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Trading Alexis Lafrenière Would Be A Foolish Decision By The Rangers

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Despite some speculation and rumors, the New York Rangers should not trade Alexis Lafrenière. 

The 2020 first-overall pick has not quite lived up to the expectations that were placed upon him when he was drafted. 

Alexis Lafrenière's Newfound Confidence Was Sparked By One Simple ChangeAlexis Lafrenière's Newfound Confidence Was Sparked By One Simple ChangeIt’s been a strange season for Alexis Lafrenière thus far. 

Despite a strong 2023-24 season when he recorded 28 goals, 29 assists, and 57 points, he followed that up with a lackluster 2024-25 campaign as he regressed in every statistical category. 

This regression also happened after he was awarded a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension by the Rangers. 

Lafrenière has been the subject of trade rumors since the Rangers season came to a close. However, now is not to trade Lafrenière. 

The 23-year-old still has a ton of potential and upside just to give up on him just yet. It would be foolish for Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury not to see that. 

At this point in time, Lafrenière is at his lowest value and the Rangers would not garner a strong enough return to validate trading such a young talent of Lafrenière’s caliber.

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Braves activate Spencer Strider from the injured list

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves reinstated right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider from the injured list.

Strider, a former Major League Baseball strikeouts leader in 2023, has made only one start this season because of a right hamstring injury that occurred during a warm-up session in mid-April.

Strider’s next start will be just his fourth since the beginning of the 2024 season. He was limited to two starts in 2024 by elbow surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament injury.

He made his first start in a year on April 16, a 3-1 loss at Toronto, before hurting his hamstring. He pitched a simulated game, after which he said he felt ready to return.

The Braves next play against the Nationals in Washington.

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With a day to process it, Thomson talks usage in Phillies' Alvarado-less bullpen

With a day to process it, Thomson talks usage in Phillies' Alvarado-less bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

DENVER — The Phillies flew to Colorado on Sunday after a whirlwind day that began with them losing top reliever Jose Alvarado for 80 games and the playoffs, continued with Mick Abel delivering one of the best debuts in team history, and ended with them trailing the Mets and Dodgers by just a half-game for the best record in the National League.

A day later, everyone has had time to process the most important news, which was the 80-game suspension for Alvarado, who tested positive for Testosterone that entered his body through a weight loss supplement taken during the offseason.

At some point, the Phillies will likely address the back end of the bullpen via trade. But the deadline is 10 weeks away so in the meantime, others need to step up.

“Just do your thing and try not to do more than who you are because I truly believe that we have enough stuff in our ‘pen, we do,” manager Rob Thomson said of his message to the relievers. “Just don’t try to do too much. Throw strikes, just be yourselves and we’ll get it done.”

Matt Strahm will shift into the role previously held by Alvarado. Strahm and Jordan Romano will make up the closing tandem, with Strahm called on in the eighth inning if it’s a left-handed section of the lineup and Romano used if there are righties due up. The other guy would get the ninth.

It also means that Tanner Banks will move up a role. He’s now the second-most important lefty in the bullpen like Strahm previously was. And when Strahm is unavailable — as he most likely is Monday night after pitching in back-to-back games — Banks will see late-game leverage work. More eighth innings. Maybe even a ninth inning, occasionally.

“We’ll figure out who falls where,” Banks said Monday. “Ultimately, it’s be ready whenever whether it’s up one, down one or up or down five. The job doesn’t change.”

The Phillies called up right-handed reliever Max Lazar from Triple A and he’ll be in the bullpen for the series opener at Coors Field, taking Abel’s roster spot. Jose Ruiz is also back after missing a couple of weeks with a neck injury. Orion Kerkering and those two would be the right-handers the Phillies feel most comfortable using against lefties in Banks’ previous role as the third lefty.

“The number one goal is to find another guy or two that can go into leverage,” Thomson said. “I think managing the leverage guys is pretty easy because I have certain rules and I stick with ’em and I’m not gonna move away from that because it’s all about keeping them healthy.”

One of those rules is not using a reliever three days in a row. Tempting as it might be without Alvarado, Thomson won’t overuse Strahm and Romano.

“We’ve got to find out about some other guys, too,” he said. “Joe Ross hasn’t pitched in eight days so he’s got to pitch tonight. That might be a leverage spot. Same thing with Ruiz. We’ve had Banks in some leverage spots lately and he’s done a fine job.”

He’ll find himself in another if the Phillies have a narrow late lead over the 8-38 Rockies on Monday night.

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MLB Power Rankings: It's a Motor City takeover

Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, the Tigers just keep winning, Wilmer Flores is an RBI machine, Torey Lovullo appreciates a lost art, Cal Quantrill goes immaculate, and the disappointing Orioles make a change in the dugout.

Let's get started!

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

MLB: Athletics at Los Angeles Dodgers
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Starting pitchers galore, can we believe in Hyeseong Kim?
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball.

**Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 19**

1) Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 3

We have ourselves a new No. 1. The Tigers were 10-8 on April 16, but they’ve gone 21-8 since then to claw to the top of our ranks. Gleyber Torres has enjoyed a sparkling month of May and the unexpected Javier Báez resurgence just keeps trucking along.

Also, is Jason Benetti the best play-by-play announcer in the game or what?

2) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 1

The Dodgers welcomed back Clayton Kershaw on Saturday, but they also waived goodbye to their two-longest tenured position players in Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor.

3) New York Mets ⬆️

Last week: 4

The Mets’ infield issues were exposed against the Yankees over the weekend. It would be a surprise if Brett Baty isn’t the primary third baseman moving forward, with Mark Vientos seeing most of his at-bats out the DH spot. That’s how it should be, anyway.

4) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 2

Swept by the Mariners over the weekend and seven losses in their last 12 games. We’ll see how much magic is left in Jose Iglesias’ OMG sign now that it has landed in San Diego.

5) New York Yankees

Last week: 5

The Yankees got the best of Juan Soto and the Mets this weekend, with Cody Bellinger playing the hero in the finale on Sunday night. Perhaps the best sign for the Yankees this weekend? Two dominant appearances from Devin Williams.

6) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 7

Don’t look now, but the Phillies are just a half-game behind the Mets in the National League East. Sunday was a good news/bad news day for the Phillies, with Mick Abel shining in his MLB debut on the heels of Jose Alvarado’s 80-game PED suspension.

7) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 6

After crushing the crosstown White Sox over the weekend, the Cubs will bring Matt Shaw back to the big league roster. The 23-year-old struggled before his demotion last month, but he’s earned his way back after slashing .286/.409/.560 with six homers and five steals over 24 games with Triple-A Iowa.

8) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 8

We’re almost at Memorial Day and Wilmer Flores is leading the majors in RBI. What a world. Not only did Flores have a three-homer game over the weekend against the A’s, he also drew a walk-off walk.

9) Minnesota Twins ⬆️

Last week: 16

Another big jump for the Twins after their 13-game winning streak. The pitching has been the big key during this run, but how long can they keep this up with Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Matt Wallner missing from their lineup?

10) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 11

A play in three acts.

Last Monday, Julio Rodriguez appeared on track to rob Trent Grisham of a home run but the ball deflected off his glove and trickled over the fence. Frustrating, embarrassing, etc.

Later in the game, Rodriguez just didn’t have enough room to track it down. Another homer for Grisham.

Two days later, though, J-Rod got it right, finally robbing Grisham of a home run. The lesson here, kids? Practice does indeed make perfect.

11) Cleveland Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 9

Just your weekly reminder that José Ramirez is awesome. Ramirez is hitting .378 during his current 12-game hitting streak. He homered in three straight games last week and also stole three bases in a game.

12) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 13

Look who has finally perked up at the plate. After failing to hit a home run through his first 30 games (101 plate appearances this season), Alec Burleson is hitting .333/.357/.815 with four home runs and 10 RBI over last nine games.

13) Kansas City Royals ⬇️

Last week: 10

With Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo on the injured list, maybe just maybe we will actually see 45-year-old Rich Hill back in the majors with his 14th team. That would tie Edwin Jackson for the major league record.

14) Atlanta Braves ⬆️

Last week: 15

Spencer Strider will come off the IL to pitch against the Nationals on Tuesday and Ronald Acuña Jr. has a couple of homers through four games on his minor league rehab assignment. Things are looking up for Atlanta.

15) Houston Astros ⬆️

Last week: 17

When the Astros acquired Isaac Paredes as part of the Kyle Tucker trade, the idea was that he was tailor-made for Daikin Park in Houston. Well, Globe Life Field actually worked out pretty well for him on Sunday as he delivered a huge moment for the 'Stros.

16) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 14

It seems like manager blow-ups are one of those things we mostly see in old highlight clips on social media, but Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo still gets it.

17) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 12

Five losses in their last six games, but perhaps the best catch of the past week. One of those things you couldn’t do better if you planned it.

18) Texas Rangers

Last week: 18

In spinning eight scoreless frames against the Astros last Thursday, Jacob deGrom had his longest outing since April 23, 2021. The two-time Cy Young Award winner isn’t missing bats like he did during his peak, but it’s working for him just fine. He’s sporting a 2.29 ERA through nine starts this season.

19) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 22

The Reds swept the Guardians over the weekend and Will Benson was right in the middle of it. He’s homered in four straight games to begin the week.

20) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 21

After an injury-plagued 2024 season, Bo Bichette is pretty much back to being Bo Bichette. Coming off a red-hot week, he finds himself tied for fifth in the majors with 57 hits this season.

21) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 19

Five straight losses for the A’s and now they’ll head back to Sacramento, where they have posted a 5.81 ERA at home this season.

22) Milwaukee Brewers ⬇️

Last week: 20

Thanks in part to this amazing display of thievery from Jackson Chourio, the Brewers stopped the Twins’ 13-game winning streak on Sunday.

23) Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 23

The Rays’ offense has been one of the league’s worst so far this season, so Josh Lowe’s return from the injured list is welcome indeed. However, it was what he did with his arm on Sunday which stood out.

24) Washington Nationals

Last week: 24

The Nationals swept the reeling Orioles over the weekend, scoring 10 runs on Saturday and Sunday against their Beltway rivals. C.J. Abrams clubbed two homers and Sunday and is now hitting .340 over 24 games since returning from the injured list last month.

25) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️

Last week: 26

The Angels move up a spot in our rankings after sweeping the Dodgers over the weekend. After saving 350 games as a member of the Dodgers, Kenley Jansen notched one against his old team on Saturday.

26) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 27

We saw a member of the Marlins pull of a first this season, and in a positive way. Right-hander Cal Quantrill unleashed an immaculate inning against the Rays on Sunday.

All the amazing pitchers in baseball and Quantrill is the first to pull it off this season. That’s the beauty of baseball.

27) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 28

Paul Skenes was awesome against the Phillies on Sunday, tossing eight innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts. He also lost. That just about sums it up for the Pirates and new manager Don Kelly right now.

28) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 25

The Orioles fired Brandon Hyde over the weekend, which is one of those things that had to happen even if the club’s brutal start is more of a complete organizational failure than anything else. Baltimore has lost six straight and 12 out of 14.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

The White Sox were outscored 26-8 while being swept at the hands of the Cubs this weekend, but this play by rookie Tim Elko was pretty darn nifty.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

The Rockies outslugged the Diamondbacks 14-12 in a bonkers game on Saturday, which stands out for two reasons. One, the Rockies won a game. Two, it happened in Arizona and not Coors Field. One legitimate positive for Colorado is that Ezequiel Tovar is healthy again. He went 5-for-6 with a homer and a triple on Saturday.

