SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals in the dugout has teammates throw sunflower seeds at him after he hit a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a strong start to their series in Baltimore, the Mariners had to settle for a split series after two lackluster efforts on Wednesday and Thursday. That eight-game win streak a week ago is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Seattle’s overall place in the standings. It feels like the team has slipped back into the listless play that defined a lot of the first two months of the season. Maybe it’s just the fatigue of a long East Coast road trip. Whatever it is, they’ll wrap up the trip with a three-game set in Washington DC.
The Nationals have been one of the feel good stories in the National League to start this year. Stuck in a long rebuilding cycle since winning the World Series back in 2019, this is the first time they’ve shown a little progress towards actually breaking out of their doldrums. This big step forward comes after they hired Paul Toboni to take over as their new president of baseball operations last fall, becoming the youngest top executive in baseball. While there’s still plenty of work to do on the roster, especially on the pitching side of things, the lineup has been one of the most potent in baseball this year.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
James Wood
DH
L
322
29.8%
17.4%
0.263
160
Luis García Jr.
1B
L
217
15.2%
3.7%
0.202
107
Curtis Mead
3B
R
192
17.2%
12.5%
0.242
134
CJ Abrams
SS
L
288
20.1%
10.1%
0.239
150
Dylan Crews
RF
R
76
19.7%
2.6%
0.099
45
Daylen Lile
LF
L
300
17.3%
7.7%
0.159
107
Keibert Ruiz
C
S
142
13.4%
2.8%
0.215
113
Nasim Nuñez
2B
S
222
22.1%
9.9%
0.026
51
Jacob Young
CF
R
228
18.4%
4.8%
0.160
90
The Nationals have scored the second most runs in baseball thanks to a handful of breakouts from their young stars in the making. James Wood is looking like he’s ascended to a true superstar level this year; he’s absolutely crushing the ball and has mostly gotten his high whiff rate under control too. He’s already accumulated 3.0 fWAR, just shy of his total from last year, and has slugged 18 home runs. CJ Abrams has also taken a star turn, pushing his wRC+ up to 150 behind a huge increase in power output and patience at the plate.
It’s not just their two stars who have ascended, they’re seeing big steps forward from a bunch of their role players too. Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz, Luis García Jr., and Jacob Young have all enjoyed varying levels of newfound success this year.
Zack Littell has carved out a nice little career as a back-end starter after spending the first five years of his career as an up-and-down long reliever. It took a trade to the Rays to unlock his potential and he accumulated 4.4 fWAR across parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay. He signed with the Nationals this offseason and got off to a really poor start with his new ballclub. Through his first six starts of the season, he was running a 7.85 ERA and a 9.03 FIP. As soon as the calendar flipped to May, he turned things around, lowering his ERA to 2.27 and his FIP to 3.47 over his last seven appearances (four starts and three bulk relief appearances). He lives on the margins with a deep repertoire of modest pitches that he can usually command to any part of the strike zone.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Cade Cavalli
69.2
24.3%
8.0%
7.0%
46.3%
3.88
3.36
Luis Castillo
61
22.5%
8.5%
10.7%
36.9%
5.16
4.18
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
39.9%
38.7%
96.5
97
84
67
0.376
Sinker
32.4%
7.4%
96.0
100
79
118
0.346
Changeup
2.4%
15.4%
88.9
90
57
79
0.277
Curveball
25.3%
38.6%
85.3
107
132
118
0.270
Sweeper
25.3%
5.3%
85.5
117
77
123
0.322
It’s been a long and winding road for Cade Cavalli over the last few years. A former first-round draft pick back in 2020, he quickly made a name for himself as a top prospect the next year and made his big league debut in August 2022. He made one start in the majors and then was shut down with a shoulder injury. He injured his elbow the next spring and missed all of ‘23 and most of ‘24. With all that missed development time, it’s no surprise he struggled after rehabbing from his injury. He’s been excellent this year, showing off all the skills that earned him such a high prospect rating all those years ago. His best pitch is a hard curveball and he’s added a variation on that breaking ball that has a bit more horizontal break which Statcast labels a sweeper.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Miles Mikolas
61
14.5%
6.1%
17.7%
45.4%
5.90
5.63
Emerson Hancock
75.2
25.0%
5.8%
12.2%
41.4%
2.74
3.72
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
25.4%
29.1%
93.3
84
90
70
0.366
Sinker
36.4%
19.3%
92.7
88
78
109
0.350
Changeup
1.6%
14.3%
85.8
83
Curveball
11.0%
16.5%
76.5
100
57
124
0.349
Slider
25.7%
20.8%
87.5
94
66
118
0.289
Sweeper
14.7%
1.3%
81.7
94
After years of soaking up innings in the Cardinals rotation, the Nationals signed Miles Mikolas to do the same for their young roster. As you’d expect from a wily veteran, he’s got a deep repertoire of six different pitches that he mixes well to keep batters off balance. His usually excellent command has waned a bit as he’s grown older — his 6.1% walk rate this year is higher than it’s been since 2014 (!). There really isn’t much more to his approach. He doesn’t strike out very many batters, his batted ball profile is pretty average, and his stuff isn’t getting any better with age.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
36-34
0.514
—
+26
L-W-W-L-L
Rangers
34-34
0.500
1.0
+16
L-W-L-W-W
Athletics
33-35
0.485
2.0
-41
L-W-L-W-W
Astros
31-39
0.443
5.0
-38
W-L-W-L-L
Angels
27-42
0.391
8.5
-42
L-W-L-W-W
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Yankees
41-26
0.612
+7.5
+103
L-W-W-W-W
Guardians
37-33
0.529
+2.0
-6
W-L-L-L-L
Rangers
34-34
0.500
—
+16
L-W-L-W-W
Athletics
33-35
0.485
1.0
-41
L-W-L-W-W
Blue Jays
33-36
0.478
1.5
-18
W-W-L-W-L
Orioles
33-37
0.471
2.0
-30
L-L-L-W-W
The Rangers won their series against the Royals this week, climbing back to .500 and inching closer to the Mariners in the AL West standings; they’ll travel to Boston this weekend. Playing in the Las Vegas heat/altitude/Triple-A band box, the Athletics played three wild games against the Brewers this week. They’ll continue that Vegas homestand with a three-game set against the Rockies. The Astros wound up losing their series against the Angels, squeaking by with an extra-innings win on Monday but losing the deciding game on Wednesday in extras again. They’ll take the place of the Rangers and play the Royals in Kansas City this weekend.
May 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws a pitch during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski first caught the attention of Phillies fans when he was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team. The selection was somewhat curious because Miz (Sorry for the nickname usage, but I’m not typing out Misiorowski every time) was a rookie with only five career starts. And it was annoying for Phillies fans since they had two veteran pitchers in Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez who merited inclusion over the rookie.
"I love the kid, but he's made five starts."@AJPierzynski12 sides with what Phillies players had to say when asked about Jacob Misiorowski making the All-Star Team. pic.twitter.com/1PltYf99h4
The best competition in baseball this season might be between Sanchez and Miz to see which of them starts the All-Star Game. Miz fans will point to his higher strikeout rate and minimally lower ERA. Sanchez fans will (correctly) counter that he has a higher WAR due to throwing more innings (Miz has never pitched in the eighth inning of a major league game), walking fewer batters, and having a worse defense behind him.
There’s no shame in being the league’s second-best pitcher, so Miz should be proud to get the ball after Sanchez gets the start. It’s not like this is a tough decision for NL manager Dave Roberts. With the game in Philadelphia, does he really want to choose someone besides Sanchez and have the starting pitcher get booed by the crowd?
