Worldwide Sports News

Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.

TUESDAY

With a single and a homer, Bo Bichette notched his 300th career multi-hit game. Since his debut in 2019, he is one of only nine players in baseball with 300+ multi-hit games, joining Freddie Freeman (373), Trea Turner (354), Luis Arraez (334), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (327), Rafael Devers (319), Paul Goldschmidt (305), Manny Machado (303), and Jose Altuve (302).

Bichette’s homer was hit a projected 422 feet with an exit velocity of 107.5 mph, marking his farthest-hit and hardest-hit homer as a Met.

Carson Benge’s 451-foot home run was the longest of his career, and tied two other Mets homers (Brett Baty’s in Washington on May 18 and Luis Robert Jr.’s in Milwaukee on July 21) for the team’s longest of the season.

Benge became the fifth player in the Statcast era (since 2015) to hit a 450+ foot home run and record a 96+ mph outfield assist in the same game, joining Starling Marte (May 26, 2018), George Springer (August 13, 2019), Nolan Jones (July 16, 2023), and Oneil Cruz (August 1, 2025). He is the first one since Springer to do it outside of Colorado. (source: Sarah Langs on X)

The Mets racked up 13+ strikeouts on both sides of the ball for the first time since August 11, 2024, a 12-1 loss in Seattle in which they struck out 13 times and struck out 15 Mariners.

WEDNESDAY

Jefry Yan’s first pitch as a Met was 101.1 mph, marking the fastest pitch thrown by a Mets left-handed pitcher in the Statcast era (since 2015). It also marked the fastest pitch thrown by any Met this season. Yan threw just 22 pitches in his first Mets outing, but he earned nine of the top ten spots and 13 of the top 18 on their season leaderboard.

Tanner Bibee struck out 10 Mets, becoming the third player to record double-digit strikeouts against the Mets this season after Shohei Ohtani (10 on April 15) and Cade Cavalli (10 on April 29). He also became the first interleague opponent to record double-digit strikeouts against the Mets since Pablo López racked up 14 in Minnesota on September 10, 2023, and the second Cleveland pitcher ever to do it after Scott Kazmir struck out 12 Mets at Progressive Field on September 6, 2013.

The Mets played their 16th extra-inning game of the season, tied with the Cubs for the most in the majors.  They are currently on pace to finish the season with 21 extra-inning games played, which would tie for fifth-most in franchise history behind 1978 (25), 1986 (23), 1971 (22), and 1985 (22).

THURSDAY

Kodai Senga’s two-out, two-strike fastball to Angel Martínez was clocked at 100.3 mph, marking the fastest pitch he’s thrown in the big leagues.

Nolan McLean has struck out five or more batters in 11 consecutive outings, the most by a Met since Jacob deGrom set the franchise record by finishing his Mets career with 28 such outings. Only 11 Mets have put together a streak of five-or-more-strikeout games that long: Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Dwight Gooden, Sid Fernandez, Ron Darling, David Cone, Johan Santana, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, deGrom, and McLean.

McLean had his streak of six consecutive quality starts ended — the most by a Met since Kodai Senga (8) from August 7-September 20, 2023 — as well as his streak of eight consecutive starts in which he completed six innings, the most by a Met since Sean Manaea (8) from August 16-September 21, 2024.

Francisco Lindor’s three-run homer was his 68th homer at Progressive Field, tying him with Grady Sizemore for seventh all-time at the ballpark. Jim Thome ranks first with 190 homers, while current Guardian José Ramírez is second with 139 homers.

Luis Torrens put up five hits, two homers, and seven RBIs in atwo-game span, becoming just the third Mets catcher to post a two-game span with those totals after Gary Carter and Todd Hundley. (credit: PIX broadcast)

During the three-game series in Cleveland, Torrens recorded seven RBI against the Guardians. That alone was enough to move him into second place on the Mets’ all-time RBI leaderboard against the Guardians, trailing only Pete Alonso (12).

FRIDAY

For the 32nd time in franchise history, four different Mets stole a base (Carson Benge, Francisco Lindor, A.J. Ewing, and Luis Torrens). The last time that happened was on September 2, 2025, in Detroit — a game which included Torrens’ only other career stolen base to date. The Mets had pulled off the feat once before at PNC Park, when José Reyes, Luis Castillo, Moisés Alou, and Lastings Milledge did it on August 15, 2007.

Ewing collected his 15th stolen base in his 76th career game, becoming the second-fastest Met to 15 steals behind Mookie Wilson (63 games).

Ewing and Benge are the first Mets rookie teammates to steal 15 bases in the same season. The only others to have reached double-digits together are José Reyes (13) and Ty Wigginton (12) in 2003.

Zac Thornton’s 2.52 ERA through seven career games is the eighth-best among Mets pitchers with an average of five or more innings per outing, behind: Nolan McLean (1.27), Tylor Megill (2.04), Rick Aguilera (2.06), Nolan Ryan (2.11), Dillon Gee (2.22), Ron Darling (2.47), and Masato Yoshii (2.51).

Marcus Semien became the third Met to hit athree-run homer at PNC Park from the right side. The others were Todd Zeile on September 19, 2001, and David Wright on August 21, 2010. All three came against Pittsburgh pitchers whose last name begins with “M” (Tony McKnight, James McDonald, and Carmen Mlodzinski), and all three came in games which the Mets won with a left-handed starter between the ages of 23 and 26 on the mound (Glendon Rusch, Jon Niese, and Thornton). The first two also came with a future Met Hall of Famer on base (Mike Piazza and Carlos Beltrán)…but no pressure, Carson Benge and Jared Young.

SATURDAY

The Mets suffered their twelfth shutout loss of the season, tied with the Giants for the most of any team in the majors. The 9-0 defeat also marked their largest shutout loss in Pittsburgh since September 20, 1965, when right-hander Tommie Sisk blanked them to secure the first of his four career shutouts in a a 10-0 loss at Forbes Field.

