Miguel Vargas received a papal blessing after two home runs in Detroit last night. | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This is a story about how the Detroit Tigers, after concretely selling at the deadline by trading their top available pitcher as well as several other pieces, go on a massive, improbable heater to grab the division title on the last day of the season.
Take a deep breath: That’s the story of the 2024 Detroit Tigers. That team was still led by and impending two-time Cy Young winner. The two best hitters from that squad — Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter — are currently injured. The back half of their rotation now includes prospect Jackson Jobe (who’s allowed six runs in 8 2/3 innings so far in his return from Tommy John surgery), and Drew Anderson (who had a 4.24 ERA in 39 appearances out of the bullpen before being shifted to the rotation). While Chicago’s inconsistent play since the All-Star break has been concerning, the Tigers are not the AL Central team I’m worried about.
A large part of Detroit’s recent run has been Troy Melton, who has a 1.86 ERA in 13 starts and hasn’t given up a run over 20 innings in the last three of them. But with just 69 strikeouts and a league-average ground ball rate, good for a solid but unspectacular 3.63 FIP, we’re at the point where the other shoe can drop at any moment. See: Davis Martin.
The Sox have a chance to start turning the tables today. Opposite Melton, they’ll roll with Anthony Kay, who is himself working at a probably-unsustainable 3.36 ERA since the start of May. His battery mate is recently-claimed catcher Jake Rogers, making his debut for the team after Edgar Quero was optioned to Charlotte this morning. Rogers hit 21 home runs in 2023 but has just a 70 OPS+ since then, and unfortunately, he’s been a concretely subpar defensive catcher this year despite grading out mostly positively in the past. This will be Rogers’ fourth organization in three weeks, as he was traded from Detroit to Baltimore in July before being sent to Boston in the Adley Rustchman deal several days later. The Sox claimed Rogers this week after he was designated for assignment by the Red Sox. Andrew Benintendi also works his way back into the lineup for a second straight game after appearing as a pinch hitter in three of his previous four appearances.
Tigers outfielder Ben Malgeri and catcher Eduardo Valencia are making their 25th and 18th appearances in the big leagues, respectively. Old friend Corey Julks makes his second appearance for the Tigers after 72 for the White Sox in 2024-25.
Melton comes at hitters with an arsenal led by glove-side spin, attacking the inner part of the plate with four-seamers, cutters, and sliders. The outcome of this game may depend on whether the Sox hitters who thrive primarily by turning on inner-half pitches — Benintendi, Colson Montgomery, and Peters, with other lefties Murakami and Braden Montgomery working more to all fields — can make the righthander pay for any mistakes he may make in that vicinity
It’s another matinee matchup this weekend, with first pitch at 12:10 p.m. CT from Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Standard broadcasts will be available on CHSN (TV) and ESPN 1000 AM (radio). We’ll see you there!
Jesus Luzardo has quietly pitched like an ace all season, and he headlines the Philadelphia Phillies in a favorable matchup with the Minnesota Twins tonight.
Philadelphia sits as a -131 favorite, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Target Field.
That pitching edge shapes my Phillies vs. Twins predictions, which back Philadelphia on the moneyline, lean Under the total, and target a Phillies slugger to go deep.
Who will win Phillies vs Twins today: Phillies moneyline (-131)
Jesus Luzardo gives the Philadelphia Phillies the clearest advantage in this matchup, and the price is reasonable enough to back the Phillies straight up.
Luzardo has been excellent lately, going 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA over his last 10 starts while allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his last six.
The Minnesota Twins counter with rookie Connor Prielipp and his 4.79 ERA. He has real swing-and-miss stuff, but Philadelphia should generate more against him than the Twins manage against Luzardo, especially with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper anchoring the middle of the order.
I’d rather take the Phillies straight-up than lay the run line, and Luzardo’s form and clear edge over Prielipp make Philadelphia the side I trust.
At -131, I’m comfortable paying the moneyline price. I’d play Philadelphia to -145.
COVERS INTEL: Luzardo’s peripherals are even better than his strong 3.32 ERA, with a 2.85 xERA and a 2.82 FIP.
Phillies vs Twins Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-116)
Luzardo is pitching well enough to lean toward a lower-scoring game and take the Under at 8.5.
The Phillies left-hander struck out 12 over seven innings in his most recent start and carries an excellent 22.3% K-BB rate for the season. His strikeout-and-control profile will make it hard for Minnesota to post crooked numbers.
Prielipp is less trustworthy, but Philadelphia has produced just a .690 OPS over its last 10 games against left-handed starters, giving the rookie a path to keeping the Phillies from breaking the game open early.
I’d rather bet on Luzardo controlling his side of the scoring. If Prielipp gives the Twins five competitive innings, this profiles closer to a 5-3 or 4-3 final than a shootout.
I’d play the Under to -120.
Phillies vs Twins home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (+307)
Schwarber has been one of baseball’s premier power hitters all season, and the left-on-left matchup with Prielipp is far more appealing than it looks.
Schwarber has homered four times over his last 10 games, including a two-homer game against Minnesota on Thursday, He's crushed lefties this year, hitting .283 with 12 home runs in 190 plate appearances.
Prielipp’s four-seam fastball is the clear angle. Opponents slug .561 against it, the pitch carries a -6 Statcast run value, and it makes up nearly 29% of his arsenal. Schwarber, meanwhile, owns a .558 SLG and a +10 run value against four-seamers with a massive 63.5% hard-hit rate.
