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

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SEE IT: Mets' Jonah Tong tosses six-pitch first inning in MLB debut

Making his highly anticipated MLB debut on Friday night at Citi Field, Mets prospect Jonah Tong made quick work of the Marlins for a 1-2-3 first inning.

The 22-year-old needed just six pitches to get through his first big league inning, getting a lineout, flyout, and pop out.

Tong let up a leadoff double in the second inning before settling in to retire the next three Marlins. The righty also got massive help from the offense, which scored five runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning to go up 12-0.

He recorded his first strikeout in the third inning, sending Joey Wiemer down swinging for the first out. Tong found himself in a jam with runners on second and third after a wild pitch, but got a strikeout and groundout to avoid any damage. He kept it going with another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, including two strikeouts.

Tong showed his resilience in the fifth inning, battling through two fielders' choices and two errors that allowed three unearned runs to cross the plate. He struck out Liam Hicks to end the inning and expressed some emotion after the big out, needing 28 pitches and a mound visit to complete the frame.

Overall, Tong allowed one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks over 97 pitches (63 strikes) and 5.0 IP.

Check out his impressive first inning and the rest of his promising outing here:

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What we learned as Willy Adames sparks Giants' offensive eruption in blowout win

What we learned as Willy Adames sparks Giants' offensive eruption in blowout win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – For the second consecutive night the Giants got a sub-par outing from one of their top pitchers.

For the second consecutive night, it didn’t matter.

On an evening when Robbie Ray failed to make it out of the fifth inning for the first time in more than a month, the Giants’ offense had the Oracle Park crowd buzzing with a fireworks display at the plate that paved the way for a 15-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles as San Francisco won its sixth straight.

Dominic Smith and Luis Matos both homered to lead the offensive onslaught. Smith drove in four runs while Matos added three RBIs as the Giants scored in double digits for the second time in three games while setting a 2025 season-high with in runs.

The night began on a somber note when a moment of silence was held for former Giants reliever Randy Moffit who recently passed away. Moffitt spent 10 seasons with the Orange and Black and is in the franchise top-10 for saves (83) and games pitched (459).

After that it was nothing but noise, and lots of it, coming off the Giants bats or from the crowd at the waterfront ballpark.

The only thing hiccup of the night came from Ray. The 2021 Cy Young Award winner battled control issues and allowed runs in three of the five frames he worked, finishing with 94 pitches in 4 1/3 innings.

Baltimore scored a two-out run off Ray in the first inning, tacked on three in the third then added two more in the fifth before Giants manager Bob Melvin turned to his bullpen.

Spencer Bivens (3-3) retired five batters to record the win.

Here are the takeaways from Friday:

Offense Roars

There’s been a ton of criticism regarding the Giants’ up-and-mostly-down offense this season, but the Orange and Black threw a blanket over that noise in Friday’s series-opening win.

In the first inning alone, San Francisco batted around and scored four runs. Six of the first seven batters in manager Bob Melvin’s lineup reached base, the lone holdout being Dominic Smith who delivered a sacrifice fly.

The good times at Oracle kept rolling into the second inning when Rafael Devers singled in Jung Hoo Lee followed by a Matt Chapman sacrifice fly.

Every starter had at least one hit for San Francisco, six scored at least one run and five drove in two runs or more.

San Francisco got good contact up and down the lineup, flexing the type of offense many have expected all season. While it’s still an uphill climb to make it to the MLB playoffs, nights like this should give even the most pessimistic of Giants fans hope.

Streaking Into History

Smith’s splash hit into McCovey Cove extended the Giants streak of consecutive games with at least one home run to 12, a stretch in which they’ve gone yard a total of 24 times.

The power surge has come from up and down the lineup. Adames has led the way during the streak with five homers. Rafael Devers is right behind him with four, and Matos hit his third during the stretch leading off the fifth on Friday. Three other players – Matt Chapman, Heliot Ramos and Wilmer Flores – have hit two each.

The franchise record for consecutive games with at least one home run is 19, set in 1947.

The current streak has been the biggest reason that the Giants still harbor playoff hopes, as slim as they might be. It’s not like the days of Barry Bonds but it sure feels good when the ‘Bye Bye Baby’ song breaks out at Oracle.

Willy Warming To Righties

It’s been a bit of a rough first season in San Francisco for Adames, but the veteran shortstop has been in a nice groove against right-handed pitching since the calendar changed months.

Adames, who on Thursday became the first Giants shortstop since 1929 to have four multi-homer games in the same campaign, had his second four-hit game of the season on Friday.

Since Aug. 16, Adames is batting .416 (10-for-24) against righties. While he’s still having his issues versus lefties, it’s an s encouraging headed into the weekend, as the Orioles are expected to start right-handers Saturday and Sunday.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Red Sox prospect Payton Tolle lived up to hype in MLB debut vs. Paul Skenes

Red Sox prospect Payton Tolle lived up to hype in MLB debut vs. Paul Skenes originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Craig Breslow said the Red Sox elevated pitching prospect Payton Tolle because they felt he could contribute as Boston eyes meaningful baseball down the stretch. Based on how the left-hander performed in his Major League debut at Fenway Park on Friday night, that’s a fair expectation.

Tolle went toe-to-toe with Pirates superstar Paul Skenes and more than held his own despite the tough-luck 4-2 defeat.

The 22-year-old walked off the diamond to a standing ovation as the Red Sox held a 2-0 lead with one out in the sixth inning. Unfortunately for Tolle, Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert took over with runners on first and second. Tolle threw 84 pitches at that point, prompting Red Sox manager Alex Cora to go to the bullpen.

Weissert allowed back-to-back doubles on his first four pitches and the Pirates took a 3-2 lead after six innings. Weissert was credited for the loss.

A quick look at the box score might make Tolle’s line look less admirable given those runs allowed — at the very least, it doesn’t look as good as it would’ve if Weissert shut the door in the sixth. However, Tolle limited the Pirates to one hit with eight strikeouts in five scoreless frames.

