Dodgers vs. Rays: Clayton Kershaw Starts August 1, 2025 Matchup Preview

Friday, August 1st, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers (63-46, first in the NL West) are set to face the Tampa Bay Rays (54-56, fourth in the AL East) on 2025-08-01 at 6:35PM MLB. The Tampa Bay Rays enter this matchup after losing three straight games.

Game Details

The game will be played in Tampa, Florida.

Dodgers -146, Rays +123; over/under is 9 runs.

Pitching Matchup

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 3.62 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 39 strikeouts)

Rays: Shane Baz (8-7, 4.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 116 strikeouts)

Team Performance

Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles has gone 28-25 in road games and 63-46 overall. The Dodgers have the second-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .442.

Will Smith leads the Dodgers with a .325 batting average, and has 18 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 49 walks and 50 RBI. Freddie Freeman is 12 for 37 with a home run and seven RBI over the past 10 games.

Dodgers: 5-5, .248 batting average, 3.41 ERA, outscored opponents by one run.

Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay is 54-56 overall and 31-28 in home games. Rays hitters are batting a collective .254, which ranks third in the AL.

Jonathan Aranda has a .316 batting average to lead the Rays, and has 22 doubles and 12 home runs. Taylor Walls is 10 for 35 with a home run and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

Rays: 2-8, .220 batting average, 5.34 ERA, outscored by 20 runs.

Season Series

The matchup is the first meeting this season between the two clubs.

Injuries

Rays Injuries

Jonathan Aranda: day-to-day (wrist), Yandy Diaz: 10-Day IL (forearm), Chandler Simpson: day-to-day (hand), Ha-Seong Kim: 10-Day IL (back), Stuart Fairchild: 10-Day IL (oblique), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Bigge: 60-Day IL (lat), Richie Palacios: 60-Day IL (knee), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow).

Dodgers Injuries

Hyeseong Kim: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Tanner Scott: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Kopech: 60-Day IL (knee), Kike Hernandez: 10-Day IL (elbow), Max Muncy: 10-Day IL (knee), Roki Sasaki: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tony Gonsolin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (forearm), Blake Snell: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kyle Hurt: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael Grove: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 60-Day IL (shoulder), River Ryan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder).

In summary

The Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the Tampa Bay Rays on August 1, 2025, in a highly anticipated MLB matchup. The Dodgers, leading the NL West, bring a strong offense with Will Smith and Freddie Freeman performing well, despite a recent 5-5 record. Veteran pitcher Clayton Kershaw is slated to start for Los Angeles. The Rays, currently fourth in the AL East and on a three-game losing streak, will counter with Shane Baz on the mound. Key hitters for Tampa Bay include Jonathan Aranda and Taylor Walls. This game marks the first time these two teams will meet this season, with the Dodgers entering as favorites.

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