Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Brewers at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 22

It's Thursday, May 22 and the Brewers (24-26) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (17-33). Milwaukee has not announced its starter yet, while Mike Burrows makes his 2025 debut for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over the Reds in the last two days. Pittsburgh is 5-14 in May so far, while Milwaukee is 8-11 with three of those wins coming over the past four games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Pirates

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNP

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-120), Pirates (+102)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025:
  • TBD vs. Mike Burrows
    • Brewers: TBD
    • Pirates: Mike Burrows, (1-0, 2.70 ERA in 2024)
      Last outing: This will be his first start in 2025

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Pirates

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Brewers and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Pirates

  • The Pirates have lost 12 of 16 games this season following a win
  • The Under is 4-0-1 in the Pirates' last 5 matchups against NL Central teams
  • The Pirates are up 2.31 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at PNC Park

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Mets vs. Dodgers: 5 things to watch and series predictions | May 23-25

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m.

5 things to watch

NLCS rematch

The last time these teams faced off was last year’s NLCS when the Dodgers ended the Mets’ miraculous postseason run -- jumping on both Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga in a Game 6 clinching victory. 

Los Angeles, of course, ultimately went on to defeat the Yankees in five games in the World Series to secure the eighth title in franchise history.  

Both teams made some big additions over the offseason, and they are currently considered among the favorites to represent the National League in the Fall Classic this year.

The Mets (30-20) have hit a bit of a rough patch after their red hot start to the season -- currently sitting in second place in the NL East, just 1.5 games behind the Phillies and 10 games above the .500 mark. 

The Dodgers (31-19) have been struggling of late as well, but they are coming off a series win over the Diamondbacks and are currently tied with Philadelphia for the most wins in the National League. 

Could this rematch be an early NLCS preview?

Brett Baty's confidence continues to grow

Baty just keeps building his case for everyday playing time. 

With Mark Vientos struggling defensively, the youngster drew the start at the hot corner in each of the three games in Boston and he impressed with the leather in the first two. 

Carlos Mendoza said pregame Wednesday that Baty’s defense was the main reason he decided to leave him in the lineup against a tough left-hander in Garrett Crochet for the series finale. 

Baty responded by cracking a two-out RBI single in the second inning to get the scoring started. He came through again later on, going the other way to put New York back in front with a two-run double off another tough lefty in Brennan Bernardino. 

The 25-year-old finished the day 2-for-4 while driving in three of New York’s five runs. 

After his strong showing against the lefties, Baty figures to have earned himself the opportunity to get back out there against Clayton Kershaw in the opener -- he should be in the lineup for all three games of this set. 

Signs of life at the plate

Baty wasn’t the only positive sign during Wednesday’s win in Boston. 

The rest of the bottom four did a good job setting the table as well -- Luis Torrens was on-base three times, Tyrone Taylor picked up a knock of his own, and Luisangel Acuña reached on a pair of infield hits. 

Francisco Lindor had two hits out of the leadoff spot as well -- opening the game with a double off Crochet and then cracking a solo shot over the Green Monster in the ninth for the Mets’ first homer since last Tuesday. 

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates his home run against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning at Fenway Park
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates his home run against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning at Fenway Park / Eric Canha - Imagn Images

As a team, though, they still finished 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position. 

They are now an abysmal eight-for-56 in such situations over their last eight games.

Juan Soto still looks a bit lost at the plate -- he was fooled badly on three strikeouts against Crochet, but drove one deep to center with the bases loaded in the seventh which would’ve been a grand slam if not for the wind. 

Soto now hasn't left the yard since May 9 and he's just 5-for-35 over that span. Pete Alonso’s production has slowed down mightily as well since the calendar flipped to May -- he's now gone 56 at-bats without a homer, which is the third-longest streak of his career.

Vientos also still isn’t offering much of anything in the power department, and Brandon Nimmo continues to struggle mightily at the plate.  

For this offense to get back in a groove, they need the big guns at the top to get rolling again.

Dodgers' pitching has been hittable

The positive for the Mets is the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been very hittable thus far. 

LA came into the year with a loaded rotation from top-to-bottom after making some offseason additions, but they’ve battled numerous injuries and have been forced to tap deep into their depth. 

Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Emmett Sheehan, River Ryan, and Gavin Stone are all currently sidelined and Shohei Ohtani is still yet to make his return to the mound.

Relievers Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates, and Brusdar Graterol are also on the IL.

With their pieced together young staff, the Dodgers have allowed the ninth-most runs (222) and seventh-most homers (65) in baseball to this point in the season. 

The Mets will have to deal with the veteran Kershaw, who is 11-0 against them in his career, but he struggled in his season debut -- allowing five runs and walking three in just four innings against the Angels. 

Tony Gonsolin (4.05 ERA) and Landon Knack (6.17 ERA) are set to pitch the final two games.

Mets pitchers will have their hands full

As bad as the Dodgers' pitching has been thus far, their offense has had their backs.

They currently lead the league with a .284 average. They also rank second in home runs (81), hits (454), runs scored (284), and OPS (.814) and find themselves in the top-10 in several other key categories.

