MLB Game Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers (63-46) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (54-56)

Game Details

• Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
• Time: 7:35 PM ET
• Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
• Broadcast: MLB Network, Bally Sports Sun, SportsNet LA
• Season Series: First meeting of 2025

Team Overview & Momentum

Los Angeles Dodgers (63–46)

• Division Standing: 1st in NL West
• Recent Form: 5–5 in last 10 games
• Road Record: 28–25
• Key Players:
  • Freddie Freeman: .325 AVG, 18 doubles, 14 HR, 50 RBI
  • Will Smith: .325 AVG, 49 walks, 14 HR
  • Teoscar Hernández: .271 AVG, 19.6% under-hit rate, .480 xSLG
• Pitching Starter: Clayton Kershaw (4–2, 3.62 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 39 K)
• Team Trends:

• 2nd in NL slugging (.442)
• 3rd in MLB OBP (.331)
• 163 home runs (2nd in MLB)

Tampa Bay Rays (54–56)

• Division Standing: 4th in AL East
• Recent Form: 2–8 in last 10 games
• Home Record: 31–28
• Key Players:
  • Jonathan Aranda: .316 AVG, 22 doubles, 12 HR
  • Taylor Walls: 10-for-35, 7 RBI in last 10 games
  • Josh Lowe: HR and 2 RBI vs. Yankees in last game
• Pitching Starter: Shane Baz (8–7, 4.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 116 K)
• Team Trends:

• .254 team AVG (3rd in AL)
• 118 home runs (15th in MLB)
• 5.34 team ERA over last 10 games

• Pitching Matchup:

• Kershaw: 2.83 ERA in road games, 6.5 K/9
• Baz: Allowed HR in last 5 home starts, 19 ER over that span

Key Storylines

• Dodgers’ Power Surge: Despite scoring just 17 runs in their last 5 road games, L.A. ranks 2nd in MLB in home runs and 3rd in slugging percentage.
• Rays’ Injury Woes: Tampa Bay is missing key contributors including Yandy Díaz (forearm), Ha-Seong Kim (back), and Shane McClanahan (triceps).
• Kershaw’s Edge: The veteran lefty has a strong road ERA and faces a Rays lineup with a 24% strikeout rate vs. lefties.
• Baz’s Struggles: Shane Baz has lost 4 straight starts and the Rays are 0–5 in his last 5 outings.