Category: MLB

The San Diego Padres brought Gavin Sheets back on a one-year, $4.5 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. It locked him into becoming the lineup’s top designated hitter option. 

Injuries forced Sheets’ role to change

However, injuries to Jake Cronenworth, Ramon Laureano, and Miquel Andujar forced the Padres to revamp their starting lineup. The biggest move was having Sheets play the corner outfield position full-time. 
He may not have great defensive range, but Sheets can put a glove on balls hit in his direction.

He has dominated the plate by shattering expectations, with a .232 average, 12 home runs, and 33 RBI that should easily eclipse last season’s career numbers, which were .252 with 19 HR and 71 RBI in 145 games.

Sheets has become an RBI machine with RISP

The one change we see in 2026 is Sheets’ production with runners in scoring position. The Friar Faithful are witnessing another season where Sheets is exceeding expectations. The 30-year-old is hitting .366 with 4 HR, 22 RBI, and a 1,227 OPS in runners in scoring position.

Unfortunately, the lineup is going to need some assistance in scoring runs. Manny Machado has struggled significantly at the plate, posting a .179 BA, but he has shown signs of busting out of his season-long slumber. 

The rise in his production with runners in scoring position has been aided by the insertion of Sheets in the five spot of the batting order. Machado is hitting .259 with 2 HR and 18 RBI. Sheets continued his torrid pace, hitting .357 with a .762 slugging percentage.

New offensive outlook

The hope is for the top of the order to get on base via walk or a bunt base hit. Then, keep the line moving for the lineup’s big hitters. Each is clutch to knock in runs late in games. 

Combined, Machado and Sheets had 90 ABs in the same inning. They hit .256 with 4 HR and 40 RBI. Sheets is dominating the partnership by capitalizing on each scoring situation. Machado’s production is on the rise, but it may take him a little time to reach his career average of .275 with runners in scoring position.

The Friars need to put themselves in better hitting situations. Hopefully, it leads to more run production.

The 2026 MLB Draft Combine kicks off June 23-26 in Phoenix, and there are going to be a massive 335 players involved this year. Some of these players have more at stake in front of the Atlanta Braves and the 29 other teams, and for different reasons. Today I plan to take a look at 11 of the players who could have the most to gain or lose in Phoenix.

Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State – This spring Bailey was looking like a potential second or third round pick as a sophomore putting up huge power numbers thanks to his true 80-grade raw power. Then an ugly ankle injury happened and surgery followed. His medical reports are going to be a key factor in determining if he is able to get him to receive a bonus offer large enough to turn pro with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Brady Ballinger, 1B, Kansas – Another first baseman to start the list, Ballinger is here for totally different reasons than Bailey. Ballinger came into the spring as a potential dark horse first round pick, despite being a first base only prospect. Then despite Kansas having the best season in school history, Ballinger saw his numbers take a fall across the board. Due to that he has seen himself from from potential first rounder to not even included in the Consensus Top 200 rankings – he unofficially came in 215th there, but everything is unofficial past 200 as counting rankings stopped after 200 on all lists. He will need to impress here in order to help himself – but for a guy who was receiving some Nick Kurtz comps heading into the year, that isn’t out of the question.

Brody Bumila, LHP, Massachusetts HS – Bumila is this year’s version of Jack Bauer, a high school lefty who has already touched 102 MPH with his fastball. However this cold-weather, multi-sport arm has a Tommy John surgery on his resume with an internal brace that caused him to miss time as recently as 2025. The medicals will certainly play a part in how high he gets selected.

Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State – Carlon is a pitcher who could be very much in play in the range where the Braves second first round pick falls. He is also a pitcher who had a velocity dip and “dead arm” just last month. The way he comes out of the combine could determine just how high he ends up being selected.

Jacob Dudan, RHP, NC State – Dudan emerged as the Wolfpack’s best pitching prospect this season, but his season ended early when he needed Tommy John in early-April. He is yet another pitcher that will have his medicals play a part in where he gets picked.

Cam Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina – It’s well known that Flukey was strongly in the mix to be the first pitcher off the board coming into the season. Then an early season rib injury forced him to miss considerable time, and when he got back he never got fully ramped up to a full workload. His medicals could play a part, but teams are also going to want to see him throw here.

Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU – LaPour came in as a potential early round pick, but was injured in his first start and only returned late in the season. We only got to see three more appearances longer than one inning from him the rest of the way, and he did struggle a bit in two of his five total appearances after his return. His medicals as well as him throwing could play a real factor in his stock.

Chase Meyer, RHP, formerly West Virginia – Coming into the year it was actually Meyer seen as WVU’s top prospect this year, ahead of Dawson Montesa and Maxx Yehl. Then after just two relief appearances he was dismissed from the team in due to a locker room incident. He has resurfaced in the MLB Draft League already and his stuff has looked great there, but he will need to answer for his dismissal in team interviews to help determine where he may get selected.

Logan Reddeman, RHP, UCLA – Reddeman experienced a velocity bump this year and was starting to emerge as a candidate to be selected in the Top 10 overall. Then he experienced arm fatigue that ended up shutting him down for the remainder of the season in mid-April. His medicals will be a key factor in where he ends up going, and if he is able to throw at the combine that could also help determine his fate.

Zion Rose, OF, Louisville – Rose has emerged this spring as a potential first round pick as he hit .417/.491/.646 with six homers and more walks than strikeouts. However a pair of injuries also led to him missing 21 games this year, starting his season late and then missing another 10-day stretch in season. He’s got the pedigree and the production, but teams will be eyeing his medicals closely.

Cade Townsend, RHP, Mississippi – Townsend was starting to be linked heavily to the Braves for the 9th pick, but following a missed start due to shoulder inflammation his stuff was never quite as elite. Further complicating things is the fact that after May 16th he only made one more appearance the rest of the way despite the Mississippi run to the College World Series – not pitching at all in the Super Regional or in the CWS itself.

