Who will win Guardians vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (+102)
The Cleveland Guardians head into the finale in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and Tanner Bibee's recent form concerns.
The right-hander has a 4.81 FIP over his last two startswhile allowing 2.19 HR/9. That's a recipe for disaster against the second-best power-hitting team in the majors.
On the other side, Chicago White Sox righty Erick Fedde is throwing the ball well. He's posted a 2.15 FIP across his previous two outings while limiting opponents to a 23.8% hard-hit rate.
Cleveland also has just a .196 xBA over their last seven games and a poor 34.2% hard-hit rate.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-107)
This feels like a game where Chicago scores most of the runs while Cleveland continues to struggle offensively.
Fedde's recent form makes him a difficult matchup for a Guardians lineup averaging just 2.33 runs per game during its current losing streak.
Cleveland's bullpen has been solid lately, posting a 3.95 xERA over the last two weeks, which should help prevent Chicago from completely running away with the game.
The White Sox bullpen hasn't been as sharp, with a 4.63 FIP, but Fedde typically works into the fifth inning and can limit the amount of relief work required.
I can see a 5-2 or 6-2 type game here.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 31-24, +4.65 units
Over/Under bets: 31-23, +3.60 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
Conditions at Rate Field are expected to be fairly neutral this afternoon, with temperatures around 78°F and moderate winds. While the weather could provide a slight boost to offense, it shouldn't be a major factor in determining the outcome of this game.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Guardians -108 | White Sox +104
Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+144) | White Sox +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 21 of their last 25 games at home (+19.10 Units / 71% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV, CHSN
Guardians starting pitcher
Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.46 ERA)
Guardians vs White Sox 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.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (22) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Pitcher Larry Andersen of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game. | Getty Images
Larry Andersen’s playing career spanned across portions of three different decades. He’d appear in a pair of World Series with the Phillies, and in 1986 he’d join the Astros several weeks into that magical season, which would culminate in their classic playoff series with the Mets.
Larry joins us for our 28th installment of the Legends Series, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: I want to start with 1986. Can you believe it’s been 40 years? That doesn’t seem possible.
A: It’s remarkable. The memories are still there and of course Game 6, I appeared in and I’ll never forget that. The intensity was incredible. I pitched three innings that game and the noise in the Astrodome was deafening and I’m actually deaf in one ear completely since birth and it was still the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I thought my nerves were going to jump out of my body. That was a game for the ages, I just wish it had turned out differently for the fans.
Q: How was it that the Phillies would release you in May and you’d land in Houston a few days later?
A: I was released while in Houston, so I knew what kind of team they had. They were good.
The Hendricks brothers were my agents, and they wanted me to play for the Astros, so they set it up where I went and did a side pitching session in the bullpen for Hal Lanier. They immediately saw that there was nothing wrong with me. I was completely healthy. They were completely baffled with the release.
Q: So, what happened?
A: The Phillies had made a trade and had acquired Gary Redus and relief pitcher Tom Hume for John Denny. So, it came down to keeping me or Tom Hume.
I felt like my stuff at the time was just as good as his, but he was making $800,000 and I was making $300,000, so it was an easy choice.
It was easier for the Phillies to eat $300,000 of salary. I understood that. It’s a business.
I waited a few days for the waiver deadline to pass, and then I was playing for the Astros.
Q: There were so many great characters on the Astros back then. Who comes to mind?
A: Doctor Death, Danny Darwin (laughs). He really helped solidify our pitching staff.
It’s funny, Danny had issues with the Montreal Expos. I was facing Spike Owen, and I threw a pitch inside and it created a brawl. In that brawl, Spike Owen came to the mound and came for me, but the rest of the Expos went after Danny Darwin. He had broken Hubie Brooks’ hand earlier in the year, and they were after him even though I threw the pitch that started it.
I don’t know if Danny ever forgave me for that, because he got absolutely pummeled.
Q: If you guys had prevailed in Game 6, is there any doubt in your mind that Mike Scott would’ve won Game 7, advancing you to the World Series?
A: I think it’s easy to say, absolutely. The Mets knew they were done. They were so hellbent on saying Scott was cheating and were always checking the ball and trying to question the nature of his splitter. It was amazing, they were a mess.
