Brewers at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Brewers (67-44) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (47-63). Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Erick Fedde for Atlanta.

The Brewers are coming off a sweep of the Nationals and are 6-1 in the last nine games as they continue to heat up.

Milwaukee is 8-1in the past nine road games — all since the All-Star break. Atlanta is 5-10 since the break and 3-8 over the last 11.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Braves

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, FDSNSO

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 Brewers at the Braves

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-140), Braves (+118)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Erick Fedde
    • Brewers: Quinn Priester, (10-2, 3.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.18 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Braves: Erick Fedde, (3-11, 5.22 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.71 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers 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 Monday’s game between the Brewers and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers 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 9.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Braves

  • Milwaukee is 6-1 in the past seven games
  • Milwaukee is 8-1 in the last nine road games
  • Atlanta is 5-10 since the All-Star break
  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL East teams
  • The Under is 29-19-4 in the Braves' home games this season
  • The Braves have covered the Run Line in their last 3 games with a rest advantage over their opponents

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!

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Rays at Angels Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Rays (55-58) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (54-58). Adrian Houser is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Yusei Kikuchi for Los Angeles.

Tampa Bay enters on a slide, losing six of the past seven and nine of the previous 11. For Los Angeles, while they have dropped three of the past four, their second half has gone a little better than the Rays (7-9 record vs 5-11).

The Rays are 1-6 in the last seven road games, including three straight losses, plus this marks their first west coast trip since April 25-27 when they swept the Padres and took two out of three against the Diamondbacks before that.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rays at Angels

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 9:38PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, FDSNW, 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 Rays at the Angels

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+108), Angels (-128)
  • Spread:  Angels -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Adrian Houser vs. Yusei Kikuchi
    • Rays: Adrian Houser, (6-2, 2.10 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.05 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Angels: Yusei Kikuchi, (4-7, 3.31 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.06 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 0 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Angels

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 Monday’s game between the Rays and the Angels:

  • 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 Tampa Bay Rays 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Angels

  • The Angels won two out of three games in Tampa Bay this season
  • Tampa Bay is 1-5 over the last six games and 5-11 since the All-Star break
  • Los Angeles is 1-3 in the past four games and 7-9 since the All-Star break
  • The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 road series against the Angels
  • The Over is 59-48-5 in Angels' games this season
  • The Angels have covered the Run Line in 7 straight matchups against the Rays

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!

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Blue Jays at Rockies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Blue Jays (65-48) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (30-81). Eric Lauer is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Tanner Gordon for Colorado.

Toronto enters with a 2-6 mark over the last eight games after going 8-1 to open the second half of the season. The Rockies impressed in a three-game series versus the Pirates with two wins and 30 runs scored. The Rockies are quietly 6-3 in the last nine home games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Rockies

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:40PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, COLR

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 Blue Jays at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-200), Rockies (+168)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 11.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Eric Lauer vs. Tanner Gordon
    • Blue Jays: Eric Lauer, (6-2, 2.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.60 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Rockies: Tanner Gordon, (2-3, 4.85 ERA)
      Last outing: 18.00 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Blue Jays and the Rockies

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 Monday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Rockies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 11.0.

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Rockies

  • Toronto is 2-6 in the last eight games
  • Colorado has scored 30 runs in the last two games
  • Colorado is 6-3 in the last nine home games
  • The Blue Jays have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL West teams
  • The Rockies' last 3 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Rockies are up 3.03 units on the Run Line in their last 5 at home

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!

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Braves lose third baseman Austin Riley to IL for 2nd time in 2 months with abdominal strain

ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley was placed on the 10-day injured list for the second time in two months with a strained lower abdominal muscle on Monday.

Riley suffered the injury while tagging out Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz near home plate in the Braves’ 4-2 win on Sunday in the rain-delayed MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Riley also landed on the IL on July 12 with a strained abdomen. He returned on July 25.

The Braves recalled infielders Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Gwinnett before opening a home series against Milwaukee on Monday night. The team optioned outfielder Jarred Kelenic to Gwinnett following Sunday’s game.

Riley is hitting .260 with 16 homers and 54 RBI.

Surprise! There’s been quite a bit of parity in the race for baseball’s best record

The 2025 regular season was supposed to be about Dodger dominance.

Instead, the race for baseball’s best record has turned into a free for all.

If there were any concerns about a Los Angeles behemoth running roughshod over the sport, that hasn’t materialized so far. In fact, eight different teams have spent the past three months passing baseball’s best record around like a hot potato.

