Game #71: Rockies at Athletics Game Thread

Jun 8, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) throws the ball during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

This afternoon, the Athletics seek to wrap up their week in Las Vegas by completing a sweep of the Colorado Rockies. The past two nights, the A’s emerged victorious in back-and-forth contests, overcoming blown leads to retake the advantage and fend off the Rockies over the final few innings.

A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who was originally scheduled to start yesterday’s contest, will instead get the ball for the last game of the series. The 33-year-old will be the lone A’s starter making his second start of the week, and he will face the added challenge of pitching in what is expected to be triple-digit heat.

Springs enters his 15th start of the season with a 3-6 record, a 4.68 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 75 innings pitched. He started the first game of the Las Vegas series, which the Milwaukee Brewers ultimately won 15-14 in 12 innings. In that game, Springs received a no-decision after allowing five runs on eight hits across five innings.

Today marks two months since the A’s southpaw last earned a win, a streak he hopes to snap in this series finale. A big reason why Springs has not pitched well lately is because he has struggled limiting home runs. The ball is likely to carry in the extreme heat, creating an additional challenge for A’s and Rockies pitchers. Springs will need to be efficient and precise to avoid another short, less-than-ideal outing. Even if he pitches well, the A’s may be reluctant to let him work deep into the game given the oppressive temperatures and the associated health concerns.

Keeping that in mind, the A’s made a roster-move this morning to add a fresh arm to their bullpen. Joey Estes was serviceable as the starter yesterday, but failed to complete five innings. He was optioned back to Triple-A, with left-handed reliever Brady Basso recalled as the corresponding roster move.

Now onto the starting lineup. Here’s how manager Mark Kotsay decided to order things up as his team seeks its fifth straight win:

This lineup is certainly an interesting one. Center fielder Lawrence Butler is batting leadoff, a notable departure from the inconsistent hitter’s usual spot in the lower half of the order. Meanwhile, Nick Kurtz will serve as the designated hitter, getting a break from defensive duties. Veteran infielder Jeff McNeil will man first base instead. Butler and McNeil are not the only Athletics making their first starts of this series. Carlos Cortes will also make his first start, playing right field and batting fourth.

Today’s A’s lineup is without starting catcher Shea Langeliers and shortstop Jacob Wilson. Langeliers gets the day off following two straight days behind the plate, while Wilson is not starting because he needs a rest day after recently returning from a stint on the injured list with a shoulder injury.

Ninth-place hitter Alika Williams, starting at shortstop, has been an unexpected contributor. He accumulated three hits and a walk last night in his best offensive game as a major leaguer. The A’s will need the likes of McNeil, Williams and Butler to get on base and create RBI opportunities for Kurtz, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and hot-hitting second baseman Zack Gelof.

Those bats will be facing Rockies’ right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano. The 36-year-old Japanese native is 6-4 with a 4.08 ERA and 39 strikeouts over his first 13 starts, spanning 68 1/3 innings with the Rockies.

He has won his past two starts, most recently limiting the Chicago Cubs to three runs on six hits over five innings pitched. Sugano has allowed 12 home runs, while Springs has given up 16, setting up a series finale that could feature plenty of power at the plate.

And the Rockies’ lineup for game three looks like this:

Springs has only faced one of Colorado’s starting nine before, so that could give the A’s starter the initial advantage in this matchup. Rockies’ shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who sat out the previous two games, returns to his team’s lineup this afternoon. The visitors’ lineup is not as intimidating as some others the Athletics have faced this season, yet the Rockies have shown an ability to score in bunches through the first two games of this interleague series.

Should the A’s finish off the league-worst Rockies, they would conclude their Las Vegas residency with a 5-1 record, and more importantly, return to West Sacramento one game over .500. Let’s go A’s!

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

Colorado Rockies vs. Athletics game discussion: Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) vs Jeffrey Springs

Jun 9, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

After two night games where the ball flew far in the Nevada heat, the Colorado Rockies and the Athletics will play their third and final game of the series in the afternoon under the searing desert sun. Temperatures are expected to be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at first pitch at Las Vegas Ballpark roughly 20 minutes northwest of the famous Strip.

The heat may prove an issue for Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) and his penchant for giving up solo home runs, but overall the veteran Japanese righty has remained one of the most consistent members of the Colorado rotation. Sugano carries a 4.08 ERA into today’s contest and he has failed to make through five innings just twice across his 13 starts this season.

His last time out, Sugano pitched five innings against the Chicago Cubs and gave up three earned runs on six hits—including a home run—with two walks and three strikeouts.

On the bump for the Athletics is left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs, now in his second season with the team. Springs has a 4.68 ERA through his 14 starts this season with 63 strikeouts over 75 innings. He’s coming off of a start against the Milwaukee Brewers in Las Vegas where he gave up five earned runs on eight hits—two of which were home runs—with two walks and three strikeouts.

This will be Springs’ first appearance against the Rockies in his nine-year MLB career. His primary pitch is a four-seam fastball that averages just 91.4 MPH and he backs it up with a slider and a changeup. The changeup is his best pitch for generating whiffs, while the slider is currently his best put-away pitch. Springs also throws a sweeper and a cutter.

First Pitch: 1:05 pm MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

AthleticsSB Nation Site:Athletics Nation

Lineups:


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Dodgers vs. White Sox game chat

May 19, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The Dodgers (45-26) go for the series win against the White Sox (37-32) Sunday morning in Chicago.

Emmet Sheehan (3-3, 4.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) starts for the Dodgers.

Erick Fedde (1-5, 4.69 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) takes the mound for the White Sox. 

Lineups


Sunday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. White Sox
  • Ballpark: Rate Field, Chicago
  • Time: 11:10 a.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Rangers vs Red Sox Prop Picks for Sunday Night Baseball

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The Boston Red Sox go for the sweep as they host the Texas Rangers for Sunday Night Baseball at 7:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. 

My Rangers vs. Red Sox prop picks for Sunday, June 14, focus on Connelly Early, Willson Contreras, and Wyatt Langford.

Read on for our full Rangers vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for this prime-time matchup.

