Category: MLB

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson draws one of the toughest matchups in baseball today against Dylan Cease, whose elite swing-and-miss arsenal should neutralize the struggling slugger.

Read on for my top Blue Jays vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for this Sunday, June 21 matchup.

Editor's Note: This game has been postponed due to weather. 

Blue Jays vs Cubs predictions

Blue Jays vs Cubs best bet: Dansby Swanson Under 0.5 hits (-130)

Dansby Swanson has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season with a .177 batting average, while ranking in the second percentile in xBA.

Additionally, his hitting profile does not match up well at all against Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease, who has elite swing-and-miss stuff. 

Swanson can’t hit the breaking ball this season, owning a .095 average with a 33% whiff rate. 

That won’t bode well against Cease, who ranks in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate with a 37% whiff rate. 

A lot of his whiffs come from his slider, which is his most-used pitch to right-handed batters, which is also a pitch that Swanson struggles with (.048 batting average, 37% whiff rate). 

Additionally, Swanson is just 1-for-6 against Cease in his career. I’d play this prop up to -140. 

COVERS INTEL: Swanson doesn’t generate much contact against Cease's two most used pitches, owning a porous .048 average and a 34% whiff rate against the slider and changeup combined.

Blue Jays vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)

Cease has electric stuff, leading the American League with 110 Ks. He’s eclipsed today’s number in seven straight starts and owns a 39% strikeout rate against this Chicago Cubs lineup. 

George Springer is turning a corner with a 1.089 OPS over his last nine games, and profiles well against Shota Imanaga, who’s primarily a fastball pitcher.

Springer owns a .291 xBA over the last three seasons with a .613 xSLG. 

Blue Jays vs Cubs SGP

• Dansby Swanson Under 0.5 hits
• Dylan Cease Over 6.5 strikeouts
• George Springer Over 1.5 total bases

Blue Jays vs Cubs home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+365)

Kazuma Okamoto's hitting profile matches up perfectly against Imanaga’s stuff. 

The Cubs starter throws a heavy dose of the fastball and gets barreled up at a 10.4% rate. The Jays third baseman barrels the ball better than anyone in the Blue Jays lineup (13.5%) while possessing a 63.2% hard-hit rate against the four-seamer. 

Additionally, Imanaga has allowed 14 home runs over 15 outings this season. 

This is a half-unit wager.

Blue Jays vs Cubs odds

• Moneyline: Toronto -116 | Chicago +102
• Run line: Toronto -1.5 | Chicago +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7 | Under 7

Blue Jays vs Cubs trend

The Blue Jays have hit the moneyline in nine of their last 14 away games (+6.00 Units / 41% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Cubs.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Cubs and game info

Blue Jays vs Cubs latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Cubs weather

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.

Condolences to the many members of the national media who have been hoping and praying to see the Astros sell at the deadline, and have their roster picked apart to go to other teams. That doesn’t appear to be happening.

According to a report from longtime MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Houston Astros intend to be buyers at the deadline and teams calling up asking for Astros stars are wasting their time.

According to Nightengale, the Astros are still on the hunt for bullpen help and a left-handed hitting outfielder. These are two of the 3 primary things they sought this offseason as well (the other being starting pitching).

The AL West has been the weakest division in baseball this season, and entering play today there are no teams in the division over .500. The Seattle Mariners lead the division at 39-39.

The Astros enter play today only 3 games out in the division, and 2.5 back in the race for the final Wild Card spot.

Over the last month, dating back to May 21, the Astros have gone 16-11 (.593), which ties as the fifth-best record in the Majors and is the second-best record in the AL.

Top Records since May 21 (AL)

1. Yankees        16-9 (.640)

2. Astros          16-11 (.593)

3. Blue Jays      16-12 (.571)

Rochester Red Wings 14, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

An 11-run sixth inning led to a 14-1 loss for the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday.

Scott Effross and Carl Edwards Jr. were decent through the first four frames. They combined for nine straight outs after a leadoff single, but Christian Franklin broke the shutout with a solo shot off Edwards in the fourth. Max Anderson homered in the top of the inning, but that was Toledo’s only run of the day.

Edwards gave up another homer in the fifth, Anderson had a double in the top of the sixth, and then the bad times began. A leadoff single and walk got the bullpen going, and Konnor Pilkington replaced Edwards on the mound after a groundout put men on the corners.

Pilkington gave up an RBI single, hit a batter and watched two more runs cross on a double up the middle. Tyler Mattison was next out of the bullpen. He immediately got tacked for a two-run double over the right fielder’s head. If the wheels weren’t already falling off, they were definitely gone after this sequence: walk, single, single, walk, single. 10-1, Rochester.

Mattison finally got the second out, striking out Yohandy Morales, and in came Woo-Suk Go. Three more runs crossed before the inning ended. Go wasn’t particularly good, walking two batters — one with the bases loaded — and allowing a two-run single. None of those baserunners were on his ledger, though.

At least Beau Brieske went 1-2-3 in the seventh, right?

Toledo went to a position player on the mound in the eighth. Morales homered for good measure, and that’s all she wrote.

