Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 13, 2025
Our Rays vs. Cubs prediction sees the Tampa Bay Rays (72-75) getting ready to take on the Chicago Cubs (84-63) in interleague action at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game series. The Cubs secured a 6-4 home win on Friday to begin the series. Right-hander Drew Rasmussen gets the start for the Rays while veteran righty Colin Rea pitches for the Cubs. Cover the diamond — MLB picks for Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago Cubs in a fast read.
Rays Looking to Make Playoff Push
The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to recover from their 6-4 road loss on Friday against the Chicago Cubs to open their series. The lineup was held to go 5-for-31 with a pair of walks and six strikeouts as Christopher Morel hit a home run. The team was 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded two men on base. Shane Baz struggled in the loss as he allowed five runs in 2.1 innings of work.
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen will be getting the start for the Tampa Bay Rays and is pitching well as he is 10-5 with a 2.64 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in 139.2 innings (28 starts) so far. He has done a poor job in terms of keeping the ball in the park, as he has given up a career-high 16 home runs right now. Rasmussen has not faced the Cubs since 2022, so this will be a good test for him.
Injury Report for Tampa Bay
- Pitcher Ryan Pepoit: Rest (Questionable)
- Center fielder Jonny DeLuca: Hamstring (OUT)
- Pitcher Brian Van Belle: Elbow (OUT)
- Pitcher Mason Englert: Shoulder (OUT)
- Right fielder Stuart Fairchild: Oblique (OUT)
- Shortstop Taylor Walls: Groin (OUT)
- First baseman Jonathan Aranda: Wrist (OUT)
- Pitcher Hunter Bigge: Lat (OUT)
- Pitcher Manuel Rodriguez: Forearm (OUT)
- Pitcher Shane McClanahan: Triceps (OUT)
- Pitcher Alex Faedo: Shoulder (OUT)
- Pitcher Nate Lavender: Elbow (OUT)
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Cubs Still Reaching for NL Central Crown
The Chicago Cubs are coming off a 6-4 home win on Friday over the Tampa Bay Rays last time out. The team stepped up offensively as they were able to go 12-for-34 with five walks and 12 strikeouts as Ian Happ homered. Chicago was 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Matthew Boyd did enough to secure the win as he allowed four runs in five innings of work.
The Cubs are going to be sending veteran right-hander Colin Rea to the mound, and he is currently 10-6 with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 141.1 innings. He has been struggling to limit the amount of hits against him as he has a .265 batting average against. Rea faced the Rays once last season as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays as he recorded the win by throwing six shutout innings, giving up four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Injury Report for Chicago
- Right fielder Kyle Tucker: Calf (OUT)
- Pitcher Daniel Palencia: Shoulder (OUT)
- Pitcher Ryan Braiser: Groin (OUT)
- Catcher Miguel Amaya: Ankle (OUT)
- Pitcher Michael Soroka: Shoulder (OUT)
- Pitcher Eli Morgan: Elbow (OUT)
- Pitcher Justin Steele: Elbow (OUT)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs Pick
Spread Pick for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs
- Chicago Cubs ML (4 units)
Drew Rasmussen and Colin Rea have been doing well, so the offenses are going to be the difference between a win and a loss. Hitting with runners in scoring position shows a slight difference between them as the Rays are seventh in the big leagues with a .778 team OPS with runners in scoring position, while the Cubs are fifth with a .786 team OPS in those chances. The ability to avoid hitting into double plays and kill rallies is significant, and there is a large difference as Tampa Bay is 21st with 99 double plays hit into, while Chicago is best in baseball with 64 double plays right now. The Cubs won two of the last three games against the Rays so go with the Chicago Cubs to win again at home.
Over/Under Pick for Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago Cubs
- Under (5 units)
The last seven outings on the mound for these pitchers have shown they can get outs consistently. Drew Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP in 39.1 innings while Colin Rea is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP in 35.1 innings (six starts) in that stretch. Both bullpens looked strong this year as the Rays are ninth in the bigs with a 3.71 reliever ERA, while the Cubs are 12th with a 3.86 bullpen ERA so far. The under has hit in six of the previous seven games between these teams, so take the under once again here.
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