Rangers are unbeaten in their past 17 meetings with Dundee in all competitions (W14 D3) since a 2-1 league defeat in November 2017 under Graeme Murty.
Dundee have lost each of their past 19 away games at Rangers in all competitions, a run that began in 2001. Only against five sides have Rangers ever won 20+ consecutive home matches in their history, most recently an ongoing run of 21 against Dunfermline from 1999 to 2021.
Rangers drew 1-1 with Motherwell on matchday one but haven't failed to win both of their opening two matches of a Scottish Premiership campaign since 1989-90 under Graeme Souness (lost to St Mirren and Hibernian).
In their opening-day defeat to Hibs, Dundee managed just two shots, their fewest in a Scottish Premiership home game since October 2018 vs Celtic (2). The Dark Blues did, however, win three of their final five away league games last term (L2), as many as across their 17 matches prior.
Joe Rothwell has recorded three assists across his past eight league appearances, with each assist coming from a set-piece (2 for Leeds, 1 for Rangers) – the midfelder created the joint most chances (3) of any Rangers player against Motherwell, including his assist via a corner for James Tavernier.
Spencer Jones is the hottest name in the Yankees' farm system at the moment, and the outfielder showed what he can do at the plate, without the need of his prodigious power.
In Thursday's game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Jones went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jones' first hit came in the fourth inning after striking out in his first at-bat. Leading off, Jones smacked an 81 mph knuckleball in the dirt into center field. He would score on T.J. Rumfield's homer to put the RailRiders up 2-0.
Jones was called out on strikes in his third at-bat in the fifth inning but made up for it in the eighth. With the RailRiders still up just two runs, Jones came up with Jorbit Vivas on second and no out. Jones to a 2-0 hanging curveball and deposited it into right field to drive in the RailRiders' third run of the game. Some much-needed for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate. Jones would steal second base and eventually score on a J.C. Escarra sacrifice fly.
Jones has really picked it up since being promoted to Triple-A earlier this season. In 29 games, he's slashing .348/.426/.750 with an OPS of 1.176 to go along with his 13 home runs, 29 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Now, while he hasn't homered since returning from a sore back in late July, he's still 7-for-32 with a double, four RBI and eight stolen bases in that span.
Other notable hitters from this game include Vivas going 2-for-4 with a run scored and Escarra going 1-for-2 with a walk and his lone RBI.
But all of that was in support of Allan Winans. Winans, who has had only a handful of appearances with the Yankees this season, pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters. He now boasts an impressive 10-o record and a 1.16 ERA this season with Triple-A.
Down with the Somerset Patriots and George Lombard Jr. continues to excel. The Yankees' No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, showed off his power in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
Lombard's homer came in the first inning when he launched a R.J. Gordon pitch over the right field wall to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead. It would be Lombard's only hit of the night (1-4)
In 75 games in Double-A, Lombard is hitting only .208 with six home runs, 23 RBI and 16 stolen bases as the 20-year-old continues to make his way through the Yankees system.
Fresh off being named International League Pitcher of the Month for his incredible July, Mets top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat kept things going by starting his August with another terrific performance.
Facing the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate for the Chicago White Sox, Sproat began his outing by filling up the strike zone and pitching a quick 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. He went back out for the second inning and kept pumping strikes while getting around a two-out double.
Sproat needed just nine pitches (all strikes) to get through the third inning. In fact, in the first three innings he threw just five balls.
The right-hander's command got away from him a little bit as he walked his first batter of the game on four pitches leading off the fourth. He got to three-ball counts on his next two hitters, but retired them both on groundouts before ending the frame with another ball on the ground.
In the bottom half of the inning, Syracuse's offense erupted for six runs while batting around. The Mets began the inning with eight straight hitters reaching base, including seven consecutive hits against reliever Chase Plymell.
Having spent so much time in the dugout during the big inning, Sproat looked a little off in the fifth and was dinged for three runs after a walk, wild pitch, double and two-run homer.
The 24-year-old righted the ship the following inning and only needed 11 pitches in a clean sixth that ended his night.
Overall, Sproat went six innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four on 84 pitches (53 strikes).
After clearing 100 innings (he now sits at 101 IP), Sproat's season ERA rose a tick from 4.07 to 4.10, but it was still another impressive start for the Mets' No. 5 prospect, per SNY's Joe DeMayo, as he continues to try and earn a big league promotion this season from his club.