2026 MLB Draft Preview: Carson Wiggins scouting report.

The 2026 is about a month away — the first round kicks off on July 11, 2026 — so its time to start offering capsule looks at players the Texas Rangers could select with their top picks. The Rangers’ first round pick is at #16, their second round pick is at #54, and their third round pick is at #89.

Leading up to draft day, we will be doing writeups of some of the players who could end up getting selected by the Rangers with one of their first three picks. Today we are looking at University of Arkansas pitcher Carson Wiggins.

Carson Wiggins is a 6’5″, 215 lb. righthanded pitcher who is a draft-eligible sophomore at the University of Arkansas. He turned 21 earlier this month. Coming out of high school in Roland, Oklahoma, in 2024, he was a top 100 draft prospect, but went undrafted due to signability concerns. His brother, Jaxon Wiggins, is also a pitcher who was drafted by the Cubs out of the University of Arkansas in the second round in 2023, and who was a consensus top 100 prospect coming into the 2026 season.

Wiggins is described as a “flamethrower,” with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 102 mph, and that averaged 98.7 mph in 2025, per MLB Pipeline. His fastball has good rising action and is a legit swing-and-miss pitch. He pairs the fastball with an excellent slider with good movement that also gets whiffs. He has a curveball and changeup, as well, though he apparently rarely used them pitching for the Razorbacks.

Wiggins is big and athletic, and his delivery isn’t high effort. However, his control is an issue, and he has a lot of improvement he needs to make in his command of his pitches.

Wiggins was used as a reliever as a freshman, throwing 14 innings over 14 games. He faced 59 batters and struck out 20 of them, but also walked seven unintentionally and threw six wild pitches. His freshman season was cut short due to an elbow issue that resulted in internal brace surgery, and he didn’t pitch this year. He has reportedly been throwing sides, however, and is healthy and ready to go for the MLB Draft Combine this week.

Baseball America has Wiggins at #123 on their board. MLB Pipeline has Wiggins at #84 on their board. Kiley McDaniel puts Wiggins at #145 on his top 150 list. Keith Law’s rankings have Wiggins at #71 on his board. Fangraphs has Wiggins at #40 on their board. Baseball Prospectus does not have Wiggins on their top 30 draft board.

Given how little he has pitched the past two seasons, there are a lot questions about Wiggins. Some of those should be answered when he throws at the Combine, and if he does well and shows he is 100%, he presumably would move up on draft boards. His brother missed his junior season at Arkansas due to Tommy John surgery and has blossomed as a pro, though an elbow injury this year has put Jaxon on the shelf most of 2026.

Wiggins has TORP potential as a starter, though in order to stick as a starter in the pros he is going to have to improve his command significantly and develop his third and fourth pitches. If a team wants to use him as a reliever, he could move quickly, with his fastball/slider combo making him a potential late inning weapon.

The Rangers have not been scared off by college pitchers coming off of injury, and Wiggins would appear to be ready to resume game action post-draft. Wiggins does have extra leverage as a draft-eligible sophomore who would presumably be eligible for an injury redshirt for 2026, meaning he would potentially have three years of eligibility remaining.

Previously:

Liam Peterson

Tyler Bell

Aiden Robbins

Jared Grindlinger

Logan Reddemann

Cooper Harris

Justin Lebron

Cameron Flukey

Derek Curiel

Hunter Dietz

Logan Hughes

Nick Morabito

Week: 6 G, 21 AB, .333/.462/.810, 7 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 5 BB, 5 K, 4/4 SB (Triple-A)

2026 Season: 64 G, 234 AB, .256/.364/.415, 60 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 33 BB, 64 K, 22/24 SB, .319 BABIP (Triple-A) / 5 G, 11 AB, .000/.083/.000, 0 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 K, 0/0 SB, .000 BABIP (MLB)                    

Earlier this season, people were discussing Nick Morabito in the same breath as Carson Benge or AJ Ewing, and with good reason: through the first month of the season, he was hitting .268/.371/.463 with four doubles and four home runs in 23 games for the Syracuse Mets, good for a 116 wRC+.

Unfortunately for Morabito, and for everyone else out there, things took a turn for the worst in the month of May, as the outfielder hit .234/.355/.297 until May 19, when the Mets called the 23-year-old up to the majors for roughly a week to balance out the bench. After going hitless in 11 at-bats, drawing a walk, he was optioned back down to Syracuse on May 25th, where he had a strong week, going 6-23 with a pair of extra base hits and three walks, finishing out his May hitting .241/.353/.333 with 3 doubles, a triple, and a home run.

Prior to this past week, Morabito’s June was looking grim. Coming into the week, he was hitting .227/.320/.295, but thanks to his performance against the Tides, he is hitting .256/.364/.415.

As expected, the red flags that presented themselves in his profile last season, such as his elevated strikeout rate, have continued to bite Morabito, but to his credit, he responded by making improvements in other facets of his game. His walk rate has improved, up from a 9.8% in 95 games with High-A Brooklyn and 9.6% with Double-A Binghamton to 11.6% in 63 games with Syracuse. His batted ball data, however slight, has improved, with fewer groundballs and more line drives and flyballs. His hit spray, though slight, is more efficient, with his pull and up-the-middle rates up a bit and his opposite field rate down.

There is no doubt in my mind that Morabito will be called back up to the majors at some point between now and when he decides to call it a career, and with his speed and ability to play centerfield, there is no doubt in my mind that he will carve himself a nice little niche as a bench player. While he does not have particularly loud offensive tools, there are clear avenues for Morabito to improve which might then raise his potential standing even further, from bench player to perhaps more.

