Series Preview: Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Two juggernauts of the game will be facing off this weekend as the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at George Steinbrenner Field.

The Tampa Bay Rays hope that by returning home they can shake off their losing ways. The team have lost their last three games dropping their record to 54-56 and have fallen even further behind in the Wild Card chase, now sitting four games back of the Seattle Mariners for the 3rd WC spot with three teams between them. They’ll have their work cut out for them as they face the Dodgers.

Los Angeles has actually been struggling for a bit as they had a 10-14 record during the month of July. Regardless, the Dodgers are still in first place in teh National League East with a 63-46 record.

The Dodgers didn’t make many additions during the trade deadline by they will be activating former Cy Young Blake Snell to start the game on Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Of course, the Dodgers also have Shohei Othani (who recently left a start due to cramps but still DH’d during the game); he is hitting .269/.373/.605 with 38 HR over 494 PA. The Dodgers also have Will Smith, a catcher have an incredible season (171 wRC+ | 3.9 fWAR) and Andy Pages (121 wRC+ | 3.0 fWAR), who was snubbed from the All-Star game.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is showcasing just why the baseball world was enamored with him during his posting a couple of years ago. Clayton Kershaw further cemented himself as a future Hall of Famer by recording his 3,000th strikeout earlier this season and he is having a solid year as well.

Frivolities

The top players by career bWAR to have played for the Rays and Dodgers:

Manny Ramirez
Fred McGriff
David Price
Carl Crawford
Kevin Kiermaier

The Rays best player offensively against the Dodgers all-time (min. 10 PA):Steve Pearce: .455/.538/1.182 with 2 HR over 13 PAThe next four are Junior Caminero, Randy Winn, Jonny DeLuca, & Delmon Young

The Rays most previous transacation with the Dodgers:— 7/31/2025: Rays acquire Hunter Feduccia from the Dodgers for Paul Gervase, Adam Serwinowski, & Ben Rortvedt

The Rays first transaction with the Dodgers— 3/28/01: Rays receive Mike Judd from the Dodgers as part of a conditional deal

Probable pitchers are projected by MLB