The race for the top record in the major leagues is in many ways symbolic. Home field advantage in the postseason isn’t quite the prize it is in the NFL or NBA, and there’s no Presidents’ Trophy given for regular-season excellence like in the NHL. But the number of teams that have taken a turn at the top is noteworthy. Since May 1, the Dodgers, Tigers, Padres, Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Brewers and Blue Jays all have held the best record at some point.

Five of those teams have held the top spot in an even more recent span — since July 1.

Since the American League and National League began expanding significantly in 1961, this is only the fifth time at least eight teams have held (or tied for) the best record in baseball through games of May 1 or later, according to Sportrader. One of those seasons was 2020, when the whole 60-game schedule was after that date. The others were 1963 (eight teams), 1982 (eight) and 2021 (nine).

The largest lead any team has been able to open on the rest of the majors — all season — is when Detroit was three games up for a few days shortly before the All-Star break.

Here are the teams (or pairs of teams) that have led the major league standings at the end of each day since the start of May.

May 1-7: Dodgers

May 8-9: Dodgers and Tigers

May 10: Padres

May 11-12: Dodgers

May 13: Mets and Tigers

May 14: Tigers

May 15: Dodgers and Tigers

May 16-22: Tigers

May 23-27: Phillies

May 28-June 10: Tigers

June 11-12: Mets

June 13-24: Tigers

June 25-26: Dodgers and Tigers

June 27: Dodgers

June 28-30: Dodgers and Tigers

July 1-4: Dodgers

July 5: Dodgers and Tigers

July 6-18: Tigers

July 19: Cubs

July 20: Tigers

July 21: Brewers

July 22: Brewers and Cubs

July 23-24: Brewers

July 25-27: Blue Jays

July 28-Aug. 3: Brewers

Trivia time

Seven of baseball’s current franchises have never finished with game’s best regular-season record. Who are they?

LA’s story

For the first few weeks of the season, it looked like the Dodgers might indeed be on their way to well over 100 wins. The defending champs — who had added pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki in the offseason — won their first eight games, but since then Los Angeles has looked mortal. In early June, the Dodgers had 14 pitchers on the injured list, and although they’re in first place in their division, their current winning percentage of .580 would be their worst since 2018 if that’s where they finish the season.

Line of the week

Pittsburgh’s Liover Peguero hit three home runs in an 8-5 loss to Colorado. It was a tough defeat to swallow for the Pirates, who actually gave ace Paul Skenes some run support, only for him to allow four runs in five-plus innings.

Comeback of the week

On the topic of tough losses to swallow, the Pirates also fell to the Rockies — after scoring nine runs in the top of the first. Pittsburgh led 16-10 before allowing two in the eighth and five in the bottom of the ninth. Brenton Doyle hit a two-run homer to win it 17-16 for Colorado, which had a win probability of 0.5% in the eighth according to Baseball Savant.

The Rockies are the only team this season to win after falling nine runs behind, and they continue to make progress in their effort to avoid matching or breaking the modern record for losses set by the Chicago White Sox last year. Colorado went 3-3 this week and is now 30-81 on the season. The White Sox went 41-121

Trivia answer

Unsurprisingly, the seven are among the majors’ younger franchises — the Rays, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Rockies, Blue Jays, Padres and Rangers.

Of the teams that have finished with the best record in baseball, the one with the longest current drought is the Twins, who last did so in 1965.

Mets' Edwin Diaz named NL Reliever of the Month for July

Mets closer Edwin Diaz was virtually unhittable in the month of July, and he has now been named NL Reliever of the Month for his efforts.

Diaz appeared in 10 games this past month, pitching 11.0 innings while striking out 18 batters without allowing an earned run. He didn’t allow a hit in six of those outings, and picked up seven saves in the month.

An All-Star this season for the third time, Diaz has been one of the best relievers in the game this year, pitching to a miniscule 1.44 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. Diaz’s 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings are the most for any NL pitcher who has faced at least 130 batters this season.

Diaz has not allowed an earned run since June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 39 of his 43 appearances this season.

The Mets’ closer also took home the NL Reliever of the Month Award in May, when he tossed 11 scoreless appearances, and he’s likely the favorite to take home the Trevor Hoffman Award as NL Reliever of the Year (which he also won in 2022).

Royals at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Royals (56-56) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (62-51).

Bailey Falter is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Brayan Bello for Boston.