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Paul O'Neill believes Yankees' Aaron Judge has what it takes to make a run at hallowed .400 season

Watching Aaron Judge carry a .401 average through the first 46 games of this season can’t help but bring back memories for Paul O’Neill. Thirty-one years ago, O’Neill authored the most torrid start in Yankees history, batting .456 over the same time frame. He didn’t drop below baseball’s hallowed .400 mark until June 17, and his sizzling bat prompted scrutiny that O’Neill hadn’t experienced before. 

“It was just something that I didn’t want to process mentally,” O’Neill said before a recent Subway Series game. “I just wanted to go out and play. And the easiest thing to do when you’re playing well is put your uniform on, hang around the guys you’re with and play the game. 

“When you have to start talking about it to the press and to people, it just gets too many things going on in your head and that gets you away from what you were doing.” 

But O’Neill thinks Judge might have an edge going forward should the megastar continue to chase batting average history. Judge, O’Neill noted, has pursued much-hyped milestones before, since he set the American League home run record by belting 62 in 2022. The kind of attention Judge would generate if he made a long run at .400 wouldn’t be unfamiliar to him, the way it was to O’Neill. 

“If you look at Aaron Judge, he’s comfortable wherever he is,” O’Neill said. “Numbers-wise, whether he hit 80 home runs, he’d be comfortable, because he’s done things that have put him above everybody. I hadn’t, to that point, done anything like that.” 

O’Neill, of course, is not predicting anything for Judge this season, just pointing out a potential positive should Judge stay above .400. It’s an incredibly difficult feat, obviously, over a long, tiring season. 

No one has ever batted .400 or better over the course of a 162-game schedule, and the last player to do it over a 154-game slate was Ted Williams, who hit .406 in 1941. That’s 84 years ago. Tony Gwynn of the Padres finished at .394 in 110 games in the same, strike-shortened season in which O’Neill enjoyed his early burst. The Yankees’ single-season record for batting average is held by Babe Ruth, who batted .393 in 1923. 

“You never want to put yourself, as a player, in a position where you feel like you didn’t have the year you wanted to have because you dropped below .400,” O’Neill said. “I mean, come on.” 

Jun 25, 1998; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Yankees right fielder Paul O'Neill (21) prepares to bat against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
Jun 25, 1998; Atlanta, GA, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Yankees right fielder Paul O'Neill (21) prepares to bat against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. / VJ Lovero-USA TODAY NETWORK

O’Neill was hitting .405 when play began on June 17, 1994, but he went 0-for-4 against the Brewers and fell to .397. He finished the strike-shortened season at .359 and won his first AL batting title.

“Looking back, believe me, it’s a fun time in your life,” O’Neill said. “It’s a great time.” He smiled as he recounted how he’d just gotten a text message reminding him how far above .400 he’d been. 

“In my mind, that’s nuts,” O’Nell said. “But I was just so into my routine at the time. And I truly didn’t see that it was going to end until I had to start talking about it. And I was like, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t play baseball and then talk about every little nuance that’s going on.’ 

“Because then nothing’s natural, right?”

In his duties as an analyst for the YES Network, O’Neill has seen Judge grow as a hitter over his career. Judge’s ability to hit the ball hard – he’s currently third in average exit velocity, according to MLB’s Statcast – is enhanced by how he’s evolved, particularly in pitch selection.

“If you look at the pitches he swings at now and the pitches he swung at right when he got to the Major Leagues, he’s a totally different hitter,” O’Neill said. “The power has always been there, but he’s a much better hitter as far as strikes, swinging at strikes. I always stress being in the same position all the time and, if you watch, nine out of 10 swings, he’s in the same spot. 

“His probably greatest asset is that he doesn’t have to try to pull the ball. He can hit it out anywhere. If he sees the ball, he can hit every pitch because of the length of his arms and he’s quick enough to get the ball inside. And to hit for a high average, you have to be willing to walk. And he’s willing to walk.”

That willingness has helped Judge reach base 103 times this season; only Ruth and Mickey Mantle had seasons in which they reached base more through the first 46 games of a season. Judge has reached base in 43 of 46 games this year -- 93.5 percent.

Judge is excelling in multiple categories beyond average, too. He leads MLB in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, hits, total bases, and intentional walks, among other stats. He’s currently on pace for 468 total bases, which would eclipse the single-season MLB record of 457 set by Ruth in 1921. Judge is also on pace for 250 hits; there have been only seven 250-hit seasons in MLB history. 

Will Judge make a long run at .400? Based on baseball history, probably not. Few have. It’s fun to think about that, though, and about the place Judge has carved for himself among baseball’s greats. 

“Every graphic we put up, he’s our Mickey Mantle,” O’Neill said. “He’s our Lou Gehrig. He’s our Babe Ruth. I mean, he’s doing it all and you’re doing it at a time where average hitters are hitting .240, right? (The MLB average entering play Monday was .243). 

“He’s at (.401), so it just shows you how much better he is than everybody.” 

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Chipper Jones and Marquis Grissom to manage in All-Star Futures Game

NEW YORK — Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones and Marquis Grissom will be managers for the All-Star Futures Game on July 12 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Jones will head the NL team and Grissom the AL team, Major League Baseball said Monday. Players for the game are drawn from affiliates of the 30 MLB clubs.

