Jun 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a single against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head.
Praying mantises are the only known insects able to rotate their heads from side to side.
Gene Wilder ate wax in Willy Wonka.
For the tea time scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the “candy” flower cup that Gene Wilder chomped on was actually made of wax. Additionally, the chocolate river was made of actual water, chocolate, and cream that spoiled throughout shooting.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Kade Anderson as the third overall pick, by the Seattle Mariners, in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It can be tough to find true impact players towards the back half of the first round, but that certainly hasn’t stopped the Mariners from shooting for the moon in the past. Snagging their infield tandem of the future in Colt Emerson and Cole Young with picks in the 20’s, the M’s will yet again have an opportunity to aim big and select a prep infielder with their first pick in this upcoming July’s draft.
Today’s player of interest, SS/3B Bo Lowrance, is about as “big” of a swing as you can take. Coming in at 6’5 and north of 205 pounds, Lowrance carries a large frame well and has a ton of room to fill out with additional strength. Using his long levers exceptionally well for someone his age, Lowrance’s swing is a beautiful lefty stroke that capitalizes on his innate leverage, working through the ball with consistency and getting to plenty of power in game action. Perhaps most exciting and atypical of a high schooler his size, Lowrance’s offensive game branches beyond the power tool and shows strong signs he’ll be an above-average contact hitter at the next level. He’s got good feel for the barrel and employs a true approach at the plate, something that can’t always be said about young, inexperienced bats.
— Prep Baseball South Carolina (@PrepBaseball_SC) April 7, 2026
Lowrance is all but guaranteed to end up at the hot corner as a professional. As a prime candidate to add size and strength in the professional ranks, Lowrance projects to lean into his power upside and add physicality in favor of up-the-middle defensive versatility. He’s split time between shortstop and third base up to this point and has the arm strength to stick on the left side, but it seems unlikely he’ll possess the level of lateral quickness and explosiveness required to play shortstop at the professional level. This said, Lowrance is no liability on the dirt; he has the makings of at least an average defender at third and has a shot to be above-average or better.
If a team really wants Bo Lowrance, it might have to move aggressively.
Lowrance possesses a rare blend of projection and polish that should grant him a shot at going far earlier than the Mariners pick in the first round. With draft positions still somewhat up in the air, tying down players to specific teams is nearly impossible, and public consensus around players can vary widely. That said, given he’s likely to move off shortstop in the near future, Lowrance certainly has a chance to make it into the mid 20’s and could be a tantalizing option for a Mariners organization that could use a strong corner infield prospect in their system.
The Dodgers have a major problem they have to address, and it’s not starting pitching.
They have to do something about their bullpen.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts deployed six relievers to cover the final 7 ⅔ innings. Getty Images
That should be the No. 1 priority for Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes between now and the Aug. 3 trade deadline, regardless of how confident they are that Edwin Diaz will perform like an All-Star closer when he returns from an elbow cleanup after the All-Star break.
Skubal would be a luxury. A late-inning reliever or two to help them close out games is a necessity.
Because the Dodgers are having trouble doing that right now.
Don’t be deceived by their seven-and-a-half-game lead in the National League West. The Dodgers aren’t playing well.
Since winning 13 of 15 games, the Dodgers have basically been a .500 team. They’re 6–5 over their last 11 games, and the downturn of their bullpen is the primary reason why.
Edwin Diaz was expected to be the savior of the LA bullpen, but his surgery has forced the team to look elsewhere. Getty Images
In that 11-game stretch, the bullpen has posted a 6.88 earned-run average.
Remove a 13–5 loss to the Angels on Sunday in which a short start by Emmet Sheehan forced manager Dave Roberts to deploy six relievers to cover the final 7 ⅔ innings and the bullpen ERA over that span is still 5.12.
Dodgers relievers have pitched only 211 ⅓ innings this season, the fewest of any bullpen in the majors. Just a couple of days ago, I wrote how the relatively light workload should help the group avoid the kind of midseason slump it had last year when it topped baseball in innings pitched.
