“Good to get him back in the lineup,” interim manager Andy Green said Saturday. “He’s worked incredibly hard over the last few weeks; he’s done a lot of it behind the scenes… he’s pushed himself in a way you don’t, frankly, see a lot of veterans push themselves when your team is in this type of situation we’re in.
“I think that speaks volumes to his desire to be on the field, to his desire to play.”
Soto has been on the shelf since late July when he sustained a left calf strain, the second time a calf ailment has sent him to the sidelines this year. He will make his return from the IL without making any rehab appearances and go right into the lineup Saturday as the DH and batting second.
As far as Soto’s workload, Green said there is an element that remains day-to-day, which he said explains the club being “cryptic” around a return date.
“We’ll check him daily; that will be part of the process,” the skipper said. “If he needs a day, he will get a day. There will be some days [off] scheduled at the outset that we do have… It’s just day-by-day, and if he’s feeling great and things look good, then there’s no manager in the world that doesn’t want to pencil him into the two-hole every day.”
Adding later: “Excited to get your best players back on the field.”
And that was a real shame for Soto and the Mets, as the slugger was in the middle of a fantastic year in the batter's box. In 84 games, Soto had 21 home runs and 52 RBI with a .283/.408/.539 slash line for a .947 OPS (164 OPS+ and 158 wRC+) and was named an NL All-Star starter.
Soto missed a bit over two weeks in early April (that time in the right calf) before he sustained a Grade 2 strain in the left calf during a game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 24.
In a corresponding move, infielder Eric Wagaman has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres reacts after hitting a single in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 28, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was a tough one to watch. The San Diego Padres gave up nine runs in their series opener versus the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s a crucial stretch for the Friars, where every win matters as the Arizona Diamondbacks attempt to claw their way into the postseason. The Padres own the final Wild Card spot for the time being, but several teams are knocking on the door.
San Diego will need to, at bare minimum, force the rubber match in today’s game if they hope to stay a step ahead of the remaining National League contenders. The Friars knew that Tampa Bay would be a tough opponent, but last night’s series opener was an indication of just how difficult the Rays are to beat.
Taking the mound
Nick Martinez (TB) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
The former Padre has been putting up ridiculous numbers this season. Through 25 games, Martinez has a 13-4 record and a 2.93 ERA. That has been an unprecedented level of success for the veteran pitcher. Martinez went to Tampa Bay on a throwaway, one-year contract. That has turned out quite well for the Rays.
Martinez spent two seasons in San Diego (2022-23). At the time, they were the two best seasons in his career with a combined 3.30 ERA. Martinez left the Friars for the Cincinnati Reds before turning in one of the best seasons of his career in Tampa Bay this year.
On the other side of the mound, Buehler has been one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball for San Diego. That’s not inherently due to an otherworldly performance, but his availability with the Friars has been an anchor in their injury-plagued rotation.
That being said, the numbers aren’t awful. Buehler owns a 4.63 ERA through 126 1/3 innings pitched. Those are incredibly modest numbers for the valuable season that Buehler has had. Earlier this year, Buehler gave up a whopping 20 runs across just 11 innings. Without that blip, his ERA goes down to a much more respectable 3.51 mark.
Batter up!
The lineup was surprisingly potent, scoring four runs against Tampa Bay’s pitching staff. All of those runs came in the fifth and sixth innings, with the Friars scoring in a bases-loaded opportunity alongside of a Jackson Merrill home run. The San Diego pitching staff was the reason for this loss, though four runs isn’t exactly something to write home about either.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Luis Campusano, C
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, DH
Luis Rengifo, LF
Merrill continued his torrid streak in the second half, hitting his 22nd home run of the season in last night’s contest. It’s been a bit of a two-faced performance from the center fielder, but he’s been better as of late, going 4-for-6 in his last two games.
Relief corps
Casey Mize, despite struggling to pitch through five innings, performed better than it seems. Yes, Mize gave up seven runs, but only two of them were earned. The Padres were throwing the ball all over the field for the entirety of the Rays’ five-run fourth inning. That forced Mize to work around the errors (though he himself was the cause of one).
Mize making it through five allowed the Padres’ bullpen to be somewhat untarnished. Only recent returner David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Griffin Canning were used. Canning was the only one to pitch a scoreless outing of the trio. That will leave Kyle Hart, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez available for tonight’s game.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 26: Héctor Rodríguez #43 of the Cincinnati Reds round the bases after he hit a home run against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning at Oracle Park on August 26, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds smashed and bashed their way past the Chicago Cubs during Friday’s series opener in Wrigley, taking home an impressive 10-8 victory that may or may not have included them nearly giving the game away late.
