Giants insider explains why Kyle Harrison should excite Red Sox fans

Giants insider explains why Kyle Harrison should excite Red Sox fans originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The drama around Rafael Devers’ departure from the Boston Red Sox has overshadowed the trade that sent him to the San Francisco Giants. What about the players Boston received in the blockbuster deal?

The Red Sox acquired left-hander Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, minor-league outfielder James Tibbs III, and minor-league righty Jose Bello in exchange for their homegrown slugger. While Harrison and Hicks should be able to help the big-league club this season, Red Sox fans can’t help but wonder if they could have gotten more for a player of Devers’ caliber.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Giants insider Alex Pavlovic shared his thoughts on the Red Sox’ return during Friday’s Early Edition.

“I was a little surprised by the overall return,” Pavlovic said. “I think just from what I know about this team and their system, I think it was a little bit light, probably.

“Having said that, I am a huge fan of Kyle Harrison, and I know the Giants are as well. He’s about a year and three months removed from being the best left-handed pitching prospect in baseball.”

Indeed, Harrison was MLB’s No. 1 ranked left-handed pitching prospect heading into the 2024 season. The 22-year-old posted an underwhelming 4.56 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 24 starts, but those numbers were partially tainted by nagging injuries.

“Just some context on his career here: He looked really, really good when he came up in 2023. He looked like a future star here,” Pavlovic added. “Last year, he tried to pitch through an ankle injury and tried to help these guys because they needed the rotation help, and that led to some shoulder inflammation and really just set him back the second half of last year and put him in a tough spot in the offseason.

“But he did come back last month. He was throwing 96, 97 (mph), looked like the Kyle we saw two years ago. I will say, I mean, he is as mature a young man as I’ve ever covered here. So I think he’s gonna be a good one, I think the Red Sox did very well there. The rest of the package, they probably could have done a little bit better.”

Harrison’s boasts an outstanding high-90s fastball, but the Red Sox optioned him to Triple-A Worcester to work on the rest of his pitching repertoire. A reliable third pitch would help him immensely as he aims to work his way into Boston’s starting rotation.

As for the rest of the return, the hard-throwing Hicks spent his first seven MLB seasons as a reliever before joining the Giants starting rotation in 2024. He hasn’t fared well as a starter, compiling a 4.83 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 42 appearances (29 starts) over his one-and-a-half seasons in San Francisco. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Hicks will come out of Boston’s bullpen when he returns from the injured list.

Tibbs was the 13th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, one pick after the Red Sox’ selection of fellow outfielder Braden Montgomery, who was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of the offseason Garrett Crochet trade. The 22-year-old was San Francisco’s No. 3 prospect and hit .246 with 12 homers, 32 RBI, 42 walks and 45 strikeouts in 57 games for High-A Eugene this season.

Bello, 20, was signed by the Giants as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. He recorded a 2.00 ERA across eight rookie-ball appearances (18 innings) this season, striking out 28 batters and walking three.

Trading an elite hitter like Devers typically would bring a bigger haul, but the Red Sox managed to dump all of the $254 million remaining on Devers’ contract. Rather than focusing on the best possible return, Breslow and Co. jumped at the opportunity to get Devers’ money off the books.

Devers will play his first game against his former team Friday night when the Red Sox and Giants begin a three-game series at Oracle Park.

Cubs legend Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley Field after 20-plus-year hiatus

CHICAGO — Legendary Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in more than 20 years on Friday before Chicago's afternoon game with the Seattle Mariners.

Sosa, who is set to be inducted into the Cubs' team Hall of Fame this year, arrived at the iconic North Side ballpark in a black SUV. He was greeted by owner Tom Ricketts, who embraced him in a hug as he exited the vehicle.

Sosa became the face of the Cubs franchise where he played 13 seasons after coming in a trade from the crosstown White Sox in March 1992. A seven-time All-Star, Sosa hit 545 homers in 1,811 games with the Cubs and hit a franchise-record 66 in 1998 when he was named the NL's MVP.

Sosa, now 56, played his final game with the Cubs at Wrigley on Oct. 2, 2004, when he homered and had two hits in an 8-6 loss to Atlanta. During his years with the Cubs, Sosa appeared to bulk up drastically and was a headliner in a generation of baseball's biggest names linked to performance-enhancing drugs.

The Cubs traded him to Baltimore with cash in February 2005 for three players.

Sosa appeared to acknowledge using performance-enhancing drugs in December when he released a statement saying he was sorry for mistakes, without specifying them.

“There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games,” he said in the statement. “I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize.”

On Friday morning, Sosa posed for photos with rising Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong outside the team's clubhouse and a video showed Sosa embracing manager Craig Counsell in his office before the game.

“(Sosa) saw the wind blowing out today and planned this trip around a good day to be here,” Counsell joked. “He asked to be in the lineup because the wind's blowing out.”

The Cubs honored Sosa with a video board tribute after the second inning. Sosa waved and bowed to fans from a suite during the presentation.

In Thursday's 8-7 loss to Milwaukee, Crow-Armstrong went deep to set a new team record for reaching 20 homers and 20-plus stolen stolen bases the fastest, doing it in 73 games. Sosa had the old mark of 96, set in 1994.

Counsell, who faced Sosa as a player, saluted the former slugger for his strength at the plate and long homers, as well as star power.

“Probably the best thing, Sammy was a true entertainer," Counsell said. "I think when you're in this long enough, you realize that's part of this.

“We're also here to entertain and I think Sammy was great at that.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora says decision to trade Rafael Devers is ‘not personal'

Red Sox manager Alex Cora says decision to trade Rafael Devers is ‘not personal' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Red Sox manager Alex Cora was in no mood to discuss the tiny details and nuances behind Boston’s decision to trade Rafael Devers to the Giants earlier this week. In Cora’s view, it was nothing more than a simple baseball move.

For all the talk circulating about Devers being a problem child in the Red Sox clubhouse and having serious communication issues with management after the team wanted him to change positions, Cora instead focused on the good that Devers brought to Boston.

“He produced,” said Cora, who acknowledged it will be ‘awkward’ to see Devers in another uniform. “You look at the list of homers in the franchise, 500 extra-base hits, the World Series ring. There’s a lot of stuff Raffy did for us that we’re going to miss. We’re very proud of him. To face him here, it’s going to be different.

“I appreciate everything he did for us, everything he did for me. This weekend we have to get him out. We’re prepared for that, and obviously he’s prepared to do the opposite.”

The trade, which went down on Father’s Day landed the Giants the potent and productive bat they’ve been seeking to add to their lineup all season.

The deal happened so abruptly that Devers left the East Coast and flew to San Francisco before many of his Red Sox teammates had learned about the trade.

“He’s been a cornerstone of this franchise for a long time. To see him on TV in a different uniform is weird,” Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story said. “Once we’re out there it’ll be good to see him and talk to him and kind fo say bye. We didn’t really get to talk to him (when the trade happened).”

Story said he felt the Red Sox handled the news of the trade well, noting that they had to move on quickly.

“I wouldn’t say a gut-punch. I would say it’s more of a shock to the system a bit,” Story said. “I think we did a good job of not letting that hang around. There’s ball to be played and we know we still have a good team.”

When a Boston reporter asked Cora if he felt the need to meet with Devers at any point to clear the air, the Red Sox manager basically shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s baseball, it’s a business, that’s how it works,” Cora said. “People have their opinions about the whole thing, communication, first base, the age, third base, the manager, GM, owners, whatever. It’s a baseball trade. From my end I turn the page.

“Nothing in this business is personal. That’s something that throughout the years I always tell then, We agree on a lot of stuff, we disagree in others. Xander Bogaerts is in San Diego, it’s not personal. Mookie Betts is in LA, it’s not personal. Raffy Devers is with the Giants, it’s not personal.”

It’s personal for the Giants, who now boast a bat in their lineup capable of changing the direction of this season by his presence alone.

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Campbell refutes report Devers was upset with him over first base situation

Campbell refutes report Devers was upset with him over first base situation originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In the aftermath of the Boston Red Sox’ stunning Rafael Devers trade, there have been several accounts of what led to the veteran slugger’s untimely departure. Among them was a bombshell Yahoo Sports report from Joon Lee, who detailed the dysfunction at 4 Jersey Street.