This was the same bullpen that pitched a franchise-record 38 consecutive scoreless innings last month.
But in the wake of their latest blown lead in the Pittsburgh, these late-inning meltdowns are starting to look less like isolated events and more like part of an unsettling trend.
“I think I’m seeing more walks than when we were going real well,” Roberts said. “I think when we’re on the attack and kind of imposing our will on those offenses, we’re as good as anyone.
“I know when you give free passes it sort of builds momentum for the other team. It takes one hit for them to score a run instead of a couple of hits to build an inning. I think right now we’re doing a little self-inflicted damage.”
After a strong start to the season, Alex Vesia has struggled of late. Getty Images
That was certainly the case on Wednesday.
Shohei Ohtani had his worst start of the season, but he still managed to pitch into the seventh inning and departed the game with a 6–3 lead. The baserunner Alex Vesia inherited from Ohtani scored on a fielding error by third baseman Max Muncy, but the Dodgers were still up by two runs heading into the final two innings.
That’s when disaster struck.
Kyle Hurt started the bottom of the eighth inning by walking the first two batters. He then served up a home run to Tyler Callihan, who homered for the first time in the majors earlier in the game against Ohtani.
Just like that, the Dodgers were down, 7–6.
The barrage continued, as Hurt gave up a single to Jake Magnum and allowed him to advance to second base on a wild pitch. Hurt was fortunate Magnum was thrown out on an idiotic attempt to steal third base; if not for that, the Pirates’ center fielder would have scored on the double by Jared Triolo that followed.
Triolo’s double ended Hurt’s night but not the scoring. Hurt’s replacement, Jack Dreyer, gave up a two-run homer to Spencer Horwitz that increased the Dodgers’ deficit to 9–6. The runs proved valuable when Ohtani launched a two-run homer in the ninth.
“This one stung because I thought we were playing good baseball,” Roberts said. “We have no business losing that game.”
At one point he was one of the Dodgers’ top relievers, but Kyle Hurt has been largely inefficient of late. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The homers given up by Hurt and Dryer were the ninth and 10th allowed by the Dodgers’ bullpen in the last 11 games. In the team’s previous 57 games, the bullpen had given up only 11 homers.
The Dodgers clearly miss Diaz – or, more precisely, the version of Diaz they thought they acquired when they signed him to a three-year, $69-million contract over the winter.
When Diaz underwent surgery in April to remove loose bodies from his elbow, virtually every reliever on the team shoulder a greater responsibility. Many of them thrived. However, some of them have started unraveling.
One of them is Hurt, who became a trusted late-inning option in Diaz’s absence. Hurt has given up runs in three of his last four games.
Diaz’s ninth-inning replacement, Tanner Scott, has been charged with runs in three of his last five appearances.
Diaz is expected to return this season, but the Dodgers can’t be certain of how he’ll look when he does. In the postseason last year, they made up for their shortcomings in the bullpen by using their starters in late-inning situations, but do they really want to stake their three-peat on Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching in relief again the day after he starts?
Time is on their side. Nearly two months remain before the trade deadline, and the Dodgers have well-regarded prospects to trade. They can, and should, introduce a measure of stability in the late innings.
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Just as a MLB team might have an emergency fill-in, I am filling in for Thomas Smith on Heroes and Goats today.
That’s because Thomas got stuck in Charlotte on a work trip and hasn’t had much sleep in a couple of days. So I agreed to post this in Thomas’ place, to give you just the bare bones of the Heroes and Goats podiums for Wednesday’s loss to the Rockies and some basis for discussion, as well as the Cubs Player of the Game poll.
So here goes!
Game 68, June 10: Rockies 3, Cubs 2
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Billy Goat: Jacob Webb (-.453). 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, HR
Goat: Daniel Palencia (-.335). 0 IP, 3 BF, BB, 2 H, R
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.221). 1-4.
