Los Angeles Angels vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Odds, MLB Picks 8/4/2025

The Tampa Bay Rays (54-56) visit the Los Angeles Angels (53-56) at Angel Stadium on Monday night in a matchup featuring two teams looking to gain ground in the AL playoff race.

Tampa Bay will send Adrian Houser (6-2, 2.10 ERA) to the mound against Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 3.30 ERA), who has been particularly dominant at home with a 2.48 ERA in 12 starts at Angel Stadium this season.

Both teams have struggled recently—the Rays going 2-8 in their last ten while the Angels are 4-6—making this series opener critical for momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

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Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays preview

The Angels will look to capitalize on their home field advantage against the struggling Rays, who have gone just 5-10 since the All-Star break and 2-8 in their last ten games.

Yusei Kikuchi has been a revelation at Angel Stadium this season, posting a stellar 2.48 ERA across 12 home starts while holding current Rays hitters to a measly .198 batting average.

Tampa Bay counters with Adrian Houser, an intriguing trade deadline acquisition from the White Sox who has been remarkably consistent this season, having not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 11 starts.

Despite their sub-.500 records, both clubs have shown flashes of brilliance – the Rays with their balanced offensive attack (4.5 runs per game) and the Angels with their significant improvement from last year's franchise-worst 99-loss season.

Angel Stadium could prove the difference-maker on Monday night, with Los Angeles sporting a respectable 28-28 home record while Kikuchi has transformed into a different pitcher in Anaheim's friendly confines.

Key stats

1

The Rays are 10th in the American League with a 55-58 record (.487), showing recent inconsistency with a LWLLL form pattern.

2

The Angels sit just behind Tampa Bay at 11th place with a 54-58 record (.482) but have gone WLLLW in their last five games.

3

Tampa Bay has been more efficient defensively, allowing 463 runs compared to the Angels' 553 runs against this season.

4

Both teams have similar offensive output with the Rays scoring 509 runs and the Angels producing 486 runs through 112-113 games played.

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