Clark: 1-4, K

Anderson: 2-4, HR (6), 2B (8), RBI

Edwards (L, 2-6): 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 5 K, 2 HR

Effross: 2.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday. Rochester leads the series, 3-2.

Erie SeaWolves 8, Harrisburg Senators 0 (box)

Erie put together a complete win on Saturday, allowing just three hits in an 8-0 win over Harrisburg.

Kenny Serwa got the start but not the win, coming up just one out shy of the minimum required to qualify. Still, he was excellent, giving up just one hit and three walks while striking out four. The knuckleballer drew a game-high eight whiffs before turning the ball over to Tanner Kohlhepp.

Justice Bigbie started the scoring early, driving in Seth Stephenson and Peyton Graham with a double in the first. He hit a good 400 feet, but there’s a tall wall 405 feet in center field. Andrew Jenkins made it a 3-0 game later in the inning with a groundout RBI. Jenkins did the groundout thing for a run again in the third.

Brett Callahan was hit in the head before Bigbie’s double. He shook it off pretty well, but left the game as a precaution.

Kohlhepp pitched through the sixth, striking out a pair and working around one hit. Johan Simon took over for him in the seventh, but not before Izaac Pacheco launched a ball out of the park for Erie’s fifth run.

Simon went two frames, striking out two and giving up just one hit, and Yoniel Curet closed out the game in the ninth.

Before all was said and done, Toledo scored three more runs in the eighth. Stephenson doubled in Bennett Lee and scored on a Thayron Liranzo sac fly, and Jenkins drove in another — this time on a base hit.

Liranzo: 0-3, RBI, BB

Bigbie: 1-3, 2B (13), 2 RBI, 2 BB, K

Jenkins: 1-5, 3 RBI, 2 K

Pacheco: 1-4, HR (11), R, RBI, BB, 2 K

Stephenson: 2-6, 2B (12), 2 R, RBI, K, SB (33)

Serwa: 4.2 IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1 p.m. ET start on Sunday. Erie leads the series, 3-2.

West Michigan Whitecaps 7, Lansing Lugnuts 3 (box)

Despite being outhit by Lansing, West Michigan came away with a 7-5 victory on Saturday.

Jake Miller went four innings in his fourth rehab assignment start. This was his first with West Michigan, and he gave up his first run in 11 2/3 innings. Lansing got to him for six hits — four of which came in the first — but no walks and three strikeouts are encouraging.

Garrett Pennington homered in the bottom half of the first, keeping it a tie game through Miller’s outing. Neither offense really got much going after that, at least until the seventh. Carlos Lequerica went 1-2-3 in the fifth, with a pair of strikeouts, Duque Hebbert worked around a two-out single in the sixth and Luke Stofel retired the Lugnuts in order in the seventh.

With the game still knotted at one run apiece, Andrew Sojka sparked a rally with a one-out double in the seventh. Luke Shliger poked one through the left side to bring Sojka home, moved to second on a Samuel Gil single and stole third base. A throwing error brought him home and put Gil on third.

Lansing intentionally walked the bases loaded to face Bryce Rainer, and the former first-round pick made them pay with a two-run single through the right side. It wasn’t hit particularly hard, but Lansing was in double-play depth and the second baseman couldn’t get there. Pennington added another RBI to his box score with a line-drive single to center field. 6-1, West Michigan.

CJ Weins had a little trouble in the eighth, giving up two runs on four hits. He was the only Whitecaps arm to struggle today, and the offense got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning on a wild pitch. Jalen Evans closed things out, working around a two-out single to secure the win.

Rainer: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB

Pennington: 2-5, HR (14), R, 2 RBI

Sojka: 2-4, 2B (7), 2 R, K

Gil: 3-4, R

Miller: 4.0 IP, 6 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 2 p.m. ET start on Sunday. West Michigan goes for the five-game sweep.

Dunedin Blue Jays 8, Lakeland Flying Tigers 6 (box)

Lakeland had control of the game for seven innings on Saturday, but a late collapse led to an 8-6 loss for the Flying Tigers.

Hunter Dobbins gave Lakeland an early lead with a two-run home run in the second, his fourth of the year. Caleb Leys couldn’t hold the 2-0 lead for long, giving up a run in the top of the third and two more in the fourth. Four of the five hits he allowed went for extra bases, and a pair of one-out walks in the fifth ended his day. Not great, but he still left the game with a lead.

The Flying Tigers got to Dunedin’s first bullpen arm right away in the fourth. Zach McDonald walked and stole second base. He moved up to third on a bad throw from the catcher. Jude Warwick also walked, and Javier Osorio doubled in MacDonald. The ball was catchable, but a missed diving catch led to two bases and a run.

Jesus Pinto homered right after that, giving Lakeland a 6-3 lead.

Win Scott bailed out Leys in the bottom of the fifth, inducing a double play to end the inning. He worked through three innings, navigating his way around a hit and a walk. Scott actually came back out for the eighth, but a pair of errors led to a run and ended his night. After getting the first out, Jan Caraballo took over and immediately gave up a triple to put the tying run 90 feet from home.

