The New York Yankees will receive a $2.6 billion financing injection from Apollo Global Management, the club announced on Tuesday, with the firm providing a combination of debt and equity in the parent company of the storied MLB franchise.
Apollo will refinance existing debt and take a minority stake of undisclosed value in Yankees Global Enterprises, the company that owns the Bronx Bombers. MLB rules limit private capital ownership of a franchise by a single fund to no more than 15%.
The Steinbrenner family will continue as full control owners of YGE, which also holds stakes in Serie A’s AC Milan, MLS’ New York City FC, the hospitality provider Legends and the YES Network.
As part of the arrangement, Apollo Sports Capital chief executive Al Tylis will join the board of YGE in a newly created seat. The alternative asset manager, with $1.05 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, launched its roughly $6 billion sports fund last year, most notably buying control of LaLiga’s Atlético Madrid this spring at a valuation of $2.55 billion. Other holdings include minority stakes in Wrexham FC, the Welsh football club owned by actors Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, as well as investments in the Madrid and Miami Open tennis tournaments.
Sporticopreviously reported that the Yankees and Apollo were in talks over a potential financial injection, with the equity stake expected to buy out existing limited partners in the Yankees.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Austin Overn #30 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This was the 18th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Tuesday, August 11th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), prospect Theo Gillen tops the system and might just find himself in the running for Minor League Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Rays pitching hasn’t been spectacular this season and Aidan Cremarosa remains the top hurler in the system despite spending the past several weeks on the Injured List. He was activated off of the IL last week.
RUMBLINGS
Austin Overn lands on the Injured List after being drilled in the foot by a pitch last week. Overn attempted to play through and eventually made his way to second base. But at that point, he struggled to put any weight on the injured foot and had to be assisted off of the field after being removed from the game.
Brendan Summerhill Jose Urbina, and J.D. Gonzalez have also been placed on the Injured List
Nate Knowles was released, he was the Rays 4th round pick in 2024.
The Rays have signed several players to minor league deals:
Justin Yeager
J.T. Arruda
Jake Woodford
Dominican Summer League numbers are hardly worth paying attention to, but some fun notes:
Since July 13th, Maykel Coret is hitting .295/.352/.538 with 6 HR over 88 PA
Eliomar Garces has one of the most fun statlines in the game, hitting .283/.505/.379 with 2 HR and 33 SB. He is currently running a 27.3 BB% and 7.3 K%, giving him one of the best BB/K rations in basebabll.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 190 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .267, Blake Sabol OBP: .340, Tatem Levins SLG: .432, Blake Sabol HR: 11, Carson Williams, Blake Sabol, & Logan Davidson wRC+: 97, Blake Sabol SB: 30, Homer Bush Jr
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.56, Evan Reifert FIP: 3.73, Ty Johnson K%: 33.0% Ty Johnson BB%: 4.2%, Mason Englert WHIP: 1.04, Ty Johnson AVG: .181, Ty Johnson WHIFF%: 15.3%, Ty Johnson
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .309, Austin Overn OBP: .403, Xavier Isaac SLG: .565, Austin Overn HR: 21, Will Simpson & Xavier Isaac wRC+: 151, Austin Overn SB: 48, Austin Overn
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 4.29, Chris Clark FIP: 4.60, Chris Clark K%: 27.3%, Jackson Baumeister BB%: 3.2%, Santiago Suarez WHIP 1.15, Santiago Suarez AVG: .214, Jackson Baumeister WHIFF%: 14.9%, Jackson Baumeister
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .289, Tony Santa Maria OBP: .432, Ryan McCoy SLG: .585, Ryan McCoy HR: 19, Nathan Flewelling wRC+: 157, Ryan McCoy SB: 45, Tony Santa Maria
After last night's series-opening win, the Houston Astros (-183 moneyline favorites) look to keep the ball rolling against San Francisco Giants left-hander Carson Whisenhunt.
My Astros vs. Giants predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 11, see Houston pulling off the win on the road.
Who will win Astros vs Giants today: Astros monyeline (-183)
Whisenhunt has struggled in all five of his starts this season, allowing four runs in four of those five games. Opposing hitters are making a near-50% hard-hit rate and 10% barrel rate against him this season.
The Astros have not been the most exciting team against southpaws, but they are still the more dangerous lineup compared to the Giants.
San Francisco's offense has been dreadful for weeks now, owning an 87 wRC+, .289 wOBA, and .644 OPS over its last 21 games.
I see no reason to force the dog here. Take the run line if you want longer odds.