Jonathan Santucci

Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (Double-A)

2026 Season: 13 G (13 GS), 62.2 IP, 50 H, 29 R, 26 ER (3.73 ERA), 31 BB, 75 K, .311 BABIP (Double-A)

I wouldn’t exactly call the season that Jonathan Santucci is having so far a breakout, but in a season that has been a fairly big let-down for many of the Mets’ top prospects for various reasons, the southpaw is one of the few whose stock is, at minimum, holding. The left-hander threw a shutout performance for just the second time this season, dropping his ERA .40 points, to 3.73. He relied on his bread-and-butter, his fastball-slider combination, for six of the seven strikeouts he recorded in the ballgame, striking out four batters with his fastball, two batters with his slider, and one batter with his changeup.

Santucci was promoted to Double-A Binghamton last season around this time and made 10 starts with the Rumble Ponies, posting a 2.52 ERA in 50.0 innings, allowing 33 hits, walking 18, and striking out 63. When combined with his performance there this season, the left-hander has a cumulative 3.20 ERA in 112.2 Double-A innings, allowing 83 total hits, walking 49, and striking out 138. Assuming that he does not suddenly take a major step back, it would seem like Santucci is due for a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse sometime in the next few weeks.

When he eventually is promoted, how likely is it that his solid season continues? Looking at Santucci as a whole, two things stick out at me that could be problematic: his limited pitch mix and his poor command of that limited pitch mix.

Santucci throws a fastball, slider, and occasional changeup. In 2025, he added a more traditional curveball to his arsenal and claims that he still throws it, but the pitch is so identical to his slider that it is difficult to tell the two apart. While his fastball is an average-to-above average pitch and his slider a definite above-average pitch, the viability of a two-pitch pitcher outside of the bullpen is suspect. Clouding matters, both pitches play down when the left-hander is having trouble commanding either pitch on any given day.

Control and command has been an issue for Santucci going back to his time at Duke, and while it looked like he made some strides with his control last year, any such gains if they were legitimate seem to have disappeared. The left-hander currently has a 4.5 BB/9 rate, a below-average Zone%, and an extremely sub-optimal 44.4% F-Strike%. The southpaw has only thrown six or more innings three times this season, and in those three games, he has had an average or better strike rate, throwing 56 strikes in 87 pitches (64%), 60 strikes in 92 pitches (65%), and 60 strikes in 92 pitches (76%). In games where he has thrown fewer than six innings, Santucci has averaged a below-average 58% strike rate, with individual games ranging from 63% to 49%.

Slinging the ball from a three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action through the back and a pronounced weight shift to his back leg during his wind-up, the left-hander is unlikely to ever have pinpoint control. While a large preponderance of Santucci’s strikeouts come from getting batters to expand the zone on his fastball or slider, improving his command of both pitches- especially once in the International League, where the league-wide walk percentage is roughly 10% thanks to a strike zone that is defined as slightly smaller as compared to Double-A thanks to the ABS system- will be imperative to his future value as a baseball player.

Players of the Week 2026

Week One/Two (March 27-April 5): Hayden Senger/Cam Tilly

Week Three (April 7-April 12): A.J. Ewing/Christian Scott

Week Four (April 14-April 18): Randy Guzman/Jose Chirinos

Week Five (April 21-April 26): A.J. Ewing/Channing Austin

Week Six (April 30-May 3): A.J. Ewing/Jonah Tong

Week Seven (May 5-May 10): Ryan Clifford/Jonathan Santucci

Week Eight: (May 12-May 17): Jacob Reimer/Zach Thornton

Week Nine: (May 19-May 24): Ryan Clifford/Channing Austin

Week Ten: (May 26-May 31): Ryan Clifford/Jose Chirinos

Week Eleven: (June 2-June 7): Vincent Perozo/Frank Camarillo

Week Twelve: (June 9-June 14): JT Benson/Nick Carreno

Last week, we learned that Garrett Crochet had been cleared to throw weighted plyometric balls as he attempts to recover from two injuries: the initial shoulder inflammation that landed him on the IL, and the subsequent lat tightness that has kept him on it for much longer than anyone anticipated. Yesterday he was reevaluated and, while he is said to be improving, he still has not been cleared to start throwing baseballs. It’s starting to look like a lost season for the one-time Cy Young contender. (Brent Maguire, MLB.com)

But who’s excited for some positive Trevor Story injury news!?!? It’s now been a month since Story had surgery to repair a sports hernia and things are looking good. “He’s actually progressing pretty nicely,” Chad Tracy said. “Let’s call it ‘running,’ it’s not full-bore sprinting, but he’s jogging at a pretty good pace. He has actually swung a bat off a tee a little bit. He’s got a ways to go but he’s in a better spot than I’d figure I’d see him at this point.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

And it looks like Romy Gonzalez has dodged an injury scare, too. After having his rehab assignment paused due to hip flexor tightness, he’s been cleared to play again and will be back in action today. (Evan Cormier, NESN)

Trevor Story and Romy Gonzalez aren’t going to be saving the Red Sox season, and they might not be able to save Craig Breslow’s job, either. And if you’re wondering exactly how hot the Red Sox CBO’s seat is right now, here’s one MLB insider who expects Breslow to remain in charge at least through the trade deadline:

Those trade deadline discussions will no doubt involve Sonny Gray, who is a pending free agent and, thus, likely to be a hot commodity. Gray has a no-trade clause in his contract, but he doesn’t sound like he’s going to be unwilling to move. “If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation. Whatever happens from then, only time will tell. But I would be open for a conversation.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Whatever happens at the deadline, one thing is clear: the Red Sox need to find their next big bat. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

Happy Tuesday A’s fans!

The Athletics’ just wrapped up a disappointing series against the division-rival Angels this past weekend. The A’s split the four-game set, but they let the series finale split through their fingers. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s tough to drop those games against a lesser opponent that has one of the worst records in the sport.

