Yankees sign veteran RHP Anthony DeSclafani to minor league deal

The Yankees have signed veteran right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to a minor league deal on Tuesday and will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

DeSclafani, 35, was with the Giants a year ago but was part of a trade to the Twins in the Robbie Ray deal to the Mariners. He was then part of a trade with the Twins for shortstop Jorge Polanco. Unfortunately for DeSclafani, he suffered an elbow injury in his throwing arm that required season-ending surgery.

Prior to going under the knife, DeSclafani pitched 19 games (18 starts), where he pitched to a 4-8 record and a 4.88 ERA. His best season came in 2021 with the Reds when he pitched to a 13-7 record and a 3.17 ERA across 31 starts.

Over his nine-year career, DeSclafani has a 54-56 record with a 4.20 ERA with the Marlins, Reds and Giants.

With Carlos Carrasco recently DFA'd and sent to Triple-A after clearing waivers, the Yankees are looking for a potential arm in the rotation to pitch alongside Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren and Clarke Schmidt.

What we learned as Koss' memorable slam powers Giants' win vs. D-backs

What we learned as Koss' memorable slam powers Giants' win vs. D-backs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The new City Connects have gotten off to a slow start. Luckily for the Giants marketing department, Robbie Ray was the one to wear the jersey out to the mound Tuesday night. 

The Giants have been unbeatable in Ray’s starts this season and that continued Tuesday, as they snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and picked up their first win in the City Connects 2.0. Ray threw 108 pitches, his most since he returned from Tommy John surgery last year, and an early deficit was wiped out when Christian Koss hit a grand slam to left for his first big league homer.

Koss’ slam gave the Giants a 4-3 lead and they pulled away from there. Willy Adames added a two-run shot and Ray took the lead through the sixth. 

Ray improved to 6-0 and tied Brandon Pfaadt, who gave up the slam, for the National League lead in wins. The Giants are 9-0 in Ray’s starts this year, and the left-hander is the first Giant to go 6-0 through nine starts since John Burkett in 1993. 

The Diamondbacks did threaten to end that streak in the eighth when they loaded the bases for the top of the order, but Camilo Doval threw a 100.2 mph cutter to Ketel Marte that was bounced back to the mound for an inning-ending double play. The scoreless outing was the 15th in a row for Doval. 

In the bottom of the inning, Jung Hoo Lee put the game out of reach. The Diamondbacks intentionally walked Heliot Ramos to set up a left-on-left matchup, but Lee spoiled their plans with a three-run homer to right that delighted the crowd on Korean Heritage Night at Oracle Park.

Koss The Boss

On Tuesday morning, Tyler Fitzgerald and Casey Schmitt started rehab assignments with Triple-A Sacramento, joining Jerar Encarnacion. All three will be back on the roster in the next couple of weeks and Fitzgerald — the starting second baseman — should be back at some point this week. 

Koss’ run in the starting lineup is coming to an end, and it’s possible he gets caught up in a roster shakeup once Schmitt and Encarnacion are back in the mix, as well. But he certainly took advantage of the latest start and made a statement at a time when the Giants are desperately searching for contributions at the bottom of their order and from their backups. 

Koss became the 17th Giant to have his first career homer be a slam, and the first since Ford Proctor on Sept. 29, 2022. After walks of struggling regulars Willy Adames and Patrick Bailey loaded the bases, he unloaded on a low sinker, hitting it into the first row of seats in left. 

Koss has a .589 OPS, but he has shown a short, simple swing in his opportunities and he looks comfortable with runners in scoring position. That will all be remembered as the Giants sort through their infield in the coming weeks. 

Ray Day = Win Day

The Diamondbacks had a double and four singles in the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead on a team that had scored exactly one run in three of the previous four games. But when Ray is pitching, the Giants always find a way. 

The slam gave Ray a lead, and after that, he slammed both feet on the gas pedal. The Diamondbacks got two runners on in the fourth and Ray went 3-0 on Corbin Carroll, who homered twice Monday, but he battled back to a full count and then blew a 95 mph fastball past the young star outfielder. With the tying run on first an inning later, he did the same to catcher Gabriel Moreno. 

