MLB Game Preview: Tampa Bay Rays (49-43) vs. Detroit Tigers (59-34)

Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Venue: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
First Pitch: 5:10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Bally Sports Sun, Bally Sports Detroit, MLB.TV

Team Overview & Recent Form

Team	Record	Last 5 Games	Home/Away Split
Detroit Tigers	59–34	W-W-W-W-W	32–14 (Home)
Tampa Bay Rays	49–43	L-L-L-W-L	21–18 (Road)

• Tigers have won five straight, including the first two games of this series (5–1 and 4–2), and are surging atop the AL Central.
• Rays have dropped seven of their last nine, struggling to generate offense with just three total runs in the first two games.

Pitching Matchup

Pitcher	Team	Record	ERA	WHIP	Notes
Reese Olson	Tigers	4–3	2.89	1.18	Solid control; 3 ER allowed in last 9.2 IP
Zack Littell	Rays	7–7	3.50	1.20	Reliable starter; 1 ER in last outing vs. Twins

Olson’s consistency and Detroit’s elite bullpen (2.92 ERA) give the Tigers a strong edge on the mound.

Key Players to Watch

Detroit Tigers

• Riley Greene: .285 AVG, 22 HR, 72 RBI; top 10 in MLB RBI rankings
• Spencer Torkelson: 21 HR, 20 doubles; power bat in cleanup spot
• Colt Keith: 15-for-34 over last 10 games; 2 HR, 6 RBI in that span

Tampa Bay Rays

• Jonathan Aranda: .321 AVG, 11 HR, 49 RBI; 3 hits in first two games of series
• Yandy Díaz: .289 AVG, 14 HR, 18 doubles; consistent contact hitter
• Brandon Lowe: 19 HR, 50 RBI; day-to-day with side injury

Statistical Comparison

Category	Tigers	Rays
Team ERA	3.43 (1st AL)	4.55
Batting Average	.251	.261
Home Runs	121 (6th MLB)	98
Bullpen ERA	2.92 (Best MLB)	4.12
OBP	.321	.321

Detroit’s pitching dominance and timely hitting have overwhelmed Tampa Bay’s inconsistent offense.

The Tigers are clicking on all cylinders—dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and home-field momentum. With Littell vulnerable to fly balls and Detroit’s lineup stacked with power, the sweep feels imminent.