The Phillies can help their ace’s chances on Friday night when Miz is scheduled to start. The Phillies haven’t done all that well against flamethrowing phenoms in recent years, but they had some success when they saw Miz last season, scoring three runs in 4.1 innings.
Bryce Harper was certainly not impressed by the velocity.
Bryce Harper takes Misiorowski dead center.
One of those few instances where the pitch velocity is faster than the exit velocity.
It’s hard to say that any one MLB franchise is the most irrelevant, but the Brewers are probably on the short list. Back in 1998, when MLB needed a team to switch from the American League to the National League, they went with the Brewers, figuring nobody in the AL would miss them. (And as far as I can tell, they haven’t.)
Much like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee originally got their franchise by stealing one from Seattle, but unlike the Thunder, the Brewers haven’t rewarded their new home fans with a championship.
The Seattle Pilots, 1969. They were an expansion team that played only one season before relocating to become the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. The franchise was founded due to a rapid expansion spurred by the loss of the Kansas City Athletics. pic.twitter.com/A7aYV8thFs
Franchise great Paul Molitor did win a World Series MVP award, but that’s probably not especially comforting for Brewers fans since he did it as a member of the Blue Jays. (Boo!)
As for this year’s team, they’ve established a 3.5 game lead in the NL Central, which means they’re likely headed back to the playoffs. And they’re just as likely to once again lose once they get there. At least the Phillies gave the Dodgers a good fight in the NLDS. The Brewers pretty much rolled over in the NLCS, scoring a total of four runs in the sweep.
The Brewers are somewhat annoying in that they seem to lose a key player or two every offseason and still come back and make the playoffs. They traded Freddy Peralta to the Mets in the offseason, and while Peralta has been a bit disappointing in New York (LOLMets), the Brewers’ pitching staff hasn’t missed him much.
Also, the Brewers retired the number for Bud Selig, which ew, no. When you do something like that, your franchise doesn’t deserve to ever win a World Series.
Last week’s question: In the first ever game between the Phillies and White Sox, future Phillie Kenny Lofton delivered a game-winning hit. Chappdaddy got it right.
This week’s question: The Phillies’ first game at Milwaukee’s American Family Field (nee Miller Park) was a 10-4 win on August 14, 2001. Which Phillie had three hits in that game?
Additional thought about the series
The Phillies have been doing well in the series when both Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler make starts, while the others haven’t gone as well. Sanchez will start on Sunday, but they’ll need to hope that Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola can deliver quality starts the other two days.
Nola has good career numbers against the Brewers, but most of the success against them has come at home. He has a 4.60 ERA in Milwaukee. Some of that was skewed by last year’s start in which he was knocked around for five runs in the first inning, but sadly, there’s nothing about Nola’s performance this season to think that we won’t see a repeat of that.
Pittsburgh (35-34) and Miami (34-35) meet at PNC Park for a three game weekend series in the heat. Miami won four out of seven games last season when the two met, but Pittsburgh took two out of three at home.
Miami has won five straight games and eight of the past nine. The Marlins are currently riding their longest winning streak of the season as the offense has been ripping lately. Miami is hitting .292 over the last five games (2nd) and has nine stolen bases (3rd) to go along with 27 RBI (T-7th). The Marlins also hold the MLB's best ERA in the last seven days at 1.80 with a 1.89 OBA.
The Pirates are coming off a series loss to the Dodgers and have now lost five of the past six games. Pittsburgh ranks 29th in ERA (6.70) over the past seven days (five games) and 28th in the past 15 days (6.14 ERA over 12 games). The Buccos have been struggling but are tied for third in the NL Central and 2.0 games ahead of last place. Pittsburgh was dealt some bad news when Oneil Cruz went on the IL with a broken hand. The offense is hitting .243 (19th) over the past five games with eight home runs (T-6th).
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 the 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.
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Game details & how to watch Marlins at Pirates
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: ESPN / MLB 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.
The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .344 with 93 hits, 5 home runs and 30 RBI over 270 at-bats
The Marlins’ Jakob Marsee is hitting .205 with 47 hits and 61 strikeouts over 229 at-bats
The Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds is hitting .265 with 64 hits, 7 home runs, and 40 RBI over 245 at-bats
The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .193 with 36 hits and 60 strikeouts over 187 at-bats
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 Pirates
The Marlins are 34-35 ATS
The Pirates are 34-35 ATS
The Marlins are 39-27-3 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
The Pirates are 40-27-1 to the Over, ranking sixth-best
The Marlins are 14-16 ATS on the road
The Pirates are 16-19 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Pirates
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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 Pirates and the Marlins:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Marlins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5
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This was meant to be a rebuilding year for the St. Louis Cardinals. After finishing six games under .500 in 2025, they traded away established veterans like Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan in the hopes of kick-starting a rebuild around their young roster. In a competitive NL Central division, many expected them to be the doormat for at least the 2026 season. Not that the Cardinals' hitters paid attention or cared.
"We are a young group of guys, but I think a lot of it is our mentality," said rookie outfielder Nathan Church. "We're never out of the game, and we're always going to compete, no matter what the score is. I think having that mentality, one through nine, is what's leading to our success."
It's been a surprising amount of success on the offensive side for the Cardinals. Heading into Friday's games, they rank 9th in strikeout rate (21.1%), 9th in Win Probability Added by the offense, 12th in wRC+ (103), 13th in hard-hit rate (40.3%), 14th in runs scored (298), and 14th in OPS (.715). That has the Cardinals eight games over .500 and currently sitting in a playoff spot despite having only one hitter in the starting lineup who's older than 27: Lars Nootbaar, who has played a total of six games this season.
The Cardinals have four hitters with a wRC+ over 110 this season: JJ Wetherholt, a 23-year-old rookie; Ivan Herrera, a 26-year-old in his first year as a starter; Alec Burleson, a 27-year-old elder statesman; and Jordan Walker, a 24-year-old former top prospect who is finally breaking out. In fact, in many ways, Walker is the perfect example of what makes this young Cardinals offense tick.
Jun 2, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) reacts after hitting a one run single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Once the No. 4 ranked prospect in baseball heading into the 2023 season, Walker had a solid MLB debut, hitting .276/.342/.445 in 117 games in 2023 with 16 home runs and seven steals. However, he wasn't able to build off that over the next two years. In 2024, he hit .201/.253/.366 with a 28.1% strikeout rate and was limited to just 51 MLB games. He got more of an opportunity in 2025, but hit .215/.278/.306 in 111 games with just six home runs and a 31.8% strikeout rate. To many, it seemed like Walker would become another top prospect who failed to live up to expectations, but Walker never wavered. He kept putting in the work with the firm belief that he would produce at the level he believed he was capable of.
“Walker deserves 100 percent of the credit," Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told MLB.com during this week’s Mets series. "This game is hard. He is the one going out there and actually putting it together, having an approach and being consistent. To go from getting beat up the last couple of years to where he is at mentally and physically at the moment, he deserves the credit.”
Marmol expounded on that before Thursday's season finale, suggesting that Walker's confidence has "freed him up to just be an athlete and go out and compete, and we're seeing it in all aspects of his game."
We're also seeing a similar development up and down the Cardinals' lineup. The hitters pride themselves on their preparation and their faithfulness to a plan, believing that putting in the work before stepping out onto the field will give them a crucial mental freedom once the game begins. Even in Walker's offseason work on his swing, he mentioned that he and [assistant hitting coach] Casey Chenoweth discussed their plan for his approach beforehand and then "started hitting off the machine, not thinking much about mechanics at all."