I’d play this to +275 for a quarter-unit.
Ethan Diamandas 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-2, -2.00 units
Over/Under bets: 1-1, +0.05 units
Phillies vs Twins weather
Target Field is an open-air ballpark, so the wind is the swing factor for scoring on a mid-August night in Minneapolis. Air blowing out toward right-center would add carry for the Kyle Schwarber home run bet, so the forecast is worth a final look before first pitch.
Phillies vs Twins odds
Moneyline: Phillies -137 | Twins +124
Run line: Phillies -1.5 | Twins +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Phillies vs Twins trend
The Phillies are 8-0 in Luzardo's last eight road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Twins.
How to watch Phillies vs Twins and game info
Location
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Twins.TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (10-5, 3.32 ERA)
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (3-5, 4.79 ERA)
Phillies vs Twins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Millwall start with 2-0 win over 10-man Bristol City
Will Lankshear scored a second-half double on his debut as Middlesbrough fought back to kick off their Championship campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory, ending promoted Lincoln’s remarkable nine-month unbeaten run.
The Imps – playing their first second-tier match in 65 years – made a strong start and opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Adam Reach. But the former Tottenham forward Lankshear marked his first league appearance since his move to the Riverside by equalising just after the hour and then stabbing in a stoppage-time winner.
UNITED STATES - APRIL 27: Baseball: Houston Astros Phil Garner (R) and Alan Ashby (L) victorious with Nolan Ryan after breaking Walter Johnson record for all-time strikeouts during game vs Montreal Expos, Montreal, CAN 4/27/1983 (Photo by Jerry Wachter/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X28391)
Former Astros catcher and broadcaster Alan Ashby and former player and manager Phil Garner are set to be inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame tonight at Daikin Park, prior to the 6:10 p.m. game vs. the Seattle Mariners.
Ashby and Garner were elected by the Astros Hall of Fame committee, which consists of former Astros players, current front office staff, current media members and Houston-area baseball historians. Notably, Garner was aware of his election prior to his passing in April of this year. Members of the Garner family will be at tonight’s ceremony.
The official ceremony for the two new inductees will be held on the field tonight at Daikin Park, beginning at 5:35 p.m. Each inductee receives an Astros Hall of Fame sports coat, a customized Hall of Fame plaque and a display case in the Hall of Fame alley.
The Astros Hall of Fame was established in 2019 and resides in Hall of Fame Alley on the main concourse of Daikin Park in left-center field. The Class of 2026 will join the 28 members previously inducted.
THE 2026 ASTROS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
ALAN ASHBY (1979-89 as Player; 1998-2006 & 2013-16 as Broadcaster)
During his 11 seasons in an Astros uniform (1979-89), Alan Ashby was a mainstay behind the plate for the Houston Astros. The switch-hitting Ashby still currently ranks first or second in franchise history in several key categories for catchers, including games, home runs, RBI, hits and runs scored. Ashby was also solid defensively while guiding one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors during the 1980s.
After no postseason appearances in the first 18 years of the franchise (1962-79), the Astros made the playoffs three times (1980-81, 1986) in a seven-year span, with Ashby being a key figure in that time frame. One of his most memorable highlights came in the postseason of 1981 when he hit a walkoff home run vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It was the first postseason home run ever by an Astros player. Ashby also hit a game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 1986 National League Championship Series vs. Mets southpaw Sid Fernandez, making him the first player in NL history to hit game-winning home runs in the postseason from both sides of the plate.
Ashby also holds the distinction of being the first player in Astros history to homer from each side of the plate in the same game, which he did on Sept. 27, 1982 at San Diego.
Ashby also had some great moments in his career while behind the plate, including tying an NL record by catching three no-hitters. In 1981, Ashby caught Nolan Ryan’s record-setting, fifth career no-hitter, which is a record that still stands. In 1986, he was behind the plate for Mike Scott’s no-hitter vs. the Giants, which clinched the NL West title for the Astros.
Ashby was acquired by the Astros as part of a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 27, 1978. Prior to joining the Astros, he spent four seasons with Cleveland (1973-76) and two seasons with Toronto (1977-78).
Following his playing career, Ashby spent 13 seasons as an Astros broadcaster, calling games on both radio and television. From 1998-2006, he was the Astros color commentator on radio, working alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton. From 2013-16, he called Astros games on television, handling both color and play-by-play duties alongside Astros Hall of Famer Bill Brown and former player Geoff Blum. Ashby also spent five seasons broadcasting Toronto Blue Jays games on TV and radio (2007-12).
Ashby was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, and was named starting catcher on the Astros 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 2012.
PHIL GARNER (1981-87 as Player; 2004-07 as Manager)
Phil Garner, who was affectionately known as “Scrap Iron”, had a significant impact on the Astros franchise as both a player and manager.
As a player, Garner spent seven seasons in an Astros uniform (1981-87), appearing in 753 games, mostly at third base and second base. When he was acquired by the Astros from the Pirates during the 1981 season, he brought postseason experience and veteran leadership to the team. In 1979, Garner shined for the World Champion Pirates team, hitting a combined .472 in 10 postseason games to play a key role in Pittsburgh’s title run.