In his first four innings of work, he struck out six with 39 of 60 pitches being called strikes. He also got out of a second-inning jam after he allowed a lead-off walk to Tommy Pham and ground-rule double by Andrew McCutchen. He retired the next two batters on swinging strikeouts before inducing an inning-ending fly ball.

The No. 2 prospect in the organization, who rocketed through the ranks this season, also showcased the velocity Breslow raved about pregame. Tolle exceeded 98 miles per hour five times in the first inning alone.

“It’s the total package,” Breslow said. “He’s got an elite fastball, which is the foundation of his repertoire. He’s got unique extension, the fastball playability, the ability to get guys to swing and miss in the strike zone and his secondaries have taken real steps forward this year.”

“I mean, it seems like he belongs, you know?” Cora said pregame.

It certainly does.

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Phillies find a different way to win; Castellanos discusses new role

Phillies find a different way to win; Castellanos discusses new role originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Good baseball teams find different ways to win.

One night after exploding for a season-high 19 runs and a franchise-record tying seven home runs, the Phillies scratched out a tightly contested 2-1 victory over the Braves on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.  

They improved to 78-57 on the season and 44-22 in their home ballpark.

Alec Bohm’s eighth inning sacrifice fly to the right field warning track off Braves reliever Pierce Johnson provided the winning run. The Phillies’ rally started with back-to-back singles by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper against Atlanta lefty reliever Dylan Lee, who exited following Harper’s ground ball up the middle that advanced Schwarber to third base.

Schwarber scored easily on Bohm’s fly ball and the Phillies seized control of a game that hung in the balance for the vast majority of the night.

“Nights like last night aren’t typically what you’re going to see in a playoff type of game,” Bohm said of the contrast between the Phillies’ last two wins. “So being able to stay in a game all the way through and find a way to win, play good defense, pitch well, and get timely hits, that’s kind of what playoff baseball’s all about.”

The Phillies retained their five-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. New York pounded the Marlins 19-9 on Friday night.

The Phillies were out-hit 12-6 by the Braves as the bats cooled off significantly following Thursday’s slugfest. They were unable to solve Braves righthander Bryce Elder, who entered his 23rd start of the season with a 6.12 ERA. Elder hardly looked the part of a struggling starter, allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings.

The Phillies utilized some small-ball tactics to score their first run of the game in the fourth inning. A leadoff walk by Schwarber was followed by a Harper bunt single down the third base line against a shifted Braves infield. After a Bohm flyout, Brandon Marsh delivered a RBI single to tie the game 1-1.

24 hours removed from his MLB record tying four-home run outburst, Schwarber was greeted with a standing ovation before his first at-bat of the game. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored both of the Phillies runs.

The Braves failed to capitalize on several opportunities to take control of the game early. Atlanta left six men on base in the first four innings against Phillies starter Ranger Suárez. The Braves finished the game 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Suárez, the reigning NL Player of the Week, wasn’t nearly as sharp as his previous two outings. He scattered 10 hits over five innings with just two strikeouts and one walk.

“I was just battling and fighting,” Suárez said through team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “We had to battle and fight every inning with runners in scoring position but the most important thing was to try to get out of it, try to get out of every one of those situations and just keep the game close so we can maybe get a win.”

Suárez escaped trouble throughout the evening. With the game tied in the top of the fifth inning, Suárez’s 92nd and final pitch resulted in a Marcell Ozuna fly ball to right field. Nick Castellanos made the catch then threw out Matt Olson at home plate for an inning-ending double play. Olson, attempting to tag up from third base, was unable to avoid a diving tag by Rafael Marchan.

“Just getting a jump and catch it,” Castellanos said of his role in the key double play. “And just get set to make the best throw that I can.”

Castellanos was removed from the game for defensive purposes following the eighth inning. The move conjured memories of Rob Thomson taking Castellanos out of a game in Miami two months ago. The veteran outfielder wasn’t happy with the decision and was benched the following game after making an ‘inappropriate’ comment to his manager.

What was the conversation like between Thomson and Castellanos this time?

“There was no conversation,” Castellanos said. (First base and outfield coach) Paco (Figueroa) was the one who told me.”

“I think we’re all at the point now where we’re all in,” Thomson said when asked if Castellanos was alright with being removed from the game. “Whatever is best for the team to win a game that night, we’re all in. Check your ego at the door and let’s go.”

Castellanos has been an everyday player throughout his 13-year career. He started all 162 games last season.  But he now finds himself in an outfield rotation. He didn’t play three of the Phillies’ previous eight games prior to his start on Friday.

Castellanos was asked how he’s adjusting to not playing every night.

“It’s a big adjustment.”

Is it difficult at this stage of his career?

“Yes.”

How do you deal with it?

“The best I can.”

Castellanos figures to be in the lineup against Saturday against Braves lefthander Chris Sale.

Meanwhile the Phillies bullpen was flawless on Friday night. David Robertson, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and Jhoan Duran combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

“They did a great job,” Thomson said of his bullpen. “Four innings, gave up a couple hits but other than that they were really good, I was happy with it. And we should have all those guys (available) tomorrow.”

The Phillies can secure a series win over Atlanta with a win on Saturday.

While Friday’s victory wasn’t as emphatic as the previous night’s blowout, it was every bit as meaningful as the Phillies continue their quest for a second straight NL East title.

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Two-start pitchers: Joe Ryan fronts the list of appetizing options for the week of September 1

Hello and welcome to the 22nd installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

With the Dodgers’ rotation mostly healthy at the moment and them rolling with a straight six-man rotation, it’s becoming a rare occurrence when one of their hurlers lines up for a two-start week. They’ll play six games again this week, meaning each of them will take the ball one time each.

The Braves are another team that has moved to a six-man rotation and with only six games next week it doesn’t appear as though anyone will start twice. There’s a chance that after Thursday night’s disaster that Cal Quantrill gets bumped or designated for assignment, which could mean that Spencer Strider would get two starts (at Cubs, vs. Mariners).

