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The Guardians lost a game where the hitting was bad and the bullpen was worse. Too bad they don’t have any hitting or relief help in Columbus!

Oh, what’s that? They have Cooper Ingle who has a 165 wRC+ and Franco Aleman has a 0.56 ERA in the past 16 innings? Shhhh, no one tell Chris Antonetti.

Stephen Vogt used Matt Festa as a fireman yesterday and it blew up in his face. Now, in Vogt’s defense, coming into yesterday, Festa had a 2.76 FIP in high leverage spots and a 2.90 FIP with runners in scoring position. Now, of course, his xFIP’s in both spots were over 5.

Festa’s K/BB is still good. The problem, of course, is that he is giving up a 14% HR/FB rate. That hurts. And it’s why I think they need to try to get Aleman up and get Festa through waivers. He’s getting crushed.

The Guardians hitters were horrific against Imai and the Astros pen who are, frankly, awful. They struck out 15 times and had 0 walks. Gabriel Arias remains a player who cannot hit major league pitching and whose defense does not justify his place on the roster.

AROUND MLB:

Tigers beat the White Sox, the Royals won and the Twins lost.

Imagine the scene.

October. 

Playoffs. 

Roki Sasaki on the mound.

Not as a reliever. As a starter.

What would have sounded like pure fantasy just a month ago is shaping into an actual possibility.

This isn’t to say Sasaki has an inside track to be part of the Dodgers’ postseason rotation.

The Dodgers have Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. They are expecting back Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

But if any of them are unavailable for any reason, and if the Dodgers don’t acquire Tarik Skubal before the trade deadline, Sasaki is a legitimate option to start games for the two-time defending champions in October.

Sasaki’s seven-run disaster in Chicago last week was an anomaly. 

He was back on track on Friday night, the unpleasant finish to his start notwithstanding.

Sasaki pitched five scoreless innings against the Orioles at Uniqlo Field, only to give up back-to-back home runs in the sixth that wiped out a three-run lead and cost him a decision. 

The Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth inning to win the game, 6-5.

The game showed Sasaki what he had to work on, but it also offered evidence that he was on the right path.

“I thought he was great,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I liked the way he competed. He was fantastic tonight.”

Unlike in his previous start, Sasaki had better control of his splitter and slider.

“I worked a lot on my breaking balls,” Sasaki said in Japanese. “Especially my slider.”

But his fastball was his primary weapon.

He averaged close to 99 mph with his fastball again. Five of his pitches were clocked at 100 mph or faster, making this the fourth consecutive start in which he touched triple digits.

He was able to throw the pitch down the middle of the plate and not be punished for it. 

He used his fastball to get ahead in counts. He used it to finish hitters, recording the third strike on three of his six strikeouts with it.

He was able to pitch efficiently as a result, his pitch count at just 54 through four innings. He faced the minimum number of batters until the fifth inning when he walked Colton Cowser with two outs.

Sasaki started the game by giving up a hit to Taylor Ward, who was thrown out attempting to stretch his single into a double, and didn’t give up another hit until the sixth inning.

His only regret of the night was a splitter he threw in the sixth inning that was launched for a two-run homer by Gunnar Henderson.

“The forkball cut [inside],” Sasaki said. “It didn’t move the way it usually does.”

Sasaki also gave up a homer to the next batter, Pete Alonso, but he didn’t think the fastball he threw him was a bad pitch. The 98 mph fastball was on the inside edge of the plate against the right-handed-hitting Alonso.

“I threw the ball where I was asked to throw it, and it was hit,” Sasaki said. “Judging by the results, I think the pitch selection was a mistake.”

If his goal last week was to be more consistent with his off-speed pitches, his objective between now and his next start will be to figure out how to attack hitters as he enters the later innings, particularly in his third time through the order.

As disappointed as he was in how Alonso’s homer resulted in his removal after 5 ⅔ innings, Sasaki sounded encouraged by the start.

“On the whole, I was able to do what I wanted,” he said. “I thought I threw a lot of good pitches.” 

Which could explain his demeanor after the game. 

He has changed over the first 2 ½ months of the regular season.

The once-gloomy Sasaki has become more sociable. He even smiles.

Shortly after the Dodgers completed their ninth-inning comeback Friday night, Sasaki learned that Japan was playing in the World Cup the next day.

“Oh, really?” he asked in Japanese.

Realizing he’d inadvertently revealed that he wasn’t paying any attention to the tournament, Sasaki chuckled.

“I have some time tomorrow, so I’ll cheer them on,” Sasaki said.

Told Japan’s game would overlap with the Dodgers’, Sasaki laughed again.

“Then I can’t,” he said.

Well, he probably could watch part of it. 