During his playing career in Houston, the Astros enjoyed success, appearing in the postseason twice (1981, 1986) while contending in other seasons. In 1986, the Astros won a club-record 96 games en route to the NL West Division crown.
As a manager for the Astros, Garner displayed a great ability to rally his team through adversity, which led to historic postseason runs. When he was named Astros manager at the All-Star Break in 2004, the Astros were just 44-44. However, the Astros would post a 48-26 record in their final 74 games to earn a Wild Card berth. The Astros would next earn the first postseason series victory in franchise history when they defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. The Astros would end up one win shy of reaching the World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in what was a thrilling NLCS.
In 2005, the Astros struggled out of the gate, going just 15-30 in their first 45 games. However, Garner was able to rally his club once again, this time leading them to a 74-43 finish to earn another Wild Card Berth, marking the largest turnaround in NL history. In the postseason, the Astros defeated the Braves in the NLDS and the Cardinals in the NLCS to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
During his tenure as Astros manager (2004-07), Garner led the Astros to a 277-224 (.524) record in the regular season, while winning three postseason series and 13 postseason games overall.
SCORING IN THE SIXTH: The Cubs’ only three runs yesterday came in the sixth inning. They have scored 93 runs in the sixth this season, 17 more than their second-most 76 in the seventh. They are +31 in runs scored/allowed in the sixth, +32 in the seventh and +47 in all other innings combined. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
A WIN WITH ONLY THREE: The Cubs’ win yesterday was their 10th in which they have scored no more than three runs. They have lost 38 such games. With at least four runs, they are 62-13. They are 11-26 with no more than the six hits they made yesterday; 61-25 with at least seven. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SCORING FIRST: The Cubs are 42-15 when they have scored first, as they did yesterday, including 20-5 at home. Last year, they were 66-18 when scoring first at all sites and 33-8 at home. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Matt Murton’s home run ties the game with the Astros in Houston in the top of the ninth and then the teams play eight scoreless innings before Murton’s two-run single in the 18th wins the game 8-6. It happened 20 years ago today, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006.
I’ll just keep posting these numbers because they sound ace-like: Since his return from his knee injury, in nine starts Matthew Boyd has posted a 2.43 ERA and 1.186 WHIP and the Cubs have won eight of those nine games.
One of the games was against the Cardinals July 29 in St. Louis. Boyd threw seven shutout innings and allowed four hits and two walks. Something like that again today would work.
The last time the Cubs faced Michael McGreevy was July 28 in St. Louis. He did not last two innings, and the Cubs scored seven runs off him, without the benefit of a home run.
I’d take another one like that. In two starts since then McGreevy has a 4.50 ERA and allowed two home runs in 10 innings.
Please visit our SB Nation Cardinals site Viva el Birdos. If you do go there to interact with Cardinals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
The New York Mets will look to get deep into the Washington Nationals bullpen as these teams square off at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams should find offense, but I'm backing New York to get the better of the Washington pitching staff in my Nationals vs. Mets predictions.
Read on to get my free MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 15.
Who will win Nationals vs Mets today: Mets moneyline (-137)
Brad Lord (5-2, 3.79 ERA) serves more as an opener when he starts, never having made it through the third inning this year. That puts the game in the hands of the struggling Washington Nationals bullpen, which has a 4.91 ERA this season.
Nationals vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-116)
The Nationals bullpen is going to need to throw six or seven innings this afternoon, and this Mets lineup has feasted on weak pitching even while struggling overall.
On the other side, Washington will make solid contact against the soft-tossing Manaea, who throws his average fastball at just 90.8 mph. The Nats average an MLB-best 5.35 runs per game and won't be completely shut down by New York.
I love the Over at 8.5 or less.
Nationals vs Mets home run prediction: Bo Bichette (+880)
Bo Bichette has hit better for the Mets as the season has worn on, but his lack of power remains a massive concern for New York. However, Bichette is hitting .313 with a .500 slugging percentage in 12 games in August, including hitting a couple of homers.
Bichette is squaring up balls at a 27.2% rate, has positive launch angle metrics, and yet has gone through extended power outages. Still, his underlying metrics suggest there's still pop in the bat, which has shown in his 12 homers this season.
I'm taking Bichette to homer today at +800 or better.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-23, -10.84 units
Over/Under bets: 13-21, -8.96 units
Nationals vs Mets weather
Warm temperatures and light winds mean the weather should have minimal impact on today's matchup.
Nationals vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Nationals +127 | Mets -133
Run line: Nationals +1.5 (-170) | Mets -1.5 (+156)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Nationals vs Mets trend
The Over is 5-0-1 in the Mets' last six games vs. a right-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Mets.
How to watch Nationals vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Queens, NY
Date
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
FS1
Nationals starting pitcher
Brad Lord (5-2, 3.79 ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.13 ERA)
Nationals vs Mets latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
FULL TIME: Notts County 1-1 Leicester City. No flying start for Russell Martin and his League One Foxes.
GOAL! Reading 3-4 Luton Town (Kodua 90+6). Gideon Kodua completes the comeback for Luton! He comes in from the left and crashes a shot off the crossbar. The ball rebounds and bagatelles awhile, before Kodua has a second go, and slots from six yards! Luton were 3-1 down at the break!