The Orioles are also moving to a six-man rotation to accommodate the return of Tyler Wells on Tuesday, and with only six games on the docket none of their starters will go twice. The same would hold true next week if they stick with the six-man setup.

Count the Reds as another team that is set to roll with a six-man rotation following the return of Nick Lodolo. If they keep things the way that they are, no one would draw two starts next week. If they inexplicably bump Nick Martinez or push anyone else back, then it would be Hunter Greene taking the ball twice (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Mets).

At least one person will make two starts for the Astros next week, but we aren’t sure exactly yet how that’s going to play out. Lance McCullers Jr. is the one that’s lined up to start twice in the Astros’ current six-man rotation (vs. Angels, @ Rangers). He’s also available out of the bullpen over the weekend though. If he doesn’t pitch in relief, he would make two starts and could be worth a look as a streaming play. If he pitches out of the bullpen instead, it throws things into flux. Framber Valdez would then start on Monday and would be lined up for those two starts. He’s an obvious play in all leagues. If McCullers stays in the bullpen and the Astros go back to a five-man rotation, Jason Alexander could also make two starts (vs. Yankees, at Rangers), assuming McCullers doesn’t slot in at some point during the week. We’ll keep this one updated through the weekend to see how it plays out.

We know that Yusei Kikuchi is going to make two starts for the Halos next week, but we don’t know who else is going to. Jack Kochanowicz was optioned back to Triple-A after his latest implosion and both Carson Fulmer and Victor Mederos are currently on the injured list. They’ll either roll with a bullpen game on Tuesday or pull from the minor leagues to fill the void. Whoever that person is would start at the Royals and vs. the A’s for his two-start week.

The Pirates are rolling with a six-man rotation at the moment, so with only six games on the schedule for next week none of them are going to start twice unless they move things around.

Add the Blue Jays to the list of teams that are rolling with some form of six-man rotation at the moment. With only six games on the schedule, that means that no one will go twice unless they shift things around. If they opt to push back or skip one of their starters, it would be Chris Bassitt getting the ball twice (@ Reds, @ Yankees).

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of September 1.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 29 and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Joe Ryan, Twins, RHP (vs. White Sox, @ Royals)

Ryan has been the one player on the Twins that has continued to shine despite their struggles this season. The 29-year-old right-hander has gone 12-7 with a terrific 3.22 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a 166/29 K/BB ratio over 148 innings of work. He’ll continue that dominance against a pair of divisional foes this week, starting with a premium matchup against the White Sox at home. He should be started in 100 percent of all leagues each and every week, so there’s no decision point here, it’s just an added bonus that he gets to make two starts.

Max Fried, Yankees, LHP (@ Astros, vs. Blue Jays)

The 31-year-old southpaw has functioned as a true ace for the Yankees and for fantasy managers this season, going 14-5 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 154/42 K/BB ratio over 162 innings through his first 27 starts. He should be an automatic start for fantasy managers every week, even in difficult spots. This week certainly qualifies as a difficult spot, having to battle the hard-hitting Astros in Houston before a critical divisional tilt against the Blue Jays. You can’t bench him for a two-start week, just understand that there’s more ratio risk than we’re used to taking on from Fried this week.

Parker Messick, Guardians, LHP (@ Red Sox, @ Rays)

The 24-year-old rookie southpaw has been extremely impressive through his first two starts with the Guardians, registering a 0.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 12/1 K/BB ratio across 13 2/3 innings. Facing the Red Sox in Fenway is a difficult way to begin the week, but I’m willing to bet on talent and roll with Messick in all formats for the upcoming week. Even if he struggles in one start, the strikeouts should still be there. He’ll be a popular pickup in shallow leagues where he still might be hanging around, so prepare to pay up for him.

Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Guardians)

Rasmussen has been outstanding for the Rays this season, compiling a stellar 2.64 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a 113/28 K/BB ratio over 129 2/3 innings. The only thing holding him back has been a limit that has been placed on his workload that caused him to work several short starts to conserve his innings. That appears to be gone now, as he has gone six innings in each of his last four starts and has continued to shine. Even in a pair of tougher matchups, he’s one of the top overall plays on the board this week and should be started in all leagues.

Brayan Bello, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Guardians, @ Diamondbacks)

Bello has been terrific for the Red Sox this season, going 10-7 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in his first 24 starts. The only place that Bello has been lacking this season is in the strikeout department, with only 108 K’s through his first 141 2/3 innings. Luckily for us, he gets two starts this coming week, so the added volume more than makes up for that deficiency. He should be started with full confidence in all leagues.

Luis Castillo, Mariners, RHP (@ Rays, @ Braves)

Castillo has been the stabilizing force in a Mariners’ rotation that has dealt with a plethora of injuries this season. He has made all 27 of his starts, posting a 3.75 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 133/43 K/BB ratio. The reduced strikeout rate is a concern that we have had all season, but he continues to find a way to limit the damage and get things done most weeks. He’s a threat to earn a victory every time he takes the hill and he should be able to post a solid overall line for this upcoming two-start week. He’s a good start in all formats.

Decent Plays

Charlie Morton, Tigers, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. White Sox)

We have seen small improvements from Morton since joining the Tigers following a deadline deal from the Orioles. The 41-year-old right-hander has compiled a 4.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 36/10 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings in five starts with his new club. That includes a six-run debacle against the Angels and a five-run loss to the A’s his last time out. What’s very encouraging is the increased strikeout rate that he has shown. He gets to make both of these starts at home at Comerica Park and he’ll be a major favorite to earn a victory in that second start against the White Sox. He should be a lock for double-digit strikeouts over the two starts, making him an easy start for me in all formats.