Jun 12, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris (36) throws the ball during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
The Athletics remain stirred in mediocrity at the big-league level. The “Green and Gold” have been unable to establish a foothold above .500 and take control of a division whose expected pace-setter, the Seattle Mariners, have fallen short of preseason expectations.
The situation is unlikely to improve unless the team receives more consistent pitching performances from both its starters and relievers to complement its potent lineup. At the moment, starting pitchers J.T. Ginn and Gage Jump are the only two starters the A’s can reliably count on every time they take the mound.
Meanwhile, the A’s bullpen comprises several talented relievers, but no true shutdown guy has emerged since the franchise traded Mason Miller last July. Left-hander Hogan Harris is solid, yet he is overworked and finds himself in trouble more often than not. On Father’s Day, he could not protect his team’s lead, giving up a game-tying three-run home run in the eighth inning.
Dominican right-handers Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado have the flame throwing stuff to become lockdown arms at the end of games. Both pitchers have flashed their potential at times this season, but remain inconsistent, as evidenced by Alvarado surrendering the Angels’ game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Sunday’s series and homestand finale. Last but not least, Mason Barnett, whom the A’s recalled earlier this month, has been a pleasant surprise, pitching well over his last five relief appearances.
The A’s finally designated veteran right-hander Scott Barlow for assignment rather than waiting for him to blow the lead in another game. The team did not do a good enough job to address its bullpen weakness this offseason, as Barlow did not even last till the All-Star Break and fellow offseason signing Mark Leiter Jr. recently landed on the injured list with a hip injury.
Down on the farm, the options are scarce. A few days ago, the A’s promoted Geoff Hartlieb and Matt Krook, giving these two journeymen relievers another chance to compete in the major leagues.
Yunior Tur, a 26-year-old Cuban right-hander holding his own at Triple-A, could receive his first MLB promotion soon as the A’s continue trying to put together the right mix of bullpen arms. On the other hand, pitchers such as Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales and Michael Kelly performed so poorly for the Athletics earlier this season that they are now trying to rediscover their form in the minors.
Will the team’s bullpen continue to struggle, or can the group turn things around? What is your goal for the Athletics as the end of June nears?
Keep voting for Nick Kurtz. Given the season he is having, he deserves to represent the Athletics at the All-Star Game in the state where he grew up.
Shea Langeliers continues to lead all AL Catchers in All Star voting. 🤩
Nick Kurtz, somehow, continues to trail the lead vote-getter among AL first basemen, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., by nearly a million votes. 😬#Athleticspic.twitter.com/O79mwJoyIk
This past weekend, the A’s Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators clinched the first half Pacific Coast League championship. They will host the second half champion in the best-of-three LCS beginning on Tuesday, September 22.
This is an interesting breakdown of how Tyler Soderstrom has snapped out of his early-season slump to become a consistent contributor in the middle of the A’s lineup.
Since May 24 (108 PA), only 4 qualified hitters have a higher wRC+ than Tyler Soderstrom
Prior to that date, his previous 209 PA turned out a less than stellar performance, batting under the mendoza line and a 76 wRC+
Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Loons were the only team to secure a win in a day of limited action in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Player of the day
The lack of support around Jaron Elkins shouldn’t devalue what was, by all accounts, an impressive performance, particularly on the basepaths. The Tower Buzzers center fielder reached base three times and was responsible for all three of his team’s stolen bases in a 5-3 loss, without getting caught once.
Elkins is right in the middle of his finest run of form this season, having recorded at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games. It was his second appearance stealing at least three bags, and the first one since the beginning of April.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Even the temporary reinforcement of having Teoscar Hernández in the heart of the batting order wasn’t enough to help the Comets overcome the Aces in a 5-4 loss. Hernández homered on the first day of his rehab assignment, and OKC threatened with the go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning, but Jack Suwinski struck out to strand a pair.
Pitching-wise, it was a game of command struggles for the Comets, with Ryder Ryan and the bullpen combining to walk 12 batters, seven more than the opposition. Ryan took the loss, allowing three earned runs in just as many innings pitched.
Double-A Tulsa
By all effects, this one was over for the Drillers well before the end of the third inning, having allowed nine runs to the Hooks, all of them charged to starter Patrick Copen, who had his worst performance of the season, conceding not one, not two, not three, but four home runs.
One of the side effects of such a large deficit so early is that the offense can check out, at least to a certain extent. In this particular game, that was transparent, with six of the Drillers’ nine starting hitters finishing the game with multiple strikeouts. Their only run came on a Mike Sirota solo blast in the bottom of the third, his only hit, reaching base for a 59th straight game.
