The Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks face off on April 22, 2025, at Chase Field in Phoenix, as both teams attempt to solidify their early-season identity. The Rays enter the contest with a disappointing 9–13 record, struggling to find traction amid pitching inconsistencies and a sputtering offense. Once renowned for their disciplined execution and deep pitching staff, the Rays have stumbled through the first few weeks of the season, often unable to close games or deliver with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks have jumped out to a solid 13–9 start, continuing the momentum built from their 2023 World Series run with a blend of speed, contact hitting, and steady pitching. Tuesday’s matchup pits Tampa Bay’s Zack Littell (0–4, 5.48 ERA) against Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (3–1, 3.04 ERA), a pitching duel that leans heavily in the home team’s favor on paper. With the D-backs performing well at Chase Field and Tampa’s road woes mounting, this contest shapes up as a crucial test of resolve for the slumping Rays and an opportunity for Arizona to assert control in the NL West race. For the Diamondbacks, everything has started to click. Offensively, they’ve been led by dynamic outfielder Corbin Carroll, whose blend of speed and bat control makes him a threat at the top of the lineup every night. Carroll has set the tone with aggressive baserunning, while players like Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. have provided the pop to bring runners home. The team ranks among the top in the National League in stolen bases and has thrived on manufacturing runs through smart situational hitting.

On the mound, Brandon Pfaadt has been a bright spot in the rotation. After showing flashes in 2023, Pfaadt has stepped into a larger role and delivered consistency, limiting hard contact and working deep into games. With Arizona’s bullpen continuing to develop into a reliable unit—featuring arms like Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald to handle late innings—the D-backs have proven they can protect leads, especially at home where they’ve covered the run line in four of their last six games. Their ability to execute defensively and force opponents to beat them with clean hits has separated them from middling teams in the early season. On the other side, the Rays are desperately searching for rhythm. Once celebrated for their deep rotation and innovative pitching strategies, Tampa Bay has suffered from both injury setbacks and underperformance. Zack Littell, a converted reliever now in a starting role, has struggled to contain opposing offenses and enters this game with an 0–4 record and a 5.48 ERA. With Littell often unable to get past the fifth inning, the burden on the bullpen has been significant—forcing manager Kevin Cash to rely too heavily on middle relievers who’ve already logged a heavy workload. Offensively, the Rays have not found consistency outside of flashes from Junior Caminero and Brandon Lowe. Wander Franco remains unavailable, and without his presence, the lineup has lacked a central threat to anchor scoring opportunities. Tampa Bay’s defense has also shown cracks, with misplays and errors contributing to run-scoring innings for opponents. If the Rays are to turn the tide in Phoenix, they’ll need a composed start from Littell, sharper at-bats with men on base, and a bullpen capable of holding down a relentless Arizona attack. Otherwise, this could be another night where the Rays fall behind early and never fully recover.