Michael Lorenzen, Royals, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Twins)

Lorenzen falls into the category of someone who always seems to be available to stream for his two-start weeks. No one wants to roster him for a single start (except maybe against the White Sox), but he has just enough in the tank that he’s usually worth the added volume when he goes twice. He gets the bonus of making both starts at home during the upcoming week, one of them against a Twins’ squad that has all but given up on the season. I’d gladly roll with Lorenzen if I had him and would even be looking to pick him up in 12-team leagues where he’s widely available.

Yusei Kikuchi, Angels, LHP (@ Astros, vs. Athletics)

Kikuchi has been a frustrating player to roster for fantasy purposes this season. He owns a respectable 3.68 ERA and has punched out 156 batters in 154 innings, but he has only won six games and has allowed a league-leading 156 hits which has contributed to a cringe-inducing 1.43 WHIP. He’ll do battle against his former club in Houston on Monday and if he can survive that one he’ll have to take on the surging Athletics at home to finish the week. The strikeouts should be there regardless, but this week screams ratio risk for Kikuchi. If ratios (especially WHIP) are your primary concern, I may try to sit him.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (@ Red Sox, @ Rays)

Cecconi has been a big pile of meh for the Guardians through his first 18 starts on the season, posting a 4.41 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and an 83/26 K/BB ratio across 102 innings. It’s surprising that he has only won five games in 18 starts while pitching for a good team with a strong bullpen. The matchups pose risk this week, as Cecconi has served up 20 home runs already on the season and he’ll be pitching in a pair of extreme hitter’s parks. If you have been rolling with him already in 15-teamers, I think it’s alright to continue doing so. I wouldn’t be going out of my way to try to start him in shallower leagues though.

Shane Baz, Rays, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Guardians)

Despite his terrific arsenal, Baz has continued to struggle to find consistency on the mound this season. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but has posted a disappointing 5.19 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 150/54 K/BB ratio over 144 innings through his first 26 starts. He can turn in a gem against anyone, but these matchups in particular don’t appear ripe for the picking. In 15 teamers you probably have to keep the faith and keep using him, but I wouldn’t be locked into him in 12-teamers this week.

Patrick Corbin, Rangers, LHP (@ Diamondbacks, vs. Astros)

You know what you’re getting from Patrick Corbin at this stage of his career. Usually middling ratios, some strikeouts and a shot at a victory if the Rangers can score some runs for him. He’ll turn back the clock and have the occasional gem out of nowhere. If you’re willing to take on the ratio risk that comes with a pair of tough matchups, you can roll the dice that Corbin follows up last week’s masterpiece against the Angels with another strong start or two.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (@ Twins, @ Tigers)

Martin has been a viable streaming option for most of his two-start weeks this season. He holds a middling 4.03 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and an 85/38 K/BB ratio over 116 innings overall through his first 21 appearances (20 starts) on the season while notching five victories. The wins are going to continue to be tough to come by pitching against two divisional foes on the road, but there are paths to Martin having fantasy value for the upcoming week. He’d be under consideration for me in 15 teamers though I probably wouldn’t go there in 12’s.

At Your Own Risk

Osvaldo Bido, Athletics, RHP (@ Cardinals, @ Angels)

While it hasn’t been confirmed just yet, it sounds like Bido will stick around to make another start or two for the A’s as they struggle to find viable and healthy arms to throw each night. The 29-year-old hurler holds an uninspiring 5.66 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 54/27 K/BB ratio across 68 1/3 innings on the season and holds very little upside from a fantasy perspective. The only thing going in his favor here are that it’s two pretty soft matchups and they’re both away from Sutter Health Park. If you’re desperate for volume in deeper leagues, maybe you could pull the trigger here, otherwise I would steer clear.

Aaron Civale, White Sox, RHP (@ Twins, @ Tigers)

We have seen exactly what we have come to expect from Civale since his move to the White Sox. He has gone 2-7 with a 5.37 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 55/26 K/BB ratio over 67 innings in 13 starts. While he’s capable of having the occasional strong start, you’re playing with fire if you try using him for two road starts against divisional foes who are innately familiar with his work. I’ll be avoiding this one.

National League

Strong Plays

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers, RHP (vs. Phillies, @ Pirates)

The electric 23-year-old right-hander is coming off of a strong 10-strikeout performance against the Diamondbacks his last time out. For the season, he holds a 4.33 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 65/21 K/BB ratio over 43 2/3 innings through his first 10 starts. The only concern here is the matchup against the Phillies to start the week. They have a plethora of powerful left-handed bats that could give him trouble. There’s also a chance that if the Brewers decide to push him back a day or shuffle their rotation at all, that Misiorowski could lose the premium matchup against the Pirates to finish the week. I think we simply bet on talent here and roll with him in all formats.

Sonny Gray, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Giants)

Gray is having a solid all-around season on the sinking ship that is the Cardinals. He has posted a 12-7 record, 4.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 168/28 K/BB ratio over 152 1/3 innings in his 27 starts. With a pair of strong matchups at home this week, Gray looks to be one of the top overall options on the board and one that should be started indiscriminately across all leagues.

Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Red Sox)

Despite the fact that it took a while for the Diamondbacks to finally give Nelson a secure spot in their starting rotation, he has been an absolute monster for them all season. He sits at 7-3 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 108/32 K/BB ratio across 125 innings in 28 appearances (18 starts). The matchups are tough for the upcoming week, but not so difficult that we’re shying away from them. Look for Nelson to continue to post solid ratios and decent strikeouts while having a shot at a victory each and every time out. That makes him an easy start in all formats.

Dylan Cease, Padres, RHP (vs. Orioles, @ Rockies)

Fantasy managers already know that they’re likely to get elevated ratios from Cease, that’s unlikely to change this week – especially with a matchup against the Rockies at Coors Field. What he will provide though, is strikeouts by the bushel and a terrific shot at earning a victory in both spots this week. If you have rode with him all season, continue doing so for this two-start week.

