MLB Game Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (59-63) vs. San Francisco Giants (59-62)

Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
First Pitch: 10:15 PM ET
Broadcast: MLB Network, Bally Sports Sun, NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: WDAE 620 AM (Tampa Bay), KNBR 680 AM (San Francisco)

Match Context

Both teams enter Friday night’s interleague clash in desperate need of momentum. The Giants have lost five straight and 13 of their last 14 at home, while the Rays have dropped 16 of their last 23 overall. Each sits fourth in its division and trails the final Wild Card spot by 5.5 games.

This is the first meeting between the clubs this season, and both are expected to debut key players: Tampa Bay is calling up slugger Bob Seymour from Triple-A, while San Francisco welcomes back starter Landen Roupp from the IL.

Starting Pitchers

San Francisco Giants – Landen Roupp (7–6, 3.11 ERA)

• First start since July 22 (elbow inflammation)
• 3–1 with a 1.15 ERA in his last 6 starts before injury
• 2 ER allowed total in last 3 home starts
• Giants are 6–2 in his last 8 outings

Tampa Bay Rays – Joe Boyle (1–2, 3.82 ERA)

• 31 K in 33 IP
• Struggled in last 3 starts: 0–3, 10 ER in 6.2 IP
• Rays are 0–3 in his last 3 outings vs. Yankees, Dodgers, Mariners

Key Hitters to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

• Junior Caminero – 34 HR, 84 RBI; 6 HR in last 7 games
• Brandon Lowe – 24 HR, .275 AVG; homered in 4 of last 6 games
• Yandy Díaz – .280 AVG, 20 HR, 22 doubles

San Francisco Giants

• Rafael Devers – 23 HR, 50 extra-base hits; 3-game hit streak
• Casey Schmitt – 12-for-39, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 7 RBI in last 10 games
• Heliot Ramos – Team-best .268 AVG

Team Trends & Stats

Team	Record	Last 10	Batting Avg	Team ERA	Home/Road
Rays	59–63	4–6	.226	4.24	27–33 road
Giants	59–62	4–6	.233	3.84	29–31 home

• Giants are 23–6 when hitting 2+ HR
• Rays rank 10th in AL in slugging (.402)
• Over/Under set at 8 runs; Giants favored at –131

Roupp’s return gives San Francisco a much-needed boost, and Boyle’s recent struggles make Tampa Bay vulnerable. Expect a close, power-driven game with both teams swinging aggressively.