WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Walker Janek #6 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (71-68) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Price 3 run home run. In the 2nd inning, Spence connected on a solo home run. Alexander start for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 6 runs over 3.2 innings. In the third, Dezenzo drove in a run on a groundout. Swanson pitched in relief and allowed 2 runs as the Comets extended their lead. The offense got another run in the 8th on a Delgado groundout but that was it as Sugar Land fell 8-6.
Nic Swanson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (61-73) won 5-3 (BOX SCORE)
Shoemaker started for the Hooks and tossed 4 scoreless innings allowing just one hit. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning scoring 4 runs on a Janek RBI double, Moss 2 run single and Holy RBI single. The pen allowed a few runs as the RockHounds made it close. The offense got an insurance run in the 9th on a Thomas sac fly and David tossed a scoreless 9th inning to close out the 5-3 win.
The New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies by multiple runs in the first two games of this series, and my Rockies vs. Yankees predictions expect more of the same in the finale.
New York's power should be front and center against Ryan Feltner, who bleeds home runs and will get no help from the favorable conditions at Yankee Stadium.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks before first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Who will win Rockies vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (58%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Ryan Feltner is one of the most hittable pitchers in the majors, ranking in the second percentile in xERA.
Pitching a healthy chunk of games at Coors Field hasn’t helped his cause but, unfortunately for Feltner, playing in warm weather at Yankee Stadium isn’t much better.
Feltner has posted a 5.91 ERA and allowed 1.86 HR/9 in hitter-friendly conditions. Things are unlikely to go well for him against a New York Yankees squad sitting third in ISO vs. right-handed pitching.
Max Fried should get a ton of run support, making the Yankees run line a buy up to 59%.
Rockies vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (53%)
Feltner has allowed nearly two baserunners per inning over the last 30 days. He's giving up a ton of traffic, and the Yankees certainly have the power to cash in.
They sit fifth in homers against righties — and third at home — despite playing a ton of games without Aaron Judge. Luis Garcia Jr. is also still relatively new to the scene and adds to their pop.
The Colorado Rockies quietly rank eighth in road wOBA vs. southpaws the past two months, and could cause headaches for Fried.
Play to 55%.
Rockies vs Yankees home run prediction: Aaron Judge (32%)
Aaron Judge hasn’t left the park since returning from injury, and this is the perfect storm for that to happen. Hot weather and wind blowing out create a great environment for homers, with a 22% boost projected for this game.
Judge also shines against Feltner’s pitch mix. Isolating the three pitches he uses at least 20% of the time facing righties, Judge owns a .270 ISO and a remarkably high 21.3% barrel rate. All rise!
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 106-92, -7.4 units
Over/Under bets: 101-91-6, -2.61 units
Rockies vs Yankees weather
The bats will see a big boost with temperatures in the 80s and winds blowing out in an already hitter-friendly ballpark.
Rockies vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Rockies 26% | Yankees 75%
Run line: Rockies +2.5 (55%) | Yankees -2.5 (45%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (53%) | Under 8.5 (48%)
Rockies vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have covered the run line in 15 of their last 22 games for +11.15 units and a 42% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rockies vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Thursday, September 10, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, YES
Rockies starting pitcher
Ryan Feltner (5-9, 5.91 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-4, 2.73 ERA)
Rockies vs Yankees latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Logan Wagner #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats in the seventh inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Two games and two wins, as the Comets and Drillers were the only teams in action on Wednesday.
Player of the Day
Logan Wagner hasn’t had the easiest of transitions to Double-A, which is to be expected given he began the year in rookie ball. However, in this particular game against the Naturals, he was as menacing a hitter as the Drillers had at the plate, with a pair of long shots.
Although Wagner had multiple displays of power this season prior to yesterday’s game, it was only his second multihomer performance of the season, taking his season total to 22 across three separate levels.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
What did Gavin Stone, Edwin Díaz, and Kris Bubic all have in common as the Comets outhit the Space Cowboys on their way to an 8-6 win? All three of them failed to complete a full inning; Stone was removed with two outs in the first after seeing his pitch count rise over 30 in an inning in which he allowed three runs. Díaz’s pitch count climbed over 20 to secure a pair of outs as he allowed multiple walks, and lastly, Kris Bubic came into the game just to finish off the third inning started by Díaz.
The lack of length from several Comets pitchers led to Jackson Ferris coming in early and completing six innings of work as the Comets rode the hot hand all the way to the end of this game. Ferris had the incredibly rare six-inning save, allowing fewer hits (2) and runs (1) than the pitchers for the game’s first three innings combined.
Scoring six of their eight runs in the first two innings, the Comets were aggressive early and didn’t require a lot of slugging to reach this impressive total. Their most important hit came in the second when Ryan Fitzgerald knocked a bases-clearing double to make it 6-4 and give OKC its first lead of the game. James Tibbs III led the team with three runs scored, twice walking and also recording a hit.
In his final game with the Drillers before joining the big league club on Friday, Josue De Paula showed why he is one of this game’s most promising prospects. The Dodgers’ number one prospect homered as part of a blowout win for the Drillers. It was his 27th long shot of the season and one of four for the Drillers against zero from their opponent.
While the batting average has taken a big hit for Logan Wagner in his second promotion of the season—this one to the Drillers—the third baseman had his best game at this new level, securing a pair of long balls, now with six in 29 games in Double-A.