COVERS INTEL: Over his last 30 at-bats against left handed pitching, Christian Walker owns a .304 BA, .609 SLG, 1.079 OPS, and .305 ISO.
Astros vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (+109)
With how well Brown has been pitching over his last three outings, posting a 2.41 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and allowing an under 9% barrel rate to opposing hitters, I fully expect him to shut down this ice-cold Giants lineup.
As for Whisenhunt and his struggles with hard contact, I don't think the Astros are good enough against left-handed pitching to carry this total Over.
Across the Astros' last 60 plate appearances against lefties, this team has been pretty lifeless from a numbers standpoint.
I like the Under, especially at plus money.
Astros vs Giants home run prediction: Rafael Devers (+596)
There is not a lot to love for the long ball in this matchup, given the pitching matchup and the weather. However, snagging Giants slugger Rafael Devers at nearly +600 to go yard is a great price.
He enters with the highest rating in this matchup over at Batters-Box, covering over 75% of Brown's pitches. Over his last 10 games, Devers is generating a 61.5% hard-hit rate and 25% HR/FB rate.
The last 30 lefties Brown has faced are barreling the ball at a 17.6% clip while owning a .539 xSLG.
I would take this down to +550.
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
MLB Season: 381-747, -19.9 Units
Home Run Bets: 96-344, +8.4 Units
Astros vs Giants weather
It will be a chilly one out in the Bay, with temperatures in the low 60s and 10.3 mph winds blowing out to left-center. Temperatures are expected to drop as the game progresses, making for less-than-ideal hitting conditions late.
Astros vs Giants odds
Moneyline: Astros -183 | Giants +165
Run line: Astros -1.5 (-112) | Giants +1.5 (-103)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-121) | Under 7.5 (+109)
Astros vs Giants trend
The Astros have hit the run line in 14 of their last 19 games (+12.10 Units / 51% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Giants.
How to watch Astros vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026
First pitch
9:45 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, NBC Sports Bay Area
Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown (3-1, 3.53 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Carson Whisenhunt (2-3, 7.25 ERA)
Astros vs Giants 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.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Mariners at Yankees Over 7.5
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
This game projects for 9.89 runs with a fair price of -181 on this total, making the Over a buy even at 8.5 runs at -110.
Bryan Woo is coming off a hefty 100-pitch outing, a number he has reached just once this season, while averaging fewer than 90 pitches per start. That workload could be an issue against a New York Yankees lineup in a favorable hitting environment.
It’s also a good spot to fade Ryan Weathers, who has not allowed a run in his last two starts but still owns the 11th-worst hard-hit rate among MLB starters this season. Woo is even worse, ranking ninth-worst. Both starters also rank in the Bottom 50 in Blast Contact%.
Looking at the later innings, both bullpens rank in the Bottom 5 in WAR over the last 30 days. With pitching concerns from start to finish, there are enough paths to runs to back the Over on this short total.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
How to watch: TBS
Jon Metler's expert pick: Marlins moneyline
Price: 49¢ (+104) at Polymarket
Paul Skenes hasn't looked like the same pitcher we've seen over the last two seasons. His fastball is down roughly 2 mph from his rookie season, and the Miami Marlins lineup construction takes away one of his biggest weapons: a devastating slider on the outer half against right-handed hitters.
The Marlins are expected to start six left-handed bats, while Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards give them low-strikeout hitters at the top who can work deep counts and put the ball in play.
Skenes has also struggled to pitch deep into games lately, rarely reaching the sixth inning. Miami's disciplined lineup should force him to work, drive up his pitch count, and potentially chase him early.
Polymarket has the Marlins at 49 cents, but I make them closer to 54 cents, so I'm backing the slight underdogs at home.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Marlins.TV
Neil Parker's expert pick: Cubs at Nationals Over 8.5
The Chicago bats are set up to do damage at the dish tonight, too. Washington righty Jake Irvin has surrendered the third-highest barrel percentage among pitchers with at least 50 innings. And while Cubbies lefty Shota Imanaga has surrendered two runs or fewer in each of his past seven starts, his 1.77 ERA during the stretch is miles below his 3.75 xERA and 3.50 xFIP.
So, with the Nationals ranking second in wOBA against lefties for the campaign and second in xwOBA across their past 24 games, I’m also expecting Washington to put runs on the board.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
How to watch: Marquee, Nationals.TV
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Twins moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
Bailey Ober has been a completely different pitcher at Target Field, posting a 2.72 ERA compared to a 6.75 mark on the road.