Six was the number here. The Loons beat the Lugnuts by six runs in a 7-1 win. They recorded six doubles to account for all of their extra-base hits, and they were six for 17 with runners in scoring position. It was truly a collective effort with a special shout-out to the bottom of the order: Samuel Munoz and Victor Rodrigues, hitters eighth and ninth, were the only ones to record at least three hits in this performance.
Tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, reliever Jacob Frost recorded his seventh win of the season since starter Zach Root was unable to complete five full innings, still pitching a solid game, allowing just the one earned run.
Single-A Ontario
Three unanswered runs to begin the game gave the Tower Buzzers an ideal start; the only problem was that the offense fell flat after that, and the bullpen struggled with walks to eventually cough up the lead in the eighth, losing the game 5-3. These late struggles meant that Ontario couldn’t properly take advantage of a good outing from its starting pitcher, Mason Estrada, with five one-run innings.
Individually, although his performance didn’t carry an impact on the game, unable to drive in a run or score one himself, Elkins now has 22 stolen bases on the year. The center fielder stole three bases in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, which also included a walk. First baseman Easton Shelton hit his 22nd homer of the year.
Tuesday’s scores
Reno 5, Oklahoma City 4
Tulsa 1, Corpus Christi 10
Lansing 1, Great Lakes 7
Visalia 5, Ontario 3
Wednesday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (TBD) at Lansing (Steven Echavarria)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Peter Heubeck) vs. Corpus Christi (Bryce Mayer)
6:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) vs. Reno (TBD)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Visalia (Junior Ciprian)
Dylan Moore of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is present during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The big club had a truly thrilling night as they shocked the Nationals, but the affiliates had one that produced emotions of a rather different sort. All of the Phillies affiliates lost last night, and the pitchers faced particular trouble, with only the Threshers allowing fewer than eight runs. The season is long, and memory is short: the affiliates will put this behind them.
Syracuse 9, Lehigh Valley 6
The IronPigs took a lead with a grand slam in the fourth, courtesy of Dylan Moore, but allowed the Mets to score in every inning from the fourth onwards. Christian Cairo went three for five with 2 runs, and Keaton Anthony contributed two hits of his own. All of the IronPig pitchers allowed runs, and all but one allowed multiple. Starter Tucker Davidson struck out nine, but walked three and allowed five hits and three runs.
Altoona 9, Reading 4
The Fightin Phils scored in four consecutive innings, but just one run in each, and none in any other frame. It wasn’t enough to defeat the Curve, who put up nine runs on ten hits. Luke Ritter worked three walks, and Pedro León and Alex Binelas each had a homer and another hit to add to it. None of the four Phils pitchers who took the mound walked away without allowing a run: starter Braydon Tucker allowed four (three earned) through 3.2 pitched.
Brooklyn 8, Jersey Shore 7
The BlueClaws were in pole position after a five run fifth that gave them a 7-2 lead. Unfortunately, they surrendered three in the bottom of the inning, then were held scoreless the rest of the night as the Cyclones walked them off on a single in the 10th. Only Tyler Pettorini had more than 1 hit. Nick Biddison contributed two RBI. All three BlueClaw pitchers had somewhat rough nights, with Cody Bowker allowing three runs and five hits in four innings, Sam Highfill allowing three runs and six hits in three innings, and Gabriel Barbosa allowing two runs, including the winner, across two innings.
Jupiter 6, Clearwater 5
The Threshers kept the Hammerheads from scoring in eight of nine innings. But a six-run eighth for the visitors gave Jupiter the victory in this shark vs. shark showdown. Griffin Burkholder, Juan Villavicencio, and Alirio Ferrebus had two hits apiece. Jonathan Hogart had a rather satisfiying line, with two walks, two runs, a hit, an RBI, and no strikeouts. Starter Cade Obemueller allowed the Hammerheads to scatter six hits over four innings, but, aided by his 8 Ks, he allowed no runs. Tyler Bowen struggled, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.