Their star-studded top of the order leads the way headlined by Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and All-Star catcher Will Smith -- three of which are hitting above the .300 mark.

Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman have returned from stints on the IL and they’ve been great thus far as well -- producing a combined 18 homers and 64 RBI.

The speedy Hyeseong Kim has also provided a spark since being called up and Andy Pages has locked himself into an everyday role after producing nine long balls over the first 46 games of the season.  

The Mets’ pitching staff has continued to carry their weight amid the offenses struggles, but they'll really be put to the test this weekend -- and it'll be up to Griffin Canning, David Peterson, and Senga to keep this high-powered group in check. 

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Francisco Lindor.

He's been tremendous at home this season and showed some positive signs on Wednesday.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Kodai Senga.

Senga is rolling and will be determined to make up for his rough showing in the NLCS

Which Dodgers player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Freddie Freeman.

One of the biggest Met killers around, who leads the NL with a .368 average and 1.087 OPS.

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Ace mismanagement? Red Sox' plan for Crochet backfires in loss to Mets

Ace mismanagement? Red Sox' plan for Crochet backfires in loss to Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox appeared to be in a good spot Wednesday night.

The Sox were tied 1-1 with the New York Mets with one out in the sixth inning and seeking their first three-game winning streak since late April. Their ace, Garrett Crochet, was dealing, with just five hits allowed and five strikeouts on 85 pitches, his latest a nasty sweeper to ring up Juan Soto.

But that would be the last pitch Crochet threw, as manager Alex Cora emerged from the dugout to give Crochet the short hook and summon reliever Liam Hendriks from the bullpen. While Hendriks completed the sixth inning, it was all downhill from there: Hendriks, Brennan Bernardino and Sean Newcomb combined to allow four runs over the final three innings en route to a disappointing 5-1 loss.

So, why did Cora pull Crochet so early? The Red Sox manager explained that Wednesday was a planned shorter start for Crochet, who leads the majors in innings pitched and had gone a full seven innings in three of his last four starts.

“It’s for the benefit of the player,” Cora said after the game, via MassLive.com. “We’re here for the long run and we need that guy to make his starts. And for us to go to where we feel we can go, we need him.”

Crochet — who wasn’t informed about Boston’s plans to limit him before the game — wasn’t too happy about his early exit.

“I was frustrated,” Crochet said, via MassLive. “Just wanted a chance to pick up my teammates, the bullpen. They’ve obviously worked really hard this series. And I wanted to try and keep them out of it as much as possible.”

To Crochet’s point, no Boston starter had lasted more than 4.2 innings in the previous four games entering Wednesday. And just one day earlier, six Red Sox pitchers combined to log 6.2 innings of relief after starter Walker Buehler was ejected in the third inning.

Yet there was Cora at Fenway Park on Wednesday pulling the plug on Crochet’s shortest outing of the season, and turning to an already-taxed bullpen to get 11 more outs.

“I like to think that I’m built up for that workload at this point,” Crochet said. “Obviously the focus is on being healthy in October, which I understand. But my focus right now is looking out for my teammates, trying to pick up slack when there needs to be.

“If I’m gonna be the starting pitcher that we’re looking towards right now, I wanna go out there and lead the league in innings. I want to throw as many innings as possible.”

There’s a rational case for monitoring Crochet’s workload; the 25-year-old is just three years removed from Tommy John surgery and has only thrown more than 100 innings in a season once (146 in 2024). If the Red Sox want Crochet to be at his best in October, there’s a benefit to not overworking him on a cold night in May.

But the reality is that Boston may not be playing in October unless it can win games more consistently. The Red Sox are 25-26 after Wednesday’s loss and now are 3-6 in their last nine games. In their defeat to the Mets, they squandered a rare opportunity to complete a series sweep and gain momentum entering a three-game set with the lowly Baltimore Orioles.

You could argue there’s plenty of time for the Red Sox to get hot. But their conservative approach with Crochet highlights an overall lack of urgency of Fenway Park that’s reflected in the team’s current record.

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Orioles at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 22

Its Thursday, May 22 and the Orioles (16-32) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (25-26). Cade Povich is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Lucas Giolito for Boston.

Despite losing 5-1 to the Mets yesterday, the Red Sox picked up the series win. The Red Sox hope to get something going in this series against the struggling Orioles. Neither is above .500, and both have losing records in their last 10 games.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Red Sox

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: NESN, MASN, MASN+, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+104), Red Sox (-122)
  • Spread:  Red Sox 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025: Cade Povich vs. Lucas Giolito
    • Orioles: Cade Povich, (1-3, 5.23 ERA)
      Last outing (Washington Nationals, 5/16): 5.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito, (1-1, 7.08 ERA)
      Last outing (Atlanta Braves, 5/17): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Red Sox

  • The Orioles have lost 11 of 13 games this season following a win
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Red Sox's last 5 matchups against American League teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Orioles and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Mariners at Astros Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 22

Its Thursday, May 22 and the Mariners (28-20) are in Houston to take on the Astros (25-24). George Kirby is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Lance McCullers for Houston.

The Astros are hoping to bounce back from an 8-4 loss and a dropped series against the Tampa Bay Rays when McCullers takes the mound today. Hunter Brown didn't have his best stuff yesterday. He gave up five earned runs from seven hits in 5.0 innings.

