Category: MLB

The Milwaukee Brewers are staying out West through the weekend, as they’ll head to Los Angeles to visit the Dodgers for four games beginning Thursday night. Milwaukee has had a rough go of it out West this year, as they’re now 4-7 in California and Las Vegas entering Wednesday’s series finale against the Padres. Outside of California and Las Vegas? Milwaukee is 70-39, a 104-win pace.

On the other side, the Dodgers had a rough stretch around the trade deadline earlier this month, losing seven straight and eight of nine against the Red Sox, Cubs, and D-backs before winning the first two games of their three-game set with the Royals this week. At 72-48, the Dodgers are two games behind Milwaukee for the best record in baseball and tied with the Braves for the No. 2 seed in the NL, which comes with a first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Brewers have dealt with a series of injuries to their infield, as Cooper Pratt is on the IL with a hamstring strain, Joey Ortiz has been considered day-to-day with neck tightness, and prospect Jett Williams was also removed from a game over the weekend with another hand injury in his first at-bat back from the IL. Jackson Chourio (not Brice Turang, as previously reported) is also dealing with a thumb injury, though the severity is unknown. The only other position player on the IL is outfielder Sal Frelick, who is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. On the pitching side, JoJo Romero is close to a rehab assignment after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in July, Joel Kuhnel is currently on a rehab assignment, and Rob Zastryzny has been listed as TBD after being taken off his rehab assignment in early July. Brandon Woodruff, Brian Fitzpatrick, Quinn Priester, and Angel Zerpa are all out for the season.

The Dodgers are without catchers Will Smith (September return) and Dalton Rushing (out for season), as well as a long list of pitchers. Shohei Ohtani, who has continued to DH, hasn’t pitched since early July as he deals with knee and biceps injuries. Will Klein (out for season), Brock Stewart (close to returning), Blake Treinen (September), Tyler Glasnow (on rehab assignment), Kris Bubic (September), Gavin Stone (September), Bobby Miller (September), Ben Casparius (on rehab assignment), Brusdar Graterol (TBD), and former Brewer Jake Cousins (out for season) are also on the IL.

Jake Bauers continues to set the pace for the Crew with 21 homers, followed by Jackson Chourio at 17 and Turang at 16. William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Andrew Vaughn, David Hamilton, Ortiz, and Luis Lara are also regulars at this point, with Brandon Lockridge, Jihwan Bae, and Gary Sánchez serving as depth. As a team, Milwaukee is hitting .252/.336/.396 (.732 OPS ranks tied for seventh), with 110 homers (last), 589 runs (fifth), and 118 steals (fifth).

Ohtani leads Los Angeles with 26 homers this season, with Max Muncy (22 homers), and Andy Pages (19 homers) just behind him. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Teoscar Hernández are still regulars for the Dodgers, and the team also added Kyle Tucker in the offseason. Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia are splitting catching duties, and Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, Enrique Hernández, and Alex Call round things out. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .261/.338/.428 (.766 OPS ranks second), with 152 homers (seventh), 602 runs (tied for third), and 46 steals (28th).

Aaron Ashby continues to lead Milwaukee’s bullpen with 55 appearances, pitching to a 3.56 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and team-high 13 wins over 65 2/3 innings. Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have both been great, and Chad Patrick and DL Hall also sit in high-leverage roles. With a six-man rotation, Milwaukee’s bullpen is rounded out by Antonio Senzatela and on-again, off-again reliever Bryse Wilson, who the team re-signed this week after designating him for assignment just a few days earlier. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.54 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.56 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.51 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 1,169 batters (second) over 1,071 2/3 innings.

The Dodger bullpen is led by Alex Vesia (2.81 ERA over 41 2/3 innings), Tanner Scott (2.27 ERA over 47 2/3 innings), Edgardo Henriquez (3.02 ERA over 47 2/3 innings), and Jack Dreyer (3.14 ERA over 48 2/3 innings). Closer Edwin Díaz has had a rough season, pitching to a 9.82 ERA and three blown saves in just 11 innings, while former Brewer Eric Lauer has made 10 appearances (nine starts) with a 3.72 ERA over 55 2/3 innings, though he may be exiting the rotation and joining the bullpen with the return of Blake Snell. The usually reliable Evan Phillips has also struggled with a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings, and the newest addition is former Rockie Seth Halvorsen, who picked up the win with a scoreless inning in his team debut on Tuesday after returning from the IL. As a staff, the Dodgers have a 3.72 team ERA (seventh), including a 3.54 starter ERA (fourth) and a 4.02 bullpen ERA (16th). They’ve struck out 1,073 batters (tied for seventh) over 1,059 2/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Thursday, August 13 @ 9:10 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.87 ERA, 3.34 FIP) vs. RHP Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.54 ERA, 4.95 FIP)

Drohan, who has been fairly consistent this season with a respectable 3.87 ERA, 3.34 FIP, and 93 strikeouts over 93 innings, is coming off one of his worst starts, as he allowed six runs on nine hits and four walks, striking out four across five innings in an 8-6 loss to the Twins. Drohan made two relief appearances against the Dodgers back in May, totaling 4 1/3 innings with three runs allowed (two earned) on three hits and two walks, striking out seven.

Sasaki, 24, is in year No. 2 with Los Angeles, and things have still not quite panned out for the right-hander. He’s made 20 starts this year, with a 4.54 ERA, 4.95 FIP, and 106 strikeouts across 105 innings. Despite those disappointing season numbers, he’s been solid in his last five starts, totaling 30 innings with nine runs allowed (eight earned) for a 2.40 ERA, striking out 31. Sasaki, who faced Milwaukee in relief last postseason, made his lone start against the Crew back in May of this year, earning the win as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks, striking out four over five frames.

Friday, August 14 @ 9:10 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (3-4, 4.57 ERA, 4.51 FIP) vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.65 ERA, 3.43 FIP)

Gasser, in his third season with Milwaukee, just surpassed 100 career innings in his last outing against the Twins. For his career, the left-hander now has a 3.93 ERA, 4.33 FIP, and 82 strikeouts over 100 2/3 innings through 20 starts. He struggled a bit with his command last weekend, but the bullpen and offense picked him up enough to leave him with a no-decision. Across 4 2/3 innings in that one, he allowed three runs on seven hits, two walks, and two hit batters while striking out three. Gasser’s lone appearance against the Dodgers came back in May, when he went 4 1/3 innings with four runs allowed on four hits and four walks, striking out four in a loss.

Yamamoto, 28 next week, is firmly in the NL Cy Young race for the second consecutive season. Across 21 starts this year, he’s 11-7 with a 2.65 ERA, 3.43 FIP, and 127 strikeouts over 139 1/3 innings. He went 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the D-backs in his last outing, allowing three hits, three walks, and a hit batter while striking out six. Yamamoto, who dominated Milwaukee in last year’s NLCS, has made two regular-season starts against the Brewers with very different results. After allowing five runs (three earned) and recording just two outs in a loss last July, he went seven strong against them back in May, allowing one run on seven hits, a walk, and a hit batter, striking out three.