Time to flush it and get ready for the Giants. The A’s are back in their old stomping grounds as we have three games set to get going over the next few days. The Giants, like the Angles, are one of the worst teams in the league and likely sellers next month. The A’s can’t afford to be letting games like this go if they want to stick in the playoff hunt into September.

The Giants haven’t had a great season so far. Led by a rookie manager in Tony Vitello with no professional experience, the Giants’ veteran-led roster has disappointed on and off the field. At 31-46 they’re just one game ahead of the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in the entiresport. It’s not as if they haven’t tried as their $231.9 million payroll sits at 11th in baseball. A huge part of their problems can be attributed to the struggles of their most expensive players, Willy Adames, Rafael Devers, and old friend of the Green & Gold Matt Chapman. The recent controversy regarding the players’ wearing the Pride Hat has also now caused fans even more stress as the focus has turned off the field (including the Vice President’s view on the matter).

It hasn’t been all sadness and rain for the Giants. Star prospect Bryce Eldridge looks like the real deal as he’s finally being given a chance to play at the big league level. Swiss army knife Casey Schmitt is in the midst of a breakout year at the plate with 16 long balls. Second baseman Luis Arraez has rediscovered his defense while being coached under another former friend in Ron Washington. Outfielder Jung-hoo Lee is second in all of baseball with a .320 batting average. And former Athletics’ first round pick Daniel Susac has held his own as one of the main catching options.

Perhaps more disappointing than the offense has been the pitching, which has always been a strength for them pitching in that cavernous ballpark. Staff ace Logan Webb has pitched well, but outside of him their starting rotation has been roughed up. The group’s 4.63 ERA is ahead of only the Rockies and Mets in the National League. Landon Roupp and Robbie Ray haven’t been dominant but have held their own, but offseason pickups Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser have been problems for them on the backend, so much so that Houser is now in the bullpen after inking a two-year, $22 million deal this winter. Not the return on investment they were likely hoping for.

Luckily for the A’s they’ll miss Webb during this series. Tonight’s starting matchup will pit veterans Aaron Civale and Ray. Ray has a lower ERA on the season but Civale was pitching fantastically before some recent struggles made his overall stat line look worse. Then it’ll be the rookie Gage Jump making his first start at Oracle Park, and he’ll be opposed by Mahle. And then the series wraps on Thursday afternoon with a pitching duel between lefty Jeffrey Springs and the right-handed Roupp.

First pitch is at 6:45 tonight. We’re just a game and a half back of the Mariners for the AL West lead. Gotta rack up a couple wins, at least. Have a great day everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Squander Chances, Fall to Pirates in Series Equalizer
• As a ballpark rises in Las Vegas, owner John Fisher is pitching his A’s — and himself
• J.T Ginn and Nick Kurtz Lead A’s to Victory Over the Pirates
• Alvarado’s return so dominant, he’s inviting a lofty comparison
• Why Front Office And Manager Should Be Embarrassed By Today’s Game
• Some Easy Fixes Rocket Science Aren’t
• Athletics’ Devin Taylor Emerges As All-Around Talent
• Status Report: Uncertainty Persists In 5 Places On The Diamond
• Why A’s Williams Deserves Spot Past Jacob Wilson’s Return
• 7 wild facts from a Vegas show for the ages
• A’s $2 Billion Las Vegas Ballpark Shows Progress With First Roof Truss in Place
• A’s interested in Kris Bubic
• Korach reflects on A’s history in Las Vegas, upcoming move
• Three Things To Watch For The Athletics In June
• Las Vegas is ‘dying for a baseball team.’ Will its locals adopt the A’s?
• The A’s Inability To Play Well At Home Is Embarrassing
• Arnold and Jump are both slinging … anyone else reminded of another A’s duo?
• Three Dark Horse Trade Candidates for Athletics This Summer
• Athletics Early MLB Draft Preview

MLB News and Interest:

• Dodgers’ Kyle Tucker exits win vs. Twins with low back spasms
• Rockies walk off Red Sox … in a way we haven’t seen in 20 years!
• Sonny Gray “Open” To Discussing No-Trade Clause If Red Sox Sell
• Boomer Sooner! Oklahoma wins 1st MCWS title since ’94
• Manfred: Giants’ communication to players over Pride caps ‘not clear’
• Mauricio Dubón Open To Extension Talks With Braves
• Antonacci plays hero in back-and-forth victory to put South Siders atop AL Central
• Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff gets 900th K in return from IL
• Rangers Sign Marco Gonzales To Minor League Deal
• Angels Designate Nick Madrigal For Assignment
• Reds Designate Chris Paddack For Assignment
• 5 takeaways from the latest All-Star voting results
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Anyone on this list off the table for you?

Refering to Jack Perkins:

That’s something most A’s fans would have been able to tell you:

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rays fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

You can’t tell the story of the Houston Astros the last 3 seasons without addressing their historic amount of injuries, especially to the starting pitching.

Each of the past 2 seasons, the Astros depended on pitchers returning from injury, with less than optimal results.

This season is no different, and the team is counting on several starting pitchers to be able to return from injury and be productive members of the staff.

Among those returning starting pitchers, which one do you believe is likely to have the biggest positive impact on the team?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Astros fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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The Atlanta Braves visit the San Diego Padres tonight at Petco Park, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. 

My Braves vs. Padres predictions are eyeing Griffin Canning to quiet Atlanta's offense and continue his improved form at home. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 23.

Who will win Braves vs Padres today: Padres moneyline (+101)

The Atlanta Braves will hand JR Ritchie the baseball tonight, and the rookie has struggled lately. He owns a 6.70 FIP over his last 10 innings while allowing an alarming 46.2% hard-hit rate.