Caraballo gave up a game-tying single, walked a batter and balked to put two in scoring position. Another single put Dunedin out in front before Caraballo finally got out of the inning. He came back out for the ninth and gave up another run on a leadoff single and triple.

Andrew Pogue took over after two outs, but the implosion was already complete. Lakeland’s offense didn’t do anything in the final two frames besides a two-out walk in the ninth. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory isn’t fun.

Yost: 2-5

Pinto: 3-5, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, K

Dobbins: 1-4, HR (4), R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Leys: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a noon ET start on Sunday. Dunedin leads the series, 3-2.

FCL Tigers 11, FCL Phillies 5 (box)

Owen Hall got ripped for a homer and a triple in the first inning, but it only resulted in one run. Hall bounced back with two clean innings, but he gave up a two-run homer in the fourth after a leadoff walk. There’s some hard contact being made off him, but it could have gone worse.

Fortunately, the Tigers came to hit, too. Angel De Los Santos led off the first with a triple, and a wild pitch brought him home after the Phillies starter walked the bases loaded. Cristian Perez doubled in both runners on base, and a throwing error scored him.

Ronald Ramirez had a three-run homer in the second, giving Hall a six-run cushion to work with. The Phillies chipped away to make it a two-run game in the fifth. Leonardo Leon had some command issues and was replaced by Jatnk Diaz after three batters. An error from Michael Oliveto, Detroit’s supplemental round pick (34th overall) last year, threw the ball away for one of those runs.

De Los Santos hit his second triple of the game to get two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Perez and Enderson Delgado went back-to-back for the final two runs. Diaz retired the final seven batters he faced for the save.

De Los Santos: 3-4, 2 3B (3), 2 R, 2 RBI

Ramirez: 2-4, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, K

Perez: 2-4, HR (7), 2B (7), 2 R, 3 RBI, K

Diaz (S, 1): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, K

Hall: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR

DSL Tigers (1) 7, DSL Tigers (2) 6 (box)

There’s something weird about playing a team in your own organization because anything that’s good is bad and vice versa.

Ten of the 13 runs scored in this game came in the second inning, so it was a rough day for both starters. The bullpens were decent, though, with Omar Gonzalez delivering the best line of the day with 2.1 innings of no-hit ball. Of course, it’s the guy with a 10-plus ERA.

Despite the score, there weren’t many standout hitters. Eduardo Tusen went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Thirteen combined walks contributed to the run total.

The DSL Tigers 2 almost came back in the seventh, but Tusen was stranded on second after making it a one-run game with one out left.

Tusen: 2-3, 2 2B (5), R, 2 RBI, BB

Gonzales (W, 1-0): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to get a series win at home as they host the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber game of their series today.

Emmet Sheehan has the stuff to quiet Baltimore’s bats, and I’m taking Los Angeles to cover the run line in my Orioles vs. Dodgers predictions.

Read on for more analysis of this game and get my free MLB picks for Sunday, June 21.

Who will win Orioles vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-104)

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan has an inflated ERA (4.76), but his underlying numbers are positive.

He has outstanding strikeout (26.8%) and walk (6.3%) rates, and gets batters to chase 35.4% of the time. He also has an elite slider that holds opponents to a .267 wOBA.

Sheehan will benefit from the Dodgers offense, which leads the majors with a .783 OPS. Los Angeles has a hard-hit percentage of 41.6% and will get to Baltimore Orioles starter Brandon Young, who allows a hard-hit rate of 41.3%.

I like the Dodgers to cover the run line at -120 or better.

COVERS INTEL: Sheehan has an excellent whiff rate of 30.3%, which will frustrate an Orioles team that whiffs on 26% of its swings.

Orioles vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-122)

The Dodgers' lineup will get to Young, but he has some weapons that will stop them from making this a complete slaughter.

Young’s combination of four-seam fastballs and splitters, which make up 60% of his pitches, should frustrate Los Angeles, which only pulls those pitches in the air 16.5% of the time against righties.

I’m expecting Sheehan to take care of Baltimore’s offense by missing a lot of bats with his 30.3% whiff rate. That should leave us with a reasonably low-scoring game compared to this inflated total.

I love the Under here at 9 runs or more.

Orioles vs Dodgers weather

The wind is blowing out to left center at 8 mph on a 75F day at Dodger Stadium.

Orioles vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Orioles +213 | Dodgers -223
• Run line: Orioles +1.5 | Dodgers -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

Orioles vs Dodgers trend

The Orioles are 2-5 straight up in their last seven games, losing four of those contests by 2+ runs. Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Orioles vs Dodgers and game info

Orioles 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.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.

I took yesterday off from all things Blue Jays related. My sister was in town, she’s a big Bonnie Raitt, so we went to the concert last night.