PITTSBURGH — Ke’Bryan Hayes said he thought he might be in Pittsburgh to stay before the Pirates traded him July 30 to NL Central rival Cincinnati.
He returned to Pittsburgh on Thursday for the first time since he was dealt, with the Pirates opening a four-game series against the Reds.
Hayes’ future with the Pirates looked secure after he signed a $70 million, eight-year contract in 2022.
“The reason I signed the contract here in Pittsburgh, I wanted to be here and maybe play here my whole career,” Hayes said. “But baseball’s a business at the end of the day.”
The Pirates played a video tribute to Hayes when he came to bat in the third inning. As the crowd cheered, with many fans standing, Hayes doffed his batting helmet.
The Gold Glove third baseman went from an organization that was well outside the playoffs race to a Reds team competing for a wild-card spot. Pittsburgh was 49-66 heading into Thursday’s game and last in the division; Cincinnati was 60-55 and three games out of a playoff spot.
“It’s been great over here,” Hayes said. “They’ve welcomed me with big arms. We’re in playoff contention.”
Hayes, the son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes and a first-round draft pick by the Pirates in 2015, struggled to find consistency at the plate following his splashy debut during the final month of the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020. He hit .376 with five homers in 24 games immediately after being called up, numbers that he didn’t come close to matching while playing a full 162-game schedule.
Hayes hit .236 with two home runs and 36 RBIs this season for the Pirates. Through six games with the Reds, he was batting .211 with a homer and three RBIs.
There’s been quite a bit of turnover at the top, to say the least.
With that said, here’s a look at the ballclub’s current top 10 prospects, courtesy of MLB Pipeline:
1. Franklin Arias, SS/2B
2025 stats: .346/.407/.397, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 12 SO (19 games at Single-A Salem); .269/.316/.394, 5 HR, 40 RBI, 18 BB, 26 SO (67 games at High-A Greenville)
MLB ETA: 2027
The 19-year-old infielder, who ranked No. 76 in Baseball America’s top 100 before the 2025 campaign, was elevated from Single-A Salem to High-A Greenville in late April. Arias recorded a .804 OPS in 78 at-bats against Single-A competition before the promotion.
2025 stats: .256/.355/.393, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 18 BB, 29 SO (33 games at Double-A Portland); .305/.375/.587, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 22 BB, 65 SO (54 games at Triple-A Worcester).
MLB ETA: 2026
Garcia, also known as “The Password,” has upped his character count since he arrived in Triple-A Worcester on May 20. The 22-year-old outfielder looks like the club’s next big bat, and represents a potential late-season call-up.
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) August 4, 2025
3. Payton Tolle, LHP
2025 stats: 1-3, 3.62 ERA, 1.168 WHIP, 14 BB, 79 SO (11 games, 10 starts at High-A Greenville); 1-1, 2.67 ERA, 0.741 WHIP, 7 BB, 37 SO (6 games, 5 starts at Double-A Portland)
MLB ETA: 2026
Tolle’s rapid ascension continued with his promotion to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. The 22-year-old left-hander is widely considered the top pitching prospect in the organization, and arguably the top prospect in the entire farm system. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been impressed by his rise.
2025 stats: 0-2, 4.85 ERA, 0.414 WHIP, 2 BB, 17 SO (3 games at Single-A Salem); 4.85 ERA, 1.346 WHIP, 22 BB, 40 SO (10 games at High-A Greenville)
MLB ETA: 2028
The hard-throwing left-hander is creating early excitement after he was viewed as one of the top JUCO prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft. Clarke was not listed among the team’s top-10 rankings in late June. MLB Pipeline had him ranked 30th in late April.
5. Connelly Early, LHP
2025 stats: 7-2, 2.51 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 29 BB, 96 SO (15 games, 12 starts at Double-A Portland); 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 5 BB, 2 SO (1 game at Triple-A Worcester)
MLB ETA: 2026
Promoted to Triple-A Worcester in early August, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow name-dropped Early as a potential late-season elevation. Early, the team’s No. 10 prospect in late June, carved up Portland during a three-month period before he made the jump to Worcester.
2025 stats: 0.00/0.00/0.00, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 2 SO (1 game with FCL Red Sox); .285/.375/.402, 3 HR, 24 RBI, 30 BB, 43 SO (65 games with Single-A Salem);
MLB ETA: 2029
The 18-year-old, who recently earned the organization’s Latin Program Player of the Year award, possesses raw power as a product of 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame. He’s making his first appearance in the top 10 after a strong stretch in Single-A Salem.