There were several revelations in Lee’s report, including chief baseball officer Craig Breslow firing a longtime scouting supervisor for calling him a “f—ing stiff” during a Zoom meeting. Lee also explained how Devers’ frustration with the club’s poor communication ultimately led to him being sent to the San Francisco Giants.

In May, Devers publicly called out Breslow for asking him to replace the injured Triston Casas as Boston’s primary first baseman. The club eventually turned to rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell to take practice reps at first base, and according to Lee, Devers’ took issue with Campbell “volunteering” to play the position.

“According to multiple sources, Devers was also upset when the rookie Campbell volunteered to play first base this season — interpreting it as a slight to his own stature,” Lee wrote.

Campbell, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, refuted that report and praised his ex-teammate.

“That was false,” Campbell told reporters Friday at Polar Park, via MassLive’s Katie Morrison-Day. “First off, Raffy never came to me, never had a problem with it. We were always cool. He’s an extremely great player, extremely great person. He’s a very kind person and a good teammate.

“Second, I would say I never went to the Red Sox to play first base. They came to me and asked me if I could play first base because we didn’t have one at the time. That’s when Casas went down, and I said I would do it because it would make the team better and I would be willing to learn the position. That was basically how it went down.”

While he often worked out at first base after Casas’ injury, Campbell never ended up playing the position in a game for Boston. The Red Sox instead have primarily gone with the combination of hot-hitting Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez.

Campbell will get some playing time at first base as he aims to get back on track in Worcester. He’ll also play second and center field, but he told reporters that first base will be “the priority.”

As for Devers, the three-time All-Star said he is open to playing anywhere for San Francisco. He has already practiced at first base, though he won’t play the position when the Red Sox visit Oracle Park for a three-game series starting Friday night.

When could Nolan McLean and other Mets pitching prospects get extended big league looks?

Whenever I post stat lines and highlights of some of the Mets' top pitching prospects on X (@PSLToFlushing if you don’t already follow, I think you should!), my mentions get lit up to "call up prospect X." 

Whenever pitchers land on the injured list, like Kodai Senga or Tylor Megill, I see similar responses to call up a prospect to take their place. 

While that is certainly more exciting for the fanbase, myself included, the organization must have a big picture outlook.

An example: Friday’s series-opener against the Phillies did line up with No. 3 prospect Nolan McLean’s scheduled day to throw, but Friday’s start is being made by his Triple-A teammate, Blade Tidwell.

Adding McLean to the 40-man roster and starting his service time clock when he still has a few things to work on just to make one spot start frankly would not have been a wise organizational decision. 

Especially so when you consider the fact that Frankie Montas (next week) and Sean Manaea (in the next couple of weeks) are expected to return to the rotation. Despite their rehab assignments being up-and-down, the Mets are paying them roughly a combined $40 million this year, and they both have very recent big league success. They are going to get spots in this rotation.

While teams are building in perpetuity, the most important thing for the Mets is winning right now. The juxtaposition of that is that a team requires young talent to impact the major league team to be able to pursue sustained success.

This begs the question of, when will these pitching prospects get an extended opportunity at the big league level?

I think the answer is different for each individual, and at its core, the answer really should be… when they are ready to come up without the thought that they will have to go back to the minors. Things don’t always work ideally or according to plan, but that is the objective.

Let’s go through some of the options.. 

Blade Tidwell

Tidwell made his big league debut earlier this year in what amounted to a spot start against the Cardinals. It wasn’t a debut to remember for Tidwell, as he lasted 3.2 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs and three walks while striking out two.

May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell (40) makes his debut pitching appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets pitcher Blade Tidwell (40) makes his debut pitching appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. / Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

It’s been an up-and-down year for Tidwell at Triple-A, with a 4.76 ERA in 13 appearances (11 starts). He still possesses swing-and-miss stuff, headlined by a fastball that will touch 98 mph.

With him being on the 40-man roster, he could fill in as a spot starter like he is on Friday or potentially fill a longer-term role in the second half -- either in the rotation or the bullpen, where his stuff could tick up in shorter sprints.

Brandon Sproat

Sproat entered the season as the No. 1 prospect in the Mets system after a breakout 2024 season. But it certainly has been an uneven season at the Triple-A level for Sproat, with a 5.31 ERA in 13 starts. However, things have begun to look better over his last 4 starts, where he has a 2.95 ERA in 21.1 innings.

He is a changed pitcher in 2025, as far as his pitch mix goes. Sproat still sports mid-to-upper 90s velocity, but in 2024 in Triple-A, he threw his four-seam fastball 51.7 percent of the time and his sinker just 1.1 percent of the time. In 2025 he is throwing his four-seamer much less, at 28.2 percent of the time, and his sinker much more, at 22.1 percent of the time. 

The byproduct of that is he is generating significantly fewer swings and misses, but he has avoided barrels at an elite rate (2.8 percent barrel rate) and become a ground ball merchant with a 54.2 percent ground ball rate.

Sproat also has three pitches graded above average by Stuff+, so while the numbers on the surface aren’t exciting, there are still reasons under the hood to believe in Sproat as a future big league starter. I don’t look at Sproat as a particularly ideal fit in a bullpen role, but if a rotation spot were to open in the second half, Sproat warrants consideration.

Nolan McLean

McLean, the No. 3 prospect in the system, entered 2025 for the first time in his entire life as exclusively a pitcher. He was a two-way player growing up, in college at Oklahoma State and until midseason last year in professional baseball. In 12 games split between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse, McLean has a 2.08 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 65 innings.

He still needs to iron out some command issues (he is walking 4.0 batters-per-nine) and a couple of his secondary offerings, but I think McLean is close to big league ready.

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean participates in the Spring Breakout game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Clover Park / Jim Rassol - USA TODAY Sports

McLean's sweeper is his highest percentage offering, and it is genuinely one of the best pitches in all of minor league baseball. He has essentially an even split of usage of his sinker and four-seam fastball, which he will throw 94-96 mph. He also throws a cutter, changeup, and will infrequently spin a curve. 

McLean is the pitcher of this group I would most expect to make an impact in 2025, whether it's because a long-term rotation spot opens up, or in August or September as a weapon out of the bullpen. It is worth noting that McLean was a reliever in college and he could trim his pitch mix and be a power reliever down the stretch -- a strategy that has been used by many playoff teams in the past.

Jonah Tong

I will preface this saying I do not believe Tong will make his major league debut in 2025. With that out of the way, Tong has emerged as one of the biggest rising pitchers in all of minor league baseball. He has now reached unanimous top 100 prospect status in baseball.

In 12 starts with Double-A Binghamton, Tong has a 1.97 ERA in 59.1 innings. He is second in all of minor league baseball with 96 strikeouts. Among all minor league pitchers with at least 40 innings, he is second in strikeout percentage (40.7 percent), tied for second in batting average against (.141) and fifth in FIP (2.07). 

He comes equipped with a fastball that sits 93-95 and will touch 97 mph with elite carry, and an old-school 12-6 curveball that he loves to throw. A big addition this year has been the Vulcan-grip changeup that has generated swings and misses. Tong also has a cutter and a hard slider that he is tinkering with different shapes on.

Tong admitted himself while recently speaking with SNY that he does need to continue to work on his command, as his 4.4 walks-per-nine can stand to improve. Other than a slightly elevated walk rate, he is dominating the Double-A level. I suspect a promotion to Triple-A is not far away and that it may simply be a bit of a numbers game right now as to why he isn’t already there.

The command will be something to monitor as the Triple-A level changes to the major league ball, and with the presence of both veteran hitters and the ABS challenge system. But I believe Tong is ready for that next challenge. He will be an arm to watch to make a potentially significant impact in 2026.

The Mets have some returning veterans to the rotation, but they also have some young talent getting ready to knock on the door of the big leagues over not just the next couple months, but the next couple years -- with names even beyond the list above.

David Ortiz seemingly takes shot at Giants' Rafael Devers with Instagram story

David Ortiz seemingly takes shot at Giants' Rafael Devers with Instagram story originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

David Ortiz is not backing down from his criticism of Rafael Devers.

