Rays Face Braves In Interleague Series

The Rays face off against the Braves this weekend in an interleague series. Both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves are off to shaky starts in this young MLB season with the two teams having a combined record of 8-14. The two teams who are accustomed to success in recent years are struggling to win games especially on the road.

Both teams have the talent to turn their season around, though. The two are hoping a series win this weekend could be the catalysts to get back to their accustomed winning ways, respectively.

Shaky Beginning To Season

Projected to win the NL East by Sports Illustrated and others, the Braves currently find themselves sitting in last place in the division with a 3-9 record. They started the season 0-7, which is a record that no team in MLB history has made the playoffs with. Inconsistent bullpen and no timely hits on offense are the main culprits for the early season skid.

No MLB team has ever made the playoffs after an 0-7 start.

The 2025 Atlanta Braves will have to attempt to be the first. pic.twitter.com/6XwBKsF3i9

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) April 3, 2025

When the Rays face-off against the Braves, the Braves will be without two of the best players as both Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider are returning from injuries. Strider could return as early as next week according to manager Brian Snitker after he had another good outing in the minor league.

“He got back out for the sixth, got his pitches. It was exactly what we wanted to happen,” Snitker said Thursday (via the Associated Press). “… I kind of feel like he’s right where we want him to be before he gets here.”

Acuna Jr. could take longer to return but he is participating in batting practice, which is a good sign.

Pitching Probabilities

Taj Bradley is expected to get the start Friday night for the Rays, while Bryce Elder is expected to toe the rubber for the Braves.

Bradley who is (1-0) on the season gets his third start for the Rays. He spots a 4.91 ERA and averages 11.5 strikeouts per nine with opposing batters hitting just .179 against him.

Elder is getting his second start to the season and is looking for his first win of the year. He currently holds a 6.75 ERA and averages 6.8 strikeouts per nine. Current batters are hitting .200 against him.

Offensive Woes

Both teams leave a lot to be desired at the plate with neither team ranked higher than ninth in team batting average, slugging percentage and total runs scored.

The Rays are the better of the two teams as they currently have a team batting average of .252 this season compared to the Braves’ .218 average. Both teams are in the bottom 10 of the league in runs scored and home runs.

Players To Know

Although the season has been shaky, both teams have talent on their roster. The Braves still have Marcell Ozuna who is carrying most of the load for the team in terms of statistics. They also have guys like Matt Olson, Ozzy Albies and Austin Riley who have shown in previous seasons that they can be elite.

Ozuna leads the Braves with a batting average of .316, and also leads the team in homeruns with two and RBIs with seven.

MARCELL WITH A TWO-RUN HOMER TO WALK IT OFF!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/6fBYcZuZTK

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 11, 2025

The Rays have a much more productive lineup with guys like Brandon Lowe and Jonathan Aranda leading the team.

Lowe leads the way for the Rays in home runs with three and RBIs with eight. Aranda has a team high batting average of .367 along with six doubles.

The Braves travel to Tampa to take on the Rays at 7:05 p.m., at George M. Steinbrenner Field.