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Here’s the Pirates’ lineup:

Here’s the Guardians’ lineup:

Let’s go, Guardians!

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians, July 19, 2026, 1:40 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are finishing off their first series of the season’s second half as they take on the Cleveland Guardians in a Sunday afternoon game.

The Battle of the Aces in today’s matchup, as Paul Skenes takes the mound for the Pirates. He is struggling this season with an 8-8 record, but his 3.57 ERA is still relatively sound. Skenes has won his last two starts, including his most recent game against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 12. He pitched 5.1 innings, giving up three hits and two runs in Pittsburgh’s 14-5 victory over Milwaukee. A 10-run fourth inning gave the Pirates everything they needed to coast. He only logged 82 pitches, so he could have gone further if he needed to.

The Guardians are going with their opening-day starter, Tanner Bibee, who has also struggled this season. Bibee is 3-9 with a 3.90 ERA, but he grabbed a win in his last start against the Miami Marlins on July 11. He pitched 6.2 innings, gave up five hits and one earned run in a 4-1 victory. The Guardians are 6-14 in games where Bibee pitches, which is not what you want from your best pitcher. The Pirates will try to continue that trend against the Guardians this afternoon.

Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Paul Skenes (8-8, 3.57 ERA) vs. Tanner Bibee (3-9, 3.90 ERA)

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The Arizona Diamondbacks host the St. Louis Cardinals in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series in Phoenix. Heading into the final series before the All-Star break, Arizona was 13-28 against winning teams, getting outscored by 1.9 runs a game.

However, they outscored the Dodgers 23-8 in a three-game sweep and now look to win a series over the Cardinals as -117 moneyline favorites to start the stretch run. 

My Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks call for Arizona’s hot streak to continue with a win on Sunday, July 19.  

Who will win Cardinals vs Diamondbacks today: Diamondbacks -1.5 (+176)

The Arizona Diamondbacks aren’t winning games these days. They're beating teams up. 

Saturday’s win over the St. Louis Cardinals was the fourth time in five games that the Diamondbacks have scored five or more runs. Meanwhile, they’ve allowed three or fewer in five of six.

They’ll be facing Andre Pallante, who has allowed opponents to hit .313 over the past month.

Four of the 10 Diamondbacks batters to face Pallante have career OPS’ over 1.000 against him, and combined, Arizona’s roster has hit .341 against him.

The Cardinals aren’t scoring enough to keep up. The run-line odds seem very favorable. I’d give up the runs as long as I’m better than +150.

COVERS INTEL: After throwing his fastballs 55% of the time last year, Eduardo Rodriguez is below 48% this season. Not being able to count on seeing it has made it harder to hit. Opponents are hitting .196 against the four-seamer, down 91 points from last year.

Cardinals vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-137)

Even with the Diamondbacks reaching five runs fairly regularly, neither team has been posting many Overs. Arizona has done it just three times in the last 10, while the Cardinals have gone Over just twice in that span.

Arizona lefty Rodriguez just made his first All-Star team in his eleventh MLB season. His fastball, breaking stuff, and offspeed pitches are all in the top quartile in MLB for run value.

He’s throwing his changeup 27% of the time, up from 20%, and foes are hitting .195 against that. The curve (.212 average against) has also seen a big jump in usage.

Like Pallante, Rodriguez avoids solid contact rather than overwhelming batters. Arizona and St. Louis both have above-average ground-ball rates, so this should be a low-scoring, low-pitch count clash.

Cardinals vs Diamondbacks weather

The Chase Field dome will be closed today, so weather will not be an issue in this game.

Cardinals vs Diamondbacks odds

• Moneyline: Cardinals +113 | Diamondbacks -117
• Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-186) | Diamondbacks -1.5 (+178)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+127) | Under 9.5 (-133)

Cardinals vs Diamondbacks trend

The Arizona Diamondbacks have only hit the Game Total Over in 15 of their last 50 games (-19.00 Units / -34% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Diamondbacks.

How to watch Cardinals vs Diamondbacks and game info

Cardinals vs Diamondbacks latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Texas Rangers @ Atlanta Braves

Sunday, July 19, 2026, 12:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

Truist Park

RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. RHP Grant Holmes

Go Rangers!