Alex Walsh, Christian Suarez, and Jacob Kmatz did a fantastic job behind starter Aidan Foeller, each of them delivering two-plus scoreless frames to keep the Naturals from even scoring multiple runs. Foeller ran into some problems early on, allowing four of the Naturals’ five hits in just 2.1 innings, but kept the damage minimal, not that it mattered much with the offense scoring 10.
High-A Great Lakes
There was no game in High-A, as the Loons return to postseason action this Thursday, visiting the Dragons.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers also had an off-day, with Game 2 of their Division Series against the Storm coming this Thursday.
Transactions
The Dodgers extended Gavin Stone’s rehab assignment with the Comets.
Wednesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 8, Sugar Land 6
NW Arkansas 1, Tulsa 10
No games scheduled
No games scheduled
Thursday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) at Dayton (Kyle McCoy) – Division Series (GL up 1-0)
4:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (TBD) vs. Sugar Land (Brandon McPherson)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (TBD) at NW Arkansas (Grant Grambell)
6:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Lake Elsinore (Kruz Schoolcraft) – Division Series (ONT down 1-0)
Feb 23, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Athletics shortstop Leo de Vries (83) prepares to play the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning A’s fans!
The A’s got hit with more bad injury news recently concerning two of the team’s top two prospects. Young infielder Leo De Vries is set to undergo the knife and be down longer than people expected, possibly as long as eight months:
Can confirm A's No. 1 prospect Leo De Vries will undergo right shoulder surgery to repair an anterior labrum tear. Recovery time could be up to eight months.
The surgery isn’t the surprise, it’s the time he’ll be down for. It is major shoulder surgery though so the timeline shouldn’t come as a complete shock when you think about it. Most of the recent examples that have undergone a similar surgery like Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe or Toronto’s Anthony Santander missed at least eight months. Shohei Ohtani was only down for roughly four but that was to his non-throwing shoulder, which De Vries’ is.
If he does end up missing eight months that’ll see him getting back into the swing of things by mid-May. After a strong year at Double-A there was the expectation he’d begin next year with the Aviators but with the extended time off he may return to the Rockhounds for a rehab stint before his promotion to the last level of the minors. And from there it’s one call from the Athletics’ dugout.
On the bright side the 19-year-old is still incredibly young for the level he played at this year and with youth on his side he should be able to recover from this with no issues or setbacks. No news is good news regarding our top prospect this offseason because that’ll mean his recovery is going smoothly. We’ll see where he is come spring.
Things take a darker turn for the Athletics from here. Left-handed pitching prospect Jamie Arnold was struck in the face by a comebacker in his second Triple-A start by the fourth batter he faced, He was immediately removed from the game.
Per A's: Jamie Arnold was taken to the hospital by the team's medical staff after getting hit by a comebacker on the face tonight with Triple-A Las Vegas. The club will provide another update when one is available.
Not a great day for injuries, or year for that matter. Good news though is that Arnold was able to walk off under his own power. He did make that trip to the hospital though and it was discovered he suffered intra orbital and maxillary sinus fractures. That’s your face bones, people.
It definitely could have been much worse though. Older A’s fans may remember what happened when Brandon McCarthy got hit right in the head with a line drive. Arnold seems to have dodged the worst of it but we’ll have to wait and see what the rest of his year looks like. Surgery won’t be required, so that’s good, but there’s also no time line for his return to the mound. And frankly, it may be a blessing in disguise to end his season here. He’s surpassed his career-high in innings pitched, has reached the final level of the minors and looked good in his first start with the Aviators. Call it a season and have a good offseason. He’ll be needed next year.
And it sounds like a family member shared some good news on X as well:
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us and prayed for Jamie. Considering he took a ball to the face at 107mph, he’s doing well. Has a few broken bones on his left side cheek and a corneal abrasion, but could’ve been so much worse. God is good 🙏❤️ https://t.co/7w55fjAQTv
Looks like Shea just really wants to make it back:
Shea Langeliers will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Las Vegas. Could return as early as next week’s road trip. Will only see playing time as the DH.
Earlier today, Shea Langeliers completed some baserunning drills to continue rehab on his surgically repaired knee. Looks like he's moving around well. 🔜#Athleticspic.twitter.com/aEd2MUPNwH
ICYMI find out what A's farm director Ed Sprague has to say about top A's prospects like Leo De Vries, Jamie Arnold, Drew Burress, Devin Taylor & more on our latest podcast – only on A’s Cast @athleticscast24… https://t.co/7W0fCoFngN
The Lake Elsinore Storm completed their regular season schedule with a 4-1 record for the week and a cancelled game. Unanticipated weather conditions made the Lake Elsinore field unplayable. The tarp had not been deployed the day before the night and early morning rain arrived.
The championship playoff, a best-of-three series against the Ontario Tower Buzzers, started Tuesday, today and Friday, if needed.
Multiple roster moves occurred at the end of the Bridge League in Arizona and the end of both A-level seasons.
RHP JP France and RHP José Leclerc were released from El Paso. Outfielder Kai Murphy and catcher Victor Duarte were returned to the development list.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, LHP Luis Gutierrez, and catcher Anthony Vilar were promoted from San Antonio to El Paso.
RHP Trevor Gott was signed to a minor league contract and assigned to El Paso.
RHP Carson Montgomery, infielder Kerrington Cross, and RHP Will Varmette were promoted from Fort Wayne to San Antonio.