7. Mikey Romero, SS/2B
2025 stats: .254/.315/.440, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 23 BB, 74 SO (66 games at Double-A Portland); .200/.200/.500, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 5 SO (5 games at Triple-A Worcester)
MLB ETA: 2026
A first-round pick in 2022, Romero is looking healthy again. He was granted a well-earned call-up in early August and proceeded to hit a pair of home runs and record six RBIs in a single game for Triple-A Worcester.
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) August 4, 2025
8. Luis Perales, RHP
2025 stats: N/A
MLB ETA: 2027
The 22-year-old has dropped down the rankings a bit with the emergence of other healthy hurlers. Perales, who had Tommy John surgery in June, will miss the entire 2025 campaign.
9. Yoeilin Cespedes, SS/2B
2025 stats: .228/.363/..642, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 25 BB, 77 SO (84 games at Single-A Salem)
MLB ETA: 2028
The 19-year-old Cespedes is one of the few prospects on this list who has spent the season in one place. His numbers are down across the board since starting the season in Single-A Salem.
— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) July 21, 2025
10. Dorian Soto, SS
2025 stats: .319/.366/.457, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 12 BB, 22 SO (38 games DSL Red Sox Red)
MLB ETA: 2030
The 17-year-old is a switch-hitting infielder who’s played second base, shortstop and third base during his campaign in the Dominican Summer League. He’s tearing it up at the plate since arriving in early June, too.
PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit home runs as far and as fast as any slugger of his era. He’s still the only player to sock one completely into the third deck in 22 years of Citizens Bank Park — and he did it twice.
So how about it, Ryan.
Who would win in a home run derby in their primes between two of the best Phillies to ever launch ’em over the fence? Howard — the only Phillie to top 50 homers in a season, when he totaled 58 in 2006 — or current sensation Kyle Schwarber? Schwarber leads the National League with 40 homers, and No. 40 came in style, a grand slam as he dug in to roaring “MVP! MVP!” chants.
“It’d be a tight one,” Howard said. “Young Howie put some balls in the seats. Schwarbs is nothing to sneeze at.”
Schwarber’s 40 homers this season put him well ahead of the pace to best his career-high of 47 set in 2023, one better than the 46 he hit in 2022 in the first season of a four-year, $79 million free-agent contract.
Howard’s team mark of 58 remains in play if Schwarber keeps scorching balls like he has since he won All-Star Game MVP honors after he hit three homers in the game’s first-ever swing-off. Schwarber has 10 homers — dubbed Schwarbombs that have made him arguably the most popular franchise star — since the break for the Phillies, who lead the NL East as they get set to open a 10-game road trip in Texas.
Howard hit 198 homers from 2006 to 2009 and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series before his career was cut short by injury. It’s the ring he treasures most these days. But he looks back now in admiration of his record 2006 season, a feat he didn’t necessarily enjoy as much in real time, just as he expected Schwarber to do of this season well after retirement.
“I think he’ll look back and one day say, ‘I hit 50 home runs, and have no clue how I did,’” Howard said.
Howard might be on to something. Schwarber indeed says he has no clue why his home run total has been going, going, gone through the roof at this point of the season.
“You go into every year in the offseason and you try and find ways to keep getting better,” he said. “It’s not like I went into the offseason saying I want to try and hit more home runs or anything like that. I think it’s just trying to be consistent with what you’re doing. The more consistency you can find in your swing and in your work, I think that will lead to results on the field.”
His results are a key reason why the Phillies are on track to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
He hit 40 homers in the Phillies’ first 112 games — one more than Howard over the first 112 games of 2006. His .965 OPS is third in baseball and he leads baseball with 94 RBIs. Schwarber has played every game this season, almost exclusively as the designated hitter.
Perhaps no moment so far this season has been as automatic an entry into the season highlight video as his game against Baltimore. Schwarber already had connected on a two-run home run deep in the second deck. The crowd of 41,099 fans were in a Schwarbomb frenzy when he came to the plate in the sixth. He heard the MVP chants as he sent one into the right-center seats off Yaramil Hiraldo for his ninth career grand slam and second of the season.
“Those are the moments that you take in as a player,” Schwarber said. “Those are special things that happen and that kind of just go in the back of the memory. Hold on to those things for a while. It was obviously a really cool thing and I appreciate it.”