Jones was an eight-time All-Star third baseman who spent his entire career with Atlanta, hitting .303 with 468 homers and 1,623 RBIs from 1993-2012. He won a World Series title in 1995 and earned election to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot appearance in 2018.

Grissom spent the 1995 and 1996 seasons with the Braves, also earning a World Series ring. He was a two-time All-Star outfielder, hitting .272 with 227 homers and 967 RBIs for Montreal (1989-94), Atlanta (1995-96), Cleveland (1997), Milwaukee (1998-2000), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2001-02) and San Francisco (2003-05).

Jones’ coaches include Mark DeRosa (bench), Andruw Jones (hitting), Tim Hudson (pitching), Tyler Flowers (first base), Kanekoa Texeira (third base), Mick Markakis (general coach) and Peter Moylan (bullpen).

Grissom’s coaches include Jerry Manuel (bench), Fred McGriff (hitting), Marvin Freeman (pitching), Dale Murphy (first base), Brian Hunter (third base), Ryan Klesko (general) and Johnny Estrada (bullpen).

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Who's the No. 2? Red Sox' rotation has been a major disappointment

Who's the No. 2? Red Sox' rotation has been a major disappointment originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

For the Boston Red Sox to bounce back from their subpar start to the 2025 season, their starting pitching must take a giant step forward.

While offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet has lived up to his ace expectations, he hasn’t had much help behind him in the rotation. Tanner Houck entered the season as the No. 2 starter, but he was one of the league’s worst pitchers before being placed on the injured list. Brayan Bello hasn’t impressed since returning from injury, and Lucas Giolito has been shelled in two of his four outings.

Walker Buehler — another key offseason addition — hasn’t pitched since April 26 due to a shoulder issue. Richard Fitts has been on the IL since mid-April with a pectoral strain. Kutter Crawford hasn’t pitched at all due to a knee injury that landed him on the 60-day IL.

Boston’s rotation has been among the club’s biggest disappointments over the first two months of the campaign. The group ranks 24th in MLB with a 4.45 ERA and 25th with a 1.41 WHIP.

Those struggles have reached a new level since the calendar flipped to May. The Red Sox are 6-10 with Houck and Giolito combining for an 8.65 ERA in their six appearances this month.

“They need to step up,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of his starting pitchers, per Rob Bradford of WEEI. “That’s the bottom line. We have to step up as a rotation. It’s not only Garrett, it’s everybody. We have to do a better job as a group.”

Hunter Dobbins, Boston’s No. 13 ranked prospect who entered the season at Triple-A Worcester, has been the team’s most reliable starter after Crochet. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through five starts.

As promising as Dobbins has looked to start his big-league career — minus his worst outing thus far last Wednesday — the Red Sox are in trouble if he’s their No. 2 starter. The veterans have to figure it out in the coming months, otherwise, it’ll be the same old story for a club that has reached the postseason just once since its 2018 World Series title.

It’s worth noting that Buehler is expected to return on Tuesday, and he looked like a strong candidate for that No. 2 role before his IL stint. Fitts, who was rock-solid in his three starts, also could be back in the mix soon. But if they can’t return to form, the following starters must turn it around to keep Boston’s playoff hopes alive:

Tanner Houck

Tanner HouckRick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Tanner Houck became the first pitcher in MLB history to allow 11 or more runs in a start of fewer than three innings twice in the same season.

Coming off an All-Star season, Houck was expected to form a 1-2 punch atop the rotation with Crochet. Now, the Red Sox simply hope to get any semblance of value out of the 28-year-old after his disastrous start to the season.

Houck last pitched on May 12 against the Detroit Tigers, allowing 11 runs on nine hits and three walks over just 2.1 innings. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to allow 11 or more runs in a start of fewer than three innings twice in the same season.

The Red Sox subsequently placed Houck on the 15-day IL with a right flexor strain, and it’s unclear if he’ll get another opportunity to start on the mound this season. If he does, he’ll have a short leash, and that’s tremendously disappointing given what we saw from him in the first half of 2024.

Brayan Bello

Brayan BelloBob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Brayan Bello allowed seven runs on 10 hits and five walks in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta.

Bello missed the start of the season due to a right shoulder strain. He debuted against the Seattle Mariners on April 22 and was solid, allowing one earned run on four hits and three walks across five innings.

The 26-year-old entered Sunday’s start vs. Atlanta with a 2.33 ERA over five outings. The Braves lit him up for seven runs on 10 hits and five walks in his 4.1 innings of work.

Bello’s ERA ballooned to 4.02, which is closer to what Red Sox fans have come to expect out of the young righty. The organization’s former top pitching prospect has a career 4.39 ERA.

The biggest issue for Bello has been his command, as he has walked 19 batters in 31.1 innings this season. He also continues to underwhelm in the strikeout department, with his 14.1 K percentage in the fifth percentile among big-leaguers and his swing-and-miss percentage (19.0) in the 12th percentile.

With Houck’s status uncertain, Giolito looking more like a No. 4 or 5 in his first season back from Tommy John, and both Buehler and Fitts already battling injuries, Bello may have the best chance to emerge as Boston’s No. 2 starter. For that to happen, his command and consistency have to improve.

Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito
Lucas Giolito has a 7.08 ERA across his first four starts with Boston.

Giolito missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery and had a delayed start to 2025 due to a hamstring strain. The good news is he finally looks healthy, but the bad news is the Red Sox can’t count on him to be anything more than a back-end rotation arm.

The 30-year-old has a 7.08 ERA over his first four starts with the club. In his latest outing Saturday against Atlanta, he allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks across four innings.

Giolito has alternated encouraging and abysmal starts since debuting on April 30, so it’s unclear which version of him we should expect for the remainder of the season. Nonetheless, the Red Sox need more consistency out of the veteran righty with so many glaring question marks on the pitching staff.

