MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, June 17

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"Hump Day" baseball is here, with games running all day long on June 17.

This evening, our MLB player props are locked in with Wilyer Abreu, Brandon Lowe, and Dominic Canzone, all in matchups that line up nicely for production and offensive upside.

Here are my favorite MLB picks for Wednesday.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Red Sox Wilyer AbreuOver 1.5 total bases-104
Pirates Brandon LoweOver 1.5 total bases-106
Mariners Dominic CanzoneOver 1.5 hits + runs + RBI+109

Wilyer Abreu Over 1.5 total bases (-104)

I am already fading Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer on another prop today, so why not fully take advantage of the old man's weaknesses? Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu finds himself in a great spot to do damage against Scherzer's offerings.

The 26-year-old has been seeing the ball extremely well over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, batting .310 with a .621 SLG and .921 OPS. He has also produced a 45.8% hard-hit rate and a 16.7% barrel rate during that stretch.

On top of that, Abreu owns nearly 60% arsenal coverage against Scherzer's pitch mix, with every offering grading below league average this season, per FanGraphs.

Against left-handed hitters, the future Hall of Famer has struggled to keep the ball on the ground, allowing nearly a 75% elevation rate alongside a 13% barrel rate. Those hitters have also generated a .544 xSLG and .388 xwOBA against him.

Getting this prop at nearly even money feels like a gift. I would comfortably play it down to -110.

  • Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NESN, SN1

Brandon Lowe Over 1.5 total bases (-106)

Brandon Lowe and the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves in a strong spot tonight against Aaron Civale and the Athletics. Despite a recent slump, this feels like a good opportunity for Lowe to get back on track.

Over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Lowe is hitting just .222, but the underlying numbers are still solid with a 43% hard-hit rate and an 11.4% barrel rate. He also brings strong familiarity here, with a 73% arsenal coverage against Civale’s pitch mix.

On the mound, Civale enters with one of the worst pitcher ratings on the slate per Batters-Box, grading poorly across matchup wOBA, ISO, strikeout rate, and ground ball rate. Left-handed hitters have given him fits all season, allowing nearly a 70% elevation rate.

At home, those splits jump to a .354 average, .646 slugging, and a .452 wOBA, with lefties elevating the ball 77.6% of the time.

This sets up well for Lowe, who profiles with elite underlying metrics, strong matchup coverage, and a track record of getting to this number close to 50% of the time, while also carrying roughly a 35% home run rate in similar spots. I would play this down to -115.

  • Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, SNP

Dominic Canzone Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (+109)

CALZONES FOR EVERYONE!

Mr. Dominic Canzone steps into a strong spot tonight against Baltimore Orioles right hander Kyle Bradish. The Seattle Mariners outfielder checks in with the number one rated matchup on Batters-Box’s current season timeframe, along with nearly 75% arsenal coverage against Bradish’s full pitch mix.

Canzone has been on a serious heater lately, hitting .370 with a 1.285 OPS while posting 52% hard contact and a 20% barrel rate over his last 30 at bats against right handed pitching.

On the other side, Bradish has been vulnerable to lefties, allowing 40% hard contact and a 10% barrel rate to his last 30 left handed hitters faced. Those hitters are producing a .339 xBA, .477 xSLG, and .343 xwOBA in that span.

With Canzone seeing it this well right now and the underlying matchup fully supporting it, the HRR prop at plus money feels like value. Take it down to +100.

  • Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SEAM, MASN
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 225-387-35, +10.54 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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VOTE: Do you think Paul Skenes has slipped?

Jun 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) gives a thumbs up during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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

To piggieback off of Jaiman’s piece earlier today, there’s been a lot of chatter on social media, from Pittsburgh Pirates fans and baseball fans in general, that Paul Skenes is no longer a top 10 pitcher in the league.

Some of the numbers — like his 2.85 ERA, which is great for a Major League pitcher, but also the highest of his career — would suggest he has slipped. While others — like his 0.93 WHIP, which is the best of his career — would suggest he has not.

That ERA is 15th in the league. The WHIP is 5th. The Ks are also 5th. His Ks per nine innings stands at 4th. His walks and hits per innings pitched also stand at 5th.