Schwarber’s production raises two pivotal questions down the stretch; Can a designated hitter in the National League not named Shohei Ohtani win MVP and just how much of the bank will Schwarber break when the impending free agent signs his new deal?
Schwarber and the Phillies failed to reach a deal ahead of the season and contract talks were tabled until after the season. Phillies managing partner John Middleton has remained steadfast in his commitment to wanting Schwarber back.
“We need no motivation whatsoever when it comes to Kyle Schwarber,” Middleton said in July. “He’s great. We thought he was great when we signed him years ago. We thought he was great consistently through the years. There’s nothing Kyle does that surprises us.”
Schwarber could command a new deal that would place him among the highest-paid players in the game. Fair enough, perhaps, for what’s he accomplished over his four seasons in Philadelphia. But can a player who turns 33 ahead of next season really be counted on to club 40-plus homers a season deep into his 30s without adding any defensive value?
Maybe if that player wins an MVP (oh, and a World Series).
Ohtani last season became the first primary designated hitter and first player who didn’t appear defensively for a single inning to win an MVP. The Los Angeles Dodgers star remained the favorite in 2025 to win another one, with Schwarber a distant second, per BetMGM Sportsbook.
But hitting 50 homers — do we hear 60? — is still very much in play for Schwarber even if he’s not sure how he’s doing it.
“Sometimes it’s just one of those things where you’re just in it,” Howard said, “and it just happens.”
LOS ANGELES — Max Scherzer vs. Clayton Kershaw sounds like an enticing postseason matchup in October. Fans won’t have to wait that long. The likely Hall of Famers square off in a rare contest between the most recent members of baseball’s 3,000-strikeout club.
“You probably aren’t going to see that very often these days,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I have a lot of respect for Max. It’ll be good to see him and hopefully we can have our way with him.”
Scherzer is, alongside his left-handed opponent, perhaps one of this generation’s greatest pitchers. He and Kershaw have each won World Series titles and are three-time Cy Young Award winners. Scherzer, 41, is an eight-time All-Star, while the 37-year-old Kershaw has 11 All-Star appearances, including this year as a Legend Pick by Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Scherzer became the 19th member of the 3,000-strikeout club while pitching for the Dodgers in September 2021. Kershaw joined him as the 20th member. The duo, along with Justin Verlander, are the only active pitchers to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark.
“I loved playing with him. I love competing against him. I have all the respect in the world for him,” Scherzer said from Colorado, where the Toronto Blue Jays earned a sweep. “We’ve been pitching for so long, you don’t know how many more chances you are going to get at this, to face somebody of his ilk. This is what you dream of, facing the best. It should be a lot of fun.”
But such a high-stakes duel doesn’t always live up to the anticipation.
In September 2023, Scherzer and Verlander squared off for the first time in a matchup of 200-game winners. Scherzer, then with Texas, didn’t make it to the fourth inning. Verlander, also a three-time Cy Young Award winner who was then with Houston, scattered six hits over seven innings.
Rookie left-hander Jack Dreyer has a locker just a few feet from Kershaw’s in the Dodgers clubhouse. He also played against Scherzer last season in a rehab outing.
“The way they go about their business is what separates them. To an extent there’s the talent, but they also just work harder than everybody else, especially Kersh,” Dreyer said. “It’s not always easy to listen to guys if they’re talking to you about how to get better but you don’t see them doing it. With him, it’s just so easy because I see him working his butt off every single day. He’s the easiest guy in the world to learn from.”
Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly will be watching Scherzer and Kershaw, who he managed in LA from 2011-15.
“They work. They are detailed in what they want to do,” Mattingly said in Colorado.
Mattingly credits then-Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt for helping Kershaw develop a slider to add to the primary fastball-changeup mix that he used early in his 18-year career.
“Just that two-pitch combo is tough. Umps miss that curveball because it is big. So they’d ‘ball’ it on him,” Mattingly said. “Then he came with the slider, which really changed him, being able to get down under the right-hander. Speed them up a little bit, and then that curveball was kind of a putaway when he had that going.”
The series opener at Dodger Stadium is a matchup of division leaders. The Blue Jays lead the AL East by four games over Boston. The Dodgers’ NL West lead over San Diego has shriveled to two.
And that’s ultimately what matters to Scherzer.