The Baseball Hall of Famer on Friday once again seemingly took a shot at the three-time MLB All-Star ahead of the Giants’ series with the Boston Red Sox, Devers’ former team.

Ortiz posted a photo of himself with his retired number in the Fenway outfield with a message that read:

“The thing is that to have some like this at Boston you have to just not be a hitter you have to be the full package a all the way around player… go Sox.”

This added to some choice words Ortiz told The Athletic on Monday, just one day after the trade first was reported.

“I know the communication between Devers and the Red Sox wasn’t the best at the very beginning,” Ortiz told The Athletic. “But at some point, you have to realize the organization has the power over everyone. They can play you, trade you, let you go. Sometimes, as a young player, it’s hard to understand that.

“But they have the power to do whatever they want. The only thing you can control is what you do on the field.”

“Big Papi” ’s remarks didn’t go over well with everyone with ties to the Red Sox, however, as his former teammate Pedro Martinez had his own thoughts on the situation and even mentioned Ortiz as a possible influence on the Devers-Red Sox relationship deteriorating.

“Big Papi also made a mistake in spring training by speaking in front of the cameras about some of the things that he needed to tell Devers,” Martinez said. “And just like I said before, that should’ve been handled in-house. Big Papi should’ve gone out with Devers to talk about those things, not really openly speaking in the field, because the cameras are able to pick up everything that we say.”

The 28-year-old Devers repeatedly told reporters before Friday night’s game that he wants to move on as he turns a new page in his career, and it starts with facing his former club just three games into his Giants career.

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Did David Ortiz throw shade at Rafael Devers with this IG post?

Did David Ortiz throw shade at Rafael Devers with this IG post? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It’s no mystery which side David Ortiz is taking in the Rafael Devers-Boston Red Sox debate.

Ortiz hasn’t shied away from sharing his opinion on Devers and the Red Sox’ messy divorce. After Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants, the three-time World Series champion said he often tried to reach out to Devers and offer advice, but he “almost never returned my messages.” He cited communication and maturity as issues that led to Devers’ departure.

On Friday, Ortiz appeared to take a subtle jab at Devers via his Instagram story. He posted a photo of himself posing in front of his No. 34 at Fenway Park, with the following caption:

“The thing is that to have something like this at Boston, you have to just not be a hitter, you have to be the full package all the way around player. Go Sox.”

That sure seems like Ortiz is calling out Devers’ refusal to play first base for Boston. While the legendary DH hardly played the field during his Red Sox career, he was at least willing to play the position when called upon.

Devers’ attitude changed upon his arrival in the Bay. During his introductory Giants press conference, he stated he would play anywhere the club asked him to play. He has since worked out multiple times at first base, though he has yet to play the position in a game.

Ortiz’s post comes hours before the Red Sox’ series opener against Devers and the Giants in San Francisco. Devers won’t play first base in the series, but there’s still no shortage of hype heading into the matchup with emotions still running high on both sides.

First pitch for Friday’s Red Sox-Giants game at Oracle Park is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET.

Two-start pitchers: Tarik Skubal leads the list of dazzling options for week of June 23

Hello and welcome to the 13th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

Someone on the Dodgers is likely to make two starts, or two bulk appearances next week, but as of now your guess is as good as mine as to who that is going to be. That two-start week would be at the Rockies and at the Royals, so if we had word on who it is we would most definitely want to be looking their way for fantasy purposes. The expectation had been that Emmet Sheehan would stick around in the club’s starting rotation to make that start on Tuesday, that was before he was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. It's possible there’s a random injured list move between now and then that will give the Dodgers the option to bring him back, but that’s difficult to count on. Ben Casparius would also look nice in that role, though I expect that he’ll follow Shohei Ohtani on Sunday instead. We’ll track this one through the weekend and let you know how we think it will ultimately play out. In the meantime, I’d grab Sheehan in deeper leagues and hope that he gets the call.

Thanks to the rain out and doubleheader against the Tigers this week, it doesn’t look like anyone on the Pirates will line up for two starts next week. They’ll need to promote someone to take the ball on Monday against the Brewers in Milwaukee – perhaps Bubba Chandler finally – though it would just be a spot start with the rest of the five hurlers currently in the rotation finishing out the week.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of June 23.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, June 20, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Tigers, LHP (vs. Athletics, vs. Twins)

Tarik Skubal has followed up his Cy Young award-winning season by being even better through his first 15 starts during the 2025 campaign – going 8-2 with a minuscule 2.06 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and a ridiculous 117/12 K/BB ratio across 96 innings. That’s absolutely elite production. Now he gets two matchups on the week against struggling offenses and both are in the spacious confines of Comerica Park. Not only is Skubal an automatic start in all leagues, he’s probably the top overall option on the board for the upcoming week.

Framber Valdez, Astros, LHP (vs. Phillies, vs. Cubs)

Valdez has been as good as ever through his first 15 starts on the season, going 8-4 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 99/33 K/BB ratio over 96 innings. He gets a pair of very challenging matchups this week against two strong teams that have hit left-handed pitching extremely well this season, but Valdez is such a workhorse that fantasy managers shouldn’t shy away from a little competition. Maybe his overall upside is muted slightly due to the matchups, but he’s still an easy start in all formats.

Kris Bubic, Royals, LHP (vs. Rays, vs. Dodgers)

Bubic has pitched like a true fantasy ace through his first 14 starts on the year, going 6-4 with a 2.12 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and an 88/27 K/BB ratio over 85 innings. He has struggled a bit recently, at least by his standards, giving up eight runs on 15 hits over 9 2/3 innings his last two trips to the mound. Pitching at home twice during the upcoming week should be the elixir that he needs to get back on track, even with a tough matchup against the Dodgers to finish the week out. Fantasy managers shouldn’t penalize the 27-year-old southpaw for a pair of rough outings and should continue to start him with confidence for his upcoming two-start week.

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (@ Twins, @ Rangers)

The only knock on Woo coming into the season was his injury history, as most fantasy prognosticators didn’t believe he would be able to avoid the injured list for the majority of the season. So far he has, and he has been absolutely brilliant – posting a 3.12 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 78/14 K/BB ratio across 89 1/3 innings. As long as he continues to stay healthy and take the mound, he should continue to be an every week start in all fantasy formats.

Luis Castillo, Mariners, RHP (@ Twins, @ Rangers)

Castillo has once again been a solidifying force in the middle of a Mariners’ rotation that has been decimated by injuries this season. He has pitched well through his first 15 starts, registering a 3.38 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 72/28 K/BB ratio over 85 1/3 innings. Unfortunately, with the M’s offense backing him, that has only led to four victories. He gets a pair of decent matchups on the road this week and should hopefully be able to notch that elusive fifth victory while his decline in strikeout rate should be mitigated by him taking the ball twice. Castillo should be started in all leagues.

Decent Plays

Shane Smith (vs. Diamondbacks, vs. Giants)

The 25-year-old rookie right-hander has exceeded all expectations through his first 14 starts in the big leagues, compiling a stellar 2.85 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 66/30 K/BB ratio over 72 2/3 innings. He’s always going to be held back in the wins department pitching for the White Sox, but the rest of the production across the board has been stellar for fantasy purposes. The only thing keeping Smith from being a strong play this week is the matchups. The Diamondbacks have been the best team in baseball against right-handed pitching and the Giants just picked up Rafael Devers to improve their offense there as well. You can expect decent ratios and something close to double digits in strikeouts, but I would be surprised if Smith wound up winning a game this week. That still makes him an easy start in 15-teamers and I wouldn’t hesitate to use him in 12’s either if I didn’t have better alternatives.

Bailey Ober, Twins, RHP (vs. Mariners, @ Tigers)

Ober has really struggled since the calendar flipped to June, posting an 8.31 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and a 12/7 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings in his last three starts. Yikes. That has taken his season-long ERA from 3.48 to 4.54 in one fell swoop. Not ideal. There haven’t been any rumblings about any sort of injury that has been hampering him, but it’s fair for fantasy managers to be dissuaded by his performance in his last three outings. I think in 15-teamers I still trot him out there and hope that he can gain back some of those ratios that he has lost recently, but I completely understand if you want to sit this one out and see him get right before rolling him out there.