It doesn't get much better on the road, where Ritchie has posted a 5.24 FIP this season.

Griffin Canning hasn't been in peak form lately either, carrying a 5.46 xERA across his last five appearances. However, the right-hander has pitched considerably better at Petco Park, compiling a respectable 3.48 xFIP.

Atlanta's offense is also cold. The Braves were shut out in Monday's series opener and haven't scored more than four runs in a game since last Wednesday.

I'll play this pick up to -120.

COVERS INTEL: The Braves own just a .120 ISO over the last week compared to a .166 mark on the season, suggesting their power production has cooled considerably.

Braves vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-131)

There may be two inconsistent starters on the mound, but neither lineup is swinging the bats particularly well. Atlanta owns a 67 wRC+ over its last six games and is averaging just three runs per contest during that span.

San Diego has been slightly better offensively, but its .313 wOBA doesn't suggest a lineup capable of carrying this total on its own. Both bullpens have also been solid lately. Atlanta's relief corps owns a 3.59 xERA over the last week, while the Padres' pen has posted a stellar 2.51 ERA across the last two weeks.

Between the bullpen form and recent offensive struggles, the Under offers value.

I'll play this pick up to -140. 

Braves vs Padres weather

Conditions at Petco Park should be fairly neutral tonight. Temperatures are expected to be around 70°F with 8.1 mph winds, 73.1% humidity, and virtually no chance of rain. The mild weather and light breeze shouldn't provide much assistance to either pitchers or hitters.

Braves vs Padres odds

• Moneyline: Braves -108 | Padres +104
• Run line: Braves -1.5 (+150) | Padres +1.5 (-170)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Braves vs Padres trend

The Padres have hit the Under in 16 of their last 22 games at home (+9.50 Units / 40% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Padres.

How to watch Braves vs Padres and game info

Braves vs Padres 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.

After the game, Foster Griffin told me, “You are not done until the manager shakes your hand and says you are done”. Last night, that hand shake did not come until one out in the 8th inning. When Blake Butera took the ball from Griffin, the crowd that stuck through a long rain delay erupted in cheers.

It has been that kind of season for Foster Griffin. In his first season back from Japan, the crafty lefty has been an absolute horse for the Nationals. On the season, he has a 3.15 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 91.1 innings. That is borderline ace stuff, or at least high end number 2 starter production for a guy who signed for $5.5 million.

Griffin has had a lot of good outings, but tonight may have been his best. As he put it, there are only 4 or 5 outings across the season where everything is working, and tonight was one of those nights. Griffin was using his entire 7 pitch mix to perfection, and it baffled the Phillies. He tied his career high with 9 strikeouts.

While Griffin’s cutter is always his bread and butter pitch, it was particularly dominant tonight. He got 8 of his 17 whiffs on the cutter, which he threw 29% of the time. Seeing all his pitches work together was truly beautiful. As usual, he had his fastball and breaking stuff, but his changeup and splitter were also on point tonight. That changeup was just perplexing right handed hitters.

Foster Griffin has honestly been a true ace outside of back to back blowup starts in May. When he had those rough outings, there were questions about if the soft tossing lefty had been figured out. However, he has had his best month of the season so far in June. Griffin has allowed exactly one run in each of his four outings this month.

Griffin’s performances have left a real mark on his teammates as well. Luis Garcia Jr. was quick to remark that Griffin is impressive every time he pitches, not just tonight. He also said that you can rely on Griffin to go 6 or 7 innings almost every time out. Garcia is pretty spot on in this assessment, as Griffin has gone at least 6 frames in 8 of his last 12 outings.

Curtis Mead was very impressed by how Griffin kept the Phillies hitters off balance. He said that, “It felt like the swings (from Phillies hitters) were not as good as those guys are capable of”. Seeing what Griffin did to a lineup that thrashed the Mets the last couple days made this even more impressive. Kyle Schwarber has been on one of his home run binges, but Griffin made him look silly.

That has been a trend for Griffin. He just has hitters second guessing themselves with all of the different pitches he can throw. I am not saying he is Max Scherzer obviously, but last night felt like a Scherzer outing, even down to the solo homer he gave up. It has been a while since I have seen a Nats starter in such control of an outing that deep into the game.

One key part of Griffin’s outing is that he did not walk anyone. That has been a trademark for him all season, but especially lately. In his last 7 starts, Griffin has just 5 walks in over 40 innings. Just seeing a Nats pitcher not beat themselves while also having the stuff to beat opposing hitters just gives me so much joy.

The Nats will have an interesting decision to make with Griffin at the deadline. He is only on a one-year deal, so there is a chance he could be moved. However, with how the Nats are playing, moving him is not the lock that it may have been earlier in the season. As Spencer Nusbaum put it, Griffin is one of the faces of Paul Toboni’s trade deadline conundrum. 

It would be wrong for Toboni not to at least explore the market. However, I also think it would be a mistake for Toboni to not check in with Griffin’s representation to see what an extension would look like. With underlying numbers that are more average than elite and stuff that does not jump off the page, Griffin might be more valuable to the Nats than he is on the trading block.

A Griffin trade is still obviously on the table, but an extension for 2 to 3 years should be as well. It all comes down to where the Nats are sitting in a month and what Griffin’s number would be. I doubt teams would pay Griffin the way most 3.15 ERA guys are paid in assets or money. That could make an extension easier, but this could be the best we get from Griffin. Just look at Erick Fedde, who had a great first season back from Asia and regressed after that.

This will be a complicated decision for the Nats front office. However, that is not the main focus right now. Instead, let’s close out by talking about how brilliant the lefty has been for this team. He was a real under the radar pickup, but has been one of the steals of the offseason. It is tough to imagine where the Nats would be without Griffin, but they sure would not be in a Wild Card race.