There was a bunch of news yesterday:

• The team traded for Luis Urias from the Diamondbacks for cash. He’s an infielder. He is a 28-year-old right-handed hitting infielder, who has played eight seasons in the MLB, hitting .231/.329/.378 with 60 home runs in 2080 games. This year he’s been playing in Triple-A for Reno in the PCL, hitting .361/.393/.546 with 33 home runs in 27 games. They are still looking for a right-handed hitting platoon infielder who can hit is weight.
• And they made a bunch of roster moves. Daulton Varsho and Lazaro Estrada were activated from the IL. Brendon Little and Charles McAdoo were optioned to the Bisons.
• Shane Bieber will be starting Monday’s game. He threw 80 pitches in his last rehab start for the Bisons. We’ll ignore the part that he gave up 5 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. I don’t generally read much into stats of a rehab start. The pitch is mostly just trying to make his pitches and getting his work in.

Today’s lineups:

16 Father’s Days ago, John McDonald hit a home run. It was just a few days after the death of his father. His dad told John to hit a home run for him and he did. Up until then, he had just 14 career home runs and would finish with 28 in his career. It was an amazing moment.

The Yankees officially welcomed back catcher Austin Wells on Sunday, activating the catcher from the 10-day IL. 

Wells landed on the IL due to cervical headaches, but he’s been ramping up his baseball activities and manager Aaron Boone said he is headache-free. 

Wells is back in the starting lineup on Sunday against Cincinnati, batting eighth. 

It’s been a tough season for the former first-round pick, as he comes into play on Sunday hitting .166 with four home runs and 7 RBI in 145 at-bats.

Meanwhile, catcher J.C. Escarra was optioned to Triple-A on Saturday night, but Boone said he will likely be back with the club in the very near future, as catcher Ali Sanchez is expected to go on the paternity list soon. 

Did the Cincinnati Reds catch a break when the New York Yankees opted to shuffle their starting rotation for the series finale? We’ll find out this afternoon!

The Reds were initially slated to face six-time All Star and former Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole in Sunday’s series finale, but manager Aaron Boone made the call to bump their rotation all back one day instead. The Yankees are in the middle of playing 16 games in 16 days, and that was enough to prompt the 1st place Yanks to ease the strain on the arms they’ll depend on as they make their playoff push later this year.

Instead, New York will roll out rookie Elmer Rodriguez, who’s made a trio of starts at the big league level and pitched well enough (4.15 ERA) in that time. MLB Pipeline ranked him the #2 prospect in the Yankee system in their most recent update (and #59 overall) on the back of a fastball he can throw up to 99 mph, so the Reds won’t be up against some nobody on the day – they just won’t be up against Gerrit Cole.

The Yankees, meanwhile, will be up against Chase Burns.

Burns has already accrued 3.9 bWAR so far in less than half the 2026 season, his mix of fastball/slider simply devastating to teams he faces. He’ll toe the rubber knowing a victory today would give the Reds a series victory on the road in the Bronx, and he seems like precisely the kind of guy you’d want your team to have on the mound knowing that’s what’s at stake today.

First pitch is set for 1:35 PM ET. Here’s how both clubs will line up to start:

The Atlanta Braves are running it back for the sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers on this Father’s Day Sunday.

The only batter on the Braves’ side who’s had experience against the Brewers’ Robert Gasser is Joey Bart, who’ll be batting seventh in the lineup. For the Brewers, Brice Turang has had his fair share of field days against Bryce Elder. In his 10 different appearances, he averaged .400 and a 1.100 OPS. He’s also the only one in the lineup that’s had a homerun against Elder.

Though the Braves have clinched wins in clutch performances in the other two games in the series, both teams were slower on offensive production, resulting in low-scoring games. Elder, who had a disappointing start last week, is looking to bounce back and hold the Brewers off the scoreboard, in hopes that the offense carries its weight early on.

It’s all happening at 1:35 p.m. EDT today at Truist Park.

1901
Already 29-20 and tied for first in the American League’s first season as a major league, the White Sox began a run of 10 straight wins with a shutout of the Philadelphia A’s, 4-0. Clark Griffith got the complete-game victory, his 10th win of the season.

By the end of the streak, the White Sox were three games up in the AL. From there, the White Sox were only tied or a half-game out of first for six game days the rest of the season, cruising to the first MLB AL pennant.

The 10 straight wins remain tied for the seventh-longest winning streak in team history, along with streaks in 1919, 1937, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1976 and 1981.

1942
White Sox pitcher and future Hall-of-Famer Ted Lyons won his 250th career game, beating the Red Sox, 6-5. (And a week later, Lyons would knock off the Yankees and Red Ruffing to tie Ruffing with 251 career wins.)

That season, Lyons only pitched on Sundays, and posted this incredible statistic: In his 20 starts that year he completed all 20 games! He went 14-6 with a league-leading 2.10 ERA.

At the end of the season, at age 42, Lyons joined the Marines and served for four years during World War II.

1956
It was either a case of great pitching, or terrible hitting, as it was dual one-hitters as the White Sox beat the Orioles, 1-0, in a game that took just 2:12 in front of a mere 4,581 at Comiskey Park. Baltimore starter Connie Johnson, a former White Sox pitcher, threw seven innings of one-hit ball, relieved by George Zuverink and his clean eighth inning. Meanwhile Jack Harshman of the White Sox went all nine innings and allowed only one hit.