Robert Stock allowed 14 baserunners without recording more than nine outs, becoming just the fifth Mets pitcher ever to do that in a game after Joe Sambito (June 11, 1985), Pedro Astacio (August 17, 2002), Óliver Pérez (August 31, 2006) and Liván Hernández (July 3, 2009). He also became just the third Mets pitcher to allow eight runs, nine hits, and five walks in a game, along with Sambito and Jason Isringhausen (June 30, 1996).

SUNDAY

Bo Bichette recorded the fifth five-hit game of his career, tying him with George Springer and Christian Yelich for the most five-hit games of any active player.

Bichette became the second player in MLB to reach base six times in a game this season after Sam Antonacci did so for the White Sox on June 3. Bichette also became the second Met since 2020 to accomplish the feat, after Juan Soto did so on June 8, 2025, in Colorado. Bichette is now one of 10 active players with two such games in his career, joining: Andrew McCutchen, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, George Springer, Giancarlo Stanton, Mookie Betts, Christian Yelich, Pete Alonso, and José Ramírez.

The Mets are now the only team in the majors to have multiple players record five-hit games this season, as Carson Benge also did it on June 7 in San Diego.

Sean Manaea became the first Mets pitcher to record 11 strikeouts in a game this season. It was the first time Manaea had reached double-digits since he struck out 11 in Arizona on August 27, 2024. Manaea’s 11 strikeouts were the most by a Mets southpaw against the Pirates since Sid Fernandez fanned 12 at Shea Stadium on July 30, 1988.

Manaea recorded 18 whiffs, his most in a game since he racked up 19 against the Phillies on August 26, 2025, at Citi Field.

Francisco Alvarez hit his 61st career home run, moving him into fourth place for a Met before their 25th birthday behind Darryl Strawberry (108), David Wright (97), and Ed Kranepool (62).

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

Mike Piazza’s 33 RBI in August 1999 are the most by any Met in the month of August. Second place on that list? Also Mike Piazza, with 30 RBI in August 1998.

We open up the Mets Mailbag to look at some big-picture questions about the team for the rest of the 2026 season and beyond...

Do you think Ronny Mauricio will be traded in the offseason? He’s been tearing the cover off the ball in AAA and is still down there. If not now, when else would we call him up? -- @bowe_patrick

I would not be surprised if the Mets trade Mauricio in the offseason. I though it was possible they would trade him last offseason, or even last week at the deadline. I know people in other front offices have spoken to the Mets about him over the last calendar year, but obviously, those conversations did not yield anything. What is not clear is whether Mauricio is still a Met because teams’ interest is tepid or because David Stearns is so reluctant to give up on young players. I have not gotten a clear sense of which is keeping him here, though I would bet it is a combination of both.

That said, circumstances are changing in 2027: The Mets’ consistent rationale for keeping Mauricio in Triple-A has been that he needs to play every day. When he plays every day in Triple-A, he hits like crazy. When he has played in the majors, his tendency to chase has made his power harder to access consistently. If the Mets plan to contend next year, they likely will not be able to give him time to fix that issue in the big leagues. And if they do not have room for him on the major league roster next year, they will have to designate him for assignment and subject him to waivers – a process that often facilitates trades.

Now, if the Mets decide they want to get Mauricio time at second base instead of an aging Marcus Semien – or if, and this is and has always been a huge if, they decide to trade Francisco Lindor --- maybe the equation changes for Mauricio. But right now, I do not see a clear place for him to play regularly in the Mets’ 2026 or 2027 infield. If the Mets front office doesn’t see one, either, a trade seems totally possible.

Is Jared Young the first baseman for the Mets in 2027?  -- @cschil76

As of this exact moment, I would say that Jared Young is a first baseman for the Mets in 2027, but probably not the starting first baseman. I think on a well-constructed, competitive roster, Young is a productive and reliable left-handed bat off the bench who can platoon regularly against righties if needed and help in the corner outfield spots. Had Jorge Polanco been healthy this year, that is probably what he would have been for this roster, too.

Plus, first base is one of the only places the Mets – who need to upgrade offensively next year – can actually do that. Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have cemented themselves in the outfield of the future alongside Juan Soto. If Bo Bichette opts in, and Lindor returns, the left side of the infield is set. Semien remains under contract for two more seasons, so a change at second base would require a difficult decision – which does not mean it cannot happen.

Polanco needs to play somewhere, if he is able, though I do not think the Mets should count on him filling an everyday defensive role. Rotating between designated hitter while spelling others around the infield seems like an ideal role for him -- if he is healthy. If he isn’t, perhaps he has to play first or serve as the regular designated hitter. Either way, the Mets have $20 million committed to him next year, so they will probably find room.

All of which is to say, I don’t see Young starting next season as the everyday first baseman. Then again, I did not see him serving as the everyday first baseman this year, either. In a year of negative surprises, Young has been one of the consistent positives. He will almost certainly be a part of the plan next year in some form.

Do you suspect the Mets might shut down Christian Scott or Zac Thornton in September for innings purposes? -- @pladinosaur

Great question. This is one I’ve been eager to follow down the stretch. If there is any silver lining to the Mets being out of contention early – and after the last week, I am willing to entertain overly optimistic questions about whether they are truly out of contention at all! – it is that they can be careful with the young pitchers around whom their rotation has centered this year.

Whether limiting innings is the right approach is a much larger question, but assuming for the purposes of this conversation it is: Nolan McLean, Scott, and Thornton could all be limited.

McLean is best equipped to finish the season without a limit. He threw just more than 160 total innings between the minors and the majors in 2025 and is currently at 130 innings this season. Assuming he makes seven or eight more starts of five innings each down the stretch, he will finish around or a comfortable jump above last year’s total. But a postseason run might have tested him.

Scott, who is in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, had never thrown more than 87.2 innings in a season before the procedure. He has thrown 88 innings this year, though he has shown no signs of slowing. I am sure the Mets will be careful with him down the stretch, which likely means limiting innings in some form.

Thornton, meanwhile, threw 68 innings in his first minor league season and 72.2 in 2025. This year, he has thrown more than 100 innings between the majors and minors. Though he is less reliant on velocity and therefore not the type of pitcher organizations worry most about blowing out due to innings jumps, he is navigating a major innings jump that includes the highest-stress innings of his career since his debut. The Mets will almost certainly treat him carefully down the stretch, too.