Ray came out for the sixth and reached 100 pitches for the first time this season. He struck out nine, a season-high. 

Positive Steps

Adames has taken early BP each of the last two days to work on a smaller leg kick. LaMonte Wade Jr. was out of the lineup on Monday to get a full physical and mental breather. On Tuesday, the two veterans who are off to slow starts had reasons to feel like they’re headed in the right direction. 

Adames extended the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, his fifth of the season, and later doubled off the top of the wall in right. Wade followed with a single to right that was his second in two at-bats; his first time up, he hit a long fly ball to Triples Alley that would have been a homer in five MLB parks.

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Gary Cohen joins the show, Citi Field is a scene, and the Mets are all about winning | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, SNY Mets play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen joins Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo to talk about the Mets' winning ways and the party atmosphere at Citi Field.

The crew covers crazy crowds in Queens, the sparkling starting rotation, Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna, Francisco Lindor, and Gary reveals what it was like calling the Roku game with Joe Girardi and his favorite ballpark to call a game in outside of Citi Field.

Later, Connor and Joe look back at another successful week for the Mets, go Down on the Farm to chat about Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, Matt Allan, and other pitching prospects, and answer Mailbag questions about additional outfield options, potential Mets All-Stars, and pitching possibilities surrounding the MLB trade deadline.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

MLB’s New After-Death Rule Makes Pete Rose, Black Sox HOF Eligible

Pete Rose was reinstated by Major League Baseball on Tuesday, commissioner Rob Manfred announced, along with anybody deceased who was on the permanently ineligible list of the sport.

That instantly makes Rose eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, an institution that has shunned him since he signed an agreement in 1989 to a lifetime ban with the ability to apply for reinstatement after one year for betting on baseball as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Rose, along with Shoeless Joe Jackson and the other Black Sox players who were banned for betting on and throwing the 1919 World Series, will be now considered by the Hall’s Era Committees. Rose is MLB’s all-time leader with 4,256 hits.

“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration,” Hall chair Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement. “Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered.”

The Classic Baseball Era Committee, which studies candidates whose impact on the game occurred prior to 1980, will now get to vote on some of these individuals when it meets again in December 2027. As always, a historical committee will select the eight names to appear on that ballot for consideration by a 16-member panel of Hall of Fame players and executives, historians and eligible members of the baseball writers’ association. As with any Hall vote, it takes 75% for a candidate to be elected.

The determination by Manfred came after Rose’s family asked for him to be reinstated and President Donald Trump weighed in positively on the issue. Manfred met with Trump at the White House last month.

In a letter to Jeffrey M. Lenkov, the attorney for Rose, Manfred said MLB’s policy will now be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the death of the disciplined individual, dating back to the ruling by MLB’s first commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis that banned the Black Sox. Rose was placed on the list on Aug. 23, 1989, by then-commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti, who died only a week later.

Rose died from heart disease in Las Vegas this past Sept. 30 at the age of 83. Throughout his life, he petitioned MLB for reinstatement without success as he continued to bet on baseball. Manfred himself ruled against him, citing the integrity of the game as the main reason.

“Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote in the letter. “Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve. Therefore, I have concluded that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual, and Mr. Rose will be removed from the permanently ineligible list.” 

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MLB reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, making them Hall of Fame eligible

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.

Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and comes a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.

Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire after death.

Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, it appears the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.

Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.

Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”

Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.

A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.

Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Chicago Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. Jackson twice appeared on a BBWAA ballot before the Hall’s rules change, receiving 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.

What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?

Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall.

Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.

Without the ban, both players appear to be eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.

A 10-person historical overview committee selects the ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.

Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

Did Trump help get Rose reinstated?

Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.

It’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail. Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.

Major League Baseball ends lifetime bans for Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson

Pete Rose remains MLB’s all-time hits leader.Photograph: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and other deceased players have been removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list. The decision clears the path for the sport’s all-time hits leader and the storied Chicago White Sox star to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

Manfred ruled that MLB’s punishment of banned individuals ends upon their death. “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M Lenkov, who petitioned for Rose’s removal in January.