Game Recaps

Merrill Kelly grinds out bounce-back effort as Diamondbacks fall short vs. Cardinals by Payne Moses [Arizona Sports]

Kelly has logged more than one uncharacteristic start this season after re-signing with Arizona, but he didn’t let the latest last week against the Los Angeles Angels (six earned runs on 11 hits) carry over into Monday.

It didn’t look like a bounce-back start was loading in the first, with the first three St. Louis batters reaching on two singles and a walk. But a lineout to Geraldo Perdomo by star right fielder Jordan Walker and 4-6-3 double play hit into by Lars Nootbaar was a huge zero to put on the board.

Diamondbacks Fall Down to the .500 Line After New Loss to Cardinals by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to look like a rudderless team. Once again, they have fallen back to the .500 line after taking another tough loss in their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are, admittedly, a tough opponent. But in what has seemed to be an extremely common theme in recent days, the D-backs struggled to take advantage of the numerous opportunities they had on Monday night, losing by a thin margin of 3-2 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Diamondbacks News

Bowden: Zac Gallen an under-the-radar trade target by Tyler Drake [Arizona Sports]

It’s been a rocky 2026 for Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen after re-signing with the franchise on a one-year contract this offseason.

His most recent outing on Saturday that ended with a shower of boos at home was a prime example of that.

The reunion hasn’t been what many expected. And with the MLB trade deadline in the not-so-distant future (Aug. 3), The Athletic’s Jim Bowden has Gallen as an under-the-radar trade target to watch.

Arenado reflects on time with Cards in return to St. Louis with Arizona by Jeff Jones [MLB]

Nolan Arenado has been through the spin cycle of returning to a former home ballpark before, so he has the benefit of experiential wisdom when it comes to handling the emotions of four games at Busch Stadium this week.

“Being 35 now [helps],” Arenado joked Monday from the Diamondbacks’ dugout. “I’m a little older now, so I’ll be OK. In ‘21, it was kind of a weird moment, obviously being there [in Colorado] for eight years. I’m gonna take it in. I know I’m coming toward the end. Back then in Colorado, I didn’t really take it in as much. Here I probably will just because it means a little different here. I’m really excited for the game to start.”

Diamondbacks Give Update on Lawlar,Soroka Injury Timelines by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

“It’s gonna be weeks and not days, hopeful for the fastest return possible,” Lovullo said (via Arizona Sports 98.7’s Alex Weiner). “We’re hoping it’s gonna happen before the four to six week period of time, everybody seems to be throwing out, but I’ll keep you guys updated on their progression.

“Just unfortunate news. MRIs confirmed that there was something that was going on in there and they’re gonna have to step away and rest up.”

Around the League

Here’s the latest All-Star Ballot update by Brian Murphy, Shanthi Sepe-Chupuru [MLB]

Phase 1 of the voting concludes Thursday at noon ET. If Ohtani and Clement remain on top in their respective league, they will automatically receive spots in their side’s starting lineup for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14.

During Phase 1, you can vote as many as five times per every 24-hour period exclusively at MLB.com, on all 30 MLB club sites and on the MLB app.

Beyond the two leading overall vote-getters, the top two vote-getters at every position, and the top six outfielders, will advance to Phase 2 of the voting, which begins on June 29. If an outfielder is a league’s leading vote-getter, only the next four outfield finalists will move on to Phase 2 to determine who starts at the two remaining spots.

Biggest strength for top current 2026 MLB playoff contenders by David Schoenfield [ESPN]

Arizona Diamondbacks

Week 12 ranking: 12
Record: 39-38 (3rd in NL West)
Biggest strength: Umm … the offense has underperformed

OK, that’s not really a strength, unless you consider that the Diamondbacks are still over .500 even though the offense has underperformed compared with last season. Indeed, it’s a little difficult to figure out how they’re over .500 in the first place considering they’re scoring about a half-run less per game than last year and the rotation is 29th in strikeout rate and has just two pitchers with an ERA under 4.97. And while the bullpen has been good, it’s not like Arizona has cleaned up in one-run games (13-12) or extra-inning games (2-4).

Will it continue? Sorry about the confusion here. This is more complicated than the 2016 Diamondbacks’ uniform scheme. We’re asking: Will the underperforming continue? Which isn’t a strength, since the Diamondbacks need the strength to be “better offense.” Anyway, FanGraphs projects Arizona averaging 4.59 runs per game the rest of the way, which is better than its current 4.28. But it’s probably not enough to get into the playoffs, unless the Diamondbacks start getting better work from the back end of the rotation.

How Much Would MLB’s Draft Proposal Cost the Best Players? by Dan Szymborski [FanGraphs]

A year or two is actually quite significant when dealing with an elite free agent or free agent-to-be. When you’re talking to guys that land megadeals, getting a player like Juan Soto or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a couple years early basically allows you to swap a year in their 40s for a year in their prime. This isn’t just mean math guys and their even meaner projection systems; teams are aware of this, which is why someone like Pete Alonso largely gets shrugs in free agency, certainly relative to how early-30s non-elite sluggers were treated 15 years ago. And yes, I’m fully aware of the irony of my noting how much teams have soured on non-elite free agents in their 30s, since, as I’ve been told both by multiple front office decision makers and multiple agents, I’m one of the people responsible for the spread of that attitude!

ZiPS originally projected Soto to get a 15-year, $719 million contract in free agency after the 2024 season, compared to the $765 million he actually netted. Keeping everything the same and making him two years older drops that projected salary from $719 million to $588 million, a pay cut of $131 million.

Sonny Gray “Open” To Discussing No-Trade Clause If Red Sox Sell by Steve Adams [MLB Trade Rumors]

With the Red Sox’ season continuing to spiral — they’re buried in the AL East cellar and have the American League’s second-worst record — speculation about a potential deadline sale continues to mount. The team hasn’t made any major directional decisions at this juncture, but if they opt to go the seller’s route, veteran right-hander Sonny Gray will be open-minded about waiving his full no-trade protection, he tells Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.