So has Skenes slipped? Um, maybe? I guess if you go from the the best pitcher in baseball to simply in the mix for the best pitcher, is that technically slippage? What do you guys think watching him all year? Has he slipped?

Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.

Dodgers on Deck: Friday, June 19 vs. Orioles

May 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA;Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (right) is greeted in the dugout by manager Dave Roberts (left) after leaving the game during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The Dodgers’ all-interleague homestand concludes this weekend, with the Baltimore Orioles coming to Los Angeles beginning Friday night. After a 2020 World Series rematch against Tampa Bay, this time it’s a 1966 Fall Classic rematch at Dodger Stadium.

Roki Sasaki starts Friday night for the Dodgers.

Friday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Orioles
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Red Sox News & Links: Finally some good injury updates on Roman Anthony, Garrett Crochet?

Boston, MA - June 14: Boston Red Sox outfielder Anthony Roman. The Boston Red Sox played the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

This Red Sox season has been an exercise in one-step-forward-two-steps-back. And that rubric doesn’t just apply to the game-to-game results, but to the injuries as well. How many times have we gone from “minor injury, hopes to avoid the IL,” to “recovery progressing, hopes to begin rehab assignment soon,” to “RIP, gone but not forgotten”? Roman Anthony has already gone through that cycle, but we may have gotten good news recently. Anthony underwent yet another MRI this week — but this one was apparently one of the good MRIs, performed just to check in on how things are going. ““Everything looked good, healing properly,” Chad Tracy said. Of course we still don’t have any timeline on his return, but hey, we’ll take what we can get. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

We also got some promising news on Garrett Crochet, which came with a bit more specifics. He’s been cleared to start some “light throwing of weighted plyometric balls, which, y’know, aren’t the kind of balls they use in MLB, but they’re better than no balls at all. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Unfortunately, we may have reached the point where it’s too late for Anthony and Crochet to save the season. And if that’s the case, we can blame the Sox’ performance against the rest of the AL East. “The Sox have a horrendous 6-15 mark against divisional opponents – the second-worst record by any AL team within its own division. (Only the Tigers, with a 6-16 mark against the AL Central, had an inferior mark.)” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

The primary reason why the season may already be over is, of course, the Sox’ terrible offense. With so many individual hitters struggling, we’re starting to see something interesting at Fenway Park: private hitting instructors who do not work for the team. While the optics of this aren’t great, it’s not necessarily something novel. “At this level, players have had a lot of coaches throughout their careers. When they get to this level, there’s a lot of people who have helped them have success,” says Sox interim hitting coach John Soteropulos. (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

And with the season slipping away, it’s no surprise that the Red Sox are involved in so much trade speculation. ESPN ranked the top-25 trade candidates for the upcoming deadline and included 4 Sox players on the list, led by Aroldis Chapman at number 8. (Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan, ESPN)

But despite all the trade chatter — and the, uh, standings — CBO Craig Breslow isn’t yet prepared to surrender the ship. Yesterday he appeared on the NESN pregame show and said he was “absolutely not” giving up on the season yet. “Right now, given we’ve got six weeks or so before the deadline, our focus is on doing everything we can to give ourselves a chance to win the game each night.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)

But while Breslow is probably prudent to wait for as long as he can before going into sell-mode, the fact that the only noise at Fenway is being made by traveling Scottish fans in town for the Wold Cup tells you all you need to know about the direction of this season. (Justin Turpin, WEEI)

GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros, 2:10 p.m.