Related: Say it ain’t so, Joe! How 1919 informs America’s entire worldview on gambling

ESPN was first to report the news of the commissioner’s historic decision.

Rose accepted his ban in 1989 after an MLB investigation found he bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson and seven other White Sox players were banned for life in 1921 for allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series. Rose died in September at age 83; Jackson passed away in 1951.

The ruling also removes 16 other deceased players and one deceased owner from MLB’s banned list, including Jackson’s former teammates Eddie Cicotte and George ‘Buck’ Weaver.

Rose and Jackson are now eligible for the Hall of Fame, with their cases expected to be reviewed by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027. Both would need 12 of 16 votes for induction, meaning the earliest possible enshrinement would be summer 2028.

Lenkov, who led the petition for Rose’s reinstatement, called the decision “a long journey”. He plans to meet with Hall of Fame officials to discuss Rose’s candidacy. “Reds Nation will not only be able to celebrate Pete’s legacy, but now optimistically be able to look forward to the possibility that Pete will join other baseball immortals,” Lenkov said.

The decision has sparked debate. John Dowd, who led MLB’s original investigation into Rose, criticized the move, saying the ban’s significance should not be erased after death. “There’s no difference with him being dead – it’s about behavior, conduct, and reputation,” Dowd told ESPN.

Rose’s career remains unmatched, with 4,256 hits, three World Series titles, and a .303 lifetime batting average. Jackson, despite his involvement in the 1919 scandal, finished with a career .356 average – the fourth highest in MLB history.

Rose and Jackson’s eligibility for Cooperstown now rests with Hall of Fame voters, reigniting debates about integrity, redemption, and legacy in America’s pastime.

Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera placed on 10-day injured list with left ankle fracture

SEATTLE (AP) — New York Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle fracture ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

In a corresponding move, infielder DJ LeMahieu completed his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

In the ninth inning of New York’s 11-5 victory over Seattle on Monday night, Cabrera fractured his left ankle on an awkward slide when he reached back for the plate and scored the Yankees’ final run on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly.

Cabrera is in his fourth MLB season and has become a regular in the Yankees’ lineup. He is hitting .243 this season with one home run and 11 RBIs.

“He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge said after Monday’s game. “He wears his jersey with pride. This is a tough one, especially a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got an opportunity to be our everyday guy and been excelling at it.”

Pete Rose, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson reinstated by Major League Baseball, making Hall of Fame election possible

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 1985, file photo, Cincinnati Reds' Pete Rose rounds first base after hitting a single to break Ty Cobbs hitting record during a baseball game at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio. The last player to be banned for life from baseball makes his living these days signing autographs. Rose has some advice for Alex Rodriguez if he wants to avoid the same fate. (AP Photo/File)
Pete Rose rounds first base after breaking Ty Cobb's record for career hits at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati in 1985. (Associated Press)

Pete Rose was posthumously removed from Major League Baseball's permanently ineligible list Tuesday, making the all-time hits leader eligible for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson, banned after his participation in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, also was reinstated in a sweeping decision by commissioner Rob Manfred that included other deceased players from the list. All are eligible for election to the Hall of Fame.

An MLB statement released Tuesday referred to it as a "policy decision."

"This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose has made it incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision on this unprecedented issue in the modern era as Mr. Rose is the first person banned after the tenure of commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list.

"Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLB’s policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual."

Rose had been exiled from the sport since 1989, after he was found by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti (yes, the father of actor Paul Giamatti) to have been betting on his team’s games while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Rose died Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 83.

Rose's daughter, Fawn Rose, filed a petition for reinstatement Jan. 8 and met with Manfred. In February, President Trump advocated for the lifetime ban to be lifted in a social media post, then met with Manfred in April to discuss the matter.

Jeffrey Lenkov, a Los Angeles lawyer who represented Rose at the time of his death and prepared the petition pro bono, told The Times the decision was the result of several years of working with Manfred and his executive team.

