The Tampa Bay Rays and San Diego Padres continue their interleague series at Petco Park on April 26, 2025, in what shapes up to be a pivotal game for two clubs aiming to strengthen their early-season footing in competitive divisions. The Rays, riding the high of a three-game winning streak and showing signs of their trademark resilience, arrive with a 12–14 record and growing confidence following a strong all-around performance in the series opener. Ryan Pepiot, carrying a 1–3 record and a 4.82 ERA, gets the start for Tampa Bay, tasked with building on his recent progress and giving the Rays a chance to extend their surge; Pepiot’s success will depend heavily on his ability to command his fastball and mix in secondary pitches effectively against a Padres lineup known for its explosiveness. San Diego, meanwhile, holds a solid 17–9 record and remains one of the more balanced and dangerous teams in the National League, but they will be eager to bounce back after a rare home loss that exposed some vulnerabilities in their middle relief and clutch hitting. Dylan Cease will take the mound for the Padres, bringing a 1–1 record and an elevated 6.04 ERA into the matchup, and while Cease still flashes electric strikeout stuff, command issues have plagued him in key moments, something Tampa Bay hitters will look to exploit by forcing deep counts and capitalizing on mistakes over the plate.

Offensively, the Rays have leaned on contributions from Yandy Díaz, Brandon Lowe, and Josh Lowe, combining veteran patience with youthful energy to create pressure on opposing defenses, while the Padres continue to boast a formidable lineup anchored by Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Xander Bogaerts, all capable of flipping a game with one swing. Defensively, San Diego has been more reliable over the course of the season, but Tampa Bay’s aggressive baserunning and situational awareness have allowed them to manufacture runs and grind out tight games recently. The head-to-head trends suggest a tilt toward high-scoring affairs when these teams meet, and with neither starting pitcher coming in with dominant recent form, fans could be treated to another lively offensive showing. For the Padres, the formula is simple: Cease needs to establish the strike zone early, trust his defense, and avoid the big innings that have derailed some of his starts, while the offense must seize opportunities with runners in scoring position, an area where they faltered in the opener. For the Rays, continuing to work patient at-bats, applying pressure on the basepaths, and getting a quality outing from Pepiot will be crucial in their effort to secure a fourth straight win and move closer to .500. With both clubs fully aware of the stakes even this early in the season, Saturday’s contest promises high energy, plenty of intensity, and no shortage of pivotal moments that could swing the series—and possibly set the tone for the rest of their respective road trips and homestands.