The AL West-leading Mariners look to build off their 6-5 win against the Chicago White Sox.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mariners at Astros

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, ROOTNW

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mariners at the Astros

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (-134), Astros (+114)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025: George Kirby vs. Lance McCullers
    • Mariners: George Kirby
    • Astros: Lance McCullers, (0-1, 7.88 ERA)
      Last outing (Texas Rangers, 5/16): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mariners at Astros

  • The Mariners have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with winning records
  • The Under has cashed in 4 of the Astros' last 5 games with Lance McCullers starting
  • The Mariners have covered the Run Line in 5 straight games at the Astros

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Astros

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Mariners and the Astros:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Astros at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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'Everything felt good' for former Met Jacob deGrom in first New York start as a Ranger

The first two years of Jacob deGrom's contract with the Rangers were mainly spent on the IL.

He made just three starts towards the end of last season as he was recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, but after having a healthy offseason and full spring training, he's finally ready to roll.

The right-hander is officially back and delivering the type of performances Texas was expecting when they handed him a big money five-year deal a couple of winters back -- Wednesday night was another one of those.

Taking the mound against the high-powered Yankees lineup in his first New York start since the 2022 National League Wild Card round, deGrom put together seven strong innings of work.

He did get off to a bit of a slow start, allowing the Bombers to put two on in the first and then Anthony Volpe led off the second with a triple and later scored -- but it was smooth sailing from there.

DeGrom retired the next 15 batters in order before the scorching hot Cody Bellinger crushed a solo homer to cut into the Rangers' two-run lead leading off the bottom of the seventh.

He easily set aside the next three batters to finish off his fourth quality start of the season with a final line of two runs allowed on three hits to go along with just one walk and nine strikeouts.

It was also the first time he topped the 100-pitch mark this season.

"Everything felt good," deGrom said postgame. "You miss that much time, it's good to pitch anywhere -- but having spent so much time in New York, getting back on the mound here, it was fun tonight."

Fittingly in his return to the Big Apple, the 36-year-old ended up being handed the tough-luck no-decision as the Rangers were walked off, but he continues to prove that even after a few injury-plagued seasons he's still among the best in the game.

DeGrom has now allowed just five earned runs in each of his last five starts -- pitching to a strong 1.45 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with five walks and 36 punch outs over that span.

"The main thing is the mental thing," he said. "You want to be out there competing. The goal is to be out there as much as I could, to take the ball as many times as I could -- when you don't, you feel like a real letdown."

If deGrom is able to stay healthy, perhaps he'll have his shot at a Citi Field return later this season.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Revamped lineup shows sign of life, snaps three-game losing skid

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

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Padres at Blue Jays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 22

Its Thursday, May 22 and the Padres (27-20) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (24-24).

Stephen Kolek is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Bowden Francis for Toronto.

The Jays have blanked the Padres each of the last two days. Yesterday, Toronto smacked San Diego 14-0. Daulton Varsho cleared the bases with a grand slam and the Blue Jays collected 14 hits in the beating.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Blue Jays

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 1:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, Sportsnet, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-114), Blue Jays (-106)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025: Stephen Kolek vs. Bowden Francis
    • Padres: Stephen Kolek (2-1, 2.33 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Seattle - 5IP, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 4Ks
    • Blue Jays: Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.63 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Detroit - 4.2IP, 4ER, 8H, 2BB, 6Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Blue Jays

  • The Jays have outscored the Padres 17-0 through two games of the series
  • The Under is 26-20-1 in Padres' games this season
  • The Blue Jays are up 2.14 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Rogers Centre
  • George Springer collected 2 hits last night to snap an 0-15 streak

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Padres and the Blue Jays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Padres and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Phillies at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 22

Its Thursday, May 22 and the Phillies (31-18) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (8-41).

Ranger Suárez is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Germán Márquez for Colorado.

The Phillies will be looking for the sweep today as they have taken the first three games of the series. Philadelphia's offense has scored 25 runs thus far. They won yesterday 9-5. Bryce Harper and Trea Turner paced the attack with home runs.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Rockies

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 3:10PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, COLR

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Phillies at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-299), Rockies (+240)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 11.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025: Ranger Suárez vs. Germán Márquez
    • Phillies: Ranger Suárez (2-0, 5.09 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Pittsburgh - 7IP, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 6Ks
    • Rockies: Germán Márquez (1-6, 8.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 at Arizona - 3IP, 5ER, 7H, 3BB, 1K

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Rockies

  • The Phillies have won their last 5 road games, while the Rockies have lost 4 straight overall
  • The Under has cashed in 8 of the Rockies' last 10 games with German Marquez starting
  • The Rockies have failed to cover in their last 6 games against the Phillies
  • Trea Turner is 7-15 in this series with 1 HR and 4 runs scored
  • JT Realmuto collected 3 hits yesterday to snap a 2-21 stretch over the previous 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Rockies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Phillies and the Rockies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 11.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Rangers at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 22

Its Thursday, May 22 and the Rangers (25-25) are in Bronx to take on the Yankees (29-19).