Tyler Stephenson smashed a huge 3-run homer. Sal Stewart, Jose Trevino, and even TJ Friedl homered, too, and youngster Hector Rodriguez chipped in with another multi-hit game (with a walk).
Hector, in particular, was a player that stood out. After smashing a pair of homers in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants earlier in the week while batting leadoff, he was dropped to the #9 hole on Friday due to the start of a southpaw by the Cubs. Undeterred, he smashed an RBI-single off lefty David Peterson in the Top of the 4th and finished the game 2 for 3 with a walk, ribbie, and pair of runs scored.
Hector’s on a heater, and manager Terry Francona knows it.
The Reds rookie outfielder is back in the leadoff spot for Saturday’s matinee against the Cubs, playing RF behind starter Andrew Abbott as Cincinnati looks to take the series off their NL Central rivals.
First pitch is set for 2:20 PM ET once again, and here’s how the Reds will line up to start:
ZHANGJIAJIE, CHINA - JUNE 5: A view looking of sharp stalactites hanging from a textured ceiling above a field of multicolored illuminated stalagmites inside the world-famous Huanglong Cave (Yellow Dragon Cave) system in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, China, on June 5, 2026. Huanglong Cave is a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site located within the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, known as the "All-Around Champion Karst Cave in the World" because it contains almost every single type of karst formation known to science, including stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars, stone curtains, underground rivers, and waterfalls, all packed into one massive system. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hickory played a pair.
In Game One, Hickory starter Evan Siary allowed five runs in 5.1 IP, including a pair of home runs, walking one and striking out four.
Dewar Tovar was 4 for 4 with a double and a pair of homers. Kaden Carpenter was 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base. Yolfran Castillo had a hit. Paulino Santana had a pair of walks and a stolen base.
In Game Two, Moises Morales struck out six and walked one in six innings, allowing one run. Michael Trausch threw a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking two.
Yolfran Castillo was 2 for 4 with a double and a homer. Paulino Santana homered and stole a base. Kaden Carpenter tripled and walked. Marco Argudin had a hit. Daniel Flames was 2 for 4 with a double. Noah Franklin had a double and a walk. Sebastian Baquera and Curley Martha each had a hit.
For Hub City, J’Briell Easley walked two and struck out one in two scoreless innings.
Paxton Kling had a hit, two walks and a stolen base. Maxton Martin was 2 for 4 with a double. Eduardo Mejia had a hit and a walk. Evan Morrison had a hit.
Bryan Magdaleno started for Frisco, going one inning, walking three, balking twice, hitting a batter, striking out one and allowing two runs. Wilian Bormie struck out one in a scoreless inning. Brock Porter allowed three runs, including a home run, in three innings, striking out five and walking two. Joey Danielson threw three shutout innings, striking out two.
Sebastian Walcott doubled and homered. Malcolm Moore doubled. Rafe Perich had a hit and a walk. Dylan Dreiling doubled.
DETROIT — Tarik Skubal shed some tears, walking on a field that used to be his home turf as the team that traded him away paid tribute to the two-time Cy Young Award winner with a video montage before the first pitch.
“Luckily enough, I was able to make it to the tunnel before more happened,” Skubal said after allowing one run over six innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Friday night. “It’s tough. This is the place I’ve known my entire career since 2018.
“It’s special.”
Skubal was welcomed with cheers and a smattering of boos in his return to Detroit, pitching for the first time against the middling franchise that traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions.
When the visitors’ lineup and Skubal were shown on the videoboard and his name was announced before the first pitch, most of the crowd at Comerica Park clapped for him while some jeered.
The Tigers showed highlights from his seven-season career with the team and posted a message at the end: Thank you, Tarik.
Skubal turned his head to the right a few times to watch the video as he walked from the bullpen beyond the left-field wall and toward the Dodgers’ dugout with a white towel draped around his neck, which he used to wipe away sweat and tears.
He extended his right arm, holding his glove, toward his former teammates and used his left hand to pat his chest.
After the game, Skubal returned to the field to catch up with some of his former teammates.