The White Sox scored their run in the first inning, when Jim Rivera walked, stole second and scored on a double by Nellie Fox. Baltimore’s only hit came in the seventh inning, a double off the bat of Gus Triandos. 

1961
The White Sox had a heckuva doubleheader sweep to run their winning streak to six games, walloping Cleveland. In the opener, Roy Sievers had a pinch-hit grand slam and an additional homer, giving him 16 round-trippers on the year. His seven RBIs fueled a 15-3 White Sox win. In the 11-1 nightcap, it was Al Smith’s turn to club two homers, also giving him 16 on the season.

Interestingly, the White Sox began action that day at 30-34, 9 ½ games worse than third-place Cleveland. This blistering June stretch — including a streak of seven straight and this current one, which would extend to 12 straight wins and be separated by a single loss, giving the White Sox 19 wins in 20 games — took the club from last place into fourth, their high-water mark for the season.

Two seasons later, Sievers would club a pinch-hit home run while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, making him the first player ever with pinch-hit grand slams in both leagues.

1964
The White Sox dropped their ninth straight game on the season to the Yankees, 2-1, in 17 innings. It allowed New York to sweep a twin bill where the Sox scored only one run on the day (over 26 innings), having lost the opener, 2-0. The nightcap loss really hurt, because New York got the winning run home thanks to an error by infielder Al Weis. 

The Sox would lose another one to the Yanks the next day (running the streak to 10 in a row), and the Yankees would sweep the four-game series, giving up just one run over 41 total innings. In fact, this was part of a run that saw the White Sox lose nine games to the Yankees over 11 days. Chicago finally won again vs. the Yankees … in August.

Strangely, the White Sox were 6-12 vs. New York in 1964, but the dozen head-to-head losses were very costly, because the Sox ended the season with nine straight victories but still finished one game behind the Yankees.

1973
White Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen, a 21-game winner in 1972, threw one of the strangest shutouts in baseball history. Bahnsen beat the A’s, 2-0, at Comiskey Park. He allowed 12 hits and a walk in the process. The A’s left 10 men on base. It was two hits allowed short of the record for most allowed in a shutout.

1974
Hendersons were wild in an 11-7 win at Minnesota, as Ken Henderson clouted two homers and Joe Henderson earned his first major league victory. The Sox jumped out to a 7-0 lead after their second at-bats, and when “opener” Ken Tatum could not parlay a gift blowout from his offense into the five-inning minimum, handing a win to Joe. Joe went 4 1⁄3 innings in a bulk relief role, striking out seven, walking six and being charged with two runs that came in after he left the game. Interestingly, manager Chuck Tanner chose to forego his DH with Joe, choosing to keep the pitcher in the game and bat for himself rather than go to the pen; thus Henderson (fielder’s choice grounder to second base) and fellow reliever Cy Acosta (strikeout) both got rare ABs in the DH era in this contest.

The White Sox totaled 21 hits and raised their record to 30-31 (the club in fact hovered from May-on around .500, finishing right at 80-80-3. Carlos May went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and Ken went 3-for-4 with six driven in. Jorge Orta and Bill Sharp also had three-hit days.

2016
On the first pitch of the game Tim Anderson launched his first career home run, over the Green Monster in Boston, providing the GWRBI in a 3-1 White Sox win. It was TA’s 11th career game, and the first of his 98 MLB home runs.

The Brewers are looking to avoid the sweep on Father’s Day afternoon in Atlanta, as the team has dropped a pair of low-scoring affairs in heartbreaking fashion. After Jackson Chourio was cut down at the plate as the tying run in the ninth inning on Friday evening, Ozzie Albies played hero for the Braves Saturday afternoon, hitting his second homer of the game just over the wall in right field for a walk-off win.

To avoid the sweep, the Brewers will send out lefty Robert Gasser. Gasser, 27, hasn’t quite been able to replicate the success of his 2024 rookie season across five starts this year, but he is coming off his best outing of the year. While he’s 0-3 with a 4.88 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 24 innings this year, he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless frames against the Guardians on Tuesday night, allowing a pair of hits and a pair of walks while striking out five in a no-decision.

Opposite Gasser is right-hander Bryce Elder. Elder, also 27 (actually exactly 12 days older than Gasser), is in his fifth MLB season, all with the Braves. He looked great in his first two seasons, pitching to a 3.17 ERA over 54 innings in 2022 and earning an All-Star selection with a 3.81 ERA and 128 strikeouts over 174 2/3 innings in 2023. He’s coming off a pair of rough seasons — he totaled -1.2 bWAR across 38 starts in 2024 and 2025 — but he’s looked much more like the Elder of early seasons this year, with a 3.15 ERA, 3.76 FIP, and 73 strikeouts over 88 2/3 innings. He got roughed up in his last outing, though, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out two over four-plus frames.

Christian Yelich bats leadoff as the DH, followed by Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and William Contreras. Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick follow, with Cooper Pratt and David Hamilton rounding things out behind Gasser.