Nathan Eovaldi is slated to take the mound for Texas against Carlos Rodón for New York.

The Yankees have taken the first two games of this series. Last night they knocked off the Rangers 4-3 scoring single runs in each of the last three innings to secure the come from behind win. Jasson Dominguez won it with a walk-off home run for New York. The Rangers' bullpen failed to close out a stellar Jacob deGrom start. The veteran allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Yankees

  • Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
  • Time: 12:35PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, YES, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rangers at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+135), Yankees (-159)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for May 22, 2025: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Carlos Rodón
    • Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 1.61 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Houston - 5.2IP, 0ER, 2H, 3BB, 5Ks
    • Yankees: Carlos Rodón (5-3, 3.17 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/16 vs. Mets - 5IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 5Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 games against AL West teams
  • The Under is 7-3 (70%) in the Yankees' games this season with Carlos Rodon on the mound
  • The Rangers have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 2.50 units
  • Cody Bellinger extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a couple of hits last night.
  • Wyatt Langford has hit safely in 4 straight games (5-16)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Rangers and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rangers and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Major League reunion for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Budweiser and MLB

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — In celebration of Major League Baseball‘s 2025 jewel event, the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com in Bristol, Tennessee, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Budweiser and MLB are teaming up to bring a NASCAR Hall of Famer, American beer and America‘s favorite pastime to fans by recreating and paying homage to the iconic No. 8 Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game paint scheme.

The legendary scheme will be showcased at the MLB Speedway Classic on Aug. 2 and will be raced by Earnhardt Jr. in the zMAX CARS Tour event at South Carolina’s Anderson Motor Speedway on Aug. 16.

In July 2001, the original Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game paint scheme cemented its place in racing history when Earnhardt Jr. raced the red and white No. 8 design to an emotional victory in his first trip to Daytona International Speedway following the tragic loss of his father at the track earlier that year.

“It is an incredible opportunity to reunite with Budweiser and Major League Baseball,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I‘ve watched that July 2001 race at Daytona so many times. It‘s such a great memory for me. I am excited that we have this chance to collaborate with Bud and MLB to bring that scheme back again because of what it means to me and so many others.”

This partnership follows Budweiser and Earnhardt Jr.‘s reunion last November, when they brought back one of the most recognizable paint schemes in racing history, the red Bud No. 8 made famous by Earnhardt Jr. from 1999 to 2007.

RELATED: Memorable Dale Jr. paint schemes

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 7, 2001: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. celebrates his win in the Pepsi 400 NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway, his third major NASCAR win. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)

Furthermore, as the longest-tenured sponsor of Major League Baseball, Budweiser has been a staple in the sport‘s traditions and game-day experience for 21+ fans for decades. This August, Budweiser, MLB and Earnhardt Jr. are helping fans celebrate another historic milestone by promoting the MLB Speedway Classic that will be held at Bristol Motor Speedway. One of NASCAR‘s most popular tracks will host a special regular season contest between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, marking the first Major League game to be played in the state of Tennessee. Attending fans can also view the No. 8 Budweiser / MLB Speedway Classic show car at the event.

“The incredible fan response to Budweiser‘s reunion with Dale Jr. last November reminded us just how special this partnership is to racing fans,” said Todd Allen, SVP of Marketing at Budweiser and Bud Light. “This No. 8 Budweiser / MLB All-Star Game-inspired paint scheme pays tribute to one of the most iconic moments in the storied history of Dale Jr. and Budweiser‘s partnership. The MLB Speedway Classic is the perfect stage to revive this fan-favorite design, uniting an American racing icon and American beer at a first-of-its-kind MLB event.”

In addition to enjoying the action at the MLB Speedway Classic and Anderson Motor Speedway, fans can commemorate the return of this iconic paint scheme with limited-edition merchandise available now on shopjrnation.com and coming soon to additional select retail locations.

Anheuser-Busch has proudly supported and elevated NASCAR through Budweiser, Busch and Busch Light for more than 40 years. Its long-standing commitment to the motorsports industry has included driver partnerships — notably as the primary sponsor of Earnhardt Jr. for nine seasons — key event sponsorships and media investments in motorsports.

Follow along on Budweiser‘s social channels for more details about its partnership with Earnhardt Jr. and programming at MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol, and stay up to date on the racing events at the JRM X account or watch the Anderson Motor Speedway race on www.FloRacing.com.

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Is the Mets’ $765m slugger Juan Soto sad, bad or just playing in New York?

Juan Soto during this week’s series against the Boston Red Sox. Photograph: Natalie Reid/MLB Photos/Getty Images

If you only tuned into the biggest headlines about him, you might be convinced that Juan Soto’s first quarter of a season with the New York Mets has been a complete flop.

Last December, the Mets guaranteed Soto $765m on a 15-year contract, the most lucrative deal in professional sports history. In the early going of his time with the Mets, Soto has been the subject of a handful of viral stories, ranging from the mundane to the bizarre. None of them have been positive. Last Sunday, Soto did not hustle out of the box on a ground ball up the middle, and his casual trot to first base cost him a chance at an infield hit, in the eighth inning of a tied game against the crosstown rival Yankees. The very next night, Soto jogged out of the box on a fly ball at Fenway Park that he thought was a home run. It was not, and another news cycle about Soto’s effort followed. “I think I’ve been hustling pretty hard,” he told reporters.

