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Cubs add pitching depth with Michael Soroka, Andrew Kittredge

The Chicago Cubs bolstered their pitching staff ahead of the trade deadline by adding right-handers Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles.

Washington received minor league infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin in the Soroka trade. Baltimore got minor league infielder Wilfri De La Cruz in return for Kittredge.

An All-Star in 2019 with Atlanta, the 27-year-old Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA this season for the Nationals, who signed him to a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason. He should provide depth in the Cubs’ rotation behind Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

The Canadian is 20-26 with a 3.91 ERA in six major league seasons. He tore his right Achilles tendon on a routine fielding play in 2020, and then injured the same tendon while walking into Atlanta’s ballpark the following year. He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Soroka went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA last season for the Chicago White Sox.

The 35-year-old Kittredge was an All-Star in 2021 and has a 3.44 ERA over nine seasons. The reliever has a 3.45 ERA in 31 games this season. He signed a $9 million, one-year deal with Baltimore last offseason that includes a $9 million club option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout.

The Cubs trail the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by one game after beating them 10-3. Chicago gave a contract extension to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who has assembled an entertaining squad led by breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs have not won a playoff series since 2017, the year after they won their first World Series in 108 years.

The Nationals are last in the NL East and fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez.

Soroka was pulled after allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings at Houston as the Nationals shopped him. He has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.

Washington also dealt relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García to the Los Angeles Angels for prospects, and veterans Kyle Finnegan, Josh Bell and Paul DeJong are candidates to be traded before the deadline.

The 18-year-old Cruz joins Washington’s farm system after batting .270 this season for the Cubs’ Rookie-level Arizona Complex League squad. The 25-year-old Franklin is batting .265 with eight homers this season for Triple-A Iowa.

The 17-year-old De La Cruz was one of Chicago’s top international signings in 2025 as a switch-hitter with power potential. He was ranked the Cubs’ 20th-best prospect by Baseball America prior to the trade.

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Giants reportedly trade star closer Camilo Doval to Yankees at 2025 MLB deadline

Giants reportedly trade star closer Camilo Doval to Yankees at 2025 MLB deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A day after they traded their reliable setup man, the Giants parted ways with their closer. 

San Francisco traded former All-Star closer Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. The Giants will acquire infielders Jesús Rodríguez, Parks Harber, right-handed pitcher Trystan Vrieling and left-handed pitcher Carlos De La Rosa, YES Network’s Jack Curry reported.

Doval’s departure is much less of a surprise than the Wednesday trade of Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets. There were rumors in the offseason, and the market has been strong for teams willing to part with hard-throwing late-inning relievers. After they dropped an ugly game Tuesday night, the Giants sped up the pace of talks centered around Doval and Rogers, who was dealt early in a loss that clinched an 0-6 homestand. 

Doval, 28, saved 107 games in parts of five seasons with the Giants and ranked seventh on the organization’s all-time saves list. After debuting early in 2021, he was so dominant down the stretch of that season that he became a rookie closer on a 107-win team that won the NL West. 

Doval was an All-Star two years later and led the National League in saves, leading the previous front office to discuss a long-term extension. That never got completed, and late last season, Doval’s inconsistency led to a brief trip back to Triple-A. 

When right, Doval is as electric as any reliever in the game, but two different coaching staffs had trouble getting through to him at times. He always has struggled with holding runners and is prone to lapses in focus, but he rededicated himself after a rough 2024. Doval took on more of a leadership role this spring and did a better job of controlling the running game and pitching with pace, and when Ryan Walker struggled, he returned to the closer role. 

In 29 appearances, Doval had a 3.09 ERA and 15 saves. He gave up 10 earned runs over a 10-appearance stretch in late June and early July, but with scouts watching closely this week, he was dominant in two appearances against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Doval gave up a leadoff single in the top of the ninth Wednesday and then struck out Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. That ended up being his final appearance in orange and black. 

In a span of two days, the Giants traded relievers who rank first (Rogers) and third (Doval) in appearances in the National League since the start of 2022. They have raised the white flag, but they did well in terms of restocking their 40-man roster. The trade market for back-end relievers exploded, and Buster Posey took advantage. 