Yamamoto was scheduled to deliver his first pitch against the Orioles at 7:10 p.m. The game between Japan and Tunisia was set for a 9 p.m. start.

“I’ll ask Yoshinobu-san to do his best,” Sasaki said.

Another laugh.

Glimpses of this side of Sasaki’s personality appeared last October. A surge in confidence relaxed him enough to be more open.

Last year, that self-assurance helped him close games in the postseason. This year, it could help him start them.

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The Texas Rangers will look to make it two in a row over the San Diego Padres as they continue their interleague series on Saturday afternoon.

San Diego has been the worst offensive team in the majors this season, and I like Nathan Eovaldi to shut its lineup down again in my Padres vs. Rangers predictions.

Read on for a closer look at this matchup and to get my free MLB picks for Saturday, June 20.

Who will win Padres vs Rangers today: Rangers moneyline (-126)

One of the major problems facing this inept San Diego Padres lineup is the fact that they chase on 31.9% of their swings.

That plays right into Nathan Eovaldi’s hands, as the Texas Rangers starter is inducing chases on an elite 36.2% of swings while also generating a 29.5% whiff rate.

The Padres are dead last in MLB in runs per game (3.88), OPS (.656), and wOBA (.290). Eovaldi is a nightmare matchup for a lineup struggling this badly.

I’m taking the Rangers to win outright, and would stick with them at -140 or better.

COVERS INTEL: Eovaldi throws his splitter 37% of the time, a pitch the Padres are hitting for line drives just 16.7% of the time off of righties.

Padres vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-112)

While the Padres might be the undisputed kings of bad offense, the Rangers aren’t much better. Texas averages 4.01 runs per game and a .313 wOBA, which ranks in the bottom 10 in MLB.

San Diego starter Walker Buehler has gotten a lot out of his cutter/fastball combo, as his fastball run value rates in the 95th percentile of all pitchers this season.

Buehler hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven starts, posting a 2.92 ERA in that span. I like the Under here as long as it stays at 7.5 runs or higher.

Padres vs Rangers weather

Notes on the weather and its impact.

Padres vs Rangers odds

• Moneyline: Padres +117 | Rangers -122
• Run line: Padres +1.5 (-170) | Rangers -1.5 (+163)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-104)

Padres vs Rangers trend

The Under is 4-1 in San Diego’s last five games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Rangers.

How to watch Padres vs Rangers and game info

Padres vs Rangers 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.

After the first real rough patch of play from Atlanta this season, the Braves did well to beat Jacob Misiorowski in the midst of a truly legendary run of pitching and the Brewers in game 1 of a home series against a rival at the top of the NL. Doing so with Martin Perez on the mound is a huge coup for Atlanta. Now they get to pitch Chris Sale, facing a tough lefty from the Brewers, Kyle Harrison, with the first of two chances to secure a series win. One point of intrigue facing Harrison is whether Drake Baldwin can continue to absolutely obliterate left-handed pitching has a lefty bat, as we are now going on two seasons of him producing equal or better results against left-handed pitching.

As for Harrison himself, the lefty has been magnificent this season, with the Brewers having developed him from a solid fourth starter to a real impact arm after trading with the Giants for him last year, at least so far this season. He is similarly two-pitch dominant to Sale, with his tertiary changeup making up 9% of his usage. He pitches heavily off of his four-seamer with solid velo and good arm-side run, with a strong mix of his slurvey breaking ball. The change has been hit pretty hard, so its no surprise he sticks to the heat and the slurve. That said, this arsenal has been good for a 3.05 FIP and a 3.16 xFIP. He has added some velo and dropped his changeup usage since leaving the Giants, which accounts for some of the jump in effectiveness. This will be a tough matchup, but hopefully those Drake Baldwin reverse splits and righty-handed Ozzie can get some runs across to support Sale.

Chris Sale has been characteristically fantastic this season, despite the one disaster start early in Anaheim, but the Braves have been unable to win his last two outings. Sale has been pretty normal Sale in those outings, but the run support hasn’t been there. Sale’s fastball velo has actually been UP 1.1 MPH over his last two seasons at the age of 37, which is pretty cool, although also slightly disconcerting from a durability standpoint. With that velo jump, however, his fastball has been as effective as it has been since 2018, according to Statcast, and his changeup has been effective as well. While the strikeouts have been down a tick, they are still plenty frequent. In short, Chris Sale has looked to be at the peak of his powers this season and lets hope he stays that way for a good long while.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 20, 4:10 p.m. EDT

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

TV: BravesVision

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Kendrys Morales, Yankees legend.

Okay, that is a stretch for a player who appeared in only 19 games for the franchise, a number only slightly larger than the group that accompanied him when he escaped Cuba. However, the second part of that sentence is what makes his story legendary. Like many of his fellow countrymen of the time, and those now after the 2018 agreement between Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation was revoked after just one year in existence, Morales had to defect from Cuba to another country before coming to America to chase the dream of playing baseball at the highest level. 