"The Rose family and I are extremely overjoyed," Lenkov said. "The reinstatement in and of itself is a historic moment because many people, including Pete at times, thought the ban would never be lifted.

"Getting into the Hall of Fame on his merits is an opportunity he wanted and should be able to receive now."

Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose hits a line drive single to break Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in 1985.
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose hits a line drive single to break Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in 1985. (Associated Press)

From his 24-year career that resulted in more MLB hits — 4,256 hits — than any other player in history to his lifetime ban, Rose's saga was as complex and sad as it was triumphant. Pete Rose Night will take place Wednesday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and the decision to lift the ban undoubtedly will elevate the mood.

Here is a look at key elements of his rise, fall and potential inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

Will Rose or Jackson immediately be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

No. Barring an unforeseen exception, the earliest Rose could be considered for induction would be the summer of 2028. The committee that could vote him into the hall — the Classic Baseball Era Committee — doesn't convene until December 2027.

Rose is not eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Assn. of America because its ballot includes only candidates whose playing careers ended no more than 15 years prior to the election. Rose retired in 1986. In 1991, two years after Rose was banned from baseball and months before he was set to make the ballot — players become eligible for consideration five years after they retire — the hall’s board of directors passed a rule prohibiting anybody on the ineligible list from being a candidate.

Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark issued a statement making it clear Rose, Jackson and the others are eligible for induction.

"The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration," the statement said. "Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered."

Now that Rose is eligible, his case will be reviewed by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era Committee which evaluates players who made their greatest impact before 1980. Rose would qualify for consideration because his 24-year career began in 1963.

The committee voted in Dick Allen and Dave Parker this year. When it convenes again to vote for 2028 induction, Rose would need the backing of an aye from a 75% majority — 12 of the 16 members.

Read more:Pete Rose, baseball legend banished for betting on the game he loved, dies at 83

What did Rose do to deserve a lifetime ban?

Since before the 1919 Black Sox Scandal resulted in Jackson and other players being banned for life for taking money from gamblers and throwing games, Major League Baseball has had a rule against gambling to protect the integrity of the game. Rule 21(d) is posted in every clubhouse and states: “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible."

Rose bet on the Cincinnati Reds when he was the team's player-manager in 1985 and '86, and the manager in '87. An MLB investigation headed by lawyer John Dowd resulted in a 225-page report released in 1989 that named men that Rose allegedly placed bets with and cited evidence that Rose bet on Reds games.

Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose leans against the dugout before a spring training game in 1989.
Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose before a spring training game March 22, 1989, after the Commissioner's Office investigation into his gambling was released. (John Swart / Associated Press)

After denying for nearly 15 years that he bet on baseball, Rose admitted doing so in his 2004 book, “My Prison Without Bars,” written with Rick Hill. Later, he would sign and sell baseballs with the inscription, “Sorry I bet on baseball.” The balls currently go for $200 to $400 apiece online.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Rose began gambling as a youngster when his dad took him to a local racetrack. By the time he reached the big leagues, he was betting on college and pro basketball and pro football in addition to the horses.

“On Feb. 5, 1986, I wrote three checks for eight grand each to cover my losses on the NFL playoffs,” Rose wrote. “The NFL turned into March Madness, which turned into the NBA playoffs, which always turned into the skids.

"I always lived by one hard and fast rule: You don’t bet on baseball. But for the first time in my life, I was no longer playing baseball, just managing. A part of me was still looking for ways to recapture the high I got from winning batting titles and World Series. If I couldn’t get the high from playing baseball, then I needed a substitute.

"I can’t honestly remember the first time I bet on baseball. But I remember the first time I spoke openly about it. I was sitting in my living room, watching the 1986 playoffs between the Mets and the Astros. I had a group of friends over for the game. Without even thinking of the consequences, I said, ‘Betting on the playoffs makes the games more exciting to watch.’ ”

Rose's immense popularity in his hometown began to erode when the Dowd Report was made public.