That dedication to a plan carries over into the day-to-day aspects of the regular season as well. Especially because this is a young offense, Marmol and his coaching staff have really stressed the importance of gameplanning and thinking through your approach before ever taking the field or stepping into the batter's box.
"I think there's a lot of teaching, anytime you have a younger group, as far as like just setting up the framework for how you want them to look at a game plan, when to veer from it, the communication in game, what that looks like," explained Marmol before the series finale against the Mets. "They're continuing to get better and better at that. Our hitters meetings are pretty interactive, where it's not just [Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown] talking to the group but them speaking into it, and what their plan is. Each hitter goes through and describes what their plan is that day and what they're trying to do against that specific pitcher, but that continues to evolve as far as how well these guys in-game are making adjustments and communicating those adjustments."
That aspect of gameplanning has been the biggest change for some of these young hitters as they rise from the minors to the big leagues.
"You definitely learn really quickly here that you have to just dive deep and be a really good chess player," explained Church, who had 65 plate appearances with the Cardinals last season but won a starting job this year and is hitting .253/.286/.399 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and four steals in 48 games. "In the minors, you kind of get away with stuff, but big leaguers are smart. They do their homework on hitters. Not saying minor league pitchers don't do that, but just trying to understand what the best pitchers are trying to do [against you]."
May 14, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (26) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the go-ahead run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
That was seconded by rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt, another top prospect, who won a starting job in spring training and has impressed with a .248/.354/.388 slash line in 62 games while producing nine home runs, 43 runs scored, 28 RBI, and two steals.
"In the minors, guys are more pitching to their game plan," he explained. "Obviously, the aces of the teams, they make a name doing what they do, so they're gonna do that, but in Triple-A, they're not really game planning too much, just a little bit. Here, it's more of a game plan, so each guy's getting pitched to their weaknesses, and so they'll spend more time scouting that. After that, once the league finds out that you're gonna swing at every slider in the dirt on a two-strike count, you're just gonna see that nonstop."
The hitters' meetings are a great chance for the young hitters and coaches to discuss the tendencies they've been seeing and the ones that they expect to see. Even the youngest MLB players have been playing this game at a high level for long enough that they can identify when a pitcher is attacking them differently, but leaning on coaches and the data they can collect to get specifics is often newer for young hitters.
"I would say the coaches will definitely know [how we're being pitched] because they do a ton of work at just looking out at all of our bats and all the data and things like that," admitted Wetherholt. "I'll definitely have that conversation, like, 'Hey, guys, I'm obviously getting more fastballs in, or getting more sliders down,' and then we'll talk about that and how we want to combat that. If it's a problem, you've got to address it."
Which leads to yet another aspect of hitting that can be challenging for younger hitters: in-season adjustments.
Offseason preparation may be more grueling and time-consuming, but it also feels less pressurized. Even if a hitter is altering their swing or approach, they have five or six months in the offseason to tear things down, construct a plan for rebuilding whatever process they're focused on, and then build it back up with regular checks and tweaks along the way. That's a luxury you don't have in the regular season when you have to not only identify if you're being pitched differently or if there's an issue with your swing, but what the change is and how to combat it, all while still preparing for your game that night. Sometimes, like with Jordan Waker, that can take years to figure out.
"I try and [make adjustments] as quickly as possible, like every at-bat, honestly, is what I try," stated Church. Wetherholt was a bit more temperate, suggesting that, "if you get pitched consistently from back-to-back teams, then you know there's something that people have found that they want to go towards."
Identifying the issue is the first step of the problem, but finding ways to address it during the grind of an MLB regular season is another challenge altogether.
"There's still some stuff that you can do early on in the day, like in the routines where you're working with some mechanical things," admitted Wetherholt. "It's not going to be anything crazy, but we'll talk about just making slight adjustments in the routine, and then, when you get on the field, you're just in compete mode. If anything, a lot can be pitches that you're trying to swing at and hunt, you know, if there are certain pitches that are giving you trouble, try to lay off those, so make those day-to-day adjustments."
Those are the adjustments Wetherholt has already had to make as a rookie. He came out of the gates well, hitting .256/.378/.479 with seven home runs, 27 runs scored, 16 RBI, and four steals in his first 31 MLB games. He then hit a rough patch once the calendar turned to May, slashing .182/.308/.236 with one home run, six RBI, and a 12/7 K/BB ratio in 14 games, but has been able to claw his way back, hitting .286/.351/.357 with one home runs, 10 runs scored, two steals, and a 9/7 K/BB ratio in 17 games since May 19th.
After that first month of the season, it seemed like pitchers started attacking Wetherholt inside more often (7% inside), and also realized that the rookie has a passive approach they could take more advantage of. Up until May, Wetherholt only had a 48% true first pitch strike rate (that excludes first pitch hits, so only when he goes down 0-1 in the count). In his cold stretch in May, that rose to 56% as pitchers found locations in the strike zone early on where Wetherholt didn't feel like offering.
However, from May 19th on, Wetherholt's early ball in play rate has jumped 4%, and his true first pitch strike rate has fallen back to 43%, while his early called strike rate has gone from 21.6% to 19.7%. These are not monumental changes, but are the small, incremental ones that Wetherholt talked about. He noticed that pitchers were being more successful at stealing first pitch strikes against him, so he got a little bit more aggressive, likely in certain areas of the zone where he knew he could still make good contact, and put more balls in play early to avoid falling behind.
"He's just very steady, especially for his age," explained Marmol. "You would think he's been in the league for a while, just the way he handles the ups and downs, and the day-to-day aspect of what we do. There's a certain demeanor to him, a presence, that's just pretty calming. He doesn't ride the highs and lows. It's pretty impressive."
It's impressive and emblematic of an entire lineup filled with young hitters who have tons of confidence and trust in one another.
"I think a lot of it is just having more confidence in myself and just not trying to do too much," said Church about the success of the team's young hitters.
Wetherholt also mentioned the closeness of the lineup: "We all have good relationships, just talk back and forth, hitting-wise. I've talked with [Nolan Gorman] a lot this year, and that's been a ton of fun. And then obviously guys like [Jordan] Walker and Masyn [Winn] are kind of more my age, that helped show me the ropes, but it's just been definitely a combined effort."
A combined effort built on communication and preparation. The Cardinals' hitters will tell you that they don't think too much about their statistics, and they won't be lying. They trust in their gameplanning and know that, if they prepare the right way, they continue to pile up the only stat that matters, wins.
We took a while, but after a month or so off we’re back to asking you about the White Sox and baseball at large vis SB Nation Reacts surveys. This time around, with the White Sox in the catbird seat at the one-third season mark, we issued a straightforward (if unexpected, just a month ago) one:
Woof, lookee what a weak American League and surprisingly strong White Sox team does to a fan base’s confidence! The wild thing is, since we issued the survey, the White Sox have extended their MLB-best run to nine of 13 and moved into first place!
The national questions this week were a little bit fun, a little bit not. First, best hitters in baseball:
No White Sox? OK, OK, no White Sox.
Then, it was (ugh) labor concerns:
Just as things are getting good for us again. Sigh.
Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!
The Dodgers (44-25) continue their swing through the Midwest tonight as they open a series in the Windy City against the surprising AL Central-leading White Sox (36-31).
The Sox have won seven in a row at home including a pair earlier this week against the NL East-leading Braves. Chicago is one of five American League teams sporting a positive run differential for the season at +10. As positive a stat as that is for Chicago, LA’s run differential is +143 after their series win in Pittsburgh in which they scored 28 runs for the three games.