Kendrys Morales Rodríguez
Born: June 20, 1983 (Fomento, Cuba)
Yankees Tenure: 2019

Born Kendrys Morales Rodríguez in Fomento, a city less than 300 air miles south of Miami, Morales quickly rose to fame as a promising switch-hitter. Growing up on the island, Morales played mostly third base or outfield. The Cuban national team saw so much promise in Morales that he made the team as a teenager. 

Making the team as a teenager came with plenty of pressure, but playing in the politically charged country of Cuba added further layers that are hard for an outsider to understand. With the pressure of a looming global baseball tournament in America, the Cuban government ramped up efforts trying to catch players attempting to defect from the country. 

At the age of 20, Morales found himself in the middle of that unrest. After several people he trusted approached him about defecting for a chance to play in the United States, he finally agreed to discuss the possibility further. One of those trusted contacts reported Morales to the government, resulting in a ban from the national team.

Feeling betrayed, hurt, and who knows what else, Morales made it his new goal to get out of Cuba and chase the professional dream in the states. After a baker’s dozen of failed attempts, Morales and at least 15 others finally made it to the Dominican Republic. After establishing residency Morales was able to turn his attention to the next part of the plan, securing a professional contract.

The then-Anaheim Angels were game, signing Morales to a six-year deal.

The Angels viewed Morales as a first baseman and had him play there when not leaving the glove on the bench altogether and letting him be the designated hitter. Morales made his debut on May 23, 2006. Against Vicente Padilla and the Rangers, he recorded three hits, including the first of what would be 213 long balls of his career. Morales bounced between the majors and Triple-A from 2006 through 2008, looking like a classic Quad-A player. He dominated the minors while struggling to establish himself in the majors, though flashes of power remained evident.

Mostly position-less, and needing a chance to get his opportunity, the Yankees would be the ones who helped Morales get his break when they signed Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira, opening a spot for the soon to be 26-year-old. In that first full year of playing time Morales slashed .306/.355/.569, good for a .924 OPS with a career-high 34 home runs and 139 OPS+ as the Halos won the AL West. He finished fifth for AL MVP, trailing only Teixeira and a trio of future Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, and winner Joe Mauer. The Angels fell to the Yankees in the ALCS, New York pitching keeping him in check with a .522 OPS in the six-game triumph.

Morales was enjoying some similar success to start the 2010 season until he brutally broke his left ankle while jumping onto home plate to celebrate a walk-off grand slam in May. The break required multiple procedures and complications caused Morales to miss the entire 2011 season. It is also worth noting that Kendrys was known as Kendry Morales up until the 2010 season due to a spelling error on his paperwork, a mistake he did not correct until the season he missed recovering from injury.

Morales picked up right where he left off when he returned in 2012, hitting .273 with 22 bombs. Following the year the Angels traded him to the Seattle Mariners. Morales kept right on hitting. In his last year before free agency, he hit .277 with 23 home runs. Morales reached free agency but got a qualifying offer from Seattle and teams did not want to give up a draft pick to sign the veteran designated hitter. Due to this, Morales waited until the June deadline passed to sign with Minnesota. Then just over a month later the Twins traded him back to Seattle. 

After a weird and disappointing season Morales needed a fresh start and signed a two-year deal with the Royals prior to the 2015 season. The Royals proved right to add the veteran hitter, as he was one of just three Kansas City hitters to top the 20-homer threshold, joining mainstays Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas. He would win the first and only Silver Slugger of his career thanks to a 127 OPS+. Morales hit two homers in the playoff opener against the upstart Astros and would bat .268/.311/.561 through the first couple round as the Royals successfully defended their AL pennant. He was more quiet in the Fall Classic against the Mets and was limited to pinch-hit duty once the series shifted to Queens, but he nonetheless won the only World Series of his career.

Following the 2016 campaign, Morales again hit free agency and got a deal in Toronto to replace their own slugging DH Edwin Encarnación. In two years up north, Morales posted a .249 average and hit 49 home runs as the Jays’ competitive window came to a close..

Right before the start of the 2019 season the Blue Jays traded Morales to the Oakland Athletics, who needed a stopgap after their rising star first baseman Matt Olson got injured. Morales struggled in Oakland and after 34 games and only one big fly, the A’s traded Morales to the injury-plagued Yankees, who were at the forefront of their “Next Man Up” year and in need of a 1B/DH type with Giancarlo Stanton and Greg Bird on the shelf. 

It started off decently enough, as Morales registered hits in his first three games, including a homer off Ryne Stanek on May 17th in a 4-3 walk-off win.