The Minnesota Twins are 7-2 in his nine home starts, and he's handled this Baltimore Orioles lineup before, limiting their hitters to a .606 OPS across 60 combined at-bats.
The Orioles have also been brutal against right-handed pitching lately, ranking 27th in OPS over the last two weeks. Baltimore could also unravel late as its bullpen has been one of the worst in the league, posting an awful 6.26 ERA over those 14 days.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: MASN, Twins.TV
Dustin Saracini's expert pick: Blue Jays moneyline
This includes limiting the Boston middle-of-the-lineup hitters, Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras, to a combined 6-for-28 mark with an expected batting average of .176 or lower.
With an outstanding 31% whiff rate against this lineup, and Cease allowing just one earned run across his last 22 innings, expect much of the same from the Cy Young candidate tonight. The Toronto Blue Jays win this one in a low-scoring affair.
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.
I'm back after a long vacation and am ready to crush the Dinger Tuesday slate loaded with home run props to dig through.
The Rangers have a home-run gift in Anaheim with Brandon Nimmo's price standing out above the rest. Meanwhile, Shota Imanaga might be pitching well, but he is serving it up as always, and there's a great price on CJ Abrams on offer.
Finally, Pete Crow-Armstrong is once again in great position to go yard.
Nobody has a better home run matchup tonight than the Texas Rangers, and Brandon Nimmo is a HR bet for me at anything +300 or better.
Los Angeles Angels SP Ryan Johnson is the worst starter on one of baseball's worst rotations, which has shipped off starters while also dealing with injuries. He's allowed a homer in seven straight games and continues to struggle with command, with 25 walks against 38 strikeouts in 50 innings.
He's also allowed 13 long balls, resulting in a 2.17 HR/9, while posting just a 34% ground-ball rate.
Nimmo has three dingers over the last two weeks and leads the team in that category, as well as wRC+ and xwOBA. He also gets the platoon advantage as a left-handed hitter against the righty Johnson.
There aren't a ton of great prices on the Rangers, but I'm taking Nimmo's hot bat at these odds over the handful of batters priced shorter than three dollars.
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ABTV, Rangers Sports Network
Home run pick: CJ Abrams (+510)
Washington's CJ Abrams has averaged around +375 for a dinger over his last 10 games, but oddsmakers are giving us better than +500 today at home against Shota Imanaga, who I think they're overvaluing.
The Chicago starter has allowed just 12 runs over his last eight games, but the majority of those runs have come via the long ball, with eight homers served up. He's surrendered 56 dingers over his last two seasons across just 277 innings. That's not a pretty HR/9 over a good sample, and his 37% ground-ball rate isn't helping either.
Abrams is seven homers off the league lead and is handling lefties at a better rate than he has over his career this season. It's lefty vs. lefty, but I like Abrams at home, and there are 60 points on this price that I'd buy down to.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, Marquee Sports Network
Home run pick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (+325)
This is a +EV price on the betting favorite in the NL MVP odds (-115), with a fair price of +250/+260.
The Nationals are trotting out Jake Irvin, who has allowed the fifth-most homers since 2023 and has seen his ground-ball rate fall for a second straight season. Irvin faced the Cubs once this season and allowed two dingers, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has taken him deep once across nine plate appearances.
There is nothing fancy here, just a price on the good side of three dollars with one of the best hitters in baseball in an elite HR matchup.
Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Nationals.TV, Marquee Sports Network
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 27-148, -17.78 units
Today’s HR combo
Brandon Nimmo
Trade Now +10064
CJ Abrams
Pete Crow-Armstrong
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 18: Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park on June 18, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday!
The squad got whacked in the first game of their series with the Rays last night, with the bullpen blowing yet another game that the Green & Gold should have won. When you’re up 6-2 in the eighth you don’t expect the final score to be a 10-6 loss. That’s just how this season has gone though. Fitting.
Anyways, the club is in need of a starting pitcher tonight and they’ve has settled on right-hander Mason Barnett:
In a lost season it’s at least encouraging to see the organization continuing to give their younger players a chance to pitch through their struggles in the big leagues. The former prize that the A’s received from Kansas City in exchange for reliever Lucas Erceg, Barnett has spent the past two years mostly in Triple-A with a few brief stints with the big league club. His first taste of Triple-A last year didn’t yield great results but the then-24 year old righty still managed to make his big league debut with five starts last September. The results, again, weren’t great but plenty of pitchers struggle a bit their first time in The Show and he was still young for a big league pitcher.