“If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation,” Gray said. The 36-year-old righty declined to indicate whether geography would play any sort of role in his decision process.

In these divided times, there aren’t that many things that we can all agree on. But in Kansas City Royals land, there are at least a few: that Bobby Witt Jr. is the franchise’s best position player since George Brett, that keeping him healthy is important for the short and long term, and that it would not be a good thing if, say, he weren’t in a knee brace. 

Unfortunately for us all, he’s hurt. He’s in a knee brace. And manager Matt Quatraro hopes that he will be available in the next few days after being diagnosed with a grade 1 MCL sprain. 

Witt last played on June 18, where he went down after a defensive play at shortstop. It looked scary, and though he stayed in the game afterwards, he was taken out of the game later.

While we’re on the subject of other things we can all agree on, let’s also talk about Maikel Garcia, who is also an important player for the Royals to succeed. Unfortunately for us all, he has been hurt, too. On May 30, Garcia was removed from the game after seven innings. He was diagnosed with a grade 1 hamstring strain, and though he made an appearance as a pinch hitter and as the designated hitter a few times in the following games, it took eight days for him to be well enough to play in the field again. 

Just a few weeks later, Garcia saw some time off due to injury, this time due to hand soreness which he said first happened in the St. Louis series in mid-May. Garcia left the game on June 16 after six innings and then saw the field five days later at shortstop while Witt was out.

And finally, one thing that we can all agree on, too, is that Salvador Perez is the best defensive catcher on the team. Yet at the beginning of May, Salvy spent eight consecutive games as the designated hitter due to a hip injury (and was on base only five times in 32 plate appearances).

What ties all these events together? You probably guessed, especially if you read the title of this article, but the answer is that the Royals didn’t put any of these players on the injured list at any point. 

Putting a player on the injured list provides the team with a clear benefit: players on the injured list don’t count against the active roster. So, as long as a player is on the injured list, they can call up another player to take their spot. The downside, though, is that injured list stints require a minimum of 10 days for position players (and 15 for pitchers) for non-concussion injuries. 

I don’t want to get into nitpicking whether or not any of these specific situations warranted an injured list trip or not. The fact of the matter is that the team doctors know more than us both about medicine in general and these situations in particular. Plus, players want to play, and more of them are banged up to some degree than not at this point in the year. Teams are better off with their core players playing at less than 100% than they are with Triple-A guys filling in at full strength, and of course there’s a chance that those players are also at less than 100%. 

All the listed injuries I brought up could have easily been injured list material. Salvy went 11 days between games behind the dish with his hip injury. Garcia went eight days between games in the field with his hammy injury. And Witt will, at minimum, be five days between any baseball action at all; he’ll hit the 10-day counter this upcoming Sunday. 

This is clearly a pattern, and it’s one that has actually gone back a few years. The Royals just do not like putting guys on the injured list if they don’t know for sure they’ll be out a minimum of 10 days. And it would be one thing if this were just limited to the player, but there are teamwide consequences, too–with guys on the bench but unable to play, Kansas City is forgoing a roster spot every time they do this.

I think it would also be one thing if the Royals were fighting for a playoff spot, but the 2026 Royals are simply fighting to not be the worst team in the American League. What’s the worst that could happen if Witt or Garcia or Salvy spend a few unnecessary days on the injured list? The team loses 95 games instead of 93 games? Oh, the horror. 

Witt’s injury is particularly worrying to me. Yeah, I’m sure he wants to play. Yeah, I know the Royals want to win, still, regardless of their record. But the Royals are going to look really dumb if that MCL sprain turns into some other, bigger knee damage that affects 2027 if they don’t even put him on the IL and send him back out there to play as soon as he can.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This is not going to be one of those years where the American League All-Star roster is chock full of Orioles. There will probably only be one. The fan voting is not going to bring any Orioles on as starters, nor should it, because there aren’t any guys who are doing so overwhelmingly great to deserve that.

Still, there are a few Orioles with at least interesting cases to make the roster. In this week’s survey, I’d like you to think about who deserves it the most. You can define “deserve” however you like. For me, it’s a player who is among the best at his position in the league so far this year, or at least close enough to it that he’s not likely to end up on the level of an “All-Star Ty Wigginton” kind of embarrassment years down the road.

What do you think? Vote here:

Results will be shared on Friday. I’m curious to see how this one shakes out, because you could make the case for a few of these guys. It might come down to the commissioner’s office decision of who would fit the roster best based on the choices of the fans for starters, the players for reserves, and other “this team must have one All-Star” decisions.

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (33-41, 13.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers split their series on the road in St. Paul. On the mound, Randy Dobnak, who the Royals traded for, made his first start with the organization. He went 4.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, walking 1 and striking out 5. Génesis Cabrera threw 3.1 innings of 2 run ball, both runs unearned, over 3 relief appearances, striking out 4 batters. Bailey Falter made a start, going 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, walking 3 and striking out 4.

At the plate, Abraham Toro had a great week, going 9-for-23, hitting 2 doubles, 2 triples and 3 homers, while driving in 10 runs. Oh, and he hit for the cycle, the sixth in modern Omaha history. Brandon Drury went 9-for-15, with 3 doubles, 2 homers, driving in 6 runs. Matthew Lugo was 12-for-29, with 3 doubles, 2 homers and 4 runs batted in.