Chris Paddack, Twins, RHP (vs. Mariners, @ Tigers)

Paddack has been exceptional for most of the season, but has had two absolute garbage outings that have destroyed his season-long numbers. One of those was an eight-run, 12-hit debacle against the Astros two weeks ago. He then struggled his last time out, giving up four runs over five frames in a victory over the Reds. I’d like to think that Paddack has shown enough this season for fantasy managers to trust him for this upcoming two-start week, but some may be swayed by his recent poor performance. I’m going to keep rolling with him in 15-teamers, though I’d consider swapping him out in 12’s if I had viable alternatives.

Jack Kochanowicz, Angels, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Nationals)

While his overall numbers on the season look terrible on the surface, Kochanowicz has done some nice things recently. He has given up just two runs in each of his last two starts and racked up a season-high eight strikeouts his last time out against a tough Yankees’ offense in New York. Now he gets to come back home for a pair of starts against the Red Sox and Nationals, each of which rank in the middle of the pack against right-handed pitching this season. He also gets positive pitching matchups on the other side, taking on Walker Buehler and Mitchell Parker. If you’re trying to stream for wins and strikeouts without completely blowing up your ratios, Kochanowicz looks like a surprisingly good option for the upcoming week.

Ryan Yarbrough, Yankees, LHP (@ Reds, vs. Athletics)

The 33-year-old southpaw has excelled in whatever role the Yankees have deployed him in this season, registering a 3.90 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 49/17 K/BB ratio over 55 1/3 innings in 16 appearances (eight starts). Those numbers are skewed by one horrible outing against the Red Sox where he gave up eight runs in four frames, but Yarbrough has recovered since and pitched well each of his last two times out. A matchup against the Reds in Cincinnati isn’t ideal, but it’s also not as scary as it would have been in years past. He looks like a strong bet to challenge for a victory this week, while the strikeouts should be there based on the volume of his two starts. I’d be comfortable using him in both 15 and 12-team formats this week.

Patrick Corbin, Rangers, LHP (@ Orioles, vs. Mariners)

As long as your expectations are low and you know what you’re getting from Corbin, there’s no reason that he can’t be a viable streaming option in deeper leagues. He’s unlikely to crush your ratios, should pick up at least a couple of strikeouts and will give you a shot at a victory most nights when he takes the ball. If that’s enough for him to sound appealing to you, go ahead and take a shot.

Max Scherzer, Blue Jays, RHP (@ Guardians, @ Red Sox)

Fantasy managers who have been anxiously awaiting Scherzer’s return should finally be treated to a two-start week. Whether or not that will lead to any fantasy goodness remains to be seen. In the past, we have seen Scherzer pile up strikeouts whenever he has been able to take the mound, and I expect that to continue this week. He’s also a massive injury risk though, and it’s possible that he lasts just a couple of innings in that first start before being shut down again with his ongoing thumb injuries. It’s a high-risk, high-reward type of play, and one that I would be comfortable making if I needed to make up ground in wins and strikeouts and was searching for a potential impact arm.

At Your Own Risk

Luis Severino, Athletics, RHP (@ Tigers, @ Yankees)

Severino hasn’t pitched very well through his first 16 starts with the Athletics, going 2-7 with a 4.42 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 66/30 K/BB ratio over 95 2/3 innings. If he isn’t going to win many games and isn’t going to help out much in the strikeout department, the only reason you would want to be streaming him for a two-start week is if the matchups were in your favor. Having to go to the Tigers and to the Yankees is about the polar opposite of that. I get that he has looked good in his last two starts, but I think trying to roll him here would be playing with fire. You’d be putting your ratios at risk unnecessarily with very little payoff potential in terms of wins and strikeouts.

Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (vs. Rangers, vs. Rays)

In his first two starts for the Orioles this season, we have seen the good and the bad from Trevor Rogers. In his first start, he spun six innings of scoreless baseball with five strikeouts against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. His last time out, he couldn’t hold an 8-0 lead against the Rays in Tampa Bay and gave up three runs on five hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work. That’s what you can expect from Rogers, extreme inconsistency with no real bearing on his matchup. If you’re absolutely desperate in wins and strikeouts and don’t care to protect your ratios, you could take a swing here and hope that you come out on the right side of variance. Otherwise, I would be staying away.

Walker Buehler, Red Sox, RHP (@ Angels, vs. Blue Jays)

Walker Buehler’s first season with the Red Sox hasn’t quite gone according to plan. The 30-year-old right-hander has struggled to a 5.95 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and a 53/22 K/BB ratio over 59 innings through his first 12 starts and is coming off of a particularly rough beating in which he gave up eight runs over 3 1/3 innings against the Mariners. On paper, the matchups are actually decent, as the Angels and Jays have both struggled against right-handed pitching, the problem is that Buehler has given us no good reason to trust him. Maybe you could try it in 15-teamers if you need strikeouts and can handle the potential ratio damage, aside from that though I would steer clear.

Logan Allen, Guardians, LHP (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Cardinals)

The 26-year-old southpaw has been pretty unremarkable through his first 14 appearances (13 starts) on the season, posting a 4.21 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 50/30 K/BB ratio over 66 1/3 innings. At first glance, you may think that the Blue Jays and Cardinals don’t represent a major challenge for him, but both teams are ranked in the top 10 against opposing southpaws this season and I could see Allen struggling in both matchups. He’s already going to be a drain on your WHIP and doesn’t deliver much in the strikeout department. I’m just having a hard time seeing the upside of trying to use him as a streaming option for this two-start week. I’d stay away.

Taj Bradley, Rays, RHP (@ Royals, @ Orioles)

I’m having a very difficult time trying to find reasons to recommend Bradley this week. He has been absolutely destroyed in two of his last three outings, including a six-run disaster over 1 1/3 innings against the Orioles his last time out. The matchup against the Royals in Kansas City is intriguing, but then he’ll need to dance with the O’s again in Baltimore and that’s seemingly asking for trouble. If strikeouts are your biggest concern, you can go ahead and roll the dice. I’ll try to find myself some better options that carry less risk of impending doom.

National League

Strong Plays

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (@ White Sox, vs. Marlins)

Regardless of performance, most pitchers would rank near the top of the list with matchups against the White Sox and Marlins in the same week. It doesn’t get much better than that. While he hasn’t pitched well overall on the season, the 32-year-old southpaw has pitched well over his last three starts, registering a 2.81 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 12/4 K/BB ratio across 16 innings of work. He should be started in 100% of leagues without question and is someone that I would be looking to actively acquire and stream in shallower formats where he may still be hanging around on the waiver wire.

Spencer Schwellenbach, Braves, RHP (@ Mets, vs. Phillies)

The only place that Schwellenbach has struggled his season is in the wins department, with only five victories through his first 15 starts. The rest of his numbers have been outstanding, with a 3.26 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 92/16 K/BB ratio across 96 2/3 innings of work. He should be treated as an automatic start every week for fantasy managers, especially when he’s toeing the slab twice. I get that it’s two tough matchups against divisional opponents, but there’s no reason that you should ever consider benching Schwellenbach in this spot. Fire away.

Chris Sale, Braves, LHP (@ Mets, vs. Phillies)

The 36-year-old southpaw has done nothing but dominant since putting on a Braves’ unform and that has continued through his first 15 starts this season – registering a minuscule 2.52 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 114/26 K/BB ratio over his first 89 1/3 innings. Like teammate Spencer Schwellenbach above, I get that the Mets and Phillies aren’t the best possible matchups, but they aren’t any legitimate reason to try to get cute and sit one of the best pitchers in baseball for a two-start week. He should be started with full confidence for the upcoming week.