WPA Play of the Game: TJ Rumfield hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead (.477)
Cubs Play of the Game: Ian Happ’s game-tying home run in the top of the ninth (.308).
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 67 winner: Alex Bregman got 24 of 54 votes.
Thomas will update the Rizzo Award standings tomorrow.
As noted in my game recap, Edward Cabrera will face Ryan Feltner in this afternoon’s series finale at Coors Field. Hopefully the Cubs can end their three-game skid.
The Kansas City Royals are heating up, and we break down what is driving the surge and whether it can last long enough to force some interesting decisions before the trade deadline.
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco open with a recap of Tuesday’s win and the momentum building into the middle of the month. Salvador Perez is in the middle of a record chase, but the team captain’s ice-cold run hinders his record-setting chances. The bigger individual story, though, is Jac Caglianone’s career night, a breakout performance for a broader look at his hot streak and what it could mean for his role going forward. On the pitching side, Stephen Kolek’s solid start buoyed the win, while Alex Lange, Steven Cruz, and Daniel Lynch IV drew some attention to how the relief corps has been managed through this stretch.
The offensive improvements in June, particularly with runners in scoring position are notable, but are they sustainable? Can this version of the Royals lineup hold up, and what would it mean for the front office’s trade deadline posture if it does? Jacob and Jeremy dig into the front office mindset and the buy-sell-hold question directly, including a bold and specific trade idea: sending Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha to the Cubs in exchange for prospects. It is a speculative but wild scenario that could be the ideal outcome for a selling Royals squad.
The episode also features a deep dive into Baseball Savant’s Swing Timing and Miss Distance leaderboard, a newer tool that offers insight into which Royals pitchers are generating deception and which opposing hitters are making competitive contact. Kyle Isbel’s injury and Kam Misner’s call-up round out the roster news, with the hosts assessing what those moves mean for organizational depth at this stage of the season.
It’s a small eight-game slate on the diamond Thursday, June 11, and my trio of MLB same-game parlay predictions include a pair of afternoon tilts.
The SGP MLB picks begin with the Detroit Tigers having a solid day at the dish against Minnesota Twins righty Zebby Matthews and conclude in the evening with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates lighting up the PNC Park scoreboard again tonight.
Twins vs Tigers SGP: Matthews humbled in Motor City
The Detroit Tigers have flipped the script in June with a second-ranked wOBA supported by a fifth-ranked xwOBA while scoring 6.4 runs per game, and I’m anticipating them giving Minnesota Twins righty Zebby Matthews a tough time this afternoon. Matthews has surrendered a 16.0 barrel percentage with an abysmal 2.14 K/BB rate across his past three starts, after all.
Turning to Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres, he’s picked up a hit in five of seven games since returning to action with a healthy .438 wOBA and 40.9% squared-up contact rate.
I’d play this SGP down to +280.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, MNNT
Cardinals vs Mets SGP: Stars tee off at Citi
The wind is forecast to be blowing out at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon, so I’m targeting three of the best hitters taking the field to fill up the box score.
New York Mets star Juan Soto has teed off on right-handed pitchers to the tune of a .418 wOBA and .289 ISO over the past three years, while St. Louis Cardinals batters Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson have been consistently dangerous in the middle of the lineup and check in with a respective OPS of .903 and .973 against righties in 2026.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the highest wOBA against righties this season and the highest overall xwOBA over the past 30 days, so I’m anticipating Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller’s hands to be full Thursday.
Keller doesn’t have a single positive pitch value across his past five starts, and Los Angeles lefty Justin Wrobleski’s2.62 ERA is well below his 4.42 xFIP, so the Pirates are positioned to also chip in offensively.
Finally, Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds is dialed in at the dish with a .339 batting average and 48.9% hard-hit rate across his past 17 games, and he also sports an elite .325 average and .433 wOBA against lefties for the season.