The Lake Elsinore Storm received 2026 first-rounder Coleman Borthwick for their playoff roster. The righty has been pitching in the Bridge League. LHP Jeronimo Palmeros was sent to Arizona to open a roster spot for Borthwick.
El Paso Chihuahuas (56-82 record, last in PCL East)
The Chihuahuas split their week’s series while continuing to struggle with enough pitching to hold opponents in check. RHP Evan Fitterer was their most effective starter for the season with a 4.38 ERA in 88.1 innings pitched in 26 appearances and 20 starts.
RHP Hunter Stratton, acquired at the trade deadline, has pitched in 11 games and 14.2 innings with a 1.23 ERA.
RHP Jhony Brito, called up to the Padres briefly with the roster expansion, returned to El Paso with the activation of Nick Pivetta. He has started and relieved in his 42.1 innings pitched since coming off the injured list. Brito should have a more defined role with next season’s Spring Training work.
The Chihuahuas never really had a chance for a winning season with the constant flow of players back and forth with the parent club. Their offense was robbed of all their effective hitters while the pitching was also in flux and underperformed.
Of the remaining players on El Paso’s offensive roster, outfielder Nick Solak has had the best season. In 105 games, Solak is hitting .316/.379/.505 with 26 doubles, two triples, and 16 home runs for 73 RBI.
San Antonio Missions (58-74 record, last in Texas League South)
The Missions also split their series this past week.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, who struggled for most of the season after breaking out last year, has surged over the past month. In the first two games of the week, Karpathios had 7 hits with 2 homers and 9 RBI. He finished the six games hitting .636 (three doubles, two homers, 13 RBI) for a 1.712 OPS. He earned Texas League Player of the Week honors for that outburst. He was also promoted to El Paso for the last two weeks of their season.
LHP Luis Gutierrez, working to get back into form after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury, had a good start. He threw three innings with two hits and four strikeouts, not allowing a run. He was promoted to El Paso for their last two weeks and could see time in the AFL to continue to work back into form.
RHP Francis Peña, who has struggled with command most of the year, is finishing strong for the Missions. In two appearances, Pena struck out four over four innings pitched. He has a 27.6% K rate but also has a 14.2% walk rate for the year.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (56-74 record, last in Midwest League East)
The TinCaps went 4-2 for the week, with third baseman Kerrington Cross finishing his Single-A stint with a good week. He had a 1.073 OPS for the week and has been hitting for more power of late. Over his last 27 games with Fort Wayne, Cross hit .269/.382/.441. After a dominant start in Lake Elsinore, Cross struggled when promoted to Fort Wayne but looks to have adjusted as the season ended for the team. He was promoted to San Antonio to finish out the season. Quite the first pro year for the 2025 7th-rounder.
RHP Winyer Chourio, 22, signed with the Padres in 2024 as an international player. He played in the ACL in 2025 and began this season with Lake Elsinore, promoted in June. Over those two levels, Chourio has a 6-5 record and a 4.56 ERA in 92.2 innings pitched. Also finishing strong, Chourio has a 2.29 ERA over his final five appearances after struggling to begin his time with the TinCaps.
Catcher Robbie Lavey, the only 2026 Padres draftee to start his pro career in Single-A, played in 16 games with Fort Wayne, hitting .241/.302/.431 with five doubles and two homers for 12 RBI.
Lake Elsinore Storm (66-65 record, 2nd in California League South)
The Storm finished strong after struggling for all of the second half of the season. Shortstop Jorge Quintana, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, got some time at third base after new draftee Elliot Lascelles joined the team, playing at short. Quintana, 19, is still growing into his 6-2 frame. He might be a better fit at third base in the long run. He has just begun to come into his power swing, hitting nine homers in 103 games.
Outfielder Qrey Lott, 21, is an undrafted free agent signed in July 2025. His first full pro season resulted in a .272/.385/.420 batting line with 14 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 42 RBI in 95 games. He is not in the Padres’ top 30 prospect list but bears watching.
2026 second-rounder SS Elliot Lascelles and seventh-rounder IF Joe Tiroly both did well in their pro debuts after signing their contracts. Lascelles hit .321/.406/.429 in 15 games with only 10 strikeouts in 64 plate appearances.
Tiroly hit .323/.380/.692 with seven home runs and 16 RBI in 17 games and 71 plate appearances. He struck out 14 times.
RHP Jesus Castro, 19, completed his first stateside pro season with a five-inning outing, allowing four hits and one run. In 90.1 innings pitched, Castro has a 4.18 ERA in 22 games and 20 games started with 100 strikeouts to 31 walks.
LHP Kruz Schoolcraft had a very inconsistent first season as a Padres prospect. In 22 starts and 79.1 innings pitched, Schoolcraft has a 5.90 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 57 walks.
The Instructional League begins in Arizona before the start of the Arizona Fall League. AFL begins on Oct. 3.
The gang of kids in a scene from the film 'The Sandlot', 1993. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When news broke over a week ago that Arte Moreno had reached an agreement to sell the Los Angeles Angels to Stan Kroenke, my buddy who lives in Mississippi texted me the—dare I say—iconic GIF from Angels in the Outfield:
That child actor is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and he’s gone on to quite the acting career from starring in the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun to portraying Batman’s sidekick in The Dark Knight Rises, among many other credits. He’s a good actor.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the cast for Angels in the Outfield is stacked. I mean, you have JGL in one of his earliest roles, if not his first; then you have established movie stars at the time like Danny Glover and Christopher Lloyd; sitcom star Tony Danza; and future stars Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey.