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The Dodgers have younger stars now, but Clayton Kershaw reaching 18th season is still special

Clayton Kershaw made his season debut, and although his performance over four innings was forgettable, he still added another accomplishment to his illustrious career.

Kershaw now has played in 18 seasons for the Dodgers, tying the franchise record held by outfielder Zack Wheat and shortstop Bill Russell. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts may have taken over as the team’s big stars, but Kershaw’s role in helping Los Angeles become a powerhouse should not be understated.

And like Russell, Kershaw never has played for any other major league team. That makes his tenure in Los Angeles even more special.

Here’s a list of each team’s longest-tenured player who spent his whole career with that franchise in that city. Only current teams — in their current locations — are included. So the Athletics are left out, and so are stars like Mel Ott, who spent 22 seasons with the Giants before they moved to San Francisco.

Baltimore Orioles: Brooks Robinson (23 seasons)

Boston Red Sox: Carl Yastrzemski (23)

Chicago Cubs: Cap Anson (22)

St. Louis Cardinals: Stan Musial (22)

Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline (22)

Chicago White Sox: Ted Lyons (21)

Kansas City Royals: George Brett (21)

Pittsburgh Pirates: Willie Stargell (21)

Cleveland Guardians: Mel Harder (20)

Milwaukee Brewers: Robin Yount (20)

San Diego Padres: Tony Gwynn (20)

Houston Astros: Craig Biggio (20)

New York Yankees: Derek Jeter (20)

Cincinnati Reds: Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin (19)

Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones (19)

New York Mets: Ed Kranepool (18)

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bill Russell and Clayton Kershaw (18)

Philadelphia Phillies: Mike Schmidt (18)

Seattle Mariners: Edgar Martinez (18)

Colorado Rockies: Todd Helton (17)

Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman (16)

Minnesota Twins: Tony Oliva and Joe Mauer (15)

Los Angeles Angels: Mike Trout (15)

San Francisco Giants: Jim Davenport and Matt Cain (13)

Toronto Blue Jays: Garth Iorg (nine)

Texas Rangers: Rusty Greer (nine)

Tampa Bay Rays: Brandon Lowe (eight)

Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, Kevin Ginkel and Merrill Kelly (seven)

Miami Marlins: Jesús Sánchez (six)

Feast or famine

There are three pitchers with 6-0 records in the major leagues right now. One is former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray of the Giants. Another is prized free agent acquisition Max Fried of the Yankees.

The third? Reliever Jorge López of the Nationals, who is somehow 6-0 despite a 6.86 ERA.

This isn’t a case of López constantly giving up leads and then having his teammates rescue him offensively. In four of his six victories, he produced a scoreless outing, and he allowed one run in the other two. The reason his ERA is so high is because he’s already had three outings allowing at least three runs — and didn’t pick up a decision in any of them.

In the live ball era, the most wins a pitcher has received in a season with an ERA over 6.00 — while pitching exclusively in relief — is seven. Bob Kline went 7-2 with a 6.80 ERA for the Senators and A’s in 1934, George Frazier went 7-8 with a 6.39 ERA for the Cubs in 1985, and Curt Leskanic went 7-5 with a 6.23 ERA for the Rockies in 1996.

Trivia time

Which two players spent their entire 21-year careers with one team, but did not make the list above? One of them played for a team that is no longer in that city. The other was with a franchise that had another player with an even longer tenure.

Line of the week

Wilmer Flores homered three times and drove in eight runs to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 13-5 win over the Athletics. Flores is hitting .258 with just 12 extra-base hits, but he leads the majors with 42 RBIs. Flores is hitting .395 with runners in scoring position.

Comeback of the week

The Rockies won a wild 14-12 game, and it wasn’t even at Coors Field.

Colorado had a 3.2% chance of winning according to Baseball Savant when it fell behind 11-6 in the bottom of the fifth. Then the Rockies scored four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh on the way to their eighth win of the season.

The next day? Arizona beat Colorado 1-0.

Trivia answer

Walter Johnson spent his whole 21-year career with the Washington Senators, who are now the Minnesota Twins. Cal Ripken Jr. played 21 seasons for the Orioles, two shy of Robinson’s mark.

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Why a tight NL West race factored into Dodgers' decision to cut Chris Taylor, Austin Barnes

Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches from the dugout during a game against the Athletics at Dodger Stadium last Tuesday. The next day, Barnes was designated for assignment, paving the way for Dalton Rushing. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Four years later, the memory remains uncomfortably fresh.

The last time the Dodgers tried to defend a World Series title, they racked up 106 victories. They matched the best winning percentage in the franchise’s Los Angeles history. They had seven All-Stars and three Cy Young vote-getters.

And it still wasn’t enough to win them the National League West.

The San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers still well remember, won 107 games in the 2021 season, marking the only time in the last dozen years someone else has claimed the division crown. The Dodgers eventually knocked the Giants out of the playoffs that October, but their elongated path through the postseason as a wild card team left them gassed in the NL Championship Series. They were eliminated six wins shy of a repeat title.

Read more:Dodgers fall to Arizona as pitching and fielding woes lead to fourth straight loss

For president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the experience underscored an all-important truth.

“Our primary goal during the regular season is to win the division,” Friedman said. “That is what we feel like puts us in the best position to accomplish our ultimate goal.”

Thus, with another tight division race looming this year, the Dodgers didn’t wait to act aggressively this week.

Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor were struggling. Dalton Rushing and Hyeseong Kim looked like intriguing big-league options. And in two moves that were made in an effort to “win as many games as we can” in this season’s World Series title defense, Friedman said, the longtime veterans were released to make room for the rookies. Sentimentality lost out to the odds of even slightly better regular-season success.