Mets lineup

A.J. Ewing – CF
Juan Soto – DH
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Carson Benge – LF
Jared Young – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – RF
Luis Torrens – C

SP: Nolan McLean – RHP

Phillies lineup

Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Alec Bohm – 3B
Bryson Stott – 2B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Gabriel Rincones – RF
Justin Crawford – CF

SP: Alan Rangel – RHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 1:35 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

I’ve been with you the first three games of this weekend, let’s finish it out, shall we?

⚾️ First Pitch: 1:35pm — Fenway Park, Boston MA

📺 TV: NESN

📻 Radio: WEEI

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are slight road favorites against the New York Yankees, and I’m staying with the better offense.

Cam Schlittler is Cam Schlittler, but this is a brutal test against a Dodgers lineup built to punish his main flaw. I’m also taking the Under with two starters capable of limiting free traffic.

Here are my Dodgers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for July 19.

Who will win Dodgers vs Yankees tonight: Dodgers moneyline (-115)

Cam Schlittler has shown few weaknesses, but barrel damage is one that has started to appear. For strikeout-heavy aces, there is always a tradeoff for all of the high velocity stuff you've shown and that's usually hard-hit balls.

Schlittler has allowed an 8.3% barrel rate (bottom 40 percentile), and that issue has surfaced in two of his last three starts: eight earned runs and six homers against the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers, two top-five barrel-rate offenses.

You don't need me to tell you that this could be a big issue against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto counters with a 6.5% barrel rate and low hard-hit rate against New York’s homer reliant offense. I'd play this to -140.

COVERS INTEL: Cam Schlittler’s walk rate sits at just 5.3%, a key reason I prefer the full-game Under.

Dodgers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-110)

I like the Under. Schlittler’s 29% strikeout rate and low walk rate gives the New York Yankees a way to manage traffic, even against baseball’s most complete offense.

Yamamoto is the bigger reason I like the number. He has allowed a .280 xwOBA with a 6.5% barrel rate, and his pitch mix makes it tough for hitters to sit on one shape.

The Yankees can hit mistakes (they are the Yankees after all), but sustained rallies are less likely if Yamamoto keeps them guessing. Good to -120.

Dodgers vs Yankees weather

Dodgers vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Los Angeles -115 | New York +100
• Run line: Los Angeles +1.5 | New York -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 9 | Under 9

Dodgers vs Yankees trend

The New York Yankees have hit the Team Total Under in 18 of their last 25 games (+10.20 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Yankees.

How to watch Dodgers vs Yankees and game info

Dodgers vs Yankees latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Sunday notes…

• SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE: This is the 15th of the Cubs’ 32 series in which they have split the first two games. They are 7-7 in third games, including 5-4 after losing, then winning. But they lost the only two such previous games at Wrigley Field, to the Nationals on March 29 and to the Giants on June 7. They won the two rubber games at home after having won, then lost, vs. the Angels on April 1 and the Rockies on June 17. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• SERIES NOTE: The Cubs are 15-14-2 in series before this one. They have won the last two and are 7-1-1 in the last nine. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• THE LONG BALL: The Cubs won yesterday despite giving up two homers and hitting one. They are 15-25 when they have hit fewer homers than their opponent, 20-12 with the same number and 20-6 with more. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Four Cubs home runs (Shawon Dunston, Gary Matthews, Dave Martinez and Ryne Sandberg), three of them off former Cub Mike Krukow, led the team to an 11-6 win over the Giants at Wrigley Field. It happened 40 years ago today, Saturday, July 19, 1986.

Cubs lineup:

Twins lineup:

Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Zebby Matthews, RHP

As I wrote in the mid-season grades article, Shōta Imanaga’s year can be split into three parts:

First nine starts: 2.32 ERA, 0.902 WHIP, 59 strikeouts and only five HR allowed in 54.1 innings
Next four starts: 10.80 ERA, 1.524 WHIP, 12 (!) home runs allowed in 21.2 innings
Next six starts: 2.81 ERA, 1.219 WHIP, 31 strikeouts and five HR allowed in 32 innings

Now you tell me which one is the real Shōta. He’s been pretty good apart from that four-start interregnum. Hopefully he can continue the good pitching he’s had over the last six.

Last year against the Twins, July 8, 2025 at Target Field, Imanaga held them to five hits and two runs in six innings. That’d work today, I think.

Fun fact: Zebby Matthews’ full name is Daniel Zebulon Matthews.