“If you start putting the importance on this matchup with them and put your attention toward this, you are going to overlook some other things,” he said. “They won the World Series last year. They’re the champs. You want a shot at the champs. You want to beat them. That’s what this game is about.”
The trade deadline has passed, but the Mets still need help. I’m here with some suggestions that may fit the bill.
But first, let’s spell out how badly Carlos Mendoza’s team is playing, to the point where he called out his hitters after Wednesday’s near no-hitter by Gavin Williams for not making the necessary in-game adjustments to the way they were being pitched.
Here are some key stats:
Since June 13, the Mets are 18-28, even with a seven-game winning streak during that time, so at this point it feels like more than simply a bad stretch.
For the season, their .231 team batting average with runners in scoring position ranks 27th in MLB, and if you’ve watched closely, that number probably even feels too high.
Since the All-Star break, their team OPS is .639, dead last in MLB, and their .213 batting average ranks 29th.
Their .225 batting average against left-handed pitching ranks 25th in MLB.
And lest we think it’s all about the offense, since June 14, their starting pitchers are averaging 4.7 innings per start, which is why they’ve almost certainly spent more money than any team in baseball shuttling relievers back and forth from Triple-A to replenish the bullpen on a daily basis.
Yep, it’s bad, and in truth, the only way out of this extended run of bad baseball is if their stars start playing like stars, above all Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso on the hitting side, and Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga on the pitching side.
But it doesn’t mean a few changes wouldn’t help.
With that in mind, I offer these ideas...
Jun 13, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) reacts after hitting a ninth inning walkoff two run home run against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports
1. Hire J.D. Martinez as a sounding board/troubleshooter of sorts for the Mets’ hitters
The Mets can use this as a way to address the problems of making the in-game adjustments that Mendoza brought up Wednesday.
Why not take a shot with the retired Martinez as some form of supplemental hitting coach? The guy was known throughout baseball as a hitting savant during his career, after all, and he seemed to have a positive effect on the Mets’ clubhouse last season, even if age seemed to catch up with him as a DH late in the year.
Ideally, the current hitting coaches, Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, would welcome the knowledge Martinez would bring. If not, well, they don’t have much room for complaint after Mendonza, unwittingly or not, essentially raised questions about whether they’re doing what’s necessary to help players make the in-game adjustments the manager deemed as lacking.
Maybe Steve Cohen could be convinced to make it worthwhile for Martinez to put his burgeoning pickleball career (he signed a deal in July to play professionally) on hold for a couple of months in pursuit of a World Series ring.
2. Bring back Luisangel Acuña from the minors
Brett Baty’s not hitting (again) and for a team struggling to score runs, Acuña offers more ways to help win low-scoring games, coming off the bench as a base-stealer and quality defender.
Hey, it’s not like there are other obvious solutions for this offense. At this point, it’s nothing short of mystifying as to why Lindor, Alonso, Soto and others have been so streaky and worse, shrinking at big moments this season.
This is largely the same offense that thrived in clutch situations when it counted most last September and October. The addition of the great Soto was supposed to be the final piece, yet he hasn’t hit in the clutch, and lately he’s slumping the way he did early in the season, even chasing pitches out of the strike zone, negating his biggest strength.
And so, with no assurance these Mets will break out in a big way, recalling Acuña could be a way of trying to win on the margins.
As one small example, had Acuña been pinch-running in the ninth inning on Monday night, and not Tyrone Taylor, there’s a good chance the Mets would have won the game. Taylor is fast, but not as fast as Acuña, and that likely would have been enough for third base coach Mike Sarbaugh to send him home on Lindor’s double, rather than hold Taylor as he did.
Baty offers more offensive potential than Acuña, but he’s slumping lately, continuing his pattern of running hot and cold with the bat, so why not take advantage of Acuña’s baserunning and superior defense to help win close games?
3. Get Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean up here pronto and put Frankie Montas in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever
Then, maybe sooner than later, make room for the second of the kid pitchers, either as a starter or a bulk reliever, depending on whether Clay Holmes can build on his good start on Tuesday, albeit only five innings.
As for the pitching, there were opportunities for McLean and/or Sproat to make spot starts in recent weeks, but now it’s different. It’s August, both have pitched well in Triple-A, with Sproat on Wednesday being named International League Pitcher of the Month for July, and Montas has a 6.68 ERA in seven starts.