And that’s not even it!
Does Angels in the Outfield boast the best movie cast of all the baseball movies? It’s off to a strong start, for sure. But I wanted to make sure, so I first listed all of the baseball movies I could think of, then narrowed it down to 11 of them. After that, I wrote down every actor I could think of from that movie before turning to IMDb to see if I missed anyone.
Today’s mission: decide which of these 11 baseball films, listed alphabetically, has the best cast, regardless of how good the movie actually is. Readers can vote at the end.
42
Released in 2013, this Jackie Robinson biopic boasts Marvel star Chadwick Boseman in the title role with Harrison Ford portraying Branch Rickey, the Dodgers GM who signed Robinson. That’s a heck of a 1-2 punch. The cast also includes Nicole Beharie, who’d go on to star in the television show Sleepy Hollow, as Rachel Robinson, plus two doctors from Grey’s Anatomy, the always underrated Hamish Linklater, Christopher Meloni as Leo Durocher, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, John C. McGinley (aka Dr. Cox from Scrubs), and an actor with just an incredible last name, Brett Cullen.
Heck of a first entry. Let’s see if it can be topped.
A League of Their Own
Two titans of modern-day acting in the first two films: Harrison Ford vs Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan, the manager of the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Accompanying Hanks: Geena Davis and Lori Petty as sisters who star for the Peaches; pop star Madonna; 47’s BFF Rosie O’Donnell; The Third Cusack; Jon Lovitz; famed director Garry Marshall as the owner/creator of the league; David Strathairn as his right-hand man; Bill Pillman as Davis’ character’s husband; and early TéaLeoni.
Angels in the Outfield
I went through a good chunk of these actors in the beginning, but to recap: Danny Glover, Christopher Lloyd, Tony Danza, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody, Matthew McConaughey. But joining them: Brenda Fricker, who just passed away and was famous for her role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Jay O. Sanders; my father’s favorite cowboy actor, Ben Johnson, as the owner of the Angels; Neal McDonough; and Dermot Mulroney (not to be confused with Dylan McDermott).
Brewster’s Millions
I love this stupid movie. I have seen it entirely too many times. Richard Pryor stars as Montgomery Brewster, a minor-league pitcher who must spend $30 million in thirty days to inherit $300 million. I’m laughing as I write this because one of the tags for the movie on IMDB is “high-concept comedy.” Sure.
Anyway, starring alongside Pryor is the great John Candy, who plays Spike Nolan, his battery mate and best friend. Other actors include Lonette McKee, Mr. Law & Order himself, Jerry Orbach, Pat Hingle (who played Commissioner Gordon in the Batman movies from 1989 to 1997), and—get ready for this—RICK MORANIS!
One million points awarded.
Field of Dreams
This is probably the best movie on this list, but does it boast the best cast? It’s certainly a strong one with an in-his-prime Kevin Costner starring as an Iowa farmer who hears voices in his head that convince him to create a baseball field in his corn. Then some ghostly baseball players come out of the corn, one played by Ray Liotta, another by Art LaFleur (we’ll see him again), and one by Frank Whaley. Whaley’s character is also portrayed by the great Burt Lancaster in one of his final films. Newly minted scream queenAmy Madigan plays Costner’s wife while her real-life husband, Ed Harris, is The Voice.
Last but certainly not least, James Earl Jones portrays Terence Mann, an early foil to Costner’s Ray Kinsella who then helps solve the mysteries spoken by The Voice.
(Uncredited as fans at Fenway: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, but they’re just extras here, so I’m not counting them.)
Brief interlude here to recognize two movies that feature baseball to a much smaller degree:
Bit of a cheat here as I’m considering all three of the Major League movies. The original’s cast is stacked with the likes of Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and Wesley Snipes, but the first sequel brings in Omar Epps to replace Snipes while the second sequel—a very awful movie that you should at least watch once—stars that guy from Quantum Leap, a young Walton Goggins, and Ted McGinley of Married…with Children and Shrinking fame.
Corbin Bernsen is Roger Dorn in all three films while Dennis Haysbert also shows up in the trio. Rene Russo plays Berenger’s significant other in the first and then is barely in the second while Margaret Whitton excellently mocks Marge Schott. James Gammon, Chelcie Ross, David Keith, and everybody’s favorite announcer, Bob Uecker, also shine in these flicks.
Moneyball
Quality over quantity for Moneyball, which makes sense. Brad Pitt leads as Billy Beane, the general manager of the cheap Oakland Athletics. Jonah Hill co-stars as his right-hand man not named Paul DePodesta while the late Phllip Seymour Hoffman captures the disgruntled manager, Art Howe. Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, and Reed Diamond—shoutouts to Homicide: Life on the Street and The Shield, two of the best cop shows ever—also star. Arliss Howard plays Red Sox owner Johny Henry for one memorable scene. Howard will show up again later in this list.
The Natural
After two very strong candidates in Major League and Moneyball, we have The Natural, which may top both of them. Three Roberts lead the way: Redford as Roy Hobbs, Duvall as journalist Max Mercy, and Prosky as the majority owner known simply as The Judge. But that’s far from all: Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, and Barbara Hershey are also in the movie alongside the likes of Wilford Brimley, Joe Don Baker, Michael Madsen, and Richard Farnsworth.
Folks, I think we may have a new leader in the clubhouse.