Chad Patrick, Brewers, RHP (vs. Pirates, vs. Rockies)

This one probably takes a leap of faith to consider Patrick as a strong option for the upcoming week, but just hear me out here. He was supposed to line up for two starts this week, but a rainout on Wednesday cost him his second start. Fantasy managers will gladly take that though, as he now lines up for one of the best possible two-steps that we can get – battling the Pirates and the Rockies and drawing both starts at home. While he has struggled in each of his last two starts, he still owns a solid 3.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 76/26 K/BB ratio over 79 2/3 innings on the season. The K’s should be there, even if the results aren’t, as Patrick has punched out five or more batters in each of his last six starts. He looks like a strong bet to post double-digit strikeouts on the week with a good shot at snagging a victory in one of those starts as well while presenting minimal ratio risk. He checks every box to be considered a strong start and should be started in all formats regardless of size this week.

Clay Holmes, Mets, RHP (vs. Braves, @ Pirates)

While Mets’ fans have been frustrated with Holmes at times this season, the right-hander has been terrific in his move to the team’s starting rotation this season – compiling a 3.04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 73/31 K/BB ratio over 83 innings. He has given up four earned runs or fewer in each of his 15 starts on the season and has allowed more than three runs only twice. That type of consistency makes a blowup unlikely in that first matchup against the Braves and he gets to finish the week with a terrific matchup against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Holmes makes for a strong option in all formats.

Ranger Suárez, Phillies, LHP (@ Astros, @ Braves)

We have seen Suárez revert back to full domination mode through his first nine starts this season, going 6-1 with a scintillating 2.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 52/14 K/BB ratio over 57 1/3 innings. I get that the Astros have been the best offense in baseball against left-handed pitching this season, but with as well as Suárez is throwing the ball at the moment, he should be an automatic start in all fantasy leagues each and every week – especially when he's lined up to pitch twice. Don’t let the opponent scare you away, make sure to get him in your lineups next week.

Decent Plays

Justin Verlander, Giants, RHP (vs. Marlins, @ White Sox)

If you know anything about me, you know how badly I wanted to move Verlander up here to the strong plays section. Through some fault of his own, and some fault of the Giants’ bullpen, the 42-year-old hurler is winless through his first 11 starts with the Giants. He looked sharp in his return from the injured list though, racking up six strikeouts while allowing three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Guardians. He now lines up for the dream two-step, getting to battle the weak offenses of the Marlins and the White Sox in the same week. If you have him rostered, you have to start him for these two starts, as the situation will never line up better for him. If he can’t excel here and can’t pick up a victory against these opponents, then his chances of salvaging any fantasy value this season are likely finished. Use him in all leagues this week.

Jameson Taillon, Cubs, RHP (@ Cardinals, @ Astros)

For the most part, Taillon has been the model of consistency for the Cubs this season. He has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his first 15 starts and holds a solid 3.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 67/17 K/BB ratio over 86 2/3 innings on the season. It’s impressive that he has kept the ratios in line while surrendering a National League-leading 18 home runs. The matchups play in his favor this week and his limitations in strikeouts are alleviated with the volume of pitching twice. I think he makes for a solid option in both 12 and 15-team leagues.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (vs. Yankees, vs. Padres)

Lodolo has done a nice job through his first 15 starts on the season, registering a 3.71 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 74/18 K/BB ratio over his first 85 frames. He has had two disaster outings against the Nationals and Guardians where he gave up six runs in each, but aside from that he has been a major mixed league asset this season. The only pause I have this week is the matchups. The Yankees have been the second best offense in baseball against southpaws this season, though they have struggled of late. If he can get through that first start without issue, the table is set for him to have a very strong week. I’d start him in 15-teamers without hesitation and would probably roll him out there in most 12’s as well.

Cal Quantrill, Marlins, RHP (@ Giants, @ Diamondbacks)

We thought that we would be getting two starts from Quantrill this past week, but after a hamstring issue forced him out of his first start in the fifth inning, he got pushed back an extra day and here we are again. The 30-year-old hurler has quietly allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts, posting a 3.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 32/9 K/BB ratio over 36 2/3 innings during that stretch. Is that elite production? Obviously not. But it can be useable in 15 team leagues, especially during weeks in which he pitches twice. The Diamondbacks murder right-handed pitching, so that matchup to finish the week is a bit terrifying, though I’m fine with the first start against the Giants in San Francisco. It all comes down to risk tolerance and how badly you need the extra starts. I could see myself using Quantrill once again in 15-teamers for the upcoming week.

Stephen Kolek, Padres, RHP (vs. Nationals, @ Reds)

Kolek has done a surprisingly nice job through his first nine starts with the Padres this season, posting a 3.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 37/19 K/BB ratio across 52 2/3 innings of work. Strikeouts have never been his game, but that issue is muted by the volume he’ll get from starting twice during the upcoming week. He’s a threat to earn a victory every time he takes the mound with the Padres’ offense backing him, which makes him a viable streaming option in deeper leagues.

Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals, LHP (vs. Cubs, @ Guardians)

Matthew Liberatore has impressed through his first 14 starts with the Cardinals this season, posting a 4.08 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 66/11 K/BB ratio across 79 1/3 innings. After a couple of brutal outings to start the month of June, he bounced back nicely with a strong start in a victory over the White Sox his last time out. The matchup against the Cubs to start the week isn’t ideal, but at least it’s at home instead of at Wrigley Field. No one should be scared of streaming left-handers against the Guardians, even with Davd Fry added to their lineup. Liberatore looks like a good start in 15-team leagues and I’d be fine rolling him out there in 12’s as well if I struggled to find viable alternatives.

Erick Fedde, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Cubs, @ Guardians)

It continues to astound me that Fedde doesn’t get more love from fantasy managers, especially in weeks where he’s lined up to pitch twice. He has pitched to a respectable 3.54 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 84 innings through his first 15 starts, and while his strikeout rate is obviously low, he can get there with volume over two starts on any given week. The one place he has been lacking is wins – with just three on the season despite him routinely working deep into ballgames. If you’re looking for viable arms to stream that are readily available on the waiver wire most weeks, look no further.

At Your Own Risk

Mitchell Parker, Nationals, LHP (@ Padres, @ Angels)

While his overall line on the season looks rough on the surface, it really doesn't reflect just how poorly Parker has pitched following his strong start to the season. Over his last 10 starts, he holds a cringe-inducing 6.75 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and a 38/20 K/BB ratio over 48 innings. While there are a couple of good starts mixed in there, there's no real need to take the risk with this two-step, especially with a tough battle against the Padres in San Diego to kick it off.

Ben Brown, Cubs, RHP (@ Cardinals, @ Astros)

While Brown has flashed his tantalizing upside at times this season, he has mixed in too many disasters to be trusted on most weeks. Overall, he sports a troublesome 5.57 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and an 88/25 K/BB ratio over 74 1/3 innings in his first 15 appearances (13 starts). The matchups aren’t terrible, as the Cardinals’ offense has been coming back to earth following their hot start to the season and the Astros have had a tough time with right-handers with Yordan Alvarez sidelined. With his strikeout upside, if you squint hard enough, you can make a case for him being a decent option in 15-team formats. I’d still stay away in 12’s though.

Germán Márquez, Rockies, RHP (vs. Dodgers, @ Brewers)

While he turns in the occasional strong start when fantasy managers least expect it, I simply can’t recommend Márquez for a two-start week that includes a matchup against the Dodgers at Coors Field. I just can’t do it. That’s not even taking into account his horrifying 6.11 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 50/24 K/BB ratio over 73 2/3 innings on the season. Just say no.

Paul Blackburn, Mets, RHP (vs. Braves, @ Pirates)

The injuries to Kodai Senga and Tylor Megil have opened the door for Blackburn to gain some stability in the Mets’ rotation, but so far the 31-year-old right-hander has been unable to take advantage. He sports a miserable 6.92 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and an 8/4 K/BB ratio across 13 innings through his first four appearances (two starts) on the season and was hit especially hard by the Braves his last time out. Unfortunately, it’s those same Braves that he’ll tangle with to open this week before finishing with a softer matchup against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. While Blackburn could have success here, we haven’t seen anything this season to suggest it and he has hasn’t thrown more than 77 pitches in any start with the Mets this season. I’d pass on this one.

Streamer City

Here are a couple of my hand-picked streaming options for the upcoming week that are readily available in most fantasy leagues. I’ll track these results throughout the season so you can see how my recommendations have performed.