DSL Rockies 15, DSL Phillies 11
The DSL Phillies fought back furiously, putting up five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth as they tried to catch up to the Rockies. 11 runs, and all scored the hard way: no homers. A valiant effort, but not enough to secure victory thanks to the Rockies’ scoring in six of their eight frames. Juan Parra, Francisco Renteria, Sebastian Saenz, Dayber Cruceta, and Jose Tovar contributed two hits each. The Phillies had four pitchers, each taking two innings, and each allowing multiple runs. They had only five strikeouts on what proved to be a rough night.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 23: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 23, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their losing streak on Tuesday, narrowly defeating the Tigers 4-3 thanks to a timely two-run shot from Jazz Chisholm Jr. to go ahead for good in the sixth inning. Carlos Rodón did enough to keep them in the game, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing all three of Detroit’s runs, and the bullpen was lights out as David Bednar secured his 15th save of the season. With the win, they put the pressure on the rest of the American League to keep up, so let’s see who managed it.
Tampa Bay Rays (43-33) 5, Kansas City Royals (34-46) 12
Kansas City started off strong early, and then they ran up the score late. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to home runs from Nick Loftin and Jac Caglianone, but Junior Caminero got one of them back in the bottom half on an RBI single to cut the deficit in half. The game stayed in a stand-still from there until the fifth inning, when Shane McClanahan finally buckled. Michael Massey led off with a double and got advanced to third on a bunt, but McClanahan threw the ball away allowing the batter to reach and Massey to score. McClanahan got two more batters to make outs to get on the verge of escaping without a crooked number on the board, but Loftin ripped an RBI single and Caglianone hit his second homer of the game to make it 6-1. All of the runs were unearned due to the error, but given it was McClanahan himself who committed it they might as well have been earned.
We entered pour-it-on territory in the eighth inning, now facing the Rays’ bullpen. A pair of run-scoring doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch brought five more runs home and made it an 11-1 blowout. Caminero continued to be the offense for Tampa, this time lifting a solo shot, but Josh Rojas got it right back in the top of the ninth with an RBI double. The Rays finally got their offense cooking in the bottom half, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk, but the rally came nowhere close to closing the gap.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (39-40) 7, Houston Astros (38-43) 9 (11 innings): Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to homers from Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammell, but Toronto tied it by the seventh thanks to homers of their own from Luis Urías and Daulton Varsho. The Jays then took the lead in the eighth on a two-run single from Kazuma Okamoto, only for the Astros to tie things back up in the ninth thanks to a bases-loaded catchers’ interference and a sacrifice fly.
That brought us to extras, where nothing of note happened in the 10th with both sides going down in order. In the 11th though, Houston finally cashed in with a three-run Joey Loperfido blast.
Toronto got their ghost runner across in the bottom half, but only after a flyout to begin the inning. Two more groundouts closed this one out as Houston continues to crawl closer to the rest of the AL West while Toronto dips back under .500.
Cleveland Guardians (41-39) 1, Chicago White Sox (41-37) 2: The middle innings decided this one, as all the scoring occurred within the fourth through sixth. Colson Montgomery got Chicago on the scoreboard first, flipping a two-out RBI single out to right field. Cleveland countered in the fifth inning with a Kahlil Watson solo shot, but the White Sox recovered their lead in the sixth with a solo blast of their own, this one off the bat of Miguel Vargas. That was all the damage done against Parker Messick as he pitched 7.2 phenomenal innings striking out 10 batters, but it saddled him with a hard-luck loss as the White Sox remain in first place in the AL Central.
Seattle Mariners (41-39) 3, Pittsburgh Pirates (39-40) 2: George Kirby didn’t have his sharpest stuff, scattering eight hits with two walks over six innings, but he managed to limit the damage to just two runs (and only one of them earned). The Pirates built a 2-0 lead by the third inning, but Seattle chipped away with a Cal Raleigh homer in the fourth before Cole Young put them ahead with a two-run shot.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Tre Morgan #72 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to the mailbag!
Most of the responses I got this time were centered around prospects and the state of the farm so far this year, so that will be the theme of this mailbag article.
pdawd (@JeannotShowYo on Twitter/X): Who in the farm has been the most pleasant surprise and what have they added to their game to make unexpected strides?
Nathan Flewelling has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive side. There aren’t many questions about his offensive impact, but his receiving and throwing have noticeably improved.