It didn’t stick. Morales had an appalling 5-for-47 showing with no extra-base hits across his next 15 games, and though he broke out with a three-hit game in the doubleheader opener against the Mets on June 11th, that would turn out to be his swan song. He suffered a calf injury, went on the IL, and never returned. In a somewhat-amusing twist of fate, Morales was once again replaced by Encarnación, as New York swung a trade with the Mariners to bring the veteran aboard on June 15th. Once Morales was healthy again, the Yankees designated him for assignment, releasing him on July 2nd.

Morales retired following the 2019 season after failing to find another opportunity. A true professional hitter, he finished his career with a .265/.327/.453 slash line and 213 home runs across 13 big-league seasons. Not bad for a kid from Cuba who had to risk everything just for a swing at the game he loved at the highest level.

Happy birthday, Kendrys!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Earlier this week, we asked you a question about who should be the Phillies’ third All-Star, assuming that both Cristopher Sanchez and Kyle Schwarber are locks to make you. You responded:

Marsh has had an outstanding season, hitting .323/.357/.500 through Wednesday’s games. Having been platooned for most of his tenure in Philadelphia, Marsh has enjoyed consistent playing time for the first time in his career, playing in 70 of the team’s 75 games this year and even posting some of the best numbers against left-handed pitching he’s ever had (.279/.318/.410 through Wednesday).

It’s more than enough to be considered an All-Star.

His issue, of course, will be the crowded group of National League candidates for the outfield spots the league has. A simple search of outfielders in the National League based on fWAR puts Marsh way down at 16th best thanks to many metrics not liking his defense this season. Yet the All-Star Game isn’t about how well you play defense. It’s about how you hit the ball and Marsh’s 131 wRC+ is 21st in the NL. He’s been great at the plate and should be rewarded by staying home and playing at Citizens Bank Park in July.

This post brought to you by FanDuel.

Cam Schlittler struck out 13 Reds hitters but still saved his best fastball for exposing an online troll.

In an appropriately savage move, the Yankees ace revealed Friday night a taste of the line-crossing hate that athletes face when he published unfiltered to his Instagram story the messages sent to him by a Red Sox fan using the handle “Kyle_Lynch11.”

Schlittler captioned the post “rent free” while including two crying laughing emojis.

The verbal attacks started before Schlittler’s historic start against the Red Sox in the playoffs last season and continued through his Friday night masterpiece.

A patient Schlittler only replied once in the thread, writing “stop gazing lil bro” at 1:14 p.m. Friday, roughly six hours before his first pitch at Yankee Stadium.

The most common message was calling Schlittler a “p—y.”

The fan wrongly predicted the “Reds are gonna light u up tnite” before Schlittler struck out 13 in six scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to a Whitey Ford-like 1.64.

The trolling started Oct. 3, 2025, when the fan messaged Schilittler to “wait till we got our full squad u clown.” The thought was that “Roman (Anthony) will own u.”

The fan was angry that Schlittler – a Walpole, Mass. native who grew up as a Red Sox fan – was pitching for the Yankees. As if he had a choice in where he was drafted and developed.

“Never forget where u came from,” one message read.

Schlitter instead made sure Red Sox fans never forget him with his historical MLB playoff debut, when he struck out 12 in eight scoreless innings to clinch the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. 

Schlittler is the American League Cy Young betting favorite in just his second season and has seemed to especially enjoy feasting on the Red Sox and their fans. Now we have a taste of why.

This one particular fan’s message thread didn’t appear to send any of the “death threats” that Schlittler previously told The Post he and his family – including a father who is a police chief in Massachusetts – have been besieged by as part of a rivalry-gone-wrong.

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The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves meet this afternoon, and I'm eyeing a clean first inning with two solid arms on the hill. 

That matchup will headline my top MLB picks today for the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.

Here are my best NRFI/YRFI predictions for Saturday, June 20.

Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today

Pick	Odds
/ - NRFI	-148
/ - YRFI	-116
/ - NRFI	-121

Brewers at Braves: NRFI (-148)

Two solid arms take the hill as the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves square off tonight. Kyle Harrison gets the ball for Milwaukee and owns a stellar 10-3 NRFI record this season. The left-hander has held opponents scoreless in the first inning in five of his last six starts and tossed six scoreless frames last time out.

Chris Sale has been equally reliable early in games, carrying an 11-2 NRFI record and producing three consecutive scoreless first innings. The southpaw also owns a 2.30 FIP across his last three appearances, while neither offense has scored in the opening frame in each of its last two contests.

Since the price is already steep, I'd only play this pick up to -150.

• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVision, Brewers.TV

Guardians at Astros: YRFI (-116)

I'm expecting the Houston Astros to jump on Joey Cantillo tonight. The left-hander has posted a 5.40 FIP over his last two starts while allowing 2.70 home runs per nine innings during that span.