American League

Charlie Morton, Orioles, RHP (vs. Rangers - Tuesday 6/24)

The Rangers have been a fun target to attack with right-handed pitchers recently and Morton has been dominant in each of his last two starts, allowing just one run over his last 11 frames with a stellar 17/1 K/BB ratio. Look for him to continue that dominance in a strong matchup against Jake Latz and the Rangers on Tuesday.

National League

Ryne Nelson, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. White Sox - Tuesday 6/24)

Nelson has pitched very well this season for the Diamondbacks, registering a 3.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 45/18 K/BB ratio over his first 55 2/3 innings. He gets a dream matchup this week getting to battle the White Sox at home, opposite Sean Burke. Look for him to continue putting up strong ratios with five strikeouts and a chance at a victory. Not bad for someone that's rostered in just five percent of all Yahoo leagues at the moment.

Last Week's Review

Patrick Corbin, Rangers, LHP (vs. Royals - Thursday 6/19)

Despite the strong matchup, Corbin let us down in this spot, giving up four runs on six hits over five innings in a losing effort against the Royals. He struck out four in the ballgame while issuing a pair of walks. Simply not what we were looking for. My apologies.

Erick Fedde, Cardinals, RHP (@ White Sox - Thursday 6/19)

Fedde pitched well in a no-decision against the White Sox, giving up just one run on six hits over his five frames while striking out four. While we'll certainly take that, the reason we streamed him was trying to hunt a victory and he came up empty there.

While Dodgers wait to speak, Jaime Jarrín, Kiké Hernández and others support immigrants

Dodgers Spanish language radio broadcaster Jarrin calls a game at Dodger Stadium.
Former Dodgers Spanish language radio broadcaster Jarrín has spoken out in support of immigrants and those protesting ICE raids in Southern California. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Amid the Dodgers' silence about federal immigration raids in Southern California, a familiar voice that has comforted immigrants for years emerged.

Jaime Jarrín, the former Spanish-language voice of the Dodgers who captivated thousands of fans for decades and served as Fernando Valenzuela's translator during Fernandomania, posted a message on his Instagram account about the raids and protests in a city he adopted as his own in 1958.

“As an immigrant who came to this country 70 years ago, I know firsthand the hope, courage and determination it takes to build a new life in a new land,” Jarrín posted Tuesday. “I have always believed that immigration is not just part of the American story; it is the American story."

“Los Angeles is my home,” Jarrín added in his Instagram post. "This city is my family. And it breaks my heart to see the growing division in our community and across the country. We all deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and humanity."

Former Dodgers Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín shows a ball to the crowd while standing on the field.
Former Dodgers Spanish language broadcaster Jaime Jarrín posted a message in support of immigrants and protestors following to weeks of ICE raids. (Fernando Llano / Associated Press)

The message from the Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and Dodgers ambassador was celebrated while critics grew more vocal opposing the team's silence following ICE raids and protests in the Los Angeles area the past two weeks. A Dodgers spokesman said the team would announce plans to aid immigrants on Thursday, but it delayed the announcement after turning away federal agents who tried to use the team parking lot after conducting raids at the Hollywood Home Depot and surrounding areas.

Jarrín is originally from Quito, Ecuador, and his first job in this country was in a factory in East Los Angeles. Over time, Jarrín became the sports director for KWKW and a Dodgers broadcaster for more than six decades. Jarrín worked alongside Valenzuela when he was a rookie in Major League Baseball in 1981, serving as his translator during Fernandomania in the 1980s. They later shared microphones in the radio booth broadcasting Dodger games in Spanish.

"In the face of the injustices and suffering we have witnessed, I am deeply proud of the thousands who have peacefully taken to the streets; raising their voices, refusing to be silenced. Their courage matters. Your presence matters. Do not be afraid. Stand strong. Stay present. Let your voice be heard," added Jarrín.

Read more:Hernández: What did bowing to Donald Trump get the Dodgers? A visit from federal agents

President Donald Trump's massive deportation orders have affected the professional sports atmosphere in Los Angeles. The games typically draw Latinos and immigrants from a wide range of countries. Tournaments such as the Gold Cup and the Club World Cup lost fans as some stayed away from stadiums because they feared potential raids or preferred to show solidarity with the demonstrations.

Of Los Angeles' 12 professional sports teams, as of Friday morning, only two have issued public statements about the raids. Angel City FC and LAFC have shown their support for the community since the protests began, while the Dodgers and Galaxy, with a heavily Latino and immigrant fan bases, have remained silent.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has responded to some questions from reporters, but he has limited his remarks to saying he understood that the community is “heartbroken” and said the situation was somewhat “unsettling for everyone."

Fan favorite Kiké Hernández took to his social networks to say he was “sad and enraged” at how immigrants were treated, noting the city of Los Angeles had opened its arms to him.

Read more:Community leaders petition Dodgers 'to take a public stand' against ICE raids in L.A.

The Puerto Rican player, who helped the Dodgers win the World Series last season, wrote: "Maybe I wasn't born and raised here, but this city adopted me as if I was one of them. I am too sad and infuriated with everything that is going on in the country and in our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have opened their arms to me, supported me and shown me a lot of kindness and most of all a lot of LOVE! This is my second home," posted Hernandez, who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and is in his second stint with the Dodgers after playing in L.A. from 2015-20 and returning from 2023 to the present.

"I cannot tolerate watching our community continue to be violated, attacked, abused and separated. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and their human rights. I stand with you!!! #CiudadDeImigrantes," the Dodger wrote on Sunday, using a hashtag referring to L.A. as a city of immigrants in Spanish.

Meanwhile, Maria Valenzuela, the daughter of legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, spoke out against the ICE raids.

"I am a proud daughter of immigrant parents. They came to this country with dreams bigger than borders. My mother followed her heart, and my father not only pitched for the Dodgers, but for all immigrants who believed they belonged in this country," Maria Valenzuela posted on Instagram. "He helped shape a city and inspired generations of Mexicans to dream big. Behind the fame was the same immigrant story: sacrifice, struggle and endless work for a better future."

This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

What Rafael Devers told John Henry during meeting in Kansas City

What Rafael Devers told John Henry during meeting in Kansas City originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

On May 9, Boston Red Sox owner John Henry traveled to Kansas City to settle a contentious situation with his $313.5 million slugger, Rafael Devers. Just over a month later, Devers was shipped to the San Francisco Giants in a shocking trade.

Henry flew to Kansas City because Devers called out chief baseball officer Craig Breslow the previous day for asking him to replace the injured Triston Casas at first base. Despite Breslow and manager Alex Cora calling the session “productive,” Devers still wouldn’t acquiesce. As Breslow and team CEO/president Sam Kennedy put it, Devers and the Red Sox couldn’t “find alignment” on what was best for the organization, resulting in the homegrown star’s departure.

So, why couldn’t Devers and the Red Sox find common ground during the meeting with Henry?

 “They wanted me to play first base” Devers said, according to Pete Abraham, of The Boston Globe. “I told [Henry] they eventually, yes. I could play first base but maybe next year. It was not my fault that players get hurt. I felt like if another player got hurt, they would move me again.”

Devers had already reluctantly moved from third base to designated hitter following the club’s offseason acquisition of All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman. The 28-year-old grew frustrated with what he deemed poor communication from the front office, and he gradually became more disconnected from the team that signed him as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic.

“As a trade was being discussed, Devers steadily withdrew from the day-to-day culture of the Red Sox, typically arriving at the ballpark just before the start of team activities for the day,” Abraham wrote. “Devers would dress while keeping his AirPods in, a silent message that he wasn’t interested in speaking to anybody. Once the game ended, he would dress quickly and leave.”

Devers’ attitude flipped upon his arrival in San Francisco. During his introductory Giants press conference, Devers said he would be open to playing anywhere he’s asked to play, including first base. In fact, he has already worked out at first base multiple times in preparation to play the position for his new club.

While it would’ve been poetic for Devers to play first base against his former team, that won’t happen when the Red Sox begin their three-game series in San Francisco on Friday night.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen this weekend,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told KNBR’s “Murph and Markus”. “We haven’t gotten there. … It’s going to take a little bit more time than having him at first base during the Red Sox series.”

First pitch for Friday’s much-anticipated matchup at Oracle Park is set for 10:15 p.m. ET.