Saturday, August 15 @ 6:15 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (11-5, 1.76 ERA, 2.16 FIP) vs. LHP Justin Wrobleski (11-4, 3.44 ERA, 4.13 FIP)

Misiorowski, who surpassed the 200-strikeout mark on Sunday against the Twins, is set to make his 23rd start of the season as he looks to solidify his Cy Young candidacy. The young right-hander is 11-5 with a 1.76 ERA, 2.16 FIP, and 204 strikeouts over 133 innings this year. He went six innings against Minnesota, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk, striking out nine. Misiorowski faced the Dodgers last July, earning the win as he allowed one run on four hits and a walk, striking out 12 over six innings.

Wrobleski, 26, has made 20 appearances (19 starts) this year, with a 3.44 ERA, 4.13 FIP, and 94 strikeouts across 120 1/3 innings. The left-hander is coming off a stretch of rough starts the last couple of weeks, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) over 13 2/3 innings (9.88 ERA, 11.13 FIP) in losses against the Mariners, Cubs, and D-backs. He’s made two starts against Milwaukee, one in July 2024 and one back in May. He took the loss both times, as he’s allowed nine runs over 10 innings, striking out eight.

Sunday, August 16 @ 3:10 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (6-2, 2.88 ERA, 3.35 FIP) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (7-6, 2.93 ERA, 2.79 FIP)

Henderson has quickly become one of the best pitchers on Milwaukee’s staff, as he has a 2.88 ERA, 3.35 FIP, and 69 strikeouts across 56 1/3 innings through 11 starts this season. He allowed three runs for just the second time in his career on Monday night in San Diego, though the last two of those runs came in that fateful seventh inning as he went 6 1/3 frames, allowing five hits (two homers) and a walk while striking out seven. Henderson picked up a win against the Dodgers back in May, going five innings with no runs allowed on two hits and three walks, striking out seven.

Skubal, 29, was, as we all know, the prize of this year’s trade deadline. He’ll go head-to-head with Henderson, who was reportedly the main target of the Tigers in initial trade discussions for Skubal (the Brewers reportedly refused to include Henderson in any package). Alas, here he is set to face Milwaukee again. While he has a sub-3.00 ERA and FIP for the season, he hasn’t been great in two starts with the Dodgers, totaling 11 innings with five earned runs (4.09 ERA), striking out 12. The left-hander has made one start against Milwaukee in each of the last three seasons, totaling 19 2/3 innings with a 2.29 ERA and 24 strikeouts.

How to Watch & Listen

Thursday, August 13: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Friday, August 14: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Saturday, August 15: Nationally televised on Fox/Fox One; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Sunday, August 16: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

Milwaukee has really struggled on the West Coast this season, and things won’t get any easier against the Dodgers, who are deploying arguably their four best starters. I still think Milwaukee gets a series split to keep pace with L.A.

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We have a big ole slate in front of us on Wednesday, and I have thoughts on every single game on the board.

Here are my MLB moneyline predictions for tonight's slate, and make sure to check out all of our MLB picks for Aug. 12!

MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 12

Matchup	Pick
Orioles vs Twins	+102
Phillies vs Cardinals	-150
Rays vs Athletics	-203
Rockies vs Diamondbacks	+163
Astros vs Giants	+133
Brewers vs Padres	+108
Guardians vs Tigers	-120
Pirates vs Marlins	-106
Cubs vs Nationals	-153
Mariners vs Yankees	-120
Red Sox vs Blue Jays	-117
Mets vs Braves	-150
Reds vs White Sox	+130
Royals vs Dodgers	-199
Rangers vs Angels	-127

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of Aug. 12.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 12

Orioles vs Twins: Orioles (+102)

Orioles win probability: 50%

I am extremely perplexed as to why the Baltimore Orioles are dogs in this spot.

Their lineup has the privilege of taking on one of the Minnesota Twins’ worst arms in Zebby Matthews, who owns a 7.20 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over his last five outings.

Meanwhile, the Birds have the Milk Man, Shane Baz, on the rubber this evening, sporting a 2.15 ERA, 2.65 xERA and 1.13 WHIP over that same span.

The Orioles’ offense has started to heat up over the last week, and going up against Matthews should only add more fuel to the flame.

Phillies vs Cardinals: Phillies (-150)

Phillies win probability: 60%

The St. Louis Cardinals’ offense has been outstanding as of late, but the Philadelphia Phillies’ bats have been even hotter over their last 12 games.

Plus, Zack Wheeler takes the mound after a few rough outings, but his underlying metrics are still strong. I think this is a great spot for the Phillies to bounce back and come out on top.

On the other side, Kyle Leahy’s expected numbers point toward some regression, as he owns a 4.58 xERA over his last three starts.

Rays vs Athletics: Rays (-203)

Rays win probability: 67%

Strictly looking at the moneyline price, take the dog.

But the Tampa Bay Rays win.

Drew Rasmussen has been outstanding over his last few outings, while the Rays’ offense has been on an absolute tear. Meanwhile, the Athletics have been ice cold and do not seem to have any light at the end of the tunnel.

I would NEVER pay -203 for a team to win a game, but the Rays are in a great spot to come out on top in this one.

Rockies vs Diamondbacks: Rockies (+163)

Rockies win probability: 38%

This was a tough call. I want no part of paying over $1.60 for Merrill Kelly to hold down any team, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have looked outstanding over the last couple of weeks.

On top of that, Ryan Feltner has done a great job limiting hard-hit balls while owning a 3.69 xERA over his last three starts.

For just the moneyline price, I want the dog against Kelly.

Astros vs Giants: Giants (+133)

Giants win probability: 43%

I am quite baffled that we are getting the San Francisco Giants at such a great price this evening.

Sure, they are not the most talented team in baseball, but Ronel Blanco could make them look pretty talented tonight. The Houston Astros right-hander owns a 6.98 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while allowing an 11.54% barrel rate to opposing hitters this season.

Adrian Houser has been nails over his last five starts, doing a great job limiting hard-hit balls and barrels.

Neither offense has been performing at a high level, as both have wRC+ marks below 75 and are struggling to generate hard contact.

I like the dog here, especially with how poorly Blanco has been pitching.

Brewers vs Padres: Padres (+108)

Padres win probability: 48%

The San Diego Padres at plus money when they are hotter than the sun feels like a gift.

Over their last 21 games, San Diego has been on a complete tear, posting a 130 wRC+, .352 wOBA and .796 OPS. On the other side, the Milwaukee Brewers have started to cool down, posting just a 94 wRC+, .678 OPS and .134 ISO over their last 12 games.