This is Matthews’ first full year in the Twins’ rotation. He has had his moments of success this year, but over his last two starts he’s allowed eight runs in 10.2 innings, with six walks and three home runs allowed. Warm up your bats, Cubs hitters!

Matthews has never faced the Cubs or anyone on their active roster. So it should be an interesting afternoon.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Twins site Twinkie Town. If you do go there to interact with Twins 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.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Two games on the docket on Sunday. First game of the split doubleheader has Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound, with a bullpen game coming for the nightcap.

Get ready for Orel Hershiser on your television calling Dodgers games on two different networks today.

Saturday game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Yankees
• Game 1 of split doubleheader
• Ballpark: Yankee Stadium, New York
• Start time: 9:35 a.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Luis Robert Jr. enjoyed himself in a second straight strong game with Triple-A Syracuse, reaching base twice including a two-run homer in Saturday’s win over Buffalo. 

Mets interim manager Andy Green is waiting to see how he came out of that game feeling, but the team still anticipates Robert Jr. will rejoin them for the three-game set with the Brewers. 

Robert has been sidelined since late-April due to a back injury.

When he is ready to return, Green said on Saturday that the team will work all of their outfielders into the mix down the stretch of the regular season.

Robert, of course, could also be moved to a contender if he proves that he is back fully healthy before the Aug. 3 trade deadline hits.

What’s next for Holmes

Rain delayed Clay Holmes’ return to game action with High-A Brooklyn on Saturday night, but the right-hander was still able to successfully complete a 45-pitch bullpen session.

Green said that Holmes came through the session feeling good and strong.

The hope is that he woke up this morning feeling the same way, and if he did, he’ll throw a side and then attempt to pitch in a game again on his normal turn in the rotation.

Green indicated on Saturday that Holmes would need to work up to the five-inning mark before they can begin the conversation on when he’ll be set to return to the majors. 

The 33-year-old has been sidelined since May 15 with a fractured fibula. 

Like Robert, he could potentially be used as an assert ahead of the deadline, but SNY’s Chelsea Janes recently indicated that there’s mutual interest on an extension. 

Talks between the two sides are expected to pick up this week.

Austin Warren on the mend

Warren has begun throwing after his forearm tightness scare. 

Green said that the righty remains without a timeline for a potential return, but the team is still expecting his absence won’t be too terribly long. 

Warren was officially placed on the 15-day IL just over a week ago. 

Though there was some initial concern, testing revealed that there was no structural damage, which should allow him to avoid another long-term surgery. 

While he struggled in his last two outings before landing on the sidelines, getting Warren back would be a nice boost for a Mets bullpen set to lose key pieces ahead of the deadline. 

The Dodgers don’t know when Shohei Ohtani will take the mound next.

He was tentatively scheduled to start Wednesday against the Phillies, after promising initial reports on his recovery from an injection in his left knee. But after seeing his knee’s response to playing catch, the team decided to give him more time.

“We just want to continue to give it the best chance to kind of get into a good spot,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And as he said, as we feel, it’s the pitching and the torque of landing on that leg that kind of gets it upset.”

It was clear enough from catch play that Ohtani’s start would have to be pushed back and that Ohtani did not feel the need to test it by throwing off a mound, Roberts said.

Read more:Shaikin: Shohei Ohtani's knee troubles creating a major pitching dilemma for Dodgers

“Where we’re at right now, how we’re proceeding, I would say that it’s going to be some time,” Roberts said. “It’s not going to be a day-to-day thing.”

That left a wide range of timeline possibilities, from days to weeks. Roberts did, however, rule out shutting Ohtani down from pitching for the rest of the season.

“I guess anything is possible, but I just don’t think that’s a possibility,” he said.

To fill Ohtani’s spot in the rotation this week, the Dodgers moved right-hander Emmet Sheehan’s start to Monday. Before the rainout bumped the second game of the series against the New York Yankees, Sheehan was scheduled to start Saturday.

Read more:Shaikin: With Will Smith out indefinitely, Dodgers need to trade for a catcher

For Sunday’s doubleheader, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound in the first game. The bullpen, and potentially multiple innings from the 27th man, will cover the nightcap.

“Honestly, a lot of it is where we’re at and how we’ve put ourselves in a good spot,” Roberts said of the MLB-leading Dodgers. “Could [Ohtani] probably do it? Sure. But right now, the benefits just don’t seem to outweigh the cost at this time of the season. So I think we still have plenty of time to get him to a good spot to then pitch.”

