Atlanta Braves vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Favored Over Atlanta Braves in 2025 MLB Season Opener

The 2025 Major League Baseball season kicks off on Saturday, April 12, with the Atlanta Braves facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. The Rays are currently favored at -145, with a total of 8.5 runs. The starting pitchers are AJ Smith-Shawver for the Braves and Drew Rasmussen for the Rays. For more information on this matchup and other MLB picks for Saturday, be sure to read our Braves vs. Rays prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Braves +126 | Rays -145
• Spread: Braves +1.5 (-170) | Rays -1.5 (+146)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 59%.

Atlanta vs Tampa Bay Stats

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have had a challenging start to their 2025 season, losing seven games in a row before beginning to turn things around. They split a series against the Miami Marlins and won two out of three games against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park in Atlanta. The Braves have struggled offensively, scoring only 38 runs in their first 12 games with a batting line of .218/.303/.335 and nine home runs in 394 at-bats. On the pitching side, they have a 4.01 ERA and 1.33 WHIP so far this season. AJ Smith-Shawver is set to start in their upcoming game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, with a record of 0-2, a 5.19 ERA, and a 2.19 WHIP in two starts. The Braves are currently ranked 28th in offense, scoring an average of 3.09 runs per game, 14th in defense, allowing 4.09 runs per game, and have a record of 3-9 this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have had a mixed start to the 2025 season, going 5-7 in their first 12 games. They began strong with wins against the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, but struggled against the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels. The team has scored 43 runs with 8 home runs while hitting .252/.316/.379. The pitching staff has a 3.75 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, while the bullpen has a 3.72 ERA, 3.98 FIP, and 1.01 WHIP. Drew Rasmussen is set to pitch on Saturday with a 1-0 record, 0.90 ERA, and 0.60 WHIP in two starts so far. The Rays have a power ranking of 13, ranking 16th in offense, 3rd in defense, and have a 5-7 record overall. In their recent matchup, Atlanta went 1-2 against Tampa Bay.

Rays' Rasmussen poised for success against struggling Braves bullpen

Only a pair of players on the Tampa Bay team have faced AJ Smith-Shawver previously, whereas the Atlanta Braves boast a 4-for-12 record with a home run against Drew Rasmussen, who has only faced them twice in 2021, allowing just one earned run in 3.1 relief innings. Rasmussen appears to be in better form than Smith-Shawver right now, making the Rays a favorable choice. Atlanta's bullpen has shown mediocrity with a 3.98 ERA, 4.49 FIP, and 1.28 WHIP, requiring a strong performance from their struggling offense to secure a victory. Rasmussen has delivered exceptional outings in his last two starts, further reinforcing the potential advantage for the Rays in this matchup.

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