The Cleveland Guardians sit at a -113 moneyline favorite tonight as they welcome the San Diego Padres to Progressive Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
However, my Padres vs. Guardians predictions are backing San Diego's hot offense to jump on Joey Cantillo, who's been prone to hard contact lately.
Who will win Padres vs Guardians today: Padres moneyline (+105)
Randy Vasquez takes the ball for the San Diego Padres, and he continues to be reliable. The right-hander has posted a 2.44 xERA across his last six outings while allowing just 0.41 HR/9.
He is also consistently inducing weak contact, with a 50.4% ground-ball rate during that span.
The Cleveland Guardians send Joey Cantillo to the hill, and he's had real issues lately, posting a 5.75 FIP over his previous two appearanceswhile giving up 3.00 HR/9.
The Padres are raking with a 139 wRC+ and .230 ISO over the last week, while Cantillo owns a 53.4% hard-hit rate and 12.1% barrel rate in the last month.
San Diego’s offense has the edge. Play this pick down to +100.
COVERS INTEL: The Padres' bullpen has been lights out lately, sporting a 2.25 FIP over its last 23 frames, compared to their season mark of 3.69.
Padres vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)
This total sits at 8.5, and I’m liking the Over. San Diego’s bullpen is in excellent form behind Vasquez, which keeps this from being a slam-dunk angle, but the Padres’ offense has enough upside to carry most of the scoring.
Cantillo is shaky right now, and he’ll face a lineup that's flourishing. Cleveland’s pen isn’t in great shape either, posting a 5.15 xERA over the last two weeks while allowing 1.19 HR/9.
Even if the Padres' pitching holds up, the Guardians should contribute some offense with a 111 wRC+ over their previous 12 games.
The Padres may need to do most of the heavy lifting, but the matchup points Over.
I’ll play this pick up to -130.
Padres vs Guardians home run prediction: Jackson Merrill (+596)
Jackson Merrill has been a big reason behind the Padres’ recent power surge. The youngster has smacked three home runs in his last six games while carrying a .500 ISO.
His .950 xSLG and 26.3% barrel rate only strengthen the case, and he's also put 52.6% of his contact in the air over the last week. That is notable against Cantillo, who's seen 22.2% of his fly balls leave the yard across his last two starts.
With the Guardians’ relief corps also showing some vulnerability to the long ball, Merrill has multiple paths to another bomb here.
Play this pick down to +500.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 50-61, -18.47 units
Over/Under bets: 62-46, +8.93 units
Padres vs Guardians weather
Weather at Progressive Field looks warm and humid tonight, with temperatures falling from 82°F at first pitch to 76°F by 10 p.m. ET. Winds are light around 3-5 mph, so there's not much carry impact. Rain chances rise later, topping out around 35%, so a delay risk is possible but not overwhelming.
Padres vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: Padres +108 | Guardians -113
Run line: Padres -1.5 (+178) | Guardians +1.5 (-186)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Padres vs Guardians trend
The Padres have hit the moneyline in 12 of their last 16 games (+7.00 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Guardians.
How to watch Padres vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
Padres.TV, Guardians.TV
Padres starting pitcher
Randy Vasquez (8-6, 4.16 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Joey Cantillo (8-7, 3.91 ERA)
Padres vs Guardians latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK (AP) — A judge sided with Madison Square Garden in its lengthy legal battle with Charles Oakley on Friday, saying that the former New York Knicks All-Star had not proven he was assaulted when he was removed from a game he attended in 2017.
Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after an altercation with security while sitting near owner James Dolan during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Oakley initially brought a number of claims against MSG that were dismissed in February 2020. After appeal, Oakley's assault-and-battery claim remained.
But Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the Southern District of New York ruled that Oakley "has produced no evidence to support his claim that he was assaulted by MSG security guards." MSG had pointed to video evidence and previous testimony that Oakley was not assaulted.
"For more than nine years, Mr. Oakley's lawyers have pursued claims they knew were false. Those claims have now been dismissed by the Court in their entirety — for the third time," MSG said in a statement. "We are pursuing legal action against Douglas Wigdor, and his unscrupulous law firm, to hold them accountable for years of frivolous litigation and their blatant abuse of the judicial system."
Oakley was a beloved Knicks forward in the 1990s, and he remains one of the few former players who has remained absent from MSG during the team's recent playoff runs, culminating with this year's NBA championship.
His removal from the game was a jarring scene, but Sullivan ruled that Oakley hadn't proven it was done with excessive force.
"Ample evidence — including videos from multiple angles and the unanimous testimony of every witness (even, to some extent, Oakley himself) — shows that Oakley had a reasonable opportunity to depart the Garden, that he instead resorted to physical violence, and that he was never pushed to the ground," Sullivan wrote.
The judge added that "no rational jury could conclude that Oakley reasonably feared himself at risk of wrongful physical contact — let alone that MSG intended to stir such an apprehension." Wigdor still hopes a jury will get a chance to rule.
"We are disappointed with the Court's rulings," he wrote in an email. "We believe there are conflicting accounts and only a jury can decide what exactly happened. We are hopeful that the Second Circuit will agree for a third time and remand the case for an immediate jury trial."
BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 1977: Reggie Smith #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against the New York Yankee during the World Series at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY in October of 1977. (Photo by Focus On Sport/Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have been around since 1884, and in their nearly century and a half as a franchise Reggie Smith is one of the best hitters they’ve ever had. The switch-hitter will be honored on the field on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium as the newest inductee into the Legends of Dodger Baseball, an honor that’s been a long time coming.