Elsewhere, rumors flew around the internet last week that Soto had an arrangement with the Mets to fly to road games on a private plane, separate from his teammates. That was made up; Soto flies with his teammates, just like every other player in the league. Michael Kay, a broadcaster for the Yankees – who Soto ditched for the Mets in free agency after one year – added fuel to the fire on his radio show. Kay, citing conversations with “people on the Mets side” of the rivalry (Grimace?), said that Soto had been “very, very glum around the clubhouse” in Queens. He had wanted to remain a Yankee, Kay said, before family pushed back and urged him to sign with the Mets. (Nobody has substantiated any of Kay’s reporting.)

Soto’s results in the batter’s box have induced a bit of anxiety, too. In mid-April, Soto was so downtrodden that Mets fans greeted him for a run-of-the-mill at-bat with a standing ovation, hoping their support would lift him up. How bad had Soto been to that point? Well, his adjusted on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS+) was 118, meaning he was “only” 18% better than the league average hitter to date. In Soto’s career up to this year, his adjusted OPS was 60% better than average.

Related: Pete Rose returns to the Hall conversation as baseball embraces his original sin

For Soto, those few weeks of being a well above-average hitter rather than a great one must have been like torture. Even now, Soto’s OPS+ of 134 through Tuesday’s game has not quieted much of the anxiety around him. Soto’s first 49 games haven’t felt like a fairytale, even as the Mets have raced to one of the best records in baseball (their form, and batting, have slumped in the last week). But perhaps anyone feeling tense about Soto should take a wider lens: Soto’s first seven weeks with the Mets have been good, not great, but he had dozens of less productive spans over his first seven big league seasons. 2025 hasn’t even been his slowest start by OPS; that was 2022, when Soto posted a .795 OPS (compared to this year’s .815) over the season’s first 48 games.

And what did Soto do that year? Well, what he does every year: He made the National League All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger in the outfield, putting up a typically elite year split between the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres. In other words, the solution to any anxieties about Soto’s opening stint as a Met is simple: Everyone should just calm down for a few months. As the club’s owner, Steve Cohen, posted this week on X: “Welcome to the ups and downs of a baseball season.”

Soto has damned himself to a lifetime of enormous expectations, and he has 765m reasons to suck it up and deal with it. But Soto has been so consistently good for so long – and is still so young – that he is graded on an outrageous curve. Soto posted at least an OPS+ of 140 in each of his first seven big league seasons, something that only Albert Pujols and Ted Williams have done while qualifying for the batting title in each of those years. (Soto missed qualification by a few at-bats as a teenager in 2018.)

It isn’t just that Soto delivers year in and year out, but that his 26-year-old body and his approach to hitting make it seem so implausible that he would ever struggle. Soto has never played fewer than 150 games in a full major league season, save for his rookie year (when he was a midseason callup) and the shortened 2020 campaign. Soto has a slugger’s frame but not such a big one that he looks like he is likely to break down anytime soon. And so little of his success at the plate owes to luck or variance. Soto may have the keenest eye for pitches of any hitter who has ever lived. Plate discipline isn’t just about letting unfavorable pitches go, but about destroying meaty ones, and Soto has mastered both of those skills.

And, indeed, a look under the hood suggests that Soto will soon revert back to his normal, elite self, instead of being the merely very good hitter he has been so far as a Met. Soto’s batted-ball statistics, tracked in Statcast, look a lot like they do every year: He’s hitting the ball hard, laying off balls better than practically anyone else, and holding a top-five walk-to-strikeout ratio in Major League Baseball.

Soto is also playing in New York, an atmosphere for athletes only a little less hostile than the surface of Venus. The rumors and behindbacks that have circulated around him are also part of playing in the city, where the slightest dip in form will be endlessly debated in the press. That wasn’t really a problem when Soto was with the Yankees and everything was going well. But now he is struggling a little, all while walking away from a team who are not used to being jilted, and signing a contract worth nearly $1bn. It would be understandable if he’s feeling the pressure a little, all while adjusting to a new clubhouse and teammates.

Does that mean any concern about Soto is fantastical? Certainly not. He has looked uncharacteristically unsure of himself at times at the plate this season – on Wednesday against the Red Sox he struck out twice in his first two bats without offering a swing, his excellent eye seeming to desert him.

While he’s nowhere near there yet, even the greatest hitters will eventually decline, and Soto won’t be an exception. His defense in right field has drawn mixed reviews from various metrics during his career. This year, numbers place Soto somewhere between “very bad” and a bit below average in the field. He’s dead last among right fielders in Outs Above Average and has posted a Defensive Runs Saved total of negative-1. Yankees fans surely enjoyed Soto failing to get to a sinking fly ball off Aaron Judge’s bat last weekend. It’s possible that as Soto ages further into his contract, his defense will become a more substantial liability and cut into his value.