Jun 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Hao-Yu Lee (50) bats during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Detroit Tigers (30-43) vs. Houston Astros (34-41)

Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Daikin Park
SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (2-3, 2.27 ERA) vs. RHP Peter Lambert (5-4, 3.47 ERA)

Lineups

TIGERSASTROS
Kevin McGonigle – SSJeremy Pena – SS
Dillon Dingler – DHYordan Alvarez – DH
Riley Greene – LFChristian Walker – 1B
Spencer Torkelson – 1BIsaac Paredes – 3B
Kerry Carpenter – RFJose Altuve – 2B
Colt Keith – 3BCam Smith – RF
Matt Vierling – CFJoey Loperfido – LF
Hao-Yu Lee – 2BJake Meyers – CF
Jake Rogers – CChristian Vazquez – C

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The Short Porch is loving the World Cup and baseball vibes in Boston

The world’s biggest sporting event is underway across the continent and the sports vibes are elite. We’ve already seen some classic World Cup upsets with Spain unable to score against Cabo Verde. We saw a thriller between Netherlands and Japan that ended 2-2. But I think my favorite thing that has happened in the World Cup so far was visible at the only ballpark in the country that rivals Wrigley Field as Scottish fans descended on Fenway Park over the weekend creating an environment at a Rangers vs. Red Sox game in June that rivaled the postseason and reminded me of my experience at the World Baseball Classic in March.

The Red Sox made one of the best marketing decisions any baseball team has made in years when they decided to offer a Scotland kit Red Sox giveaway while the Scots were playing in Boston. The Scots might have shown up at Fenway Park anyway, but this ensured they would. And boy, did they ever show up:

Not only did they show up, they were ready to party. With all due respect to the midwest and tailgate culture, Boston isn’t exactly a slouch when it comes to drinking culture. Boston bars indicated they were well-stocked, having ordered three times the inventory they normally anticipate for St. Patrick’s Day. The Scots drank the the bars dry:

Noelle Somers, chief operating officer at Hennessy’s Bar in central Boston, highlighted the scale of the phenomenon, stating that trade following the Scotland v Haiti match had tripled that of St Patrick’s Day.

She told the Boston Globe: “We’ve been here for over 30 years and we’ve never seen anything like it.”

The bar ran out of beer on Sunday night before being restocked on Monday morning. Another delivery is due on Thursday, ahead of the Scotland vs Morocco match on Friday evening.

Brewing company Sam Adams has also seen its Boston taproom running dry over the weekend as demand for its Boston lager was four times higher than during a holiday period.

The result was an incredible night at Fenway Park, and everyone understood the assignment. The Red Sox organist researched Scottish chants and songs before the game. Yes, you absolutely need to see the results:

The full stadium sing-a-long is an unrivaled experience, and filling up a baseball park with soccer fans turns out to be the perfect storm for a lot of full stadium sing-a-longs. I’m talking about more than “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” A couple of seasons ago when the Cubs looked like they might almost make it to the playoffs, but were flirting with elimination late in the season the DJ at Wrigley Field started playing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” late in games. Every now and again everyone would sing along. It was great. Fenway already has “Sweet Caroline” in the eighth inning, but on Sunday night they also had this:

The Scots were pretty clearly cheering for the home team, but the atmosphere was so electric, even the Rangers were appreciative of it:

Baseball needs more of this. I hope other host cities have giveaways planned to include their guests at the ballpark in similar ways during the World Cup. If they don’t already, they would be well-served to do it immediately. I can’t imagine there’s a Scot alive who won’t be a Red Sox fan for life after all of that.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Boston Red Sox starter Jake Bennett draws a tough matchup tonight against the Toronto Blue Jays lineup that profiles extremely well against his pitch mix, making his Over 2.5 earned runs my favorite play of the night.

Find out more in my Blue Jays vs. Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, June 17. 

Blue Jays vs Red Sox predictions

Blue Jays vs Red Sox best bet: Jake Bennett Over 2.5 earned runs (-120)

Jake Bennett owns a 5.28 ERA through three starts and has struggled to miss barrels, allowing hard contact at a 42.3% clip.

That sets up poorly against a Toronto Blue Jays lineup that has handled his primary mix of four-seamers, sinkers, and changeups well this season — batting .269 with a .420 slugging percentage against that mix.

The matchup points to another difficult outing for Bennett. I'd play Over 2.5 earned runs allowed down to -130.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Toronto owns a 114 wRC+ against Bennett’s pitch mix since June 1.

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

The batter who profiles best against Bennett is Kazuma Okamoto, who owns a .324 average and a .622 slug-rate against Bennett’s pitch mix.

Since I anticipate a busy day on the base paths for Blue Jays batters, I’ll take Over 0.5 RBI for Okamoto. He’s eclipsed this total in four of his last five games.