Smith was already a four-time All-Star when the Dodgers acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1976 for catcher Joe Ferguson, outfielder Bob Detherage, and minor league infielder/outfielder Freddie Tisdale. Smith was the middle trade in a 14-month span during which the Dodgers added stud outfielders Dusty Baker, Smith, and Rick Monday to their already-established Infield. In each of the first two seasons with the three new outfielders the Dodgers made it to the World Series, snapping a decade-long drought.
There was intended venom in Sutton’s rant, but there was also substance behind it. Smith in 1977-78 hit .302/.406/.568 with 54 doubles and 61 home runs, and led the majors with a 165 wRC+. Smith finished fourth in National League MVP voting in both seasons.
Smith played six of his 17 major league seasons with the Dodgers, and 1976-81 was extra special for Smith, who went to Centennial High School in Compton and idolized Jackie Robinson.
“I was humbled, almost to the point of being a little emotional, to receive that kind of recognition, knowing all of the — let alone great players, but great men who have worn that Dodger uniform,” Smith told David Vassegh on AM 570 in February upon receiving news of joining the Legends of Dodger Baseball. “To be selected, it’s quite a humbling experience, and I’m sure it will be on August 15. Having grown up in the Los Angeles area here, it’s special. It’s a special feeling.”
Smith played in four World Series — 1967 with the Boston Red Sox, then 1977, 1978, and 1981 with the Dodgers — and hit .247/.321/.521 with six home runs in 21 Fall Classic games.
After his playing days, Smith coached in the Dodgers organization from 1989-98, first as the minor league coordinator when he worked with Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, Raúl Mondesi, and many others. He also was on the Dodgers major league staff as hitting coach and first base coach from 1994-98.
“Being off the field actually means more to me there, my accomplishments, than what I accomplished on the field,” Smith told Vassegh in February. “Because to give individuals hope and instill confidence in the things in them that they need to hopefully lead a productive life — whether it’s through the things they attain in education or having baseball as a vehicle to be able to attain those things — I feel that that has been my purpose and my goal in life, is to help others, especially in baseball, to play this little boys’ game, and have fun doing it.”
Smith has been more of a presence around Dodger Stadium in recent years, helped in recent years by manager Dave Roberts, who has called Smith a friend and mentor.
“We have a group of friends who we call The Outlaws and we take a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming every MLK weekend,” Roberts said of Smith on Friday. “He’s a part of that, and he’s the elder statesman.”
“I lean on him for just counsel and thoughts. Not a weekly thing, and I adore him. One of the things I was really proud of was getting him back,” Roberts said. “Selfishly I wanted to get him back to loving the Dodgers, and getting that sour taste, from Major League Baseball, getting him back to invested in the Dodgers. I think we’re on our way. Tomorrow’s going to be a special day for him, and for Rose, his wife.
“Going to the All-Star Game. He had the opportunity to speak to the All-Stars that year in Colorado, I think that meant a lot to him. With people like Reggie, they just wanted to be seen, appreciated for what they did. For me it was important to me to make that happen. Not that he needed it, but I felt like he needed it. I think the organization has done a great job in inviting him to games and welcoming him back to Dodger Stadium. It’s fantastic.”
The timing is also important. The Legends of Dodger Baseball started in 2019 as a way to permanently honor Dodgers who weren’t Hall of Famers. And five of the 10 inductees — Garvey in 2019, Manny Mota in 2023, Baker in 2024, Ron Cey in 2025, and now Smith — were integral to the team that won three pennants from 1976-81, culminating in winning the World Series in 1981. Smith completes the quartet of all four hitters who hit 30 home runs in 1977, the first time four teammates did so in the same season, all now Legends of Dodger Baseball.
If you want to honor players from those teams, the sooner the better. Smith is 81 years old, and it’s great that he will receive his accolades while he’s still alive.
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
This week’s question asked which Rocket is the most important for the upcoming season.
When the Houston Rockets entered the 2021 draft, they were entering a new era for the franchise. The Rockets had just traded away their longtime franchise star, James Harden, the season prior and were looking to start a new phase of Rockets basketball after finishing with one of the worst records in the NBA.
Most attention focused on the Rockets’ second overall pick and who they would select. The Rockets ultimately selected Jalen Green to lead the franchise for the next decade as Harden’s heir apparent. The Rockets did manage to trade for another pick later in the first round a pick that would ultimately become the Rockets defining move of that draft.
The Rockets made a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that landed them the 16th pick of that draft, Alperen Sengun. Even though scouts and some fans knew of the Turkish star and what he had already accomplished, many were just hearing his name for the first time. We soon learned that Sengun should have gone much higher in the draft, as he would eventually become one of, if not the, best players on the team in a short time.
Now, going into his sixth season and a two-time All-Star, Sengun has established himself as one of the best centers in the league. For Sengun, it’s no longer about individual accomplishments; it’s about leading the Rockets past the first round for the first time since 2020. Now, with Fred VanVleet coming back after missing last season and Kevin Durant entering year two as a Rocket, we asked the SB Nation community for their opinion on who is the most important.
This is what you said:
Sengun topped the list with 35 percent, while Durant and Amen Thompson tied for second at 21 percent. VanVleet came in a distant third with 12 percent.