Decent Plays

Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Nationals)

Rea has done a decent job overall for the Cubs this season, going 10-7 with a 4.23 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and a 95/40 K/BB ratio over 132 innings. While he’s usually not a strong option in single start weeks, he’s often a viable streaming option when he’s lined up for two starts. That happens to be the case this week with a pair of starts at home. The Braves’ offense has come to life recently, so he’s not catching them at the right time, but a matchup against the Nationals to finish the week more than offsets the ratio risk there. He’s a nice streaming play in leagues of all sizes.

Sean Manaea, Mets, LHP (@ Tigers, @ Reds)

Manaea sports an elevated ERA (5.01) through his first nine outings on the season, but everything else under the hood checks out. He’s got a terrific 1.14 WHIP and a 53/8 K/BB ratio over 41 1/3 innings of work. The Tigers have really struggled against left-handed pitching of late, so that’s a winnable matchup and then he’ll take on an inconsistent Reds’ team on the road to finish the week. Manaea looks like an easy start in all leagues this week. Trust the process.

Taijuan Walker, Phillies, RHP (@ Brewers, @ Marlins)

Walker has been difficult for fantasy managers to trust historically, but he has done a nice job for the Phillies this season – compiling a 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 73/32 K/BB ratio over 101 2/3 innings. The low strikeout rate is offset by the added volume of a second start on the week, making him an interesting streaming play. Taking on the Brewers in Milwaukee is a tough task, but if he can get through that one without a disaster, he should provide a useful stat line for the week.

MacKenzie Gore, Nationals, LHP (vs. Marlins, @ Cubs)

Gore has had mixed results through his first 27 starts on the season, going 5-13 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 173/55 K/BB ratio over 147 1/3 innings. The matchup against the Marlins to start the week looks very appealing and he should be able to pile up strikeouts there. The second start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field looks much more difficult. He could get through there and salvage a solid week, but it’s not without ratio risk. I’d roll the dice in 15-teamers and I’m on the fence in 12-team formats.

At Your Own Risk

Chase Dollander, Rockies, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Padres)

In this week’s edition of never Rockies, we land back on Chase Dollander. The biggest negative for him this week is that he’ll be making both starts at home in Colorado. He’s also battling a pair of strong offenses, both of them divisional foes. Oh, and he also holds a miserable 6.55 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a 75/44 K/BB ratio over 88 innings on the season. There’s just no good reason to use him in this spot. Stay away.

Ryan Gusto, Marlins, RHP (@ Nationals, vs. Phillies)

Things have not gone well for Gusto through his first three starts with the Marlins, getting knocked around to the tune of a 9.77 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 10/8 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings in three consecutive losses. The matchup against the Nationals looks good on paper – and he threw six innings of one-run ball against them in his final start with the Astros – but it’s tough to trust him in this spot. If that start goes poorly, he could easily get bumped from the rotation and not make the start over the weekend against the Phillies. If you’re desperate for volume and don’t care about your ratios, go ahead and try it. Otherwise, sit this one out.

Carson Whisenhunt, Giants, LHP (@ Rockies, @ Cardinals)

While he has secured a pair of wins in his first five starts with the Giants, the results haven’t been great – a 5.01 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 16/12 K/BB ratio over 23 1/3 innings of work. Now he gets the tough task of taking on the Rockies at Coors Field to start the week before going on the road to battle the Cardinals on Sunday. Could he sneak through and pick up a win with a handful of strikeouts on the week? Sure, it’s possible. There are far more paths to failure than success here though. If you’re desperate in wins and strikeouts and can throw your ratios to the wind, go ahead and take a chance.

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Francisco Alvarez takes batting practice two days after fracturing pinky

Mets catcherFrancisco Alvarezremains determined to return to the lineup -- perhaps sooner rather than later -- despite having a torn UCL in his right thumb and small fracture in his left pinky.

Alvarez was out taking batting practice at Citi Field on Friday, a day after news about his broken pinky was revealed.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday it's "impressive" Alvarez is already taking swings and looking to get back on the field, but would not put a date on when the catcher would be ready to return.

"I don't want to put a specific date [on his return], but the fact that he's already [hitting]," Mendoza said. "I mean he swung the bat yesterday in the cages after the doctors gave him the clearance. Soon as the doctor gave him the OK, the first thing he said was like, 'Alright, can I go hit now?' Sure enough, ten minutes later, he was in the cages taking hacks. And then today he's taking full BP and all that.

"Look man, this guy's not only strong, he's a quick healer, too. We got to see how he comes out of the BP today. Now we got to see when's the next step, which is receiving, playing catch and all that because we're talking about the receiving hand now. I'm not surprised by anything at this time. Not going to put a date, but the fact he's moving that quick is pretty impressive."

Mendoza said previously on Thursday that the plan was for Alvarez to let the swelling go down before resuming baseball activities.

In his first game of a rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse, Alvarez suffered the broken pinky when he was hit by a pitch.

"As tough as he is, he's human," Mendoza said on Thursday about Alvarez playing through pain. "We gotta get him to a point where it's manageable because now we're talking about the receiving hand, too."

When it came to the original injury -- a right thumb sprain he suffered sliding into second base during the MLB Little League Classic on Aug. 17, the manager said the early reports on his throwing were good, but "we gotta wait and see when it happens in real action."

"When he's gotta do the transfer and put the ball in the air as quick as possible and put something on the throw," Mendoza said, adding there was no issue with him throwing the ball back to the pitcher during his five innings behind the plate.

Alvarez will eventually need surgery for the thumb injury, but is hoping to play through it for the remainder of the season.

The 23-year-old's hands have taken quite the beating recently. He started the season on the IL with a wrist injury and lost time to a thumb injury that required surgery last season.

Mendoza said the three hand injuries have been tough on the young catcher, who is frustrated by his bad luck.

“Also, understanding there’s still hope and feel like you can get back this year and help us win baseball games, but definitely you don’t want to be on the IL, you don’t want to be missing time,” he said. “In Alvy’s case, it’s been hard for him. Our job is to continue to support him and continue to stay positive with him.

“He’s very strong mentally, physically, and he’ll get through this.”