First pitch is at 12:35 p.m. on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.

The nature of baseball as a sport means that you need more than just a star or two to be a good team. Just look at the Mike Trout/Shohei Ohtani era Angels. Of course you need excellent players as well, but having solid players across the middle and backend of the roster is what turns a fine team into a contending one.

The 1950s Yankees are a good example of this. Of course, everyone remembers the likes of Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, but they also had a great core of supporting players. One of those was players was pitcher Eddie Lopat, whose birthday it happens to be today. In his honor, let’s look back at his baseball career.

Edmund Walter “Eddie” Lopat
Born: June 21, 1918 (New York, NY)
Died: June 15, 1992 (Darien, CT)
Yankees Tenure: 1948-55

Born in New York City in 1918, Edmund Walter Lopatynski — he later shortened the name in order to fit it in box scores — grew up a Yankees’ fan in the heyday of the Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig Murderers’ Row teams, and dreamed of playing for the team. Coming up in the game, he played first base, getting passed over by the Giants at one tryout before getting signed by the Dodgers in 1936.

One problem with Lopat playing first base was that as he came through the minors, he wasn’t a particularly great hitter. His first taste of Class D minor league ball saw him hit .223 with just a .311 slugging. However, something else happened that year that would help Lopat find his way to the majors.

While warming up one day before a game, the catcher he was throwing with noticed Lopat was putting a little extra on his tosses. The manager came over and told Lopat to try throwing a curveball, and came away impressed. From that day forward, Lopat became a pitcher.

As you might expect for someone who switches disciplines like that, it took a little while for Lopat to get to the big leagues as a pitcher. He left the Dodgers’ minor league teams and bounced around a little bit, eventually joining the Little Rock Travelers in 1942. While his 5-foot-10 frame turned some teams off, eventually the White Sox were impressed enough and brought him in for the 1944 season.

After average seasons in Chicago in 1944 and ‘45, Lopat broke out in ‘46. That year, White Sox ace and future Hall of Famer Ted Lyons returned from military service and gave Lopat some tips. Lopat used that advice to put up seasons that were worth 4.0 and 5.5 rWAR in 1946 and ‘47. However, the White Sox as a team weren’t particularly going anywhere, and Lopat’s successes eventually caught the eye of his childhood team.

In February 1948, the Yankees acquired Lopat for a trio of players, and over the next eight seasons, Lopat became a very good mid-rotation arm, known as “The Junkman” for his success despite not a particularly flashy arsenal. While the Yankees lost out on the pennant in his first season there, they returned to the World Series in 1949. They won that won and then added four more in a row, five-peating from 1949-53. Lopat was especially massive in the 1951 World Series. He allowed just one earned run in 18 innings over his two starts that series. He pitched in the Game 2 and Game 5 victories, the first of which tied the series at one after the Giants had won the opener, and the second put the Yankees up 3-2, as they eventually won in six.

On an individual level, Lopat’s best season came in the final year of that five-peat. In 1953, he went 16-4 with a 2.42 ERA, winning the ERA title.

However the year after that, Lopat fell off, posting a below average ERA for the first time since his tenure with the White Sox. He then got off to another slow start the following year. While he was only in his 12th MLB season, his extended journey to the majors meant that Lopat was 37-years-old. That July, the Yankees traded him, sending him to the Orioles. Lopat appeared in 10 games for Baltimore that season, but he continued struggling and decided to retire after the 1955 season.

Following his playing career, Lopat quickly got into coaching. During his playing career with the Yankees, he had a reputation as being almost an assistant pitching coach, including helping the likes of a young Whitey Ford. After a couple seasons as the Yankees Triple-A manager, Casey Stengel brought him in as the official pitching coach for 1960.

Somewhat infamously, the Yankees fired Stengel after they lost the 1960 World Series, and Lopat also left in the aftermath. He later joined former teammate Hank Bauer with the Kansas City Athletics. Bauer couldn’t turn around that struggling franchise, and eventually Lopat was elevated to the manager job. He went 73-89 in 1964, but was let go after a 17-35 start to the ‘65 season.

After his managerial tenure, Lopat became a scout for a number of teams, including a stint back with the Yankees. He settled in Connecticut and lived there until he passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1992.

“Steady Eddie” wasn’t a Hall of Famer, or someone who would get his number retired. However, you need players like him in order to be a great team, and the Yankees were definitely that while Lopat donned the pinstripes.

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

The San Diego Padres desperately needed a win like this one. After the heartbreaking end to the slugging match between San Diego and the Texas Rangers, the club regrouped quickly and forced the rubber match.

After getting into a 1-3 deficit in the seventh inning, the Padres tied it in the eighth and forced the game into extra innings. In the 10th, Manny Machado came up with runners on first and second and took reliever Joe Ross deep to left-center field.

That allowed the Friars to coast to victory despite Mason Miller giving up an unearned run in the bottom frame of the inning. They’ll need to show the same power they’ve displayed in the first two games to take the series.