Skubal did not appear to react to, or acknowledge, the fans before or during the game and didn’t get a chance to do so as he exited the game because a pitching change was made after the sixth inning in a 1-all game. He struck out seven over six innings with 83 pitches, the fewest since he threw 74 in the season-opening game in March.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the plan was to limit Skubal’s pitches after he threw 106 and 109 in his previous two starts.
In a crowd that had mixed emotions about Skubal’s return, a couple young fans had fitting outfits sporting white Tigers jerseys with 29 and Skubal on the back — and a blue Dodgers hat.
When the left-hander jogged to the mound to pitch for the first time as a visitor in the Motor City, booing fans were heard first followed by more cheers from fans in the stands.
His first pitch was delayed because he appeared to have trouble with his communication device.
After throwing a 96-mph fastball for a ball, Gleyber Torres hit Skubal’s second pitch to center for a double and the crowd roared in unison.
Skubal settled in, striking out Hao-Yu Lee and All-Star Kevin McGonigle and getting All-Star Dillon Dingler to fly out.
“It’s weird to see him on the other side,” McGonigle said before the game.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the team’s familiarity with Skubal might not be helpful at the plate.
“If anybody knows him, it’s us,” Hinch said. “You can know everything about a pitcher, that doesn’t make it easy to hit.”
That was evident when Skubal retired 12 straight batters, including striking out the side in the third, before Eduardo Valencia led off the fifth with a double. Max Clark followed with a two-out triple in the inning to break a scoreless tie.
The 29-year-old Skubal was drafted by Detroit out of Seattle University in the ninth round of the 2018 draft and spent his entire career with the Tigers until they dealt him earlier this month.
Skubal said in July that it was his preference to finish the season with the Tigers and to compete for a World Series championship, which has eluded the franchise since 1984. The Tigers, though, thought it was wise to trade him before the deadline to acquire three minor league prospects instead of likely losing him in free agency.
Aug 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Tim Tawa (13) , right , celebrates with his teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Respond Loudly to Even Series Lars Nootbar had his best game at the plate since his trade tot he Diamondbacks, starting things off with a lead-off home run. Kohl Drake struggled as the lineup turned over. Corbin Carroll also went deep. Gerardo Carrillo, Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, Dennis Santana and Juan Morillo pushed through five innings with no earned runs and only one hit allowed. The result was the Diamondbacks gaining a game on the Padres in the Wild Card race as the Friars lost and the Diamondbacks held on to win.
Giants’ Vitello, Webb Ejected The San Francisco Giants’ Tony Vitello was unhappy with a fair/foul call and was run for his complaints. Logan Webb didn’t get the memo right away and had to be invited to join his manager in the clubhouse.
MLB Suspends Prospect Over Identity and Age Fraud Plot Major League Baseball has suspended a once-prized Dominican prospect after uncovering an elaborate age-fraud plot that included a fictitious death and gravesite tombstone, sources familiar with the investigation told ESPN.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Yankees, fresh off a close 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Friday’s opener, are going to play two games against their archrivals on Saturday, which means they had to make some moves to finalize their roster ahead of the twin bill.
The team announced that 27-year-old right-hander Brendan Beck is their “27th Man” ahead of the doubleheader. Cam Schlittler and three relievers combined to shut out the Sox on Friday, so Beck will be available to provide some innings on Saturday if needed. The best-case scenario, of course, is that the Yankees are winning big in a blowout and have the flexibility to use Beck to soak up the final frames. But he can also be a long reliever in a pinch.
Prior to Game 1 of today’s doubleheader, the Yankees appointed RHP Brendan Beck (#89) as their “27th Man.”
Beck has already pitched in two MLB games this season, starting one of them and covering 6.2 frames between the two. He has a bloated 9.45 ERA with seven hits, five walks, and four strikeouts (the first spot start went much better than the second).
Beck has done most of his work in Triple-A, where he has been much better with a 2.75 ERA in 121 innings as a full-time starter. There, he has walked 37 batters and struck out 133. He last pitched on August 15th.
Yesterday, the Yankees revealed that Max Fried will be activated to start Game 2 of the doubleheader, marking a quick return from his second injured list stint. He was placed there on August 17th, retroactive to the 14th, with a left elbow bone bruise.
It turns out the ailment wasn’t overly serious this time around, and the 32-year-old left-hander will be able to return in time to help the Yankees in a key series. For the season, he has a 2.81 ERA in 86.1 innings.