Alvarez came back from a demotion to Triple-A swinging a hot bat, slashing .323/.408/.645 with four homers, six doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, and 14 runs scored in 71 plate appearances over 21 games. He continued that with a double in his first at-bat with Syracuse on Wednesday.

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Schwarber showcases golf skills following historic night

Schwarber showcases golf skills following historic night originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kyle Schwarber’s performance on Thursday night will be discussed for years to come.

So it’s understandable that Schwarber’s four-home run outburst a 19-4 win over the Braves was still the talk of the Phillies clubhouse on Friday afternoon.

“Incredible,” Jesús Luzardo said of Schwarber becoming the 21st player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. “I’ve never seen that. It was one of a kind. He’s such a good dude that I think everyone was on the top step rooting for him.”

Schwarber missed the opportunity to hit a fifth home run in the eighth inning, flying out to shallow left field with Braves infielder Vidal Brujan on the mound.

“Even when he got out he handled it so well,” Luzardo said. “He was able to laugh about it. He’s such a good sport so it’s easy to root for him when things are going good like that. Last night was one for the history books.”

Schwarber will take aim at more history on Friday.

The Phillies’ record for most home runs in a two-game span is five, set by Mike Schmidt in 1976. Schmidt hit four home runs against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 17th of that season then added another homer the following day.

Schwarber Stays Hot

One day after clubbing four home runs, Schwarber added a golf championship to his resume.

The Phillies held a closest to the pin competition before batting practice on Friday to determine the draft order for their fantasy football league.

A group of players that included Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Jesus Luzardo and Harrison Bader hit pitching wedges from home plate to a makeshift flag in center field.

The winner?

‘Who do you think?” Bader asked afterwards.

That would be Schwarber, who put his wedge within 10 feet of the flag.

“He had to do it after his big night,” Bader said with a smile.

“I’m going to ask him to buy me a lottery ticket,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson joked. “He’s hot.”

The expectation in the clubhouse is that Schwarber – a Bengals fan who grew up in the Cincinnati suburbs – will take wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the first pick.

Outfield Shuffle

Deciding the Phillies’ starting outfield on a daily basis is a delicate balance.

“The challenge is really trying to figure it out,” Thomson said before Friday’s game. “Just really trying to figure out what the rotation is, matchup history, how hot a guy is at the time, (batting) splits, putting all those things together and trying to figure out who the three guys are in the lineup that day. It’s difficult.”

So far the Phillies manager is pressing all the right buttons.

Thomson gave Max Kepler the start in right field on Thursday and Kepler responded with a two-run home run in the first inning. Kepler is hitting .342 with two home runs, six RBI and a .912 OPS in his last 10 games.

Nick Castellanos will be in right field Friday while Kepler moves to left field and Brandon Marsh starts in center field. Castellanos is 4-for-8 with four home runs in his career against Braves starter Bryce Elder.

Harrison Bader is the odd man out Friday despite collecting four hits on Thursday night. Bader is hitting .538 with five extra base hits in his last seven games.

“It was just basically the numbers Nick (Castellanos) has against their starter,” Thomson said when asked why Bader isn’t in Friday’s lineup. “It was a tough call, to tell you the truth. Bader has played the last six in a row and we have a long stretch (of games) ahead. He could probably use the day off.”   

On the Hill

Reigning NL Player of the Week Ranger Suarez takes the mound for the second game of this four-game set against the Braves.

Suarez is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his last two starts with 21 strikeouts and zero walks. He’s had success against Atlanta, allowing just one earned run in 13 innings (0.69 ERA) in two starts against the Braves this season.

Meanwhile Elder has struggled throughout the 2025 season. His 6.12 ERA ranks 107th out of 109 MLB pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched this year.

Elder allowed nine earned runs in just two innings against the Phillies on June 27th. He surrendered three home runs in that game, a 13-0 Phillies win.

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Mets activate Jonah Tong ahead of big-league debut, option Kevin Herget

The Mets have officially added Jonah Tong to the active roster ahead of his big-league debut Friday night against the Marlins on SNY. 

Tong dominated across two levels of the minors before receiving the highly-anticipated call. 

The 22-year-old top prospect pitched to a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while striking out a whopping 179 batters over 22 starts between Double-A and Triple-A.

He’ll now look to carry that success to the Big Apple down the stretch.

In a corresponding roster move, right-hander Kevin Herget has been optioned to Syracuse. 

Herget threw well in his lone appearance back in the majors, striking out two over 2.2 scoreless innings at the backend of Thursday’s loss to Miami. 

He's now pitched to a strong 1.13 ERA in just four games with the Mets this year. 

New York cleared a spot on the 40 Man Friday by sending Ty Adcock outright to Syracuse. 

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Why did Red Sox release Walker Buehler? Craig Breslow explains decision

Why did Red Sox release Walker Buehler? Craig Breslow explains decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It didn’t come as a surprise when the Red Sox moved Walker Buehler to the bullpen last week given the right-handed starter struggled in the rotation. But it was expected the two-time MLB All-Star would be given some time to gain comfortability in the ‘pen seeing how he started 162 of 164 games since 2018.

That was before circumstances changed, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said after the Red Sox released Buehler on Friday afternoon.

“Our hope and our expectation was we were going to be able to provide enough runway to give him a chance to settle in and transition into that role and then contribute down the stretch and get some meaningful outs for us,” Breslow said before the Red Sox opened a three-game series against the Pirates. “But circumstances changed.”

A key factor, as Breslow indicated, was Boston placing Richard Fitts (right arm neuritis) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. In turn, the Red Sox needed a starter for the back end of their rotation and selected promising left-hander Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester.

Tolle is the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. He’s scheduled to make his MLB debut opposite Pirates superstar Paul Skenes at Fenway Park on Friday.

Red Sox setup man Justin Slaten was activated from the injured list Thursday, as well. Having not pitched since late May, Slaten’s return could help an already-dominant bullpen. He has a 3.47 ERA in 24 games this season.

