MLB Game Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (66-69) vs. Washington Nationals (53-82)

Venue & Game Info

• Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
• First Pitch: 1:35 PM ET / 10:35 AM PT
• Venue: Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
• Surface: Kentucky Bluegrass
• Broadcast: MASN (Nationals), Bally Sports Sun (Rays), MLB.TV

Weather Update

• Conditions: Outdoor venue; warm late‑summer afternoon.
• Forecast at First Pitch: Mostly sunny, ~84°F (29°C), light SW breeze 5–7 mph, humidity ~55%.
• Impact: Slightly hitter‑friendly with warm temps; minimal wind effect.

Injury / Suspension Report

Tampa Bay Rays:

• Stuart Fairchild (OF) – 60‑Day IL (oblique)
• Ha‑Seong Kim (INF) – 10‑Day IL (back)
• Taylor Walls (INF) – 10‑Day IL (groin)
• Jonny DeLuca (OF) – 10‑Day IL (hamstring)
• Jonathan Aranda (INF) – 10‑Day IL (wrist)
• Manuel Rodríguez (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (forearm)
• Hunter Bigge (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (lat)
• Richie Palacios (OF) – 60‑Day IL (knee)
• Shane McClanahan (LHP) – 60‑Day IL (triceps)
• Alex Faedo (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (shoulder)
• Nathan Lavender (LHP) – 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Washington Nationals:

• MacKenzie Gore (LHP) – 15‑Day IL (shoulder)
• Drew Millas (C) – 10‑Day IL (finger)
• Trevor Williams (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (elbow)
• Keibert Ruiz (C) – 7‑Day IL (concussion)
• Derek Law (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (forearm)
• DJ Herz (LHP) – 60‑Day IL (elbow)
• Josiah Gray (RHP) – 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Probable Pitchers

• TB: LHP Ian Seymour (2‑0, 3.18 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 34 K in 28.1 IP)
  • Rookie lefty with swing‑and‑miss stuff (10.8 K/9) and .192 opponent AVG.
  • Coming off 5 scoreless innings vs. Cleveland (1 H, 0 BB).
• WSH: RHP Brad Lord (4‑7, 3.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 82 K in 100.2 IP)

• Ground‑ball pitcher; limits HRs (0.9 HR/9).
• Last start: 6 IP, 2 ER vs. Yankees.

Recent Form

Tampa Bay Rays – Last 5: W‑W‑L‑L‑W

• Took first two games of this series (4‑1, 6‑3).
• Offense averaging 4.5 runs/game this season (14th MLB).
• Team ERA 3.96 (16th MLB); bullpen save rate 56%.

Washington Nationals – Last 5: L‑L‑L‑L‑L

• On a 7‑game losing streak; outscored 40‑21 in that span.
• Offense averaging 4.2 runs/game (23rd MLB).
• Team ERA 4.88 (26th MLB).

Series History

• 2025 Season Series: Rays lead 2‑0.
• Last meeting before this series was 2023; Rays have won 5 of last 7 overall vs. WSH.

Key Player Matchups

• Junior Caminero (TB) vs. Brad Lord
  • Caminero: .256 AVG, 39 HR, 94 RBI; elite power to all fields.
  • Lord: Must keep ball down to avoid Caminero’s lift‑off potential.
• Yandy Díaz (TB) vs. Nationals Bullpen
  • Díaz: .284 AVG, .361 OBP; contact machine who can wear down relievers.
• C.J. Abrams (WSH) vs. Ian Seymour
  • Abrams: 28 2B, 17 HR, 39 SB; dangerous if he reaches base vs. lefties.
• James Wood (WSH) vs. Rays Middle Relief
• Wood: .261/.355/.480, 26 HR, 15 SB; emerging star with gap power.

Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays:

• 5‑5 in last 10 games; 4‑2 as favorite in that span.
• Over is 5‑5 in last 10.

Washington Nationals:

• 3‑7 in last 10 games; 1‑6 as underdog in that span.
• Over is 6‑4 in last 10.

Head‑to‑Head:

• Rays 5‑2 last 7 vs. Nationals.
• Under is 3‑1 in last 4 meetings.

Suggested Wagering Model

Primary Lean: Rays Moneyline (‑149)

• Tampa Bay’s form, pitching edge with Seymour, and Nationals’ skid point to road win.

Secondary Lean: Under 9 Runs (‑122)

• Seymour’s ability to miss bats + Lord’s ground‑ball profile could keep scoring modest.

Prop Angle: Junior Caminero Anytime HR (+350)

• Power bat in hitter‑friendly conditions vs. a pitcher who pitches to contact.