Dustin May and tight-pants Robbie Ray have both been outstanding as of late. However, May’s underlying metrics point toward some regression, as he owns a 4.46 xERA over his last five starts while allowing over a 41% hard-hit rate to opposing hitters.

Ray has struggled with walks lately, but he has done a great job limiting hard contact.

I love the Padres at plus money.  

Guardians vs Tigers: Tigers (-120)

Tigers win probability: 55%

As a Foster Griffin fan, this one hurts to say, but he has been absolutely horrible over his last five starts, and somehow even worse over his last three.

On the other side, Framber Valdez has been a lot better, posting a 1.89 ERA across his last three starts.

The Tigers’ offense should be able to keep those hot bats rolling against the struggling southpaw this evening. Cleveland’s bats have come alive over the last week, but they have been far too inconsistent for me to trust.

Give me the Tigers.

Pirates vs Marlins: Marlins (-106)

Marlins win probability: 52%

After watching Griffin Conine miss two home runs by roughly a combined three feet, I think this team is due to boom against Carmen Mlodzinski.

The Pirates right-hander owns a sub-6.00 ERA over his last five starts, while struggling against left-handed hitters. With five guys batting from the left side this evening, I think the Fighting Fish have a fighting chance.

On the other end, Jason Junk has been holding it down, owning a mouthwatering 2.13 ERA over his last three starts. I like his chances against this ice-cold Pirates offense.

Give me the Fighting Fish.

Cubs vs Nationals: Cubs (-153)

Cubs win probability: 60%

I do not think I want to get in front of the Chicago Cubs at the moment.

Their offense owns a 118 wRC+, .778 OPS and .342 wOBA across their last 12 games. The Nationals’ offense has been great too, but I really like the way David Peterson has been pitching over his last five starts. The southpaw owns a 1.57 ERA, 3.97 xERA and 1.05 WHIP during that stretch.

-153 is juicy, but the Cubs are absolutely on a tear right now.

Mariners vs Yankees: Yankees (-120)

Yankees win probability: 55%

Name a more lost offense in baseball than the Seattle Mariners at this point in time. Over their last 21 games, they have posted just a 90 wRC+, .296 wOBA and .663 OPS. Over the last week, it gets even uglier, with a 59 wRC+, .252 wOBA, .558 OPS and .119 ISO.

Sure, Bryce Miller has some underlying metrics pointing toward improvement, but who exactly is getting on base and driving in runs?

I’ll happily take Will Warren and the Yankees at home. Warren has been far better in the Bronx, sporting a 3.88 xERA and 1.28 WHIP.

The Yankees’ lineup has underperformed lately, but they are still generating a ton of hard-hit balls. They will come around.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays: Red Sox (-117)

Red Sox win probability: 54%

Despite Ranger Suárez’s last few outings not being the greatest, he has performed much better away from Boston this season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.15 WHIP while limiting opponents to under 30% hard-hit and under 3% barrel rates.

Jose Soriano has been great since coming over from the Angels, but who in that Blue Jays lineup is worth trusting right now? Over the team’s last 30 at-bats against a left-handed pitcher, the highest barrel rate on the team is just 5%, while six hitters have zero barrels during that stretch.

Aside from their slight fall from grace, the Red Sox are easily the better team in this spot, and we only have to pay $1.17 juice.

I like the Red Sox here.  

Mets vs Braves: Braves (-150)

Braves win probability: 60%

The Mets’ offense has started to heat up over the last few games, but with how dominant Tyler Mahle has been, owning a 2.73 ERA over his last five starts, I think the Braves are the side to back.

On the other side, the Mets send out Zac Thornton, who has posted a 4.58 xERA, 15% strikeout rate and 9.09% walk rate over his last three outings.

The Atlanta offense has also been generating a ton of hard-hit balls and barrels over the last 12 games. I think this is a great spot for the Braves to come out on top.

Reds vs White Sox: Reds (+130)

Reds win probability: 44%

Luis Castillo day for the Chicago White Sox, and I personally have zero faith in the former Mariners starter.

The veteran right-hander owns a 6.33 ERA over his last five outings, and more recently, a 7.31 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and just a 14% strikeout rate over his last three.

With Castillo relying so heavily on his fastball, I think the Reds will be teeing off on him all evening.

Plus, right-hander Rhett Lowder has been great across his last few starts. Getting +130 for a team that draws Castillo is a side I want to back.

Royals vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-199)

Dodgers win probability: 66%

It’s kind of hard for me to run the Royals back for a third straight day, especially with their offense posting an 84 wRC+, .290 wOBA and .651 OPS.

Not to mention, starting pitcher Mason Block owns a 7.72 xERA over his last five starts, while allowing a 52% hard-hit rate and 12% barrel rate to opposing hitters.

The Royals’ bullpen isn’t going to stop anyone either, sporting a 4.69 xERA, 5.14 FIP and 11.21% walk rate on the year.

Give me LA.

Rangers vs Angels: Rangers (-127)

Rangers win probability: 56%

Angels right-hander George Klassen has been brutal through his first three starts this season, posting an 8.31 ERA and 3.00 WHIP.

He may be due for some positive regression, but Cal Quantrill has shockingly been very impressive over his last five outings, posting a 3.58 xERA.

Neither offense has been particularly impressive over the last week, but I think if Quantrill can hold down the Angels, the Rangers’ bats can do the rest and secure a win on the road this evening.

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

Dave Pavlas is a name many Yankees fans might have to double-take at and search deep into their brain folds to remember. Despite only being a footnote in the grand scheme of the illustrious Yankees history, the six-foot-seven righty made some headlines during his time with the club.

David Lee Pavlas
Born: August 12, 1962 (Frankfurt, Germany)
Yankees Tenure: 1995-96 

Pavlas was born in Frankfurt when its country was known as West Germany, but he was effectively raised in Texas. He graduated from Shiner High School and then went on to play baseball at Rice University in Houston. Upon leaving Rice, Pavlas went undrafted but was signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago Cubs in December of 1984.

After being signed, Pavlas started working his way through the Cubs’ farm system. Pavlas had made it to Double-A in 1987 when he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Mike Mason. Pavlas kept grinding his way through the minors and would reach Triple-A for the Rangers. In January of 1990, the Cubs purchased Pavlas back from the Rangers.

The 1990 season would be Pavlas’ first taste of the majors as a September call-up. In 13 games, Pavlas recorded 21.1 innings, going 2-0 and posting a 2.11 ERA. Despite this relative success, Pavlas only appeared in one game for the Cubs in 1991, instead spending most of the 1991 and 1992 seasons playing for Triple-A Iowa.

Pavlas was out of the majors for the 1993 and 1994 seasons, instead playing in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the Brother Elephants among other international teams and leagues. His return stateside was not without controversy, as the Yankees signed Pavlas as a replacement player during the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, on February 8, 1995.