Randy Rodriguez will now become the closer, although it’ll be a different look. Rodriguez has been as good as any pitcher in the NL this season, but his workload needs to be watched closely, and he was unavailable for the entire Pirates series after going back-to-back against the Mets over the weekend. It’ll be a much different situation from Doval, who often complained that he wasn’t used enough. 

Beyond that, the Giants have a lot to figure out in their bullpen. They have lost two of their three most reliable arms, stripping plenty of talent from a group that kept them afloat through the first half.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Source: Giants trade star closer Camilo Doval to Yankees at 2025 MLB deadline

Source: Giants trade star closer Camilo Doval to Yankees at 2025 MLB deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A day after they traded their reliable setup man, the Giants parted ways with their closer. 

San Francisco traded former All-Star closer Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area after ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the news.

The Giants acquired infielders Jesús Rodríguez, Parks Harber, right-handed pitcher Trystan Vrieling and left-handed pitcher Carlos De La Rosa, YES Network’s Jack Curry reported.

Doval’s departure is much less of a surprise than the Wednesday trade of Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets. There were rumors in the offseason, and the market has been strong for teams willing to part with hard-throwing late-inning relievers. After they dropped an ugly game Tuesday night, the Giants sped up the pace of talks centered around Doval and Rogers, who was dealt early in a loss that clinched an 0-6 homestand. 

Doval, 28, saved 107 games in parts of five seasons with the Giants and ranked seventh on the organization’s all-time saves list. After debuting early in 2021, he was so dominant down the stretch of that season that he became a rookie closer on a 107-win team that won the NL West. 

Doval was an All-Star two years later and led the National League in saves, leading the previous front office to discuss a long-term extension. That never got completed, and late last season, Doval’s inconsistency led to a brief trip back to Triple-A. 

When right, Doval is as electric as any reliever in the game, but two different coaching staffs had trouble getting through to him at times. He always has struggled with holding runners and is prone to lapses in focus, but he rededicated himself after a rough 2024. Doval took on more of a leadership role this spring and did a better job of controlling the running game and pitching with pace, and when Ryan Walker struggled, he returned to the closer role. 

In 29 appearances, Doval had a 3.09 ERA and 15 saves. He gave up 10 earned runs over a 10-appearance stretch in late June and early July, but with scouts watching closely this week, he was dominant in two appearances against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Doval gave up a leadoff single in the top of the ninth Wednesday and then struck out Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. That ended up being his final appearance in orange and black. 

In a span of two days, the Giants traded relievers who rank first (Rogers) and third (Doval) in appearances in the National League since the start of 2022. They have raised the white flag, but they did well in terms of restocking their 40-man roster. The trade market for back-end relievers exploded, and Buster Posey took advantage. 

Randy Rodriguez will now become the closer, although it’ll be a different look. Rodriguez has been as good as any pitcher in the NL this season, but his workload needs to be watched closely, and he was unavailable for the entire Pirates series after going back-to-back against the Mets over the weekend. It’ll be a much different situation from Doval, who often complained that he wasn’t used enough. 

Beyond that, the Giants have a lot to figure out in their bullpen. They have lost two of their three most reliable arms, stripping plenty of talent from a group that kept them afloat through the first half.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Rebuilding Guardians trade pitchers Shane Bieber and Paul Sewald to contending Blue Jays and Tigers

Pitcher Shane Bieber is headed to the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays in a deal with the rebuilding Cleveland Guardians, who also dealt right-hander Paul Sewald in the division to the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

The Guardians began trade deadline day in second place in the AL Central, nine games behind Detroit and potentially in the wild-card race, but their moves signal this has become a spiraling season.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, a three-time All-Star, was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a Major League Baseball investigation into sports betting earlier in the week.

Luis Ortiz also is on non-disciplinary leave through Aug. 31, stemming from an investigation regarding in-game prop bets on two pitches thrown by the right-hander that received higher activity than usual during his starts at Seattle on June 15 and against St. Louis on June 27. The gambling activity on the pitches was flagged by a betting integrity firm and forwarded to MLB.

Bieber, who is working his way back from April 2024 Tommy John surgery, has made five rehab starts. His most recent outing was Tuesday for Double-A Akron, in which he allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven in four innings. His next rehab start was scheduled for Sunday.