Rangers vs Red Sox props for June 14

PickOdds
Red Sox Connelly Early Over 5.5 strikeouts-115
Red Sox Willson Contreras to record an RBI+140
Rangers Wyatt Langford Over 1.5 total bases-105

Rangers vs Red Sox player prop picks

Connelly Early Over 5.5 strikeouts (-115)

Connelly Early is dealing. The 24-year-old has exceeded his strikeout prop in six consecutive contests, averaging 6.3 punchouts. 

I’m betting on his streak continuing against a Texas Rangers lineup with the third-highest K rate (26.2%) against left-handed pitching

Early has good stuff (102 Stuff+) and has been locating well (101 Location+ in the last month). His six-pitch mix is difficult for opposing hitters to get a read on, and he’s been utilizing it excellently.

Willson Contreras to record an RBI (+140)

Nathan Eovaldi appears to be diminishing before our eyes. He’s been hit around lately (13 ER in his last three starts), and the underlying stats are even more concerning. 

He’s matching his season lows in Stuff+ (89) in two consecutive starts. For a pitcher who has been above 100 in that statistic all six years it's been tracked, that’s a steep decline. 

You may think that’s fine since the veteran relies more on his control anyway. Think again — his 98 Location+ in his last two starts is six ticks below his career 104 average, and he’s walked multiple batters in four of his last five starts. 

Willson Contreras is poised to capitalize with great numbers (91st percentile xSLG, 89th percentile barrel rate). He rakes at home (168 wRC+) and should take advantage of Eovaldi’s decline, especially in hitter-friendly weather (88 degrees, 15 mph winds to left field at the time of first pitch).

Wyatt Langford Over 1.5 total bases (-105)

Wyatt Langford has depressed numbers this season, but that’s partially to blame on a right forearm strain that kept him sidelined for all of May. 

He’s back healthy in the lineup and looks great, going 5-for-9 at the dish through the first two games of this series. The former No. 4 overall pick is a great talent (see: 87th percentile barrel rate and 81st percentile hard-hit rate last year), yet isn’t being respected as such in the betting market. 

He’s always hit with more power against lefties (.224 career ISO) than righties (.155), and three of his seven hits against southpaws this season have gone for extra bases. 

With beautiful hitting weather in the forecast and a matchup against a lefty who allows loud contact (Early's 12th percentile average exit velocity, 10th percentile barrel rate), here’s betting on Langford getting a big hit or two.

How to watch Rangers vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateSunday, June 14, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVNBC

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Game Thread: Dodgers (45-26) at White Sox (37-32)

Erick Fedde looks to continue staving off his seemingly inevitable DFA for another few weeks | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The White Sox finally popped a tire on their road to redemption last night, but AAA just showed up with Erick Fedde and a spare.

The metaphor comes from the fact that yesterday’s resounding loss to the Dodgers felt like one of the very few games over the last month and change of unadulterated highway racing into first place in which the Sox truly had no chance. Just like the feeling of all those 2023-25 losses, where it felt like the game was more or less a wrap the moment they fell behind. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is, as we’re now all well aware, capable of damn near winning a team a World Series by himself when he’s got his good stuff, and boy did he ever have his good stuff yesterday. Saying that the wheels on the Sox offense were deflated is probably selling it short.

Delightfully, it seems like that’s becoming the exception more than the norm. Last night’s 7-1 final score was their largest margin of defeat since all the way back on May 23, and only the third time since the start of May they’ve been blown out in such fashion. Yesterday’s loss may have been the first such blowout this year where I didn’t truly think at heart, “here comes the other shoe dropping.” Instead, I actually have some measure of confidence that Bryan Hudson and Fedde can work in tandem to change that tire, and steal a series away from the defending champions.

Though the White Sox will be traveling to New York tomorrow, they don’t have to play a game, and as such, Will Venable is sending out something close to a full-strength lineup, rather than the afternoon getaway day offerings I’ve gotten used to writing up on Sundays:

Here’s the lineup that the juggernaut Dodgers are countering with:

Shohei Ohtani has homered in three straight games from the top of the L.A. lineup, which is probably the best one they’re capable of putting out there despite needing to fly back to the West Coast after the final pitch. Hey, just the fact that teams no longer feel capable of taking a series against the White Sox with a C+ lineup is progress in and of itself!

First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CT at Rate Field in Amour Square. If you want to join us, broadcasts are available on CHSN (TV) and WMVP AM 1000 (radio), like always!

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Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs Minnesota Twins Sunday

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 26: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their stay in Minneapolis with a Sunday afternoon game against the Twins. Michael McGreevy will get the start for the Cardinals while the Twins will send Taj Bradley to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm central time and the game TV broadcast will be available at Cardinals.tv.

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Game 73: Cardinals at Twins

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 08: Fernando Romero #77 of the Minnesota Twins plays an inflatable Prince guitar as the team honored the late musician in the dugout during the sixth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on June 8, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Angels defeated the Twins 4-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Chuck: 1:10 PM (new anthem each week!)
The Tube: Twins.TV
The Dial: Treasure Island Baseball Network
Spies ‘R Us: Viva El Birdos

l recently finished reading this book about the history of music composed for television. I cannot imagine a more thorough coverage of the subject than what author Jon Burlingame provided. It got me thinking about some of the baseball TV themes over the years.

A very early sports TV theme was for the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (featuring at least some baseball!)…

Sharp-eared viewers who happened to play a lot of Nintendo in the 1980s will wonder if the creators of Punch-Out paid royalties to Gillette.

A few decades later when baseball became more of a fixture on the TV dial (like the NBC Game of the Week), the This Week In Baseball theme is likely burned into the brains of fans of that era…

Hardball fans in the 1990s and early 2000s will fondly recall the MLB FOX Saturday Game of the Week synth-chords, while specifically for us here in Twins Territory we had the dulcet tones of the Midwest Sports Channel…

Also for those who grew up in the Cable TV Era, the TBS Baseball theme may conjure connections to Game 163’s and early-round playoff clashes.

But of course, they are all usurped by the utterly iconic MLB on ESPN theme. If this doesn’t immediately bring to mind images of Jon Miller & Joe Morgan calling Giants/Dodgers or Yankees/Red Sox clashes…

Of course, there’s only one little ditty that Twins fans want to hear this afternoon. Let’s hope the Target Field sound crew can spin it after a victory over the Red Birds.