This season Barnett technically began in the hunt for a rotation spot but he predictably began the year as depth down in Las Vegas with the Aviators. After ten starts he was brought up to the big league level, where he’s been stashed in the bullpen for the past couple of months. In 14 relief appearances Barnett has been so-so with a 4.74 ERA, dominating in June before taking a step back in July.
A few weeks ago back at the end of July the club sent Barnett back to Triple-A, where he got back into starting with three innings for the Aviators. Evidently the squad just wanted to ease him back into that role as the club soon brought him back up for a “bulk” appearance after that one tune-up in Triple-A.
Barnett’s made two starts for the A’s since: His first was very encouraging as he tossed five full innings against a hot Red Sox club, allowing just three runs in his final inning of work. His most recent appearance? Not so hot as Cincinnati collected six runs off the young righty, though again he seemed to lose steam as he got deeper into the game. Similar to how the Boston game went.
If he’s not fully stretched out by this point that’s understandable considering he was used as a reliever for the past two-ish months. Still, it’s a good thing that the organization is finally giving the 25-year-old a chance. Barnett was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the A’s system as recently as last year, ranking fourth (ahead of Luis Morales) on MLB.com’s top prospects list. He showed improvement in Triple-A this year and finally had some success out of the bullpen in the big leagues. Now the club will be hoping to see him continue to grow into the type of pitcher they’ll need for next year. That all continues tonight against a tough Rays team that looks postseason bound.
We don’t know who will be getting the ball in tomorrow’s game either so like with Barnett we’ll just have to wait and see. Anyone in particular you’d like to see get the nod? Luis Morales perhaps?
First pitch is at 6:40. Have a great one A’s fans.
Lopez with the best start for the club in a while:
Jacob Lopez completes seven innings against the Rays, allowing just two runs. He snaps a streak of 43 consecutive games in which A's starters had logged 6 1/3 innings or fewer, which was the longest such streak in A's history.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: Joendry Vargas #88 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium on March 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dodgers minor league infielder Joendry Vargas had a productive series for Class-A Ontario on the road last week in Lake Elsinore, and for his efforts on Monday was named California League player of the week.
Vargas had 11 hits in 25 at-bats in his six games for the Tower Buzzers with four doubles, a home run, and a triple, with five runs batted in and four scored, plus two walks and two stolen bases.
Three of his games were of the multi-hit variety, headlined by four hits on Friday night, including a home run and double, with three RBI.
Cal League Player of the Week 🐝
Joendry Vargas earns California League’s Player of the Week by @MiLB. Vargas appeared in all 6 games and had a major impact at the plate with a .440 AVG, slugging a home run, hitting a triple, and adding 5 RBIs and 4 runs scored. pic.twitter.com/dIibF02g1C
Vargas has a 13-game on-base streak dating back to July 26, during which he’s hitting .397/.417/.586. The 20-year-old played third base and shortstop last week. Most of Vargas’s time this season has come at short, with 65 starts, plus 15 starts at second base and six at third base, plus 13 games as designated hitter.
In 100 games for Ontario this season, Vargas is hitting .287/.328/.438 with a 91 wRC+, 27 doubles, nine home runs, six triples, and 22 stolen bases.
Vargas is the fourth Tower Buzzer to win Cal League player of the week this season, joining Easton Shelton (May 18-24), Jaron Elkins (May 25-31 and June 29-July 5), and Mairo Martinus (June 22-28).
The St. Louis Cardinals just couldn't get over the hump and complete the comeback in Monday's series-opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Now, with Cristopher Sanchez on the opposite mound, things get much tougher for the home team as +150 underdogs.
Even though my Phillies vs. Cardinals predictions ultimately expect the visitors to win, the value is on St. Louis covering the run line as home dogs.
My MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 11, explain why the Phillies won't run away with this one at Busch Stadium.
Who will win Phillies vs Cardinals today: Cardinals +1.5 (-116)
I do not like the price tag on the moneyline for either side. The Philadelphia Phillies at -156 are maybe the more reasonable option, considering Cristopher Sanchez is on the mound against a St. Louis Cardinals lineup that has been up and down of late.
Conversely, I don't mind +150 on the Cardinals as a value proposition, but that will require the offense to do damage against the ace southpaw, which few have done, especially fellow lefties. Left-handed bats have combined to slash .131/.149/.166 against Sanchez this season.
That more or less neutralizes JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson, if they're even in the lineup. Wetherholt is roughly around league average against lefties (99 wRC+), but Burleson has been atrocious in the split, batting .190/.225/.289 with a 40 wRC+ (league average is 100).