The Guardians are getting right-hander Khal Stephen from the Blue Jays.

Bieber had spent his entire career in Cleveland, including winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2020. He has a career record of 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA and 958 strikeouts in 136 games, with 134 starts since his debut in 2018.

He agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026.

The 22-year old Stephen has a combined record of 9-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 18 games, with 17 starts, in the Blue Jays’ farm system this season. He was a second-round selection (59th overall) by Toronto in the 2024 amateur draft. He made one start for Double-A New Hampshire following his promotion on July 20 before being placed on the injured list with right shoulder impingement.

Cleveland traded Sewald to Detroit for a player to be named later.

The Tigers bolstered their bullpen with the 35-year-old Sewald, who is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday after being shut down with a strained right shoulder.

Sewald is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 18 games this season, averaging more than one strikeout each inning. He is 21-26 with a 4.11 ERA with 86 saves in 377 appearances with the New York Mets, Seattle, Arizona and Cleveland.

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Cubs add depth to rotation by acquiring Michael Soroka from Nationals

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-hander Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals, adding a veteran starter as they pursue an NL Central title.

Washington received two minor leaguers: infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin.

An All-Star in 2019 with Atlanta, the 27-year-old Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA this season for the Nationals, who signed him to a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason. He should provide depth in the Cubs’ rotation behind Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

The Canadian is 20-26 with a 3.91 ERA in six major league seasons. He tore his right Achilles tendon on a routine fielding play in 2020, then injured the same tendon while walking into Atlanta’s ballpark the following year. He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Soroka went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA last season for the Chicago White Sox.

The Cubs trail the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by one game after beating them 10-3. Chicago gave a contract extension to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who has assembled an entertaining squad led by breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs have not won a playoff series since 2017, the year after they won their first World Series in 108 years.

The Nationals are last in the NL East and fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez.

Soroka was pulled after allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings at Houston as the Nationals shopped him. He has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.

Washington also dealt relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García to the Los Angeles Angels for prospects, and veterans Kyle Finnegan, Josh Bell and Paul DeJong are candidates to be traded before the deadline.

The 18-year-old Cruz joins Washington’s farm system after batting .270 this season for the Cubs’ Rookie-level Arizona Complex League squad. The 25-year-old Franklin is batting .265 with eight homers this season for Triple-A Iowa.

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Shohei Ohtani leaves the mound with cramping vs. Reds but hopes to make next start

CINCINNATI — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is hopeful that he will be able to make his next mound start after his outing was cut short by cramping in his right hip.

Ohtani was scheduled to go four innings on a hot, humid night against the Cincinnati Reds, but he left without recording an out in the fourth after he threw six straight balls, including two consecutive wild pitches.

The 31-year old reigning NL MVP said he started to cramp in the first inning.

“Just tried to work around it. I was able to do so up until the third and it didn’t quite work out in the fourth,” Ohtani said through an interpreter after the Dodgers’ 5-2 loss.

Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts both blamed the cramping on the weather. The temperature at first pitch was 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) with a heat index near 100.

Roberts went out with the trainer after Ohtani threw a 86.3 mph sweeper that was low and outside the strike zone for a 2-0 count to Spencer Steer. After a conference on the mound, Ohtani left with the trainer.

“I just saw a funky throw. The follow-through just didn’t look right. And then he threw another pitch and I just didn’t see the finish the right way,” Roberts said. “It was very concerning because I didn’t know what it was. He said it was his hip. I talked to him and he said it was the humidity. So I feel better knowing that.”

Ohtani — who leads the NL with 38 home runs — remained in the game at designated hitter, but went 0 for 5, a day after he struck out four times. He hit a line drive to Cincinnati center fielder Will Benson for the final out.

“I don’t play defense. That helped, but at the same time we were playing a close game and I wanted to help the team win,” Ohtani said.

This was Ohtani’s seventh mound start in his comeback from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, which occurred after the 2023 season. He did not pitch at all last season, his first for the Dodgers after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract, but he starred at DH — finishing with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases — and won his third MVP award.

Even though it was cut short, it still was Ohtani’s longest outing of his pitching comeback.