However, both teams are trending similarly of late. Each is 6–4 over their last 10 games, with comparable offensive production:
Dodgers: .269 team average, have outscored opponents by 14 runs
White Sox: .270 team average, outscored opponents by 9 runs
Tonight’s expected pitching matchup features:
Dodgers: Roki Sasaki (RHP)
3–3 record, 4.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 60 K
White Sox: Anthony Kay (LHP)
5–1 record, 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 46 K
Sasaki brings more swing-and-miss upside, while Kay has been more effective in the win column despite less dominant peripherals. Kay’s challenge will be navigating a Dodgers’ lineup that ranks among MLB’s best in on-base percentage and overall production, while Sasaki faces a Chicago lineup that has been more opportunistic than explosive.
Given recent trends, Sasaki’s ability to control early innings could be critical—Chicago has leaned heavily on momentum and situational hitting rather than overwhelming pitching matchups.
Hot Hitters (Last 10 Games)
Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani: 18-for-41, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Andy Pages: Team leader in HR (15 total) and major power threat [espn.com]
Ohtani is the clear tone-setter for LA BUT he left the series finale against the Pirates early. There has been no confirmation as of publication as to his availability for tonight. Pages flies under the radar somehow but continues to provide middle-of-the-order pop.
White Sox
Miguel Vargas: 11-for-39, 3 HR over last 10 games
Vargas has been Chicago’s most dangerous recent bat, especially in terms of gap-to-gap power and run production.
What to Watch Tonight
Contrast in styles: Dodgers bring lineup depth and power (5.3 runs/game), while the White Sox excel in situational hitting and close-game execution.
Home-field edge: Chicago’s strong home record (22–11) and active home winning streak make this more competitive than the records suggest.
Prior to the season, you would never have said this will be a competitive series. The Dodgers have the statistical edge across the board, but the White Sox counter with home momentum, a recent winning trend, and timely hitting. If the game turns into a higher-scoring affair, it favors Los Angeles; if it stays tight and situational, Chicago has a real shot to take yet another step forward in their surprising season.
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 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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Dodgers vs. White Sox
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Sportsnet LA, CSN
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The Latest Odds: Dodgers vs. White Sox
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: LA Dodgers (-162), Chicago White Sox (+134)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+105), White Sox +1.5 (-126)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Dodgers vs. White Sox for June 12
White Sox: Anthony Kay Season Totals: 61.1 IP, 5-1, 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 46K, 26 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Dodgers vs. White Sox
Kyle Tucker – 3-12 vs. Pirates earlier this week
Freddie Freeman has hit in 6 straight games (9-21) and 8 of his last 9 (14-36)
Colson Montgomery has hit safely in 3 straight games (3-11)
Andrew Benintendi is 2-13 in his last 5 games
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Dodgers vs. White Sox
The Dodgers are 36-33 on the Run Line this season
The White Sox are 39-28 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 31 times in LA’s 69 games this season (31-38)
The OVER has cashed 39 times in the White Sox’ 67 games this season (39-26-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Dodgers vs. White Sox
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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 tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the White Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Run Line.
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Although the World Cup is starting to take center stage, another day on the diamond awaits, and there's no shortage of value to be found at Polymarket!
Spearheaded by another dominant outing from Jacob Misiorowski, here are our favorite MLB picks for Friday, June 12.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Dodgers moneyline
Price: 60¢ (-150) at Polymarket
Roki Sasaki may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but over the last 30 days, he's looked every bit like the ace the Los Angeles Dodgers expected. During that stretch, he's posted a 10.73 K/9, a 1.48 ERA, and a 2.29 xFIP, establishing himself as one of the most dominant starters in baseball.
At first glance, Chicago White Sox southpaw Anthony Kay appears capable of creating matchup problems for Los Angeles because of the number of left-handed bats in the Dodgers' lineup. However, this isn't a typical lineup when it comes to platoon splits.
Freddie Freeman has spent his entire career producing against left-handed pitching at nearly the same level as he does against righties, and Kay's sweeping slider isn't nearly as effective against hitters like Kyle Tucker, whose flat swing path matches up well against that pitch shape.
Los Angeles deserves to be a bigger favorite here, and I make the Dodgers closer to 63 cents in this matchup.
Additionally, Alcantara’s first-inning numbers (5.14 ERA with a .758 OPS allowed) are skewed because all eight runs he’s surrendered came across just three games.
Ashcraft, meanwhile, checks in with an absolutely elite .169 batting average and .414 OPS allowed in the opening frame across his 21 career starts.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: Marlins.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Brewers -1.5
Price: 53¢ (-110) at Polymarket
Jacob Misiorowski is on an insane tear, allowing just one earned run across his last seven starts and helping the Milwaukee Brewers cover the run line in six of those outings.
The Philadelphia Phillies counter with Andrew Painter, whose 6.21 ERA reflects a difficult season that has included several rough road starts. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's offense is firing on all cylinders, leading MLB in both runs scored and OPS over the past week.
Add in the Brewers' elite offensive production at home and Philadelphia's struggles on the road, and Milwaukee is well-positioned to win by multiple runs tonight.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Brewers.TV
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Pete Crow-Armstrong dives to make yet another five-star catch Thursday in Coors Field | | Denver Post via Getty Images
The Society for American Baseball Research has created something called their Defensive Index, rating players for their defense using a number of different criteria, which you can read about in detail here. The SDI is used, in part, to help decide each year’s Gold Glove and Platinum Glove winners.
SABR announced today that Pete Crow-Armstrong leads all National League players in the SDI, through games of June 7, with an SDI figure of 10.7. Former Cub Cody Bellinger leads all American League players this year at 9.4. Bellinger has played mostly left field for the Yankees this year (54 starts), with nine starts in center field and two in right.
We all know about PCA’s defensive prowess, and he’s likely going to win another Gold Glove this year, and he’ll be a strong candidate for the Platinum Glove, which goes to the best defensive player at any position.
I thought you might also be interested in where other Cubs players rank at their positions in the SDI, through June 7. Here are their rankings among National League players.
Pitcher: The highest-ranked Cubs pitcher is Shōta Imanaga, who ranks tied for 12th at 0.6.
Catcher: Carson Kelly is last among NL catchers at -3.1.
First base: Michael Busch ranks third at 3.0, behind Matt Olson (5.2) and TJ Rumfield (3.4).
Second base: Nico Hoerner ranks fourth at 2.4, behind JJ Wetherholt (4.7), Alex Freeland (3.9) and Ozzie Albies (3.4).
Third base: Alex Bregman (1.9) ranks fifth behind Matt Chapman (8.2), Max Muncy (4.2), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3.5) and Nolan Arenado (2.9).
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson (3.8) ranks second behind Joey Ortiz (4.1).
Left field: Ian Happ ranks sixth at 0.5.
Center field: PCA’s 10.5 is significantly ahead of Andy Pages (8.1).
Right field: Seiya Suzuki leads all right fielders at 3.7, slightly ahead of Corbin Carroll (3.6).
The surprise for me there is Suzuki, who the eye test says has had a good year in the field, though I didn’t necessarily think the metrics would back that up. If he continues along these lines he’ll have a shot at a Gold Glove. Also, Swanson continues to be an elite fielding shortstop even while he’s struggling at the plate. And the Cubs have high-ranking defenders at almost every position.