The challenge the Mets face is who will pitch if Scott and/or Thornton needs to limit their workloads down the stretch. If they had the kind of starting pitching depth to spell them, they likely would have used it by now. But Jonah Tong seems likely to get another major league chance this year despite his inconsistencies in Triple-A. Jack Wenninger had a strong start to the season statistically, though his inconsistency since and high walk rate has scared the Mets away from giving him a chance in the majors just yet.

Still, I do not expect the Mets to push limits with Scott or Thornton this year given how crucial they are to the future of the rotation moving forward. The question, given their lack of organizational starting pitching depth, will be how the Mets navigate the final few weeks of the season without relying on them fully.

12 Years Ago Today:

The Blue Jays and Tigers endured an epic 19-inning showdown that lasted 6 hours and 37 minutes, setting franchise records for both innings played and game duration. Notably, the Jays would later lose another 19-inning contest in 2016.

The Blue Jays ultimately prevailed, defeating the Tigers 6-5.

In the marathon’s 19th inning:

• Munenori Kawasaki, who had previously gone 0-for-5 with a walk, began the inning with a single. Kawasaki entered the game in the seventh as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Goins. Rick Porcello was pitching his second inning for Detroit.
• Jose Reyes followed with a bunt, prompting Porcello to throw wide to second base—putting runners on the corners.
• The Tigers intentionally walked Melky Cabrera to load the bases for Jose Bautista. I never quite understand walking the bases loaded to face a hitter like Bautista, who had a .411 OBP at the time—it makes a walk a potential game-winner. If it were me, I’d rather pitch to Melky and walk Bautista to face Juan Francisco with the bases loaded. Of course, no one’s offering me a manager’s job.
• Bautista hit a deep fly ball—not quite a home run, but deep enough for the winning run to score. Because the outfield was playing shallow, the Tigers didn’t attempt a catch, and the play was ruled a single. The Jays walked off with a 6-5 win. In a memorable post-game moment, R.A. Dickey ran over and kissed Bautista during his interview.

Before the late-game heroics:

Mark Buehrle started but struggled, lasting just 3.1 innings and surrendering 9 hits and 5 runs (only 2 earned), with no walks and 4 strikeouts. A Jose Reyes error in the first inning proved costly.

After Buehrle exited, the Jays’ bullpen delivered 15.2 innings of scoreless relief, utilizing seven different relievers:

• Todd Redmond: 2.2, 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts.
• Aaron Sanchez: 3 innings, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts.
• Brett Cecil: 1.1, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts.
• Dustin McGowan: 1.1, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.
• Aaron Loup: 0.1 (before the three-batter rule).
• Casey Janssen: 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk.
• Chad Jenkins: 6 innings, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts. He pitched into and out of trouble in most of his 6 innings. He only had 1 clean inning, but it worked.

Jenkins was easily one of the game’s heroes, delivering a gutsy performance. Remarkably, he would appear in just three more games for the Blue Jays—one just four days later, and two the following season—marking the end of his MLB career.

I did have some issues with how the bullpen was managed. In extra-inning, tightly contested games, relievers should often be asked to pitch multiple innings. By the time Jenkins entered, he was the last available option in the bullpen (though if necessary, R.A. Dickey might have been called upon). Managers sometimes overlook the possibility of games stretching far beyond nine innings—something much less common now with the extra-innings “Manfred Man” rule.

Offensively, the Jays fell behind 3-0 after the first inning and 5-0 after the fourth, but battled back to score:

• 2 in the sixth: With two outs, Danny Valencia doubled, and Dioner Navarro homered.
• 2 in the seventh: Steven Tolleson (remember him?) walked. Colby Rasmus singled. That was the end of the day for David Price. He went 6 innings, allowed 5 hits, 4 earned, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. An out later, with Phil Coke in, Reyes singled home Tolleson and Cabrera singled home Rasmus. That was it for Coke; the unusually named Al Alburquerque came in, finished the inning, and pitched the next.
• 1 in the ninth: Joba Chamberlain came in for the inning. Anthony Gose led off with a single. Gose was pinch-hitting for Tolleson. He would go 2 for 6, on the day after coming into the game in the ninth inning. Rasmus struck out, Gose went for second on the two-strike pitch and, initially, was called out, but it was overturned on replay. That saved the game. After a Kawasaki lined out, Reyes singled home Gose. Tie game. It would stay tied for 9.5 more innings. It was Anthony Gose’s birthday (it still is; he turns 34 today; he pitched in one game for the Guardians this season and then was DFAed).

We had 17 hits (8 after the ninth inning; Tigers had 22 hits, 11 after the ninth inning). Reyes was 4 for 9. Cabrera was 3 for 5 with 5 walks (43 walks that year, and 5 were in this game, including 2 intentional walks). Valencia, Navarro, Gose and Rasmus had 2 walks each. The most significant 0 for was a 0 for 7 for Nolan Reimold (with 2 walks).

Want to talk about old-school management? The Tigers handed out 5 intentional walks. Two each for Melky and Bautista and one for Rasmus.

We intentionally walked Victor Martinez twice.

From the recap (if you want an inning-by-inning recap of the extra innings, it is there):

Jays of the Day are: McGowan (.226), Janssen (.143), Sanchez (.120), Loup (.117). Super JotD are: Reyes (.606), Melky (.457). Finally, Chad Jenkins had a .861 WPA(!), good for the team’s first Ultra Jay of the Day (> .800 WPA) since Bautista and Kawasaki did it 4 days apart in May 2013 (which makes it seem much more common an occurrence than it is).

Suckage: Buehrle (-.287), Francisco (-.512), Thole (-.342), Reimold (-.296), Kawasaki (-.367). Bautista had the number, too (-.328), but I can’t give him one.

17 Years Ago

In a surprising move, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi placed Alex Rios on waivers.

At the time, Rios was owed $60 million and had struggled with consistency, posting a .264/.317/.427 line with 14 home runs that season.

The White Sox claimed Rios, and while many expected a trade, Chicago offered nothing in return. After brief consideration, Ricciardi simply let him go, making it a controversial decision—essentially giving away a former All-Star for salary relief.