Both these teams are playing well. The Royals arrive in Beantown having taken two of three over the weekend in Toronto while the Sox swept the Astros in Boston.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Royals at Red Sox

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, NESN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Royals at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+135), Red Sox (-160)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Bailey Falter vs. Brayan Bello
    • Royals: Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 at San Francisco - 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 1 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA)
      Last outing: July 30 at Minnesota - 1.29 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Red Sox

  • The Red Sox have won 16 of their last 20 games at home
  • Each of the Royals' last 5 road games with the Red Sox have stayed under the Total
  • The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 11 of their last 13 games
  • Brayan Bello has struck out 4 or 5 opposing hitters in each of his last 4 starts
  • Alex Bregman was 2-11 over the weekend against his former team

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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

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 Monday's game between the Royals and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under 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:

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

A’s find hope in Nick Kurtz and young stars as team eyes Las Vegas in 2028

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Even Athletics veterans walk around the clubhouse wearing “Nick Kurtz goes yard” T-shirts, and they know what he means for the franchise’s future.

Kurtz, who recently had one of the greatest individual performances in big-league history, is the odds-on favorite to be AL Rookie of the Year. He’s hardly the only talented youngster giving A’s fans — wherever they might be — reason to feel optimistic about the team’s on-field direction.

The A’s are in transition in more ways than one. Most notably, the club is playing the first of what’s expected to be three seasons in Sacramento — a temporary, minor league home for the former Oakland franchise until a new stadium is scheduled to be ready in Las Vegas for 2028.

The roster is shaping up to be a dynamic and competitive one when they arrive. Kurtz is the headliner, but teammate Jacob Wilson was the second favorite for top rookie before going on the injured list with a broken left forearm. Lawrence Butler, an electric outfield defender with pop and speed, also looks like a centerpiece for the type of team the A’s want to take to Las Vegas.

The club added 18-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries as part of a multiplayer trade with San Diego that sent out closer Mason Miller and his 101-mph fastball. MLB.com rates De Vries as as baseball’s No. 3 prospect.

Also on the roster — and under contract through at least 2028 — is All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker. Kurtz, Wilson and catcher Shea Langeliers are among the starters who could be under team control with the planned moved to Las Vegas. That core isn’t translating into wins yet — the team is 49-65 this season, worst in the AL West — largely because the team’s pitching lags behind.

“We certainly want to win in present day and ‘26 and ’27 are important to us, but a lot of our internal conversations are about what the team will look like in 2028 when we get to Las Vegas,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “You can see it some of the contracts we signed, starting obviously with the manager (Mark Kotsay), but also with Rooker and Lawrence, making sure that two of our key guys are locked up into our time in Vegas.”

Whether management keeps the team together is a question. The A’s have a history of trading young players on the verge of landing lucrative contracts and keeping their payroll among the lowest in baseball.

Maybe that changes with the anticipated move to Las Vegas, given owner John Fisher might want to bring a competitive team to the market. The A’s, in fact, opened up the wallet this year and signed Rooker to a five-year, $60 million contract and a seven-year, $65.5 million deal with Butler.

“I feel like we’re headed in the right direction,” Butler said. “We’ve got a lot of young players. When a team calls up young players, they might not be ready, but I feel like all our guys are ready. They’ve shown that they can compete at this level.”

Butler, 25, is part of a clubhouse filled with promising 20-somethings.

“In this locker room, I am kind of the old man,” the 30-year-old Rooker said. “I don’t know if I take them under my wing. These guys are better players than I am. They don’t need the help.”

Kurtz and Wilson were battling it out for the AL’s top first-year player award, and maybe that competition will continue if and when Wilson — the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to the All-Star Game — returns to the lineup.

Kurtz has done his best to make it a one-man race. He became the first rookie to hit four home runs in a game and tied the major-league record with 19 total bases by going 6 for 6 with eight RBIs on July 25 at Houston.

That performance gave Kurtz consecutive AL player of the week honors. He led the majors in multiple categories in July, including batting average (.395), on-base percentage (.480) and slugging percentage (.953). The 22-year-old already has shown a knack for delivering in key moments with seven game-winning RBIs and five go-ahead homers.

“It’s the moment you dream about as a kid,” Kurtz said. “You’re in a spot where you can end the game with a walk-off or take the lead. Baseball’s so hard. You’re supposed to get out. I come through here, it’s freakin’ awesome. I think I just aim to be calm and I trust my process.”

Kotsay said before the trade deadline that for all the young hitting talent, the A’s could use help with their pitching.