Read more:THE PETE ROSE INVESTIGATION : Cincinnati Is Finding the Attention to Be Difficult to Handle

“Forever and ever and ever, the people here have been solidly behind Pete,” Marty Brennaman, longtime broadcaster for the Reds, told The Times' Bill Plaschke. “This is the most provincial city I’ve lived in. I can’t imagine a more provincial city.

“But now, there is a segment of the population where, if they haven’t completely gone the other way against Pete, there is at least an element of doubt in their minds. People are becoming divided.”

Longtime Cincinnati historian Dan Hurley insisted the public reaction was even harsher.

“I think the reaction finally is, ‘Hey, they got him,’ ” Hurley said of Rose. “And for us, that’s not very pleasant.”

Rose does have his supporters within baseball. Terry Francona, his former teammate who is in his first season as Reds manager, recently said, "If he’s not in the Hall of Fame, there isn’t one."

Why the change of heart by MLB?

Pete Rose speaks at a news conference in Las Vegas in 2015 after MLB denied his petition to rescind his lifetime ban.
Pete Rose speaks at a news conference in Las Vegas after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he has no intention of altering Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Rose first petitioned for reinstatement in 1997 when Bud Selig was commissioner. Selig didn't meet with Rose until 2002 and did not rule on the issue before he retired in 2006. Manfred rejected a second petition by Rose in 2015, saying, "Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing, so clearly established by the Dowd Report, or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of the circumstances that led to his permanent eligibility in 1989.

"Absent such credible evidence, allowing him to work in the game presents an unacceptable risk of a future violation by him of Rule 21, and thus to the integrity of our sport. I, therefore, must reject Mr. Rose's application for reinstatement."

Rose's death created an opportunity to revisit his status. If the permanently ineligible list exists to prevent a person who poses a threat to the integrity of the game from working in baseball, could that status change when the person is no longer living?

Roses adorn the statue of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati after the all-time hits leader died.
Roses adorn the statue of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati after the all-time hits leader died. (Kareem Elgazzar / Associated Press)

"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote in a letter to Lenkov. "Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve."

That argument was made in the December petition by Rose's family, and Manfred took it into consideration.

"Pete in his lifetime felt he had done his time, paid the price," Lenkov said. "I believe he lived with a scarlet letter on him because of it. His punishment was substantial."

Manfred's ruling removes 16 deceased players and one deceased owner from the banned list. Included are some additional 1919 White Sox players found to have taken money from gamblers to throw games, including pitcher Eddie Cicotte and third baseman George “Buck” Weaver.

The relationship between gambling and professional sports — including MLB — has evolved dramatically in recent years. Sports betting is legal in 40 states, and the American Gaming Assn. estimates that its total economic impact is $328 billion a year and revenue from it exceeded $115 billion in 2024.

Yet restrictions still apply, again to protect the integrity of the game. Can a baseball player, coach or umpire bet on March Madness brackets, the Super Bowl or participate in a fantasy football league? Yes. Can they bet on anything — baseball or otherwise — through illegal or offshore bookmakers? No.

What was President Trump's role in the reinstatement?

Even before the family’s petition for reinstatement had become public, Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Feb. 28 that read:

"Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as 'Charlie Hustle,' into the Baseball Hall of fame. Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!

"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING."

No evidence has surfaced of Rose betting on the Reds to lose. After confessing in his book that he bet on baseball, he emphasized that point.

“I bet on my own team to win,” Rose told NJ.com. “That’s what I did in a nutshell. I was wrong, but I didn’t taint the game. I bet on my team every night because that’s the confidence that I had in my players.”

A pardon wasn't necessary for Manfred to reinstate Rose, who in 1990 served five months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion.

Trump met with Manfred at the White House on April 16, but neither man spoke publicly about what they discussed. MLB issued a statement that said, "President Trump is a longtime fan of baseball. As he has done in the past, commissioner Manfred was pleased to visit the White House again to discuss issues pertaining to baseball with the president.”

What are Pete Rose's Hall of Fame credentials?

Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose is congratulated by his teammates after he broke Ty Cobb's hitting record.
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose is congratulated by his teammates after he broke Ty Cobb's hitting record in Cincinnati on Sept. 11, 1985. (Associated Press)

Rose broke Ty Cobb's career hits total of 4,189 in 1985 and finished with 4,256. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and the NL Most Valuable Player in 1973. He won three batting titles and three World Series titles — two with the Reds in 1975 and '76 and one with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.

Rose batted .303 with an on-base percentage of .375, earning the nickname "Charlie Hustle" because he sprinted to first base even on a walk. He led the NL in hits seven times, doubles five times, and in 1978 put together a 44-game hitting streak, second in baseball history to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game streak.

Rose played in more games (3,562), had more plate appearances (15,890) and more at-bats (14,053) than any other player.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Nationals at Braves prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Nationals (17-25) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (20-21). Michael Soroka is slated to take the mound for Washington against Spencer Schwellenbach for Atlanta.

The Braves took game one of the series 4-3. Grant Holmes picked up the win. He only gave up one earned run in 6.1 innings. He also struck out four batters.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Nationals at Braves

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network Southeast, MASN

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 Nationals at the Braves

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+193), Braves (-235)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Michael Soroka vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
    • Nationals: Michael Soroka, (0-2, 7.20 ERA)
      Last outing (Cleveland Guardians, 5/7): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach, (1-3, 3.42 ERA)
      Last outing (Cincinnati Reds, 5/8): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 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 Nationals at Braves

  • The Braves have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • 6 of the Braves' last 7 home matchups against the Nationals have stayed under the Total
  • The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.76 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Braves

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 Tuesday's game between the Nationals and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Angels at Padres prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Angels (17-23) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (25-15). José Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Dylan Cease for San Diego.

The Angels won game one of the series 9-5 yesterday. Michael King had a decent outing on the mound for the Padres. He only gave up two earned runs on four hits. Things really went south for the Padres when reliever Robert Suarez gave up five earned runs in 0.1 innings.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Angels at Padres

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Padres.TV, FanDuel Sports Network West

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 Angels at the Padres

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+166), Padres (-200)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: José Soriano vs. Dylan Cease
    • Angels: José Soriano, (2-4, 4.00 ERA)
      Last outing (Toronto Blue Jays, 5/8): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Padres: Dylan Cease, (1-2, 4.91 ERA)
      Last outing (New York Yankees, 5/7): 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 2 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 Angels at Padres

  • Betting the Padres on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 114% return on investment
  • The Over is 13-7 in the Padres' and the Angels' last 10 games combined
  • The Angels have covered the Run Line in 4 straight matchups against the Padres

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 Angels and the Padres

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 Tuesday's game between the Angels and the Padres:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

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

Royals at Astros prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Royals (25-18) are in Houston to take on the Astros (20-20). Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Framber Valdez for Houston.

The Royals' hot play continued with a 7-5 win over the Astros in game one of the series. Michael Wacha picked up the win for the Royals. He only gave up two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched, on eight hits and two walks.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Royals at Astros

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City

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 Astros

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+119), Astros (-141)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Framber Valdez
    • Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.69 ERA)
      Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 5/8): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Framber Valdez, (2-4, 3.94 ERA)
      Last outing (Milwaukee Brewers, 5/7): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 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 Royals at Astros

  • The Astros went 11-5 (.688) at home last season with Framber Valdez starting
  • This season the Astros pitcher Framber Valdez has an ERA of 3.94 and a WHIP of 1.16 when opening
  • The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.16 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!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros 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

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)

Marlins at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Marlins (15-25) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (24-18).

Valente Bellozo is slated to take the mound for Miami against Ben Brown for Chicago.

The series opened last night with the Cubs rolling to a 5-2 win. Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki both went deep for the Cubs to pace the attack.