Rios went on to spend five seasons with the White Sox, hitting .269/.310/.430 with 74 home runs. He later played for the Rangers and Royals, retiring in 2015 with career totals of .277/.321/.434, 169 home runs, and 253 stolen bases.

Though he had two excellent seasons in 2006 and 2007 (.299/.352/.505, 41 homers combined), Rios never quite developed into the star many expected. While he was a solid defender, he occasionally seemed unfocused. In hindsight, perhaps fans simply expected too much.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Let's dive into the new week with a four-set of MLB expert picks on Monday, Aug. 10.

We're eyeing a trio of moneyline picks, with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and St. Louis Cardinals all drawing our attention for various reasons. 

See what our experts have cooked up ahead of finalizing your MLB picks for the abbreviated slate.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Dustin Saracini: TOR +1.5	-122
Jon Metler: BAL ML	-113
Neil Parker: HOU ML	-144
Joe Osborne: STL ML	-104

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Dustin Saracini's expert pick: Blue Jays +1.5

Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket

While the Toronto Blue Jays offense has come to life lately, scoring 25 runs across their last five games, it’s what they’ve done against Boston Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray that has me confident we’ll start the week off with some cash in our pockets. 

Across 138 plate appearances with Gray on the bump (a sample size we can get behind), the Blue Jays own a .306 xBA and a .472 xSLG. And in two starts against Toronto this season, the right-hander has allowed 16 hits and eight earned runs over 12 innings.

Expect the Jays to keep this one close at 55 cents.

• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• How to watch: NESN, Sportsnet

Jon Metler's expert pick: Orioles moneyline

Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket

The Baltimore Orioles face Dean Kremer in a revenge spot after trading him to the Minnesota Twins on July 31, but I'm not worried about the narrative.

If anything, Baltimore's hitters should have an advantage with a deep scouting report on Kremer and familiarity with his arsenal.

Heavily reliant on his four-seam fastball, Kremer is leaning on a pitch that carries a -2 run value this season.

That's a problem against an Orioles lineup featuring Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso, two of the team's biggest bats and best fastball hitters.

Polymarket has Baltimore priced as a 53-cent favorite, but I make them closer to 55 cents. It's a small edge, but that's all we're looking for.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: MASN, Twins.TV

Neil Parker's expert pick: Astros moneyline

Price: 59¢ (-144) at Polymarket

The Houston Astros are rolling along with an active 13-5 run, ranking second in wOBA and averaging 5.3 runs per game, and recently bolstered the roster at the trade deadline. 

In the opposite dugout, the San Francisco Giants have gone 7-12 with a 23rd-ranked wOBA and 4.1 runs per game during the same stretch, so it's no surprise that they went in the opposite direction and dealt away established veterans last week.

As a result, I'm confident Houston righty Hayden Wesneski can hold the inferior San Francisco lineup in check enough for the Astros to pull away offensively tonight.

• Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
• How to watch: SCHN, NBC Sports Bay Area

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Cardinals moneyline

Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a strong spot to take care of business at home tonight.

The Philadelphia Phillies have gone a brutal 1-13 across Andrew Painter’s last 14 appearances, and his 6.48 ERA is a major reason why. He’s also backed by a Phillies bullpen that ranks 23rd in ERA over the past two weeks.

Meanwhile, St. Louis enters hot at the plate, ranking fourth in OPS over the last week. Hunter Dobbins has been respectable, with a 3.60 ERA, and should get enough support in a pivotal week for the team that's still alive in the wild-card race.

• Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
• How to watch: FS1

More MLB best bets for today

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.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are riding a six-game winning streak, and they're sizable -160 road favorites to extend that to seven games tonight.

While the Rays deserve to be favorites, my Rays vs. A's predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the home team to keep it close on Monday, Aug. 10.

Who will win Rays vs A’s tonight: Athletics +1.5 (-120)

Freddy Peralta has struggled to keep runners off the bases this season, posting a 1.52 WHIP to date. He has also allowed 1.46 home runs per nine innings, a number that’s soared to 2.60 over the past 30 days.

That is not a good formula taking on the Athletics in an extremely hitter-friendly environment — even with key bats like Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers sidelined.

Jacob Lopez has managed a solid 3.49 FIP over the last month while striking out 32.5% of opposing batters. He should help keep this close.

Bet to -131.

COVERS INTEL: Peralta ranks in the fifth percentile in Pitcher Run Value, a far cry from last season's 97th percentile finish

Rays vs A’s Over/Under pick: Under 10.0 (-110)

Lopez’s fly ball tendency is a concern in such favorable hitting conditions, but the Tampa Bay Rays aren’t in prime form to capitalize.

They own a .135 ISO against lefties the past month while ranking 22nd in hard-hit rate and 27th in fly-ball rate. 

The Athletics have labored since Langeliers went down, ranking 29th in OBP and 25th in ISO. They’re not getting on base often, nor hitting for much power.

Betting an Under in this park is a scary proposition, but I make this total 9.6 runs and would bet it to -116.

Rays vs A’s home run prediction: Junior Caminero (+200)

Junior Caminero leads the Rays in average fly-ball distance by nearly 40 feet over the last 15 games while pacing the group in barrel rate at 13.6%.

That has only translated to two home runs, but Caminero generally doesn’t go quiet for very long.

Lopez has conceded 1.86 homers per nine innings to righties, a full home run more than he allows to lefties.

The fastball is his most-used pitch, and Caminero owns a .346 ISO against left-handed four-seams this season.

I'd take him to leave the yard down to +186.

Rays vs A’s weather

Temperatures in the 90s are expected with notable winds blowing out. Clear boost to the bats.

Rays vs A’s odds

• Moneyline: Rays -155 | A’s +135
• Run line: Rays -1.5 (+100) | A’s +1.5 (-120)
• Over/Under: Over 10.0 (-105) | Under 10.0 (-115)

Rays vs A’s trend

The Athletics have covered the Run Line in five of the last six games (+4.20 units, 55% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. A’s.