"This has been a very emotional week for all of us,” Friedman said, addressing reporters hours after Taylor was released on Sunday. Barnes was designated for assignment earlier in the week. “Barnsey and CT have been in the middle of some huge moments for this organization. Both guys have left an indelible mark on our culture and where we're at this point. So the decisions were incredibly difficult. The conversations were tough.”

“But,” Friedman countered, “with where we are, the division race, the composition of roster, everything — we felt like this was in the Dodgers' best interest … [to] put us in a position to best win the World Series this year.”

Read more:Dodgers release Chris Taylor, parting ways with another veteran

Note the first factor Friedman mentioned in his answer.

Though the Dodgers are tied for the best record in the National League at 29-18, they continue to nurse the slimmest of NL West leads, entering Monday just one game up on the rival San Diego Padres (27-18) and upstart San Francisco Giants (28-19), and only four games clear of even the fourth-place Arizona Diamondbacks (25-22).

With their pitching staff already in tatters, at least temporarily, because of a wave of early-season injuries, the importance of consistent offense has also suddenly heightened; the Dodgers needing to maximize the production of their lineup to help offset a 4.18 team ERA that ranks 21st in the majors.

In a world where the Dodgers were running away with the division, or pitching the way they expected after two offseasons of spending heavily on the mound, maybe they could have tolerated Barnes’ and Taylor’s combined .208 batting average. They might have been more comfortable giving two longtime cornerstones of the franchise a longer leash to turn things around.

Instead, as club brass surveyed this year’s competitive division landscape, they recognized that — this season more than most — every single victory could matter come the end of the campaign. That every single loss would make the challenge of winning another World Series incrementally tougher.

So, as Rushing crushed triple-A pitching and Kim excelled in what was initially planned to be only a brief big-league call-up, the Dodgers did what they felt like they must. Rushing replaced Barnes as backup catcher. Taylor was cut loose so Kim wouldn’t be sent back to the minors. And a roster that once seemed too top-heavy now has, at least in theory, more potential impact options to bring off the bench.

“We didn't feel like coming into the season this was something that we would necessarily be doing in May,” Friedman said. “But with where we were, all things factored in, while not easy, we felt like it was the right thing to do."

There were other reasons, of course, the Dodgers felt motivated to make such emotionally conflicting decisions now.

Manager Dave Roberts noted that Rushing (who was batting .308 in the minors this year, and has started his big-league career an impressive four-for-10) and Kim (who has hit .452 since arriving in the majors, and has impacted games with his versatile glove and lightning-quick speed) deserved opportunities for more prominent roles.

With most of the team’s core players on the wrong side of 30, there are longer-term considerations about developing younger talent as well.

Read more:Clayton Kershaw shaky in his season debut as Angels take series win over Dodgers

“I think some of it is the [division] race,” Roberts said. “Some of it is, you still want to continue to develop young players and give them opportunities with a veteran ball club.”

Eventually, it was always likely that Rushing would force his way to the majors, and that Kim would carve out a niche with his well-rounded skill set.

But the early pressure being applied by the team’s NL West rivals still sped up that timeline. The Dodgers remember what happened in 2021. And, wary of having that reality repeat itself, they didn’t wait to begin acting with urgency this year.

“We saw it in 2021, winning 106 games and not winning the division,” Friedman said. “We have a tough division [again this year]. We've got some really good teams in our division who are playing well. And so for us, it's about doing everything we can each night to try to win a game."

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Cody Bellinger caps big Subway Series as scorned Juan Soto comes up empty in the Bronx

NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger lofted a high fly to deep right field, where Juan Soto positioned himself in front of an unfriendly Yankee Stadium crowd and came up short.

Summed up the entire Subway Series, really.

Soto was booed all weekend during a disappointing return to the Bronx, while Bellinger delivered several big hits that helped the New York Yankees get the best of their crosstown rivals.

Bellinger hit a game-breaking grand slam that soared just beyond Soto’s reach at the wall, and the Yankees beat the New York Mets 8-2 to take two of three at home in a matchup of first-place teams.

“I thought it was very fun,” Bellinger said after equaling a career high with six RBIs in the finale of his first Subway Series. “I really enjoyed it.”

Soto probably didn’t. He went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to the noisy delight of Yankees fans in a sellout crowd of 48,028. That left him 1 for 10 with four walks during his first series back in the Bronx since leaving the Yankees for a record 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets.

The slugger didn’t speak with reporters in the clubhouse after the game.

“It was good to see him,” Yankees star Aaron Judge said, “but happy we were kind of — either walk him or not let him do any damage, especially in this series.”

Bellinger was acquired by the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs in a December trade to help replace Soto’s powerful bat in the outfield. Following a slow start, the two-time All-Star and 2019 NL MVP is on a major tear at the plate.

“He’s swinging at the pitches he needs to be swinging at, and his balance is where it needs to be,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I really think it’s as simple as that.”

Bellinger, whose father Clay won three American League pennants and two World Series titles as a light-hitting bench player for the Yankees from 1999-2001, is batting .340 with three homers, six RBIs and a .980 OPS since May 3 during a 13-game hitting streak that ties his career best.

“He’s just been swinging the bat so well the past couple games, and I love it when I have that guy hitting behind me,” Judge said. “I just feel like his approach is a little better. He knows what he’s looking for when he steps into the box, and when he gets what he’s looking for he’s not missing it.”

Bellinger went 3 for 3 with two walks on a perfect night at the plate, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. His two-run double in the first inning gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead, and his ninth career slam in the eighth off left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera capped a six-run outburst that put the game away.

