Get Expert Player Predictions for Dodgers vs Rays – Sunday August 3, 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers

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Tampa Bay Rays

In a compelling Interleague matchup, the Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Dodgers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on August 3, 2025. This game comes on the heels of a shutout performance by the Rays, who defeated the Dodgers 4-0 in their last encounter. Currently, the Rays sit at 55-57, showcasing an average season, while the Dodgers are riding high with a record of 64-47, positioning themselves strongly in the playoff race.

Projected to start for the Rays is Joe Boyle, who has had an up-and-down season. Although his ERA stands at a solid 2.82, advanced metrics suggest he might be due for some regression, as his 4.23 xFIP indicates he has benefited from good fortune. Boyle’s last start was concerning; he managed only 3 innings, allowing 4 runs. He faces a daunting challenge against a powerful Dodgers lineup that ranks 2nd in MLB for home runs, having belted 164 this season.

On the mound for the Dodgers is the elite Yoshinobu Yamamoto, currently ranked 5th among MLB pitchers. Yamamoto has been a model of consistency, with a stellar 2.63 ERA over 21 starts. His last outing was impressive, going 7 innings while allowing just 1 earned run. The projections suggest he will go deep into this game, which is crucial given the strength of the Rays’ bullpen, ranked 2nd in MLB.

While the Rays have a slightly better batting average, the Dodgers’ overall offensive prowess and depth give them a significant edge. With the Dodgers boasting a high implied team total of 4.77 runs compared to the Rays’ modest 3.73, the matchup favors Los Angeles, making them a team to watch in this pivotal game.

Los Angeles Dodgers Insights

• Los Angeles Dodgers – 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline (-190)
  Yoshinobu Yamamoto is an extreme groundball pitcher (48.8% GB% via the leading projection system, THE BAT), which should make him somewhat immune to the dangers of pitching in George M. Steinbrenner Field — the #6 HR venue in the league — in this matchup.
  Explain: This pitcher’s skill set matches up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to better-than-expected performance.
• Michael Conforto – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-155/+120)
  Michael Conforto has seen a sizeable increase in his exit velocity recently; just compare his 94.6-mph average over the past week to his seasonal 90.6-mph figure.
  Explain: Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it.
• Los Angeles Dodgers – 2H Moneyline
  The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen projects as the 7th-best in Major League Baseball, per the leading projection system (THE BAT).
  Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a strong bullpen sneakily creates a tougher matchup for the opposing offense and suppresses a game’s runs.

Tampa Bay Rays Insights

• Joe Boyle – Over/Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-130/+100)
  Joe Boyle’s slider percentage has fallen by 5.3% from last season to this one (39% to 33.7%) .
  Explain: Because sliders are one of the most effective pitches to use, a pitcher who alters his pitch mix to use them less often may see less success as a result, particularly if he uses his fastball more instead.
• Yandy Diaz – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+135/-175)
  Extreme flyball bats like Yandy Diaz tend to be less successful against extreme flyball pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
  Explain: This mostly has to do with the way the hitter’s swing plane interacts with the pitch trajectory, and it can create diminished performance across all categories and hidden value few are considering.
• Yandy Diaz – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+135/-175)
  Yandy Diaz has a 99th percentile opposite-field rate on his flyballs (42%) and sets up very well considering he’ll be hitting them towards the league’s 5th-shallowest RF fences in today’s game.
  Explain: This player’s skill set matches up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to better-than-usual performance.

Betting Trends

• Over/Under 8.5 Game Total (-120/+100)
  The Tampa Bay Rays have hit the Game Total Under in 61 of their last 110 games (+13.25 Units / 11% ROI)
• Over/Under 8.5 Game Total (-120/+100)
  The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit the Game Total Under in 14 of their last 19 games (+9.60 Units / 45% ROI)
• Yandy Diaz – Over/Under 0.5 Walks (+165/-215)
  Yandy Diaz has hit the Walks Under in 9 of his last 10 games (+7.00 Units / 33% ROI)