The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their three‑game series at Tampa with a dominant 5–0 shutout win over the Tampa Bay Rays ESPN.com+8Reuters+8Bleacher Nation+8:
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Clayton Kershaw tossed six shutout innings, allowing five hits, striking out three, and issuing zero walks to earn the 217th win of his career Reuters.
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Justin Wrobleski closed it out with three strong innings, striking out five for his first career save CBSSports.com+2Reuters+2ESPN.com+2.
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At the plate, Freddie Freeman drove the game: a two‑run double in the 1st and a solo homer in the 5th (his 12th of the season), extending his on‑base streak to 17 games en.wikipedia.org+5ESPN.com+5CBSSports.com+5.
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Alex Freeland recorded his first MLB RBI with a single in the 4th, and Mookie Betts added a sacrifice fly to make it 4–0 Reuters+2ESPN.com+2CBSSports.com+2.
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Rays’ starter Shane Baz suffered his fifth straight loss, yielding five runs and eight hits over five innings while striking out eight draysbay.com+3Reuters+3ESPN.com+3.
🗓️ Today’s Game Preview: Game 2 of the Series
📍 Date & Time
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Saturday, August 2, 2025
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1:10 PM ET / 10:10 AM PT
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Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa (Spring Training stadium, not Tropicana Field) DimersESPN.com+6True Blue LA+6Dimers+6
🎥 Broadcast Info
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TV: SportsNet LA (also FDSSUN)
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Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish) Reuters+4True Blue LA+4Bleacher Nation+4
⚾ Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Stats for 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | Blake Snell | 1–0, 2.00 ERA; returning from IL after 4 months; former Rays ace with experience at Steinbrenner Field CBSSports.com+2True Blue LA+2ESPN.com+2 |
| Rays | Drew Rasmussen | 8–5, 2.96 ERA over 21 starts this season True Blue LADimers |
🔍 Key Factors & Betting Insights
Dodgers
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Favored on the moneyline (~‑136), with a 52–55% win probability depending on the source Scores And Stats+1Bleacher Nation+1.
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The offense is elite: Shohei Ohtani (38 HR) leads the team, with Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Andy Pages also contributing big time en.wikipedia.org+3Bleacher Nation+3draysbay.com+3.
Rays
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Struggling lately: lost 4 straight games, including Friday’s shutout; now 10 losses in their last 14 since the All-Star break Reuters+1Scores And Stats+1.
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Offense still features Junior Caminero (27 HR) and Yandy Díaz, though they're inconsistent → especially in clutch situations (1-for-7 with RISP Friday) draysbay.com+3Bleacher Nation+3Scores And Stats+3.
Betting & Totals
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Over/Under is set at 8.5 runs, and most predictions favor the Over (due to both teams’ offensive firepower) Fox Sports+1Dimers+1.
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Dimers’ model gives Dodgers ~54–55% win chance; some models suggest Rays covering the spread (+1.5) could land ~58% of time %% depending on matchup specifics Dimers.
📝 Final Thoughts & Fan Notes
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Blake Snell’s return to Tampa Bay adds drama—he spent five seasons with the Rays and now faces them on their spring-training field True Blue LA+1Scores And Stats+1.
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Kershaw and Freeman's strong showing Friday sets a tone for L.A.'s depth and veteran presence.
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If Dodgers score early again and Snell or Rasmussen falter, this game could quickly tilt in their favor.
✅ Game Summary
Expect power hitting, deep lineups, and strong run support. Given matchups and trends, most models lean Dodgers to win with a high-scoring outcome. But Rays’ underdog value and home field familiarity add intrigue.
📢 What to Watch During the Game
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Can Snell continue his dominant bounce-back?
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Will Rays mount a better offense at Steinbrenner Field, especially through Caminero or Díaz?
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Will Dodgers bats stay hot, particularly Ohtani and Freeman?
Enjoy the game! 🎥⚾
