The Tampa Bay Rays (64-64, 4th in the AL East) are set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers (77-52, 1st in the NL West) in the final game of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. In their last match-up on Friday, Tampa Bay fell to Los Angeles with a score of 7-3. Currently, the Rays find themselves 11.5 games behind the division-leading Baltimore Orioles and 7 games back from the third AL wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are on a five-game winning streak and hold a four-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. Notably, Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani made headlines by joining the exclusive 40-40 club with a dramatic walk-off grand slam. Ohtani’s impressive stats this season include 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases. The Rays will be missing three pitchers along with position players Richard Palacios and Wander Franco, while the Dodgers are without eight pitchers and catcher Austin Barnes.
This article was composed prior to the teams’ matchup on Saturday.
Tampa Bay’s Ongoing Offensive and Pitching Challenges
Tampa Bay has been struggling at the plate, ranking 19th in on-base percentage (.307), 27th in batting average (.230), and 28th in both slugging percentage (.368) and total runs scored (492). Jose Siri and Brandon Lowe have each hit 16 home runs, while Yandy Diaz leads the team with 55 RBIs. The roster features only five players with RBI totals between 23 and 55, indicating a lack of offensive depth. The Rays have accumulated 205 doubles, 15 triples, and 117 home runs, resulting in 337 extra-base hits over 128 games.
On the pitching side, Tampa Bay ranks 8th in WHIP (1.22), 13th in ERA (3.91), and 16th in batting average allowed (.241). However, they stand 26th in Quality Starts, with only 37 recorded. Ryan Pepiot leads the team with 7 wins, while Zack Littell tops the roster with 116 strikeouts and a 3.89 ERA among starters. Shane Baz is set to take the mound on Sunday, currently holding a 1-2 record with a 3.48 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season.
Dodgers’ Offensive Firepower and Steady Pitching
The Dodgers are proving to be formidable at the plate, ranking in the top 10 across four key hitting categories. They stand 4th in on-base percentage (.331), runs scored (637), and slugging percentage (.435), while sitting 10th in batting average (.253). Ohtani leads the Dodgers with 40 home runs and 92 RBIs, while Teoscar Hernandez adds depth with 26 home runs and 81 RBIs. The team features six players with RBIs ranging from 45 to 92, showcasing their offensive versatility. Overall, Los Angeles has recorded 238 doubles, 20 triples, and 174 home runs, resulting in 432 extra-base hits over 129 games.
On the mound, Los Angeles ranks 3rd in batting average allowed (.232), 4th in WHIP (1.21), and 6th in ERA (3.73), although they are 19th in Quality Starts with 44. Gavin Stone will take the hill on Sunday, leading the Dodgers with 11 wins and an impressive 3.44 ERA. Tyler Glasnow is the team’s strikeout leader, boasting 168 strikeouts this season. Stone’s record stands at 11-5, with a WHIP of 1.24, reflecting his effectiveness in recent outings.
Betting Insights for Rays vs. Dodgers
Los Angeles has been on a roll, winning five consecutive games and maintaining a perfect home record in their last six contests. They are 5-0 in their last five against American League teams. The Dodgers rank fourth in MLB for on-base percentage (.331), slugging percentage (.435), and runs scored (637). Their strong pitching also showcases their talent, as they lead in batting average allowed (.232), WHIP (1.21), and ERA (3.73). Shane Baz is coming off a solid outing against Oakland, but prior to that, he struggled, giving up seven runs across 11.1 innings. In contrast, Gavin Stone has been impressive lately, yielding only five hits and one earned run in his last 12 innings, leading to victories over both Milwaukee and Seattle.