Angels vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 4/9/2025

The Angels (6-3) face the Rays (4-5) at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Tuesday at 5:05 PM EST. Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for Los Angeles against Ryan Pepiot (0-1, 2.45 ERA) for Tampa Bay. The Angels are coming off a strong 6-2 win over Cleveland, while Tampa Bay also beat the Guardians in the last outing, 10-4. Both teams have taken two of the last three. Hit the ice running with our NHL picks.

Los Angeles is riding solid momentum, winning four of its last five, and continues to mash with 13 home runs through nine games. Logan O’Hoppe leads the offense, hitting .345 with 5 HR and 9 RBI, while the team’s .411 slugging percentage has kept them competitive. However, the lineup could feel the absence of Zach Neto and Yoan Moncada, both sidelined due to injuries, with Moncada listed as day-to-day.

On the mound, the Angels have been middle of the pack with a team ERA of 4.50 and a .236 opponent batting average. Kikuchi has been hittable, giving up 3 HR and 9 hits over 12 innings. The bullpen is also missing a few arms including Robert Stephenson and Angel Felipe, leaving less room for error in late innings. Walks have been an issue, with 38 allowed already, contributing to a high WHIP of 1.34.

Tampa Bay has been inconsistent but looked sharp offensively over the weekend, putting up 16 runs in the last two games. Brandon Lowe (.306 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI) and Jonathan Aranda (.333 AVG) have provided the spark at the plate, and while the Rays have only 5 homers so far, they’ve maintained a team batting average of .256 and an on-base percentage of .315.

On the mound, Tampa’s pitching staff has been the standout. The team ERA sits at an impressive 2.97, and the bullpen has helped limit opponents to a .210 batting average. Ryan Pepiot has allowed just 1 HR in 11 innings while striking out 11 and holding a 1.36 WHIP. The Rays have issued only 16 walks as a team, less than half of what the Angels have given up, which could be the difference in a tight matchup.

Tampa’s edge on the mound is hard to overlook. The pitching staff has been sharper across the board, and Pepiot has done a better job controlling damage than Kikuchi. Combine that with Los Angeles’ walk problems and key injuries, and Tampa Bay has the upper hand at home. Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay wins 5-3.