Davis Schneider is red hot at the plate with four hits in his last three games since being recalled, including back-to-back games with a home run.

Additionally, he profiles well against Bennett, with a high barrel rate and a solid batting average against the sinker and changeup, two of his most-used pitches.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox SGP

  • Jake Bennett Over 2.5 earned runs
  • Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 RBI
  • Davis Schneider Over 0.5 hits
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Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Blue Jays vs Red Sox home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+425)

As mentioned, Okamoto profiles extremely well against Bennett, owning a 57.7% hard-hit rate against his primary pitch mix.

The Boston rookie doesn't generate much swing-and-miss, which should allow Okamoto plenty of opportunities to put the ball in play with authority.

There is some risk here, however. Bennett generates plenty of topped contact and ground balls, which can suppress home-run production. That's why I'm limiting this to a half-unit wager despite the strong matchup.

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 34-36, +3.05 units
  • SGPs: 13-57, +2.35 units
  • HR picks: 11-59, +0.9 units

Blue Jays vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Boston -130
  • Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-175) | Boston -1.5 (+150)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.5 (-115) | Under 9.5 (-105)

Blue Jays vs Red Sox trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the game total Over in 11 of their last 16 games (+5.60 Units / 32% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateWednesday, 6-17-2026
First pitch6:45 p.m. ET
TVSportsnet 1, NESN
Blue Jays starting pitcherMax Scherzer
(1-4, 10.23 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherJake Bennett
(1-2, 5.28 ERA)

Blue Jays vs Red Sox latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Red Sox weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

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.

Braves vs. Giants Game 1 restart: Chat and Discussion

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves rounds third base after hitting a home run during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park on June 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On the last episode of Dragon Ball: Braves, the Atlanta Braves made a curious decision to start a baseball game in the middle of a downpour. In their efforts to predict the weather, the weather proved to be, in fact, unpredictable. While they were treated to Drake Baldwin hitting the longest home run in Major League Baseball so far this season, it cost them Michael Harris II’s back acting up on him again and three runs given up by Grant Holmes while he admirably tried to pitch through the atrocious conditions.

With the rain being unrelenting, the teams were forced to stop play. Despite an admirable effort from the grounds crew at Truist Park, the rain had done its job and the field was deemed unplayable for the night. So now here we are, just a few hours later and it’s time to pick up where we left off in the bottom of the second inning with Atlanta down 3-2 to San Francisco.

Will the Braves take this as an opportunity to pull off yet another come-from-behind victory? Will the Giants and their beleaguered bullpen be able to hold the Braves at bay? Can Atlanta’s bullpen succeed in dry conditions when Grant Holmes faltered in a downpour? We’re about to find out!

UPDATE [1:56 p.m ET]: James Karinchak is reportedly going to be on the mound once it’s Atlanta’s turn to pitch in the top of the third. The GIants are going with Robbie Ray.

Game Discussion for St. Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres Wednesday

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 30: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on May 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their short homestand vs the San Diego Padres Wednesday afternoon. Kyle Leahy will start for the Cardinals while the Padres will send Bradgley Rodriguez to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm at Busch Stadium.

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San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 16: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres hits a two-RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium on June 16, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres (37-35) at St. Louis Cardinals (40-31), June 17, 2026, 11:15 a.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



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MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions June 17

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It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. MLB expert predictions!

Our MLB analysts have looked over the slate and are highlighting a couple of games, including what appears to be a mispriced Cleveland Guardians underdog play in Milwaukee.

Bolster your MLB picks on Wednesday, June 17, with this slate of selections.

  • UPDATE: Added a Cleveland Guardians ML pick from Jon Metler.

MLB expert picks for today

PickOdds
Josh Inglis Josh Inglis: PIT/A's: Over 10.5+108
Jon Metler Jon Metler: CLE ML+113
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: TB/LAD: Under 7.5-122

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Pirates vs A's - Over 10.5

Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket

It was just last weekend that games in Sacramento were carrying totals as high as 14.5. Tonight, the Over 10.5 is paying plus money, even though the hitting conditions are once again ideal with double-digit winds blowing out to the home run alley in right-center field.