The Yankees still haven’t announced who will be leaving the active roster to make room for Fried. Left-hander Carlos Rodón will start the first game, so they don’t need to change their roster until the nightcap.
Elmer Rodríguez, who started a game on Wednesday and tossed six innings, would have been among the alternatives to be optioned to Triple-A, but manager Aaron Boone just announced that he will start on Monday in Anaheim. So that leaves Yerry De los Santos, Michael Fulmer, and Justin Topa as the most three most likely to leave the roster between games to activate Fried. De los Santos is the only one with options who wouldn’t have to be designated for assignment, so he may be out of luck this time around.
“That’s the hard part right now, is trying to figure out if he’s not 100% with the overall body, is it worth giving him an inning to build up or not,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now, trying to weigh the positives and negatives.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, front, winds up to throw during a practice session in the outfield before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
According to Roberts, neither the left knee nor right biceps issues Ohtani has dealt with in recent months are completely healed yet.
And while the manager said he still expected Ohtani — who has not made a pitching start since July 3 — to return to the mound soon, he also made it clear the club would be extremely cautious with his health.
“His value offensively is hugely important,” Roberts said of the two-way star, who has continued to serve as the Dodgers’ everyday designated hitter. “So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze.”
If Ohtani does not start Sunday (the Dodgers have Tyler Glasnow lined up to pitch instead if needed), Roberts said it’s also unlikely that the right-hander would turn right around and pitch in the opening game of the team’s homestand next Tuesday, instead indicating that the club would kick the can farther down the road on Ohtani’s pitching return.
Even if Ohtani starts Sunday, it would only be for one inning.
The longer he waits to make his return to the mound, however, the less time he will have to build up his pitch count over the rest of the regular season.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani, left, walks off the field after throwing a practice session before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
“I wouldn’t bet against Shohei,” Roberts said. “But I still think that [getting built up to] five innings by the end of the season … that’s an aggressive play.”
Granted, the Dodgers had seemed willing to be aggressive with Ohtani’s buildup over the last several weeks, as he progressed from bullpen sessions to a 30-pitch round of live batting practice last Saturday.
The hope was that, with still a month remaining in the regular season, he would have enough time before the start of the playoffs to get stretched out for full-length starts and resume his place as an anchor in the Dodgers’ starting rotation (he was 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts at the beginning of the season).
But now, uncertainty abounds again, with Ohtani’s ongoing knee and biceps issues continued to leave his pitching plans unclear.
“I think in the moment, yeah, he still feels that there’s an opportunity [to return to a full-time two-way role], and I’m not trying to say there isn’t,” Roberts said. “But I do think at the end of the day, he’s very aware of our roster strengths, weaknesses and his value to the ballclub.”
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA- AUGUST 14: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 14, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Though Jake Bennett takes the mound in the early matchup, it’s nice to have setup man Garrett Whitlock back from the IL. His 2.05 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, .203 OBA, 49 strikeouts and seven walks in 44 innings will be helpful as the Sox try to move past the Yanks in the AL East.
Last night was tough but the Sox are tougher. Let’s go.
The Texas Rangers are one of the best teams in the league against left-handed pitching.
That prowess should allow them to cause problems for Shane Drohan, which is why I'm targeting the road team on the run line with my Rangers vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 29.
Who will win Rangers vs Brewers today: Rangers +1.5 (59%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Shane Drohan has posted a xFIP above 4.0 in seven of his last nine starts, and that’s likely to be the case again vs. the Texas Rangers.
Texas should score against Drohan before the Milwaukee Brewers get to their elite bullpen, and that gives him a great chance of hanging tough in this game.
Cal Quantrill has allowed two runs or less in eight of nine starts he pitched 4+ innings.
Rangers vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (54%)
It isn’t always pretty, but Drohan is effective at limiting the damage in Milwaukee. He has only conceded 3+ runs in four of 17 home starts this season.
The Rangers will test him, but they’re not an overpowering offense that will score relentlessly. The Brewers also have a bullpen capable of clamping things down late.
Quantrill ranks in the 84th percentile in walk rate and has allowed 0.86 HR/9 in pitcher-friendly environments.
That should allow him to avoid big innings, setting up nicely for an Under.
Play to 57%.
Rangers vs Brewers home run prediction: Jake Burger (16%)
Jake Burger crushes left-handed pitching, posting an OPS exactly .200 points higher than against righties.