This year, he’s doing a better job on the receiving end by showing late glove movement when framing pitches compared to last season. It looked “stabby” last year because Flew would hold his glove in the zone too early in the pitcher’s delivery before grabbing it and bringing it back toward the zone. Now he’ll flash the glove early in the delivery, drop it down to the dirt, and then wait until the pitcher is releasing the ball before gliding his glove to catch the ball and bring to into the zone, all in one motion.
But it’s not just his glove. His improved throwing starts with his footwork. Flew’s arm has always been above average, but his exchange and release needed improvement. Last season, he almost always would catch the ball and then jump up into a throwing position. Now, Flew is consistently getting his feet into a throwing position as he’s receiving the ball. The result is a quicker release and more accurate throws to the 1B side of the 2B bag. His caught stealing rate has improved from 13.9% in 2025 to 34.6% in 2026 so far. Some of that improvement could be driven by High-A pitchers doing a better job of varying their delivery times, but the data coupled with Flew’s observable improvement in his defensive actions signal meaningful growth. Like all teenage prospects, he’ll need to continue to work on his consistency – especially as the physical demands of his position challenge him later in the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a consensus top 50 prospect by the end of the season.
Dhaffa Ghiffari (@dapuik_ on Twitter/X) and Dylan Hood (@DylanHood69 on Twitter/X): What is a reasonable expectation for Carson Williams and his future? Will the Rays ever commit to him, or will he be traded at the deadline?
Carson still looks like an every day SS thanks to his near 70-grade glove and plus power. He has done a nice job cutting down on the whiff compared to last season by using the whole field a bit more – especially with two strikes. There’s impressive impact on both sides of the ball, and now it’s just a matter of opportunity.
I don’t think he would be traded this season because he’s 3rd on the SS depth chart for the ML side. Maybe they’d trade him if they received a SS in return, for him or in some other trade, but it doesn’t seem likely.
Taylor Walls is having a good season by his standards as he’s leaning into his small-ball skillset, and he’s arguably the best defensive SS of this century. Ben Williamson has shown he’s a competent ML utility guy, but lacks the impact defensively at SS and at the plate. Carson should have an opportunity to compete for the starting job after this season (Editor’s Note: How many times have we said that? – DR), but the 2026 draft and trade deadline could change that.
Flappy Gilmore (@FlappyGilmore on Twitter/X): Do you see a spot on the roster for Tre’ Morgan coming, or is he more valuable as a trade chip at this point?
Tre’ Morgan has had an unfortunate run of injuries over the last couple seasons. He looked solid in AAA last year when he was able to stay on the field, and he has adjusted his approach this season in an attempt to unlock more impact but has missed a lot of time already. He’s back in AAA now after showing some impressive bat speed gains during his rehab assignment, so I’m interested to see what he could look like in a larger sample. The defense is 80-grade at 1B as advertised, and his average hit tool should allow him to carve out some sort of role at the ML level.
The experiment with him in the OF seems to have come to an end, so it’s most likely 1B only – which is fine because the defense really is that good. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the Rays could roster Tre’, Yandy, and Aranda in the majors at the same time. I don’t think Tre’ will be traded this season, and I expect him to get protected from the Rule 5 draft this offseason. His health and availability of reps at 1B in the majors will determine if and when he will have an opportunity to contribute.
Sad Rays Fan (@rays4403 on Twitter/X): Which prospects do you realistically think can make an impact this season?
I don’t think he counts as a prospect anymore, but Jacob Melton could really help this roster. He’s a plus defender at all three OF spots and has near 70-grade power. His adjustments to his approach have helped him unlock more damage by elevating the ball. His injury in early May unfortunately set him back, but he’s healthy now and back in AAA. I think he will be up relatively soon once he gets up to speed in Durham.
Most of the prospects who could impact the ML roster this season are relievers. Alex Cook has a combination of solid stuff and command, and he has been dominant after a couple rough outings to start the year in Durham. Alexander Alberto has plus stuff and deception, and his command year-over-year command gains have earned him a recent promotion to AAA. He’s going to be a minor league free agent if he’s not added to the 40-man roster by the end of the year. Ty Johnson looks like he could be an impactful high-leverage reliever or bulk guy capable of going one time through the order in the majors. I’m not sure how he’d look as a starter given his average stuff and command of just two pitches, but his deception should allow him to carve out a valuable relief role in some capacity.
Also in Durham is Carson Williams who has the makings of an everyday SS, but just needs an opportunity. As long as Taylor Walls is in the organization and healthy, Carson won’t find too many reps at SS. He has been learning 2B and 3B this season, and his tools should translate and allow him to be a plus defender at both positions. His opportunity will likely won’t come until next season.