So, I ultimately expect the Phillies to win. However, Andre Pallante has found enough sustained success that I don't expect Philadelphia's lefty-heavy lineup, which has somehow struggled to a 94 wRC+ vs. right-handed pitchers this season, to do enough to win by multiple runs.
And while Wetherholt and Burleson may be in for bad nights, Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, and Jose Fermin all have a wRC+ north of 120 vs. LHP and can chip away.
Neither bullpen has been particularly effective in the last couple of weeks, either, so I'm not as concerned about Philly pulling away late.
I'd take the Cardinals on the run line to -125.
COVERS INTEL: Pallante has seen gains year-over-year in fastball velocity, walk rate, and virtually all contact metrics. The right-hander has made adjustments, and the sample is large enough that we can trust in his across-the-board improvements.
Phillies vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-116)
The Sanchez portion of this equation is simple.
The Phillies lefty is among baseball's best starters, has consistently pitched deep into games, and rarely gets blown up, allowing more than three earned runs once in his last seven starts and only four times across 24 outings in 2026.
It's the opposite end that is more interesting. No matter how often I expect Pallante to implode, he doesn't, and his metrics — other than strikeout rate — offer enough encouragement that he's not suddenly going to fall apart, either.
His 3.73 expected ERA is hardly amazing, but it's roughly in line with his overall ERA. But what he does best is suppress hard contact (81st percentile barrel rate, 79th hard-hit percentage) and keep the ball on the ground (96th percentile ground-ball rate).
This allows him to keep the ball in the ballpark, with his elite infield defense anchored by Masyn Winn and Wetherholt doing a lot of the heavy lifting behind him to ensure things don't get out of hand.
I'd play the Under 8.5 to -140. However, I would also grab Under 7.5 if it's +115 or longer.
Phillies vs Cardinals home run prediction: Jordan Walker (+500)
Truth be told, I don't love anyone to hit a home run tonight with two extreme ground-ball pitchers toeing the respective rubbers, but I'll roll with Cardinals outfielder Walker.
Busch Stadium will be humid tonight, with winds blowing to left-center field, playing right into Walker's tendencies as a hitter. If he can elevate one of Sanchez's offerings, he might not need much help to clear the fences.
Walker continues to pace the field in bat speed, and Sanchez does give up a lot of hard contact (18th percentile hard-hit rate, 45th in barrel rate) despite his ability to miss bats. I wouldn't go a full unit, but the price is appealing given the circumstances.
Jason Wilson's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 7-4, +3.81 units
Over/Under bets: 6-5, +0.06 units
Phillies vs Cardinals weather
St. Louis has the hottest temperatures forecast for today's slate, at around 95 degrees. With wind blowing to left field, this could result in more offense, but two strong ground-ball hurlers may counteract that.
Phillies vs Cardinals odds
Moneyline: Phillies -156 | Cardinals +150
Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+108) | Cardinals +1.5 (-113)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)
Phillies vs Cardinals trend
The St. Louis Cardinals have hit the Game Total Under in 32 of their last 50 games (+13.40 Units / 25% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Phillies vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Mo.
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026
First pitch
7:45 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Cardinals.TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (15-4, 2.65 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Andre Pallante (12-6, 3.63 ERA)
Phillies vs Cardinals 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.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 10: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on August 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After taking two of three from the Braves, the Yankees enjoyed a day off on Monday before welcoming the Mariners into town. It was a mostly full day of baseball beyond them, with plenty of important games coming down to the ninth inning and beyond. Between never-before-seen calls and extra innings, let’s take a look at how things shook out around the American League.
Tampa Bay Rays (72-46) 10, The Athletics (47-72) 6
An eighth-inning rally had the Rays in business and then some on Monday against the A’s. With New York taking the day off, they worked hard to earn the free half-game.
The action was apparent from the get-go, as the A’s were up 2-1 after the first inning. Both Jacob Lopez and new Ray Freddy Peralta would settle in following the early noise, working seven and six innings, respectively. Already up a run, the Athletics seemed to take control in the seventh, when doubles from Zack Gelof and Jacob Wilson helped to put them up 6-2.
That control only lasted until the Rays came to the plate next. Down by four, Tampa Bay flipped the game upside-down with an eight-piece in their half of the eighth. Unsurprisingly, Junior Caminero was right in the middle of things with a three-run homer, his 34th on the season.
Continuing to put runners on, the Rays tied the game with a single from Chandler Simpson, and took the lead on another from Taylor Walls. Throw in some insurance runs from the top of their order, and the Rays were suddenly up by a score of 10-6. After falling behind for much of this game, it had suddenly flipped into a major win for the Rays out west.