The A’s then added three pitching prospects in the Miller trade and another in right-hander Kenya Huggins when Miguel Andujar was sent to Cincinnati. They have 25-year-old Jack Perkins, called up Luis Morales and have Gage Jump in their minor-league system. The A’s also selected Florida State left-hander Jamie Arnold 11th overall in this year’s draft.

“Where we’ve struggled this year is pitching, both rotation and bullpen,” Forst said. “When we’ve had success on the mound, that’s when we’ve put some good little stretches together.”

Outside of a horrendous stint when the A’s lost 20 of 21 games, they have been largely competitive. That includes a current run of seven wins in 10 games.

“In terms of our vision, in terms of putting a group together that we can win with, I think that talent especially on the players position side is just showing itself,” Kotsay said recently. "(They are) continuing to make improvements and continuing to show what our priorities are, which is playing the game at an elite level and becoming a team that goes out and competes every night.”

The A’s signed Kotsay to an extension in February that takes him through 2028 with an option for 2029. He has had to navigate a club that experienced the fan anger in Oakland toward management for its impending move and now playing in Sacramento.

“I think (Kotsay’s) got one of the tougher jobs in baseball right now in the sense of trying to get the buy-in from the players,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s so much uncertainty with the ballpark and where they’re going to be. I think he’s done a fantastic job. He’s a lifelong A, so he understands the culture of the organization. ... He’s the perfect guy for that organization.”

Guardians at Mets prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Guardians (56-55) are in Queens to open a series against the Mets (63-49).

Slade Cecconi is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Sean Manaea for New York.

The Mets lost a series at home over the weekend to San Francisco. Rafael Devers and the Giants ripped Frankie Montas and New York Sunday afternoon, 12-4.

The Guardians lost to Minnesota yesterday, 5-4 but did take two of three against the Twins over the weekend.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Guardians at Mets

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: CLEG, SNY

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Guardians at the Mets

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+148), Mets (-179)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Slade Cecconi vs. Sean Manaea
    • Guardians: Slade Cecconi (5-4, 3.77 ERA)
      Last outing: July 28 vs. Colorado - 3.86 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Mets: Sean Manaea (1-1, 2.08 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 at San Diego - 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 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 Guardians at Mets

  • The Mets have won 4 of their last 5 home games against American League teams
  • Sean Manaea has allowed one run in each of his 4 starts since returning from the disabled list
  • Francisco Lindor is enjoying a modest 3-game hitting streak (5-11)
  • The Guardians have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road games against the Mets

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 Guardians and the Mets

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Guardians and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Orioles at Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Orioles (51-61) are in Philadelphia to begin a series against the Phillies (63-48).

Cade Povich is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia.

The Phillies took two of three over the weekend against the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers. Last night they won, 2-0, thanks in large part to Kyle Schwarber's 38th home run and eight innings of five-hit ball from Cristopher Sanchez.

Baltimore lost two of three over the weekend to the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago won 5-3 Sunday afternoon. Justin Turner went yard in the bottom of the ninth against Keegan Akin to provide the difference.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Phillies

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, NBCSP

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 Orioles at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+176), Phillies (-210)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Cade Povich vs. Jesús Luzardo
    • Orioles: Cade Povich (2-5, 5.15 ERA)
      Last outing: June 15 vs. Angels - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (9-5, 4.31 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 at White Sox - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 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 Orioles at Phillies

  • The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 home games against the Orioles
  • In the Orioles' last 5 road games the Under is 4-0-1
  • The Orioles have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.57 units
  • Kyle Schwarber was 3-11 against Detroit over the weekend
  • Nick Castellanos has hit safely in 4 straight games (5-14)

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 Orioles and the Phillies

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 Monday's game between the Orioles and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under 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:

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

Giants at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 4

Its Monday, August 4 and the Giants (56-56) are in Pittsburgh to begin a series against the Pirates (48-64).

Justin Verlander is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Johan Oviedo for Pittsburgh.

The Giants picked up a much-needed series win over the weekend in New York against the Mets. Rafael Devers went 3-4 with a home run and drove in four runs to lead San Francisco to a 12-4 win Sunday. It was just their third win in their last ten games.

The Pirates won yesterday as well. Spencer Horwitz homered twice and drove in six runs as the Bucs won 9-5 over the Rockies. Colorado took two of three over the weekend to slow down a Pittsburgh team that had won eight of its previous nine games.