Here are three and a half minutes of great defensive plays by Cubs so far this year.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a Spring Training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 19, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a rough day on the farm on Thursday, with the top four Red Sox affiliates generating zero wins. The FCL Red Sox in the Rookie League did win a game 26-6, though, and Franklin Primera went 4-for-5 with a homer and six RBI. The 18-year-old is slashing .448/.587/.731 in 22 games with five home runs in the Complex League. I think I agree with Ed Hand, a new challenge might be in order for Primera.
Starting to think Franklin Primera might be too good for the Complex League. https://t.co/6SL0JNhAD1
Game One: Rochester Red Wings 6, Worcester Red Sox 4 (BOX)
Game Two: Canceled
All of New England waits with bated breath as Patrick Sandoval’s rehab continues at Worcester. Sandoval, who as a reminder is in year two of a 2-year, $18.25M deal, started the game and worked his way up to 33 pitches (18 strikes) in 1 ⅔ innings on Thursday. He allowed one run and struck out three.
Matt Thaiss got the scoring started early, with a three-run bomb in the top of the first off of old friend Luis Perales.
Perales threw the first 3 ⅔ innings for the Red Wings (WAS), allowing eight baserunners and four earned runs. Perales was bailed out though as the Worcester bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Zack Kelly allowed five baserunners and two runs over an inning and a third, before Devin Sweet got the loss, allowing three runs in two innings.
Nathan Hickey’s RBI double accounted for the fourth run for the Woo Sox, in a seven inning game which was supposed to be part of a doubleheader. However, the second game was rained out, and has been labeled as “Canceled” rather than “Postponed”.
Raymond Burgos (1-3, 7.11) gets the ball for the Woo Sox at 6:45 today. Since Brayan Bello had to warm up for the game, before its cancellation, he will be pushed back to Saturday.
Bello warmed up for Game 2 before Rochester had to pull the tarp for inclement weather.
Dalton Rogers got the start for the Sea Dogs and struggled against Reading (PHI), allowing nine baserunners and four runs over three innings, taking the loss. Rogers had been excellent in his first three double-A starts, yet to allow a run in the ten previous innings, before a tough one on Thursday.
On the hitting side, left fielder Will Turner had two hits, including his seventh home run. Brooks Brannon and Johanfran Garcia also contributed two hits and an RBI a piece.
Gage Ziehl (2-2, 4.98) will take the mound on Friday at 6:45 for Portland.
Jojo Ingrassia got the start for the Drive and threw three excellent innings, allowing on ehit and striking out four Dash hitters (CWS) and left in a 0-0 game. After that, it got ugly!
Greenville reliever Joe Vogatsky got the loss before giving way to PJ Labriola, who allowed six earned runs. The Drive lone run came on a double play ground ball to cut the lead to 8-1. Let’s move past this one.
Greenville has yet to announce a starter for tonight at 6:45.
Fayetteville Woodpeckers 12, Salem RidgeYaks 5 (BOX)
Salem pitching was hit hard by the Woodpeckers (HOU) in this game across the board, beginning with starter Leighton Finley who allowed four runs in 4 ⅓ innings, so let’s focus on the hitting. Avinson Pinto had an RBI single, D’Angelo Ortiz knocked in two with a single of his own, and Ilan Fernandez scored a run with a double. Skylar King stole his 20th base of the year.
The RidgeYaks will send Brady Tygart (0-0, 7.71) to the hill on Friday at 6:35.
This week has featured more big-league debuts, more IL stints, and more lineup shuffling. Let's break it all down.
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Geraldo Perdomo was recently dropped to the bottom half of the lineup after hitting inside the top three in every game through June 3. Pavin Smith returned from the IL in June and has been the primary DH against righties. Tommy Troy is the primary left fielder with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sidelined.
Athletics
Lawrence Butler still isn't an everyday player, even against righties. Henry Bolte isn't one either, but he's starting far more often than Butler. Carlos Cortes remains in a strict platoon but draws a premium lineup slot (typically 1-4) against RHP. Zack Gelof has started every game since May 3.
Atlanta Braves
They've faced one lefty and one righty since Ronald Acuña Jr. landed on the IL. Michael Harris led off against the righty, with Mauricio Dubón getting the role against the southpaw. Austin Riley hasn't hit higher than fifth since May 18. Dominic Smith has been locked in at DH against righties for weeks.
Baltimore Orioles
Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo both returned from minor injuries on Thursday. Colton Cowser has become an everyday player against righties, which wasn't the case until recently. Coby Mayo still isn't starting every game, but the trend is in the right direction. Jeremiah Jackson's playing time has evaporated in June. Overall, the Orioles seem to be consolidating playing time more than they did to open the season.
Boston Red Sox
Jarren Duran has hit leadoff in every game since May 1. Mickey Gasper has overtaken Carlos Narváez as the starting catcher. Caleb Durbin has started every game since May 28 after starting just three of the previous nine.
Chicago Cubs
Pete Crow-Armstrong moved up to leadoff (second against lefties) on May 23 and hasn't looked back. They've been remarkably consistent with their starting nine.
Chicago White Sox
Braden Montgomery has started all three games in right field since his call-up. Sam Antonacci (vs. RHP) and Chase Meidroth (vs. LHP) are still splitting the leadoff role. Jacob Gonzalez has started 8 of 11 since being called up.
Cincinnati Reds
JJ Bleday has started every game since April 29. Blake Dunn has been the primary leadoff option, though it isn't an exclusive role. Noelvi Marte has started four of seven since being recalled from Triple-A. Edwin Arroyo has started six of nine since his call-up. Matt McLain is handling shortstop with Elly De La Cruz sidelined.
Cleveland Guardians
Steven Kwan is still hitting in the bottom third of the lineup. Brayan Rocchio has missed only three games this year. Travis Bazzana leads off against righties and hits fourth or fifth against lefties.
Colorado Rockies
Cole Carrigg has manned center field in all three games since debuting, batting sixth or seventh. Jake McCarthy leads off against right-handers; Willi Castro does so against southpaws.
Detroit Tigers
Gleyber Torres has returned from the IL and hit 1-3 in every game since. Colt Keith has been dropped in the order against righties as a result. Dillon Dingler has sat just once since May 3.
Houston Astros
Jose Altuve is back from the IL and hitting fifth. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes are hitting 3-4 after all the offseason hand-wringing about whether there would be enough playing time to go around. Carlos Correa's injury changed that calculus. Yordan Alvarez has missed only one game this season. Joey Loperfido is back from Triple-A, seemingly to platoon with Brice Matthews in left field.
Kansas City Royals
Jac Caglianone is on fire and has started against each of the past five lefties he's had the opportunity to face. Carter Jensen leads off against righties with Lane Thomas getting the job against left-handers. Michael Massey and Nick Loftin are platooning at second base.
Los Angeles Angels
Wade Meckler hits third against righties with Vaughn Grissom sidelined. Trey Mancini has started at first base in two of the past three games since his recall. The depth in this lineup wasn't strong to open the season, and it's really hurting without Grissom, Jorge Soler, and Yoán Moncada.
Los Angeles Dodgers
All eyes are on whether Shohei Ohtani is in Friday's lineup after he exited Thursday with knee inflammation. Andy Pages has hit second or third in each of his starts since May 26. Mookie Betts has been at cleanup since the same date. Kyle Tucker has mostly batted fifth or sixth lately. Ryan Ward and Alex Call share a left field platoon.
Miami Marlins
Kyle Stowers is up to five games (four starts) at first base, cutting into Connor Norby's recent opportunities. Xavier Edwards has oscillated between leadoff and cleanup this season, which shifts the balance between runs and RBI opportunities. Joe Mack ranks 15th in plate appearances among primary catchers since his debut.