Pavlas stuck with the organization once the big-league team returned, accepting an assignment to Triple-A Columbus. In July, the Yankees called up the former replacement player. After the harsh and bitter strike, the move was not received well by the players on the roster. Captain Don Mattingly told reporters that he would always see Pavlas as a scab. He largely ignored Pavlas in the clubhouse and would not interact with him outside of the lines of the field. Despite the drama, Pavlas did his job when called on out of the ’pen by Buck Showalter. In 1995, he had a 3.18 ERA over 5.2 innings in four appearances. He was not on the playoff roster but traveled with them to their heartbreaking ALDS loss to Seattle.

For most of the 1996 season, Pavlas was back in Columbus. However, the Yankees needed some innings and called him up in August for the last two months of the season. Pavlas appeared in 16 games, went 23 innings, and posted a solid 2.35 ERA.

The Yankees picked David Weathers over Pavlas on their playoff roster, and the move worked out with Weathers spinning a 0.82 ERA over 11 postseason innings during the 1996 championship run.

The players on the team voted not to give Pavlas a share of the postseason bonus. This infuriated owner George Steinbrenner, who paid Pavlas and two other players directly from the team and gave them World Series rings anyway. The vote was said to make Steinbrenner so mad that he traded* Jim Leyritz, who was allegedly the ringleader encouraging the vote against awarding the fringe contributors rings and a share.

*The presence on the wider 40-man roster of an up-and-coming backstop named Jorge Posada—a third-stringer in ’96—was more likely the primary motivator.

Following his last game with the Yankees in 1996, Pavlas would not appear in another big-league game (though he was at the ring ceremony in 1997). Chasing the dream, however, did not end, as Pavlas would play professionally internationally back in China and in Japan, including a short run playing with Hideki Matsui on the Yomiuri Giants prior to “Godzilla” becoming a Yankees legend. Then in 1999 he made another stop with the Yankees back in Triple-A Columbus, before spending a few more years pitching for the Pirates’ Triple-A club. 

In 2001, Pavlas officially retired from baseball. When it was all said and done Pavlas played professionally in seven countries and spent time in seven major league systems. His final line with the Yankees was a 0-0 record, a 2.51 ERA over 28.2 innings, and 21 strikeouts. If there were hard feelings over his involvement with the 1996 team, they at least somewhat subsided by 2016, as he was greeted warmly upon returning to the Bronx for the 20th anniversary celebration of the 1996 champions at Old-Timers’ Day.

Happy birthday, Dave!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Usually, there is no reason to focus on MLB free agency in August. It's three months away and there's playoffs to worry about.

Except this year, baseball's traditionally drawn-out free agency period is expected to be a frenzy, condensed into the three weeks between the end of the World Series and the end of the collective bargaining agreement.

The market opens five days after the World Series ends. The labor deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, and a lockout is widely expected the moment it does. The last one ran 99 days and froze every signing and trade in the sport. This one could be worse, because the owners want a salary cap and the union has spent decades saying that's not even in the conversation.

So, the players about to hit the market are looking at a narrow chance in November where deals can actually get done under the current CBA before the expected lockout.

These last two months will matter more than they normally would. Almost every name in this free agent class just changed teams at the deadline. Tarik Skubal is a Dodger. Freddy Peralta is a Ray. Luis Arraez is a Phillie. Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes are Cubs.

They're all auditioning somewhere new, right now, for a market that might slam shut before anyone gets their money.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rangers fans and fans across the country.

The Rangers are fighting for a playoff spot, and are currently a half game back of Houston in the American League West and a half game up on the Detroit Tigers for the third Wild Card spot.

It seems to be a given that, if healthy, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi would be the top two starters in a playoff series. What we want to know this week is, who would you feel best about having the third starter spot?

Cast your vote below…

The Cubs are now 8-2 in August after what was a really nice win in Washington. The Nationals are almost certainly going to miss the playoffs again, but they have a talented and young team. If you missed the stat, the Nats have had exactly one plate appearance by a player 29 or over, and that was by Miles Mikolas of all people. Even if that changes in September after roster expansion, they should set a nearly unbeatable record. The future is bright and the present isn’t all that dim. They stubbornly fought this game all of the way down to the last pitch.

Alas, the Cubs got just enough of everything to pull out yet another win. This was another team effort, with at least half a dozen players making significant contributions. This offense is relentless, this defense is excellent. They just need to pull together enough pitching to be able to hold the line when an opposing pitcher is going off and shutting them down. Can they do that? That is the question.

Let’s break out the perspective check before we further discuss this. Four teams with more wins than the Cubs. The Cubs now own a 6.5 game lead on the first Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks have caught the Phillies for the second spot. The Brewers got clobbered in San Diego and just like that, the Cubs are only four out in the division. I think it’s probably a little too early to get excited about that. But definitely time to start peeking over the fence a little. The Cubs are now on a 94.5 win pace. The Cubs are a season high 20 games over .500 and only need to split their remaining games to win 91. This team is starting to feel like the 2015 Cubs to me.

This was a game shaped a little unusual for this 2026 season. The Cubs fell behind early, trailing by two after each of the first two innings. But they scored in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings (and added an insurance run in the eighth). That turned a two-run deficit into a four-run lead heading to the bottom of the eighth. The Cubs have come from behind all across the map. They score so many runs that it isn’t terribly unusual for them to trail at some point and then bounce back. But usually once they get their offense going, they take off and leave the other team in the dust. I thought for a minute this one would go that way.

I thought wrong. That led to Jacob Webb being called upon for a four-out save. One of the fun things about a guy ascending to the closer role mid-season is that you sometimes end up with a multi-inning closer. Webb has seven saves to lead the team and in three of those he recorded more than three outs. He’d twice previously recorded six-out saves. That’s the benefit of Monday’s off day and having a very well-rested bullpen. Even with four relievers being used, there will be four other relievers with at least two days of rest heading into Wednesday’s game.

Offensively, the Cubs were fairly efficient. They had nine hits and drew five walks and had two HBPs. They turned that into eight runs. That’s a strong offensive output. Unsurprisingly, there were three homers and a couple of doubles. One of the walks scored, one of the walks drove in a run and one of the hit by pitches contributed to another run scoring. Free bases, they will kill you.

The Cubs survived a subpar start and a subpar evening out of the bullpen. That’s generally hard to do. But this team is playing exceptional baseball right now. Keep it rolling.

Three Positives plus Pete:

• Alex Bregman had another excellent night at the plate. He worked long counts all night, had a homer and a single, drew a walk and scored three times.
• Jacob Webb’s four out save was enormous.
• Seiya Suzuki had a double and a homer, he drove in two runs.
• Pete hit his 27th homer of the year. He’s had such a strong year that he homered and saw his wRC+ drop on the season. He already has 30 steals, so he’s just three homers away from back-to-back 30/30 seasons. At 24 years of age. Bobby Witt Jr. and Julio Rodriguez are two active players that got their second such season in their age-24 season.

