Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Dodgers Picks and Predictions August 2nd 2025

Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Dodgers August 2nd 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers, with a record of 64-46, are set to play against the Tampa Bay Rays, who hold a 54-57 record. The game will take place at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. The Dodgers, led by manager Dave Roberts, are currently ranked first in the NL West and have won six of their last ten games.

The Tampa Bay Rays, managed by Kevin Cash, are fourth in the AL East. They have struggled recently, losing their last four games. The starting pitchers for the game are Blake Snell for the Dodgers and Drew Rasmussen for the Rays. Weather forecasts predict a warm day with light rain and a calm crosswind.

Dodgers vs Rays Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
• Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Betting Odds: Dodgers Moneyline -131, Rays Moneyline +111, Total Over 8.5 (-119), Total Under 8.5 (-101)

The Dodgers Can Win If…

The Los Angeles Dodgers recently won against the Tampa Bay Rays with a score of 5-0. Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings, allowing no runs and striking out three. Freddie Freeman led the offense, hitting a home run and driving in three runs.

The Dodgers have a strong lineup, ranking second in slugging percentage and home runs this season. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman are key players, with Ohtani hitting 38 home runs and Freeman maintaining a batting average of .299. Their ability to get on base and hit for power makes them a tough team to beat.

Blake Snell will start for the Dodgers, bringing an ERA of 2.00 to the mound. His performance can make a big difference in the game. The team’s depth in both hitting and pitching gives them a solid chance to win against the Rays.

The Rays Can Win If…

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to bounce back after a tough 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that game, Shane Baz pitched five innings with eight strikeouts. Despite the loss, the Rays had six hits, showing they can get on base against strong pitching.

The Rays have some solid stats that can help them win. They rank first in stolen bases with 143, which can create scoring opportunities. Their team batting average of .253 is fifth in the league, showing they can hit consistently.

Key players like Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz are crucial for the Rays. Caminero leads the team with 27 home runs, while Díaz has a batting average of .281. With Drew Rasmussen starting on the mound, the Rays have a good chance, as he has an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 1.04.

The Lean

The Dodgers are favored on the moneyline at -131. They have strong hitting stats, ranking 2nd in on-base percentage and slugging. The Rays have a decent pitching staff, but their home run rate is 21st. My model projects the Dodgers to win 5-4. The recommendation is to pick the Dodgers to win straight up.

The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs. The Dodgers and Rays have solid offenses, with the Dodgers ranking 2nd in home runs. Both teams have mid-tier ERAs, suggesting runs will be scored. My model projects a total of 9 runs. The recommendation is to take the over at 8.5.

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A Familiar Face Returns: Blake Snell Makes Dodgers Return Against Former Rays Team

It will be a night filled with emotion, nostalgia, and high stakes at Tropicana Field on Saturday. For the first time since he left the team that drafted and developed him into a Cy Young award winner, left-hander Blake Snell will take the mound in Tampa Bay as a visitor. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace is set to make his first start in three months, and his long-awaited return from injury comes against his former club, the slumping and injury-riddled Tampa Bay Rays. For Snell, it is a full-circle moment. For the Dodgers, it is the first of their major “trade deadline acquisitions” finally arriving. For the Rays, it is another massive challenge in a season that is quickly slipping away.

The Long Road Back for Snell

The Los Angeles Dodgers were notably quiet at Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, choosing not to make a major splash. Their strategy was clear: they believe the best reinforcements they can get are the star players who are already in their organization, returning from the injured list. The first and perhaps most important of those reinforcements is Blake Snell. The 32-year-old left-hander has been sidelined since April 2 with left shoulder inflammation, a frustrating injury that halted his season after just two starts. His return to the rotation is a massive boost for a Dodgers team with World Series aspirations.

Snell’s journey back to a major league mound was a methodical one, featuring four minor league rehab starts. While the results were mixed (a 1.32 ERA but only 13 2/3 innings), the goal was to build up his arm strength and ensure he was fully healthy for the stretch run. Now, he returns to the most familiar place in his professional career. Snell spent the first five seasons of his career with the Rays, a tenure that saw him blossom from a top prospect into one of the best pitchers in the American League, culminating in his 2018 AL Cy Young Award. Saturday will be a strange and emotional experience, as he toes the rubber on the mound he once called home. The “revenge game” narrative is always a powerful one, a topic often explored in our expert betting guide.

The Rays’ Midsummer Meltdown

While the Dodgers are celebrating the return of their ace, the Tampa Bay Rays are in the midst of a full-blown crisis. After a strong first half, their season has unraveled since the All-Star break. They have lost four straight games and 10 of their last 14 overall. The slide has seen them fall back in the competitive AL East playoff race. Their struggles have been compounded by a devastating injury to their own All-Star. First baseman Jonathan Aranda, one of their most consistent offensive players, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist and is expected to miss several weeks.

Despite the devastating news, Aranda is trying to remain a positive influence. “I’m just focusing on what I can do, waiting on that time (of returning), staying positive, controlling what I can control and being there for the team in any way I can,” he said. The team is now looking for other players to step up, particularly newly returned infielder Ha-Seong Kim, who is back from his own injury. “(Kim) can give us quite the boost,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “If we can get him back with consistent playing time, he’s a player who can certainly help us.”

A Tale of Two First Basemen

The contrasting fortunes of these two clubs can be seen perfectly in the recent performance of their star first basemen. For the Dodgers, Freddie Freeman has finally broken out of a long and frustrating slump. After hitting just .200 in June, the former MVP is now on a tear, batting .359 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games. His return to form has been a massive lift for the entire lineup. “It’s baseball,” a relieved Freeman said. “I’ve been grinding and the work in the cage has been a lot better… I’m just going to try and keep it going.”

For the Rays, their own All-Star first baseman, Aranda, was their offensive catalyst. Now, he is sidelined indefinitely. This stark contrast highlights the different paths these two teams are on as they head into August.

The Pitching Matchup: A Deeper Look

Saturday’s game features a fantastic pitching matchup. The return of Snell is the main event, but he will face a tough opponent in Rays’ right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who has been their most reliable arm all season.

While both are elite, their history against their opponents is mixed. Snell has struggled in his two career starts against his former team, while Rasmussen has been effective in limited relief appearances against the Dodgers.

The Betting Outlook and What to Expect

The scores and odds for this match will be fascinating. The Dodgers are the better team on paper, but Snell is a major wild card in his first start back. The Rays are slumping but have their most reliable pitcher on the mound. For two powerhouse MLB teams, this series is a crucial test. To see who our experts are backing in this emotional showdown, check out our daily MLB picks.