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Stern directed this movie about a boy named Henry, played by Thomas Ian Nicholas, who breaks his arm, but when it heals, he can suddenly pitch as fast as Jacob Misiorowski. More believable than The Miz, Henry is a bullpen arm. Eddie Bracken, who plays the owner of the Cubs, has his son, played by Dan Hedaya, sign Henry. Amy Morton stars as Henry’s secretly ballplaying mother while Bruce Altman is truly slimy as her boyfriend.
Lest we forget, Gary Busey, always a wildcard, plays the team’s aging ace, Chet Steadman.
The Sandlot
Interesting candidate here as the main characters are all played by child actors who a) do an amazing job playing kids of a bygone era who love playing baseball during the summer and b) unlike Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Angels in the Outfield and Thomas Ian Nicholas of Rookie of the Year, didn’t do much afterward. Still, these kids are all brilliant.
Of the adult actors in the movie, Karen Allen plays, uh, Mom, who is the mother of the main character, Scotty Smalls. Denis Leary plays Bill, Smalls’ stepdad. Art LaFleur makes the list for the second time, this time as the specter of Babe Ruth. Arliss Howard, also in Moneyball, plays an adult version of Smalls, now a broadcaster for the Dodgers. And James Earl Jones makes his second appearance, this time as the owner of the misunderstood Hercules, the dog who loves to collect baseballs.
The Scout
Last and least, we have The Scout, which stars two of my favorite actors: Albert Brooks as a scout for the Yankees who finds an incredible, Shohei Ohtani-esque baseball talent portrayed by Brendan Fraser. Also in this film: Diane Wiest, the subject of the joke of one of the best cold opens in recent sitcom history:
Those are the eleven contenders. I have to say, I think I’m going with…The Natural by a smidgen over A League of Their Own followed by Field of Dreams. I’m going with Moneyball and Angels in the Outfield to round out the top five.
But now it’s your turn to vote. Poll limited to six options, if it’s an option not listed, feel free to speak up in the comments!
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after scoring during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Led by a George Lombard Jr. grand slam, a good Will Warren outing, and Aaron Judge’s first two hits since returning, the Yankees cruised past the Rockies on Wednesday night. It wasn’t a victory to remark on for too long considering the opposition, but it was exactly the type of game they needed as they try to make their way in the playoff race.
With the Yankees taking care of business, did any teams do them some favors to add onto the win? Let’s take a look back in today’s Rivalry Roundup.
Tampa Bay Rays (87-58) 7, Atlanta Braves (85-61) 2
The Rays timed yet another victory well, downing the Braves and preventing the Yankees from gaining a game in the AL East race.
Led by a Victor Mesa Jr. home run, the Rays struck early, putting up three runs in the second inning. Two frames later, they put up yet another three spot thanks to a combination of three hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. Those six runs proved to be plenty for the Rays.
That’s because Griffin Jax was very solid on the mound for Tampa Bay. He allowed just two hits in five innings, with the one run he allowed coming on a Drake Baldwin home run. Atlanta eventually got another run back as well, but the Braves managed just one baserunner over the final three innings as the Rays won fairly easily.
Other Games
Los Angeles Angels (56-90) 6, Boston Red Sox (80-67) 4: Homers from Zach Neto and Jose Siri allowed the Angels to put up a five spot in the third inning, carrying them past the Red Sox. The Angels jumped all over Red Sox starter Jake Bennett, picking up six runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings off him. For the rest of the game, Boston began to slowly chip away at their deficit. They brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but it proved to be too late.
Pittsburgh Pirates (73-73) 4, Chicago White Sox (75-70) 2: After a tight contest, a three-run seventh inning from the Pirates, including two RBI from Konnor Griffin, helped Pittsburgh pull away and secure the win. That being said, all that was overshadowed by the benches clearing after a bit of some jawing following a double play turned by Pittsburgh. The White Sox were kept off the board for most of the game by a Pirates bullpen game, but did score a couple runs late to make things interesting, although not interesting enough.
Athletics (59-88) 2, Toronto Blue Jays (73-74) 0: The Blue Jays fell back under .500 as they were shutout at the hands of the lowly A’s. Starter Brady Basso threw four scoreless frames before the A’s bullpen finished things off, holding Toronto to no runs on six hits, as they left seven runners on base for the game.
Seattle Mariners (68-78) 3, Texas Rangers (72-74) 2: The Rangers dropped a winnable game in the AL west race as they managed just two runs against the Mariners. Seattle starter and highly rated recent callup Kade Anderson had his best game so far, holding Texas to one run in six innings, as the M’s offense did enough to squeak out the win.
Baltimore Orioles (71-76) 9, Cleveland Guardians (74-73) 5: The Orioles did most of their damage in an eight-run third inning that led to the Guardians failing to gain ground in the standings. Cleveland took a 2-0 lead in the first, but the O’s recorded eight hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch to take the lead and never look back.
Philadelphia Phillies (82-64) 11, Houston Astros (74-72) 7: Kyle Schwarber’s sixth inning grand slam proved to be the difference maker in a high-scoring game against the Astros. The teams traded runs early, with the Astros getting the better of that and holding a lead. However, the Phillies scored six runs in the sixth and held on from there.
AMARILLO, TX - AUGUST 13: Leo de Vries #12 of the Midland RockHounds bats during the game between the Midland RockHounds and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Hello folks! Happy Thursday to you all.