Toronto Blue Jays (57-63) 2, Boston Red Sox (64-54) 1: In a game that the Blue Jays won, thanks in part to Charles McAdoo’s solo homer, Boston’s lone run was the story of the game. In the seventh, the Red Sox scored a run on a player that failed to tag up from third base, because the Blue Jays made the third out on a different runner, and failed to appeal the other runner, deemed a “timing play.” It was a once-in-a-lifetime circumstance, but water under the bridge nonetheless, as the Jays took this one despite the drama.
Houston Astros (60-59) 6, San Francisco Giants (49-79) 3 (10 innings): The Astros and Giants found themselves in extra innings on Monday. Things remained quiet for much of this game, thanks in large part to San Fran starter Blade Tidwell’s solid day on the mound. Houston struck first, but the Giants clawed back thanks to homers from Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert. After completing nine innings knotted at three, the Astros took charge in their half of the tenth, thanks to RBI from Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes.
Texas Rangers (59-59) 4, Los Angeles Angels (45-73) 1 (10 innings): Not unlike their counterparts in the Lone Star state, the Rangers took a win in 10 innings to open up their week. Mike Trout’s 20th homer of the season and a RBI knock from Elias Díaz had this game squared up after regulation. In the Texas half of the tenth, singles from Brandon Nimmo and Jake Burger were the fuel that pushed them past the Angels in a hard-fought AL West battle. For Texas, Mackenzie Gore also racked up nine Ks in his 5.1 innings of solid work.
Aug 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado hits a grand slam home run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Diamondbacks on Monday celebrated the return of right-hander Michael Soroka, who held the Rockies scoreless through 4 1/3 innings, but it wasn’t all good news for Arizona on the injury front.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was forced to exit the D-backs’ 9-0 win at Chase Field before the top of the fifth due to left knee soreness.
PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks on Monday celebrated the return of right-hander Michael Soroka, who hel
The extent of the injury was not announced, but losing Perdomo for any period of time would be a blow for the Diamondbacks. The shortstop is not only a key part of the Arizona lineup, but he is also the captain of their defense.
After playing in front of 46,000 fans against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks had to avoid a letdown in a different environment, facing the lowly Colorado Rockies in a sparsely-crowded ballpark on Monday.
They did, as the Diamondbacks jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning off a Nolan Arenado grand slam against his former club. The D-backs tacked on three more in the second inning against Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes, who needed 62 pitches to get through the first two frames.
Lovullo said Littell would be used primarily as a bullpen arm for the time being.
The D-backs have some arms capable of throwing multiple innings, but Littell’s ability to go well beyond a traditional two- or three-inning long reliever will allow him to serve a unique role and preserve the rest of Arizona’s bullpen if needed.
Littell has a 6.18 ERA as a starter this year, but a 3.18 in relief. He’s delivered four-plus innings as a reliever in all but one of his nine appearances in that role, and has even served as a “bulk starter” behind a short-outing opener.
“We feel like right now he is stretched out. And we know that he can give us 100 pitches if he pops out of the bullpen,” Lovullo said.
Sewald meant a lot to the Diamondbacks as the closer for most of this season and a clubhouse leader, but he was not performing well enough to hold onto a leverage role.
“We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion,” Blumenthal and U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., said in a letter sent to the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
In November 2024, FanDuel sent a Cameo video featuring Harper to a VIP customer. The bettor later sued the sportsbook, claiming it had taken advantage of his gambling addiction. Harper has denied knowing how FanDuel would use the video or the circumstances with the customer’s betting.
Even by the standards of his recent, injury-marred seasons, Max Scherzer’s 2026 campaign has been a rough one. The 42-year-old righty has made two trips to the injured list, and through the end of July had taken just seven starts and allowed more than a run per inning. Even on a Blue Jays team destined to be retooledahead of the trade deadline, he was clearly in no shape to be any contender’s hired gun. Nonetheless, Scherzer’s last two starts have been bright spots, and on Saturday evening, he notched career strikeout 3,516, officially moving him into the all-time top 10.
Scherzer wasn’t the only pitcher who reached a strikeout milestone this weekend. Aaron Nola, who started for the Phillies opposite Scherzer at Citizens Bank Park, collected his 2,000th career strikeout. Elsewhere, in a matchup that pitted the third- and fourth-ranked pitchers on the active strikeouts leaderboard, namely Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole, the latter notched his 1,000th strikeout since joining the Yankees. Then on Sunday, Jacob Misiorowski became the first pitcher to notch his 200th strikeout of the season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 04: Paul Sewald #38 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on August 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a wonderful Tuesday so far and surely nothing terrible will befall us. Then again, the Seattle Mariners do play a baseball game today. Oh well, links!