This SGP is playable down to +325.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNP, SNLA
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 6-15, +6.4 units
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.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: Daniel Duarte #54 of the New York Mets pitches to the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on May 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to today’s series finale against the Cardinals, the Mets recalled right-hander Daniel Duarte to join the bullpen. In a corresponding move, the team optioned right-hander Jonathan Pintaro back to Triple-A. Thus, the bullpen churn continues as the club looks to cycle in some fresh arms.
Pintaro ate up the final three innings of last night’s 9-2 loss to St. Louis, allowing one earned run on one hit with two strikeouts. It was his third appearance for the Mets so far this season. In 6 2/3 innings for the club across those three relief outings, the righty has given up just the one earned run and one hit while walking one and striking out five batters.
Duarte made one appearance for the Mets earlier in the year, finishing up the team’s 9-6 loss to the Nationals back on May 19. In that game, he allowed just one hit and did not give up a run over 2 1/3 innings pitched from the sixth through the eighth innings. He did not issue a walk and struck out one batter. In 23 innings for Triple-A Syracuse, he’s posted a 3.91 ERA in 18 appearances. He has been charged with 11 runs (10 earned) on 18 hits, with 19 strikeouts over 23 innings.
The White Sox enter tonight’s game riding momentum after a tight 2–1 win over the Braves on Wednesday night at Rate Field. Chicago scratched across both of its runs in the fourth inning and leaned on a strong pitching performance from starter Davis Martin and three relievers to limit the Braves to just one run. The win continues a strong stretch for Chicago that has seen them climb to the top of the American League Central. Atlanta, meanwhile, has dropped back‑to‑back games in the series but remains firmly atop the National League East.
Tonight, Chicago is expected to turn to Anthony Kay (LHP), who owns a 5–1 record with a 4.40 ERA this season. Kay has been serviceable but not dominant and tends to pitch to contact. Can he keep the Braves from making contact too frequently? The Braves will hand the ball to Martín Pérez (LHP), who enters with a 4–3 record and a strong 3.02 ERA. Pérez’ strength has been his ability to limit baserunners (noted WHIP around 1.06 in recent analysis). This alone makes him a tough matchup against lefty hitters in the White Sox lineup.
The Braves’ history against Kay is extremely limited although Dominic Smith did crack a grand slam against him in his lone at bat against the southpaw. Andrew Benintendi is 4-14 (.286) in his career against Perez. Randal Grichuk is 7-24 (.292) against the Braves’ starter.
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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Braves vs. White Sox
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, BravesVision, CSN
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 Latest Odds: Braves vs. White Sox
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-119), Chicago White Sox (-102)
Spread: Braves -1.5 (+138), White Sox +1.5 (-167)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Braves vs. White Sox for June 11
Braves: Martin Perez Season Totals: 56.2 IP, 4-3, 3.02 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 47K, 20 BB
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! Braves vs. White Sox
Tristan Peters -16 hits, .500 AVG and 1.296 OPS over his last 10 games
Miguel Vargas - 11 hits, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .955 OPS in his last 10 games
Andrew Benintendi - 3 HR, .286 AVG, .412 OBP, 1.055 OPS in his last 10 games
Derek Hill - 1 hit in his last 14 AB (.071 AVG) in his last 10 games
Matt Olson – 12-39 (.308) in his last 10 games
Austin Riley – 5-31 (.161) over his last 10 games
Mauricio Dubon – 10-32 (.313) over his last 10 games
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: Braves vs. White Sox
The Braves are 41-27 on the Run Line this season
The White Sox are 39-28 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 39 times in Chicago’s 67 games this season (39-26-2)
The OVER has cashed 33 times in the Braves’ 68 games this season (33-31-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Braves vs. White Sox
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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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 tonight’s game between the Braves and the White Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the White Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5
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Based on the score above, one can infer that not much went right for Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Victor Mederos got the start and more or less got shelled. Across two innings, Mederos gave up five runs on four hits while issuing four walks in the process. The bullpen wasn’t better, as the Stripers relief corps gave up an additional nine runs over the course of the next seven innings.