I would love to say Brody Hopkins could help the team this year, but I don’t think it will happen until 2027. He struggled early on to adjust to the AAA baseball, but has been looking much better over his last handful of starts with more reps using that baseball and some small adjustments to his delivery. His shapes have been sharper with more movement like they had last year, and his strike throwing has started to improve. I’m really excited to see him in the majors next season.
The Chicago Cubs should be well-rested for Wednesday’s doubleheader opener. Two of Chicago’s last three games have been rained out, so it'll be playing for just the second time since Saturday.
The New York Mets could be without Juan Soto following his early exit last night, and my Cubs vs. Mets predictions are taking advantage of that.
The Chicago Cubs have been streaky all season and are on another hot stretch, winning seven of 10 — including Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Mets. The Mets have lost three straight and five of seven.
New York's bullpen worked more than five innings last night and has a doubleheader today, so starter Nolan McLean needs to go deep. He’s gone past five just twice in his last three starts, and McLean has a 6.75 ERA late in games with a .294 average against.
The Cubs are favored, but at the upper limit of when I’d take them. If it gets to -130, I’d cut bait.
The Cubs are being coy about their pitchers for the doubleheader. Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad could start, but they weren’t specifying the order.
Both pitchers are coming off back-to-back strong outings, and the Cubs' pen has pitched four innings since Saturday. Chicago has been hitting, but the last thing a hot team wants is to sit out days.
New York has scored three or fewer runs in five of the last nine games. The offensive boost the Mets hoped to get from Francisco Lindor’s return for the first time since April 22 got muted when Juan Soto left Tuesday’s game with back trouble.
Play this down to 8.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 23-28, -2.05 units
Over/Under bets: 29-26, +2.04 units
Cubs vs Mets weather
Sunny skies and temps in the mid-80s ensure no weather delay today. The hot weather could add some more pop to balls, but the wind of 10 mph shouldn't play too much of a factor.
Cubs vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Cubs -124 | Mets +106
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-290) | Mets -1.5 (+215)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-124) | Under 8.5 (-158)
Cubs vs Mets trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the game total Under in seven of their last nine away games (+4.85 Units / 50% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.
How to watch Cubs vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNY
Cubs starting pitcher
TBD (Y-Y, X.XX ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (4-4, 3.67 ERA)
Cubs vs Mets 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.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres is doused after hitting a walk-off single against the Atlanta Braves during the 10th inning at Petco Park on June 23, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Manny Machado said it best in his postgame interview – this was a team win.
The San Diego Padres got a walk-off win thanks to a single back through the middle of the infield by Machado that allowed Jackson Merrill to score from second base to give the Padres a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves in 10 innings. The winning RBI-single by Machado is another example of the third baseman coming through in the clutch recently. Machado homered in the first game of the series in the bottom of the fourth inning and that led to a 1-0 win for San Diego. He also homered against the Texas Rangers in the top of the 10th inning last Saturday to give the Padres a 6-4 win. There is no doubt, Machado has not been the offensive player the Friar Faithful have come to expect him to be so far this season, but recent performances could indicate that is about to change.
There was a lot that happened prior to Machado getting his game-winning hit in the 10th. The Braves jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning only to watch the Padres jump back in front in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 5-4 lead. Atlanta not only tied the game in the top of the fourth but took the lead in the top of the fifth on a solo home run from Mauricio Dubon. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 6-6 and the San Diego bullpen put up zeros in the final three innings, two of which were thrown by closer Mason Miller.
The Padres employed an opener once again for Griffin Canning, but the results against the Braves were not as good as they were the last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals when he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed one run. Canning lasted just 0.2 innings and allowed four runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts against Atlanta. Kyle Hart then pitched two innings and allowed a run, followed by Yuki Matsui, who pitched 2.1 innings and allowed a run. David Morgan pitched a scoreless inning and Adrian Morejon and Miller covered the final three innings to get the win.
The Padres will go for a sweep of the Braves today at 5:40 p.m.
Padres News:
JP Sears has joined the Padres rotation and Lucas Giolito was placed on injured reserve. Sears is expected to start the final game of the series against the Braves.