“He’s kind of the same every day. I think he’s got enough experience in this league now obviously, and he’s experienced it all,” Boone said. “He’s experienced being the best player in the league and winning MVP. He’s experienced struggles. He’s experienced making a career kind of swing change and dealing with an injury and kind of evolving behind the scenes.

“You see that experience play out, like, whether he’s flying high or going through a rough patch, just kind of sticking with his process and his routine and kind of the same guy.”

Bellinger also went deep in a 3-2 loss to the Mets and finished 7 for 11 with two homers, three walks, four runs and seven RBIs in the series.

“He can hit a homer or he can choke up and hit the ball the other way for a base hit, and he has the ability to fight off some really tough pitches — especially with two strikes,” Yankees ace Max Fried said. “You can turn on that two-strike approach and when you have a guy that has good bat-to-ball skills and also can be that deep-ball threat, it’s just really hard to make sure. They’ve got to throw a really good pitch.”

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Angels hope to build momentum with their first 3-game sweep of Dodgers since 2010

LOS ANGELES — If the Los Angeles Angels turn around their season, an improbable sweep of the Dodgers could be viewed as the turning point.

The last-place Angels beat the defending World Series champions 6-4, rebounding from a late-inning bullpen stumble when Travis d’Arnaud hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth.

“It’s tremendous,” said d’Arnaud, who also hit an RBI single in the third. “Every game here has felt like a playoff atmosphere. Everybody was passing the baton, having good at-bats up and down the lineup.

“It was just a dogfight every single game, high stress, and we prevailed in all three games. It’s really special against last year’s world champions. It’s very good for our confidence moving forward, knowing we can beat anybody.”

The Angels (20-25) remain last in the AL West, six games behind first-place Seattle. Their first three-game sweep of the Dodgers (29-18) since 2010 gave them at least a glimmer of hope that they can rebound into contention. The Dodgers had not been swept in a series since last July in Philadelphia.

The Angels bludgeoned Dodgers pitching in the first two games, batting .307 (23 for 75) with 17 runs, four homers and eight doubles. Zach Neto’s solo homer and Taylor Ward’s two-run shot off Tony Gonsolin staked left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to a 3-0, first-inning lead.

Kikuchi pitched well enough to win, giving up one run and three hits, striking out seven and walking four in 5 2/3 innings before hurting his right ankle in a first-base collision with Tommy Edman.

Kikuchi departed with a 4-1 lead but had to settle for another no-decision after Shaun Anderson gave up a three-run homer to Will Smith that tied the score 4-4 in the seventh. Kikuchi is 0-4 despite a 3.50 ERA in 10 starts.

On an afternoon when Angels setup man Ryan Zeferjahn and closer Kenley Jansen were unavailable after pitching in each of the previous two games, Anderson assumed the role of both setup man and closer.

The 30-year-old right-hander, who has played for 10 different organizations since being drafted in 2016, retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, closing the game with a strikeout of 2024 National League MVP Shohei Ohtani.

“He really saved us,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “When he came in (after the seventh inning), I told him this game was his. And he went out there and did a good job and ended up getting Ohtani for the last out of the game.
We needed him to do exactly what he did — give us that length — and he did it.”

Anderson (1-0) was credited with a blown save and a win for a bullpen that has a major league-worst 7.04 ERA.

“To come in here and sweep them, it kind of shows what the Angels have, you know?” Anderson said. “It’s kind of hard to see with our record, but these guys put in the work every day, the preparation, the postgame work, getting to the yard early and hitting. … These guys want to win, and you can totally see it when you walk into the clubhouse. To see us rally and win the last three games, it just shows what we can do here.”

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Pirates pitcher Jared Jones to be examined again after setback in recovery from strained elbow

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones will be re-examined after a setback in is recovery from a strained ligament in his right elbow.

Jones, 23, had been on a throwing program as he made his way back from an elbow strain he sustained in mid-March. The Pirates said the initial exam of Jones showed that his elbow was stable and the club opted to shut him down for six weeks. He began throwing by playing catch in late April, with the potential to return to the mound after the All-Star break.

Jones went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts during his rookie season in 2024, though he did miss time with a lat injury.

The Pirates had anticipated Jones being in a fixture in the starting rotation next to 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes. Instead, there’s a chance Jones could miss all of 2025 and a significant portion of 2026 if Tommy John surgery is recommended.

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Royals at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 19

It's Monday, May 19, and the Royals (26-22) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (28-19). Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Robbie Ray for San Francisco.

The Royals are coming off a 2-1 win yesterday over the Cardinals that broke a four-game losing streak. Kansas City is 2-6 over the last eight games compared to San Francisco who is 4-1 in the past five games and coming off a three-game sweep this weekend versus the Athletics.

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 Royals at Giants

  • Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
  • Time: 9:45 PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, NBCSBA, 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 Royals at the Giants

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+104), Giants (-124)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for May 19, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Robbie Ray
    • Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.66 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Robbie Ray, (6-0, 3.04 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 9 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Royals and the Giants

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 Monday’s game between the Royals and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Giants

  • The Giants have won 7 of their last 9 games at home
  • The Under is 27-17-1 for the Royals' road games and the Giants' home games combined this season
  • The Royals have covered the Run Line in 5 straight road 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!

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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Hard-throwing Mets prospect Will Watson opening eyes in first full professional season

As the Mets' now-vaunted pitching development program continues to turn less-heralded free agent signings into impact arms while helping their recent draftees and international signings make the most of their talent, there is another young pitcher starting to open eyes.

Will Watson.

Watson, a hard-throwing 22-year-old right hander, is pitching for A-ball St. Lucie in what is his first full professional season. And he's excelling.

Through seven appearances (five starts, two relief outings) over 28.2 innings, Watson has posted a 2.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 32 batters and giving up just one home run.