Milwaukee Brewers
Andrew Vaughn remains the odd man out against righties but continues to mix in. David Hamilton is consolidating the shortstop playing time versus right-handers. Gary Sánchez's playing time has cratered since everyone got healthy.
Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis has started all five games since returning from Triple-A, three at first base and two at second. Brooks Lee is sticking at third base while Tristan Gray and Orlando Arcia split shortstop. Kody Clemens and Josh Bell consistently hit 3-4.
New York Mets
Some consistency has developed, with Mark Vientos losing the most playing time. He has started once in their past seven games. Jared Young is the primary cleanup option versus RHP.
New York Yankees
Paul Goldschmidt has been an everyday player since May 20 and is typically hitting inside the top three. Anthony Volpe has started 10 of 15 at shortstop since Jose Caballero returned from the IL. Caballero has started 11 times in that span, but he's back to moving around the diamond. Spencer Jones has been in the lineup against three of the four right-handers since his recall.
Philadelphia Phillies
The most consistent lineup of the past month now that Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott start against the majority of southpaws. Derek Hill was acquired from the White Sox on Thursday, possibly to platoon with Justin Crawford.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz being sidelined puts a damper on MLB's sixth-highest scoring offense. Spencer Horwitz gets the leadoff role against RHP with Nick Gonzales filling it against LHP. Jared Triolo is the everyday shortstop with Griffin out. Marcell Ozuna's playing time against righties has diminished lately.
San Diego Padres
Gavin Sheets has started all but two games since May 8. Bryce Johnson, Samad Taylor, and Jase Bowen are getting corner-outfield reps with Ramon Laureano on the IL and Nick Castellanos having been designated for assignment.
San Francisco Giants
Bryce Eldridge has started 15 of 16, but he hasn't hit higher than fifth this year. Casey Schmitt has led off every game in June. Drew Gilbert is sharing center field with Jonah Cox.
Seattle Mariners
Colt Emerson has a chance to stick at shortstop with JP Crawford on the IL. Cole Young has hit leadoff against righties in Crawford's absence. Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley continue to mash in strong-side platoon roles.
St. Louis Cardinals
Lars Nootbaar is back from the IL and hitting fifth versus RHP. He sat against the one southpaw they've faced since his return. Bryan Torres has sat three straight with Nootbaar back. Nathan Church is off the IL and playing center field with Victor Scott II now at Triple-A.
Tampa Bay Rays
Cedric Mullins has started against seven of the past eight lefties they've seen. Ryan Vilade and Austin Slater are hitting in the top half of the order against southpaws.
Texas Rangers
Joc Pederson (vs. righties) and Wyatt Langford (vs. lefties) are sharing leadoff duties. Evan Carter is back to sitting against lefties now that Langford has returned. Ezequiel Duran has started every game since April 29, bouncing between first base, second base, and right field since Corey Seager got healthy and reclaimed shortstop.
Toronto Blue Jays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit leadoff on Tuesday, but that was a game George Springer sat. Nathan Lukes hits first or second against righties. Andrés Giménez platoons at shortstop with Charles McAdoo. Against left-handers, McAdoo slides to second base with Ernie Clement covering short.
Washington Nationals
Curtis Mead still sits against the occasional righty, but he's frequently used off the bench in those games. Luis García Jr. gets the two-hole against righties. Daylen Lile has missed only one game this year.
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Trey Yesavage #39 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks back to the dugout out during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees faced a decently big test earlier this week as they took on the Cleveland Guardians — who are near the top of the AL Central — in a series without Aaron Judge. Capped off by a big win on Wednesday, the Yankees passed that test, sweeping all three games against Cleveland. Next up is another challenge, and one that could have an even greater impact on the playoff races this season.
Starting tonight, the Yankees will be making their first trip north of the border. While the Blue Jays aren’t currently in the AL East race, and are even below .500, you’d still expect them to get back into things at some point. They’ve also had the Yankees’ number somewhat recently, including knocking the Bombers out in the ALDS last year. However, they’ve not been not been especially great recently, going 4-7 over their last 11.
Before the action gets going later tonight, here’s a look at the expected pitching matchups over the next couple days.
Friday: Ryan Weathers vs. TBD (7:37 pm ET)
After a decent hot run in May and early June, Weathers has struggled in his most of his recent outings. His ERA has gone from 3.00 to 3.86 over his last four starts, and that included seven scoreless against the Rays during that run. One of his iffy recent performances came against the Blue Jays back on May 18th. He got knocked out after five runs and 5.1 innings.
At least at time of writing, the Blue Jays haven’t officially announced their rotation for this weekend’s series, but they’ll have regular starters on regular rest for the set, so Friday seems likely to be Trey Yesavage. That’s unfortunate for the Yankees, as they still have yet to figure out the Toronto youngster. He has had some iffy outings lately, but that doesn’t include the six innings he shutout the Yankees on May 20th.
Saturday: Cam Schlittler vs. TBD (3:07 pm ET)
The Yankees’ own young ace will go in the second game of the series. Following a couple starts that had some iffy signs, Schlittler fully bounced back against the Red Sox last weekend. He gave up just one run on four in 5.2 innings, helping the Yankees down Boston.
Again, nothing confirmed for this game, but it’s most likely that Kevin Gausman will go for Toronto in game two. The Yankees missed Gausman in the two teams’ earlier meeting this season. Last season, the Yankees got to him in their initial meeting, but then Gausman get the better of them in the following three. That included one in the ALDS, holding them to one run in 5.2 innings.
Sunday: Will Warren vs. TBD (1:37 pm ET)
Warren has his foibles, but he’s still been pretty impressive on the whole. He’s only allowed more than three runs in a start just once this season, and that was over a month ago at this point. In the first meeting between these two teams, Warren picked up a victory over the Jays, having held Toronto to three runs in five innings.
Finally, the most likely starter for Toronto in the finale is Patrick Corbin. After several years of being the worst starter in baseball, Corbin has somewhat bounced back this season, although he’s been worse of late. He had a 3.60 ERA through May 6th, but he has a 5.60 ERA since. He was okay but not great against the Yankees during that stretch, but the Yankees probably should’ve done better than they did.
We step outside the lab to look at a situation that is becoming more and more dire. However. we have to constantly remain guarded against the hyperbolic. People are often drawn to the extremes on managers. It was Whitey Herzog that said he was two players away from the pennant when he managed the Kansas City Royals: Babe Ruth and Cy Young. The clear implication is that players drive championships.
I don’t know if there has ever been a comprehensive study of how many games a good manager is worth or how many games a bad manager can cost a team. I can promise you it isn’s as much as most people think. For instance, on Monday night, Joe Espada made the same move as on Wednesday night. It worked once and backfired the second time. Therefore, it would be fair to assert that he is batting .500. However, I would argue that he was wrong on both nights, but that is besides the point.
I’ve already made this argument before and regular readers will be well aware of that. The difference is that the team is playing better baseball over the last month. They were nearly .500 in May and seem to be on the same trajectory in June. That means that every blunder is actually magnified that much more. A bad baseball team doesn’t need a good manager. A mediocre one could use a good manager if the rest of the league is mediocre.
Two teams have already made managerial changes and they were arguably in the same boat as the Astros. They were bigger payroll teams that came into the season with some level of expectations. The differences between how they have performed are as different as their situations. Suffice it to say that interim managers can sometimes work out, but much of the time it is more of the same. Obviously, it depends on whether they were fired for specific malpractice or just generic underperformance. Let’s look at those two situations.