He threw 51 pitches, 32 for strikes, and allowed two runs on five hits in three-plus innings. He struck out four and walked two.

“A good thing about today’s outing is my pitch count was where I wanted it to be. I think this is a step forward in a sense,” said Ohtani, who has a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings. “I didn’t feel great to be honest physically the past couple days.”

Ohtani has allowed four runs, three in the first inning. He has faced 63 batters, striking out 17 and walking five.

Ohtani’s most-used pitch in his first six outings was the fastball (49%), followed by the sweeper (25%). Against the Reds, he threw only 14 fastballs and 29 sweepers. All eight of the Reds’ swing-and-misses came on the sweeper.

“Rather than pitch type it was manipulating the way I was throwing. Just not trying to get too deep on my delivery. Just trying to focus on mechanics,” Ohtani said.

Noelvi Marte led off the Reds’ fourth with a single and advanced to third on Ohtani’s two wild pitches to Tyler Stephenson, who then walked.

Ohtani threw two balls to Steer and was replaced by Anthony Banda, who walked Steer and gave up Benson’s sacrifice fly that tied the game at 2-all.

As long as everything checks out, Ohtani’s next start would be Aug. 6 against St. Louis at Dodger Stadium.

“He’ll have a week and it will be at home, so there won’t be humidity to deal with,” Roberts said.

Ohtani might start having second thoughts though about facing the Reds on the mound. Prior to, his last pitching appearance against Cincinnati was Aug. 23, 2023, for the Los Angeles Angels. He left in the second inning with a torn ligament in his elbow, an injury that led to his second Tommy John surgery.

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Suárez to Mariners, Durán to Phillies as MLB trade market heats up before Thursday’s deadline

The Seattle Mariners acquired slugger Eugenio Suárez, the Philadelphia Phillies dealt for hard-throwing reliever Jhoan Durán and identical twin relievers Tyler and Taylor Rogers got traded on the same day, capping a busy Wednesday as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches on Thursday.

Suárez — who had 36 homers and 87 RBIs this season for the Arizona Diamondbacks — was widely considered one of the top prizes of the trade deadline. A person familiar with the transaction confirmed it to The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced.

The 34-year-old Suárez spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Mariners, hitting 53 homers.

The 27-year-old Durán has a 2.01 ERA and 16 saves this season, striking out 53 over 49 1/3 innings for the Minnesota Twins. The Phillies gave up two top prospects, catcher Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel.

Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley are headed to the New York Mets, who are fighting for first place in the NL East with the Phillies. The accomplished relievers join Edwin Díaz in the bullpen to give the Mets multiple late-inning options.

The durable Rogers — who has a distinctive submarine delivery — has made 53 appearances this season with a 1.80 ERA, four walks and 38 strikeouts for the San Francisco Giants. The Mets sent the Giants right-handers José Buttó and Blade Tidwell, along with outfielder Drew Gilbert.

Helsley has a 3.00 ERA, 21 saves and 41 strikeouts over 36 innings this year for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he’s spent the past seven seasons. New York dealt St. Louis three minor leaguers, including infielder Jesus Baez and right-handers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt.

Even after Suarez was dealt, many of the trade deadline’s biggest names remained on the market, setting up a potentially fascinating 24 hours.

Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller and Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan were among the potential season-altering additions that teams were pursuing ahead of Thursday’s 6 p.m. EDT deadline.

In other moves Wednesday, the New York Yankees added veteran outfielder Austin Slater, the Cincinnati Reds acquired Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Chicago Cubs traded for right-handed starter Michael Soroka.

The 32-year-old Slater gives the Yankees a dependable right-handed batter for the final two months of the season. He’s hit .236 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 51 games with the White Sox this season and has an .859 OPS against left-handed pitching.

The White Sox acquired minor league pitching prospect Gage Ziehl in the trade.

The Reds acquired Hayes from the Pirates in exchange for Taylor Rogers, who unlike his brother throws lefty — and overhand. Pittsburgh also got shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura and cash from Cincinnati.

The swap gives the Reds an elite defender at third with a manageable contract. The 28-year-old Hayes, a Gold Glove winner in 2023, has four-plus years left on the extension he signed with Pittsburgh in 2022.