How to watch Rays vs A’s and game info

Rays vs A’s 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.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Don't look now, but the Toronto Blue Jays have won four straight series, and I'm backing them to cover in my Red Sox vs. Blue Jays prediction.

The Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre tonight as large +140 underdogs at Bet99, but have historically hit Sonny Gray hard. 

Let’s get right into my MLB picks for Monday, Aug. 10, and fatten that wallet to kick off the week.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays predictions

Red Sox vs Blue Jays best bet: Blue Jays +1.5 (-130)

If you’re looking to play the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, Bet99 has the best price on the run line at -130. While the offense has come to life lately, scoring 25 runs across the last five games, it’s what they’ve done against Sonny Gray that has me confident we’ll start the week off with some cash in our pockets.

Across 138 plate appearances with Gray on the bump (a sample size we can get behind), the Blue Jays own a .306 xBA and a .472 xSLG — pretty good if you ask me.

This season, it hasn’t been much better for the Red Sox ace, either. In two starts against Toronto, the right-hander has allowed 16 hits and eight earned runs over 12 innings. This matchup couldn’t be any better for the Jays — they could win this one outright.

I’d play the run line up to -140 tonight.

COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox may have a Jameson Taillon problem, too. The big righty has limited this Red Sox offense to a .265 xwOBA over 60 at-bats while striking them out at a 24% clip. 

Red Sox vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is slowly turning his season around and has been putting together productive at-bats over the last few weeks.

Coming off a series in which he went 3-for-9 with a homer, expect him to cash our first leg.

Elsewhere, runs should come in bunches for a team that has dominated Gray this season, and while I have confidence in Taillon tonight, keeping the Red Sox bats at bay is a difficult task — especially with a bullpen that’s taxed after back-to-back extra-inning games.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays SGP 

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI
• Blue Jays +1.5
• Over 8.5 runs

Red Sox vs Blue Jays home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+675)

Does Vladdy do it against the Red Sox?

With just over a month left in the season, he’s yet to hit a long ball at the Rogers Centre, but tonight could be the night, and at +675, I’m taking that price every day.

Guerrero has one career homer against Gray in 13 at-bats, with his average exit velocity near 92 MPH. Gray has coughed up a long ball in three of his last six starts, and in a hitter-friendly park like Rogers Centre, I’ll give Vladdy the benefit of the doubt.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Boston (-160) | Toronto (+140)
• Run line: Boston -1.5 (+105) | Toronto +1.5 (-130)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays trend

Over the last five games when the Blue Jays are underdogs, the Over is hitting at a perfect 5-0 clip. The Over has also hit in three straight for the Blue Jays and in three of Boston's last four games. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Red Sox vs Blue Jays and game info

Red Sox vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Red Sox vs Blue Jays weather

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.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Roughly six weeks after getting a first-hand look a the talent the Atlanta Braves had playing at their High-A affiliate Rome Emperors, I took another trip to Rome on August 8, 2026, to see how the squad looked after the Braves organization promoted most of the high-end talent from Rome to Double-A Columbus and brought up some notable prospects from Low-A Augusta to Rome.

First, the players who were no longer in Rome. Top organizational prospects shortstop Tate Southisene, shortstop/infielder John Gil, outfielder Eric Hartman and pitcher Cam Caminiti have all moved up a level. Amongst the talent brought up to replace them are shortstop Alex Lodise, center fielder Luis Guanipa, outfielder Conor Essenburg and pitchers Ethan Bagwell and Briggs McKenzie.

Before a quick player evaluation, as for the game itself, it was an odd pitchers dual between some early-game sprinkles with the game 2-1 going into the ninth inning. Odd because Rome’s starter Cade Kuelher no-hit the Greensboro Grasshoppers for 4.2 innings, but walked seven and struck out only one. Grasshoppers starter Jose Mena went six innings, but also struck out only one batter while walking two and scattering four hits. Both teams used multi-inning relievers to cover the final frames.

The Emperors blew the lead in the top of the ninth allowing the Grasshoppers to tie things up but Rome made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Rome’s Cody Miller singled to center field but the ball got by Edward Florentino – one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ system – allowing Miller to get to third. After a short fly-out that wasn’t deep enough to score the runner, the Grasshoppers then intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out.

Rome outfielder Logan Braunschweig hit a hard grounder to third that took a good play by the just-inserted-into-the-game Carlos Caro to snag throw home to force Miller at the plate. That brought up Guanipa who laced a line-drive to left-center field where Florentino atoned for he’s prior misplay with a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

Rome again loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th after holding Greensboro in check, with the Grasshoppers again opted to load the bases with back-to-back free passes after Guanipa took third on a wild pitch after starting the inning as the ghost runner. But Miller hit into a double-play to end the rally.

Rome gave up the lead in the top of the 11th and couldn’t must anything in the bottom of the inning to lose 3-2.

Here’s some quick impressions on the prospects in action

Alex Lodise

The second round pick by the Braves out of Florida State University in the 2025 draft, Lodise had been putting together solid season in Augusta with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases with the Green Jackets prior to his promotion. Batting third, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in Rome’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. At the plate, he looked fluid, making solid contract and showing patience in the box. Offensively, he looked like Rome’s best offensive player on this night.

With the organizational depth a shortstop one level above him, Lodise, 22, playing at High-A looked like one level too low for him on this night. Could he be a big league regular? Maybe, if the power he’s showing follows him as he progresses up levels in the system. If he can stick at short stop – even in a back-up role – he will probably carve out a roll in Atlanta or elsewhere by 2028 or 2029.

Conor Essenburg

Another 2025 draft pick, Essenburg was selected in the fifth round out of high school. Still only 19, Essenburg’s promotion to Rome marks the third affiliate he’s played for this season. Offensively, he didn’t flash the skill that saw him hit 14 home runs in 59 games with Augusta on Saturday night, but what he did do was show off his arm on defense.

In the top of the eighth inning, with Rome nursing a one-run lead, Essenburg chased what appeared to be a sure-fire double into the right field corner and unleash a laser to second base to get the runner.

At the plate, he drew a walk and scored, but otherwise was quite with a strikeout in four other at bats.

He is still a few years away, but could be a option for Atlanta at the end of this decade.