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Royals vs Astros game discussion 6/14

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 09: Stephen Kolek #32 of the Kansas City Royals throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Royals have lost 4 straight after winning the first game of this homestand. It hasn’t come against stiff competition either. The Rangers and Astros aren’t good teams by any stretch of the imagination. The Royals have lost 2 games because they blew leads late.

Vinnie Pasquantino is now out for an extended period of time after fracturing the hamate bone in his right hand yesterday. John Rave was the one who got called up. So that means for the foreseeable future, Jac Caglianone will play his natural draft position, first base.

Stephen Kolek gets the ball today. His start on Tuesday, while not his best work, is the only game the Royals have won this week. Kolek went 5 innings, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, just 1 earned, walking 1 and striking out 3 batters. Kolek has never faced the Astros before.

Here are the Royals starters behind Kolek in today’s contest.

As for the Astros, they are 33-39 on the season, after taking the first two games of the series. Right hander Spencer Arrighetti makes the start. Arrighetti is having a fantastic season so far. He is 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA over 57 innings, while striking out 53. Arrighetti made his MLB debut in Kansas City in 2024. He went 3 innings, allowing 7 earned runs.

Here are the Astros starters behind Arrighetti for today’s contest.

The Royals have lost 11 of their last 14 home games. After today, they take a quick trip to the nation’s capital to play the Nationals, before getting the Cardinals at home next weekend. First pitch for today is set for 1:10 p.m. CT and can be watched on Royals.TV.

Astros vs. Royals Game Discussion: 6/14/2026

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 08, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (33-39) will conclude their six-game trip with the final game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals (28-43) today at Kauffman Stadium.

May AL Pitcher of the Month, RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 2.21 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.14 ERA) and the Royals. The Astros are 3-2 on this road trip.

HOT SPAGHETTI: Today’s Astros starter RHP Spencer Arrighetti made his season debut on April 15 and has since gone 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA (14ER/57IP) and a .185 opponent average while allowing one-or-fewer earned runs in seven of his 10 starts. Among AL pitchers with 50+ innings pitched, he’s posted the lowest opponent average, while ranking second in ERA and tied for fourth in wins.

PITCHER OF THE MONTH: RHP Spencer Arrighetti was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for May after going 4-1 with a 0.93 ERA (3ER/29IP) and a .165 opponent average (16×97) in five starts in the month. In May, he posted the lowest ERA and opponent average among AL starters, while ranking tied for third in wins.

VS. THE ROYALS: The Astros and Royals are facing each other for the first time this season. The Astros went 3-3 against the Royals last season, including a 1-2 record at Kauffman Stadium. The Astros own a 60-49 record all-time record against the Royals, including a 31-24 record at Kauffman Stadium.

PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has recorded a 2.67 ERA (29ER/97.2IP) with 88 strikeouts, a 1.03 WHIP and a .184 opponent batting average. Among AL teams since May 15, the Astros bullpen ranks first in opponent batting average, first in WHIP and first in ERA…the Astros are also 16-11 during since May 15.

MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros are tied for the fewest errors in the AL (28) with the Athletics. Houston has posted the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL, topping the Athletics (.989), Royals (.988) and Yankees (.988) by a few percentage points.

UPCOMING HOMESTAND: Following today’s game, the Astros will travel back to Houston for a six-game homestand that will feature two three-game series against AL Central opponents in the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians. The Astros are 16-19 at Daikin Park this season and went 4-5 in their last homestand.

HIT PAREDES: IF Isaac Paredes is one double away from recording his 100th career double…is looking to become just the 4th Mexican-born player in MLB history with 500 career hits, 100 doubles and 100 home runs, joining IF Vinny Castilla, IF Jorge Orta and IF Aurelio Rodríguez.

ON THE LEADERBOARD: DH Yordan Alvarez leads the Majors in OPS (1.093), SLG (.658) and total bases (169) and is tied for the Major League lead in home runs (24). In the AL, he ranks first in RBI (54), first in extra-base hits (37), first in hits (84), first in batting average (.327), second in OBP (.435), fourth in walks (46) and fourth in runs (49).

HOMER HAPPY: DH Yordan Alvarez hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning of Fri. night’s game vs. KC. He became the third player in franchise history to record two home runs in a single inning, joining Lee May on April 29, 1974 and Jeff Bagwell on June 24, 1994.

RIBEYE STEAK: DH Yordan Alvarez also recorded six RBI in the first inning of Fri. night’s game, becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least six RBI in a single inning, the last player in MLB history to record at least six RBI in a single inning was LAD OF Cody Bellinger on June 2, 2021 vs. STL. He’s also the 17th player in MLB history to do so.

YORDAN’S SLAM: DH Yordan Alvarez hit his sixth career grand slam on Fri. night at KC. Alvarez now ranks tied for fourth in franchise history in grand slams, trailing only 2B Jose Altuve (7), 3B Alex Bregman (7) and OF Carlos Lee (7).

AIR YORDAN: DH Yordan Alvarez is on pace to hit 54 home runs, which would set the single-season franchise home run record, passing IF Jeff Bagwell’s 47 home runs in 2000. Alvarez’s single-season career-high in home runs is 37, which he recorded in 2022.

ON BASE MACHINE: OF Yordan Alvarez is on a 20-game on-base streak. During the streak, he’s batting .389 (28×72) with 19 runs, two doubles, nine home runs, 23 RBI, 15 walks and a 1.286 OPS. It is his second-longest on-base streak this season, behind a 22-game on-base streak from April 4-28. It is the second time in his career, he’s recorded two 20-game on-base streaks in the same season, also did so in 2023 with on-base streaks of 30 games and 36 games.

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: In the AL, 1B Christian Walker ranks second in RBI (52),behind only teammate OF Yordan Alvarez (54 RBI). Also ranks, fifth in extra-base hits (32), tied for fourth in home runs (18), fifth in total bases (135) and 11th in SLG (.506). In the field, Walker has not committed an error in 70 games.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1996 – 1B Jeff Bagwell ties a Major League record and sets the franchise high with four doubles in the Astros 9-1 win at San Francisco. Bagwell also ties the franchise record for the most extra-base hits in a game.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, June 14, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Yankees At Jays Game Thread

DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: A detailed view of the custom Toronto Blue Jays 50th anniversary sleeve patch worn on a jersey during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Blue Jays defeated the Tigers 4-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Game #72. A win would be nice.