Houston has been one of baseball's best first-inning offenses, batting .301 in the opening frame while compiling a 50-27 YRFI record. The Astros also scored in the first inning on Friday, and this matchup sets up nicely for another fast start. Cantillo has surrendered a run in the first in back-to-back starts, too. 

Play this pick up to -130.

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Space City Home Network, Guardians.TV

Nationals at Rays: NRFI (-121)

Cade Cavalli gets the ball for the Washington Nationals tonight, and he's consistently stayed out of trouble in the first inning. He tossed a scoreless opening frame his last time out and owns an impressive 11-4 NRFI record this season. Cavalli also draws a favorable matchup against a Tampa Bay Rays lineup that's been held scoreless in the first inning in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Ian Seymour hasn't allowed a run in the first inning through his first two appearances as a starter, and while Washington has been productive offensively overall, the Nationals have failed to score in the opening frame in four straight contests.

With two starters navigating the first inning effectively and both offenses struggling to get going immediately, there's value in another clean opening frame. I'll play this pick up to -130.

• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rays.TV, Nationals.TV

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.

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The first-place New York Yankees face the last-place Cincinnati Reds today. It’s no surprise New York is favored, but the MLB odds are wildly slanted toward the Bronx Bombers at -210. 

The favorite being nearly unbettable still opens the door for a flier on an underdog. That’s why my Reds vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks are looking for a Reds upset and a big payday.

Who will win Reds vs Yankees today: Reds moneyline (+182)

The New York Yankees are 10-5 since Aaron Judge went down with an injury, which has scuttled seasons in the past.

This time, they simply turned Ben Rice into Judge. The Cincinnati Reds are starting southpaw Andrew Abbott today, however.Rice has been a mere mortal and less a Judge clone against lefties, hitting 19 points lower and slugging 126 points less.  

New York also doesn’t have the lopsided starting pitcher edge you’d expect from these odds. Will Warren is 7-1, but the Yankees have scored 6+ runs in nine of his 14 starts. He’s 6-0 in those, 1-1 when getting five or fewer from his offense.

COVERS INTEL: Will Warren has been essentially an average starter this season, despite the gaudy record. None of his pitches are in the top-third of MLB in run value. Among the most common underlying metrics, only xERA and barrel rate (both 68th percentile) are in the top third, and just barely.

Reds vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-113)

We’ll hedge our risky moneyline bet by taking the favorite in the Over/Under.

Abbott has been Cincinnati’s most reliable pitcher and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last nine starts. Rice has never faced him, and only 38-year-old reserve Paul Goldschmidt has seen him more than 10 times. Ryan McMahon (1-for-9) is the Yankee next-most familiar with the lefty.

The Reds are in a teamwide batting slump since Elly de la Cruz got hurt and were shut out on Friday night. They have now scored four or fewer in seven of the last 10 games.

Reds vs Yankees weather

It will be mostly sunny skies with a high near 83°F, a steady western wind of 10-20 mph, and 0% chance of precipitation.

Reds vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Reds +186 | Yankees -194
• Run line: Reds +1.5 (-104) | Yankees -1.5 (+100)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

Reds vs Yankees trend

The Reds have been held Under their team total in 14 of their last 20 games for +7.35 units and a 31% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Yankees.

How to watch Reds vs Yankees and game info

Reds 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.

Diamondbacks News

Carroll, Bullpen Pull Snakes Through Emotionally Taxing Day
First, the Diamondbacks learned that they have lost Ryne Nelson for the remainder of the season. Then, in-between the first and second innings, they lost Michael Soroka to injury. Then, in the eighth inning, Jordan Lawlar left the game with a tight hamstring and will now undergo imaging today, previous to a likely stint back on the IL. But Corbin Carroll was firing on all cylinders and the bullpen dug deep to lift the Diamondbacks to a victory over the Twins.

The Next Steps for Ryne Nelson
On Friday, the Diamondbacks put Nelson on the injured list with a sprained right elbow. The game plan for now is to rest and see how he feels in four-to-six weeks.

Lawlar Exits Game with Hamstring Injury
Having just returned to playing after languishing on the 60-day IL, Jordan Lawlar is headed back to the IL after running out an infield single in the pivotal eighth inning of Arizona’s comeback win.

A.J. Puk Sustains Capsule Sprain
The MRI results are back and things are not good for A.J. Puk. Puk will be shut down for the next four weeks and then re-evaluated. If all goes well and Puk is able to restart his throwing ramp-up without any setbacks, a return to the majors seems possible by the back half of August.

Diamondbacks Counting on Zac Gallen to Go Deep Versus Twins
If ever there was a time Arizona needed Zac Gallen to turn back the clock to harness his ace-like form, it is now.