Taking the mound

Nathan Eovaldi (TEX) v. Lucas Giolito (SD)

(I mistakenly wrote that Eovaldi was pitching on Saturday instead of starter MacKenzie Gore. The former is pitching in today’s rubber game, apologies.)

After turning in the best season of his career in 2025, Eovaldi has looked rough in ‘26 with a 4.23 ERA across 14 starts. Pair that with a 1.17 WHIP through 87 1/3 innings and it’s been tough for the righty.

Eovaldi’s looked better in his last seven starts, pitching to a 3.78 ERA, but it’s still been tough. He’s given up 10 runs across his last 18 2/3 innings. The Padres will hope to beat the Rangers’ starter to win the series.

Giolito has been inconsistent for the Friars but has looked marginally better lately. He’s surrendered six runs across his last 13 innings and owns a 4.56 ERA on the season.

San Diego decided to utilize an opener for starter Griffin Canning as well as Giolito in their last starts. It worked out decently for the right-hander, but he still allowed three runs against the St. Louis Cardinals. He’ll need to pitch better today against Texas.

Batter up!

Machado finally seemed to break out Saturday after a rough night at the plate in the series opener. He knocked in five of the Padres’ six runs and went 2-for-5. Jackson Merrill was also a powerhouse, going 3-for-5, and knocking in the game-tying run in the eighth inning.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
2. Samad Taylor, RF
3. Manny Machado, 3B
4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
5. Jackson Merrill, CF
6. Ty France, 1B
7. Gavin Sheets, 1B
8. Will Wagner, DH
9. Blake Hunt, C

Rodolfo Durán could be back behind the dish today but will likely sit to give Hunt a slightly longer look. The backstop went 0-for-3 yesterday in his MLB debut at the plate.

The offense has looked much healthier than it did last series. After scoring just eight runs in the Padres’ series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the lineup has put up 13 in just the first two games. It’s momentum that the club needs heading into their upcoming homestand.

Relief corps

Starter Walker Buehler has been one of the few consistent starters for the Friars in the last month. He’s looked resurgent in his most recent starts. After exiting in the sixth with the score knotted, 1-1, the Padres’ relievers were tasked with holding the Rangers.

Kyle Hart pitched well before Jason Adam allowed his second homer in as many nights. His command has been spotty as of late but he settled in to complete the inning. Adrian Morejon covered the final two innings beautifully, and Miller nailed down the save in the tenth.

That gives San Diego options in the rubber game. Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, David Morgan and Wandy Peralta will be available out of the ‘pen for the Friars. It seems likely that Peralta will be utilized as an opener after he opened for Giolito in his last start.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies play their series rubber match tonight during Sunday Night Baseball at 7:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Philadelphia’s ace Zack Wheeler headlines my Mets vs. Phillies prop picks for Sunday, June 21, while I’ll also highlight Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto.

Check out my full MLB picks below, and be sure to also read our complete Mets vs. Phillies predictions.

Mets vs Phillies props for June 21

Pick	Odds
Zack Wheeler Over 6.5 strikeouts	-108
Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI	-130
Juan Soto Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI	-120

Mets vs Phillies player prop picks

Zack Wheeler Over 6.5 strikeouts (-108)

Zack Wheeler has shown no signs of slowing down at age 36, still ranking in the 96th percentile in pitching run value and the 92nd percentile in chase rate.

The Philadelphia Phillies' ace has victimized batters with his four-seamer forever, and that trend is holding steady in 2026. Wheeler has recorded 25 strikeouts thanks to his four-seam fastball, and that’s a pitch the New York Mets struggle against.

The Mets have the eighth-highest K rate when facing the four-seamer from a righty (23.1%), while their swinging strike rate vs. that pitch is the seventh-highest in MLB (9.8%).

I’d play this up to -120 tonight.

Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-130)

Kyle Schwarber had himself a game on Saturday with four hits, three homers, and six RBI. It was just another feather in the cap for the Phillies slugger, who’s batting .323 so far in June.

The left-hitting Schwarber is enjoying strong reverse splits once again, batting .292 vs. lefties with a massive 1.013 OPS, and he’ll enjoy squaring up against Mets southpaw David Peterson tonight.

Peterson goes to his sinker 28.9% of the time, and that’s a pitch Schwarber is mashing for a .407 average.

Give me this prop at any price up to -140.

Juan Soto Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-120)

The New York Mets may struggle against Wheeler, but Juan Soto has had some success against the Phillies veteran over the years.

Soto is batting .259 over 54 career at bats vs. Wheeler, and he’s cleaned up against righties this season, hitting .314 with a 1.063 OPS.

The Mets slugger is batting .356 over the last 15 days, which comes as no surprise given his impressive batting profile. Soto ranks in the 99th percentile in xSLG, 97th percentile in xBA, and 99th percentile in squared-up percentage — just to highlight a few stats.

Soto’s cashed this prop in six of his last nine outings, and I’ll play it to -125 tonight.

How to watch Mets vs Phillies and game info

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.