No Vlad and no Andrés today. Hopefully they will be back quick.

Today’s Lineups

YANKEESBLUE JAYS
Paul Goldschmidt – 1BGeorge Springer – DH
Ben Rice – DHNathan Lukes – CF
Jasson Dominguez – RFAlejandro Kirk – C
Cody Bellinger – CFYohendrick Pinango – RF
Amed Rosario – 3BKazuma Okamoto – 3B
Jose Caballero – 2BJesus Sanchez – LF
Max Schuemann – LFErnie Clement – SS
Anthony Volpe – SSDavis Schneider – 2B
Ali Sanchez – CCharles McAdoo – 1B
Will Warren – RHPPatrick Corbin – LHP

Rangers vs Red Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Boston Red Sox are short home favorites against the Texas Rangers, but I’m taking the near-pick’em road side.

Connelly Early’s contact profile gives Texas the better matchup path, while Nathan Eovaldi’s chase, whiff, and ground-ball traits give the Rangers more ways to survive. I’m also leaning Under, as both offenses carry modest scoring baselines.

Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, June 14, 2026.

Who will win Rangers vs Red Sox today: Rangers moneyline (-102)

It’s a coin-flip game that's not being priced like one, and that’s mostly the edge. I’m grabbing the Texas Rangers here and would play them to -110. 

I’m a long-term fan of Boston Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early, but he’s young, raw, and has work to do. 

His contact profile for this matchup isn’t ideal. He’s yielded a barrel rate of 11%+ along with a hard-hit rate in the Bottom 20th percentile. 

This Rangers lineup can be erratic, but one thing it has is plenty of power, with six in the lineup having a hard-hit rate over 40%.

Give me Texas for a two-unit play.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Nathan Eovaldi owns 99th-percentile offspeed run value, key against a team that struggles against them.

Rangers vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-105)

I’m taking the Under because Nathan Eovaldi’s Top-20 percentile chase and whiff rate create a run-prevention path, and the market is pricing up two offenses with modest scoring baselines

Early’s contact quality is the concern, but Texas can do damage and still keep this Under if Eovaldi controls Boston’s chase-heavy approach.

His elite ground-ball rate, in addition to the strikeout stuff, is the key separator in a game I project closer to 8.1 runs. 

Play to -130.

Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 29-24, +4.46 units
  • Over/Under bets: 33-20, +15.87 units

Rangers vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Rangers -108 | Red Sox +104
  • Run line: Rangers -1.5 (+163) | Red Sox +1.5 (-170)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+117) | Under 9.5 (-122)

Rangers vs Red Sox trend

The Texas Rangers have hit the Game Total Under in 26 of their last 50 games (+4.50 Units / 8% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Rangers vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateSunday, June 14, 2026
First pitch7:20 p.m. ET
TVNBC
Rangers starting pitcherNathan Eovaldi
(5-7, 4.26 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherConnelly Early
(5-4, 3.30 ERA)

Rangers vs Red Sox latest injuries

Rangers vs Red Sox weather

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets, Picks, Parlay & Odds for Sunday, June 14

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It’s a full 15-game slate in the MLB, and there are plenty of home runs to be hit.

I’ve picked my favorite MLB player props for the day, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani and Jordan Walker.

Read my MLB picks for Sunday, June 14, below.

  • UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HROdds
Reds Shohei Ohtani+216
Reds Jordan Walker+462
RedsHunter Goodman+195
💲Today's HR parlay+5138

Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+216)

Shohei Ohtani’s bat has come alive this weekend, with the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar going yard in three straight games.

This afternoon, he’ll square up against Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde, who’s allowed 14 dingers – tied for the 13th most in the majors.

Fedde’s cutter has been hit out of the yard six times this season, and that’s a pitch Ohtani loves to see. The reigning NL MVP is batting .412 against that pitch with a .765 SLG.

Chicago’s bullpen has also been brutal, allowing 38 homers (7th most).

I’ll play Ohtani up to +220 here.

  • Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SportsNet LA, Chicago Sports Network, WCIU TV

Home run pick: Jordan Walker (+462)

There’s hardly anyone in the majors with a more impressive batting profile than Jordan Walker, who ranks in the top percentile for bat speed and 98th percentile in average exit velocity.

The St. Louis Cardinals slugger has hit 10 of his 18 homers off fastballs, and Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley goes to his four-seamer half the time.

Walker has smashed six home runs against the four-seamer, with a 57.1 hard hit%. 

Batting at Target Field, which is tied for the second-highest Park Factor (103), Walker has a good chance to go yard.

I’ll play Walker up to +440.

  • Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, Twins.TV 

Home run pick: Hunter Goodman (+195)

Hunter Goodman is on pace for another career year, and that’s no surprise, given that his bat speed (87th percentile) and barrel % (91st percentile) rank among the MLB leaders. 

The Colorado Rockies catcher is feasting on breaking balls, and he’ll enjoy today’s matchup against the Athletics. Starter Jeffrey Springs has surrendered 16 homers, tied for sixth most in the majors, with nine of those against breaking pitches.

Springs’ slider is his second-most common pitch, and Goodman has hit the slider out of the park more than anyone else this season (8 HR).

Play this one up to +190.

  • Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, Rockies.TV
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
  • HR picks: 7-22, +1.87 units

Today’s HR parlay

Reds Shohei OhtaniBet Now
+5138
Reds Jordan Walker
Reds Hunter Goodman

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays: Will Warren vs. Patrick Corbin

May 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

If momentum is a real thing, the Yankees should have a lot of it on their side today after stealing a win behind Paul Goldschmidt’s ninth-inning dinger. Of course, momentum is also only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher, but at least on paper the Yankees seem to have the edge in Sunday’s series finale in Toronto.

Will Warren is that aforementioned starter for New York, sitting half a win behind his 2025 performance while having thrown 100 fewer innings. What’s really invigorating to me with Warren is how close all his peripheral measurements are to his ERA — no more than a third of a run difference between xERA, FIP, and xFIP. That last one is critical, since we’ve seen some pitchers, like Cam Schlittler and Dylan Cease, see some immediate regression when a team hits a home run or two. Instead, Warren is by all the data we have pretty much as good as he’s shown. He’s also going a full third of an inning deeper than he was last year; 2025 saw him average not quite five innings a start. Eight of his 13 starts this year have seen him get past that mark.