Scouts and analysts on struggling Francisco Alvarez and what's next: 'He's still got time'

Francisco Alvarez’s rather puzzling failure to live up to predictions of stardom seemingly has reached the crisis stage.

After a recent stretch of futility, his seventh-inning at-bat against the Braves in Atlanta on Thursday night, in fact, looked like something of a rock-bottom moment for the Mets’ struggling young catcher. 

Alvarez struck out for the second time in the game, but it was the way he did it that was especially alarming. First losing his grip on the bat and sending it flying when he was fooled badly on a slider. And then, after fouling off a couple of very hittable fastballs, chasing another heater above the strike zone for the K.

“It felt like a low point for him,” was the way one major league scout put it Friday, speaking of that at-bat. “He’s not squaring up pitches he should hammer and he’s chasing pitches he should take. He looks completely lost.

“I like the way he plays the game. So in one sense I hate to say it, but I think he’s in his own head so much that the Mets need to try something drastic and send him down [to the minors]. Give him a chance to figure some things out away from the spotlight."

The scout’s suggestion is not an outlier at this point. On social media, it actually seems to be the prevailing opinion, which isn’t stunning -- Alvarez’s poor play still resonates as somewhat remarkable, considering how beloved he was by Mets fans as the can’t-miss kid, the high-energy, power-hitting catcher of their dreams. 

Such was the hype for Alvarez just a couple of years ago. For example: In the spring of 2023, The Athletic’s prospect analyst, Keith Law, went so far as to write, "He could be as mobile as a statue and still be an above-average regular for a catcher with -- dare I say it -- a Mike Piazza-like upside if his bat keeps improving."

That same spring, MLB Pipeline ranked Alvarez as the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, behind only Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll. And such projections looked on-point when Alvarez hit 25 home runs in 123 games his rookie season.

Yet here he is, two years later, hitting .229 as of Friday with a shockingly low .305 slugging percentage, with two home runs in 34 games since returning from a broken hamate bone in his hand -- and just one home run since April 26. This after hitting only 11 homers in 100 games in 2024, missing time due to a torn thumb ligament. 

So, what’s happened to his power? Is it the injuries? Is it his relative youth, at age 23? Or is it due more to his largely undisciplined approach at the plate that major league pitchers have exploited since his rookie year?

Law thinks it’s a combination of all of that, and still believes there’s a good chance Alvarez reaches the ceiling he once predicted for him.

“When you look at some of the numbers, he’s hitting the ball as hard as he ever has,” Law said. “He’s just not doing it consistently. Pitchers are attacking him on the outer third of the plate and he’s having trouble laying off them.

“He’s going to have to make the adjustment and he’s still young, especially when you factor in those two injuries to his hands. But it’s also a fact that some guys never make the adjustment in terms of pitch recognition at the big league level, so that remains to be seen. Also sometimes, it just takes longer for young catchers because of their defensive responsibilities.

New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) talks to catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) against the Atlanta Braves after the first inning at Truist Park
New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) talks to catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) against the Atlanta Braves after the first inning at Truist Park / Brett Davis - Imagn Images

“I certainly wouldn’t give up on Alvarez and I don’t think sending him to the minors and facing Triple-A pitching would really accomplish anything, unless the Mets believe he simply needs a mental break. In that case, maybe it would help him get a reset.”

So, opinions differ, obviously, on how to fix Alvarez. And in a sense, the biggest question may be whether his problems are more mental than mechanical.

Todd Zeile, SNY's analyst for the Mets' pregame and postgame shows, thinks the mental could be causing the mechanical, due to the sky-high expectations that have hovered over Alvarez since his days as that uber-prospect.

“I think he wants so badly to be that guy that everybody said he was,” Zeile said by phone recently. “And that’s made it hard for him.”

Zeile’s perspective is unique. He too broke into the big leagues as a catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, before eventually transitioning to third base. He was sent down to the minors in his third year there, due to offensive struggles, and it proved to be exactly what he needed, returning in three weeks and going on to have a 16-year career.

And, finally, Zeile has seen nearly all of Alvarez’s at-bats in the majors. When I spoke to him, he prefaced his thoughts by saying he’s a big fan of Alvarez, noting how hard the young catcher has worked to improve defensively and how much he invests himself in game plans and pitch-calling to do right by his pitchers and his ballclub.

“He really cares,” Zeile said. “I think that’s what everybody loves about him.”

Yet, Zeile was also candid in expressing concerns about Alvarez’s diminishing returns with the bat, starting with being affected by the prospect hype.

“I think the expectations of being such a huge power-hitting prospect have ended up hurting him,” Zeile said. “It’s hard to say exactly why the power hasn’t been there, but at some point he began searching for the power, rather than just trying to hit the ball hard and let it come organically.

“Trying to create power is a recipe for a lot of frustration at this level because it leads to a poor approach.”

Zeile breaks it down into different stages. He said when the power wasn’t there after the thumb injury in 2024, Alvarez first began trying to force the issue.

“He tried to pull more,” Zeile recalled. “In doing so, he created holes in his swing because he was trying to get the ball out front, and he started pulling off the baseball. That made him more vulnerable to offspeed stuff, breaking balls on the outer part of the plate.

“Occasionally he’d still hit one 450 feet and you’d say, ‘OK, the power is still there, why isn’t he doing it more consistently?’ It was because pitchers recognized that he was selling out on the pull side, and they weren’t throwing those middle-in fastballs, or rarely, anyway. They exposed those holes in his swing.

May 26, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) singles during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
May 26, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) singles during the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

“This year he tried to make adjustments to hit the ball the other way, but I think he got to the point where again, he was frustrated by the lack of power. And so at times, he goes back to trying to create a launch angle, which has led to some wild swings and made him vulnerable to chasing.

“The other night in Atlanta, he swung at a pitch and almost fell down going away from the plate. That was telling to me. If you lose balance in any direction, it should be toward home plate if you’re staying on the ball. So to see him fall away, that’s where it becomes obvious that he’s still so pull-conscious.”

Two scouts, including the one quoted earlier, offered similar observations.

“Chasing power could be the root of his problems,” said one scout. “It looks like it sometimes. But at some point you also have to ask if he just has a hard time recognizing spin, and that leads to chasing and looking bad. Even going back to his rookie year, pitchers stopped challenging him as much with the fastball in the second half and he struggled.”

The numbers back that up. In the second half of 2023, Alvarez hit just .174 with a .343 slugging percentage and only eight home runs. That after slugging .514 with 17 homers in the first half.

“He really hasn’t looked like that guy since the first half of his rookie year,” said the scout. “But I also wouldn’t discount the injuries being a factor in his development. He needs more time before anyone can judge him with any real certainty.”

As for the question of whether sending him down to the minors is worthwhile, Zeile draws on his experience in seeing the possibility that it could help Alvarez.

“I was ticked off when I was sent down but I went down for 21 days and raked,” Zeile recalls. “Part of that was working with my old minor league hitting coach and getting back to my old swing, after guys at the big league level had been trying to change my swing.

“That’s where it could be valuable for Alvarez -- get out of the fishbowl for a minute, get your confidence back without the scrutiny at that level. It worked for me. But everybody reacts differently to something like that.”

Finally, touching on Zeile’s experience, it’s hard to know if Alvarez has been affected at all by any changes the organization has tried to make with his swing or approach. But Law does add that factor into the equation.

“With the Mets, you’re not seeing the development with some of their young hitters,” Law said. “[Brett] Baty is an example for me. If Alvarez were a Dodger, for example, you might be seeing a different result because I think they do a really good job of developing guys as far as swing decisions and plate discipline.

“I’m not saying it’s on the organization. Sometimes it’s just the player. One thing for sure is the power is very real with Alvarez. It’s just a matter of whether he can get to a place where that power plays for him in a big way. He’s still got time.”

At this point, however, with Luis Torrens looming as perhaps a better option to be the No. 1 catcher right now, the more pressing question is how much time the Mets are willing to give Alvarez.

Community leaders petition Dodgers 'to take a public stand' against ICE raids in L.A.