The Storm Chasers return home to take on the Columbus Clippers this week. The series runs from Tuesday through Sunday.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (29-38, 16 games back)

The Naturals lost 4 of 6 to the Tulsa Drillers, the best team in Double-A. At the plate, outfielder Connor Scott went 6-for-15, with a double and homer, also driving in 3 runs. Scott is a 26-year-old, from the Marlins organization, he was taken 13th overall in 2018. Rudy Martin was 7 for 21, Jack Pineda was 7 for 19 with a double and 5 runs batted in.

On the mound, Drew Beam was fantastic in his only start of the week, going 7.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, walking 1 and striking out 5. Beam seems to finally have settled in at Northwest after getting promoted right before the season started from Quad Cities. Frank Mozzicato threw 4 scoreless innings over two relief appearances, allowing 2 hits, walking 5 and striking 5 batters out. Hunter Patteson made two starts, totaling 13 innings, allowing 6 hits, 5 runs, walking 3 and striking out 11. Patteson is a 26-year-old lefty out of Central Florida selected in the 5th round draft pick in 2022 by the Royals. He has a 5.22 ERA over 58.2 innings so far this season.

The Naturals hit the road, to take on the Springfield Cardinals this week. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Quad Cities River Bandits (30-35, 10 games back)

The River Bandits lost 3 of 5 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, with one game being rained out. On the mound, Kendry Chourio made his High-A debut after getting promoted from Columbia. The 18-year-old right hander went 4.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 7 runs (5 earned), while striking out 10 batters. It was a mixed bag performance against the fourth best team in High-A. Elsewhere, David Shields went 5 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, walking 1 and striking out 10 hitters. It’s the second straight start for Shields with 10 strikeouts. Jordan Woods threw for the first time in a couple weeks, going 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out 2. Emmanuel Reyes threw 6 innings of 2 run ball, allowing 7 hits, while striking out 5.

At the plate, Ramon Ramirez was 7-for-20, with a double and 2 homers, while driving in 5 runs. On the season, Ramirez is hitting .285/.360/.487. The 21-year-old catcher is in his first year at Quad Cities. Derlin Figueroa was just 1-for-16, cooling him down after a good start to June and an overall good month. Figueroa is slashing .277/.366/.564 with 15 homers this season. The first baseman is just 22 years old.

The River Bandits hit the road to take on the South Bend Cubs, one of the best teams in High-A. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Columbia Fireflies (34-35, 5 games back)

The Fireflies lost 4 of 6 to the Hickory Crawdads. On the mound, Jose Gutierrez threw 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, striking out 4. Ryan McDonagh, a 20-year-old right hander from Canada, made his Low-A debut after getting promoted from Rookie Ball. In his start, he went 5 innings, allowing 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks, striking out 4.

At the plate, Josh Hammond went 8-for-18, with a homer and 2 runs driven in. Hammond is slashing .287/.349/.422 on the year. Sean Gamble went 6-for-16 with a pair of doubles and 3 runs batted in. Gamble in the month of June is slashing .292/.444/.438. Raising his season average all the way to .179, it’s good to see the Royals first round draft pick from last season starting to put things together.

The Fireflies stay on the road, taking on the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

As we close in on the 2026 MLB Draft, the focus on who the Atlanta Braves are looking at for the ninth overall pick has come into focus a bit. Names like Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell, and Florida prep lefty Gio Rojas seem to be the names most prominently linked to the club. Massachusetts prep lefty Brody Bumila is also a name that has received some buzz. My goal is to start to break down who these players are and their strengths and weaknesses to prepare you for the newest Braves prospect.

We will continue the series by looking at Florida high school pitcher Gio Rojas, the lone pitcher and prep player being prominently linked to the Braves at #9.

Bio

Name: Gio Rojas

Position: Left-Handed Pitcher

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 195

College Commitment: Miami

High School: Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Coral Springs, FL)

Previously Drafted: N/A

Bats/Throws: R/L

Stats

2024: 4-0, 0.66 ERA, 0.47 WHIP, 41 K, 3 BB, 7 H, 21.1 IP, 5 Games

2025: 13-0, 0.72 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 120 K, 16 BB, 35 H, 68 IP, 14 Games

2026: 11-1, 0.58 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 124 K, 17 BB, 31 H, 72.2 IP, 13 Games

Fastball 60

Rojas has a big fastball up to 98 MPH from the left side, coming in with plenty of life. This is definitely a bat missing pitch that will grade out as a plus offering for him.

Slider 60

As good as his fastball is, the slider is his out pitch and comes in with very high spin rates. It’s just nasty and should be a pitch that will rack up the strikeouts for him as he continues to progress.

Changeup 50

Like many high school pitchers with a powerful arm, Rojas doesn’t use the changeup much in games because it actually gives his competition a better chance at being successful due to him taking something off his premium stuff. He does however have some feel for it and it should be a solid third offering for him – though this does take some projection to get to the average grade.

Command 55

Rojas is a strike thrower who has a chance to get to above average command in the future. He needs to clean up his mechanics a little bit, mostly by being more consistent all the time, but that is a coachable thing for an arm like him. Once that takes place, it’s not hard to see the 55 grade coming into play.

Overall

Rojas is a projectable, athletic young arm who only turns 19 about two weeks ahead of the draft. All of the ingredients are there for him to have top of the rotation potential. That is why he is not only the top ranked prep pitcher in this draft, but may even be the second best arm in this draft, behind only Jackson Flora.

He would almost certainly be an underslot option for the Braves at #9, but at the same time he wouldn’t come extremely cheap either. Even if you took the underslot out of things, he is probably my favorite option among the four most commonly linked players to the Braves – simply because he has the highest ceiling of those options.

Rojas ceiling is a potential ace, but with his stuff and command he also seems like a higher floor option than most prep arms. If the Braves did draft him I would count on him maybe seeing Augusta for a short stint this season, and he might get the chance to earn his way to Augusta in 2027 – similar to Briggs McKenzie from last year. He would potentially be a big league option mid-2029 at the earliest.