On one hand, this is a bit of a surprise considering Durant’s star power and what we saw from the Rockets in the playoffs without the future Hall of Famer. Also, with most of last season’s talk centering on VanVleet’s absence, some would have expected his number to be higher.
On the other hand, Sengun has been the Rockets’ hub for almost his entire career and even more so as his game has developed. Sengun averaged a career high in assists last season while still averaging over 20 points a game as he became the Rockets’ point center with VanVleet missing the entire season.
Even with VanVleet’s return, the offense will flow mainly between Sengun and Durant, as they are the Rockets’ two best offensive players. Sengun is entering a critical part of his career, on the borderline between becoming a top-15 player and reaching superstar heights or staying a notch below that plateau.
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Managing big-name closers at the back end of his bullpen. Watching them struggle with performances far below expectations. Having to figure out how much leash he is willing to extend, and when the time for a change is ultimately needed.
“Every year, when somebody’s struggling, [people are] always like, ‘You gotta take them out. You gotta move the role,’” Roberts said in an interview with The California Post on Friday. “But, no matter what, I have to be the person that doesn’t overreact. I have to wait longer than everyone wants to. I have to.”
That, indeed, is the position in which Roberts finds himself once again this season, trying to manage $69 million offseason signing Edwin Díaz through what has become a prolonged 2026 slump.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz looks on during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Kiyoshi Mio) Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks during a press conference prior to a Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals on Monday, August 10, 2026, at Uniqlo Field in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Copyright (c) 2026 Shutterstock Editorial. No use without permission.) CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
He squandered a two-run lead in the Dodgers’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He blew his third save opportunity since returning from a three-month absence following a late April elbow procedure. He saw his ERA rise over 11.00 and calls for his demotion from the closer role grow deafening.
On Friday night, Díaz returned to the mound and converted a save in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win, but not before loading the bases on a hit-batter and two walks and needing clutch defensive plays behind him from Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández to escape.
“It wasn’t pretty. I watched the inning too,” Roberts said afterward. “But he found a way to make a pitch when he needed to.”
Thus, his tenure as Dodgers closer will live to see another day.
Really, Díaz’s spot in the ninth was not under imminent threat, at least not yet.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, August 8, 2026. (This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLos Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) signals to the dugout against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij for CA POST) Wally Skalij for CA POST
While the skipper cited Díaz’s track record for the decision –– the 32-year-old is a three-time All-Star and Reliever of the Year Award winner –– he also made a rhetorical comment that enflamed an already frustrated fan base.
“Give me another option,” Roberts snapped when asked about potentially removing Díaz from the closer role. “I have to have other options. And to be quite honest, none of those [other] guys really are throwing the baseball great. So that’s just kind of the way it is.”
Statistically, of course, pretty much everyone in the Dodgers’ bullpen has been more productive than Díaz this year.
That’s been especially true of their top two left-handers: Tanner Scott, a fellow big-money signing two winters ago who lost the closer’s role during a disastrous 2025 campaign, but has bounced back this year by posting a 2.20 ERA with 16 saves (most of which he accumulated during Díaz’s stint on the injured list); and Alex Vesia, who has a 2.79 ERA across a team-high 54 appearances this season.
“The body of work for Tanner, Vesia … I get it, I see it,” Roberts said Friday, softening his tone during his pregame interview with the California Post.
However, Roberts noted there were other factors at play.
Reiterating his point from Thursday, he noted that the rest of the bullpen hasn’t been sharp recently, with Vesia’s walk rate spiking and Scott missing fewer bats and giving up more hard contact (including a near-home run to Christian Yelich in the eighth inning on Thursday).
Yeonjun, a South Korean singer/songwriter and member of the K-Pop boy band Tomorrow X Together, meets with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the field prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLos Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the field prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. (This asset including all text, audio and imagery is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connect ha) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
More than that, Roberts added after a day of reflection, he simply wasn’t ready to pull the plug on Díaz closing games yet, either.
“I’m willing to, at some point,” Roberts conceded. “I just don’t want to do it now. Because there’s a part of it where, I need to show him that I believe in him [and] what he signed up for –– until I can’t.”
Roberts had to make similar calculations with Scott last year, and Craig Kimbrel back in 2022.
Both of them had been brought in via blockbuster deals to fill voids at closer. Both eventually lost their ninth-inning jobs by the end of the season.
With Díaz, however, the Dodgers are still confident in reaching a different outcome, hopeful they’ve found something in his delivery to rectify his inconsistent season.
Díaz’s arm angle has dropped considerably this year, from 19 degrees a season ago (and 23 degrees during his peak years with the Mets) down to 15 degrees in the 14 outings he had made entering Friday.
Because of that, the right-hander’s pitches had lost their usual shape. His slider was too flat, lacking enough late downward bite to keep hitters from squaring it up. His fastball wasn’t riding up in the zone either, lacking its typically deceptive rising movement and too often staying in the heart of the plate.
Dave Roberts and Orel Hershiser are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Copyright (c) 2026 Shutterstock Editorial. No use without permission.) Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
“I’m too east-to-west, instead of north-south,” Díaz told the California Post of his pitch shapes.
Dodgers coaches addressed the problem with Díaz before Friday’s game, reveiwing film of his mechanics from past seasons and identifying a posture tweak to get his arm back in the right place.