Yesterday, Kade Anderson got his first big league win in a 3-2 Mariners victory over the Rangers. You’ve got to enjoy the little things once you realize a season is lost. Perhaps we’ll see some more encouraging signs from the team in today’s series finale kicking off at 1:10pm PT.
The A’s received devastating news on top prospect Leo De Vries, who will undergo shoulder surgery which is expected to have an eight month recovery timeline.
A’s left-handed pitching prospect Jamie Arnold was diagnosed with facial fractures after being struck by a line drive during Tuesday’s game. He will not require surgery but there is no timetable for his return to baseball activity.
Marc Normandin at Baseball Prospectus gave the optimist’s case for us getting to enjoy baseball games in 2027. ($)
Kent Babb at ESPN wrote about how Mike Trout is passing the baton to Pirates superstar shortstop Konnor Griffin.
Gage Wood of the Reading Phillies warms up before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It wasn’t a good night for Lehigh Valley, but the news was much better out of Reading, where Gage Wood was backed by four home runs, and the Fightin’ Phils reached the precipice of a spot in the Eastern League playoffs.
Worcester 8, Lehigh Valley 3
The IronPigs fell into an early hole on Wednesday, giving up seven runs in the first four innings. Starting pitcher Brian Keller had a rough game, as he was responsible for all seven of those runs.
The ‘Pigs offense was quiet for most of the game before a too little, too late three-run eighth inning. Gabriel Rincones was one of the few players to have a good game with two hits, including his third home run of the season.
Reading 11, Erie 3
The Fightin’ Phils reduced their magic number for a playoff spot to one by bashing the Erie Seawolves on Wednesday. Gage Wood had another encouraging start, giving up two runs in his five innings to earn his first win of his career.
The Phils backed him with plenty of offense including four home runs. Aroon Escobar, Bryson Ware, Raylin Heredia, and Carson DeMartini all went deep in the game.
AN ABSOLUTE BOMB FROM AROON ESCOBAR 💣
The @Phillies No. 6 prospect CRUSHES his 10th homer of the year!
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 09: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians is unable to catch a foul ball during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You don’t have to be an expert baseball analyst to see that Jose Ramirez is not his old self.
Last night, Jose’s OPS dipped below .700 for the first time since the Cavaliers still had never won an NBA title. He has a .591 OPS since returning from hamate surgery. Now, prior to surgery, Jose was not his usual self in actual production with a 111 wRC+ but his xwOBA of .354 was in line with his production from 2024-2025. He wasn’t hitting as usual pulled-fly-balls as usual, but everything else looked about normal. And, who knows exactly how long the hamate has been bothering him.
Since returning, Jose continues to have an elite eye at the plate with a 10/9 K/BB% and elite baserunning… but his power is completely gone and he has had some concerning defensive issues (last night’s drop of a pop-up foul, included). The power being gone seems very clearly explained by his hamate issue; his strength has not yet returned and likely will not until next season. The defensive issues… my guess is Jose is carrying his disappointment with him into the field, which, while understandable, does need to improve.
So, what should we think about this?
First of all, if you are looking at Jose and angry because you believe he does not care or is not trying… you can kick rocks. He clearly cares as much as always… probably caring too much is part of his problem.
Second of all, if you believe Jose should be benched, you need to go research the results of hamate surgery for older players and look at how to root for aging faces of the franchise. I swear to you if I hear any of you boo Jose, I will personally curse you so that both sides of your pillow are perpetually uncomfortably moist and warm.
José Ramírez chose us when no other superstar in the history of any Cleveland sport would have done what he did in extending here in 2022. He is Cleveland baseball. He will return to being a great player in 2027 (provided there is a season). Don’t abandon a future hall of famer at the first sign of trouble and make yourself look like an idiot when he shows you he’s not washed in short order.
Should José be batting third right now? No. Should he probably be on the IL? Maybe. Should we support him and believe in him and make excuses for him because he loves us like no other Cleveland athlete ever has. Absolutely.
So, get your act together, Guardians’ fans. Stay in Jose’s corner with the kind of grit and stubbornness he and our city are famous for.
May 11, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers Elvis Andrus (1) lays down a sacrafice bunt in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Morning, all!
Sebastian Walcott has been setting the Texas League on fire but has been limited to DH as he recovers from an internal brace procedure performed in February. The plan is for him to return to the field for the playoffs and then play in the Carrinean this winter. League
Nathan Eovaldi is chomping at the bit to return to the Rangers active roster, where he will likely be limited to a relief role in the final stretch.
If the Rangers are going to make the playoffs they need Wyatt Langford to get his poop together.
Yolfran Castillo is knocking at the door of of MLB top prospect lists on the strength of his speed, defense, and maturing plate approach.
Cody Bradford collected his fourth straight loss last night after giving up three runs in four innings.
Max Fried has been dealing for the New York Yankees. He owns a 2.47 xERA over his last two starts, and the left-hander is consistently limiting damage.
Fried has allowed Under 1.5 earned runs in five consecutive appearances while also pitching deep into games. The 32-year-old gets a favorable matchup against the Colorado Rockies tonight, who have one of the worst lineups in baseball.
Colorado also has a poor 80 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. Expect Fried to twirl another gem.
Play this comfortably up to -130.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, Rockies.TV
Zack Wheeler Under 1.5 earned runs (+104)
Zack Wheeler has had his struggles at times this season, but the right-hander has found a rhythm, and he's looked unhittable. Wheeler has posted a solid 2.95 xERA over his last two outings with strong command and minimal home run damage.