Game 120, August 11: Cubs 8, Nationals 6 (70-50)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Jacob Webb (.177). 1.1 IP, 5 BF, H, 2 K (Sv 7)
• Hero: Alex Bregman (.145). 2-4, HR, BB, RBI, 3 R
• Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.127). 2-3, 2B, HBP, SF, RBI R, SB

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Shōta Imanaga (-.189). 4.2 IP, 21 BF, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 ER, 5 K
• Goat: Ryan Zeferjahn (-.115). 0.2 IP, 6 BF, 3 H, BB, 2 ER
• Kid: Michael Busch (.090). 0-5

WPA Play of the Game: CJ Abrams hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the first for the game’s first two runs. (.185)

Cubs Play of the Game: Nico Hoerner batted with a runner on first and no outs in the fourth, the Cubs down one. He doubled. (.134)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 119 Winner: Matthew Boyd received 58 of 91 votes

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Pete Crow-Armstrong +29
• Alex Bregman +19
• Carson Kelly +15.5
• Shōta Imanaga +14
• Trent Thornton +13.5
• Edward Cabrera -9.5
• Phil Maton -10
• Jameson Taillon -13
• Caleb Thielbar -19.5
• Dansby Swanson -21

Up Next: Game two of the series Wednesday night. David Peterson (6-7, 5.35) will pitch for the Cubs. Peterson is 3-1 with a 4.03 (38 IP) over his last seven starts. He’s had no decisions in his last two starts despite allowing two earned runs in 11. 1 innings. Jackson Kent gets the call for the Nats to make his MLB debut. The 23-year-old lefty is 9-4 with a 3.72 in 20 starts (94.1 IP) across two levels this season. He averages more than a strikeout an inning and has allowed opponents a .216 batting average. He’s done a little worse at Triple-A, so there is some question if he’s ready yet for this test. He was a fourth round pick out of the University of Arizona in the 2024 draft. He’s originally from Roselle, IL. So I imagine he has some thoughts one way or the other about debuting versus the Cubs. He was 13 when the Cubs won their championship.

Give the kid a warm welcome.

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George Springer loves what he sees from Ranger Suarez, so we’re riding with him as part of our Red Sox vs. Blue Jays predictions tonight.

The Toronto Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox for Game 3 of their four-game series tonight at the Rogers Centre as slight +105 underdogs at BET99.

They’ve shrunk their path to the Wild Card to just 2.5 games and are looking for a third straight win against the Red Sox with Jose Soriano on the mound.

Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 12, and win our third consecutive best bet.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays predictions

Red Sox vs Blue Jays best bet: George Springer Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI (-105)

George Springer has cashed this play in two consecutive games against the Boston Red Sox, and we’re getting some tremendous value for him to do it one more time.

Now, Springer hasn’t seen a ton of Robert Suarez over the course of his career, but when he has, he’s found his way on base. The Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter is 2-for-5 lifetime against the lefty with an xBA of .344 and hasn’t struck out once, meaning we should see some balls in play tonight.

To take it a step further, Springer owns an above-average 105 wRC+ vs. lefties on the season.

His solid contact percentage is among the best of his career this year, and with Springer hitting in the four-spot routinely, we may only need one or two at-bats to build our bankroll.

COVERS INTEL: Springer has been one of the best hitters in the American League following the All-Star break, owning a .824 OPS since returning to action. And out of his 36 RBI this season, 15 have come from hitting in the four-hole. Yes, he's had 20 from the leadoff position, but with 164 more at-bats.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

We’ll keep Springer as the heart of our Blue Jays same-game parlay, but behind him, we’re rolling with the Blue Jays to keep things close, and for Jose Soriano and the now-rested bullpen to hold the Red Sox Under 3.5 runs.

Toronto has just found a way to scrape and claw themselves back into games against Boston, a big reason why they have won nine of their last 13 games and four straight series.

With Soriano on the mound making his home debut,I’m expecting him to hold the Red Sox bats at bay after allowing just three earned runs across his last 16 2/3 innings. Boston hasn’t scored more than three in four straight — let’s cash this one.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays SGP

• George Springer Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI 
• Blue Jays +1.5 
• Red Sox team total Under 3.5 

Red Sox vs Blue Jays home run pick: Alejandro Kirk (+675)

The Blue Jays haven’t been hitting the long ball this season like in years past, but if anyone is going deep off Suarez today, it’s Alejandro Kirk.

The catcher owns a .599 xBA and a massive .714 xSLG against the lefty, leading me to believe he’s the man for the job. With his average exit velocity sitting at 98 MPH in this matchup, you should, too.

Let’s ride Kirky to go deep tonight.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Boston (-125) | Toronto (+105)
• Run line: Boston -1.5 (+140) | Toronto +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+105) | Under 7.5 (-125)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays trend

If you're looking for a play on the total, the Under is 6-0 in the Red Sox's last six games as a road favorite. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Red Sox vs Blue Jays and game info

Red Sox vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Red Sox vs Blue Jays weather

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Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (59-55) lost 9-8 (BOX SCORE)

Hendrickson started for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 7 runs, 4 earned, over 6 innings of work. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on an Alexander 3 run home run. They got 2 more runs in the 5th on a Biggio RBI triple and Ferreras RBI double. An Alexander double in the 7th brought Sugar Land within a run. In the 9th, Sugar Land tied it on a Brooks walk. The game went to extras and in the 10th, Salazar drove in a run on a sac fly. Unfortunately Santa wasn’t able to hold the lead as Sugar Land fell 9-8.

Note: Alexander has 20 home runs this season.

• Cavan Biggio, 2B: 2-for-6, R, 3B, RBI
• Pascanel Ferreras, SS: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI
• Ray Delgado, 3B: 2-for-5, R
• CJ Alexander, 1B: 2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, BB
• Collin Price, DH: 1-for-5, R, 2B
• Cesar Salazar, C: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI

• Josh Hendrickson, LHP: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (52-57) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

Dombroski started for the Hooks and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings. The Hooks got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Call sac fly and Holy RBI double. In the 5th, Bush connected on a solo home run. Mancini went 2.1 innings in relief allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. He was followed by Perez who tossed 2 scoreless innings. The rest of the pen was solid as they closed out the 3-2 win.

Note: Bush has a .792 OPS this season.

• Will Bush, 1B: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI
• Walker Janek, C: 1-for-3, BB, SB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 1-for-3, R
• Chase Call, LF: 1-for-3, RBI, SB
• Max Holy, SS: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB

• Trey Dombroski, LHP: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Joey Mancini, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (WIN)
• Railin Perez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Jose Guedez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Amilcar Chirinos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K (SAVE)

A+: Asheville Tourists (37-70) won 14-9 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Moss RBI double and Garcia RBI single. They scored 5 more runs in the 2nd inning on a fielder’s choice, Neyens walk, Huezo walk, Moss sac fly and Walker sac fly. In the 3rd, the offense got 4 more runs on a Newman groundout and Huezo 3 run home run. Potter got the start and allowed one run over 3 innings of work. Santos pitched in relief and allowed 6 runs but the offense got another in the 4th on a Newman single and then 2 runs in the 7th on Newman and Thomas back to back home runs. Varela allowed a couple of runs in the 9th but held on as Asheville won 14-9.