“My upper body is sometimes leaning too much to third base,” Díaz told the California Post. “So I’m trying to stay up [with my upper body] when I throw the ball.”
Assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness then filmed each throw Díaz made during afternoon catch play in the outfield, coming away encouraged that progress was already being made.
“When I’m north-south, I can see the hitters don’t have a chance,” Díaz said. “Today I made a lot of good pitches north to south. Even the ones I was missing, I was throwing my slider down.”
For now, that will have to count as a step forward for Díaz –– who overcame his shaky command to end the game on a well-executed 98 mph fastball that jammed Joey Ortiz on the inside corner.
“I wanted to see him try to fight through it and get through it,” Roberts said, “so I was happy that he finished what he started.”
In the coming days, the Dodgers’ goal will be to further refine his mechanics and get his delivery back where it used to be.
In the coming weeks, they’re banking on it being enough to help him turn the page on his season, and cement what remains a currently tenuous hold on the team’s all-important ninth-inning duties.
“Hopefully with a couple days off to work through [his delivery changes],” Roberts said, “we’ll see a better version [of him] going forward.”
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The Buffalo Sabres snapped their 15-year postseason drought, winning the Atlantic Division and advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but after an offseason that saw Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch being dealt, the task of repeating as division champion or finishing in the top three of the Atlantic could be significantly more difficult.
We will finish up looking at the seven other teams in the Atlantic to see where they stand in comparison to where they were at the end of last season and see where they potentially stack up as competition with the Sabres.
The Toronto Maple Leafs followed up their Atlantic Division championship in 2025 with a disastrous campaign, that was littered with incompetence at the managerial and coaching levels, and injuries and underachievement on the ice. Their 32-36-14 record found them at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, and led to wholesale changes, with GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube being let go and replaced by John Chayka and Jim Hiller.
Sergei Bobrovsky - signed a three-year, $21 million deal as a free agent
Emil Andrae - acquired in a trade with Philadelphia
Darren Raddysh - acquired in a sign-and-trade with Tampa Bay
Nick Paul - acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay
Colton Sissons - signed a two-year, $8.5 million deal as a free agent
Jack Roslovic - signed to a two-year, $8 million deal as a free agent
Brandon Duhaime - signed a three-year, $7.8 million deal as a free agent
Zach MacEwen - signed a two-year, $1.75 million deal as a free agent
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic?
Subtractions
Dennis Hildeby - traded to Tampa Bay
Joseph Woll - traded to Philadelphia
Matias Maccelli - signed with the NY Islanders as a free agent
Nick Robertson - traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Brandon Carlo - traded to the St. Louis Blues
Outlook
Chayka benefited from a lucky rabbit’s foot in winning the draft lottery, enabling the Leafs to keep their first round pick instead of losing it to Boston and selecting Gavin McKenna first overall. McKenna is expected to play a significant role as a rookie, but Toronto has the luxury of a veteran core group that can take some of the heat off of the prized rookie at the start.
Hiller was part of the Leafs staff during Mike Babcock’s tenure in Toronto and has familiarity with the club’s core players, which should ease the transition somewhat, but the changes implemented this summer will likely result in nearly a 50% from last year’s roster.
Toronto is gambling on a 38-year-old Bobrovsky reuniting with Anthony Stolarz as a tandem that won a Stanley Cup in 2024. On defense, the addition of Andrae is expected to help their mobility on the back end, while Raddysh (coming off a 70-point season in Tampa) will add a big shot from the point on the Toronto power play.
With the exception of Roslovic, who may play the right side with Auston Matthews, the bulk of the Leafs forward additions will be bottom-six depth players, which were a necessity since they dealt players like Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, and Scott Laughton at the deadline. The most important factor for Toronto may be the health of Matthews, who suffered a season-ending knee injury at the hands of Radko Gudas.
With the loss of Alex Tuch and the Sabres current state at forward, the Leafs depth additions, the return of Matthews, William Nylander, and Matthews Knies to full health, and the selection of McKenna could make them a potent offensive force. Defensively, the departure of Bowen Byram and replacing him with Louis Crevier and Olen Zellweger has Buffalo’s defense taking a step back, but they are still superior to Toronto’s blueliner, with Raddysh potentially a flash in the pan, Chris Tanev’s uncertain health status, and the fact that they have not had a legitimate #1 defenseman since Borje Salming.
Bobrovsky is a big question mark, but it is unknown how much his bad numbers were because of the Panthers being poor in front of him. The trio of Buffalo netminders performed above expectations and there is a question whether they can do it again. The Leafs could be a top three club in the Atlantic if everything goes right, but they should be in the wildcard mix in the East, which is where the Sabres will likely be unless they pull off a trade for Connor Hellebuyck.
Roderick Arias of the Somerset Patriots is at bat during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on August 11, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Roderick Arias’ path as a minor leaguer since getting a $4 million signing bonus from the New York Yankees in January of 2022 has been anything but smooth. Wrist and thumb injuries virtually ruined his first two pro seasons, and he was wildly inconsistent at the plate, too, but if you could look past the low batting averages and the high strikeout totals, there were some loud tools.
