A Rare But Thrilling Matchup | Dodgers vs Rays | OSB
Los Angeles Dodgers at Tampa Bay Rays: Analysis, Prediction, and Betting Tips
Sam Batz
On Friday, May 26th the LA Dodgers will face the Tampa Bay Rays in a battle between two top-five teams (6:40 PM EST, Bally Sports/MLB Extra Innings). The Rays lead the league with the best record in baseball, but the Dodgers trail by just 5.5 games. Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Dodgers have not played since 2019, and Friday is their first meeting in 4 years. This is one of the rarest matchups in baseball, as the Dodgers and Rays have only played 17 total games all-time. The Dodgers lead the all-time series 10-7, but it’s difficult to bet against a Tampa Bay side that is 24-5 (win-rate: 82.8%) at home.
The Los Angeles Dodgers (-1.5; ML -105)
Consistency has been a glaring issue for the LA Dodgers in the first-half of the season. In the first few months, they never managed to string together more than 3 wins, but at the end of April, LA won 6 straight matchups. This month, the Dodgers are righting the ship and find themselves leading the NL West, are in 2nd place in the National League, and are 5th in the MLB. They went 5-5 in their last 10, but are 15-7 (win-rate: 68.2%) in May, and are coming off a 2-1 series victory over the 4th-place Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers scored 19 runs in 3 games against the Braves, and enter Friday’s highly anticipated matchup in Tampa Bay with a lot of momentum.
The Tampa Bay Rays (+1.5; ML -115)
The Tampa Bay Rays still have the best record in the MLB, but their prolific start has begun to wane. The Rays remain one of the best, if not the best, teams in baseball. They are an impressive 37-15 (71.2%), and lead the AL East, American League, and MLB as the only team with a win-rate above 70%. They have the best run differential (+114) but no longer lead in runs, hits, batting average, runs against or RBIs. Other teams are catching up to the Rays, and while they have cemented themselves as the team to beat this season, they are no longer as infallible as they once appeared. FiveThirtyEight seems to think Tampa Bay and Los Angeles are highly likely to win their respective Leagues, which means this matchup is an important precursor because if the Rays and Dodgers were to play again this season, it would be in the World Series.
Dodgers vs. Rays Opening Odds
Team | Runline | Total (O/U) | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
LA Dodgers | -1.5 (+149) | Ov 9 (-100) | -105 |
Tampa Bay Rays | +1.5 (-213) | Un 9 (-120) | -115 |
We are supported by Caesar Sportsbook. Click here to get up to $1,250 back as a bet credit on your first wager with Caesar.
Dodgers vs. Rays: Season Stats
LA Dodgers (31-20) .608 279 (3rd) 223 (15th) +56 403 (17th) .236 (23rd) 82 (2nd) 272 (3rd) 17-7 (70.8%) 14-13 (51.9%) | Stat Type Pct. Total Runs Total Runs Against Run Differential Hits Bat Avg. Homeruns RBI Home (Win-rate) Away (Win-rate) | Tampa Bay Rays (37-15) .712 310 (T-1st) 196 (T-4th) +114 473 (2nd) .269 (2nd) 97 (1st) 297 (2nd) 24-5 (82.8%) 13-10 (56.5%) |
Dodgers vs. Rays: Betting Trends
LA Dodgers
- 30-21 record ATS
- 15-12 record ATS on the ROAD
- 2-1 record ATS versus the AL
- 28-22-1 O/U record
- 7-3 O/U record in the last 10 games
- 28-17 as FAVORITES
- 11-11 as FAVORITES on the ROAD
Tampa Bay Rays
- 31-21 record ATS
- 18-11 record ATS at HOME
- 10-5 record ATS versus the NL
- 31-18-3 O/U record
- 8-2 O/U record in the last 10 games
- 4-4 as UNDERDOGS
- 2-1 as UNDERDOGS at HOME
Dodgers vs. Rays: Starting Pitcher Comparison
LA Dodgers 1-3 5.88 1.33 41.1 49 30 6 6 | Stat Type (Probable) Pitcher W-L ERA WHIP IP H K BB HR | Tampa Bay Rays 1-2 4.68 1.20 25.0 18 22 12 3 |
Dodgers vs. Rays Prediction
Take the Rays to beat the Dodgers on Friday, May 26th, in their first matchup since September 18th, 2019. 4 years ago, the Dodgers hosted the Rays, so now it’s Tampa’s turn to show their hospitality, something LA will not consider an advantage. The Rays have won 24 out of 29 home games this season, while the Dodgers have won just 14 out of their 27 away games. The Rays may no longer hold the lead they once did in total runs scored, but Tampa is still averaging 5.96 runs per game, however LA is right behind them averaging 5.47 runs per game. Tampa (97 HR) and LA (82 HR) are no.1 and no.2 in home runs hit, with 179 dingers between them. Friday’s matchup is bound to be a high-scoring, back-and-forth thriller between two postseason favorites, but in the end, Tampa Bay will win the game.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline (-115)
Click here to see OSB’s amazing sports betting packages. There are monthly, weekly, and daily options which are designed to fit the needs of every sports betting enthusiast.
Click here to visit OSB’s blog posts where you will find expert advice on every game, team, sport, and player, improving your chances to win!