Drohan doesn’t really have one go-to pitch, throwing five different types more than 10% of the time vs. right-handed bats.
Burger is well-equipped to handle that variety. He has managed a .250 ISO or higher vs. four of the five pitches, only struggling against curveballs.
Righties have hit .333 against Drohan’s curveball so it’s unlikely Burger sees a steady diet.
There’s value up to 17%.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 91-85, -13.25 units
Over/Under bets: 89-81-6, -3.80 units
Rangers vs Brewers weather
This game will be played indoors.
Rangers vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Rangers 40% | Brewers 61%
Run line: Rangers +1.5 (58%) | Brewers -1.5 (43%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (48% | Under 8.5 (53%)
Rangers vs Brewers trend
The Rangers have hit the Under in 16 of their last 25 games (7.20 units, 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Brewers.
How to watch Rangers vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Rangers starting pitcher
Cal Quantrill (6-4, 2.90 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Shane Drohan (6-5, 3.85 ERA)
Rangers vs Brewers latest injuries
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.
The Philadelphia Phillies own an 8-2 record over their last 10 games, and they're in a great spot to continue their winning ways tonight.
With ace Cristopher Sanchez set to start opposite Ryan Johnson, my Phillies vs. Angels predictions and MLB picks are backing Philadelphia to win with room to spare.
Who will win Phillies vs Angels today: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (57%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
The Los Angeles Angels have hit .217 with a .097 ISO against lefties in August, and it’s hard to imagine things getting any better facing Cristopher Sanchez.
The star southpaw has been lights out all season and enters in great form. He has posted a 2.12 ERA, 2.46 xFIP, and punched out more than 30% of opposing batters the last month.
He shouldn’t need much run support, but he should get it.
The Philadelphia Phillies rank third in xwOBA vs. right-handed pitching this month, and Ryan Johnson is an unlikely candidate to slow them.
Phillies vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (48%)
Sanchez owns a sparkling 1.34 ERA over eight starts against teams ranking bottom-10 in OBP vs. lefties the previous 20 games. He has also completely neutered his opponent’s power, allowing 0.17 HR/9.
The Angels rank 26th in OBP and ISO during that span, and will not pose much of a threat to Sanchez.
Johnson is vulnerable to giving up power, but the Phillies need to score a lot to push this total Over the number.
I make a fair price closer to 50%.
Phillies vs Angels home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (32%)
Kyle Schwarber hits for power in waves. With three homers in his last six games, it appears he’s heading toward another heater.
He is in a great spot to deal damage against Johnson. Isolating his three most-used pitches when facing left-handed bats, Schwarber owns a 25% barrel rate over the last 25 games.
Johnson has also allowed a higher barrel rate than any of today’s starters the past month. He is letting hitters square him up, and that’s a recipe for disaster against Schwarber.
Play to 35%.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 91-85, -13.25 units
Over/Under bets: 89-81-6, -3.80 units
Phillies vs Angels weather
Temperatures are expected to hover around 80, with light winds. Neutral impact.
Phillies vs Angels odds
Moneyline: Phillies 69% | Angels 32%
Run line: Phillies -1.5 (56%) | Angels +1.5 (45%)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (54%) | Under 7.5 47%)
Phillies vs Angels trend
Los Angeles has hit the Game Total Under in 19 of their last 25 games (+13.35 units, 48% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Angels.
How to watch Phillies vs Angels and game info
Location
Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Saturday, August 29, 2026
First pitch
10:07 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSP, ABTV
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (16-4, 2.62 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Ryan Johnson (3-7, 5.75 ERA)
Phillies vs Angels latest injuries
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.
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees play the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium, with New York carrying a 56% win probability on Polymarket.
Max Fried is ready to go for New York. Boston has not officially announced a starter, but the plan is expected to feature an opener before Brayan Bello handles the bulk of the innings.
Who will win Red Sox vs Yankees today: Yankees (57%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
I’m backing the New York Yankees because the expected pitching matchup favors them at both ends
Max Fried owns a 2.81 ERA and has been one of baseball’s best pitchers at preventing damaging contact. He ranks in the 89th percentile in xERA, 99th percentile in barrel rate allowed, and 92nd percentile in hard-hit rate allowed.
The Boston Red Soxhave not been producing the type of contact that typically breaks that profile. Its recent batted-ball numbers have generally hovered around league average or worse, while Fried can also force the issue on the ground with an 83rd-percentile ground-ball rate.