All of Patrick Corbin’s peripherals are pretty in line as well, except that they’re not nearly as good as Warren’s. The real problem for Corbin is how much he gets squared up, with a hard-hit rate of more than 43 percent. The Yankees took advantage of that contact control problem when they faced him in the Bronx back in May — Corbin lasted just four innings, yielding three runs on six hits and three walks. Although the Toronto bullpen got some time off yesterday with Kevin Gausman’s excellent outing, a similar performance by Corbin to that May 18th matchup would be appreciated today.

The lineup is about as patchwork as it gets these days with all the injuries. The top four is as representative as ever, but the team is going to be asking a fair amount from Max Schuemann who’s in left today, and Ali Sánchez who gets the job behind the plate. They’re stacking righties against the southpaw Corbin.

Do note the odd start time. It’s part of the counter-tariff thing.

How to watch

Location: Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON

First pitch: 1:37 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, SN1, TVA Sports

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)

Streaming: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)

For updates, follow us on BlueSkyTwitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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Washington Nationals vs Seattle Mariners Game Thread

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his RBI single against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Nationals Park on June 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Nats got a much needed bounce back win yesterday and will have a chance to win yet another series. It was a nice, well rounded effort with production up and down the lineup. The pitching was also rock solid. A series win today would fully erase the stench from the San Francisco meltdown.

Blake Butera has made a few adjustments to the lineup. James Wood has moved to the DH spot, meaning Daylen Lile will be in left, Jacob Young in center and Dylan Crews in right. Crews will be all the way up in the 3 spot today. Keibert Ruiz will hit 5th, which is higher than usual. Jorbit Vivas returns to the lineup in favor of Curtis Mead. PJ Poulin will be opening for Miles Mikolas.

There are only a couple changes to the Mariners lineup. Victor Robles will play center field, giving Julio Rodriguez a day to rest as the DH. Jhonny Pereda will be back behind the plate after Mitch Garver caught yesterday. Colt Emerson gives the Mariners a big threat in the 9 spot. Emerson Hancock has had a breakout year, and he will be on the mound today.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 1:35 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

This is a big rubber match for both teams. The Mariners are in a fight for the AL West, while the Nats look to stay above .500. After the Mariners drew first blood on Friday, the Nats bounced back. Now, the series is up for grabs. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Braden Montgomery is here, Shane Drohan is nasty

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Mauricio Dubon - 2B/3B/SS/OF, ATL (41% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

It seems that, with Ronald Acuna Jr. sidelined, Dubon is going to be the regular starter in left field. He was also starting games at shortstop before that, so there are myriad ways the Braves can get him into the lineup. It's a small sample size, but over his last 10 games, Dubon is tied for 15th in baseball in WAR, hitting .313/.405/.625 with three home runs, eight RBI, and one steal. A 28% hard-hit rate would suggest that his six homers this season are a fluke, but he has essentially doubled his career barrel rate and is lifting the ball more than he has since 2022. You're not likely to get some league-winning upside here, but Dubon is a solid hitter who is batting fifth every day for a good lineup. That's valuable in a lot of formats.

Braden Montgomery - OF, CWS (38% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

Montgomery was called up on Tuesday and had a historic debut, as one of just five players since 1900 to hit a walk-off home run in his debut. We have some worries about his Triple-A swinging strike rate and below-average overall contact rate, but we think the power and speed could be intriguing. Eric recorded a video about Montgomery on Wednesday, so check that out.

Bryce Eldridge - UT, SF (37% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Last week, Eldridge was 17% rostered, so this roster rate really needs to climb higher. As we highlighted last week, an injury to Heliot Ramos allowed the Giants to try Casey Schmitt in the outfield and free up a spot for Eldridge, who, since May 18th, is hitting .371/.451/.629 with three home runs, 16 runs scored, and 11 RBI. That comes with a 12.5% barrel rate and 55.4% hard-hit rate in 56 batted ball events. He’s hitting more line drives this year than we saw last year, which limited the power output initially, but we're starting to see him look to turn on the ball more often now that he's gaining confidence. Another young power option from that same article mentioned above could be Coby Mayo - 1B/3B, BAL (3% rostered). In 74 plate appearances since May 13th, Mayo is hitting .250/.311/.515 with five home runs, 14 runs scored, and 11 RBI with a 58% hard-hit rate, 89.1% zone contact rate, 10.5% SwStr%, and 110.2 mph EV90. He's not playing every day because Blaze Alexander is also playing well, but Mayo's power could be valuable in deeper fantasy formats.

Sunday update: Eldridge is 4-for-7 through Friday and Saturday with another home run. His hype is reaching a fever pitch and he can't be left on any waiver wires, UT-only be darned.

Noelvi Marte - 3B/OF, CIN (35% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POST-HYPE UPSIDE)

Since being recalled, Marte is 5-for-15 with two runs scored and three steals while starting four of six games. Marte is a former top prospect who hit 14 home runs and stole 10 bases in 90 games last year while hitting .263. He crushed Triple-A this year after he was demoted, hitting .369/.409/.575 in 176 plate appearances with eight home runs and nine steals. He's worth an add because few guys on the waiver wire have his upside.

Sunday update: Marte smacked two home runs between Friday and Saturday and we remain excited about his potential.

Andrew Vaughn - 1B, MIL (29% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Vaughn was dropped in many leagues over the last couple of weeks because it seemed like he had lost his job to Jake Bauers after his return from hamate bone surgery. While it's true that Vaughn is not an everyday player right now, he's started in four of the last five games and has been swinging the bat well, hitting .406/.433/.594 in his last 20 games with one home run and 12 RBI. Yes, the power may take some time to come back, but a hitter swinging the bat like that is going to force his way into the lineup.