Federal agents stage outside Gate E of Dodger Stadium
Federal agents stage outside Gate E of Dodger Stadium on Thursday. (Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

More than 50 community and religious leaders from around Los Angeles signed a petition Friday that called on the Dodgers “to take a public stand against the indiscriminate ICE raids which are causing immense terror in our communities, hurting businesses, and separating families.”

“This is the moment for the Dodgers to stand with the families whom masked agents are tearing apart,” read the letter, which was signed by religious officials, labor leaders and immigrant-rights activists, and addressed to Dodgers owner Mark Walter.

“If these truly are OUR beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, we need you, more than ever, to stand with us, immigrants and non-immigrants alike. Stand with all of us.”

The petition, which was organized by faith-based community organizing network PICO California, came a day after the Dodgers postponed what was scheduled to be their first public comment regarding the immigration raids that have swept through the city over the last two weeks.

Read more:Hernández: What did bowing to Donald Trump get the Dodgers? A visit from federal agents

On Thursday, the club had been preparing to announce their plans for assistance to immigrant communities affected by the recent events in the city, a team spokesperson told The Times this week.

But then, federal immigration agents showed up at Dodger Stadium on Thursday morning, attempting to access the ballpark’s parking lots in an apparent effort to use them as a processing site for people who had been arrested in a nearby immigration raid.

The Dodgers denied the agents entry to the grounds, according to the team, but the resulting fallout prompted their planned announcement to be delayed.

“Because of the events earlier today, we continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,” team president Stan Kasten said. “But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details. We’ll get back to you soon with the timing.”

Friday’s petition implored the club to not wait any longer, asking the team to:

  • Issue a public statement affirming that families are sacred, and that the ICE raids must stop
  • Stand with and support community organizations that are welcoming, protecting, and integrating immigrants into the fabric of our great region
  • As when you asked ICE to leave the property yesterday, continue to ensure that no Dodgers’ property or assets will be used to aid or abet immigration enforcement operations

A news release announcing the letter also promoted a public petition campaign for fans to sign.

Many of the signatories of Friday’s petition were local church leaders, including the bishops of the Methodist California-Pacific Conference and Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

“For generations, Angelenos have prayed their Dodgers on through good times and bad,” John Harvey Taylor, the Episcopal bishop, said in a statement. “Dodgers security were champions this weekend. We pray that the Dodgers will stand with their fans, and their friends and family, who are at risk from these cruel workplace raids.”

The petition was also signed by representatives from more than 20 community advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and National Day Laborer Organizing Network; as well as labor leaders from local teacher unions and the Service Employees International Union, among others.

“We love the Dodgers not only because they are champions, but even more because they are the team of Jackie Robinson, of Fernando Valenzuela, of Kiké Hernandez — baseball players who have helped bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice,” Joseph Tomás McKellar, executive director of the PICO California organization that organized the petition, said in a statement. “This is a moment when the Dodgers, a beloved family and cultural institution for 67 years, can take a moral stand and make an impact on the lives of vulnerable families in our region. Families are sacred.”

The Dodgers — which, the petition notes, has a roughly 40% Latino fan base — had been under increased public pressure in recent days to address the immigration raids happening around the city.

Last weekend, they received backlash when singer and social media personality Nezza performed a Spanish-language version of the national anthem at a game, in an act of protest against the raids, despite being asked by a club employee to sing it in English. Stadium security officials have also been seen cracking down on anti-ICE signage that some fans have tried to display around the ballpark recently. And this week, some fans on social media began to call for a protest against the team on Saturday.

The Dodgers are still expected to unveil their plans to assist local immigrant communities in the near future. If not for Thursday’s unexpected encounter with federal immigration agents, it might have already happened by now.

But instead, they have yet to break their silence on the issue.

And on Friday, community leaders turned up the public pressure to do so.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Giants' Rafael Devers admits he's ‘happy, relaxed' after trade from Red Sox

Giants' Rafael Devers admits he's ‘happy, relaxed' after trade from Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — When a few Boston questions were mixed in during Tuesday’s press conference at Oracle Park, Rafael Devers deflected them, saying he didn’t want to talk about the past. At one point, Buster Posey smiled and said he liked the way his new superstar answers questions

Posey really, really would have liked the way Devers handled his second large media availability of the week.

About two dozen reporters and six cameras — many of them from Boston — descended on the dugout Friday so Devers could offer answers to Red Sox reporters and his former fan base. He spoke for more than 10 minutes, and nearly every answer was some variation of “I don’t want to talk about the past, I’m focused on the future.” But when asked about his future in San Francisco, Devers lit up.

Devers was asked if he could remember the last time he had been this happy, and his answer surely pleased Posey and the Giants. 

“It’s been a long time,” he said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I don’t know how to explain it. Yes, I feel happy. I feel relaxed now.”

If all goes according to plan, that’ll be the last time Devers has to address a week that stunned Major League Baseball. He’s clearly ready to move on, but the timing of this weekend’s series — less than a week after the blockbuster deal — led to an interesting situation. He said he spent Thursday catching up with some former teammates after the Red Sox arrived from their series in Seattle, and on Friday, he spoke to reporters who once thought they might be covering him for the next eight and a half seasons. 

Devers did not offer a lot of answers to the questions that persist across the country, although he did say that had the Red Sox asked him to play first base during the spring — instead of after Triston Casas got hurt in-season — he would have agreed. Asked for further details, he said all of that was in the past. 

Devers said he did plan to catch up with former manager Alex Cora, although they haven’t spoken since the trade. If Cora watches closely this weekend, he’ll see Devers taking grounders at first during batting practice, something he refused to do for Cora and the Red Sox. 

The Giants will continue to get Devers work there all weekend after two days of grounders earlier this week. He said he’s not ready to play first base against his former team, though. Devers isn’t sure when he’ll be ready for a new position, but he promised to inform his new manager, Bob Melvin, as soon as he feels comfortable. 

In the meantime, the Giants will continue to start Devers at DH. He reiterated Friday that he’ll do anything his new bosses want, and said he’s confident that better days are ahead. The Giants scored just six runs in their first three games with Devers in the lineup, but he said he’s excited about the future. 

“There’s a reason they brought me here,” he said. “Our offense is going to hit.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

White Sox at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for June 20

It's Friday, June 20 and the White Sox (23-52) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (40-34). Davis Martin is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Spencer Turnbull for Toronto.

Chicago has lost eight straight games and are 1-9 over the last 10 games after being swept in two straight series. Toronto took the series against Arizona, 2-1, but are 2-4 over the previous six games. This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch White Sox at Blue Jays

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, Sportsnet

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the White Sox at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+171), Blue Jays (-207)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Davis Martin vs. Spencer Turnbull
    • White Sox: Davis Martin, (2-7, 3.79 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Blue Jays: Spencer Turnbull, (1-0, 2.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the White Sox and the Blue Jays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the White Sox and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of White Sox at Blue Jays

  • The Blue Jays are 8-2 in their last 10 home games
  • The Blue Jays' last 4 games have gone over the Total
  • The Blue Jays have covered in their last 4 games against the White Sox

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Braves at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 20

It's Friday, June 20 and the Braves (34-39) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (29-44). Didier Fuentes is slated to take the mound for Atlanta in his MLB debut against Janson Junk for Miami.

The Marlins are 1-3 over the last four games and are 4-4 in the previous eight outings, while the Braves enter on a three-game winning streak and 6-1 over the past seven games (4-plus runs scored in all six runs).

These two teams split the first series earlier in the year 1-1 with another contest being postponed.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Braves at Marlins

  • Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: LoanDepot Park
  • City: Miami, FL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, FDSNFL

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Braves at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (-143), Marlins (+120)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Marlins

  • Pitching matchup for June 20, 2025: Didier Fuentes vs. Janson Junk
    • Braves: Didier Fuentes, (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
    • Fuentes is making his MLB debut
    • Marlins: Janson Junk, (1-0, 2.78 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Braves and the Marlins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Braves and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Braves at Marlins

  • The Braves are 34-39 this season but they've won 7 of their last 9 games
  • 5 of the Marlins' last 6 matchups against NL East teams have gone under the Total
  • Miami is 2-3 on the ML when Janson Junk pitches this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)