Luis Guanipa

The 20 year-old former international free agent signee, Guanipa went 0-for-5 batting lead-off for Rome. He was unremarkable at the plate but made several strong plays in the outfield including an absolutely amazing home-run-robbing catch in dead center field off the bat of Yordany De Los Santos with two runners on in the top of the ninth.

If nothing else, the defense plays. Guanipa, 20, was having a strong season with Augusta with 37 stolen bases and 11 home runs while carrying an .817 OPS. He’s struggle early in Rome, but the speed and defense might earn him a big league bench spot in a few years and maybe more if the power continues to develop.

Rest in Rome

Second baseman Dixon Williams, the 136th overall pick in last year’s draft, stole a base – his 25th – and walked twice but there may not be enough hit tool there to get him to the big leagues. There’s a lot of swing-and-miss but there is some power, with 14 home runs this year.

First baseman Mason Guerra, a 14th round pick in 2024, reminds me a little bit of a right-handed hitting version of former big league first baseman Casey Kotchman who spent parts of two seasons with Atlanta. Guerra is fluid at first base, defensively, and takes his walks as shown by his OBP sitting 100 points higher than his average. He is interesting in the sense that he isn’t a top prospect, but he is solid enough to continue to progress as a hitter in a system without a premium first base prospect. He’ll be 24 later this month, so he is old for the level, but in two in-person viewings, he’s impressed not because of any one loud skill, but as a solid player who is at least a good organizational guy.

On the mound, Kuehler is trying to coming back into form after missing 2025 due to injury and didn’t have the most impressive outing. He worked around traffic through his seven-walk outing and managed only three whiffs in striking out a single batter. Kuehler was the 70th overall pick by the Braves in 2023, but until this season, had only appeared in 14 game since being drafted.

Mathieu Curtis struck out three after allowing an inherited runner to score, allowing a hit to the first batter after replacing Keuhler. Curtis was the 14th round pick by the Braves out of Virginia Tech last year and is worth keeping an eye on as a future bullpen option. He has good control and a solid strikeout rate.

In the other dugout

Several players stood out for the Grasshoppers. Unfortunately, Seth Hernandez – MLB Pipeline’s 6th best prospect in the sport – didn’t pitch, but Florentino (28th overall according to Pipeline) did play. As noted above, he made up for a defense misplay with an incredible catch, he was fluid at the plate and had the look of a top prospect.

First baseman Jared Jones – who was born in Marietta – had a couple of hits but was on the receiving end of Essenburg’s cannon to second. He showed a loud hit tool and is worth keeping an eye on to see if he’s able to progress despite not being in Pittburgh’s Top 30 (per Pipeline). Catcher Camden Janik and second baseman Dylan Palmer both had two hits and one the Pirates top organizational prospects, shortstop Wyatt Sanford, was the DH and walked twice while batting lead off.

The most impressive player to appear for Greensboro was Tony Blanco, Jr., who pinch-hit in the ninth. He is a massive, massive man at 6’7” who has tremendous power. The single he hit to center field was the loudest, most impressive contact for either team. He was pinch-run for by Caro who scored the game-tying run a couple of batters later.

Blanco, Jr. – whose late father had a cup of coffee in the big leagues – is 21 but has only played in 172 games in in five minor league seasons due to injuries. He’s a DH waiting to happen as a pure-power bat if he can stay healthy.

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 (59-54) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Pecko got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs, though all 3 score din the first inning. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 4 runs on an Alexander solo home run, Shewmake RBI double, Delgado groundout and Dezenzo RBI triple. They got another run in the 5th inning on a Biggio solo home run. The pen struggled a bit down the stretch allowing 5 runs and the offense was unable to score again as Sugar Land fell 8-5.

Note: Biggio has a .852 OPS this season.

• Ray Delgado, 3B: 1-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Zach Dezenzo, LF: 1-for-5, 3B, RBI
• Cavan Biggio, RF: 1-for-2, R, HR, RBI, 3 BB
• CJ Alexander, DH: 1-for-5, R, HR, RBI
• Trenton Brooks, 1B: 1-for-2, R, BB
• Lucas Spence, CF: 1-for-3, 2 BB
• Braden Shewmake, SS: 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI

• Ethan Pecko, RHP: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Christian Roa, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (51-57) lost 6-2 (BOX SCORE)

The offense got on the board first picking up a run on a Call sac fly in the 2nd inning. Hicks got the start for the Hooks and went 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 5. Torres struggled in relief allowing 3 runs as the Drillers extended their lead. The offense got one back in the 8th on a balk but that was it as the Hooks fell 6-2.

Note: Bush has a .785 OPS this season.

• Will Bush, DH: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Chase Call, LF: 0-for-3, RBI
• Max Holy, SS: 1-for-2, 2 BB

• James Hicks, RHP: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• Alex Santos II, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Jose Guedez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Alejandro Torres, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (36-70) 

Game One – won 8-4 (BOX SCORE)

This was a completion of the game that started Friday. Thomas connected on a leadoff home run to put Asheville on the board. Potter started and went one inning before the game was suspended. The game restarted Saturday and Batista drove in a run on a single in the 2nd. The offense got 3 more runs in the 4th on an error and Walker 2 run single. Perez pitched in relief and went 1.1 innings allowing 3 runs before the game was suspended again. Smith “started” on Sunday in this game and tossed 3.2 scoreless innings. The offense got 3 runs in the 6th on a Batista 2 run home run and Thomas groundout. The pen allowed one run but held on for the 8-4 win.

Note: Potter has a 2.08 ERA this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
• Xavier Neyens, 3B: 2-for-4, R, BB, SB
• Ethan Frey, DH: 1-for-5, R, SB
• Caden Powell, RF: 0-for-4, R, BB
• Anthony Huezo, LF: 0-for-4, R, BB
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 1-for-2, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Freuddy Batista, C: 3-for-3, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, SB

• Nick Potter, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Javier Perez, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (WIN)
• Parker Smith, RHP: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• Anthony Cruz, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Andrew Marrero, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Game Two – won 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Howard started game two for Asheville and went 4.2 innings allowing one hit and one run while striking out 7. The Asheville offense got on the board in the 6th inning scoring 4 runs on a Frey RBI single, Huezo RBI single and Moss 2 run single. In the bottom of the 7th, Wells allowed 3 runs as the Dash tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 8th, Asheville picked up 4 runs on a wild pitch, run on a fielder’s choice, Huezo RBI double and Moss RBI single. Frias allowed one run but was able to close the door as Asheville won 8-5.