Either one is likely a better option and even if they wouldn’t necessarily solve the problem of length for Mets’ starters, as their innings likely would be limited, either or both could present an opportunity for Montas and even Holmes to slide into roles as bulk relievers. And that is very much needed since the Mets now have a bullpen full of high-leverage relievers, which these days means primarily one-inning relievers.
David Stearns himself indicated the looming presence of Sproat and McLean was the reason he wasn’t willing to pay the high prices being asked for starting pitchers at the trade deadline, so the Mets must feel they’re about ready.
If their success in Triple-A translates to the big league level, it would eventually give the Mets the flexibility to create those quality bulk relievers they need. If a spot in the pen needs to be opened, the Mets could certainly live without Ryne Stanek and his inconsistency.
All in all, why not? It’s time to try something different.
Judge has played two games since returning from the IL and hasn't looked like himself at the plate. In those games, Judge went 1-for-6 with three strikeouts. His season batting average has dropped to .339 and the Yankees' offense has suffered for it. But there's nothing like a little home cooking to get you back on track.
Judge is slashing .333/.445/712 with a 1.157 OPS in 50 games this season to go along with 17 home runs and 40 RBI. While the Astros will have tough pitchers on the mound this weekend, the homestand could be the turnaround Judge needs.
There's also how Judge handles his throwing program. Will we see Judge in right field in this series? There's a distinct possibility it happens, which would also open up Giancarlo Stanton -- who was the Yankees' hottest hitter before Judge returned -- to return to the lineup.
Astros starters could be a problem
The Astros are having a great season even though many predicted they'd take a step back, and a big part of that is the starting rotation. That rotation could give the Yankees fits this weekend.
Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.47 ERA) will take the mound in the series opener and Framber Valdez (11-5, 2.83 ERA) follows on Saturday. While the Astros haven't announced a starter for Sunday's series finale, those two arms are enough to win a series.
Interestingly enough, Judge is 2-for-3 with a home run against Brown but is just 2-for-10 against Valdez. The Yankees who have the best track record against Valdez are Stanton (5-14, HR, 2B) and Jose Caballero (4-10, HR). Ryan McMahon (2-4) is the only other Yankee who has more than one hit against the Astros' southpaw.
Aug 3, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil (81) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Can Luis Gil bounce back?
Gil had a tough season debut last weekend. He allowed five runs across 3.1 innings against the Marlins, but it was good to see the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year get back on the mound. His home/road splits from a year ago were very similar, so it's not necessarily an advantage to pitch at Yankee Stadium but like Judge, it could benefit the young rookie as he prepares for his biggest test since last October.
Gil does have a start against the Astros in his career. In one start, he allowed just one run across six innings. He's starting Saturday's game opposite Valdez, and it'll be one to watch, if for nothing else, to see if Gil can be a viable starter for this team down the stretch.
Who will be closing?
Devin Williams should not see a save opportunity anytime soon.
David Bednar's five-out save in Wednesday's series finale against the Rangers likely won him the job, but Aaron Boone could try and be cute in this series. He does have options, as Luke Weaver and Camilo Doval both have experience closing games, so how Boone deploys his relievers is something to watch; it'll give a good indication of how it will be in the final months.
But if Bednar is successful, it'll be his job to lose.
Win and stay in
The Yankees avoided the unthinkable, falling out of the playoff picture, with Wednesday's win.
If they were swept by the Rangers, the Yankees would have been 0.5 games behind Texas for the final wild card spot. Now that that was avoided, it's time for the Yankees to stack wins and prepare for October. While the Astros are a tough opponent, it's a good test to see if they can take the series against a playoff team.
If the Yankees can take care of business, they can root for some teams to give them some help in the standings. The Guardians and Rangers, two teams that trail the Yankees, take on the White Sox and Phillies, respectively. The two teams the Yankees are chasing, the Mariners and the Red Sox, take on the Rays and the Padres, respectively.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Anthony Volpe
Volpe has been sneaky good since the All-Star break. Over his last 15 games, Volpe is hitting .264 with five home runs and eight RBI.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Luis Gil
Gil needed his first start to get into the flow of the major leagues. Second time's the charm for the young righty.
Which Astros player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?
Jose Altuve
There's a reason he gets the Bronx cheers. In his career, Altuve is hitting .269 with 13 home runs against the Yankees.
Montas allowed seven runs on seven hits during his last start, leading manager Carlos Mendoza to be non-committal after that game about the right-hander's immediate future.