He will make $7 million in 2026 and 2027 and $8 million in 2028 and 2029, with a club option for $12 million in 2030. He’s hitting .236 with two home runs and 36 RBIs this season.

The 27-year-old Soroka is off to Chicago, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. He was an All-Star in 2019 and has 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA for the Washington Nationals this season.

Washington received two minor leaguers — infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin.

Suárez returned to the Diamondbacks’ lineup on Wednesday and went 1 for 4, two days after an injury scare. The slugger was hit on the right index finger by a pitch against the Detroit Tigers on Monday.

The D-backs have turned into sellers at the deadline after dropping eight of their last nine games and falling to 51-58. Right-handed pitchers Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen are among the other Arizona players who could be dealt.

In other moves on Wednesday:

— The Red Sox acquired lefty Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for minor league first baseman Blaze Jordan.

— The Reds traded for right-hander Zach Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-way deal involving the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.

— The Los Angeles Angels acquired relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García from the Nationals for left-hander Jake Eder and minor league first baseman Sam Brown.

— The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran reliever Tyler Kinley from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitcher Austin Smith.

— The Seattle Mariners agreed to add left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving their bullpen another arm as they make a playoff push. The Pirates received right-handed pitching prospect Jeter Martinez.

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Phillies make another trade with Twins, acquire righthanded outfielder

Phillies make another trade with Twins, acquire righthanded outfielder originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski met with the media in the Phillies clubhouse at Rate Field in Chicago to announce the team acquiring Jhoan Duran, he was asked if there was another move coming.

“We’re not done,” he said, before quickly backtracking to “we’re not done talking.”

Talk he did, and to the same team that brought them Duran, to the Minnesota Twins for a second deal that brought the Phillies righthanded outfielder Harrison Bader. They sent a pair of prospects, outfielder Hendry Mendez and righthanded pitcher Geremy Villoria, as return.

Bader, the 31-year-old, has traveled the league in his nine seasons and is considered a very good outfielder. He was named the Best Defensive Outfielder in the National League in Baseball America’s 2019 Best Tools survey of managers, coaches, scouts and executives and in 2021 won the Gold Glove award for centerfield.

He signed a one-year contract with the Twins before the season for $6.25 million with a mutual option for 2026.

Bader isn’t the big bat or more well-known player that was rumored to be coming to the Phillies in the previous days. Those names were Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox, Cleveland’s Steven Kwan or Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez, who was moved to the Seattle Mariners, to name a few. But the addition of Hader will perhaps stabilize an outfield for manager Rob Thomson that has platooned Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas in center and left for most of the season.

Is the team done with their $10 million experiment in Kepler, who is hitting just .203 this season? Are they going to give Justin Crawford a shot as he is hitting .325 in Lehigh Valley with 33 stolen bases? Is there room for another upscale defender, low-power guy in the outfield? Crawford has just three home runs in 329 at bats, Rojas is a player the organization just wants to try and reach base to create some havoc with his speed and, though he is hitting the ball very well of late, Marsh isn’t exactly a bopper, as his five home runs prove.

Marsh, it appears, is pretty much set in stone to get a majority of playing time, whether it be left or center. Though his .204 batting average and .286 on base percentage against lefties this year isn’t ideal. Bader is also someone who can play either left or center and someone who hits a bit better against righthanders (.266 avg., .347 OBP) than lefties (,241, .318). One thing that is for certain is that Nick Castellanos will be the right fielder.

As much delight, and rightfully so, the Duran trade brought to the baseball fans of the Delaware Valley, the addition of Bader seems to be garnering the “uh, okay” type of reaction that sticks to a player that now will be suiting up for his sixth team in nine years.

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Rangers at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 31

Its Thursday, July 31 and the Rangers (57-52) are in Seattle to open a series against the Mariners (57-52).

Kumar Rocker is slated to take the mound for Texas against George Kirby for Seattle.