The Pirates and Giants met just a handful of days ago at the end of July in San Francisco with the Bucs sweeping the three-game series.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Giants at Pirates

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, SNP

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 Giants at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Giants (-132), Pirates (+112)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Justin Verlander vs. Johan Oviedo
    • Giants: Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.53 ERA)
      Last outing: July 29 vs. Pittsburgh - 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Pirates: Johan Oviedo (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: Has not pitched in the majors since September 0f 2023

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 Giants at Pirates

  • The Pirates have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • 6 of the Pirates' last 7 home games stayed under the Total
  • The Pirates have covered the Run Line in 6 straight home games
  • Justin Verlander struck out 7 in his last start which happened to be against the Pirates
  • Justin Verlander has allowed one run over his last 2 starts (10 innings)

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 Giants 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 Monday's game between the Giants 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 Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Yankees at Rangers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Yankees (60-52) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (58-55). Max Fried is slated to take the mound for New York against Patrick Corbin for Texas.

The Yankees are coming off three straight losses to the Marlins where New York was outscored 22-14. Prior to that, New York won three consecutive games, so I'm unsure what version of the Yankees we'll get.

Texas is 1-3 in the last four games and 2-5 over the past seven, which follows up a dominant 8-1 stretch to start the second half of the year (now 10-6 in the second half).

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Yankees at Rangers

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: YES, RSN

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 Yankees at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-161), Rangers (+135)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Max Fried vs. Patrick Corbin
    • Yankees: Max Fried, (12-4, 2.62 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.70 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
    • Rangers: Patrick Corbin, (6-7, 3.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.60 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers:

  • 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 Texas Rangers 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Yankees at Rangers

  • The Yankees have lost three straight
  • The Yankees are 1-5 in the last six road games
  • The Rangers are 2-5 in the last seven games
  • The Rangers have won 10 of their last 11 home games, while the Yankees have lost 5 in 6 on the road
  • The Yankees' last 3 versus the Rangers have stayed under the Total
  • The Yankees have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight road 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!

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

It's time for Mets to turn to Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean in rotation

Back in July, with top pitching prospectsBrandon Sproat and Nolan McLeanexcelling for Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets -- who were down multiple starting pitchers at the time -- opted to deploy a handful of bullpen games, which cost them in a big way.

The reasoning at the time, which was fair enough, was that they didn't want to use one of their most prized prospects for a spot-start.

Once the pitching staff became whole again, there were still question marks due to Clay Holmes' transition from relief to starting, Sean Manaea's elbow, and Frankie Montas' struggles.

But the Mets didn't add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline.

President of baseball operations David Stearns explained that while they were engaged in the market, most of the impact pitchers who were rumored to be available were not dealt -- a group that included Sandy Alcantara, Dylan Cease, and Edward Cabrera.

So while the Mets certainly could've used a reinforcement for the staff, it's understandable why they didn't pounce -- especially given the fact that Sproat and McLean are so close to contributing.

And speaking in the hours after the deadline passed, Stearns said the team was prepared to turn to Sproat and McLean down the stretch if needed.

"They can help. It’s just a matter of their continued development and when the opportunity does arise, is it the right time," Stearns said. "Both guys have taken very nice steps forward in their development. We’re going to continue to challenge them. We’re going to continue to ask them to get better and work on things. They are doing a good job. If we need someone from Triple-A, we’ve got people down (there) and they are among them who can help us."

Following Montas' disastrous outing on Sunday against the Giants, the time is now to call on Sproat or McLean.

Against San Francisco, Montas was mostly non-competitive, allowing seven runs in 4.0 innings, including a back-breaking three-run homer to Rafael Devers in the third inning. With the game still within reach, Montas was touched up for three more runs in the fourth inning, effectively ending any chance the Mets had to come back.

Montas now has a 6.68 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through seven starts this season. And while there's a chance he turns it around if the Mets keep going to him, they really can't afford to take the risk with a pitcher who has allowed 11.2 hits per nine and whose FIP (5.07) suggests this isn't bad luck.

Aug 3, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field.
Aug 3, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

A look at Montas' advanced stats shows a pitcher who has done a good job getting batters to chase and who has been a bit above average when it comes to limiting hard contact. But they also show a pitcher whose stuff -- while tantalizing at times -- has graded out near the bottom of the league.

Montas is also among the worst in the league in xERA, xBA, and barrel percentage, and he's simply not missing enough bats -- his strikeout rate is just 7.8 per nine.

During a season where the Mets are scratching and clawing with the Phillies for the NL East title, and following a trade deadline where they were incredibly aggressive while trading for late-inning relievers Ryan Helsley, Tyler Rogers, and Gregory Soto, decisive action is needed.