That’s not likely to be a major 2025 problem, however, and it speaks to Soto’s excellence that a solid start by almost anyone else’s standards has prompted doubts. The Mets are just a shade behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, and their early success has come despite a handful of difficulties – an injured starting rotation, a slow start for now-rounding-into-form closer Edwin Díaz, and Soto not yet operating to his usual standard. Soto is only 2% of the way into his 15-year contract. It’s just a matter of time until he shows why the Mets invested their future in him.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Phillies turn back to Jordan Romano following suspension to José Alvarado

In this week's Closer Report, Jordan Romano is thrust back into the closer role in Philadelphia following José Alvarado's 80-game suspension. Meanwhile, the Yankees aren't ready to hand ninth-inning opportunities back to Devin Williams yet with Luke Weaver holding things down. All that and more as we break down the week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Mason Miller - Athletics

Muñoz struck out one batter while recording a four-out save on Saturday against the Padres, then struck out the only batter he faced for his 15th save Monday against the White Sox. He collected save number 16 with a scoreless outing on Wednesday. The 26-year-old right-hander has started the season on a 21 2/3-inning scoreless streak with a 28/8 K/BB ratio.

Hader recorded saves on back-to-back days this week against the Rangers and Rays. The 31-year-old left-hander is up to 12 on the season to go with a 1.71 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 29/5 K/BB ratio across 21 innings.

Miller took the loss in extra innings on Saturday against the Giants, issuing three walks to end the game in the bottom of the tenth. He's struggled a bit with command of late, walking seven batters over his last four outings.

Tier 2: The Elite

Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets

No action for Suarez this week. He remains at 15 saves with a 2.84 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 21/8 K/BB ratio across 19 innings. Elsewhere in the NL West, Scott had given up just one run since April 1 before allowing three runs on a pair of homers against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He then bounced back with two strikeouts in a clean inning for his tenth save on Wednesday.

Duran was charged with a blown save on Wednesday, giving up a run on two hits against the Guardians. He fell in line for the win when Minnesota walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. He had gone into Wednesday's outing on a 12-game scoreless streak, collecting six of his eight saves in May.

Díaz struck out two batters in a clean inning against the Yankees on Saturday for his tenth save of the season. He's made nine straight scoreless appearances, recording a 2.84 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 27/9 K/BB ratio over 19 innings this season.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Luke Weaver - New York Yankees
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Will Vest/Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers

Clase struck out two batters in a non-save situation against the Reds on Saturday. The Guardians then put a save chance just out of reach on Wednesday, with Clase pitching the ninth with a four-run lead.

Helsley tossed a clean inning against the Royals on Saturday for his ninth save. After struggling to limit walks for a stretch, he's now walked zero batters in seven of his last eight outings.

Weaver got the easiest two saves a closer could ask for this week, needing only two pitches to record the final out in each of his two save opportunities. He then picked up a win with a clean inning against the Rangers on Wednesday. He's up to six saves with a 0.42 ERA, 0.55 WHIP, and a 22/6 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 innings. Despite Devin Williams pitching much better of late, the team has stated there are no plans to put him back in the closer role, for now.

Hoffman fell in line for a win Saturday with a scoreless inning against the Tigers. He then struck out one batter in a clean frame against the Padres on Tuesday for his tenth save. It's a start on the right track after giving up five runs against the Rays on May 13.

It was a productive week for Chapman as he earned a win Saturday, followed by back-to-back saves on Monday and Tuesday against the Mets. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander is up to eight saves with a 1.89 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and a 26/7 K/BB ratio across 19 frames.

Megill worked two scoreless innings for a pair of saves this week against the Twins and Orioles. He then pitched the tenth against Baltimore on Wednesday and gave up an unearned run. The 31-year-old right-hander has been solid in his first season as a closer, recording seven saves with a 2.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 17/8 K/BB ratio across 15 1/3 innings.

Fairbanks made two scoreless appearances this week in non-save situations. He hasn't recorded a save since May 4. However, it's been mostly situational with the team putting save chances just out of reach as they did Wednesday, taking a four-run lead into the ninth.

Iglesias has struggled a bit with a 7.84 ERA over the last month, going 4-for-6 in save chances in that stretch. He picked up two in the last week with back-to-back saves against the Nationals and Red Sox.

Walker picked up two saves this week, giving him nine on the season with a 5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a 16/7 K/BB ratio across 18 innings. He's been much better over the last week with three perfect outings.

Finnegan continues to get things done for the Nationals. He added two saves over the last week. The 33-year-old right-hander is up to 15 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 17/7 K/BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings.

Bautista blew a save chance Wednesday against the Brewers, giving up one run on two walks and a hit. It was his fourth consecutive outing with at least one run allowed after a nine-game scoreless streak. The 29-year-old right-hander has a 4.30 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 17/11 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings while converting 7-of-8 save chances.

Vest was charged with a blown save, allowing an inherited runner to score in the eighth inning on Saturday against the Blue Jays. He then locked down a save with a scoreless inning Sunday and earned the win after pitching the eighth Tuesday against the Cardinals. Kahnle pitched the ninth on Tuesday and is up to six saves to Vest's five, though Vest seems to be the preferred option over the last month.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Jordan Romano - Philadelphia Phillies
Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Shelby Miller - Arizona Diamondbacks
David Bednar/Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates
Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers

We got some shocking news this week when José Alvarado was handed an 80-game suspension for violating the performance-enhancing substance policy. The suspension will keep the 30-year-old left-hander out until August and make him ineligible for the postseason. Romano seems to have fixed his issues just in time to take over as the team's closer. He's picked up three saves over the last two weeks and has not allowed a run over his last eight appearances.