Other Baseball News

What to Know About MLB’s Draft Overhaul Proposal
It is absolute garbage in ways that fundamentally would change everything in fairly quick order. That’s the bottom line up front.

Padres-Rangers Game Starts with Only Two Umpires
Because of travel issues, Emil Jimenez and John Bacon were the lone umps ready to go by first pitch. Gabe Morales and Mike Muchlinski arrived and joined them on the field in the middle of the first, about the same time Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta was being ejected from the game.

Jackson Churio’s Big Step Forward
Jackson Chourio got a late start to his season. A fractured metacarpal in his left hand, suffered during the run-up to the World Baseball Classic but not definitively diagnosed until three weeks later, knocked him onto the injured list just hours before the Brewers’ Opening Day game, and he didn’t make his season debut until May 4. Since then, the 22-year-old outfielder has not only been one of the majors’ top hitters, he’s shown notable improvements in a few key areas while helping to propel the Brewers into first place in the NL Central.

The Rays Are Proving Homers Aren’t Needed to Win
The Rays have hit fewer home runs than any other team in baseball, but they still have one of the best records in the American League.

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (31-41) lost 9-3 (BOX SCORE)

Hendrickson started for Sugar Land but had some trouble allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, over 4.2 innings. The offense got on the board scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on an error and a Biggio RBI single. They got another run in the 5th on a Dezenzo RBI single. The pen allowed a couple more runs and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 9-3.

Note: Price has a .870 OPS in Triple-A.

• Cavan Biggio, LF: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
• Shay Whitcomb, 3B: 2-for-5, R, 2B, 2 SB
• Zach Dezenzo, DH: 1-for-4, RBI
• Collin Price, C: 1-for-3, BB

• Josh Hendrickson, LHP: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (30-37) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)

Hertzler started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4.1 innings. Torres relieved Hertzler but struggled allowing 4 runs. The Hooks got on the board in the 6th inning on a Bigger RBI single and Sullivan RBI double. The offense rallied to tie it in the 8th scoring 4 runs on a wild pitch, a Sullivan RBI single and a Brutcher 2 run single. Unfortunately the Missions scored 2 runs in the 9th and the Hooks were unable to respond as they fell 8-6.

Note: Sullivan is hitting .360 in June.

• Lucas Spence, CF: 1-for-4, R
• Joseph Sullivan, RF: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Jason Schiavone, C: 2-for-4, R
• Drew Brutcher, 1B: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
• Yamal Encarnacion, 2B: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB, SB
• Jax Biggers, 3B: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB

• Cole Hertzler, RHP: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Alejandro Torres, RHP: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
• Alex Santos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Julio Rodriguez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (18-48) won 10-9 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got the scoring started in the 4th inning scoring 2 runs on an error and a Hernandez RBI double. Smith got the start and pitched really well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings with 4 strikeouts. Asheville retook the lead in the 5th on a Walker RBI single. In the 6th, Nunez added an RBI single. After the Hot Rods scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th, the offense got 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th on a Trujillo 2 run home run. A Hernandez solo HR extended the lead in the 8th but in the 9th, the Hot Rods scored 5 runs to take the lead. Asheville rallied in the bottom of the 9th tying the game on a Perez 2 run home run and then walking it off on an Ochoa RBI single.

Note: Thomas is hitting .300 this season.

• Kyle Walker, 2B: 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Justin Thomas, CF: 2-for-4, R, 2B, SB
• Nehomar Ochoa, RF: 1-for-5, RBI
• Chase Call, DH: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Alejandro Nunez, 3B: 2-for-4, R, RBI
• Cesar Hernandez, LF: 2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
• Jack Moss, 1B: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Keduar Trujillo, C: 1-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Reylin Perez, SS: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI

• Parker Smith, RHP: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Bryce Collins, LHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• Colby Langford, LHP: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Francisco Frias, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-33) won 10-8 (BOX SCORE)

Perez started for the Woodpeckers and had a rough first inning allowing 3 runs. The offense responded with 2 runs in the first inning on a fielder’s choice and Gomez groundout. The outing got worse for Perez as he allowed 7 runs over 4.1 innings. After falling down 8-1, the Woodpeckers got a run back in the bottom of the 6th on an Alvarez double. The offense rallied for 4 runs on a Ramirez RBI single, Vasquez sac fly and Huezo 2 run home run. The offense would rally again in the 8th tying the game on a Luciano solo home run and then taking the lead on a Vasquez 2 run home run. Weber closed it out striking out 5 over 2.1 innings as the Woodpeckers won 10-8.

Note: Huezo has 13 home runs this season.