Breslow admitted it was a tough decision to release Buehler, who the Red Sox signed to a one-year, $21 million deal just eight months ago. Buehler opened the season third in the starting rotation behind left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and right-hander Tanner Houck, whose mid-May injury opened the spot right behind Crochet.

Buehler, however, couldn’t take advantage. He went six-plus innings in eight of his 22 starts and the Red Sox went 12-10 in those contests. The 31-year-old departs Boston after compiling a 5.45 ERA in 112.1 innings across 23 games.

When asked why the Red Sox opted to outright release Buehler as opposed to designating him for assignment and thus give the ballclub time to plot its next move, Breslow expressed it was in fairness to Buehler.

“Just trying to be mindful and respectful of who he is and what he’s accomplished,” Breslow said.

Buehler now has an opportunity to latch on with a team in the midst of a playoff push while Boston believes the arrival of Tolle and return of Slaten to pay dividends down the stretch.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Payton Tolle, Jake Cronenworth and Sal Stewart

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Payton Tolle (SP Red Sox): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues

We’re getting two top pitching prospect debuts Friday with the Mets calling up Jonah Tong and the Red Sox promoting left-hander Payton Tolle to face the Pirates, Tong’s already been picked up in most active leagues, but he comes highly recommend. Tolle, one of the year’s biggest surprises in the minors, probably isn’t quite as good of a short-term bet, but he’s still well worth trying. A 2024 second-round pick out of TCU, Tolle made his pro debut at High-A Greenville this season, opening up with a 3.62 ERA and a 79/14 K/BB in 49 2/3 innings over 11 outings. That earned him a bump to Double-A, where he posted a 1.67 ERA and a 37/7 K/BB in 27 innings. He’d since moved up to Triple-A, where he had a 3.60 ERA and a 17/2 K/BB. It’s not quite as impressive as Tong’s resume, but his overall 3.04 ERA, 36.5% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate is still pretty remarkable.

A low-90s guys in college, Tolle has been working at 94-98 mph this year and often reaching 90 mph on his cutter. His slider is the best of his three breaking balls, and his changeup isn’t bad, though he hasn’t used it much in Triple-A. Standing 6-foot-6, he gets about as much extension on his pitches as anyone in the majors, making everything function as though it’s a little faster than it actually is. His low arm angle would seem to give righties a pretty good look at his pitches, but one wouldn’t know it from the numbers. Both lefties and righties have batted .203 against him this year. Righties have slugged .327, compared to .339 for lefties.

The Red Sox will be cautious with Tolle’s workload, though since he’s at just 91 2/3 innings, he shouldn’t have to be shut down at any point. Mostly, it’s an in-game issue; Tolle hasn’t thrown more than 90 pitches in an outing this year and has been pulled before hitting 75 in each of his last eight starts. It’s probably going to make it tough for him to complete five innings against major league hitters, and he might actually have more fantasy value if the Red Sox gave him the Bubba Chandler treatment and brought him in mid-game. Still, best to pick him up and see what happens.

Jake Cronenworth (2B Padres): Rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues

There’s definitely nothing sexy about grabbing Cronenworth. He doesn’t steal bases, he doesn’t really hit for average and he has only middling power, which has produced 10 homers and 47 RBI in 108 games this season. What he does have is seven games against the Rockies over the next 2 1/2 weeks, and barring an injury, there’s a good chance he’ll start every one of them. He and Ryan O’Hearn, who is 32% rostered at the moment, make for great short-term pickups who can probably be dropped come Sept. 16.

It’s not just the Rockies, either. The Padres are in Minnesota this weekend and then get the Orioles at home in the first half of next week. Their other non-Rockies series comes at home against the Reds. That’s a lot of mediocre arms to take advantage of. One probably doesn’t want Cronenworth rostered over a Jackson Holliday or Xavier Edwards for the rest of the season, but it’s worth making the switch now and figuring out something else for the final two weeks.

Sal Stewart (3B Reds): Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues

The Mets and Red Sox are going for it, and it’s time for the Reds to do the same and bring up their No. 1 prospect in Stewart. Pretty strictly a third baseman in the first half of the season, Stewart has recently been getting starts at second and first as the Reds try to figure out how best to fit him in. Even if he’s cooled off this week, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ solid play for his new team has made third base less of a concern. Second base is the team’s biggest issue right now, and though Spencer Steer has been better of late, the Reds still rank near the bottom of the league in their production at first base.

Stewart opened this year by hitting a fine .306/.377/.473 in 80 games for Double-A Chattanooga, but he’s really taken off since a promotion to Triple-A Louisville; he’s batting .313/.397/.642, and he has as many homers (10) in 156 plate appearances for his new team as he did in 329 for Chattanooga. He’s striking out just 16 percent of the time, and he’s even gone 17-for-20 stealing bases.

It’d be a big mistake if Stewart isn’t the Reds’ offensive addition when rosters expand Monday. They probably shouldn’t even wait out the weekend. Even if they don’t trust him defensively at second, they have the ability to plug in Gavin Lux there and use Stewart mostly at DH. There’s no lack of options for a team playing so many averagish bats. Maybe Stewart won’t be a big upgrade immediately, but he’s earned a shot, and in a nice situation for hitters, he should be picked up in mixed leagues when it comes.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- The Brewers’ Abner Uribe is still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues and could rate as a top-10 closer while Trevor Megill is down with a flexor strain.

- David Hamilton is getting an opportunity at second base against right-handers and is 8-for-18 with a homer and a steal in Boston’s last six games. Those looking for steals might want to give him a try. Hamilton is 18-for-23 swiping bases in 164 plate appearances this season.

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Giants' All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez recommended to have Tommy John surgery

Giants' All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez recommended to have Tommy John surgery originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Giants make one last playoff push, they sustained a massive blow on Friday.

All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez has been recommended to have season-ending Tommy John surgery by multiple doctors, the Giants announced a few hours before opening a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Oracle Park.