At the plate, the Stripers were held to just two runs on four hits — of which both runs came in their final at-bats on the night. DaShawn Kiersey Jr. registered the lone RBI on the night, while Jair Camargo was the only Striper to finish the game with multiple hits as he went 2-3.
Despite getting a solid start from Herick Hernandez, Columbus lost game one of their doubleheader on Wednesday by a 6-3 final.
Across four innings, Hernandez turned in a scoreless outing despite issuing four walks and giving up a pair of hits. He also managed to strikeout four as well. With the scoreless performance, Hernandez lowered his season ERA to 1.15 across 31.1 innings pitched, in which he has struck out 39 batters as well.
It’s a decent sample size, but Hernandez needs to show that consistency over four or five more starts before there is a consideration to calling him up to triple-A at this point. Regardless, it’s a very encouraging sign from the lefty.
At the plate, the Clingstones plated three runs on five hits, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the offense from Pensacola. David McCabe launched a solo homer on the night, while Logan Braunschweig went 2-2 with a double and a run scored and a walk to his credit as well.
In what is one of the more unique box score you’ll see, Columbus won game two of their doubleheader by tallying just one hit on the night.
Drue Hackenburg got the stat in this one and put up a competitive performance as he limited Pensacola to just one run on three hits while issuing one walk and striking out four.
Limiting the damage to just the one run proved to be consequential as the Clingstones scored just enough at two runs to get the win — despite getting just one hit.
The lone knock came off the bat of David McCabe who homered — and also left the yard in game one — to give him two home runs on the day. Ironically, McCabe’s homer came in the bottom of the first inning, meaning Columbus was held hitless for the next six innings, but still managed to get the win.
(31-27) Rome Emperors 8, (42-16) Bowling Green Hot Rods 3
All in all, Rome dominated what is a very talented Bowling Green team on Wednesday afternoon.
Rome got on the board first in this one thanks to some nifty baserunning — and a bit of defensive misfortune from Bowling Green.
In the top of the first, John Gil doubled on a groundball into the left field corner to give Rome their first basrunner. Gil proceeded to steal third base — his 29th of the year — and, after the throw sailed wide of the Hot Rods third baseman, Gil trotted across the plate to give the Emperors an early 1-0 lead.
Isaiah Drake — more on him later — also doubled in the inning, but the Emperors failed to bring him home.
Rome wasted no time in adding on to their lead as they plated three more runs in the top of the second frame.
After Owen Carey reached via dropped third strike, Mac Guscette was hit by a pitch to put a runner in scoring position. Tate Southisene proceeded to double over the center fielders head for his first and second RBI at the high-A level while also extending the lead to 3-1.
Once again, Gil came through, this time with an RBI-single into left field again to plate Southisene and make it a 4-1 game.
Rome tacked on another run in the fifth inning as Dalton McIntyre launched his first high-A homer for a solo shot to extend the lead to 5-1. In the very next inning, Drake got in on the action by launching an absolute moonshot on a fastball over the right field wall for a solo homer — his ninth of the season thus far — to make it a 6-1 game. But this wouldn’t be Drake’s last impression on this game.
Bowling Green got two of those runs back in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Emperors’ lead in half to 6-3.
In the top of the ninth, following an Eric Hartman double, Drake pulled a 2-0 fastball for another homer — this time a two-run blast — to extend the Rome lead to 8-3. Drake’s homer was hit so hard, the right fielder for Bowling Green didn’t move a step.
Despite hitting a batter and issuing a walk to put a runner in scoring position, Isaac Gallegos managed to limit the damage there and seal off the Rome win.
While the offense garnered most of the attention in this one, starter Cedric De Grandpre deserves his flowers for his performance. Across five innings pitched, De Grandpre struck out eight batters while holding Bowling Green to just one run on six hits in the process.
(31-28) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (22-35) Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5
Despite putting up a respectable performance in this one, Augusta fell short by a 5-2 final.
Ethan Bagwell was simply excellent as he managed to strike out eight batters across 4.1 innings. While he did give up two runs, Bagwell was dominant enough to keep the GreenJackets in the game.