He has surrendered just one earned run in each of his previous two appearances and now faces a Houston Astros lineup today that has just an 84 wRC+ over the previous two weeks.
Wheeler has also limited opponents to a 22.2% hard-hit rate recently. He's inducing weak contact and pounding the strike zone, making this a perfect spot to keep up his recent dominance.
Play down to -110.
Time: 1:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, SCHN
Tristan Peters Over 0.5 hits (-138)
Tristan Peters has been a consistent offensive force for the Chicago White Sox. The Canadian outfielder is batting .400 over the last week, and he's cashed the Over in hits in four of his previous five contests.
Peters will face Jared Jones tonight, and while the right-hander has limited damage lately, he's still allowed a 40.7% hard-hit rate across his last two starts.
Jones has been more vulnerable on the road as well, and the Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen isn't untouchable, either.
Peters' recent 55.6% hard-hit rate just adds more fuel to this pick.
Play up to -150.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 12-12, -1.80
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
San Diego, CA - September 9: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres hits a two-run triple in the third inning against the Washington Nationals looks on at Petco Park on September 9, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The high-leverage arms in the San Diego Padres bullpen of Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller needed a day to sit and watch a game without having to warmup and without having to come into the game to protect and/or save another one-run game. Jackson Merrill gave them that day with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate with two home runs, a triple and six RBI to lead the Padres to a 9-2 win and series sweep over the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on Thursday.
Merrill made his first impact in game in the bottom of the third inning with San Diego trailing Washington, 2-1 with runners at first and second with two outs. Merrill drove a ball to center field that caused Nationals center fielder Jacob Young to crash into the wall before he could make the catch near the 396 marker. The ball bounced off the wall and rolled back toward the infield as Merrill raced into third base with a two-run triple to give the Padres a 3-2 lead.
The young star struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning with San Diego leading, 5-2. Merrill connected on an opposite field two-run home run to put the Padres up 7-2. He later added a second home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning to give San Diego and 8-2 lead. For good measure, Merrill ripped a ball toward first base in the bottom of the eighth inning and Washington first baseman Andres Chaparro was unable to make a play and the ball rolled into right field to give the Padres their final run of the game and a 9-2 lead en route to the win.
Walker Buehler started on the mound for San Diego and turned in his worst start in recent memory. Padres manager Craig Stammen went out to the mound in the third inning with Buehler struggling to locate his pitches after he retired the first six Nationals in order, four of which were strikeouts. Buehler then allowed a leadoff home run to Keibert Ruiz to put Washington up, 1-0. Buehler then allowed a walk to Nasim Nunez, a single to Young and another walk to James Wood to load the bases. The right-hander induced a line drive to right field off the bat of Dylan Crews which should have been caught, but Jase Bowen fell trying to make a play on the ball and it dropped in for an RBI single to put the Nationals ahead 2-0 with the bases still loaded and no outs.
Buehler got Chaparro to pop out for the first out of the top of the third inning, but then Stammen went out to talk to his pitcher. Buehler had apparently convinced Stammen to let him stay in the game and as the manager started to walk away from the mound he was advised that was the team’s second visit to the mound in the inning and he would have to make a pitching change. Kyle Hart had been warming and was able to come into the game and record a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat and the inning, but Buehler’s day was over after 2.1 innings pitched with two runs allowed on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The remainder of the game was handled like a “pitching chaos” bullpen game for San Diego. Hart completed 2.1 innings and was followed by David Morgan who worked 0.1 inning. Yuki Matsui pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Wandy Peralta threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Griffin Canning was called on for the top of the ninth inning and he retired the Washington batters in order on 11 pitches to close out the game.
The Padres have an off day today, but will return to action on the road against the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series at Oracle Park starting Friday at 7:15 p.m.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: CJ Abrams #5 of Washington Nationals looks on during the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Heading into the season, one of the main questions CJ Abrams had to answer was whether he could sustain his production over a full season. In 2024 and 2025, Abrams was phenomenal before the All-Star break before fading down the stretch. This season, he had his best first half yet, with a .275 average and .862 OPS which made him the starting shortstop in the All-Star game.
Unlike previous years, Abrams got off to a red hot start in the second half. His performances late in July actually helped him win player of the month. It looked like Abrams was finally delivering a full season of excellence. However, he has fallen on hard times lately.
— Baseball Performances (@MLBPerformances) July 26, 2026
A lot of Nats players have been impacted by the trade deadline and the season going down the tubes, but none more than Abrams. Since the deadline, Abrams is hitting an abysmal .171 with a .536 OPS. That is just not a month you can be having if you are a star player.
Abrams has obviously had his second half slumps before, which we will get into. However, one thing that makes this run unique is just how much he is striking out. In August, Abrams stuck out over 35% of the time, which is not something I would associate with him. It is actually the most he has struck out in a month his entire MLB career.
When Abrams slumped in the past, we tended to see a lot of weak contact. Right now, he just is not making consistent contact at all. It feels like he is trying to break out of his slump with one swing, when he should be trying to just rack up base hits.
Watching Abrams come up to the plate is honestly something I dread right now. It is not even because I am mad, it is more out of sadness. Abrams is a player I really like and is so fun to watch when he is on his game. Seeing him strike out in big spots over and over is just a real bummer.
It’s absolutely brutal watching CJ Abrams right now.