Losers of two of their last three, the Mariners look to build momentum for a playoff push as they take the field against a Rangers' club that has rallied of late to pull even with Seattle and within five games of first place Houston.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Mariners

  • Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, RSNW

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 Rangers at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+131), Mariners (-157)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for July 31, 2025: Kumar Rocker vs. George Kirby
    • Rangers: Kumar Rocker (4-4, 5.73 ERA)
      Last outing: July 26 vs. Atlanta - 6.75 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: George Kirby (5-5, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: July 26 at Texas - 3.00 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 9 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 Rangers at Mariners

  • The Rangers have won 4 of their last 5 series
  • In his last 5 home starts George Kirby has an ERA of 2.88
  • The Mariners have covered the Run Line in 7 of their last 9 home matchups against the Rangers
  • J.P. Crawford is 0-12 over his last 3 games and 2-38 over his last 9 games

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rangers and the Mariners:

  • 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 7.0.

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

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Padres could be serious threat to trade for Mets target Luis Robert Jr.: report

With the MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Mets have been discussing a potential trade with the White Sox that would bring Luis Robert Jr. to Queens.

According to multiple reports, New York has been one of the most aggressive suitors for Robert.

However, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported on Thursday that while the Mets and Phillies "remain in the mix to some extent" on Robert, "the Padres have emerged as the team to watch."

As far as what it could take to acquire Robert, ESPN's Buster Olney recently reported that the White Sox "are resolute in the stance that they'll either receive a trade return equivalent of what Robert's potential is or hang onto him beyond the deadline."

Mark Vientosand Luisangel Acuña are "among the names that have come up" between the Mets and White Sox, according to Olney.

SNY's Andy Martino reported on Monday that the Mets were discussing Vientos in trade talks.

Robert's year at the plate hasn't been great, but he has erupted over the last two weeks, slashing .314/.407/.569 with four homers in 59 plate appearances over 16 games.

Jul 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park.
Jul 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) hits a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Going back to June 6, Robert has been strong, hitting .260/.347/.462 with six homers in 119 plate appearances spanning 32 games.

The Mets are currently using Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil in center field, which is less than ideal given Taylor's offensive struggles and McNeil being out of position.

President of baseball operations David Stearns hedged a bit recently when asked about upgrading center field. But he explained that the team would be open to it if the player they acquired passed a certain "bar" for them.

Whether Chicago is bluffing or not when it comes to the return they're seeking for Robert remains to be seen, but it's hard to picture any team paying top dollar in terms of major league talent and/or position players in order to acquire a player who has struggled badly at the plate for most of the last two seasons.

What complicates matters is that while Robert can be a free agent after the season, his contract contains a pair of club options -- worth $20 million each for 2026 and 2027.

That means the Sox could theoretically keep him and pick up his option if he excels down the stretch. It also means an acquiring team isn't taking on much risk, but could reap a serious reward if Robert snaps back into being the player he was as recently as 2023, when he smashed 38 homers and had an .857 OPS.

Still just 27 years old, Robert's potential is immense. And while his offensive ceiling is the most tantalizing part of his game, he's also an elite defensive center fielder.

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Yankees reportedly land Pirates' David Bednar in MLB trade deadline splash

Yankees reportedly land Pirates' David Bednar in MLB trade deadline splash originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The New York Yankees have made an MLB trade deadline day splash.

New York is acquiring two-time All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was first to report the deal.

New York reportedly is sending a trio of prospects to Pittsburgh: catchers Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez, along with outfielder Brian Sanchez. Flores and Perez were the Yankees’ eighth- and 14th-ranked prospects, respectively, according to MLB.com.

Bednar, 30, has rebounded from a down 2024 campaign, sporting a 2.37 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 10 walks in 38 innings across 42 appearances this season. The right-hander is also a perfect 17-for-17 in save opportunities.

Bedar was an All-Star in back-to-back seasons before his ERA ballooned to 5.77 in 2024.

Bednar is under club control for one more season beyond 2025.

This story is being updated.

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Braves at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 31

Its Thursday, July 31 and the Braves (45-62) are in Cincinnati to begin a series against the Reds (57-52).

Carlos Carrasco is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati. Carrasco has not pitched in a game since May 4.