Lets dive into Game 2 of this series and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Marlins at Cubs

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, MARQ

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 Marlins at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Marlins (+202), Cubs (-247)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Valente Bellozo vs. Ben Brown
    • Marlins: Valente Bellozo (0-2, 3.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 vs. Dodgers - 5.1IP, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 7Ks
    • Cubs: Ben Brown (3-3, 4.95 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 vs. San Francisco - 5IP, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 9Ks

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 Marlins at Cubs

  • The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Marlins' last 3 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Marlins have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 games
  • Dansby Swanson is 5-10 over his last 3 games
  • Since seeing his 7-game hitting streak snapped, Ian Happ is hitless in his last 3 games (0-10)

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 Marlins and the Cubs

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 Tuesday's game between the Marlins and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Pirates at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Pirates (14-28) are in Queens to take on the Mets (27-15).

Mitch Keller is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Kodai Senga for New York.

The Mets claimed the series opener last night, 4-3. Pete Alonso's sacrifice fly in the ninth plated the winning run after the Bucs tied the game at 3 in the top of the final frame.

Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Mets

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, SNY

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 Pirates at the Mets

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+204), Mets (-250)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Mitch Keller vs. Kodai Senga
    • Pirates: Mitch Keller (1-4, 4.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 at St. Louis - 6IP, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 6Ks
    • Mets: Kodai Senga (4-2, 1.16 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/7 at Arizona - 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 5BB, 4Ks

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 Pirates at Mets

  • Francisco Lindor has at least one hit in 5 straight games (10-23)
  • Pete Alonso has a single hit in each of the last 4 games (4-17)
  • The Mets have won 16 of their last 20 games at Citi Field against the Pirates
  • The Under has cashed in 6 of the Mets' last 8 home games with Kodai Senga as the starting pitcher
  • Betting the Mets on the Run Line with Kodai Senga as the starter has returned a 1.35-unit profit in 2025

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 Pirates and the Mets

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 Tuesday's game between the Pirates and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play ATS on the New York Mets at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

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

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Bubba Chandler, Ryan Weathers, and Hunter Dobbins

We’re now officially more than one quarter of the way through the MLB season and it’s getting increasingly difficult to find standout players on the waiver wire.

So, we need to look a bit deeper to find gems. Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers in both the short and long term.

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Miami Marlins
The Cardinals and Twins each bring eight-game winning streaks into the new week.

Here are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.

If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.

Bubba Chandler, SP Pirates

(30% Rostered on Yahoo)

Chandler’s debut is likely imminent. Mainly because he’s proven everything he needs to at Triple-A with a 2.00 ERA over 67 1/3 innings split between the last two seasons with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks.

Apart from those great results, his stuff is incredible. Chandler’s fastball sits in the upper-90s and routinely touches triple digits with great rising action. It has a 42% whiff rate this season in the minors and we can trust itspotential to be one of the best handful of fastballs by any starting pitcher in the league immediately when he’s called up.

Otherwise, his most reliable secondary pitch is a slider that averages 88 mph with great bite. He’s also comfortable with his changeup – a big deal for pitchers who are making the jump to the majors – and has more than doubled the usage of his curveball at triple-A this season compared to last.

Again, the stuff or matter of readiness is not in question. This just comes down to when the Pirates call Chandler’s number, and it could be very soon if they follow the same plan they used last year with Paul Skenes.

Similar to Chandler, Skenes was tormenting Triple-A batters last April and we all knew he’d be in the big leagues before long.

Pittsburgh waited until after the Super Two deadline in early May, which is the annual cut-off that determines whether a player begins the arbitration process after two or three years of service time, and scheduled Skenes for a home game against a division rival. That was Saturday, May 11th against the Cubs.

Now, again, we’re in early May, the Pirates’ next esteemed pitching prospect is on fire, and they have a seven-game homestand coming up next week against the Reds and Brewers.

With their season spinning out of control after the early firing of manager Derek Shelton and a last-place 14-28 record, the organization will be looking for a spark both on and off the field.

Chandler is that spark and he needs to be stashed away on more rosters with an increasing likelihood he debuts sooner rather than later.

Ryan Weathers, SP Marlins

(13% Rostered on Yahoo)

One of the most popular breakout picks from this spring, Weathers is set to make his season debut this coming Wednesday against the Cubs.

While inconsistent and sometimes unimpressive in the past, he showed off improved stuff this spring and that makes him an intriguing flier.