Dalton Rushing - C, LAD (28% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Will Smith has now officially been placed on the injured list, so we expect this roster rate to jump pretty quickly. However, if Rushing is available in your league, now is the time to scoop him up. He may have cooled down from his torrid start to the season, but he's hitting .286/.388/.429 with one home run, six runs scored, and four RBI over his last 15 games. That, and his presence in this lineup, makes him worth rostering in one-catcher leagues while Will Smith is out. Keibert Ruiz- C, WAS (19% rostered) has been solid at the plate for a while now. Since May 1, he's been hitting .354/.368/.662 with four home runs and 17 RBI. Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic wrote a great article on how a dozen coaches sat down with Ruiz to create a plan for him moving forward. The crux of that meeting was that they believed Ruiz had a great foundation for success but needed to swing harder and pull the ball more. Solid. This season, Ruiz's bat speed is up, he has a career-high 39.8% hard-hit rate, and his average exit velocity is up over three mph to 89.7 mph. He's one-catcher league viable right now.

Sam Antonacci - 2B/3B/OF, CWS (24% rostered)

(GREAT LINEUP SPOT, SPEED UPSIDE)

Antonacci has been productive for a while now. Since May 1st, he's hitting .304/.400/.360 with 25 runs scored and eight steals. He's not going to give you much power production, but he's hitting leadoff on a good team, so the runs will be there, and he stole almost 50 bases last season, so we know the speed will be there. An elite contact profile, combined with his multi-position eligibility, makes him a solid add in most formats. Last week, we said that we wish Blaze Alexander - 2B/3B/SS/OF, BAL (7% rostered) was playing more. He then started four of seven games between when that article was published and now. Not bad but not great. So far this season, we've wanted more playing time for Casey Schmitt and Curtis Mead, among others, so maybe bet on the talent. Alexander can play all over the field, so the Orioles can use him 4-5 times a week to give other guys a day off. He appeared in Eric’s article last week on hitters to target based on their May resultsbecause, since May 1st, he's hitting .366/.411/.549 with 18 RBI, 10 runs scored, and four steals in 92 plate appearances. He's making better-than-league-average contact in the zone with a better hard-hit percentage than league average as well. There is an intriguing profile here, but it's more of a deep league add right now until playing time emerges.

Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (23% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, FORMER TOP PROSPECT)

We’ve written a lot about Curtis Mead over the last month. He wasin Eric’s mid-May article on hitters who should produce more power, as well as in a video Eric recorded about his recent production and his latest article on May hot streaks. In 121 plate appearances since May 1st, Mead has hit .255/.372/.490 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and 19 runs scored. That came with a 45% hard-hit rate, a 12.5% barrel rate, 90% zone contact rate, and 6.2% SwStr%. His exit velocities aren’t off the charts, but his 89.4 mph average exit velocity is over two mph better than his career average. He flattened his swing a bit this year and is looking to pull and lift the ball more than usual, which will make the most out of his solid but not elite exit velocities. Among 260 hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this season, Mead ranks 52nd with a Pull Air% of 22.9%. His exit velocity on his fly balls and line drives is 93 mph, which is the same as Cal Raleigh, Cody Bellinger, and Salvador Perez, so that will be just fine for power production.

Spencer Horwitz - 1B, PIT (21% rostered)

(EVERY DAY PLAYER, RUNS UPSIDE)

The Pirates have been a better offense than many expected, and Horwitz has played a big role in that. He has taken over the leadoff spot in the lineup and is hitting .315/.381/.533 over his last 25 games with six home runs, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and one steal. Not much has changed from previous seasons, other than the fact that he is being far more selective (swinging 6% less overall) and making far more contact. He's not hitting the ball any harder than he has previously, and so some of this elevated batting average and power feels like a fluke, but it's worth chasing the results right now while he's producing.

Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (21% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Over the last month, Clemens has been far and away the best hitter on the Twins. He's batting .289/.317/.598 with six home runs, 14 runs scored, 12 RBI, and one steal in 25 games. He has his highest barrel rate ever (13.7%) and his highest average exit velocity ever (92.7 mph). His swing decisions and contact rates are similar to what we've seen from him in the past, but he also had 19 home runs in 119 games last year, so him pushing 25 home runs this season wouldn't be a surprise if he gets full-time playing time. He also had a .243 xBA last year, so his coming close to a .250 average on the year could also make sense. That's a pretty solid player.

Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, NYY (16% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, HOT STREAK)

Don't look now, but Goldy is holding off Father Time. In 32 games since May 1st, the veteran is hitting .313/.383/.548 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and a 40% hard-hit rate. He is playing much every day at first base or DH and will continue to get extra that kind of playing time with Aaron Judge sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks and the Yankees having fewer outfield spots to juggle. He hits near the top of the Yankees' lineup, which is good for run production. Now could also be the time to stash Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY (12% rostered), who began a rehab assignment last Friday and has been swinging the bat well in Triple-A. Anthony Volpe has not been good for the Yankees lately, so Jose Caballero could go back to playing shortstop more regularly, which would open up a spot for Dominguez to replace Judge in right field when he returns.

Sunday update: Dominguez returned on Saturday and immediately hit a home run. With a long runway of playing time, this could finally be his moment.

Dominic Canzone - OF, SEA (16% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

Dominic Canzone hits the ball hard, so he's always going to find stretches where he's producing and needs to be added in a lot of places. Over his last 25 games, he's hitting .303/.370/.606 with five home runs, 11 runs scored, and eight RBI. Five home runs should get you a lot more than eight RBI. He will sit against lefties, so that's something to factor into the math, especially against the Red Sox and their three lefties next weekend. Ryan Ward - 1B/OF, LAD (3% rostered) is also in a strong side platoon with Teoscar Hernandez out, so he could draw four starts next week. He's gone .242/.265/.576 in 10 games with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Ward also hit 34 home runs in the minors in 2024 and 36 home runs in 2025, so there could be some power upside here.

Colton Cowser - OF, BAL (15% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Another week of Cowser in here as his roster rate has climbed from 7% to 14%. The 26-year-old has started to turn things around, hitting .292/.365/.631 over his last 25 games with seven home runs, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and two steals. That comes with a 17/8 K/BB ratio but just a 28.6 percent hard-hit rate. Given the hot streaks we’ve seen him go on, now is the time to pick him up but remember that he is going to sit against most left-handed pitchers. The power hasn't been there for Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (7% rostered), but he is hitting .288 with four steals in his last 20 games while playing basically every day for the A's. They play all of their games at home this upcoming week, so while I'm worried about his overall contact rate, I think he's a decent gamble for this week.