Last night's game produced another four home runs at Sutter Health Park, and there is plenty of reason to expect more offense today.

Pittsburgh Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft struggles to keep the ball on the ground (39% ground-ball rate), while Athletics starter Aaron Civale is coming off the IL and owns the eighth-worst ground-ball rate among MLB starters, along with the 28th-worst HR/9.

If the starters don't give up runs, the bullpens can help. This matchup features the fourth- and fifth-worst bullpens in baseball by ERA over the last two weeks.

  • Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBC Sports California

Jon Metler's expert pick: Guardians moneyline

Price: 47¢ (+113) at Polymarket

The Milwaukee Brewers are expected to roll out six left-handed hitters against Cleveland Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams, but that apparent platoon advantage may be more illusion than reality. 

There's a reason lefties are hitting just .199 with a .666 OPS against Williams this season, and his skill set is particularly well-equipped to neutralize this lineup.

The key is Williams' four-seam fastball, which features exceptional riding life at the top of the strike zone. That pitch consistently gives left-handed hitters trouble, especially those looking to pull the ball with authority. Instead of driving it, they often get underneath the fastball, resulting in weak pop-ups and harmless fly balls.

At first glance, Milwaukee's left-handed-heavy lineup appears to be a favorable matchup against Williams. Dig a little deeper, though, and the numbers suggest otherwise. That's why I believe the Guardians should be priced more like a 53-cent favorite than a 47-cent underdog.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Guardians.TV, Brewers.TV

    Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rays vs Dodgers - Under 7.5

    Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket

    Shohei Ohtani has been dominant at Dodger Stadium, allowing one earned run or fewer in all 12 of his regular-season home starts since joining the team.

    He has a minuscule 1.06 ERA on the season and faces a Tampa Bay Rays lineup that ranks 26th in OPS against right-handed pitching over the last two weeks.

    On the other side, Shane McClanahan has surrendered one earned run or fewer in six of his last nine starts and now faces a Los Angeles Dodgers lineup that's 28th in OPS versus lefties over the same two-week span.

    Add in the Rays going Under in seven of their last eight road games, and this profiles as a pitchers' duel.

    • Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
    • How to watch: Rays.TV, SportsNet LA

    More MLB best bets for today

    PickOdds
    Mets ML-135
    Read analysis in our Mets vs. Reds predictions
    Brewers ML-121
    Read analysis in our Guardians vs. Brewers predictions
    Rays ML+140
    Read analysis in our Rays vs. Dodgers predictions

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
    Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

    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.

    Royals vs. Nationals June 17 game discussion

    MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 06: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

    The Royals are back at it trying to salvage a win from a series. Luinder Avila, who blew up last time out, will be starting against the best offense in baseball. What a weird thing to say about a Nationals franchise that has struggled along most recent years. At least KC gets to face a righty today. Maikel will not be in the lineup today as more injuries plague the team.

    Yankees At-Bat of the Week: Ben Rice (6/14)

    TORONTO, ON - JUNE 14: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees hits a two run home run in the ninth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Peter Sarellas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

    The Rogers Centre has proven to be a house of horrors for the Yankees over the last calendar year. In dropping the recent series opener in Toronto, the Yankees had lost nine of their last ten games north of the border including a pair of thumpings in the first two games of the 2025 ALDS. That the Yankees turned things around and won the final two games of the series—both with go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning—must give the team a ton of confidence after the Blue Jays had their number last year in the regular season and playoffs. Few hitters had a bigger impact for the Yankees that series than Ben Rice, and his late go-ahead blast earns his third appearance on At-Bat of the Week.

    We join Rice with one out in the top of the ninth, the score knotted at 3-3. Pinch-runner Ryan McMahon stands on second after Paul Goldschmidt reached on an infield single and advanced on a throwing error by reliever Braydon Fisher. Fisher entered the game as one of Toronto’s most effective relievers with a 2.70 ERA, the righty striking out over a batter per inning and giving up well under one home run per nine. If Rice can come through in the clutch, the Yankees will very likely win the series at the Rogers Centre, something that felt like an impossibility less than 12 months ago. Indeed, they hadn’t done so since 2023.