After giving up three runs and taking the loss on May 13 against the White Sox, Pagán bounced back this week with three consecutive saves against the Guardians. He's up to 12 on the year with a 3.52 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 26/6 K/BB ratio across 23 innings.

Jansen had a busy week on the mound, pitching in four out of five games and collecting three saves. Three of the four outings were scoreless. The 37-year-old right-hander is up to ten saves with a 5.28 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 15/3 K/BB ratio over 15 1/3 innings.

Estévez worked a pair of scoreless outings for two saves this week to give him 14 this season. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched well over the last month, issuing just one walk over his last 11 outings.

Miller got save chances on three consecutive days this week. He pitched a scoreless inning against the Rockies on Sunday, then recorded the final out against the Dodgers on Monday before blowing the save in extra innings on Tuesday. It hasn't come easily for the Diamondbacks in the late innings, but they should be getting some help with Justin Martinez set to return from the injured list by the end of the week.

Bednar and Santana have operated as a closer duo in Pittsburgh. Bednar recorded a save on Tuesday against the Reds before Santana got the opportunity on Wednesday, with both locking down saves.

Jackson returned after missing nearly a week recovering from a hand injury after getting hit by a comebacker. He worked around a walk with one strikeout in a scoreless inning in a non-save situation against the Astros on Sunday before giving up a walk-off homer in a tie game Wednesday against the Yankees.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Ryan Pressly/Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Jesus Tinoco - Miami Marlins
Zach Agnos - Colorado Rockies
Jordan Leasure - Chicago White Sox

Just as we thought Porter Hodge would be getting his opportunity to take over as the Cubs' closer, he landed on the 15-day injured list with an oblique injury. Palencia got two save chances on Monday and Wednesday. He blew the opportunity Monday before locking down his first save Wednesday against the Marlins. Pressly could also factor back into the ninth-inning mix until Hodge returns.

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Ronny Henriquez is quietly putting together an excellent season in the Marlins' bullpen. The 24-year-old right-hander was claimed off waivers from the Twins in February after posting a 3.26 ERA over 19 1/3 innings in Minnesota last season. The young righty has found something that's clicked for him this season as he's seen a drastic increase in his strikeout rate behind higher usage of his slider. After posting an 18.3% strikeout rate last season, he's striking out 30% of batters this year while recording a 1.99 ERA and six holds over 22 2/3 innings in Miami. With so much in flux in their bullpen, it wouldn't be shocking to see Henriquez put his name into the closer mix if he keeps up this level of production. In Milwaukee, Abner Uribe has been one of the best setup men in baseball, recording 12 holds with a 1.19 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 32/10 K/BB ratio across 22 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander had a busy week on the mound, picking up a hold, a win, and a save for the Brewers while striking out the side in back-to-back outings.

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Back in the lineup, Teoscar Hernández provides the offense as Dodgers beat Arizona

Will Smith tosses sunflower seeds at Teoscar Hernández after Hernández hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
Will Smith tosses sunflower seeds at Teoscar Hernández after Hernández's three-run homer in the sixth inning Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

On Tuesday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a decision.

A day after Teoscar Hernández returned to the Dodgers’ lineup, activated from the injured list Monday following a two-week absence because of an adductor strain, Roberts decided to sit the veteran slugger for the second of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It was a surprise choice, but with a simple reason.

Knowing Hernández would play only twice this week coming off his injury, Roberts wanted to ensure he would be available Wednesday to face former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes.

“I just felt like having him in there tomorrow,” Roberts said Tuesday, “I feel good with.”

Twenty-four hours later, the result was even greater than he expected.

In the Dodgers’ 3-1 rubber-match victory over the Diamondbacks, Hernández delivered the night’s biggest swing in the bottom of the sixth, taking a wrecking ball to what had been a flawless outing from Burnes with a three-run home run that turned the game upside down.

Entering the sixth, the Dodgers (31-19) had managed just one hit against Burnes, the four-time All-Star and 2021 Cy Young winner who had just blanked them over six innings at Chase Field two weekends ago. They were in danger of squandering their own strong start from right-hander Dustin May, whose only blemish in a six-inning, eight-strikeout outing came on a solo home run by Ketel Marte in the fourth. And they were staring down a potential series defeat to the Diamondbacks (26-24), one that would have further underscored the tight early-season battle they are facing in a competitive National League West.

Second baseman Miguel Rojas stretches out for a ball in the sixth inning.
Second baseman Miguel Rojas stretches out for a ball in the sixth inning. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“Obviously,” Hernández said, “we're not playing the baseball that we know we can play.”

But on Wednesday, all they needed was one big inning to steal another win.

Miguel Rojas led off the inning with an infield single. Mookie Betts rolled another base hit through the left side to put two runners aboard. And with two out, up stepped Hernández, the second-year Dodger who has endeared himself in Los Angeles with his ability to produce clutch hits and game-changing moments.