Jordan Lawlar - OF, ARI (13% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, UPSIDE POTENTIAL)

Jordan Lawlar is back from the 60-day IL after fracturing his wrist. He's also right back in the starting lineup on Friday. It seems like he will return to center field, moving Tommy Troy to the bench and Ryan Waldschmidt to left field. Lawlar had hit .333/.400/.556 in 20 plate appearances before fracturing his wrist in April, so he's worth an add to see if he can get that production back.

Sunday update: Lawlar had a wonderful return to the lineup on Friday night with a huge two-run bloop single late and this fantastic catch in center field.

Do not forget about him and his legitimately massive power-speed potential.

Joshua Baez - OF, STL (12% rostered)

(POTENTIAL CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

We like to get ahead of prospect stashes on the waiver wire, and I think it might be time for Baez to wind up as your stash. Lars Nootbaar came back last week, so there is no immediate opening, but maybe the Cardinals decide not to have two catchers in the lineup every day and give Baez a shot. Baez has big-time power and hit .274/.347/.632 in 106 at-bats in May with 10 home runs, 24 RBI, and a 34/9 K/BB ratio. He’s now continued that pace to begin June and is knocking on the door. Another possible stash would be Kaelen Culepper - SS, MIN (3% rostered), who has 14 home runs and 40 RBI on the season to go along with a .269 batting average and .861 OPS. He hit .280/.4076/.540 in May with seven home runs, 21 RBI, seven steals, and a 22/19 K/BB ratio. I understand that Tristan Gray is playing well, but, at some point, a team like the Twins needs to try its top prospect over a 30-year-old journeyman. Lastly, you could look to stash Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (2% rostered), who is now up to 15 home runs and 42 RBI on the season to go along with a .339 batting average and a 1.012 OPS. He’s ready for a chance at big league pitching, but with Curtis Mead playing well at third base, the Nationals will need to use Morales as a DH or a first baseman.

Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (10% rostered)

(PROSPECT HYPE, COORS FIELD)

Called up by the Rockies earlier this week, Carigg is a tooled-up outfielder who has enough raw power and speed to instantly be on our radar. His prospect shine faded after a so-so season last year at Double-A as a 23-year-old, but he cut his strikeouts dramatically at Triple-A this season while getting showing off his raw power. He already has two big league homers and seems to have displaced Jake McCarthy in center fielder and could be a fun option when the Rockies are home in Coors Field

Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (8% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Don't look now, but Caleb Durbin is heating up. Actually, do look now; that's the point of this article. Over his last 15 games, Durbin is hitting .313/.320/.583 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and one steal. This is a guy who was really solid as a rookie last season and had a few 30-steal seasons in his minor league career before swiping 18 bags with the Brewers last year. Clearly, moving to a new team led to some issues early on, but Durbin has begun to settle in and could be a solid asset for batting average and, eventually, speed. The man who took his place in Milwaukee at third base, David Hamilton - 2B/3B/SS, MIL (4% rostered) has provided fantasy value over the last few weeks because he has three home runs and four steals over his last 12 games while also hitting .282. A lot of that damage has come in two good games, but we know Hamilton has elite stolen base upside, so this could be worth chasing.

Jacob Gonzalez - 1B/2B/SS, CWS (6% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, BREAKOUT POTENTIAL)

We've been intrigued by Gonzalez since he was promoted two weeks ago to cover for the injured Munetaka Murakami at first base. He's had a bit of a swing and miss issue over his first nine games in the big leagues — 29% strikeout rate — but he has just a 9.7% swinging strike rate, so that number should come down. He's also hitting .308/.419/.423 with a 53% hard-hit rate. Those are things we like to see.

Jake Mangum - OF, PIT (5% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

The Pirates have started to give Mangum nearly every day at-bats, and he's delivering. Over his last 19 games, he's hitting .339/.367/.446 with one home run, seven RBI, and six steals. We know that he can run, so the stolen base totals are the real pull here, but if Mangum is going to play 75% of the games for the Pirates, he's worth a gamble.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (4% rostered)

(OFF THE TIL, STATCAST DARLING

Nootbaar is another boring outfielder who is set to come off the injured list following offseason surgery on both of his heels. We know that you've been waiting for that Nootbaar breakout for a long time, but he remains a solid/productive player who should be in an everyday role on a solid Cardinals team. In six games since coming off the injured list, he's just 5-for-22, but that comes with two home runs and five RBI. He'll settle in. Speaking of boring outfielders, Andrew Benintendi - OF, CWS (2% rostered) has under-the-radar moments of production every season. He jumped on a Process+ leaderboard since the middle of May, and over his last 21 games, he's hitting .265/.342/.500 with four home runs and 13 RBI. That will work in deeper formats on a good offense.

Wade Meckler - OF, LAA (2% rostered)
(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, RECENT HOT STREAK)

Maybe this is happening for Meckler? In 18 games with the Angels, he's hitting .316/.391/.509 with two home runs, 10 RBI, and two steals. He's slowed down a bit from his hot start, but he's just 26 years old, has solid enough bat speed, and has always made a ton of contact in the minor leagues. He makes good swing decisions and has begun lifting the ball more than we saw from him in the Giants' organization. He's not going to be a true power threat, but he can drive the ball into the gaps, and he's hitting third every day for the Angels. That's valuable in a 15-team format.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Cade Cavalli - SP, WAS (34% rostered)

Sure, go for it. Cavalli's last start against Arizona wasn't good, and we're not particularly fans of him as a breakout starting pitcher, but he has a 3.88 ERA and a 24% strikeout rate on the season and gets Tampa Bay this week, which is a fine, but not great matchup. I dunno, we get it but don't love it.

Sunday update: Cavalli earned the win on Saturday against the Mariners after allowing three runs over five innings with five strikeouts. We're keeping an eye on his sweeper as the key to potential unlock him. It forced three whiffs on four swings yesterday as a supplemental secondary weapon supporting his knuckle-curve and needs to be such for him to take the next step.