    The scouting report on Fisher shows that he throws the slider just shy of half the time and his curveball just shy of 30-percent of the time, so Rice knows that he will be fed a steady diet of breaking balls. Indeed, out of the six pitches that Fisher has thrown to Spencer Jones and Goldschmidt, four were sliders, one was a curveball, and one was a waste four-seamer just for show. Therefore, Rice is likely hunting a pitch that leaves Fisher’s hand middle-up with the idea that it will land down and in.

    This first-pitch slider begins aimed just off the plate inside and drops straight downward. It likely didn’t have quite the aiming point that Rice is looking for, which explains his ability to not chase this pitch despite it landing close enough to the zone for the catcher to unsuccessfully challenge the ball call. When the catcher is fooled that a pitch is a strike and the hitter is not, you know that hitter has an elite knowledge of the strike zone.

    True to the scouting report, Fisher sticks with the slider after narrowly missing with the one before.

    I’m actually a lot more impressed that Rice took this pitch than the previous one, despite the fact that this one ends up farther from the strike zone than ball one. That’s because this slider exits Fisher’s hand aimed right down the middle, meaning Rice had to pick up the spin early, diagnose slider, and realize that it would break out of the zone all in fractions of a second.

    Rice is in the driver’s seat, 2-0, but that does not guarantee that Fisher is going to give in and groove a fastball to get back into the count.

    This is just an unfair pitch to drop in back door for the called strike. It looks like a ball high and away out of Fisher’s hand and never looks like it is in the zone until the very last moment where it barely grazes the corner of the strike zone low and away. If the Yankees still had a challenge remaining in this spot I would not have been surprised to see Rice use it a lose it, this curve earning the strike one call by the very slimmest of margins.

    The problem for the hitter once a pitcher lands a breaking ball for a called low strike is that you then have to protect the bottom of the zone, which opens up ample opportunity for the pitcher to get you to chase a breaker below the zone. That’s precisely the tactic that Fisher employs with this slider to follow up the curveball.

    I’m not sure what Rice is supposed to do in this situation. Once again, this pitch looks like a strike right down Broadway when it leaves Fisher’s hand, and at 89 mph the hitter has way less time to react than against your typical low-80s slider. You can tell Rice is still sitting on a breaking ball from the way he sinks into his legs and aligns his swing plane to track below the zone, but he’s just not precise enough with his barrel to make contact.

    With just two pitches, Fisher has turned this AB on its head, going from way behind to being in full possession of count leverage. Rice is in trouble, given that Fisher showed he can both land the breaker for a called strike and command it below the zone for a chase and whiff. Another well-located slider should spell the end of this AB.

    Instead, Fisher falls into the classic trap of trying to throw the best slider of his life rather than one that’s just incrementally better than the one before. He spikes this pitch into the dirt by Rice’s feet and he has to hop out of the way to avoid getting hit.

    Now that it is a full count, we are once again faced with a situation that in certain cases might dictate an in-zone fastball to avoid putting a second baserunner on, but in Fisher’s case that by no means a sure bet.

    Fisher sticks with his plan of throwing sliders and Rice sticks with his plan of hunting one. It’s a really good pitch from Fisher — a slider dotted right on the corner down and in. The problem for him is that it is an even better swing from Rice. This is the exact pitch he has been hunting the whole AB — a slider down and in that he can drop the bat head on and pull in the air with power. His patience pays off, and after having seen four previous sliders, he now knows exactly how this pitch is going to move and anticipates its trajectory perfectly with his barrel. The result: a booming two-run home run to right to give the Yankees the lead in the ninth inning of consecutive games.

    Here’s the full AB:

    You don’t normally see this level of emotion from Rice, including the bat flip and shouts of encouragement towards his dugout. I wonder if he is feeling extra pressure to be the team’s primary run producer with Aaron Judge out injured. Whatever the case he continues to produce clutch hits for the team in what has been a breakout season from rising star to true superstar. He’s the third-best hitter in MLB by wRC+ (171), and his ABs have become appointment viewing — the first homegrown position player we can say that about since Judge.