Note: Frey is hitting .276 in High-A.

• Justin Thomas, RF: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB
• Ethan Frey, DH: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Anthony Huezo, CF: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Jack Moss, 1B: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, SB
• DJ Newman, LF: 1-for-3, R

• Dylan Howard, RHP: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (WIN)
• Francisco Frias, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-52) POSTPONED

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

The most recent Rangers Reacts Survey asked folks to grade the Texas Rangers’ trade deadline.

You will be shocked — shocked!!! — to learn that people weren’t happy:

Almost half of you — 47% — gave the Rangers a failing grade for their trade deadline work, and honestly, I’m surprised its that low.

Another 26% gave the Rangers a D, while 20% gave the Rangers a C.

I am guessing the 3% who gave the team an A and the 4% who gave the team a B either really like Chase Silseth or really don’t like Josh Smith.

The voting on the national questions was also pretty lopsided as it relates to who won the trade deadline:

Consistent with this vote, Tarik Skubal, who the Dodgers acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith, was picked as the player traded at the deadline who will make the biggest impact this year, getting over half the vote.

This has been brought to you by FanDuel.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals are battling in the National League Wild Card race ahead of their three-game series at Busch Stadium beginning Monday, Aug. 10.

While Philadelphia is a short road favorite (-113), my top Phillies vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks are calling for the Cards to pull off the victory in a high-scoring game tonight.

Who will win Phillies vs Cardinals today: Cardinals (+105)

Favorable hitting conditions and a soft pitching matchup are the perfect recipe for statistical correction at the dish for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Despite ranking seventh in hard-hit percentage and third in both squared-up contact and blast-contact rates across the past 30 days, the Cards sit 23rd in BABIP.

So, with Philadelphia Phillies righty Andrew Painter bringing a 5.13 xERA and allowing the ninth-highest wOBA to opposing hitters among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season, I’m backing St. Louis at home.

Of course, Philadelphia also ranks 29th in wOBA on the highway this season.

COVERS INTEL: The Phillies and Cardinals rank sixth and seventh in xwOBA, respectively, over the past 30 days, paving the way to a high-scoring game at Busch Stadium tonight.

Phillies vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: 8.5 (-126)

This Over is my favorite bet for this game because Cardinals righty Hunter Dobbins has only made five starts this season, and the Phillies are third in xwOBA with an average of 4.72 runs per game since the All-Star Break.

Simply put, Dobbins sporting a career 4.07 xFIP with a minuscule 19.1 strikeout percentage while allowing a healthy 37.4% squared-up contact rate across 101 1/3 innings shouldn’t instill a lot of confidence.

Phillies vs Cardinals home run prediction: Alec Burleson (+521)

Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson has hit 16 of his 19 homers against right-handed pitchers while sporting a monster .240 ISO and .414 wOBA. Returning to the favorable pitching matchup, in addition to the highlighted Painter shortcomings, 1.8 HR/9 is the 13th-highest mark among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched.

Phillies vs Cardinals weather

Stifling mid-90s temperatures will thin the air density and significantly boost ball carry for hitters at Busch Stadium tonight. Additionally, seven to eight mph winds blowing out to left field further favor the hitting conditions Monday evening.

Phillies vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -115 | Cardinals +105
• Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+140) | Cardinals +1.5 (-165)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-130) | Under 8.5 (+110)

Phillies vs Cardinals trend

The St. Louis Cardinals have won five of their last seven games (+3.90 Units / 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Phillies vs Cardinals and game info

Phillies vs Cardinals 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.

When the Red Sox acquired Adley Rutschman, the conversation immediately went to what he means for the offense, what it costs to get him, and whether this is the move that puts Boston over the top. There have been quite a few pieces on here doing a great job laying that out, from Tim Crowley’s playoff lineup theories, to Matt Gross’ fantastic analysis about Adley on the field and how it makes Craig Breslow look off the field. All fair. But buried underneath that discussion is a quieter question that’s going to matter a lot come October: who backs him up?

Carlos Narváez is gone—he went to Baltimore in the Rutschman trade. That leaves two names: Connor Wong, who’s been behind the plate for the Sox all season, and Jake Rogers, who landed here about a week ago and hasn’t stopped hitting since. This isn’t a clear-cut answer. Let’s go through it.

The Case for Connor Wong

Let’s start with the bat. Through 181 plate appearances, Wong is hitting .245/.333/.368 with a .701 OPS. That’s not a star line, but for a backup catcher it’s more than serviceable. He’s got 10 doubles. He gets on base at a .333 clip. When a backup catcher is getting 2-3 starts a week, you want a guy who can actually contribute offensively—and Wong can, sometimes.

The defensive numbers also favor him in ways that might surprise you. Wong’s catcher ERA this season is 3.24. That’s the ERA posted by Red Sox pitchers when Wong is behind the plate. For context, Rogers’ catcher ERA with his previous clubs is 3.52. Is that difference real or is it just the impact of Wong starting more games with a better pitching staff vs. Rogers—who has been with two very weirdly constructed and somewhat struggling staffs in Detroit and Baltimore? That’s for us to try and suss out.

The blocking numbers back it up, partially. Wong has allowed 10 wild pitches this season; Rogers has allowed 16. With a rotation built around guys with wipeout stuff—both elite fastballs and hard moving breaking balls landing in the dirt regularly—keeping the ball in front of you matters. One passed ball and a runner moving to third in an ALDS game can end your night.

And then there’s the familiarity argument, which is real even if it’s hard to quantify. Wong has multiple seasons learning how Crochet attacks lineups, how Tolle sequences his strikeout pitches, how every arm in that bullpen works. Rogers just got here. In October, when the margins shrink and every at-bat feels like a chess match, the catcher who knows the staff has an edge.

