Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians: Game Preview, Odds, and Pitching Matchup for August 25, 2025

Monday, August 25th, 2025

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians: Series Opener Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays (63-67, fourth in the AL East) travel to Cleveland to begin a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians (64-65, third in the AL Central) on Monday evening at Progressive Field. Both teams are looking to gain momentum as they continue battling in their respective divisions.

Pitching Matchup

The Rays will send Ian Seymour (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 26 strikeouts) to the mound, hoping he can keep the Guardians’ offense in check. Opposing him for Cleveland is Tanner Bibee (9-9, 4.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 129 strikeouts). The Guardians open as -143 favorites, with the Rays listed at +121, and the over/under set at 8 runs.

Team Overviews

Cleveland holds a 64-65 overall record and is an even 31-31 at home. The Guardians’ pitching staff boasts a solid 3.93 ERA, ranking sixth in the American League. On the other side, Tampa Bay carries a 29-34 road record and has struggled in games where opponents have hit home runs, going 35-55 in those matchups.

This will be the first time the Rays and Guardians face each other this season.

Top Performers to Watch

For the Guardians, Jose Ramirez continues to be a force at the plate, tallying 24 doubles, two triples, and 26 home runs so far this season. Steven Kwan has contributed recently as well, going 10-for-40 with a double over his last 10 games.

The Rays are led by Junior Caminero, who has racked up 58 extra-base hits, including 21 doubles and 37 home runs. Christopher Morel has also been productive, tallying a double, three home runs, and four RBIs in his last 10 games while going 8-for-25.

Recent Form

The Guardians enter this series searching for answers, having gone 2-8 in their last 10 games while posting a .191 batting average and a 4.39 ERA, and being outscored by 23 runs. The Rays have fared better of late with a 5-5 mark, a .246 batting average, and a 5.16 ERA, though they have still been outscored by 10 runs in that stretch.

Injuries

Cleveland is dealing with several key injuries, including Lane Thomas (10-Day IL, foot), Will Brennan (60-Day IL, forearm), Andrew Walters (60-Day IL, lat), Ben Lively (60-Day IL, forearm), John Means (60-Day IL, elbow), and Sam Hentges (60-Day IL, shoulder).

The Rays’ injury list is also extensive, featuring Stuart Fairchild (60-Day IL, oblique), Ha-Seong Kim (10-Day IL, back), Taylor Walls (10-Day IL, groin), Jonny Deluca (10-Day IL, hamstring), Jonathan Aranda (10-Day IL, wrist), 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), and Nathan Lavender (60-Day IL, elbow).

Weather

Today at Progressive Field, expect warm and sunny baseball weather with temperatures reaching the low 80s. Skies will be mostly clear, there is virtually no chance of precipitation, and winds will be light and variable—ideal conditions for a great day at the ballpark.

In summary

The Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians kick off a fresh series with both teams seeking to climb their division standings. With solid pitching matchups and top hitters to watch on both sides, fans can anticipate a competitive contest under ideal weather conditions at Progressive Field. Stay tuned for lineups, in-game highlights, and more as the series unfolds.

MLB Schedules

Today's MLB Games

There are no baseball games today.

Tomorrow's MLB Games

There are no baseball games tomorrow.

Yesterday's MLB Games

There were no baseball games yesterday.