Dustin May - SP, STL (34% rostered)

A pitch mix change has unlocked a solid run of production for Dustin May. In his first three starts of the year, May threw almost 31% four-seam fastballs and just 11% cutters. He had a few terrible outings in that stretch and wasn't missing bats at all with a 17% strikeout rate and 7.4% swinging strike rate. Then, he made a shift. Over his next nine starts, he reduced his fastball usage to 24% and upped his cutter usage to 26%. That also enabled him to save the four-seamer to use more up in the zone for swings and misses. Since then, May has a 3.38 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23% strikeout rate, and nearly 11% swinging strike rate. That will work in most formats. He gets a good two-start week this week against the Mets and Twins, both on the road. He'd then get the Royals the week after that. I'm also OK using his teammate, Andre Pallante - SP, STL (16% rostered) against the Mets this week because his velocity is up, he has more vertical movement on his four-seamer, and he has always had a good slider.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (34% rostered)

Yes, I still believe in Griffin Jax, and I figured more people would after his performance this week, throwing five shutout innings against the Marlins while striking out four and allowing just three hits. That was on just 62 pitches. We don't love that short leash, but it had never been that short before. He has a deep pitch mix and has managed to maintain velocity even when moving out of the bullpen. This is the profile of a pitcher who should deliver for your fantasy teams, and he gets the Nationals and Royals for his next two starts. Don't give up hope yet.

Sunday update: Jax was fantastic on Saturday against the Angels allowing just one unearned run over five innings with five strikeouts and didn't walk a batter. His sweeper was electric forcing seven whiffs on just nine total swings and we're very bullish on his potential as a starting pitcher.

Stephen Kolek - SP, KCR (34% rostered)

Kolek has been on a good run of late, heading into his weekend start against the Astros, and gets a decent run against two solid but not overly scary offenses in the Cardinals and Rays after that. Kolek isn't overpowering, but he wins with command and limiting hard contact. You can feel comfortable using him when he's rolling like this, but just be sure to jump off the ride if it starts to wobble.

Walbert Ureña - SP, LAA (32% rostered)

We've had Ureña on here a few times, but he's emerging as a solid streaming option this year. His power changeup (at 90 mph) is a really good pitch, and he uses it to both righties and lefties. He has showcased inconsistent command of an 87 mph sweeper, but that can miss plenty of bats to righties when it's on. He needs that sweeper because his fastball is just empty velocity, and will only be successful if he can get ahead with his other pitches and then try to get hitters to chase outside of the zone with elevated four-seamers. He gets Houston this week, which isn't a great start, but it isn't one we're scared of right now.

Troy Melton - SP, DET (28% rostered)

Melton has not had the strikeout numbers that we hoped to see when he came off the injured list, but he does have a 2.81 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in his first four starts. He's done that with great control of a solid 97 mph four-seamer, plus a good slider and cutter. He also pairs that with a sinker, curveball, and splitter to give him a deep arsenal that we can dream on. Melton is set to face Houston on the road this week, but then it gets confusing if the Tigers are bringing back Casey Mize and Justin Verlander, along with Tarik Skubal. We don't think Verlander looks ready to return, but our opinion doesn't matter to Detroit.

Alex Lange - RP, KC (25% rostered)

It seems that Lucas Erceg has finally pitched his way out of the closer's role in Kansas City. That has given Lange a chance to convert the last four saves for the Royals. The former Tigers' starter has a 4.06 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and 34/18 K/BB ratio in 31 innings, so this is not the profile of a lockdown reliever, nor does he have anything close to elite swing-and-miss stuff. Still, he has produced of late and seems to be getting the chances now, so you can roll the dice if you want.

Sunday update: Lange took the loss on Saturday after entering a tie game in the eighth inning, finishing off that frame, then walking the lead-off batter in the ninth and letting them come around to score. Command has always been an issue for him (career 5.3 BB/9) and we like his role much more than his skills.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (24% rostered)

Taylor was called on for a save chance against the Phillies last Saturday and completely blew them away. He struck out the side on 14 pitches, went up 0-2 on all three hitters, regularly sat near 100 mph with his heater, and forced six whiffs in that one inning of work. He was then called on to pitch two innings against the Braves this week and recorded a win without allowing a run. If he’s ever unleashed as the White Sox’s full-time closer, he’d instantly be one of the nastiest in the league. Even now, he is a great add for ratios and the stray win or save here and there.

Shane Drohan- SP/RP, MIL (20% rostered)

I broke down Drohan's transition to the rotation in my streaming starting pitcher article on Monday, so I encourage you to check that out for a deep dive. I hate that his next start is against the Braves and that I don't trust the Brewers to keep him in the rotation, but I do like him as a pitcher.

Sunday update: Drohan had by far his best bat-missing outing as a big leaguer on Saturday forcing 17 whiffs. He also allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings, but also struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. His slider and curveball combined to force 10 swings-and-misses on 14 total swings and he threw at least 78 pitches for the second straight start, making his transition to a full-time starter feel nearly complete. His tantalizing potential as a starting pitcher is undeniable.

Mick Abel - SP, MIN (15% rostered)

Abel threw 47 pitches in a rehab outing at Triple-A on Wednesday and looked good. He's probably about two weeks away from returning to the Twins' rotation, but now could be the time to stash him if you have the bench space.

Yoendrys Gomez - SP/RP, MIN (14% rostered)

Gomez has been really good since joining the Twins, pitching to a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings with a 19/7 K/BB ratio and four saves. His 114 Stuff+ score is pretty good, and he has a really good fastball and slider pairing. The Twins aren't winning too many games, but I think Gomez feels more stable as a pitcher than Alex Lange.

Ian Seymour - SP, TB (9% rostered)

It seems like the Rays may finally be giving Ian Seymour a chance to start, and I couldn't be more excited. I wrote about him as one of my favorite late-round starting pitcher targets,which you can read here for full thoughts on his arsenal, and then he went ahead and lost a rotation spot to both Steven Matz and Nick Martinez. After getting blitzed out of the bullpen in the first game of the season, Seymour has been good for the Rays, pitching to a 3.60 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 26.6% strikeout rate in 35 innings. Remember that he was a good starting pitching prospect in the minors with the Rays as well. This has a chance to stick.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (5% rostered)

The Athletics have won four games in a row — all by two runs or fewer — and Alvarado has saved two of them. They've had a revolving door at closer all season with nine players saving at least one game and no one saving more than six. Hogan Harris () still appears to be their preferred ninth inning option, but Alvarado has a fastball that can touch 103 mph and looks more like the part when he's on. Saturday night was an example of that when his fastball averaged 102 mph and he forced five swings-and-misses in a clean inning with two strikeouts. He's a quality speculative closer to take a chance on.