Former Mariner and current Angel in the outfielder Cade Marlowe has exercised an upward mobility clause in their contract. If an upward mobility clause in a contract breaks, does it just become stairs?
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 10: Adley Rutschman #31 of the Boston Red Sox catches in the bullpen before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 10, 2026 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The entire baseball world shines a white hot spotlight on the trade deadline. But the truth is that deadline deals are rarely as impactful as we want them to be. It’s a case of simple math. The Red Sox only have 44 baseball games left. That’s just not that much time for a baseball player to make an impact, and that’s even more true in the case of Adley Rutschman, who is both a catcher who needs extra rest and is coming off an injury.
Of the 44 remaining games, Rutschman’s probably only going to start around around 35 of them at most. If he maintains more or less the same level of production over those 35 games as he’s maintained all season, then we’re talking about 3-4 home runs, 6-10 doubles, and 25-30 total hits from Rutschman. That’s not that much!
Of course, that production would still be much better than the Sox have gotten from their catchers all year, which is why they got him in the first place. Moreover, anyone who lived through the Kyle Schwarber or Steve Pearce eras knows exactly what kind of boost the right trade deadline pickup can provide.
So with Adley Rutschman likely making his Red Sox debut tonight, what are you expecting from the new backstop?
Talk about Rutschman and whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
Louisville’s Zion Rose hit a home run against Kentucky at Jim Patterson Stadium in the 119th Battle of the Bluegrass. April 21, 2026 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (55-58, 12.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers won 4 of 6 in their series against the Toledo Mud Hens. On the mound, Henry Williams, who I talked about a lot of last week, followed up with another good start this past week. He went 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, striking out 6. Lucas Braun, who was the centerpiece in the Lane Thomas trade, made one start, going 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, striking out 3. Eli Morgan threw 3.2 scoreless innings in two relief outings, striking out 3. Carlos Duran threw 2 scoreless innings, striking out a pair. Connor Thomas threw 2 scoreless innings.
At the plate, Brett Squires went 10 for 25, smacking 2 doubles and 3 homers, driving in 8 runs. Jacob Berry, who the Royals just got from the Marlins, went 4 for 9 with a pair of doubles and a homer. Berry is a 25-year-old first baseman. The Marlins took him 6th overall in 2022 out of LSU. He has never made it to the big leagues, and is slashing .258/.380/.385 on the season, with 18 stolen bases. Gavin Cross went 7 for 20 with 2 doubles and a homer as well.
The Storm Chasers stay on the road this week, taking on the Columbus Clippers. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (44-62, 23 games back)
The Naturals lost 4 of 6 to the Wichita Wind Surge. At the plate, Spencer Nivens went 9 for 22 with 6 doubles on the week, he also stole 3 bases. Luke Pelzer went 8 for 22, scoring 3 times and stealing 2 bases. Pelzer’s hitting hasn’t slowed since being promoted. Carson Roccaforte went 6 for 23, smacking 2 more homers. Javi Vaz returned from injury and went 2 for 4 with a double.
On the mound, Steven Zobac made one start, going 3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, striking out 3. Unfortunately, he has been placed on the IL once again. Drew Beam made one start, going 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, striking out 3 batters. Brandon Johnson went 4 scoreless innings, over 3 relief appearances, striking out 8 batters. Johnson is a 27-year-old right hander from Mississippi; the Royals took him in the 9th round in 2022. Augusto Mendieta threw 4.1 scoreless innings, striking out 7 in two relief outings. Mendieta is a 21-year-old right hander from Mexico. The Royals signed him when he was 18 years old.
— Northwest Arkansas Naturals (@nwanaturals) August 6, 2026
The Naturals hit the road this week, taking on the Springfield Cardinals, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (53-51, 10 games back)
The River Bandits won 4 of 6 against the Peoria Chiefs. At the plate, Blake Mitchell went 6 for 19, smashing 3 homers and a double. He also walked 9 times; he stole 2 more bases and drove in 4 runs. Zion Rose played in 3 games this week in Quad Cities. The Royals 1st overall pick in 2026 went 3 for 12 with 5 stolen bases, including 4 in one game. He also worked 2 walks. Rose played left field in all three games. Chris Brito went 7 for 22 with two doubles and a homer. Derlin Figueroa went 6 for 22 with two homers and a double.