    White Sox vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds: Who Will Win Tonight's MLB Game?

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

    The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees meet again following New York's 12-2 whooping of Chicago, and our White Sox vs. Yankees predictions expect a similar outcome.

    Find out why in my MLB picks for Wednesday, June 17.

    Who will win White Sox vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (+120)

    This is one of the bigger ERA-to-expected ERA gaps you'll find this season.

    Anthony Kay’s 8.74 expected ERA is concerning, especially paired with a .438 xwOBA allowed and a 58%+ hard-hit rate. Regression is coming, and few teams are better equipped to take advantage of it.

    In addition, it's not ideal that a 15% walk rate puts free runners in front of a New York Yankees lineup that I think has found its footing again.

    Carlos Rodon counters with a 75th-percentile strikeout rate and 81st-percentile xERA against a Chicago White Sox lineup that strikes out heavily. Play to +100.

    Covers COVERS INTEL:  Anthony Kay has allowed an average exit velocity of 92.4 mph in 2026, one of the worst marks in baseball

    White Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)

     I like the Over to -130.

    Anthony Kay's .594 expected SLG allowed and 10.3% barrel rate is a big story. I mentioned how I expect the Yankees to hit him hard, and there's just loads of evidence to back that up.

    On the other side, Carlos Rodon's Bottom 3 percentile walk rate is always a story. It's an issue here because this White Sox team has quietly hung around the top ten of baseball in various hard-hit metrics.

    The Yankees will do the heavy lifting, and the White Sox will put up a crooked inning in a hitter-friendly stadium.

    Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
    • ML/RL bets: 29-26, +5.46 units
    • Over/Under bets: 34-22, +15.82 units

    White Sox vs Yankees odds

    • Moneyline: Chicago +155 | New York -190
    • Run line: Chicago +1.5 | New York -1.5
    • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

    White Sox vs Yankees trend

    The New York Yankees have hit the moneyline in seven of their last eight games (+6.10 Units / 63% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Yankees.

    How to watch White Sox vs Yankees and game info

    LocationYankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
    DateWednesday, June 17, 2026
    First pitch7:05 p.m. ET
    TVCHSN, Amazon Prime Video
    White Sox starting pitcherAnthony Kay
    (6-1, 4.34 ERA)
    Yankees starting pitcherCarlos Rodon
    (2-2, 3.19 ERA)

    White Sox vs Yankees latest injuries

    White Sox vs Yankees weather

    Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
    Not intended for use in MA.
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    Shohei Ohtani to start vs. the Rays as knee swelling ‘completely dissipated’

    LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani will make his scheduled start on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

    Ohtani (6-2, 1.06 ERA) left a game in Pittsburgh with left knee inflammation. He missed the next day’s game against the White Sox in Chicago, then returned. This will be his first start since the injury in Chicago.

    Roberts said the swelling in Ohtani’s knee had “completely dissipated.”

    “I saw that he had just a catch-play right now,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s work. “He’s going to do his touchy-feely deal from the mound in a little bit. I saw him play some catch. Looks good, feels good. Look forward to him making a start tomorrow.”

    The game against the Rays is an early afternoon start. It’s a tight window to prep and an early start.

    “He likes his sleep. It’s certainly not ideal, but the calendar is the calendar,” Roberts said. “He’ll get his rest and do what he can to post tomorrow. … Anyone that has anything that has a potential red flag, we’ll certainly be watching closely. But again, he wouldn’t start if we felt that we were going to put him in harm’s way. He’s a competitor.”

    After a 1-0 win over the Rays, Roberts said Ohtani would not hit.

    In his last pitching start, Ohtani gave up four runs — three earned runs — in 6 2/3 innings and the Dodgers lost to Pittsburgh, 9-8.

    Edman back in action

    Utility man Tommy Edman was reinstated by the Dodgers following offseason ankle surgery.

    Edman, who was the 2024 NLCS MVP in the Dodgers World Series championship year, will make his season debut soon.

    “The good thing was, I saw progress with every step along the way. It just wasn’t as fast as I expected,” Edman said.

    Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.