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (31-42) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land jumped out to an early lead scoring 2 runs in the first inning on a Biggio solo home run and a run on an error. After the Isotopes scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first, Sugar Land retook the lead in the 4th on a Ferreras RBI double and Winkler RBI single. McPherson got the start and allowed 4 runs over 3.1 innings. The Isotopes responded with a run in the 4th and 5th to take the lead. Sugar Land tied the game in the 7th inning on an Alexander solo home run but the Isotopes took the lead again with a run in the bottom of the 8th. Sugar Land was scoreless in the 9th as they ended up falling 6-5;

Note: Ferreras is hitting .471 in Triple-A.

• Cavan Biggio, 2B: 1-for-5, R, HR, RBI
• CJ Alexander, DH: 2-for-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB
• Zach Dezenzo, RF: 2-for-4
• Zach Cole, CF: 1-for-4, R, 2B
• Pascanel Ferreras, 3B: 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI
• Jack Winkler, SS: 1-for-4, RBI

• Brandon McPherson, LHP: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
• Sam Carlson, RHP: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• J.P. France, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (30-38) lost 2-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got on the board first on an Encarnacion RBI single in the second inning. Dombroski got the start for the Hooks and was solid allowing 2 runs over 5 innings. The pen was solid tossing 4 scoreless innings but the offense was unable to get anything else going as the Hooks fell 2-1.

Note: Brutcher is hitting .388 in Double-A.

• Lucas Spence, CF: 1-for-4, 3B
• Drew Brutcher, DH: 1-for-3, R, BB
• Yamal Encarnacion, 2B: 1-for-4, RBI

• Trey Dombroski, LHP: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
• Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Amilcar Chirinos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (18-49) lost 14-1 (BOX SCORE)

DeVos started for Asheville but struggled allowing 3 runs over 2 innings. The pen didn’t fare well either 10 runs over the next few innings. Thomas put Asheville on the board with a solo home run 5th inning. The Hot Rods got a couple more runs and the Asheville offense was quiet the rest of the way as they fell 14-1.

Note: Thomas has a .961 OPS this season.

• Justin Thomas, DH: 1-for-4, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Caden Powell, CF: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
• Chase Call, LF: 1-for-3, BB
• Jack Moss, 1B: 1-for-3, BB

• Nolan DeVos, RHP: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Garrett Apker, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
• Anthony Cruz, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Conor Steinbaugh, RHP: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-34) lost 10-0 (BOX SCORE)

Carrera started for the Woodpeckers and went 5 innings allowing 6 runs while striking out 4. Gonzalez relieved Carrera and allowed 4 runs over 3 innings. The Woodpeckers offense was quiet all night collecting just 5 hits as they were shutout in the 10-0 loss.

Note: Flores has a .771 OPS this season.

• Xavier Neyens, 3B: 1-for-4
• Arturo Flores, 1B: 1-for-4, 2B
• Waner Luciano, RF: 1-for-4
• Kenni Gomez, CF: 1-for-3, BB
• Hector Salas, SS: 1-for-4

• Jesus Carrera, RHP: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Rafael Gonzalez, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
• Carlos Cauro, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 7:05 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 5:05 CT

AV: Dylan Howard – 12:05 CT

FV: TBD – 4:05 CT

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Philadelphia Phillies are -200 favorites to take the rubber match on Sunday Night Baseball, and for good reason.

My Mets vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the Phillies to win convincingly on home soil.

For more analysis, check out our Mets vs. Phillies prop picks.

Who will win Mets vs Phillies today: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (+100)

The New York Metsown a .293 OBP against righties in June and have struck out at the league’s fourth-highest rate.

It’s not going to get any easier against Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler.

He has started five games against teams ranking in the bottom half of the league in OBP vs. righties. He posted a 1.72 ERA in those starts while averaging 6 2/3 innings of work.

Wheeler ranks in the 96th percentile in Pitcher Run Value and should have little trouble with this lineup.

Back Philadelphia on the RL to -115.

COVERS INTEL: Mets starter David Peterson ranks in the sixth percentile in Pitcher Run Value, indicating a massive pitching advantage for the Phillies.

Mets vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 8.0 (-105)

The Mets rank 29th in OBP and tied for 23rd in runs per game. They are not a good offensive team at the best of times, and it’ll be tough sledding against an in-form Wheeler.

The Phillies are more likely to do damage against David Peterson, but a ceiling game at the plate is still unlikely.

Philadelphia has struggled with lefties for much of the year, hitting just .223 and ranking 23rd in wOBA.

The Mets also have a very rested bullpen behind Peterson, so they’ll be well-equipped to put out fires as they arise.

Play to -115.

Mets vs Phillies weather

Sunny skies and 80-degree weather will help give balls a little more pop tonight. Winds are expected to blow side-to-side.

Mets vs Phillies odds

• Moneyline: Mets +165 | Phillies -200
• Run line: Mets +1.5 (-120) | Phillies -1.5 (+100)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)

Mets vs Phillies trend

Philadelphia has hit the game total Under in 23 of the last 35 games (+11 units, 29% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Phillies.

How to watch Mets vs Phillies and game info

Mets vs Phillies 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.