Tampa Bay Rays vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/25/2025

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Friday, July 25, 2025

Venue:  Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Where to Watch:  FDSSUN, WTOG, FDSOH

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -112, Reds -108; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -120, Reds +100; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Rays -120, Reds +100; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Tampa Bay Rays:  53-50 (4th place, AL East)

Cincinnati Reds:  53-50 (3rd place, NL Central)

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Tampa Bay Rays:  3-7 last 10

Cincinnati Reds:  6-4 last 10

The Rays are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the Chicago White Sox 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 53-50 record overall and have a road record of 22-22. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Reds on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 13th in the MLB with a .728 OPS. Taj Bradley was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Zack Littell is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 3 SO on 7 hits through 6 IP against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Reds are entering this series off a win and lost their 3-game series against the Washington Nationals 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 53-50 record overall and have a home record of 28-22. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Rays on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 24th in the MLB with a .687 OPS. Nick Lodolo was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Nick Martinez is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 8-9 with a 4.73 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 earned runs, 1 homer, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts on 6 hits through 5 innings pitched against the New York Mets.

The current betting odds have the Reds listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Reds have looked good in their games this season with their 53-50 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL Central. They have also looked good in their own ballpark this year with their 28-22 home record. Meanwhile, the Rays have looked good in their games this season with their 53-50 record overall, but that record has them right near the bottom of the AL East in a competitive division. They haven't been a great road team either with their 22-22 road record this season. The Rays haven't looked great lately either, going 3-7 in their last 10 games while the Reds are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Reds are going with Martinez in this one and he hasn't looked bad this season. He is 8-9 with a 4.73 ERA and was giving up more runs at the start of the season, but lately he hasn't been giving up as many runs and has looked a lot better. He is coming off another good start in which he gave up 2 earned runs and his team has won 2 games in a row now with him starting. He has also looked better at home this season and the Reds have been putting up some runs lately. The Rays are going with Littell in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 8-7 with a 3.53 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs lately. He only gave up 2 earned runs in his last start and the team has also won 2 games in a row with him starting. He still has 7 losses on the season though and has struggled more in road starts so the Reds do have an edge here at home being the hotter team lately too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Reds to win this game. 

Rays Reds Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, July 25, 2025 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Reds 6 Rays 4.

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Tampa Bay Rays: 105-100 (+6.4 units) on the moneyline in road games. 152-92 (+13.7 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 72-50 (+17 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 28-8 UNDER against NL Central opponents.

Cincinnati Reds: 104-107 (-14.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 108-111 (-4.1 units) on the moneyline when the money line is +125 to -125. 59-61 (-11.5 units) on the moneyline at home when the total is 9 to 9.5. 20-9 UNDER vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better.

Tampa Bay Rays:  S. Fairchild (RF) Ten Day IL - Oblique. H. Kim (SS) Day To Day - Back. B. Lowe (2B) Ten Day IL - Foot. H. Bigge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Lat. R. Palacios (LF) Sixty Day IL - Knee. M. Rodriguez (RP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. J. DeLuca (CF) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. S. McClanahan (SP) Sixty Day IL - Triceps. A. Faedo (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. N. Lavender (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Cincinnati Reds:  I. Gibaut (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. W. Miley (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Flexor. H. Greene (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Groin. R. Lowder (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. C. Spiers (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Callihan (LF) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. B. Williamson (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Aguiar (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“Tough decision, certainly, but felt like it's best for him to get down there right now. He's got to get to work.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s loss against the White Sox in their game on Wednesday.

"I know the score ended up 5-0. That wasn't a 5-0 game. That was 1-0. [Lodolo] had to pitch through that for the majority of the game. I thought as the game went he got stronger which is a really good sign. [His] breaking ball has been a weapon. He holds his velocity the entire game. He threw strikes. He just really pitched a great game." - Terry Francona after his team’s win against the Nationals in their game on Wednesday.

Chandler Simpson (L) CF

Yandy Díaz (R) DH

Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B

Junior Caminero (R) 3B

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Jake Mangum (S) LF

Danny Jansen (R) C

Taylor Walls (S) SS

José Caballero (R) 2B

TJ Friedl (L) CF

Gavin Lux (L) 2B

Elly De La Cruz (S) SS

Austin Hays (R) DH

Jake Fraley (L) RF

Noelvi Marte (R) 3B

Jose Trevino (R) C

Will Benson (L) LF

Santiago Espinal (R) 1B

Batting Average:  Richie Palacios (.750)

Hits:  Yandy Díaz (113)

Home Runs:  Junior Caminero (26)

RBI:  Junior Caminero (68)

Stolen Bases:  José Caballero (33)

Wins:  Shane Baz (8)

Saves:  Pete Fairbanks (17)

ERA:  Ian Seymour (0.00)

Batting Average:  Austin Wynns (.400)

Hits:  Elly De La Cruz (108)

Home Runs:  Elly De La Cruz (18)

RBI:  Elly De La Cruz (65)

Stolen Bases:  Elly De La Cruz (27)

Wins:  Andrew Abbott (8)

Saves:  Emilio Pagán (21)

ERA:  Andrew Abbott (2.13)

Managers:

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (11th season)

Cincinnati Reds: Terry Francona (1st season)