You could say Arias’ prospect status hit rock bottom in 2025. He slashed .208/.325/.315 with a 28.8 percent strikeout rate and an 88 wRC+ The 34 stolen bases were nice, but just 7 homers in 465 plate appearances were quite disappointing for the switch-hitting infielder. Arias entered 2025 as one of the organization’s top prospects and he fell precipitously in the aftermath.
The 2026 campaign, however, has brought some tangible growth. Before Friday’s game, Arias hit .274/.357/.447 with 13 home runs, 32 thefts, and a 110 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A. He had a .271/.357/.441 line with a 108 wRC+ with the Renegades and is at .306/.359/.500 with a 130 wRC+ in nine games with the Patriots, albeit with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate.
Yes, there are still plenty of red flags. Yes, he still has a lot to prove. However, perhaps it’s time we start paying closer attention to the kid.
Arias’ 2026 started much like his entire 2025: filled with all-around mediocrity. He was hitting .191/.297/.268 with a 57 wRC+ and a 29.7 percent strikeout rate from the start of the season through the end of May, in 44 games and 182 plate appearances.
You won’t believe how good he has been since the start of June, though: a .333/.401/.575 line, a .976 OPS, a 149 wRC+, 16 doubles, and 11 home runs in 252 plate appearances and 58 games: 49 in High-A and nine in Double-A. Basically, his excellent run of form in Hudson Valley is carrying over to Somerset.
Roderick Arias SMASHES his first Double-A homer off @BlueJays No. 16 Prospect Daniel Guerra! 🤯
Perhaps the most significant development is that he appears to have figured out that right-handed swing against lefties. Here are Arias’ year-to-year OPS splits against southpaws and righties in the minors:
2022: .295 vs. lefties, .898 vs. righties 2023: .432 vs. lefties, .985 vs. righties 2024: .544 vs. lefties, .776 vs. righties 2025: .547 vs. lefties, .663 vs. righties 2026: .852 vs. lefties, .793 vs. righties
Now, Arias is a dangerous hitter from both sides of the plate, which significantly raises his ceiling and increases his chances of making the majors at some point. To be completely honest, he did look like a bust after his rough 2025, but prospect development is not linear and allows us to enjoy stories like Arias’.
There are a few things to consider before crowning him the next best middle infield prospect on the Yankees. Renowned publication Baseball America didn’t include Arias on their Top 30 organizational midseason list, and he is not on MLB Pipeline’s either, despite some prospects the Yankees traded away not being in the picture anymore. There’s a reason why scouts and evaluators remain skeptical: Arias’ contact rates and consistency are definitely not MLB-ready yet. In the words of former Pinstripe Alley writer Smith Brickner, “It’s Spencer Jones-like whiff without Spencer Jones-like batted ball damage.”
Additionally, he has made a lot of errors on defense this year: 17 as a third baseman (his primary position this year, at least in High-A) and five as a shortstop. Reports from when he was a top prospect praised his quickness, instincts, smooth actions, and, above all things, his plus-plus arm, but he has become error-prone, and it’s not just this year. He is still capable of doing this, though:
Despite the red flags and the inconsistency, Arias’ overall outlook has definitely improved this year after his rough opening months. He is back on the map, which tells us he is a fighter and won’t go down easily in the quest to fulfill his dream. He’ll be 22 in September, so he still has youth on his side.
The Boston Red Sox (-130) have stumbled over the last week but are rightfully favored against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who own a poor 29-39 record against teams over .500.
My Red Sox vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks see Boston rebounding tonight on the back of quality start from Sonny Gray.
Who will win Red Sox vs Pirates today: Boston Red Sox (-130)
Their projected lineup has seven hitters with xwOBAs of .330 or lower – and six with ISOs below .125 – against right-handed pitching the last 20 games.
Jared Jones has allowed a .321 average and 14 runs over his past three starts, and will have a tough time slowing down the Boston Red Sox.
Red Sox vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 8.0 (-120)
Gray is a unique arm in that he throws three pitches more frequently than the fastball. That should set him up for success against the Pirates, who own a .286 average and 11.9% barrel rate against fastballs.
They haven’t enjoyed nearly as much success against Gray’s primaries. They've posted a 3.9% barrel rate vs. the sinker, and have hit .235 or worse against sliders and cutters. Not good.
Jones throws a ton of fastballs and sliders, and Abreu owns ISOs of .227 and .484 against those pitches when facing righties.
Abreu is also in fantastic form, ranking in the 99th percentile in ISO vs. right-handed pitching the past 20 games.
Abreu has left the yard in 28.6% of away games against pitchers in the 50th percentile or worse in HR/9 vs. LHH. I’d play this to +360.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 78-71, -8.65 units
Over/Under bets: 79-65-6, +5.44 units
Red Sox vs Pirates weather
The forecast calls for temperatures hovering around 80 with slight winds blowing inwards. Neutral impact.
Red Sox vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Boston -130 | Pittsburgh +110
Run line: Boston -1.5 (+135) | Pittsburgh +1.5 (-155)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (+100) | Under 8.0 (-120)
Red Sox vs Pirates trend
Boston has hit the moneyline in 29 of their last 45 games (+12.25 units, 23% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Pirates.
How to watch Red Sox vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Red Sox starting pitcher
Sonny Gray (14-3, 2.79 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Jared Jones (2-4, 5.03 ERA)
Red Sox vs Pirates latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: Luzardo’s peripherals are even better than his strong 3.32 ERA, with a 
