The Angels will counter with their own All-Star, left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 3.30). Kikuchi has been a reliable force for the Angels’ rotation all season, with 15 of his 17 starts being of three or fewer earned runs.
| Pitcher | W-L (2025) | ERA (2025) | Career vs. Opponent |
| Adrian Houser (TBR) | 6-2 | 2.10 | First Appearance |
| Yusei Kikuchi (LAA) | 4-7 | 3.30 | 6-3, 3.70 ERA (13 games) |
The scores and odds for this matchup will be tight, with both teams sending a quality arm to the mound. For more in-depth analysis of this and other games, you can view all of our MLB previews. To see who our experts are backing, check out our daily MLB picks. To get access to even more premium content and betting tools, you can register for an account today.