Note: Huezo has a .839 OPS in High-A.

• Justin Thomas, RF: 1-for-5, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
• Xavier Neyens, 3B: 1-for-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
• Anthony Huezo, CF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 SB
• Jack Moss, 1B: 3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
• John Garcia, DH: 1-for-4, RBI, BB
• Zach Daudet, SS: 0-for-2, 3 R, 3 BB, SB
• Yosweld Vasquez, C: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB, 2 SB
• DJ Newman, LF: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI

• Nick Potter, RHP: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Yeriel Santos, RHP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
• Joan Ogando, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (WIN)
• Jose Varela, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-52) SUSPENDED

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 6:45 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 6:35 CT

AV: Javier Perez – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

Worcester: L, 9-6 (BOX SCORE)

It was close, but in a game that featured twenty-seven hits between the two teams, the WooSox fell just short against the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) after a late rally. Mikey Romero had a two-RBI single to score Mickey Gasper and Franklin Arias (both of whom looked good Tuesday, obviously good enough to get within scoring position) to add to his sac fly. The former first rounder has hit .364 with an OPS of 1.072 in the month of August. This one was decided early in retrospect, though; John Holobetz finally looked a bit too human after an awesome start to his Triple-A campaign, was pulled early, and the bullpen (mostly Eduardo Rivera) didn’t help matters on a night where the offense certainly did enough to win most other games.

Portland: L, 16-4 (BOX SCORE)

By the time the Sea Dogs got a ball over the fence, Brooks Brannon’s 19th of the season that also scored Jack Winnay, the score was 16-4 and the expected winning percentage stayed securely at 0.1%. The Rumble Ponies (Mets AA) had an outstanding sixth inning off the mitt of Cooper Adams, beckoning seven runs and turning a 7-1 game into an absolute laugher. The game didn’t start off right as Dalton Rogers allowed a first-inning home run to Jefferson Rojas and the pitching staff then allowed two doubles to the young shortstop. That was just one indication of a night that would just not let up. 

Greenville: PPD in 3rd, Make-Up Today

The Drive have a pretty good handle on this one as the rain came down too quickly in Spartanburg (Astros High-A) to continue. They’re up 5-0 in the third, having jumped to an early lead thanks to Isaiah Jackson’s 16th of 2026. “First” pitch at 5:00.

Salem: L, 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

The bullpen held up their end of the bargain against Delmarva (Orioles A) on Tuesday night, allowing just one hit after the third, but the offense was extremely lackluster, getting just six total bases on the night and only drawing two walks. As a result, the RidgeYaks were unceremoniously walked off without recording an out in the bottom of the ninth. Franklin Primera had two hits as he and Skylar King remain maybe the two most intriguing batting prospects in Salem, but when you can’t get the ducks across the pond… I can’t think of an analogy to end this, but you get the point, it’s tough to win. 

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Dinger Tuesday was good to me, with two of three cashing for +7 units and one step closer to digging out of what seemed like an impossible home run hole. MLB player props have been better for me in the summer months. Let's crush Wednesday.

In addition to targeting the two leaders in the NL MVP race, I'm adding the new Tampa Bay Rays catcher, Liam Hicks, to take advantage of a favorable situation in Sacramento. 

These are my favorite MLB home run props for Wednesday, August 12.

MLB home run props for today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Shohei Ohtani	+276
Pete Crow-Armstrong	+344
Liam Hicks	+830
💲Today's HR parlay	+11684

Home run prediction: Shohei Ohtani (+276)

Shohei Ohtani for a homer at +250 or better is usually a price point for me, but it’s not something we see daily, with his average HR price closer to $2. I’m a Pete Crow-Armstrong guy all the way for NL MVP right now, but I’m willing to back Ohtani at this price against the Kansas City Royals and their bullpen.

Lefty Daniel Lynch is getting the start, which is why the price is higher with the lefty-on-lefty matchup. However, Lynch threw just 35 pitches and recorded five outs in his last turn, his first start of the season, before handing things over to the relievers. Kansas City currently has no left-handed options in its bullpen, which sets up well for Ohtani later in the game.

Since 2024, 71% of Ohtani’s home runs have come against right-handed pitching, so the matchup gets considerably better once the Royals go to their right-handed relievers.

Dodger Stadium is also a favorable home run environment, with some of the shortest fence distances in MLB. THE BAT has the fair price all the way down to +220.

• Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SportsNet LA, Royals.TV

Home run prediction: Pete Crow-Armstrong (+344)

This is a huge outlier price at Polymarket. I hit this winner last night at +325, and tonight’s matchup is just as good, with a fair price of +260.

Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a 111-mph missile last night and has moved to -125 as the NL MVP betting favorite. He saw Jake Irvin last night but can do some damage against the Washington Nationals and rookie left-hander Jackson Kent, who is making his first MLB start.

The southpaw started the year at Double-A and is getting the promotion after Zack Littell was finally designated for assignment. Kent was a strikeout-per-inning pitcher at Triple-A this year but also allowed eight home runs over 63-plus frames. He’s tough on lefties from a batting average perspective, but left-handed hitters have taken him deep at a rate similar to righties.

Nothing cute here — just backing a great bat in a great spot at a great price with my MLB picks.

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Nationals.TV, Marquee Sports Network

Home run prediction: Liam Hicks (+830)

The Tampa Bay Rays might have the best HR matchup on the slate today. They get Sutter Health Park, which is ranked as the best home run park by a fair margin, according to Ballpark Pal.

Jack Perkins is also one of the best HR starters to target. He ranks in the Bottom 20 of all MLB pitchers in HR/9 and the bottom 40 in HR/FB rate. He's allowed nine home runs over his last 28 innings at home.

Liam Hicks is projected to hit out of the cleanup spot and is paying a robust +830, with some books as short as +500. He has a solid .884 OPS since joining the Rays and gets to face a right-handed starter, with 14 of his 15 homers coming against RHPs. The A's are also down their best lefty middle reliever and are a bottom-three bullpen in terms of HR/9.

It's a buy to +650. 

• Time: 11:59 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: One National or Two local

Best home run combo for Aug. 12

Shohei Ohtani	Trade Now +11684
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Liam Hicks

Want more baseball parlays? Check out our MLB parlay picks page!

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The Los Angeles Dodgers took the first two games of this series against the Kansas City Royals, and they're -215 favorites to complete the sweep tonight.

L.A.'s lethal offense is finally waking up, and I'm backing it to put forth another productive outing with my Royals vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks on Wednesday, Aug. 12. 