Ohtani, who went hitless in four at-bats as the designated hitter in Friday’s 2-1 win, was set to DH and hit leadoff in Sunday’s first game.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

What’s better than one game between the Yankees and Dodgers? Two Yankees-Dodgers games, of course. That’s what we’re set for today thanks to last night’s storm, which postponed what was set to be an interesting matchup between Ryan Weathers and Emmett Sheehan. Ironically, Weathers was prevented from pitching because—you know what, no. Forget that one.

Anyway, because of the postponement, what was set to be a national TV matchup in the evening between two superstar pitchers is now going to be the afternoon docket! Rather unfortunate for the folks who have tickets for the nightcap, but such is life. Cam Schlittler will make his first start of the second half opposite reigning World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

There isn’t really much that needs to be said about either pitcher here. Both were named All-Stars this season, though neither participated in the actual Midsummer Classic. Both have been remarkably consistent from start to start, though Yamamoto’s final appearance of the first half saw him run out of steam in the sixth inning against the Diamondbacks.

Schlittler’s last start at Yankee Stadium was on June 30th; three turns in the rotation plus the All-Star Break ago. That game was the second of his two blowup starts this season: both at home and both against AL Central foes. There will be no stouter test than the Dodgers, the league’s best offense by wRC+ (114). Cam’s already earned a reputation as a big-game pitcher. Let’s see how he fares today.

This afternoon’s starting nine is slightly adjusted from the lineup which was slated for last night’s game against Emmet Sheehan. Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, and Jasson Domínguez will still be at the top, with Cody Bellinger hitting cleanup. Midseason MVP Max Schuemann will play right field and bat fifth ahead of Jazz Chisholm Jr. Anthony Volpe draws back into the lineup, with Ryan McMahon at the hot corner. Ali Sánchez will handle the catching for the front half of this twin bill.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY

First pitch: 12:35 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, SportsNet LA

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, Dodgers Radio AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Online stream: MLB.tv

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Who would’ve thunk last fall watching Trey Yeasavage mow through AL hitters that just a few long months later, we’d be saying things like “Yeah he’s good, but Sean Burke might wind up getting some Cy Young votes, has the advantage.”

Obviously I’m being rather liberal with the royal “we” there, because I might really be the only one saying it, but I think it’s true. Burke is making his first start of the second half after catching fire going into the All-Star break, and if he can maintain anything like his season-long pace of a 3.41 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning, he’ll almost certainly garner some down-ballot votes.

It’s hard to understate how red-hot Burke is. After spinning seven stellar innings against the Athletics just before the break, his totals from his last six starts work out to six earned runs over 32 innings, looking every bit a starter who might not need an opener any longer. He touched 99 mph last week. 99! From Sean Burke! You just can’t fake that stuff, and if he can keep up anything like that while maintaining a good feel for his breaking balls, the Sox are going to be in very very good shape.

It seems in fact we may be in for a replay of last summer, when Shane Smith grabbed our attention while Burke quietly became the most consistent pitcher on the staff from late May-on. I strongly suspect Davis Martin will continue to make it a conversation, but if the Sox wind up playing in October this year, I also suspect Burke will be the one starting Game 1.

I also just noticed that this is happening over on the AL rookie leaderboard, sorted by WRC+.

There’s really a non-zero chance that this team winds up with two Top 3 Cy Young finishers and all but sweeping the top of the Rookie of the Year voting. There’s also a non-zero chance they do that and still wind up missing the playoffs, because the White Sox are still the White Sox. Still, it becomes harder to argue almost every day that this isn’t simply a talented ball club, and if their lineup can find some middle ground between Friday’s slugfest and yesterday’s neutering, they’ll be pretty well set for the series. That would also put them back to a season-high six games above breakeven heading into a tough series down in Arlington, Texas.

Here’s what Toronto manager John Schneider is using to match up against Burke this morning:

There is one more piece of reporting to report heading into today’s game. Clay Holmes may not be the ace we’re hoping for, but he won’t be expensive, and a veteran arm to solidify the staff just to get them to the playoffs might be the best move they can make, given the state of the trade market.

If you’re wondering why we’re up this early on a Sunday, I’d because today’s game is unfortunately only accessible via Peacock, though Len and DJ will be on the AM 1000 radio call as always. First pitch is at 11:15 a.m. CT, and we’ll see you there!