The Case for Jake Rogers

The arm. Full stop.

Rogers has thrown out 24.3% of base stealers this season. Wong is at 17.1%. That’s not a small gap—that’s the difference between a guy who neutralizes the running game and a guy opponents can exploit freely. When you have a guy with one of the best pop-time arms in baseball in Rutschman—who already showed out catching a runner stealing in his rehab assignment in Worcester—downgrading your arm at any given point is a real concern. In the regular season, stolen bases are one thing. In a playoff series, where managers are hunting every edge and one run can make all the difference, a catcher who lets the opponent run with impunity becomes a liability. Opposing base stealers are going to test whoever is behind the plate. The question is who’s going to make them pay for it.

Rogers also comes into this with a perfect fielding percentage on the season—1.000 in 39 games behind the plate. Zero errors. Zero throwing errors. Wong has two errors—both throwing errors. Again, not disqualifying, but in the context of a tight series where every mistake gets magnified, it’s worth noting.

And then there’s what he’s done since arriving in Boston, which has been genuinely hard to ignore. In his first three games as a Red Sox, Rogers is 3-for-6 with 2 RBI. He walked with the bases loaded in the August 6 marathon to drive in a run without even swinging. He went 2-for-3 with a walk while handling Payton Tolle’s 14-strikeout masterpiece on the 7th. He got a hit in yesterday’s loss. For a guy who just walked into a new clubhouse mid-pennant race, he hasn’t blinked once.

That small-sample line at .500 isn’t going to hold, and everyone knows it. But the .183 season average isn’t the whole story either—Rogers’ BABIP is .232, which is well below normal and suggests some bad luck is baked into that number. His contact quality and walk rate (16 BB in 125 PA) suggest a more functional hitter than the batting average alone implies. And if he keeps playing anything close to how he’s played since arriving, the offensive gap between him and Wong starts to close fast.

So Which Is It?

There’s no clean answer here, which is exactly why the conversation is worth having.

If you weigh the full season and trust the staff familiarity angle, Wong is your guy. The catcher ERA, the blocking, the OBP, the two months of organizational knowledge—it all points in his direction. You don’t bench a .333 on-base guy for a .290 guy because of a good first week.

If you weight the arm and the October context, Rogers makes a compelling case. A 7-point difference in caught stealing percentage sounds modest until it’s the seventh inning of a one-run game in an ALDS and someone just took second on a ball in the dirt. In a short series, the catcher who can shut down the running game has real value that doesn’t show up in OPS.

The honest answer is that Chad Tracy is going to have a real decision to make when Rutschman comes back. Wong has earned his roster spot all season, whether by default or by committee with Narváez. Rogers has earned a serious look in a single week. Both deserve to be in this conversation.

Let’s watch how Rogers plays over the next two weeks. That’s probably how this gets decided.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

A fresh week is in front of us as we look to back a pair of players and fade a pitcher on today's MLB slate.

Here are my three favorite MLB player props for Monday, Aug. 10.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Jameson Taillon	Over 2.5 earned runs	-113
Sonny Gray	Under 2.5 earned runs	-166
Francisco Alvarez	Over 0.5 hits+runs+RBI	-168

Jameson Taillon Over 2.5 earned runs (-113)

I find it hard to pass up backing the Boston Red Sox here when they are this hot, especially when this matchup only adds fuel to the flame. Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon has posted a 7.78 ERA, 6.65 xERA and 1.73 WHIP while allowing a 45% hard-hit rate and 16.13% barrel rate over his last five starts.

On top of Taillon's recent struggles, he owns the worst pitcher rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset from today's slate. Taillon also carries poor matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and hard contact, while drawing four elite-rated Red Sox bats and another with a strong rating.

If you have been living under a rock for the last month and a half, the Red Sox have been on fire, posting a 120 wRC+, .348 wOBA and .790 OPS over their last 21 games.

I find it tough to pass up backing the Red Sox here. I would take this prop down to -120, or see if the Red Sox first five team total is available at a better price.

• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Sonny Gray Under 2.5 earned runs (-166)

Sticking with that game, Sonny Gray is in another great spot to add to his 2026 resume, as he draws one of the most lifeless offenses in baseball. The Blue Jays own a 79 wRC+, .282 wOBA, and .106 ISO while producing just a 4% barrel rate over their last 21 games.

Not to mention, Toronto has zero hitters with an elite or strong rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset, while Gray owns the second-highest pitcher rating. Gray also sports strong matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and ground-ball rate.

Using the default setting that goes back the last three seasons, Gray has some strong trends. In 22 strong ratings, the right-hander has stayed Under this prop 63.64% of the time with fewer than two earned runs 59% of the time. On top of that, he has allowed fewer than six hits 68.18% of the time and fewer than five 54.55% of the time.

The price is juicy but reasonable, given how underwhelming the Blue Jays have been this season. I would take this down to -170 at the most, or pivot to his Under 5.5 hits if the price gets too out of hand.

• Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Francisco Alvarez Over 0.5 hits+runs+RBI (-168)

If you are not in the juice-paying business, take New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez to get a hit at roughly -135, or look toward his alt 1.5 HRR prop. Regardless, getting this prop at that price is a steal given the number of ways Alvarez can cash it.

Alvarez has an elite rating on Batters-Box while covering over 90% of Bryce Elder's pitch mix. Through 35 elite ratings over the last three seasons, the 24-year-old has gone over this prop 57.14% of the time. He has also gone over this prop in six of his last 10 elite ratings.

The young catcher has been tearing apart right-handed pitching. Over the last 60 right-handers he has faced, Alvarez owns a .306 BA, .433 OBP, .612 SLG, and .306 ISO, while generating a 47% hard-hit rate and 23.5% barrel rate.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves starter has allowed a 47% hard-hit rate, 12.1% barrel rate, and 2.25 HR/9 with a 5.32 xERA against the last 60 right-handed hitters he has faced. Those hitters own a .317 xBA, .554 xSLG, and .371 xwOBA.

I would take this prop down to -170 at the most, or pivot Alvarez to get a hit or go Over 1.5 HRR.

• Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVsn, SNY

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.