Weathers generated buzz in March when he was tossing 99 mph fastballs with around 20 inches of induced vertical break after previously sitting in the mid-90s with a relatively unimpressive shape.

Only five qualified left-handed starting pitchers in the league right now – Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Jesús Luzardo, Cole Ragans, and MacKenzie Gore – average 95 mph or harder with their fastball. Weathers will join this list when he returns.

He’ll also show a sweeper, slider, changeup, and sinker off that fastball. He threw each at least 14% of the time in his most recent rehab outing and all five pitches exhibited the same extra life they had during spring training before his forearm strain.

Before that injury, his average draft position jumped from around pick 400 in February to nearly inside the top-250 just before he went down. Based on that momentum, there was likely more helium to come, too. The market was telling us that he was inching his way into being viewed as a top-50 type of pitcher.

Now, he’s set to return and the stuff looks exactly as it did when he had all that momentum. Great stuff, great home park, and a guaranteed rotation spot means he should be rostered in more places than he is right now.

Hunter Dobbins, SP Red Sox

(7% Rostered on Yahoo)

The Red Sox have a decision to make next week.

Walker Buehler is set to return from the injured list. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have come back healthy and that trio plus Garrett Crochet gives them 80% of a solid rotation.

That leaves just one spot between the upstart Dobbins and Tanner Houck.

Dobbins has been solid as a 25-year-old rookie who’s made four scattered, spot-starts over the course of the season. He’s reached the sixth inning in three of those four starts with a 2.78 ERA, 19.8% strikeout rate and 4.2% walk rate.

His low strikeout number hints that these strong results may not have much staying power, but he’s been excellent at limiting damage due to tremendous command and a deep arsenal that includes two distinct sliders, a curveball, and a splitter.

All four of those secondary pitches have a plus movement profile and gives him multiple weapons to attack hitters from each side of the plate with. Also, they help to cover up his four-seam fastball, which doesn’t miss many bats despite sitting at 95 mph.

Then, we have Houck, who has a major-league worst 8.04 ERA and is coming off a 2 1/3 innings, 11 earned run catastrophe against the Tigers on Monday. Shockingly, it was the second time this season he’s allowed 11 earned runs in fewer than three innings of work.

Houck has gotten into trouble this season because he’s failed to develop a method for facing left-handed batters. He has a solid sinker and sweeper combo, but that’s really it. Neither of those pitches often perform well for right-handed pitchers against left-handed batters and they’ve allowed a .633 and .690 slugging percentage for Houck, respectively.

Dobbins will face this same Tigers team on Wednesday and a start significantly better than Houck’s could give him a leg up in the race for the fifth starter spot that will be decided soon.

Given Dobbins’ pitch-ability and Houck’s more stuff-centric approach, Houck is better suited for the bullpen anyway. Dobbins is a solid speculative add at the moment with an increased likelihood he’ll be able to stick in this rotation.

Just be mindful of how difficult of a place Fenway Park is to pitch and if Dobbins is on your team, use him more so as a streamer away from home or only at home in favorable matchups.

Rockies at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 13

Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Rockies (7-34) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (21-21). Kyle Freeland is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jack Leiter for Texas.

The Rangers won a closely contested match in the first game of the series 2-1. The Rockies took a one-run lead in the second inning, but gave up two runs in the sixth, which cost them the game.

While the Rockies lost the game, they covered the massive +3.5 runline.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Rangers

  • Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Rangers Sports Network, Victory+, Rockies.TV

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 Rockies at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+188), Rangers (-228)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Kyle Freeland vs. Jack Leiter
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland, (0-5, 6.41 ERA)
      Last outing (Detriot Tigers, 5/8): 3.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 11 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Jack Leiter, (2-2, 5.09 ERA)
      Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 5/8): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 4 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 Rockies at Rangers

  • The Rangers have won 3 straight games, while the Rockies have suffered 4 road losses in a row
  • The Rangers have failed to cover in their last 4 games against the Rockies

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 Rockies and the Rangers

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 Tuesday's game between the Rockies and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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