One month ago he was one of the best hitters in baseball with a .920 OPS and .298 AVG.
We all know that Abrams is a streaky player, but this month was extreme even by his standards. The 40 wRC+ he posted this August is the second worst since becoming a full time big leaguer and the worst of any second half month. He has had second half struggles in the past, but none of those months were as bad as this one.
When Abrams’ name was in trade rumors at the deadline, I did not want to move him unless there was a godfather offer. That seemed to be the same line of thinking the front office had. In hindsight, maybe the deadline was the perfect time to move him. They already sold off a lot of what made this offense great, so why not move Abrams as well.
For the Nats to keep Abrams into next season, there needs to be a clear plan to build a playoff team by 2028. After this deadline, that still feels far off, especially if Abrams can’t carry his weight in the second half. If they trade Abrams this offseason, you are not going to get the kind of return you would have received at the deadline.
At that time, Abrams had an extra half season of control and was exercising his second half demons. However, old habits tend to die hard and Abrams is falling back into his old ways. He just does not look right physically or mentally.
One thing that absolutely seems to have taken a toll on him is the position change. On August 14th, it was announced that Abrams would be moving to second base, something he did not sound happy about when he talked to the media. Since August 15th, Abrams is hitting .118 with a .390 OPS. He is 9 for 76 with 29 strikeouts.
Blake Butera said CJ Abrams will start playing second base in a few days. Will still have shortstop reps once a week or so. But a big decision from the organization.
Abrams has to take some blame for this, but it does not seem like the position change has gone down well. The timing of the move seemed odd and it is not aging well. If the idea was to show other teams Abrams can play second to boost his trade value, the idea backfired. The move has played a role in muting his offense, thus lowering that value.
As I said, Abrams deserves blame for letting this throw him off his game. He is a professional and needs to be a team player. However, all of this just seems like an unforced error that did not need to happen.
What could have been a special season for Abrams is once again ending on a sour note. He still has 30 homers and 28 steals, but his numbers have really gone in the tank. When July ended, Abrams had a .290 average and .930 OPS. Today, CJ Abrams now has a .259 average and .827 OPS.
That .930 OPS was over his true talent level and we had to expect regression. However, it is very disappointing to see Abrams totally go in the tank down the stretch. He is getting better every year, but we always end seasons with more questions than answers.
With a career 56 wRC+ in August and 84 wRC+ in September, this might just be who Abrams is. The only thing that is holding me back from saying that outright is the kinds of teams he has been on. Over the last three seasons, the Nats have been a pretty sad team down the stretch.
Abrams is clearly a player who thrives off good vibes and confidence. With everything collapsing around him, it is tough to have those things. If he were actually on a team that was competitive in September, I do not think the collapses would be this bad.
However, that is just a theory right now. At some point, Abrams has to go out there and prove he can perform at even an average level the last two months of the season. If Abrams wants to consider himself a superstar that deserves a massive payday, he cannot perform like this down the stretch.
Philadelphia (64%) is a sizable favorite to take the series finale against Houston as I make my Astros vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, Sept. 10.
The Phillies are 8-2 with a 2.5-run average margin of victory in home games with Zack Wheeler on the mound, and I'm expecting that success to continue tonight.
Who will win Astros vs Phillies today: Philadelphia Phillies (63%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Zack Wheeler appears to have rebounded after a mid-season rough patch. He posted an xERA of 3.14 in three of the past four starts, and Wheeler is in a good spot to build on that against the Houston Astros.
They sit 28th in xwOBA against right-handed pitching in September, and rank dead-last over the past 30 games.
Cristian Javier has found his footing as well, but five of his past six starts came against teams ranking in the bottom 10 in OPS vs. righties (the Philadelphia Phillies are 18th).
Astros vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (50%)
I don’t see either team producing a ceiling performance at the plate.
The Astros are 26th in hard-hit rate and 28th in squared-up contact against righties this month. They’re not stringing together many damaging swings.
While the Phillies have been generating more hard-hit balls, they’re not finding barrels. Only the Guardians rank below the Phillies in barrels versus righties in September.
Javier’s pitching profile has improved drastically of late, but he's still struggling to limit home runs. The matchup should help.
Play to 53%.
Astros vs Phillies home run prediction: Bryce Harper (22%)
Fastballs and changeups account for nearly 70% of what Javier throws against left-handed hitters. That should play into Bryce Harper's hands, as he's gone nuclear when facing those two pitches this season.
Harper has hit .354 with an xwOBA of nearly .500. More importantly, his barrel rate sits at 17.2% and his xSLG has cleared .700.
He consistently hammers those pitches, and Harper will see a steady diet of fastballs and changeups with Javier on the mound.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 106-92, -7.4 units
Over/Under bets: 101-91-6, -2.61 units
Astros vs Phillies weather
Temperatures in the low 80s are expected, with winds blowing left to right. That's a boost to the bats.
Astros vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Astros 38% | Phillies 63%
Run line: Astros +1.5 (55%) | Phillies -1.5 (46%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (51%) | Under 8.5 (50%)
Astros vs Phillies trend
Philadelphia has hit the moneyline in 18 of the last 24 games (+10.80 units, 29% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Phillies.
How to watch Astros vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Thursday, September 10, 2026
First pitch
1:05 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
Astros starting pitcher
Cristian Javier (2-5, 5.98 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (12-5, 3.24 ERA)
Astros vs Phillies latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL:
Max Fried
Zack Wheeler
Tristan Peters