The Red Sox's bulk option for Brayan Bello has a much more vulnerable profile. Bello ranks in just the 7th percentile in xERA, 25th percentile in barrel suppression, and 37th percentile in hard-hit suppression.
I think this has value up to 60% with a better overall team who has a good matchup.
COVERS INTEL:Fried already dominated this Boston lineup once this season, throwing eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and only three hits allowed on April 22.
Red Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (51%)
Fried is the reason I’m willing to back the Under. Boston’s recent contact quality runs directly into a pitcher who ranks in the 99th percentile in barrel suppression and 92nd percentile in hard-hit suppression.
Bello is the volatility on the other side, with just a 25th-percentile barrel rate and 37th-percentile hard-hit rate, but his 90th-percentile ground-ball rate still gives him a path to limiting damage.
I expect New York to do most of the scoring, but Fried should keep Boston quiet enough to hold this below 7.5.
I like this to 50%.
Red Sox vs Yankees home run prediction: Ben Rice (18%)
I like Ben Rice. Bello throws his sinker 40.5% of the time, which lines up well with Rice’s strongest contact profile. Rice owns a .505 xSLG and 51.4% hard-hit rate against sinkers this season.
Additionally, the Boston arm also ranks in the 25th percentile in barrel suppression, so there’s a clear path for Rice to turn one elevated sinker into damage. His left-handed pull power only makes that matchup more appealing at Yankee Stadium.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 46-45, +1.90 units
Over/Under bets: 53-38, +16.49 units
Red Sox vs Yankees weather
Weather should not be a major factor tonight. Conditions at Yankee Stadium are expected to stay dry and mostly clear through the game, with temperatures falling from the upper 70s
Red Sox vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Red Sox 45% | Yankees 55%
Run line: Red Sox +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Red Sox vs Yankees trend
The New York Yankees have covered the Run Line in 22 of their last 40 games (+8.30 Units / 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Red Sox vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Saturday, August 29, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Red Sox starting pitcher
Brayan Bello (5-6, 4.58 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-4, 2.81 ERA)
Red Sox vs Yankees latest injuries
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.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 28: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals hits a three run home run against the Miami Marlins during the third inning at Nationals Park on August 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night, Brady House hit one of the more impressive home runs I have seen at Nationals Park. In the third inning, House absolutely unloaded on a 99 MPH fastball from Eury Perez. He sent it on to the concourse an estimated 474 feet, well at least at first. It was a perfect swing and an absolutely titanic blast.
There have been plenty of ups and downs in Brady House’s first 145 games as a big leaguer. However, swings like that are what keeps fans dreaming. House has not had the same sort of rapid improvement that we have seen from some hitters, but he has certainly improved. His chase rate is down 3%, his barrel rate is up over 8% and his walk rate is up over 4%.
These are all important steps in the right direction for a talented but raw hitter. A big reason for these improvements is House having a more defined plan of attack during at bats and before games. After the game, House talked about going into his cage sessions with more of a purpose instead of just swinging to get reps.
Blake Butera said that he expects to see more power from House as he develops that approach. As we saw last night, raw power is not the problem here. House hits the ball hard consistently, and can hit some absolute moon shots. He has all the raw tools to hit 30 homers, he just needs more refinement. Since he has come back from the minors, he has taken steps in the right direction in that regard.
Speaking of that moon shot, the distance of the homer became a source of slight controversy. At first, the distance was shown as 474 feet, which would be tied for the longest home run by a big leaguer all year. However, that total was changed to 445 feet later on. Interestingly, Heriberto Hernandez also hit a homer 445 feet in the 8th inning. At least to the naked eye, House’s looked like it went significantly further.
Upon further review, House's home run has been adjusted to 445 feet. Don't blame us. https://t.co/VjzYaAPcC1
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) August 29, 2026
For his part, House said that this was probably the furthest he has hit one. It went to an area of Nats Park where you seldom see balls go. Butera said he has seen Andres Chaparro and Andrew Pinckney hit it up there in batting practice, but he had not seen anything like that in a game. Doing it off a 99 MPH heater makes it even more impressive.
Whether it was 474 feet or 445 feet, the point is that Brady House hit an absolute nuke. That was the kind of home run that makes fans come to the ballpark. Just the sound off the bat was different and not something you hear too often. As the ball left House’s bat, the left fielder did not move a muscle and Eury Perez just threw his arm up in disgust. I am not exactly statcast, but I buy the 474 foot mark more.