Rodriguez will decide on the course of treatment this weekend.

The Giants placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday due to a right elbow sprain, and now he’s likely to miss the entire 2026 season if he undergoes surgery.

The 25-year-old Rodriguez was in the midst of a breakout season when the elbow injury initially popped up. In 50 2/3 innings in 50 appearances this season, he posted a 1.78 ERA with 67 strikeouts and four saves.

Before the MLB All-Star break, Rodriguez was practically unhittable, posting a 0.86 ERA in 41 games. But things didn’t go well after his first Midsummer Classic nod, as he racked up a 6.00 ERA in just nine games.

The Giants likely will use Ryan Walker as the primary closer with Rodriguez done for the season and Camilo Doval in New York after a trade-deadline deal to the Yankees.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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The Rangers' Success This Upcoming Season Could Dictate Artemi Panarin's Future

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers’ success during the 2025-26 season could dictate a lot of things for the organization. 

Artemi Panarin is entering the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract and is in need of a new contract extension. 

Is signing Panarin to a long-term contract extension the direction the Rangers want to go in? 

After missing the playoffs last season, the future of the Rangers seems murky. It’s unclear if last season’s performance was just a fluke or if the Blueshirts are heading toward a downward spiral. 

If their struggles continue, NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes that Panarin could be on the trade block. 

However, if the Rangers are able to bounce back and jump into Stanley Cup contention, Seravalli is under the impression that the Rangers and Panarin will finalize a deal. 

“I could for sure see (a trade) happening if the Rangers are out (of playoff contention),” Seravalli said. “But I’m going to tell you this: I don’t think the Rangers are going to be out. I have the Rangers as a playoff team. I have the Rangers as a bounce-back team.

“New coach, new environment, new mood... I think they can reinvent themselves in a pretty big way this upcoming season. I've got the Rangers in, and if the Rangers are in, I would assume at some point that means finding a deal for Artemi Panarin that makes sense on an extension.”

It’s unknown if the Rangers and Panarin’s camp have engaged in any sort of contract discussions. 

Regardless, Panarin is a cornerstone piece of the franchise, and if the Rangers are able to get back on track, there’s no doubt the 33-year-old forward should be in New York for the foreseeable future.

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Brewers at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Brewers (83-52) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (78-56). Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Shane Bieber for Toronto.

This is the first and only series of the season between Toronto and Milwaukee. Over the last six games, the two are opposites with the Brewers at 2-4 and the Blue Jays at 4-2. Milwaukee has lost or tied its opponent for three straight series after being one of the hottest teams in all of baseball.

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 first pitch, 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 Blue Jays

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, 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 Brewers at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+114), Blue Jays (-136)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Shane Bieber
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (15-5, 2.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Blue Jays: Shane Bieber, (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 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!

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

  • Toronto is 4-2 over the next 6 games
  • Milwaukee is 2-4 over the last 6 games
  • In the Blue Jays' last 10 games where they've held a rest advantage over their opponents the Under is 7-3
  • The Blue Jays are 1-9 against the Run Line on the last 10 occasions that they've had a rest advantage
  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 at 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 Brewers 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 Friday’s game between the Brewers and the Blue Jays:

  • 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 Milwaukee Brewers 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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Cardinals at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Cardinals (66-69) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (68-66). Matthew Liberatore is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Zack Littell for Cincinnati.

The Cardinals are Reds are tied for the season series at four games apiece as they prepare for this three-game series. Both enter on bit of losing skids with St. Louis at 2-4 over the last six games and Cincinnati at 1-6 over the past seven (0-3 in the last three). The Reds are 4.0 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot while the Cardinals are 6.5 back.

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 first pitch, 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 Cardinals at Reds

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, FDSNOH

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 Cardinals at the Reds

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (+106), Reds (-126)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Matthew Liberatore vs. Zack Littell
    • Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore, (6-11, 4.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 8.31 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Zack Littell, (9-8, 3.58 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.00 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 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 Cardinals at Reds

  • The two are tied at 4-4 on the season
  • Cincinnati is 0-3 in the last 3 games and 1-6 in the past 7
  • St. Louis is 2-4 in the last 6 games
  • The Over is 7-2-1 for the Cardinals' and the Reds' last 5 games combined
  • The Cardinals have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 games
  • The Cardinals have lost their last 3 games against teams with better records

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 Cardinals and the Reds

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 Friday’s game between the Cardinals and the Reds:

  • 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 St. Louis Cardinals 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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler

Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Once viewed as a veteran starting pitcher who would help the Red Sox in their pursuit of meaningful late-season baseball, right-hander Walker Buehler won’t be in Boston to see it.

The Red Sox released Buehler eight months after they signed him to a one-year, $21 million deal, the team announced Friday afternoon before opening a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A two-time MLB All-Star, Buehler began the season as the No. 3 starter in Boston’s rotation behind left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and right-hander Tanner Houck. Houck was placed on the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain on May 13, which figured to open the door for Buehler to cement himself as a top-of-rotation complement for the lefty Crochet.

Unfortunately for both the two-time World Series champion and the Red Sox, Buehler failed to deliver on those expectations.

Buehler went 7-7 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts for the Red Sox this season. He surpassed six innings pitched in eight of those 22 starts and Boston was 12-10 in those games.

Buehler’s struggles prompted manager Alex Cora to demote him to the bullpen last week. While a change wasn’t unexpected — and was a move Buehler understood — he responded by allowing two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings at Yankee Stadium.

That outing marked his final appearance for the Red Sox, who opted not to use Buehler in any of its four games against the Orioles this week. Boston swept the four-game series with three of those wins coming by one run — situations where Cora notably didn’t use Buehler.

In other roster moves Friday, the Red Sox selected left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester, recalled infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard and optioned outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia.

Tolle, the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox farm system, will make his MLB debut opposite Pirates ace Paul Skenes at Fenway Park on Friday night.