But Montas will pitch on Saturday against the Brewers in a role that's to-be-determined, with Mendoza explaining that it's possible New York will use an opener in front of him.
If Montas keeps struggling, though, something is going to have to give soon.
Montas has a 6.68 ERA (5.07 FIP) and 1.54 WHIP in 33.2 innings pitched over seven starts, has allowed a whopping 11.2 hits per nine, and is averaging nearly two home runs allowed per nine.
Mullins has mostly struggled against left-handers during his career, but has excelled against them this season -- slashing .291/.382/.465 in 103 plate appearances.
Despite that, it was Tyrone Taylor who was in the lineup on Tuesday night against Guardians left-hander Logan Allen.
"Cedric will play against lefties, too," Mendoza said before Tuesday's game. "I just thought today was, looking what's ahead and where we're at, I thought it was a good day for TT. But Cedric, he's not going to be in a strict platoon here where if we're facing a lefty he's not going to play; he will play."
Taylor has struggled badly at the plate this season, with a .546 OPS and 57 OPS+.
Senga was strong in his first start after coming back from a hamstring injury, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings against the Royals on July 11.
Since then, things have not gone well.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park / Bob Kupbens - Imagn Images
Over his last three starts, Senga has allowed 11 runs on 13 hits in 12.0 innings while walking 11 and serving up four home runs. His ERA over that span is 8.25.
In addition to the control problems and run-prevention issues is the fact that Senga has been averaging 4.0 innings per start since returning -- something that is a serious problem when you factor in that every other Mets starter except David Peterson has also been failing to provide length.
Senga gets the ball on Friday night for the series-opener.
The Brewers are banged up, but on fire
The Brewers are without one of their best hitters (Jackson Chourio), their designated hitter (Rhys Hoskins), and their young ace (Jacob Misiorowski), but they're continuing to roll over every team in their way.
Entering play on Wednesday, the Brewers were riding a five-game winning streak, had an 8-2 record of their last 10 games, and has the best record in baseball at 69-44.
Milwaukee's run differential of +126 is the best in baseball, and their 565 runs scored rank fourth.
Over their last 24 games, the Brewers are a ridiculous 20-4.
Brandon Woodruff has been dominant
Since returning from shoulder surgery, Woodruff has been lights out.
In 28.1 innings over five starts, he has a 2.22 ERA and 0.63 WHIP.
Woodruff is striking out a career-best 11.8 batters per nine and walking a career-low 1.3 batters per nine.
If there's one knock on him, it's that he's been susceptible to the home run ball, allowing five dingers.
Woodruff gets the start on Friday.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Francisco Alvarez
Alvarez has been a different hitter since returning from Triple-A Syracuse.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Sean Manaea
Manaea hit a wall in the sixth inning of his most recent start, but has been largely dominant in his five appearances this season.
Which Brewers player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Sal Frelick
Frelick is having the best offensive season of his young career, entering play Wednesday with an OPS+ of 116.
Its Thursday, August 7 and the Marlins (56-57) are in Atlanta to begin a series against the Braves (47-66).
Eury Pérez is slated to take the mound for Miami against Carlos Carrasco for Atlanta.
The Braves' struggles continue. The Brewers swept a three-game set in Atlanta earlier this week. Last night, Jose Quintana and Milwaukee completed the sweep with a 5-4 win. Miami scratched out a 6-4 win yesterday in their series finale against Houston to avoid being swept. Xavier Edwards picked up four hits to lead the Marlins to victory and keep them on the fringe of the Wild Card chase.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the 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 Braves
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, FDSNSO, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Marlins at the Braves
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Marlins (-119), Braves (-101)
Spread: Marlins -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Braves
Pitching matchup for August 7, 2025: Eury Pérez vs. Carlos Carrasco
Marlins: Eury Pérez (4-3, 2.70 ERA) Last outing: August 2 vs. Yankees - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Braves: Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.91 ERA) Last outing: July 31 at Cincinnati - 4.50 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Braves
The Braves have lost 6 of their last 8 games
5 of the Marlins' last 6 games (83%) have gone over the Total
The Marlins have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.37 units
Ozzie Albies was 7-14 (.500) over the final 3 games in July but is just 3-19 (.158) through 5 games in August
Kyle Stowers is 6-25 (.240) with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs through the month's first 6 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Braves
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Marlins and the Braves:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Miami Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
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Its Thursday, August 7 and Paul Skenes is on the mound tonight as the Pirates (49-66) welcome Elly De La Cruz and the Reds (60-55) to the Steel City for the first of a four-game series.