It’s a nice bounceback for Bagwell who gave up six runs in 4.2 innings in his last outing. Regardless, the righty still carries an ERA of 2.95 on the year in what has been a solid beginning to his season. There’s a good chance Bagwell gets the call-up to Rome in the near future.
The GreenJackets’ offense put up decent numbers in this one as well. Conor Essenburg led the charge with a double and two walks, while Dallas Macias tallied a solo homer as well in this one. Luis Guanipa went 1-4 with an RBI to his credit as well.
For Essenburg, Wednesday marked his third double of the month as he is slashing .292/.414/.417 for June. Essenburg has been seeing the ball extremely well and has shown a solid approach at the plate for his age. He is definitely one to watch over the final few months of the season.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Xavier Neyens #9 of the Houston Astros bats during the third inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (27-38) lost 2-1 (BOX SCORE)
Brown made a rehab start for Sugar Land and looked good striking out 7 batters over 5 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. Gordon went 4 scoreless innings in relief. The offense got on the board in the 8th inning on a Brooks RBI single but that was it for the comeback as Sugar Land fell 2-1.
Hunter Brown, RHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Colton Gordon, LHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (26-33) lost 7-5 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer started for the Hooks but struggled allowed 2 runs while retiring just 2 batters. Guedez and Swanson were the next two in and they allowed 2 and 3 runs, respectively, as the Hooks found themselves down 7-0. The offense got on the board in the 5th on a Brutcher groundout. In the 7th, Whitaker connected on a solo home run. The Hooks rallied for 3 more runs in the 8th on a Schiavone 2 run home run and Whitaker groundout but the comeback fell short as the Hooks lost 7-5.
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (16-42) lost 21-0 (BOX SCORE)
Santos started for Asheville and allowed 6 runs over 3.2 innings. The bullpen really struggled allowing 10 runs as the Spartanburgers extended their lead and a position player pitched in the 8th, allowing 4 more runs. The Asheville offense struggled on the day collecting just five hits as they were shutout on Wednesday.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (27-32) won 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
Potter got the start for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 run over 5 innings while striking out 3 batters. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on a Luciano RBI single, Flores RBI single and Gomez groundout. Verdugo relieved Potter and allowed 3 runs in the 6th as the RidgeYaks took the lead. The Woodpeckers rallied in the 7th scoring 3 runs on an error and a Neyens 2 run double. Verdugo allowed another run in the 9th but was able to hold on for the win.
The Mariners (36-33) and the Orioles (32-37) close out their four-game set tonight at Camden Yards with Baltimore looking to even the series at two games apiece following last night’s 7-2 win. The win snapped the Orioles four-game losing streak.
Baltimore broke a scoreless game open in the sixth on a Pete Alonso home run followed by run-scoring hits from Leody Taveras and Blaze Alexander, then blew it open in the seventh when Jackson Holliday launched a grand slam to make it 7–0. Orioles starter Brandon Young was dominant, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits while striking out five. Seattle scratched across two late runs in the eighth finishing with only four hits on the night.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features a pair of right-handers: Bryan Woo (5–4, 3.74 ERA) for Seattle versus Kyle Bradish (3–7, 3.89 ERA) for Baltimore. Woo has quietly delivered one of the steadier seasons in the Mariners’ rotation, pairing strikeout ability with a strong WHIP, while Bradish has pitched better than his record suggests although he does live a little on the edge as he does allow traffic on the bases.
From a lineup perspective, there are clear trends to watch. For Seattle, J.P. Crawford (13-for-37 over his last 10 games) highlights a lineup that’s been relatively steady over the past month. On the Baltimore side, Pete Alonso is heating up (3 HR, 7 RBI in his last 10 games). The O’s are hitting .254 as a team over its last 10 games.