Apr 26, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) celebrates after hitting a game-tying home run during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
“It was pretty cool,” Caglianone said. “I had one of my best friends pretty close to home plate. So no, I hit it and I knew he was pretty fired up about it. It’s cool. You can see like on the video, he was in the background filming and stuff. So that was a pretty cool moment. Yeah, just knowing I got a bunch of family and friends here is pretty special.”
“We believe in our abilities and what we are capable of doing,” Loftin said. “We’re going to continue to do that every single day, one pitch at a time, one day at a time, and when they come back into the lineup, it’s going to be pretty scary.”
The Royals mulled placing Garcia on the injured list last week. At that time, they opted to give him a few rest days to see if the pain might subside.
“I mean, we kind of set the goal of giving him those three or four days off and see if he could respond to it,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “… We were hoping that if the medicine kicked in and took the pain away and the rest helped a little bit.— we were hopeful for that. But it didn’t happen that way. He’s still in pain.”
Garcia recently noted it’s tough to play at less than full strength.
He struck out a batter on May 10 against Detroit, and it was the first strikeout he’d recorded in 27 batters. Since and including that game, he has a 1.62 ERA with 19 strikeouts and four walks in 16.2 innings with just 10 hits allowed. He has given up some home runs, so there are blemishes, but the 19 strikeouts are good for a rate of 31.1 percent, which puts him in elite reliever territory. He is very likely to be traded, and if this velocity and these strikeouts keep up, there’s a good chance he returns more than expected. And I will warn you right now that there’s also a good chance the Royals pursue him as a free agent this winter. So just be ready for that. But if he’s found this new gear, maybe it’ll work out.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 23: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on after striking out during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 23, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whatever else can be said about the 2026 Orioles, you’ve got to give this to them: They’re really committed to the bit. The problem for everyone who would prefer if they win games is that the bit the Orioles are committed to is the steadfast refusal to ever go on any kind of extended winning streak. The Orioles failed at their latest attempt – their sixth attempt! – to turn a three-game winning streak into something more with a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Angels on Tuesday night.
This one might have been the most ridiculous of the failures so far. The Angels, who are at a desperation point of “throw any warm body into the rotation,” sent 23-year-old righty Ryan Johnson to the mound for the game. Johnson notably brought a 12.83 ERA into the game after five outings so far this season. Yes, that is an ERA in the double digits.
Or at least, it was in the double digits, because by the time the Orioles offense had their say, or perhaps rather their lack of say, Johnson had taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He struck out a career-high eight batters. The Orioles drew only a single walk in addition to their lone hit in the six innings that Johnson was in the game. He brought the ERA down to a mighty 8.84. This should have gone much better, and it did not, for no apparent reason. This is a regular feature of the 2026 Orioles.
To give the Orioles a chance to win in the face of that futility, the O’s own starter, Shane Baz, would have had to be perfect. He wasn’t perfect. Three batters into the bottom of the first, the Angels already had all of the offense they would need to win the game. Their shortstop, Zach Neto, led off with a single, and with one out, first baseman Nolan Schanuel hit a “that was barely a home run” kind of home run. Those still count, too, even the ones that are only a home run in 3/30 ballparks, as long as you’re in one of the three.
If this was the only blemish on Baz’s night, you could credit it as a tough luck loss. It was not the only blemish. Although Baz rebounded and kept the Angels off the board for a few innings, he ran into trouble again in the fifth. The trouble is just that he suddenly couldn’t get anyone out. The Angels jumped on him for four hits in a row… wait a minute, four in a row? Why does that sound familiar? Anyway, four hits in a row capped off by a sacrifice fly at the end brought three more runs across for the Angels.
That’s a clunker on the season tally for Baz. Five runs allowed on eight hits and a walk. His ERA is up to 4.31. Baz has had some good games along the way, but I hoped for much better after the Orioles gave up such a haul of prospects for him and then gave him a five-year contract extension before he ever threw a pitch for the team. He had been better recently. He wasn’t good enough last night.
That is the story of the Orioles season. They just aren’t good enough. They are now at the halfway point of the 2026 season and they are on a pace to win exactly one more game than the 2025 Orioles did. All of the moves that were made, all of the noise they made about how they would be better, and that’s the pace they’re on. They’re not better. If they finish in the vicinity of 76 wins, there should be changes not only to the roster but to the front office that sets the roster.
