The pitching matchup features Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 3.62 ERA), who has returned to form in limited innings thanks to elite soft-contact metrics and a ground-ball-heavy profile, versus Shane Baz (8-7, 4.61 ERA), who has been erratic at home and vulnerable to power bats, allowing at least one homer in five straight starts in Tampa.

The LA Dodgers (63-46) visit the Tampa Bay Rays (54-56) Friday to play the first game of a 3-game series. First pitch from George M. Steinbrenner Field is at 7:35 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Dodgers vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

A handful of players reportedly are on the move in a three-team trade ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Los Angeles Dodgers received pitcher prospect Adam Serinowski from the Cincinnati Reds and relief pitcher Paul Gervase and catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Tampa Bay Rays.

After sending reliever Taylor Rogers to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier in the day in exchange for third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Reds added the 29-year-old Littell, who threw five scoreless innings against the Yankees on Wednesday night.