“He relishes those spots,” Roberts said. “He's really in the elite class of the ability to drive in runs.”

After a first-pitch ball, Burnes beat Hernández with his trademark cutter, dialing up the pitch for consecutive whiffs that put Hernández in a two-strike hole.

Hernández, however, didn’t panic, even though he later acknowledged he’s still working to get his feel for his swing back. 

After his second empty hack, Hernández walked a lap around the hitting circle, called for a timeout and took a deep breath. 

Dustin May gave up only one run in six innings.
Dustin May gave up only one run in six innings. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“I chased two out of the strike zone after the first pitch,” Hernández said, “so [I was] just trying to walk around, talking to myself. Stay calm and just try to hit the ball."

When Hernández dug back in, Burnes fired a slider that didn’t have nearly enough break. The pitch stayed over the outer half. Hernández barreled it up with a one-handed finish. And as the ball sailed out to straightaway center, he admired it all the way, watching his 10th long ball of the season travel every bit of 413 feet.

“I think that was the only pitch that he missed all night,” Hernández quipped.

It was the only scoring the Dodgers did Wednesday, finishing the game with just five hits.

But between May’s solid start (which dropped his ERA to 4.09), a four-out relief appearance from Lou Trivino (a recent minor league signing called into action with the Dodgers woefully short on right-handed relief options), and a bounceback save from closer Tanner Scott (who gave up two home runs in Tuesday’s come-from-behind win), it proved to be just enough — Hernández’s well-timed day off resulting in an even better-timed home run.

"It worked out that way, yeah,” Roberts laughed postgame. “It was certainly helpful for him to hit a three-run homer."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets' Huascar Brazoban 'saved the team' with clutch performance against Red Sox

The Mets have gotten off to such a great start this season in large part due to their pitching, especially the bullpen. One big bullpen piece this year has been veteran right-hander Huascar Brazoban.

Brazoban entered Wednesday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox nearly unhittable. In May (seven appearances), Brazoban allowed just three hits, two walks and no earned runs, and the Mets needed that dominance Wednesday. After starter Tylor Megill cruised through four innings, he worked the bases loaded in the fifth.

With the score tied 1-1 and two outs, manager Carlos Mendoza pulled Megill for Brazoban to hold the line. The Mets have struggled to score runs -- scoring just eight runs over their last five games entering Wednesday -- so a big inning by the Red Sox could send New York to their fourth straight loss. And Boston had Alex Bregman,arguably their best hitter so far this season, at the plate.

Brazoban got ahead 0-2, but the All-Star third baseman worked the count full. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Brazoban threw a sinker tailing away from Bregman, who took a half-swing. The pitch was painted on the outside corner for strike three to end the threat.

"He’s been killing it. Been a guy who's been heavily trusted on. He’s just coming out and filling up the strikezone and doing what he’s doing right now," Megill said of Brazoban. "Big situation right there, came in to get Bregman. Saved me, saved the team. He’s been killing it. Happy to see his success."

When the Mets acquired Brazoban from the Marlins for cash considerations, they were getting a pitcher who hadn't had much success in the big leagues. He had a 4.14 ERA in 50 appearances in 2023 and struggled in his 19 games with the Mets last year, pitching to a 5.14 ERA. But this season has been completely different for the 35-year-old.

Brazoban says the biggest difference for him this year is how he's been attacking the zone and how he prepares for hitters before and during games. He absorbs as much information and data from the Mets' coaching staff and analytics team, and that has helped him pitch this season, especially in high-leverage situations.

"Confidence is high right now, but it’s also easier to prepare when [the team] communicates that to me before the game," Brazoban said through an interpreter. "I know the role that I’m going to come in, when I’m able to prepare that way, in the bullpen, I’m able to get the results that I want.

"It’s not that difficult [to pitch with bases loaded] when you already have the information on the hitter, especially a hitter that I’ve faced. I showed him the changeup, but I was predominantly sinker and I was able to get him out."

On the Bregman at-bat, Brazoban said he noticed the hitter was in between on the changeup he threw with the count 2-2, which went for a ball. That's when he knew Bregman was waiting for the changeup and went with the sinker instead.

After getting out of the bases-loaded jam, Brazoban pitched two more shutout innings to give the Mets a chance to win, which they would eventually do by a score of 5-1.

"He knows his stuff plays and he did it again today," Mendoza said of Brazoban. "Came in on a tough spot, bases loaded against a pretty good hitter in Bregman there and to execute on the 3-2 pitch. Stayed poised, calm, and not trying to do too much gives us two more [innings]. That was the game right there. He continues to put himself in a good position and we're going to need him."

The Mets salvaged the third game of their series with the Red Sox, snapping their three-game losing streak. It was a much-needed win after a 2-6 road trip. Now they get an off day before the Dodgers come to town this weekend.

And like Mendoza said, the Mets will need Brazoban this season to continue to pitch the way that he has, and Brazoban is confident he can, thanks to the organization.

"Since I’ve been here, the analytics team, the coaches have helped me gather more information, more data on how my pitches work," Brazoban said. "I’ve been able to take that out on the mound and have the success that I’ve had."