The Braves come to town having lost two straight in a season that has seen little go right. Yesterday they managed just five hits and lost 1-0 to the Royals in ten innings. The Reds salvaged the finale of their series against the Dodgers yesterday, knocking off the defending world champs, 5-2. Cincy broke open a tie game with three in the eighth. Spencer Steer plated two with one of his two hits on the night.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Braves at Reds

  • Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, FDSNOH, 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 Braves at the Reds

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (+134), Reds (-160)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for July 31, 2025: Carlos Carrasco vs. Andrew Abbott
    • Braves: Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.91 ERA)
      Last outing: May 4 vs. Tampa Bay - 6.00 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.09 ERA)
      Last outing: July 26 vs. Tampa Bay - 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

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

  • The Reds have won their last 5 home games against teams with worse records
  • The Under is 41-22-5 in Reds' games against National League teams this season
  • The Braves have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight games against the Reds
  • Elly De La Cruz was 3-11 in the recently concluded series against the Dodgers
  • Matt Olson is 25-96 (.260) this month

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 Braves and the Reds

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Braves and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cincinnati Reds 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 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)
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ICYMI in Mets Land: Bold trades transform bullpen; what's next on deadline day?

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

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Rays at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 31

Its Thursday, July 31 and the Rays (54-55) are in Bronx to wrap up their series against the Yankees (59-49).

Ryan Pepiot is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Marcus Stroman for New York.

The Yankees won a thriller last night in eleven innings, 5-4. Three times they rallied to tie the game ultimately winning it in the eleventh on Ryan McMahon's single. Today, New York looks to make it three wins in the four-game series and gain ground in the American League East (four games behind Toronto) while the Rays look to even the series and cling to life in the rave for the playoffs (three games behind the leaders in the Wild Card chase).

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 the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Rays at Yankees

  • Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, YES

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 Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (-104), Yankees (-116)
  • Spread:  Yankees 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for July 31, 2025: Ryan Pepiot vs. Marcus Stroman
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot (6-8, 3.42 ERA)
      Last outing: July 26 at Cincinnati - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Yankees: Marcus Stroman (2-2, 6.09 ERA)
      Last outing: July 26 vs. Philadelphia - 9.82 ERA, 4 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 Rays at Yankees

  • The Yankees have a losing record (13-19) in divisional games this season
  • The Under is 40-29-4 in the Rays' games against American League teams this season
  • Ryan McMahon is 6-17 since being traded to the Yankees
  • Anthony Volpe is 3-11 through 3 games of the Tampa series

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

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Rays and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rays and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays 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

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)
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Athletics trade Mason Miller and J.P. Sears to Padres for four players: Report

Athletics trade Mason Miller and J.P. Sears to Padres for four players: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Athletics shook up their roster in a major way on Thursday.

The Green and Gold traded star closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher J.P. Sears to the San Diego Padres for shortstop prospect Leodalis De Vries, the No. 3 prospect in baseball, and right-handed pitchers Braden Nett, Henry Báez and Eduarniel Nuñez, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported, citing sources.

The 26-year-old Miller was an All-Star for the Athletics in 2024, and in 38 games this season, posted a 3.76 ERA with 59 strikeouts, 18 walks and 20 saves in 38 1/3 innings pitched.

Sears, the Athletics’ staff ace, posted a 4.95 ERA with 97 strikeouts to 29 walks in 111 innings pitched this season.

While both pitchers certainly were beloved by fans and within the organization, it appears the A’s got a haul from the Padres.

As mentioned, De Vries is the third-best prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com, and in 82 games at the High-A level, the 18-year-old shortstop is batting .245/.357/.410 with eight home runs, 46 RBI and eight stolen bases with a .767 OPS in 368 plate appearances.

Nett, a 23-year-old starting pitcher, is San Diego’s No. 3 prospect, and in 17 starts at the Double-A level, posted a 3.39 ERA with 86 strikeouts to 34 walks in 74 1/3 innings pitched.

Báez, a 22-year-old starting pitcher, is San Diego’s No. 13 prospect, and in 20 starts at the Double-A level, posted a very impressive 1.96 ERA with 89 strikeouts and 31 walks in 96 2/3 innings pitched.

Finally, Nuñez, a 26-year-old relief pitcher and San Diego’s No. 17 prospect, posted a 2.83 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 17 walks in 35 innings pitched across the Double- and Triple-A levels this season while surrendering two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work at the major-league level.