• Anthony Huezo, RF: 1-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Xavier Neyens, SS: 1-for-2, 2 R, BB
• Kevin Alvarez, CF: 2-for-4, R, 2B
• Waner Luciano, DH: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Kenni Gomez, LF: 2-for-4, R, RBI, SB
• German Ramirez, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB
• Yosweld Vasquez, C: 1-for-3, R, HR, 3 RBI

• Javier Perez, RHP: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Leomar Rosario, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Charlie Weber, RHP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (WIN)

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Brandon McPherson – 7:35 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 7:05 CT

AV: Nolan DeVos – 5:05 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

Good morning, LSB.

The Rangers won a spirited comeback affair last night after falling behind 5-0 in the first inning.

Evan Grant writes about Texas bailing Jacob deGrom out on his birthday.

Shawn McFarland says the Rangers answered the challenge presented to them by Skip Schumaker earlier in the afternoon.

Elsewhere the Rangers added Jarred Kelenic in a move that Grant says is a little bit desperation, a little bit sending a message.

Jordan Montgomery is set to begin a rehab assignment in Frisco.

Corey Seager remains on the concussion list, for now.

Jacob Latz is the latest guest on Grant’s podcast.

And finally Grant’s early Father’s Day story features former Rangers catcher, current Rangers assistant Rod Barajas and his 8 kids that keep he and wife Stacie busy.

That’s all for this morning. The Rangers play the Padres again at 3:05 today with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound for Texas.

Have a great weekend!

1926
In a game with the Yankees that the White Sox won 4-3, a record was set for the largest crowd to see a game at Comiskey Park before the upper deck was added in 1927: 43,000. In fact, so many fans were in the park, they were allowed to ring the outfield wall — standing on the playing field!

That may have contributed to Chicago’s eventual winning run in the eighth inning, as Willie Kamm’s drive went into the fans on the field; it was scored as a double, and drove home Earl Sheely. 

1945
In the eighth inning of a game in St. Louis, a brawl broke out between White Sox and Browns players. As pitcher George Caster was leaving the mound he fired the ball toward the Chicago dugout, but missed, hitting the adjacent wall. White Sox players charged onto the field, and several of the Browns charged the Chicago dugout where they attacked White Sox batting practice pitcher and ex-Marine Karl Scheel, whom they beat for several minutes, claiming he had  been riding them all game. When that confrontation was broken up, the game resumed with no one being ejected, although many fans came on the field and the game was delayed for several minutes.

Scheel was carried to the clubhouse for first aid, and several Browns ended up being fined by the league. The White Sox won the game, 4-1.

1959
The White Sox were swept in a doubleheader mauling (8-2, 9-0) at Boston, dropping them to 33-30 and to fourth place. On June 14, the Go-Gos were in first place, but five straight losses later the White Sox had dropped 1 1/2 games off the pace.

The good news was a win on June 21 would see the South Siders slip to two games back of first, but in a quirk of the doubleheader era saw the club jump back up to second place. They would shuffle between second and third in the AL for about a month before taking the top spot back over, pretty much for good, on July 14.

1973
White Sox relief pitcher Cy Acosta became the first American League pitcher to make a plate appearance in the designated hitter era, striking out in the eighth inning of an 8-3 win over Nolan Ryan and the Angels at Comiskey Park. Rich Hand was the Angels pitcher who struck him out.

Acostacame to bat because manager Chuck Tanner pulled Dick Allen after a six-run seventh inning and moved Tony Muser from DH to first base. That meant the Sox gave up the DH and Acosta took Allen’s spot in the batting order.

1977
In a play that twisted the fate of a promising player, Kevin Bell tore his knee sliding into home to end the fifth inning of a A’s 7-1 win at Comiskey Park. Bell tried to tag up on Alan Bannister’s fly out to left field, but was cut down by Tony Armas’ throw from center field — and the immovable object that was Manny Sanguillen at home plate.

Bell, a first round choice (No. 7 overall) of the White Sox in 1973, had made mincemeat of the minor leagues, carrying an OPS in the mid-.800s into his MLB cup of coffee in 1976. While the majors may have been the place his stardom was ground down into replacement play, this injury nipped any star potential in the bud.

Despite the loss, the White Sox remained in a tie for first in the AL West at 35-28.

1980
Tigers outfielder Al Cowens attacked Sox relief pitcher Ed Farmer. In the 11th inning of a game at Comiskey Park, Cowens ran towards Farmer after hitting a ground ball instead of running towards first base, and the two initiated a melee on the mound. One year earlier and then with the Texas Rangers, Farmer had broken Cowens’ jaw on an errant pitch, so tensions were high and patience thin.

Chicago police went looking for Cowens after the game to press assault charges. 

Farmer, who had polycystic kidney disease, ended up on the bottom of the pile, where his cysts burst and his kidneys weakened. He would pitch in the All-Star Game the next month, amid his greatest season, but Farmer said from the moment after the brawl he felt weaker, and was never the same pitcher. 