On the mound, Blake Wolters was really impressive, going 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, striking out 11. It was a positive sign for Wolters, who was promoted earlier this season, has struggled in Quad Cities. David Shields went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), striking out 9. Shields has hit a wall lately but bounced back nicely this week.
Not only did Zion Rose collect his first pro hit tonight, he added his first pro stolen base.
The River Bandits return home this week to take on the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Columbia Fireflies (55-51, 9.5 games back)
The Fireflies won 4 of 6 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. On the mound, the Fireflies threw a combined no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader. Michael Lombardi threw 4.2 innings, walking 2, striking out 8. Jhon Reyes threw 2.1 innings, striking out 2. Lombardi and Reyes are both 22-year-old right handers. Lombardi was the Royals second round pick in 2025, out of Tulane. He has a 3.17 ERA in 76.2 innings this season, striking out 109. Reyes is from the Dominican Republic, the Royals signed him when he was 19. He has an 8.84 ERA in 38.2 innings this season, striking out 34.
At the plate, Josh Hammond went 11 for 21, with two doubles and three runs driven in. Hammond is hitting .305 on the season. Sean Gamble went 4 for 18 with two doubles and a triple, driving in 6 runs. Camden Johnson the Royals 9th round pick last month out of Oklahoma, went 4 for 12, with 2 runs scored, 3 runs driven in and 3 stolen bases.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.
While nothing’s certain until it’s clinched, the Cubs seem headed to a postseason spot, whether it’s a Wild Card berth (and they currently have the first Wild Card spot and lead over the Diamondbacks and Phillies by 5.5 games) or the NL Central title. Thanks to the Padres defeating the Brewers Monday, the Cubs crept to within five games of the division lead.
Now that the Cubs’ starting rotation has been solidified with the acquisitions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, and will be further bolstered when Edward Cabrera returns from the injured list, who do you think should be the Game 1 starter for whatever postseason series the Cubs are in?
Matthew Boyd certainly has a case to be that starter, as he was last year. On the other hand, one of the reasons for the acquisition of Gausman was his outstanding record in last year’s postseason with the Blue Jays.
You could even make a case for Shōta Imanaga, given how well he’s pitched for the last couple of months.
Or would it depend on the round and/or the Cubs’ opponent?
Vote for your choice and let us know your reasoning in the comments and I’ll have the final results of this survey later in the week.
The Dodgers (71-48) squeezed out a 6-5 win over the Royals (49-71). Kansas City has now dropped four out of the last five games, while Los Angeles has won two out of three games after a season-long seven-straight losses.
Blake Snell will make his long awaited return after being injured his season debut back on May 9. Snell only lasted 3.0 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits. The Dodgers' pitching has a 5.24 ERA (26th) and a .243 OBA (T-14th), so Snell's return is needed down the stretch, as well as the possibility of Shohei Ohtani on the mound.
Kansas City has scored three or fewer runs in six out of the last seven games. The Royals have started August hitting .238 (17th) with 37 runs scored (17th). The only positive of Kansas City during this nine-game stretch 49 strikeouts (best) and the fourth-fewest walks (23). The Royals have a 5.88 ERA (29th) and are allowing opponents to hit .277 (27th).
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Royals at Dodgers
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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 Royals at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-272), Kansas City Royals (+218)
Spread: Royals +1.5 (+104), Dodgers -1.5 (-121)
Total: 8.5
Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Dodgers
Tuesday's pitching matchup (August 11): Michael Wacha vs Blake Snell
Freddie Freeman has recorded a hit in 17 of his last 19 games
Shohei Ohtani is batting .324 to start August (11/34)
Mookie Betts is hitting .194 in August (6/31)
Isaac Collins is hitting .160 in August (4/25)
Jac Caglianone is hitting .417 in August (15/36) with four home runs
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!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Dodgers
Los Angeles is 49-70 ATS, ranking third-worst
Kansas City is 55-65 ATS, ranking fourth-worst
Los Angeles is 63-55-1 to the Under, ranking 10th-best
Kansas City is 62-55-3 to the Under
Los Angeles is 20-37 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
Kansas City is 27-34 ATS on the road, ranking fourth-worst
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Royals
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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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 Tuesday's game between the Dodgers and the Royals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5
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COVERS INTEL: Over his last 30 at-bats against left handed pitching, Christian Walker owns a .304 BA, .609 SLG, 1.079 OPS, and .305 ISO.
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