Who will win Royals vs Dodgers tonight: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-110)

Kansas City Royals pitching appears to be the elixir to the Los Angeles Dodgers' offensive struggles.

The Dodgers have scored at least five runs in each of the first two games of this series, and I project them to do so again tonight.

Daniel Lynch conceded three runs in less than two innings of work in his first start. He will not give the Royals much length, and he’ll be backed by the league’s worst bullpen in FIP.

Back Dodgers bats to lead the way in a one-sided affair. Play to -115.

COVERS INTEL:Lynch's 28th percentile K% will make it difficult to navigate a powerful Dodgers lineup.

Royals vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (+120)

The Royals’ bullpen ranks dead last in HR/9, and that’s with Lynch, normally a staple out of the ‘pen, playing a regular role rather than starting things off.

The Dodgers sit second in OPS this season, and conditions are expected to provide a 14% boost to home runs.

I expect the Dodgers to score early and often in this game, and the Royals should chip in against Eric Lauer. 

He has pitched better with the Dodgers but has still conceded 2.15 HR/9. Favorable hitting conditions in the forecast won’t help his cause, either.

Back to -120.

Royals vs Dodgers home run prediction: Shohei Ohtani (+245)

Shohei Ohtani is as good as anybody when he’s on, and it looks like he’s starting to heat up.

Ohtani has hit .417 over the past 10 games with a .333 ISO, .503 wOBA, and team-leading 17.6% barrel rate.

He will face poor pitching in this contest, and winds blowing out should only highlight the crazy power Ohtani possesses.

Ohtani has homered in 29% of home games, and 34.5% when seeing a HR boost of at least 10%.

I like his chances of taking the Royals deep, and would back him to +215.

Royals vs Dodgers weather

The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid 70s with outward winds blowing near 10 miles per hour. Boost to the bats.

Royals vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Royals +175 | Dodgers -215
• Run line: Royals +1.5 (-115) | Dodgers -1.5 (-105)
• Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-120) | Under 9.0 (+100)

Royals vs Dodgers trend

The Over is 5-0-1 in Kansas City's last six games against teams with winning records. Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Royals vs Dodgers and game info

Royals vs Dodgers latest injuries

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

Welcome to Wednesday!

Last night, the Athletics’ struggles at home continued as they lost a second straight game to the Tampa Bay Rays. A’s pitchers allowed six home runs, while Rays’ starter Nick Martinez twirled his second career complete game.

With only a little over 40 games remaining in this season, the A’s once again find themselves looking toward the future. As a result, it is imperative that the team finishes this season strong while continuing to evaluate its players to determine who to keep and who to move on from.

If the 2027 season does not get wiped out due to this offseason’s looming lockout, it will usher in a wave of change, from a new league-wide CBA agreement to the A’s new general manager and potentially a new manager. That last part depends on whether owner John Fisher and the new head of baseball operations keep Mark Kotsay around for another season or make a change to better position the club for success.

Regardless of that decision, the A’s need to put more resources into upgrading their pitching staff, specifically the bullpen, which has been one of the biggest factors behind this disappointing campaign. At the moment, left-hander Hogan Harris and right-hander Luis Medina are the only two current relievers who deserve a spot in the bullpen moving forward.

Right-handers Elvis Alvarado and Seth Johnson have the stuff to pitch in high-leverage situations, but neither has fully harnessed his ability. Johnson began the A’s eighth-inning bullpen implosion on Monday night.

The A’s also must not forget about the rotation, which will be led by J.T. Ginn and Gage Jump. Luis Severino, who has missed most of this season with an injury, can opt out of his contract and enter free agency or accept a $22 million player option to remain with the A’s. In addition, the team needs to invest in more pitching coaches and support systems to foster better pitching development throughout the organization.

Alternatively, its offensive core is mostly in place. Top prospect Leo De Vries, who if healthy should join Triple-A Las Vegas for its playoff run, could join Jacob Wilson, Zack Gelof and Nick Kurtz on the infield sometime next season. Designated hitter Brent Rooker will return after undergoing season-ending knee surgery. Last but not least, the current starting outfield trio could carry over, with center field being a spring training battle between Henry Bolte and Denzel Clarke.

Mason Barnett, Jack Perkins, Tommy White and Max Muncy have the rest of this season to prove they deserve to remain key contributors for the A’s. Will they make the most of this opportunity or prove overmatched? What else are you looking forward to as the club plays out the rest of this season?

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Blown Out By Rays 12-4
• A’s Bullpen Chokes in 10-6 loss Against Rays
• Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
• Feinstein discusses new role as A’s interim GM
• Sage-burning A’s cope with departure of GM as spiraling season continues
• 111 games, zero errors: Wilson sets MLB record at shortstop
• Mason Edwards Headlines Athletics’ Pitching Play In 2026 Draft
• Late Comeback Helps A’s Beat Red Sox 4-3
• Athletics Claim Taylor Rashi
• A’s Claim Drew Rom
• Miracles Happen: A’s Win 7-3
• A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass
• MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
• A’s Top Prospect Jamie Arnold Sets Career High in One of His Best Double-A Starts
• A’s First-Round Pick Drew Burress Already Showing Prodigious Power in Single-A
• Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season
• Signs Of Hope And Signs Of Hopeless
• Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko says feeling in his legs returning
• Cuban’s investment group purchases minority stake in Athletics
• Chan Ho Park joins A’s group; 1st Korean to buy stake in MLB club
• Blogfather Saves The Day With Pearls Of Most Excellent Advice

MLB News and Interest:

• Watch MiLB at Field of Dreams tonight on MLB Network
• Updated 2026 top 10 prospect rankings for all 30 MLB teams
• Angels relieve pitching coaches Maddux, Chiti, Scott of duties
• Yankees receive $2.6 billion in financing deal with Apollo Sports Capital
• Snell’s Tuesday return to give LA yet another two-time Cy winner
• Diamondbacks Designate Paul Sewald For Assignment
• Red Sox set to activate Deadline prize Rutschman on Tuesday
• Reds’ Hunter Greene to have season-ending surgery for torn UCL
• Mets lose closer Williams to IL, then Senga records first MLB save
• Taillon exits first Toronto home start with right forearm discomfort
• Giants’ Daniel Susac Diagnosed With Patellar Fracture
• Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi hits IL with inflammation in elbow
• Congress asks MLB to take action after Bryce Harper betting video
• Tim Anderson, 2-time All-Star and former batting champ, retires
• D-Backs To Use Zack Littell In Relief
• Braves Release Jorge Mateo
• Rule check: Red Sox-Blue Jays delayed for unusual run-scoring play
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Sounds like the team smoothed over the nature of the decision to part ways with former general manager David Forst.

An update on the A’s Las Vegas stadium construction:

Is Maddux a good fit to be the Athletics’ next pitching coach?