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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Mariners vs. Orioles
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Time: 7:00PM EST
Site: Camden Yards
City: Baltimore, MD
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, ESPN
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 Latest Odds: Mariners vs. Orioles
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Jackson Holliday has hit safely in 3 of his last 4 games (3-13)
Julio Rodriguez is 1-12 in this series
Leody Tavares has hit safely in 3 straight games (4-11)
Josh Naylor is riding a 6-game hitting streak (9-25)
Gunnar Henderson is 2-11 in this series
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mariners vs. Orioles
The Orioles are 33-36 on the Run Line this season
The Mariners are 27-42 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 32 times in Seattle’s 67 games this season (32-34-3)
The OVER has cashed 39 times in the Orioles’ 69 games this season (39-27-3)
Expert picks & predictions: Mariners vs. Orioles
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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 tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Orioles:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Orioles on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 10: A.J. Ewing #9 of the New York Mets looks on during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on June 10, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets suffered another embarrassing loss to one of the teams they are chasing in the Wild Card standings. The pitching struggled all game, especially David Peterson, who gave up six runs out of the bullpen. The offense was again non-existent outside of Francisco Alvarez, who accounted for all their runs with one swing of the bat. They will now look to avoid a sweep in the series finale.
In other news, another blue and orange team managed to complete a thrilling comeback victory. Go New York, Go New York, Go.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 11: Lars Nootbaar #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates a home run with third base coach Ron 'Pop' Warner #75 during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It feels like Lars Nootbaar has been someone that could fit well on the Rays’ roster over the last few years. I think the timing could be right to acquire him this season if the Cardinals are willing to part ways with him. Nootbaar combines above-average on-base ability, defensive versatility, and multiple years of team control – traits the Rays consistently target. With Jonny DeLuca, Jake Fraley, and Jacob Melton all dealing with injuries, the fit between player and roster is stronger now than it has been at any point in recent years.
Nootbaar is a solid defender in a corner outfield spot and he is capable of playing center as well. His offensive profile is largely OBP driven (over .340 vs righties for his career) – making him a good fit to hit near the top of the lineup and potentially leadoff against right-handed pitchers. This could also give the Rays more flexibility with Chandler Simpson’s lineup placement. Whether Simpson remains in the leadoff spot or moves lower in the order, adding another high-OBP hitter would help lengthen the lineup against right-handed pitching.
Despite the fact that Nootbaar has been injured for a large part of the season, the cost to acquire him should be relatively high. The Cardinals are still in contention in a competitive NL Central race, and Nootbaar is under team control until 2028. So what could it cost the Rays to land Nootbaar?
I could see the Rays also needing to offer a player from the group of upper-minors prospects who are going to be Rule 5 eligible this winter. This group includes names like:
INF Cooper Kinney
1B/DH Xavier Isaac
C Tatem Levins
OF Brock Jones
OF Homer Bush Jr.
INF Brayden Taylor
1B Tre Morgan
This group contains prospects with varying levels of risk. Some project as role players or complementary pieces, while others still possess everyday upside but face enough uncertainty that the Rays may be willing to discuss them in the right deal. I think it would take a package of multiple players between the two groups listed above.
The NL playoff race will play a role in the type of package the Rays would need to offer. It would hurt a bit to lose a player from the first group and another from that second group, so that’s a good signal that it would be enough to land someone as valuable as Nootbaar.
A package built around one prospect from the first group and another from the second would sting, which is usually a sign that the deal is in the right neighborhood. Nootbaar is a controllable everyday player who fits the Rays’ current roster, and acquiring that type of talent generally requires giving up prospects with a legitimate chance to contribute in the majors.
The Dodgers took a big lump Wednesday in Pittsburgh, losing a close game that was an Ohtani start in which he surrendered his first inning of multiple runs. And as always, there are always more bumps in the road.
Will Smith will be hitting the injured list, after his lingering neck issue isn’t getting better fast enough to return to the field. The Dodgers primary backstop has been out of the lineup since he was pulled in Saturday’s game.
Daulton Rushing was already slated to pitch all three games in Pittsburgh, and the Dodgers cleared a roster spot on Wednesday by releasing utility player Tyler Fitzgerald.