That action should be the immediate removal of Montas from the rotation, with the team sliding him to the bullpen to take the revolving door role that has been held by Rico Garcia and Austin Warren in recent days.

Speaking after Sunday's game, manager Carlos Mendoza didn't give a yes or no regarding Montas' future in the rotation.

"I mean we just got done with the game here," Mendoza said. "He's got to be better and he knows that."

The above kind of quote is usually code for a team that is prepared to remove a starter from the rotation or truly doesn't yet know which direction they'll turn.

If Montas' spot in the rotation was safe, Mendoza almost certainly would've said so.

Montas' next start would likely be on Saturday, Aug. 9 against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Sproat, who has usually been pitching with five-days rest, would likely be lined up to make his next start on Aug. 6 or 7.

McLean, who has also ordinarily been pitching with five-days rest, would likely be lined up to make his next start on Aug. 5 or 6.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park.
Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol - Imagn Images

While the days don't line up perfectly, one thing the Mets could conceivably do is have Sproat or McLean start on Friday, Aug. 8 against the Brewers. That's because Mets off days on Thursday and next Monday mean they can tweak their rotation a bit, maybe doing something like this over the weekend:

Monday against the Guardians: Sean Manaea
Tuesday against the Guardians: Clay Holmes
Wednesday against the Guardians: David Peterson
Friday against the Brewers: Brandon Sproat or Nolan McLean
Saturday against the Brewers: Kodai Senga (on six-days rest)
Sunday against the Brewers: Manaea (on five-days rest)

The Mets could also simply keep everyone else on their regular turn and give Sproat or McLean even more extra rest.

Either way, the time has come to turn to one of them.

Sproat, leaning heavily on a fastball that has reached 100 mph, has allowed just two runs over his last six starts -- a span of 33.0 innings. He has struck out 39 batters during that span.

McLean has been terrific all season and features a dastardly sweeper to go along with a mid-90s fastball. In 104.0 innings this season for Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse, McLean has a 2.94 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 113 strikeouts.

To be clear, the Mets would not be turning to either Sproat or McLean with the expectation that they'll be a savior.

Yes, both pitchers have the ability to eventually pitch near the top of a big league rotation. But that's not what the Mets can expect now. Nor is it what they even need.

What they need is someone who can take the ball every fifth day and give them a better chance to win than Montas is giving them. And it's fair to believe either Sproat or McLean is ready to do that.

Reds at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 4

It's Monday, August 4 and the Reds (58-54) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (65-46). Nick Lodolo is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Michael Soroka for Chicago.

Chicago and Cincinnati meet for the third series of the season as the Cubs won two out of three both times. Lately, these NL Central squads are trending in different directions.

The Cubs have won three of the past four games, including a ninth inning walkoff in the last contest, while the Reds have dropped four of the last six. Cincinnati is coming off a nine-game home stand where they finished 5-4.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Reds at Cubs

  • Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, MARQ

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Reds at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Reds (+120), Cubs (-143)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for August 4, 2025: Nick Lodolo vs. Michael Soroka
    • Reds: Nick Lodolo, (8-6, 3.09 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.38 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 11 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Michael Soroka, (3-8, 4.87 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.40 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Cubs

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Reds and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Cubs

  • Chicago is 4-2 against Cincinnati this season
  • The Cubs have a 15-4 record in series openers at home this season
  • The Cubs' last 6 matchups against NL Central teams have gone over the Total
  • Chicago is 3-1 in the last four games
  • Cincinnati is 2-4 in the past six 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!

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer To Throw Out First Pitch At Mets Game On Monday

New York Islanders No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer will be throwing out the first pitch at the New York Mets game on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians

New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) on XNew York Islanders (@NYIslanders) on XTaking the mound in Queens! Matthew Schaefer is set to throw the first pitch at tonight’s @Mets game! ⚾️

Schaefer was supposed to receive this honor during development camp, but a rainout put an end to that possibility. 

Schaefer has his eyes set on making the Islanders roster out of training camp, and he'll be given that opportunity.

The Islanders community has embraced this kid from the get-go, as they should, and as many know, there are a ton of Islanders fans who are also Mets fans.

So this crossover event on the diamond will be a cool experience for them, and for Schaefer, who always seems to rise to the occasion. 

Just remember what happens if he throws it high...

Firt pitch is scheduled for 7:10 ET so you should be in your seats by 6:45 to be safe. 

PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images