After closing out July with wins in eight of their last nine games, the Bucs have cooled off in August losing for of their first six. Yesterday, they closed out their series with San Francisco with a 4-2 loss. Pittsburgh's bullpen failed them once again as the Giants rallied for one in the eighth and two in the ninth.
The Reds come to town fresh off a series win at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. They did, however, lose the finale yesterday, 6-1. TJ Friedl collected two of the Reds' four hits in the game. Cincinnati as a team struck out 12 times in 32 trips to the plate in the game.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Reds at Pirates
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, SNP, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Reds at the Pirates
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Reds (+150), Pirates (-181)
Spread: Pirates -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Pirates
Pitching matchup for August 7, 2025: Brady Singer vs. Paul Skenes
Reds: Brady Singer (9-8, 4.36 ERA) Last outing: August 1 vs. Atlanta - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
Pirates: Paul Skenes (6-8, 2.02 ERA) Last outing: August 2 at Colorado - 7.20 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Pirates
The Reds have won 28 of 54 games following a loss
The Under is 4-1 in the Reds' last 5 games against NL Central teams
Paul Skenes has struck out 8 and 9 hitters in his last 2 starts covering 11 innings
Bryan Reynolds is 2-13 over his last 4 games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Pirates
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Reds and the Pirates:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
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Its Thursday, August 7 and the Athletics (50-66) are in Washington to wrap up their three-game series against the Nationals (45-68).
Jacob Lopez is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Mitchell Parker for Washington.
One night after giving up 24 hits and 16 runs in a 16-7 loss, the Nationals rebounded limiting the Athletics to four hits and just a single run in winning by the score of 2-1 to even the series at one game apiece. Cade Cavalli and four relievers combined on the gem for Washington. The Nats' offense managed just four hits as well but they plated two including Riley Adams' seventh home run of the season.
Lets dive into this afternoon'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 the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Athletics at Nationals
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 12:05PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, MASN, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Athletics at the Nationals
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: Athletics (-129), Nationals (+109)
Spread: Athletics -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Nationals
Pitching matchup for August 7, 2025: Jacob Lopez vs. Mitchell Parker
Athletics: Jacob Lopez (4-6, 3.99 ERA) Last outing: August 1 vs. Arizona - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Nationals: Mitchell Parker (7-11, 5.35 ERA) Last outing: August 1 vs. Milwaukee - 18.00 ERA, 8 Earned Runs Allowed, 12 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Nationals
The Athletics have won 5 of their last 6 road games, while the Nationals have lost 6 of 9 at home
The Athletics have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road games against the Nationals
Mitchell Parker has not struck out more than 4 opposing hitters since the end of June
Nick Kurtz has hit in 4 straight games (7-15)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Athletics and the Nationals
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Athletics and the Nationals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Oakland Athletics on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Its Thursday, August 7 and the White Sox (42-72) are in Seattle looking to salvage at least the finale of their three-game series against the Mariners (62-53).
Shane Smith is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Logan Gilbert for Seattle.
Wednesday night saw the Mariners take out the Sox, 8-6. Josh Naylor and Julio Rodriguez each went yard early as Seattle raced out to a 7-1 lead after just two innings against Jonathan Cannon and the Sox. Chicago rallied but the Mariners held them off for the win that pulled them to within two games of Houston in the American League West.
Lets dive into this afternoon'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 the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch White Sox at Mariners
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 4:10PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: CHSN, RSNW, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the White Sox at the Mariners
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: White Sox (+226), Mariners (-281)
Spread: Mariners -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Mariners
Pitching matchup for August 7, 2025: Shane Smith vs. Logan Gilbert
White Sox: Shane Smith (3-7, 4.25 ERA) Last outing: August 1 at Angels - 4.15 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
Mariners: Logan Gilbert (3-4, 3.45 ERA) Last outing: August 1 vs. Texas - 4.50 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of White Sox at Mariners
The Mariners have won 5 of their last 6 games at home against American League teams
The Mariners' last 4 games against American League teams have gone over the Total
Logan Gilbert has struck out at least 7 batters in all but 3 starts this season
Julio Rodriguez is 5-12 with 2 HRs over his last three games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the White Sox and the Mariners
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the White Sox and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