Boston Red Sox
Alex Cora: 10-17 Chad Tracy: 17-22
It is just one man’s opinion, but this one is on Craig Breslow the general manager. He has the most similar situation in baseball to Dana Brown and the Astros. The two were dancing most the winter, but they were dancing to two different songs. I suppose in some sense the winning percentage under Tracy has improved, but I would call this spinning their wheels.
Philadelphia Phillies
Rob Thomson: 9-19 Don Mattingly: 28-12
This was clearly a situation of a team underperforming. I can guarantee that the Phillies were not as bad as they were under Thomson and they aren’t as good as they have been under Mattingly. However, results are results. The Phillies are now right back in the wild card race where they likely would have been to begin with.
Obviously, I’m not comparing the Astros situation to either situation. Every team is in their own soup so to speak. However, there are a few reasons why I think now is the right time to move on from Espada. It is more specific to what he is actually doing than how the team is playing.
He regularly gets outmanaged
This doesn’t happen nearly as often as it used to when pitchers hit, but the end of games is a chess match between managers. Managers choose when and if to pinch hit for certain regulars or bring in defensive replacements. They choose when to bring in certain relievers based on matchups against the other team. Espada regularly gets outmaneuvered by more experienced and more intelligent managers. In some cases he just overthinks things and makes moves for the sake of making moves.
The example I can think of was the Friday night game against Milwaukee. He broughtin Brice Mathews as a defensive replacement for some reason and then he had to hit with the bases loaded and one out. Pat Murphy manuevered right into that situation. He was thinking a couple of moves ahead. Espada was throwing darts at a board. That move likely cost the Astros that game.
He mismanages the pitching staff
I have come to call Espada Joe “One inning too long” Espada. He is constantly trying to get an extra inning out of relievers and starters. I get it on a certain level. This is epsecially true early in the year when the starters were trash. However, even now he is leaning way too often on multiple inning relief outings and there have been numerous occasions where the relievers throw a scoreless frame and then give up runs in the subsequent inning. It is to the point where they should be charged as managerial runs.
I mentioned Monday and Wednesday night. Why is Hader coming into a tie game in the ninth? Why is Abreu the guy taking the ball in the 10th. Heck, why is Abreu within 300 miles of a close game at this point? Just because a gamble works doesn’t mean it is a good gamble. Managers are generally more successful when they play the percentages. Espada doesn’t do that nearly often enough.
Sunday Fun Day
In all fairness, Espada is not the only manager to do this. Jimy Williams used to do it all the time. I called the “YMCA Everyone gets to play” Day. You empty out your bench and sub for as many regulars as you can. That waves a white flag. Obviously, it happens a lot on Snnday but Sunday is not the only day of the week Espada raises the white flag. Smarter managers stagger their load management. The rest one guy at a time.
This doesn’t even mention the fact that with all of the injuries you are hampering yourself when you give guys days off. I get that an occasional breather helps keep guys fresh but when you are starting your backup catcher (who was hitting under .100), that is probably not the best time to start both backup infielders and a backup outfielders.
Putting it all together
This is a simple math problem. If you want to get into the playoffs you need to get to between 83 and 87 wins. If you are doing that then you need to finish 11-15 games above .500 the remainder of the season. This can be a good baseball team but it is not a great one. The good news is that every team is in the same board. However, it means that you cannot afford to give away close games through routine managerial blunders. The sooner you make the change the better.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 11: Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the third inning during an MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani has set the baseball world on fire on the mound despite his most recent start on Wednesday, and he’s been picking up the pace with the lumber as well since May 12.
Ohtani capped off the three-game set in Pittsburgh with his second home run in as many games while reaching base four times in the Dodgers 8-6 win, but the two-way superstar was an early exit on Thursday due to left knee inflammation. It wasn’t that long ago that on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies, Ohtani also exited early after getting plunked on the wrist.
Dave Roberts spoke with Kirsten Watson about Ohtani’s exit, noting that he acknowledged the discomfort around the sixth inning on Thursday. Roberts doesn’t expect him to miss Friday’s opener against the Chicago White Sox.
I feel good about him being in there tomorrow, but obviously with the travel tonight, we just gotta see how he comes in… I don’t know if it was when he tried to steal second base, but I didn’t hear about it last night, didn’t hear about it today until about the sixth inning.
Justin Wrobleski was also an early exit on Thursday, as after a collision with Bryan Reynolds on a play at first, the left-hander came up limping and was removed with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Wrobleski left with a left hamstring contusion, but when speaking with the media postgame, he’s not worried about his injury and noted that his poor performance on the mound resulted in his departure.
“I didn’t throw the ball very well today just as a whole… It was just one of those outings for me where I just wasn’t synced up perfect, but felt good. Thank God I’m okay, Reynolds is okay, so thankfully for that situation, everyone’s good.”
The Dodgers bullpen struggled over the final two games of the three-game set in Pittsburgh, with Kyle Hurt and Jack Dreyer allowing the lead to slip on Tuesday while the bullpen accounted for eight runs allowed in the series.
Tanner Scott managed to bounce back over what has been a worrisome past two weeks, getting a four-out save while striking out a trio of hitters that managed to account for four home runs against the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth inning. Scott spoke with Watson after recording his seventh save of the season about the bullpen’s ability to quickly turn the page after a rough outing.
“Confidence is huge. We have a great bullpen and we have a lot of special arms. One game happens, you just gotta flush it and move on to the next one.”
Old friends in new places
Outfielder James Outman has found a new home in the AL Central, as the Detroit Tigers announced on Thursday that they claimed him off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
Since departing from the Dodgers in the Brock Stewart deal last year, Outman struggled to find any significant playing time with the big league level with Minnesota. He slashed just .151/.224/.302 with four home runs and 10 RBI, posting a -0.6 fWAR across 86 combined games before being designated for assignment on June 6.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 11: Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) swings at a pitch and misses during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 11, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
There’s no doubt that the Colorado Rockies are improved from 2025.
They’ve got a better record than they had at this point in the season last year, and in some areas, they’ve made clear improvement.
However, the Rockies still rank dead last in runs allowed at 397, which has the basement rankings sealed at 32 more than the No. 29 Nationals. That averages out to 5.75 runs per game.
While it’s not ideal, it might be manageable if Colorado had a powerful offense that could put up the runs in the counterattack. But the Rockies don’t.
The Rockies are tied at No. 15 with 297 runs scored, for an average of 4.30 runs per game. Considering the perennial challenges of pitching at Coors Field and adjusting on the road, the Rockies have a better chance of fielding a hard-hitting lineup than a knockout pitching staff.
There are several reasons for the Rockies lack of offensive prowess and run production, including Ezequiel Tovar’s strikeout problems and injuries. But one of the most peculiar things about Colorado’s struggles is the challenges to take advantage of the thin air and spacious outfield at Coors Field.
In 34 games, the Rockies offense is tied at No. 11 at home with 157 runs. That’s 4.62 per game, just above Colorado’s 140 for an average of four runs per game on the road. Considering that opponents are averaging 6.41 runs per game at 20th and Blake, other teams seem able to hit at Coors Field just fine.
The problems are evident in Colorado’s 14-20 record at home (.412), which is just slightly better than the team’s 12-23 road record (.343). Only the San Francisco Giants (13) and Boston Red Sox (10) have fewer wins at home. Massive crowds of opposing fans in Denver don’t help.
The 14-20 includes a 2-4 performance when the Rockies were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers and took a series 2-1 against the Chicago Cubs in the most recent homestand, which wrapped up Thursday. Colorado was outscored 42-25 over the six-game stretch, including being outscored 28-12 against Milwaukee.