House is no stranger to long home runs in his career. In the minors, he hit some tape measure shots. I remember one in AAA last year that went 458 feet and hit the top of the batters eye. Ever since he was in high school, Brady House has had the ability to hit majestic homers.
We have seen plenty of flashes from the 23 year old, but we need to see him put it all together. Despite that homer last night, House is still hitting just .183 with a .569 OPS against right handed pitching. Going into next year, House will have to prove he is more than just a platoon bat.
That mammoth homer is a good place to start, but we still need more consistency. Throughout his career, it feels like House just gets a little bit better every year. He has never made some stratospheric leap, but he has steadily improved. That was also the case this year, as he got noticeably better but still has not truly broken out.
With more big league reps and another offseason under his belt, I think next season could be the year where House truly establishes himself as a big league regular. It really does need to be the year because we cannot wait forever. Those flashes need to turn into consistency. Home runs like that give you a lot more faith in Brady House though.
Aug 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Blade Tidwell (46) watches Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Tim Tawa (13) jog the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Giants are back to their losing ways against the Diamondbacks.
As it has been all year, the pitching staff, be it rotation or relief, hasn’t quite figured out a way to stitch two quality performances together, dropping the second game of the series 10-6. San Francisco is now 2-9 against their division rivals this season.
Just as Roupp did on Thursday, starter Blade Tidwell muscled his way through 5 innings, but it wasn’t particularly pretty. The right-hander’s first offering of the game was rocketed over the fence by lead-off man Lars Nootbar. More meatballs were served in a 5-run 3rd with Corbin Carroll and Tim Tawa both leaving the yard.
That decisive rally benefited from a couple of “breaks” going the D-Backs way. “Breaks” might not be the best word, at least for the un-challenged ball call that would’ve struck out Nootbar for the inning’s second out.
Way back in the era before ABS, sure, a fastball squaring up the outside corner and the umpire missing it was a gift, a break, for the opponent. Nothing a team could do about it, a bad call was out of the battery’s hands. But in this new era, catcher Andrew Knizner had an actionable step to right a wrong, to back up his pitcher — and yet when Tidwell froze Nootbar with a 1-2 four-seam, Knizner accepted the call as gospel from Alan Porter.
Now there are any number of approaches and philosophies of challenge strategy. We’ve seen the Giants make some questionable decisions to protest on inconsequential pitches early in games, leaving future batters/pitchers high-and-dry. There’s a feeling that you want to have at least one challenge late in the game. There’s also a feeling that it’s silly to squirrel them away — Krukow’s smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em philosophy. Swinging count leverage is also key. The difference between 1-0 and 0-1 counts in terms of probable outcome is huge. The difference between a 2-2 count and a strike-3, an out, is obviously far greater. Which is why Knizner’s acceptance of Porter’s call was baffling. Here was a chance to bag the second out, retire a batter who had homered off your starter two innings prior — it doesn’t matter what inning it is, as a catcher you gotta slap that noggin.
All in all, the guiding principle of ABS challenges is to reverse obvious mistakes. A player is no better than the umpire if they can’t distinguish between a baseball painting a corner and a baseball an inch or two off of it. Porter, the home plate umpire, had a rough game last night. The zone was tight. Pitches dissected by the zone edges weren’t getting called. All in all, he had 13 pitches challenged and 9 overturned. There could’ve been more. Umps are usually better than that. They should be at least, but a catcher needs to know the zone as well and be confident in their knowledge to refute what is passed off as the law. That “ooh” by Kuiper from the broadcast booth says it all. A damning tut for Porter, but Knizner as well. The catcher can’t miss a location like that, especially on Tidwell’s four-seam fastball, a pitch with no tail or slide or break that as honest and plain as can be.
Knizner went on to overturn four of Porter’s calls, so perhaps he knew the pitch was a strike — but in that crucial moment, he hesitated, overly deferential, or over-thinking whether “the timing was right.”
That inaction cost the Giants. On the next pitch, Tidwell surrendered the sweeper (the offering Nootbar was obviously waiting for), and it was drilled for a double at 110 MPH. Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Tidwell had to proceed against the meat of the order with a runner breathing down his neck. It didn’t go well. He fell into a full count against Carroll, and with a no free hand-outs mindset, handed him a sinker over the heart of the plate.