The Dodgers have two options in Triple-A, Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson.
“We had Chuckie last year, and we had Eliezer all spring,” Roberts said. “So both those guys are confident. They’re kind of a little older, so they’ve been around, and we’re very familiar with both those guys, so it should be pretty seamless.”
The Dodgers chose Robinson, and he is expected to be in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Maddie Lee of the L.A. Times has more details on the logistics here.
Freddie Freeman collected his 2500th hit on Tuesday, and now has his sights set on 3000. But, he acknowledges that it might not be in the cards.
Three big things could stand in his way – his age, his want to spend more time with his family, especially now having a newborn at home, and that another certain player will be occupying the DH position for the Dodgers for quite awhile.
“Over the last year or two, 3,000 is a number that I would love to get to. But I have one more year under contract. There’s still a lot of other factors that go into it. I have four kids now. We have to see what’s going on there. But I would love to get to 3,000 hits. I would love to. I’m not going to deny that. But do I know if I’m going to get there? I don’t know. But we’ll start the trek tomorrow and we’ll see if we can get some more numbers and we’ll see if people still want me to play after 2027.”
Only 33 players currently have more than 3,00o hits. Bill Plunkett of the OC Register discusses other implications of chasing that number here.
Jack Harris of the California Post has some more quotes from the multi-time All-Star on where his head is at at this point in his career.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: A general view inside the stadium during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning baseball fans!
The San Francisco Giants are off today, with the Chicago Cubs coming to town tomorrow to begin a weekend series.
In the meantime, I thought we could have some fun with a creative writing prompt. Because sometimes, reality just doesn’t make a lot of sense and it’s more fun to make up silly reasons for things. You know, things like the Giants’ inconsistent offensive capabilities.
So today’s creative writing prompt (which you are all encouraged to participate in down in the comments) is to come up with an explanation for this, but wrong answers only.
I’ll go first. My theory is that Buster Posey attended a farmer’s market with his family during the offseason, and this is what happened.
While his wife and children peruse the produce, Posey’s eye catches on a stand advertising rare and unique treasures. A wisp of an elderly woman sits behind the tables laden with strange and somewhat unnerving items.
She catches his eye and beckons him over, where she begins to pull out a dusty velvet box from underneath the tables.
“I know what you’re looking for, young man,” she insists, nodding to herself, as she pushes the box towards Posey. “Take a look.”
He gives her an appraising look, then carefully opens the box to reveal an amulet. The amulet looks suspiciously like one of his World Series Championship rings, but wrong somehow.
“This grants the wearer the power to make one wish and have it come true,” she says quietly. “I can see in your eyes that you’re looking for something, something that has eluded you for years. Take it.”
Posey looks at the woman dubiously. But she insists, and he figures that it can’t hurt.
Hours later, his puts the amulet on in the privacy of his own home once his family has gone to bed. He thinks to himself, “I wish my team would score more runs this season.”
There’s a flash of light and a burst of heat where the amulet rests on his chest. He finds the experience unsettling in a way he cannot articulate, but shrugs it off and goes to bed and promptly forgets the entire thing.
Months later, as the Giants teeter between scoring 19 runs and being incapable of overcoming the smallest deficits, he has a jolt of panic as he remembers the encounter and his wish.
He digs out the amulet from his bedside table to take a closer look. Only then does he realize that while he first believed it to hold a resemblance to one of his own World Series rings, it was actually one of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rings.
He gasps, and races to his car, determined to return it to the woman who gave it to him. He scours the farmer’s market, looking for her. He finally spots her in the back and sprints in her direction but she sees him coming and begins cackling. As he approaches, she changes form before his very eyes, transforming into Dave Roberts.
Posey gasps and falls short, giving Roberts the chance to throw a smoke bomb and disappear into the crowd.
End scene.
Your turn! Give me your best, wrong answer to the cause of the Giants’ offensive inconsistencies this season down in the comments.
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