Are you excited for Thursday’s Field of Dreams Game? The third MLB game at the nostalgic baseball field will pit the Philadelphia Phillies against the Minnesota Twins. What is your favorite baseball movie of all time?

Hello everyone!

The Mariners’ slide continued yesterday in a 4-1 series-opening loss to the Yankees. The team will attempt to find some semblance of positive momentum in the middle match today, with Bryce Miller taking the hill against Will Warren.

In Mariners news…

• Cal Raleigh and Dan Wilson expressed their frustrations following the team’s loss to the Yankees.
• Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times reported that the Mariners are very unlikely to fire Dan Wilson despite their disappointing performance so far this season.
• Former Mariners outfielder Rob Refsnyder is mulling over retirement after being released by the club.
• Randy Arozarena is having one of his best offensive seasons, and he’s doing it by generating more contact, writes Davy Andrews at Fangraphs.
• The Iwakuma family is all grown up!

Around the league…

• The Angels are cleaning house in the dugout, parting ways with pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.
• The A’s are concerned that first baseman Nick Kurtz could miss the rest of the year with his thumb injury.
• The Blue Jays have placed right-hander Jameson Taillon on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis.
• Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers is also hitting the IL with a hamstring strain.
• Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage underwent meniscus surgery but could return to play before the season ends.
• In his first game back from a three-month stint on the injured list, Blake Snell struck out ten batters over six innings.
• The Rangers are calling up outfielder Jarred Kelenic — again. Will we never be free of this guy?
• Kiley McDaniel at ESPN updated his list of the top 10 prospects in each farm system.
• Mark Feinsand spoke to several MLB executives to get their thoughts on how the trade deadline went down.
• Leo Sepkowitz at GQ stepped into Noah Syndergaard’s fascinating post-playing career world.
• A judge ruled in favor of the Boerne Little League team, allowing them to advance to the LLWS despite a previous ruling against them that they were using an ineligible player.

While the Detroit Tigers’ offense is drawing most of the attention during their epic run from June 1 to the present, their much maligned bullpen has also played a part in turning the season around. Some credit for this has to go to the team at large, as good starting pitching and plenty of run scoring makes it far easier to keep a bullpen in order. Another crucial element to good bullpen work is team defense, and the return of Gleyber Torres, Javier Báez, along with Zach McKinstry swinging a hot enough bat to play most days, has really solidified them as a defensive unit as well. Adding in Max Clark to play above average center field has been the final piece of that puzzle. Even so, several key members of the bullpen have clearly pitched better over the last 10 weeks going back to June 1, and none more than veteran lefty Tyler Holton.

In 2023-2024, Holton was one of the most valuable relievers in baseball. One could scoff at his mediocre strikeout rates, but his extremely low walk rate, along with keeping home runs in check, lent plenty of support to the idea that Holton wasn’t just getting lucky on balls in play. He was an absolute workhorse for the Tigers, appearing in 125 games and throwing 179.2 innings with a combined 2.15 ERA. That’s an ace caliber season for a starting pitcher, but Holton managed it while pitching two to three games per week on short notice, occasioally spot starting, and otherwise never knowing when his number would be called, or for how long he’d have to pitch once he was on the mound.

In 2025, things finally started to slip. Holton’s strikeout to walk ratio remained excellent, but he had a few stretches in which teams got to him for a lot more home runs. After posting a 0.80 HR/9 mark across 2023-2024, that mark skyrocketed to 1.72 HR/9 in 2025, Holton’s age 29 season. Of course, he wasn’t alone as many of the Tigers relief options went down with injury or struggled to re-create their 2024 performances. While Holton managed to pull it together enough to pitch well in September, it seemed as though the lack of strikeouts had finally come back to bite him, and that his run as an unconventionally great reliever was at an end. That impression was only strengthened when Holton struggled early in 2026 as well.

Through May 31st, Holton had posted a 4.50 ERA/4.36 FIP for a bullpen that crumbled to dust in May. His strikeout and walk numbers were still solid, but still the home runs were coming more frequently than they used to as right-handed hitters continued to tee off on him.

Holton has long drawn attention for having two distinct three-pitch mixes depending on hitter handedness. Against lefties, he jams them with sinkers and bends sweepers down and away into the right-handed batters box, while mixing in fourseamers up to change hitters’ eye level. Against right-handers, Holton mainly features cutters, with a mix of changeups and fourseamers, along with a bit of curveball away to steal strikes on the outer edge. The pitch that was really betraying him even as his sweeper improved was the changeup.

Right-handed hitters posted a gruesome .452 wOBA, .462 ISO combination against the changeup prior to June 1 of this year. The pitch was averaging 12 inches of horizontal run, and two inches of vertical movement. Whatever adjustment Holton made to the changeup, since that point he’s added almost three inches of arm side run, and two inches of vertical movement. It’s fading away arm side more, and dropping a little less. As a result it seems to be harder to see out of the his hand with a bit flatter shape, but then fades away arm side more than expected. The result has been a lot more weak contact.

Right-handers have posted just a .187 wOBA and a .087 ISO against the changeup since June 1. Whether it’s the change in movement to accentuate the horizontal break, or whether Holton is just setting it up and commanding the changeup more effectively, it’s completely turned his season around. His main weapon against right-handers, his cutter, was also getting hit harder than usual this year, but that may have simply been because it was the only pitch working for him and hitters were able to sit on it. Since June 1 hitters have done absolutely nothing against the cutter, despite the fact that the average movement on it hasn’t changed at all. Fixing the changeup fixed his whole approach to attacking right-handed hitters and turned him back into the versatile reliever the Tigers relied so heavily on in 2023-2024. Once again, he looks like one of the better relievers in the game, and the struggles of 2025 now look like a single season blip in his career numbers.

Good to have you back, Tyler.

Holton isn’t all the way back to his 2023-2024 numbers just yet, but considering how rough the 2026 season started off for him, it’s remarkable that his numbers are once again lining up so well with his peak seasons. The strikeouts continue to trend up, and the home runs continue to trend down. If he can keep that up for the next seven weeks or so to finish out the season, everything should line up nicely once again with his career numbers, with only that home run spike in 2025 to remind us that he fought through a rough stretch for over a season before finally getting everything back in form.

The Tigers bullpen still badly needs a real ace reliever down there, one capable of turning out the lights on good opponents with strikeouts and weak contact. It’s hard to have faith in Kenley Jansen managing it, although Drew Sommers has certainly provided an overall boost in stuff for the high leverage crew. That lack may once again be their undoing down the stretch or in the postseason, and the disinterest in adding relief help at the trade deadline remains a baffling oversight. But with Tyler Holton back to dealing like he did in 2023-2024 it’s once again a deeper, more flexible bullpen for A.J. Hinch and Chris Fetter to deploy. Whether it’s enough to get them into October where they can use their starting pitchers more flexibly, and perhaps find ways to make it work, remains to be seen.