Some of the reasons the Orioles are failing are familiar and others are new. A number of things are going right but many more are going wrong. Getting three hits in a game that was started by Ryan Johnson is just one more example of games where it’s the wrong stuff that is dominant. This is a mess. Manager Craig Albernaz actually deployed a variant of one of my all-time least favorite loser lines in his post-game presser with reporters, saying, “Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposing pitcher, and he was on tonight.” He pulled out this line about Ryan Johnson. I’m experiencing second-hand embarrassment.
The west coast road trip comes to a close with one final game on Wednesday afternoon. The Orioles and Angels are scheduled to start their series finale at 4:07 Eastern time. If the Orioles pull off a win, we can maybe talk ourselves into feeling okay about a 5-4 road trip. If they don’t, then they’ve once again squandered the opportunity to build on a small stretch of success. Trey Gibson and José Soriano are the scheduled starting pitchers. Soriano has actually been good this year. It won’t be easy for the Orioles hitters.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 22: Manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves looks on from the dugout before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on June 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To set some context: the Braves have a 5.5-game lead in the division, playoff odds north of 96 percent, and MLB’s third-best record. They don’t need to chase wins.
But, in the same vein, they didn’t need to chase wins in 2025 (although it wasn’t ever quite as comparable, as playoff odds dipped below 90 percent after their poor start), with playoff odds well above 50 percent through much of April and May. Except, eventually, that period of not needing to ran out, and by the time they did need to, they were playing catchup while the roster was depleted from injuries and the like.
So, you’d think they wouldn’t make this mistake again. And maybe they think the difference is that they aren’t the ones playing catchup, at least not right now. But, we’ve seen this story before. We saw it at times in 2022-2023, though the team was so good that it didn’t matter, which perhaps informs the current feelings of potential overconfidence. We saw it in 2024, in which the Braves were ultimately vindicated, albeit on a bit of a razor’s edge. And then we saw it last year, with awful results.
Which, I thought, informed the new philosophy we saw in April and May of this year. Walt Weiss even said, “chasing wins.” Last night, Walt Weiss said they had to get through the entire game with four pitchers, two of whom were JR Ritchie and Carlos Carrasco. That’s apparently why Ritchie was left in for 100 pitches despite another mediocre outing that actually improved after he and the defense turned a four-run lead into a one-run deficit, and why Carrasco was left in to blow a lead in the seventh… but to be very clear: when you are in a position that you’ve decided that only four pitchers, including Ritchie and Carrasco, are available to help you win a game, you have already decided, before first pitch, that you aren’t chasing this particular win.
On the flip side, we got to see the ultimate in win chasing from the other dugout. The Padres used three pitches to get their first six outs of the game. They used an opener, something the Braves just don’t care about doing despite their unsettled rotation situation and a bunch of guys that could probably use the help. When their listed bulk guy struggled, they just pulled him, and put in a different guy. To be very clear: the Padres went to another pitcher already down 3-0, while leverage was still medium-high, because they presumably wanted to try to win this game. And then, they used Mason Miller for two innings — something they hadn’t done since acquiring him, because again, they presumably actually wanted to win this game.
So, are the Braves done chasing wins? We know they were chasing them earlier, both from what we saw and from the things they actually said. But these days, we’re seeing the 2022-2025 approach to pitching management, and the post-game sound bites are all about availability instead of, “Hell yeah, let’s try to win a game.”
Last year, I kept having to add text like, “Even if it’s not right now, the Braves are eventually going to try to win as hard as they can, or else their margin for not doing so will completely evaporate.” And then I stopped, because they imploded with a bunch of close losses in June and that was that. I don’t want to do that again, but if they keep acting this way, there won’t be much of a choice.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 16: Derek Hill #49 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs off the field after a game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 8-2. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been just under two weeks since Derek Hill left the Windy City and joined the City of Brotherly Love. Since then, he’s played in nine games for the Phillies. That’s not enough to get a particularly accurate picture of his performance. But it is enough to get a first impression, and you know what they say about those: you only get one, and also they are absolutely as valid as the more statistically precise impressions formed by larger sample sizes.
Well, nobody actually says that second part, and with good reason.
Still, it’s worth an early check-in. Today’s question is: what’s your early impression of Derek Hill?
COVERS INTEL: Bibee has allowed a 46.6% hard-hit rate during his last two appearances and a 14.3% barrel rate. 
