Los Angeles Dodgers vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction – 8/1/2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays will meet in interleague play on Friday night in Tampa. The Rays enter this series on a three-game losing streak and they will have to beat the defending World Series champions if they want to break that streak tonight. Before first pitch from Tampa, continue reading to get my Dodgers vs Rays prediction.
Our Dodgers vs Rays Pick
- Pick: Dodgers Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
| Matchup | Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays |
| Date & Time | August 1, 2025, 7:35 PM ET |
| Starting Pitchers | Clayton Kershaw vs. Shane Baz |
| Stadium | George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL |
| Broadcast | MLB Network |
Key Storylines to Watch
Pitching Form: Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the Dodgers in this game. Kershaw is 4-2 and has a 3.62 ERA on the season. He will face off with Tampa’s Shane Baz. Baz is 8-7 and has a 4.61 ERA. Kershaw has been better on paper this season but Baz might have a higher ceiling going into this game.
Bullpen Usage: The Dodgers’ bullpen has a rest advantage going into this game. They had Thursday off and the Rays had to play in New York. But the Rays have the better bullpen ERA and will look to use that to their advantage here.
Team Momentum: The Dodgers have won two of their last three games and won their most recent series on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. The Rays dropped the final three games in their four-game set against the New York Yankees and will aim to rebound at home tonight.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Mookie Betts | Home Runs | Over 0.5 |
| Clayton Kershaw | Strikeouts | Over 5.5 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Total Bases | Over 1.5 |
Betting Trends & Head-to-Head
- This is the first game between the Dodgers and Rays so far this season.
- The Dodgers are 28-25 on the road for the season.
- Tampa is 31-28 at home in 2025.
- The Rays have allowed five runs or more in three straight games.
Dodgers vs Rays Model Projection
Projected Score: Dodgers 5 – Rays 3
Win Probability: Dodgers 65% | Rays 35%
Final Thoughts
I typically like fading the Dodgers given what a popular bet they are on a nightly basis. But the Dodgers are in a good position to get a win on the road in this contest. The Rays have been struggling and are at a rest disadvantage here. I’ll go with Kershaw and the Dodgers to get a win and hand the Rays their fourth consecutive loss.