The Rockies were out-homered 11-8 over the homestand, but mostly due to the Brewers, who hit six while the Rockies hit two. The Rockies did out-homer Chicago 6-5. Of course, the Brewers (41-25) are better than the Cubs (35-34), which explains the split, but it also could mean the Rockies are improving.
After Thursday’s 9-3 loss, when the Rockies actually out-hit the Cubs 12-10, Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer was impressed by the Rockies at-bats and contact, which included putting 19 balls in play that were over 90 mph.
“A lot of hard outs. Some days it just goes like that. Some days you hit it right at people,” Schaeffer said.
“We had an opportunity in the sixth inning with the bases loaded to flip the script of the game, and got no runs out of it. We’d like to put better at-bats together right there to push something forward, but then the momentum shifts right there. But overall, I thought we swung the bats pretty well.”
One example of that potential improvement is Hunter Goodman. The 2025 All-Star catcher has hit much better away from Coors Field this season.
Team
G
AB
R
H
2B
HR
RBI
BB
IBB
SO
SB
CS
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Home Games
31
114
20
24
6
7
14
13
1
42
2
0
.211
.300
.447
.747
Away Games
32
124
21
34
5
11
19
10
1
47
3
2
.274
.338
.581
.919
Total
63
238
41
58
11
18
33
23
2
89
5
2
.244
.320
.517
.837
In the first five games against the Brewers and Cubs, Goodman hit three homers, drove in six runs, totaled five hits, stole a base and drew five walks. A 0-for-5 performance with three strikeouts on Thursday didn’t help, but Goodman could be figuring things out at Coors. Considering that Goodman had four homers at Coors Field entering the homestand, his three over the last six games, which moved him to 18 on the season, was a big deal.
Hopefully, Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman will be back from injuries to add power and hits to the lineup the next time the Rockies return to Coors Field June 19-24 to host the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Combined with the bats of impressive rookies like TJ Rumfield and Cole Carrigg, perhaps the Rockies offense is trending up at Coors Field.
In the meantime, the Rockies are headed to a hitters’ paradise to play The Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark, home to the Triple-A Aviators, this weekend. In a three-game series there Monday-Wednesday, the A’s and Brewers combined to hit 22 homers and score 48 runs. With right field and left field foul poles each at 340 feet, plus highs expected around 106-107 degrees this weekend, the Rockies could use the weekend to turn on the offense — as long as they stay hydrated.
Zac Veen hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Charlie Condon hit a two-run home run in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough for Albuquerque on Thursday night. Condon’s shot put the Istopes up 5-3, but Tacoma put up a five-spot in the sixth to earn a lead it never lost. Veen also added a double and Condon drove in three runs.
Jack Mahoney struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings, giving up only one run to improve to 3-0 on the season and lead the Yard Goats to a victory on Thursday. The game got off to a good start when Dyan Jorge led off the first inning with a double, then stole third and then stole home to score, despite the Yard Goats striking out three times in the frame. Zach Kokoska hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give Hardford a 3-0 lead. Roc Riggio added an RBI double in the fifth and Cole Messina hit an RBI single in the eighth for an insurance run. Jorge recorded three hits and scored two runs, Bryant Betancourt, Messina and Kokosa each added two hits.
Max Belyeu hit two solo homers, including one in the top of the ninth, to help Spokane overcome a 6-3 deficit for a late win. Tommy Hopfe and Kelvin Hidalgo each added a solo homer. Belyeu finished with three hits and drove in three runs, Hidalgo had two hits and scored two runs and Jack O’Dowd doubled and scored a run. Hunter Mann threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close out the game and earn the win.
Fresno scored four runs in the sixth inning to go up 7-4 after Yeiker Reyes hit an RBI single, Ashly Andujar followed with a two-run single and Roldy Brito finished out the inning with another run-scoring single. Carlos Renzullo hit an RBI single and drove in another on a sac grounder and Brito hit a run-scoring single to help the Grizzlies score their first three runs by the fifth inning. Along with Brito, Reyes and Andujar both recorded two hits. Manuel Olivares threw two solid innings, giving up one run to earn the win.
Even though he’s on the IL with a left oblique contusion, Brenton Doyle still managed to impress fans at Coors Field on Thursday. Turns out, he’s got talent at serving up chocolate-covered strawberries, in addition to his baseball skills.
Eli Whitney checks in with former All-Star reliever Jordan Romano, whose promising career was derailed by an elbow injury. He’s now playing for Triple-A Albuquerque after the Rockies signed him to a minor league deal on May 6. Romano also talks about why he picked the Rockies for his comeback bid.
I hate the term “Wrigley Field West.” Coors Field is basically a home away from home for almost every MLB team. Patrick Saunders dives into the multiple reasons why opposing fans outnumber Rockies fans, which can be seen and heard in the stands. It’s no surprise that the Rockies staff and players don’t like it.
Apr 17, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (21) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Redbirds outhit the Tides 13-3 in a lopsided seven-inning result. Nestor German started Game 1 and failed to complete two innings. German allowed five earned runs on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Despite the result, Baltimore fans should be happy to know that Ryan Helsley looked sharp in his first rehab appearance. The closer struck out three batters and allowed a single in a scoreless inning. The Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer reported that Helsley averaged 97.7 MPH and topped out at 99.7 MPH with his fastball.
The Tides managed to get on the scoreboard in this one, but Memphis completed the Thursday sweep. Former Oriole Bruce Zimmermann allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits over 5.2 innings.
Dietrich Enns started a bullpen game for Norfolk and failed to complete the first. Enns allowed five runs after issuing four walks and surrendering a two-run homer.
Tommy Pham went deep in what was likely his last game in a Tides uniform. The Sun’s Josh Tolentino reported yesterday evening that Pham plans to opt out of his minor league deal.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. finished 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts. Johnathan Rodríguez tallied Norfolk’s other two hits.
The Baysox took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but the Curve managed a two-out single. Luis De León tossed five hitless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Alex Pham, Keagan Gillies and Micah Ashman completed the shutout for Chesapeake.
Aron Estrada gave Chesapeake an early lead with a solo shot in the first inning, and Fernando Peguero doubled the advantage with an RBI-single in the second. Estrada manufactured two more runs with a pair of ground outs in the fifth and ninth innings. Six of Chesapeake’s ten hits came from the seven, eight and nine hitters. Carter Young went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and two runs scored.
High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 2
Frederick scored in the fifth, seventh, and eighth innings to squeak out a 3-2 win. Elis Cuevas got the Keys on the board with a solo homer in the fifth inning. Cuevas evened the score at two with a sacrifice fly in the seventh, and Victor Figueroa drove in the go-ahead run with a sac fly in the eighth.
Leandro Arias finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Ike Irish went hitless in four trips, and Wehiwa Aloy managed a hit and a run in four at bats.
Vance Honeycutt left the game with left quad tightness.
The Tides scored the tying run off of former Orioles prospect Justin Armbruester. Armbruester found his way to High-A on a rehab assignment.
Low-A: Columbia Fireflies (Royals) 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 8
Delmarva led this game 8-0 and still found a way to lose. Eat your heart out, San Antonio Spurs.
Brendan Parks and Eccel Correa allowed nine runs (eight earned) in the seventh and eighth innings. Delmarva starter Stephen Still did his part with four scoreless frames. Still limited Columbia to two hits and two walks. He struck out seven.
Edwin Amparo extended the lead to eight with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Amparo, Braylon Whitaker, Stiven Martinez, and Raylin Ramos all recorded multiple hits. Jose Perez doubled and scored a run.