Even with two outs and the lead lost, the 3rd dragged on, setting Arizona up for its second “break” of the frame.
With a runner on first single, Nolan Arenado pulled a high-bounding grounder towards third that landed in foul territory beyond the bag.
Two pitches later, on a flat slider to Tim Tawa, Arizona had extended their lead to four.
Tony Vitello and Logan Webb were pretty miffed by the fair call (which can’t be challenged). Webb received the first ejection of his career, and Vitello his second in three games.
They may have had a point — the ball bounced so high with so much spin, it’s really hard to tell if passed over any part of the base — but Porter had a point as well. Instead of Vitello coming up and talking to the umpire right after the call was made, he waited to explode into gestures and expletives until after the third out was recorded and three more runs had scored. Like Knizner, Vitello waited. Would it have made a difference if he was a little more immediate, a little more diplomatic, requesting Porter’s opinion on Alex MacKay’s initial call? Not sure, but what I’m sure of is waiting until the inning over to complain isn’t going to do anything, just as challenging all the obvious strikes-called-balls won’t make up for Knizner’s silence on that 1-2 fastball to Nootbar.
Despite the early deficit, San Francisco’s bats put up a good fight. Bryce Eldridge hit his 15th homer in the 1st and his 17th double, a two-out RBI knock in the 3rd that scored from Rafael Devers from first.
Jung Hoo Lee scrambled around the bases in the 2nd on a single and stolen base, then advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Turner Hill.
Boss Koss pulled the Giants within one in the 4th with his first homer of the year, a 2-run shot off starter Kohl Drake.
San Francisco did a nice job of answering Arizona early. The offense scored in each of the first four innings. Four of those five runs touched home with two outs recorded. But that steady production came to halt in 5th when, with two on and two out, Jung Hoo Lee’s liner found the glove of Perdomo at short. The potential comeback train lost steam, and in the next half inning, the Diamondbacks pulled away for good.
Tasked with holding the line, Spencer Bivens, fresh off his contributions to Wednesday’s historic collapse, dropped it like it was hot, immediately forfeiting 2 runs on 3 hits to the first three batters he faced. But, again, as if this is any consolation, there were some “breaks” that went Arizona’s way. Devers couldn’t run down a tough bloop to shallow right. Not hard hit, yet hard to wrangle. That lead-off single was followed by a smoked double (terrible slider, no excuses there), and Ildemaro Vargas’s obliterated bat still managed to push the baseball far enough to the outfield to score two. One more would score in the inning. Another in the 7th.
Four runs earned off Bivens. Six off Tidwell. 10 for Arizona, 6 for the Giants.
Two more games on Saturday — baseball is such a gas right now, why not play two?
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 22: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field on August 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well after two electric series against the two best teams in the NL, the Braves have quite the drop-off in competition, facing the Rockies. They took care of business on Friday night behind Grant Holmes and will now hope for another win behind Martin Perez in what is a favorable pitching matchup for Atlanta, despite Perez’ unspectacular pitching.
Ryan Feltner will take the mound for the Rockies, with a 5.53 FIP and 4.98 xFIP on 97.2 innings this season. HE has never been a strikeout pitcher, but has found some success when he can limit walks. He is walking nearly 4 batters per 9 innings this season, so it has been a rough go for Feltner with less than 2 Ks per walk. He has most of his success on his changeup, which is a very vertical pitch without much horizontal run. His fastball has average velocity with below average shape and his slider is thrown pretty hard with fine movement. He mixes in a solid sweeper, a curve, and a sinker to round out his pitch mix. This is a guy that the Braves’ bats need to hit hard based on his profile. He doesn’t strike people out, he doesn’t have great command, and his ground ball rate isn’t anything special.
Meanwhile, Martin continues to get away with a 3.12 ERA with more predictive metrics in the low to mid 4s, now through 115.1 innings and in late August. His strikeout and walk rates look similar to Feltner’s, with a somewhat better ground ball rate, but he’s muddled through with some substantial fortune for productive innings in terms of run prevention for Atlanta. Even Martin’s location heatmap on his sinker and cutter are essentially scattered across the strike zone. It’s been a fortunate run for Martin and the Braves, but the Rockies are at least bad enough that it could very plausibly live another day. Now let’s see the Braves get him some run support.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, August 29, 4:10 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
COVERS INTEL: Cal Quantrill 