1986
In what he admitted was one of the biggest mistakes he’d ever made, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf approved the firing of manager Tony La Russa. La Russa and his staff simply didn’t get along with new GM Ken Harrelson and his unusual ideas, and with the team struggling on the field, the decision to let him go was made. 

La Russa won more than 500 games for the White Sox as well as the 1983 Western Division championship, and was hired by the A’s just three weeks later. He eventually took both Oakland and St. Louis to the World Series, winning three titles, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.

Doug Rader, who infamously coined the phrase of the White Sox “winning ugly” in 1983 as Texas Rangers manager,went 1-1 as the interim skipper before Jim Fregosi was hired for the spot.

La Russa came back to manage the White Sox in 2021 and most of 2022 before retiring in September due to health reasons.  

Harrelson resigned his position after one season in charge of the White Sox. That year the club went 72-90, ending up in fifth place in the Western Division.

2006
The White Sox set the team mark for the most runs ever scored in the third inning of a game, when 11 men crossed the plate against the Cardinals. Chicago-area native Mark Mulder was the victim of the onslaught, which saw the Sox win in Chicago, 20-6. The South Siders sent 16 men to the plate and had 11 hits in the inning.

The 20 runs scored is tied for the fifth-most runs ever scored in a game by the South Siders.

2009
The White Sox won the first Civil Rights Game ever to be played as part of the regular-season schedule, beating the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, 10-8.

The White Sox rallied from down 5-0 to score eight runs in the middle innings, fueled by solo shots in the fifth (Scott Podsednik and A.J. Pierzynski) bookended by three-run blasts in the fourth (Gordon Beckham) and sixth (Alexei Ramírez). The Reds crept back to within 8-7 before Podsednik and Ramírez tapped in three runs between them in the eighth.

To honor the Civil Rights Era, both teams wore 1965 replica uniforms for the game.

The Civil Rights Game was discontinued after the 2015 season. Apparently, racism was solved. Perhaps it’s time to bring it back.

Overall, the White Sox played in the most Civil Rights games (three), and tied with the Dodgers for the most wins in the series (two).

2010
With a 6-3 win at the Nationals, the White Sox finished up a road trip winning eight of nine, tied for the seventh-best in franchise history. The club took two of three in Wrigley Field, then left Chicago and swept three-game sets in Pittsburgh and Washington.

The road trip ended with the White Sox back at .500 (34-34) for the first time since April 7 (1-1). Their winning ways would continue back at home, with a streak that would reach 11 straight and contribute to a stretch of 26 wins in 31 games that shot the White Sox into first place.

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The Houston Astros host the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, looking to wrap up their third straight series win, while the Guardians face the possibility of a fourth series loss in the last five.

Cleveland has lost seven of the last 10, and now first baseman Kyle Manzardo is battling back problems.

That's why my Guardians vs. Astros predictions and MLB picks are looking at a Houston win.   

Who will win Guardians vs Astros today: Astros -1.5 (+152)

The odds make it tough to love the Houston Astros, as the moneyline is currently too steep.

If it drops to -120, it's worth taking the runs back. However, Houston has won nine games in June by a total of 31 runs—more than three runs per win.

The Cleveland Guardians have lost nine June games, also by 31. So there's good reason to believe a Houston win will cover the run line.

Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo has allowed batters a .343 average, 1.032 OPS, and production 74% over league average in his last four starts, posting a 9.00 ERA and WHIP over 2.00. 

COVERS INTEL: Cantillo's underlying metrics are worse than his standard line. His fastball is in the bottom 2% in MLB for effectiveness and the bottom 13% for velocity. He's in the bottom third in baseball in walk rate, chase rate, barrel rate, and overall pitching run value.

Guardians vs Astros Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)

Houston's offense is getting hot. Yordan Alvarez leads the league in batting, slugging, OPS, OPS+, and homers. Jose Altuve looks like he's rounding into form in his third week since returning from injury.

He homered and drove in four in Friday's series opener.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti was the pitcher of the month for May but has yet to win in June, posting a 6.19 ERA and .286 average against in three starts this month.

Houston's bullpen has pitched 19 innings in the last three games. Cleveland's is more rested but has a 4.76 ERA and 2.29 WHIP over the last three.

Guardians vs Astros weather

Notes on the weather and its impact.

Guardians vs Astros odds

• Moneyline: Guardians +133 | Astros -138
• Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-163) | Astros -1.5 (+156)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-108)

Guardians vs Astros trend

The Houston Astros have covered the Run Line in 16 of their last 25 games (+6.00 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Astros.

How to watch Guardians vs Astros and game info

Guardians vs Astros latest injuries

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