In his most recent start, on May 14, Watson -- who is still getting fully stretched out as a starter -- spun 4.2 innings of shutout ball.

Watson was selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft after stints with California Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College, but didn't sign. Instead, he attended USC the next season before entering the 2024 MLB Draft.

It was there that the Mets pounced in the seventh round, adding Watson to a stable of high-upside minor league arms.

And Watson is getting comfortable in the organization, describing 2025 as "just another year of baseball," adding: "It’s just being around the guys. It’s a lot of fun. There’s nothing better than playing ball every day."

Watson is also taking advantage of the Mets' aforementioned pitching development.

"I’ve found it very encouraging for sure," he told SNY. "I think myself and my fellow teammates – I don’t think there’s a spot they’d rather be. It’s been very promising. I’ve learned so much so far – so much. It’s been amazing. I’ve figured out so much about myself – internal and external – about pitching. It’s been great so far."

St. Lucie Mets pitcher Will Watson
St. Lucie Mets pitcher Will Watson / St. Lucie Mets

In the midst of being converted to a full-time starting role after spending the earlier part of his career bouncing back and forth between the rotation and bullpen (Watson was a reliever only for California Lutheran in 2022 and had a hybrid role for USC in 2024), the right-hander is undaunted by the new challenge the Mets are giving him.

"It’s been pretty easy, honestly, just because I’ve done it my entire life," Watson explained. "I’ve kind of done both my entire life, just from playing the field and relieving in games. Or starting in high school. I relieved my freshman year of college and then when I was at my junior college I would relieve and start there. So I’ve kind of done it all throughout the whole process. Wherever they need me, I’ll jump in."

As Watson has gotten acclimated to professional ball, his arsenal has seen an uptick in velocity -- from his fastball to his secondary offerings.

The fastball now sits in the mid-90s with regularity and will touch 97 mph. Meanwhile, Watson's secondary offerings -- including a changeup, slider, and cutter -- have also ticked up.

Watson attributes the increased velocity to work in the weight room, as well as adjusting his pitch shapes and making some grip changes.

As far as a pitcher whose style Watson is trying to emulate, he cited Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who has been a dominant force the last two seasons for Seattle.

"He’s been dealing, it’s been pretty cool to watch," Watson said. "He looks super calm up on the mound. Just knows exactly what he’s doing and exactly what he’s trying to do."

When it comes to Watson's pitch mix and how he likes to attack hitters, let's have him take us through it...

“I love using my fastball, just because it's something I’ve always been very comfortable with," he noted. "My changeup has always been super comfortable for me as well. Started to really develop it last year. I just throw it like my fastball – I think that’s why it’s so deceivable to hitters. And it spins a lot, so you can’t really see the spin.

St. Lucie Mets pitcher Will Watson
St. Lucie Mets pitcher Will Watson / St. Lucie Mets

"And then my slider lately has been working really well off that new cutter that I’ve been throwing. Still trying to find the right group for that and when to throw that, because it is still really new. But I do like to mix that in kind of in between the fastball and slider. Slider for sure to really both sides -- steal strikes to lefties, put-away for righties.

"Changeup – I like to throw that to righties, just to keep them off balance instead of looking out over the plate. Try to bring it in to them. Keep them off balance there. Fastball – just try to get ahead of counts. Weak contact is what I’m really looking for."

Asked whether there was any specific facet of his game he was intent on improving this season, Watson said his focus was more wide-ranging.

"A lot. That’s my goal every day," Watson explained. "I like to improve, I like to get better. Even if I have a good outing, I’m like 'what can I do to get better? What can I do to get better?' I think after every outing I go back and look at film with my coach to say 'what can we change here. What can we change here?'

"I think the biggest one that’s a continuous build is always the mental game. I don’t think there’s any time that you’re ever gonna be 100 percent on that. I think the mental game of just being true to yourself, and being who you are on a continuous basis. It’s hard to do in this game, because it really eats you up. So that’s something I’m always trying to build on."

When Watson isn't on the mound or working to get better, he relaxes by playing video games, reading, and drawing. In the offseason, he spends lots of time hunting and fishing.

And as he starts to inch closer to making his ultimate goal come true, Watson is keeping his eye on the prize.

It's possible he'll make it to High-A Brooklyn and even Double-A Binghamton by the time the 2025 season ends, but Watson hasn't yet thought about what it might be like to pitch for the Mets at Citi Field.

"I kind of thought about visiting the field and seeing what life would be like there. But I kind of want to hold off on that until that day comes" Watson said. "The first day that I’m called up, that’s the first day I’m at Citi Field. I just want that to be the reality.

"I haven’t really allowed myself to be like 'oh, I want to be at Citi Field' yet. Because I know inside I have so much work to do. But every day it’s the goal to get there. That’s my goal every day. I want to help this team win in any way that I can."

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Tigers at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 19

It's Monday, May 19, and the Tigers (31-16) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (26-21). Keider Montero is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Sonny Gray for St. Louis.

The Cardinals are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Royals yesterday making St. Louis 12-2 over the last 14 games. The Tigers won 3-2 yesterday over the Blue Jays to extend their record to 5-1 over the past six games and 10-3 in the previous 13.

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 Tigers at Cardinals

  • Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
  • Time: 7:45 PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, FDSNMW

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 Tigers at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (+134), Cardinals (-158)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for May 19, 2025: Keider Montero vs. Sonny Gray
    • Tigers: Keider Montero, (1-1, 4.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (4-1, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the Cardinals

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 Monday’s game between the Tigers and the Cardinals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Detroit Tigers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards 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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Cardinals

  • The Tigers have won 12 of their last 20 road games
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Cardinals' last 10 games
  • The Cardinals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.40 units

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)