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Blue Jays vs. Brewers prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 15

The Toronto Blue Jays (7-9) take on the Milwaukee Brewers (8-8) tonight in Game 2 of their three-game series in Wisconsin.

The Jays look to build momentum after a thrilling 9-7 extra-inning comeback win over the Brewers in Tuesday's series opener. Toronto fell behind 3-0 early but rallied for a total of a run in the eighth, three in the ninth, and an additional three in the tenth inning to earn the win. Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez went yard for the Jays who also got a crucial 10th-inning RBI double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. The win snapped a modest two-game losing streak for Toronto and kept them within two games of first place Tampa Bay in the American League East.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers are reeling, having dropped six consecutive games—their longest losing streak since 2023—following that disastrous ninth-inning implosion by their bullpen last night. Specifically, Trevor Megill was less than good, allowing three runs on three hits in the ninth to earn his first blown save of the season. Gary Sanchez and Jake Bauers each smacked his fifth home run of the season in the losing effort. Despite the six losses, the Brewers are just 1.5 games behind Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in the National League Central Division.

 

Tonight's pitching matchup features Blue Jays' right-hander Dylan Cease (0-0, 2.45 ERA) opposite Brewers' right-hander Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.73 ERA).

 

Lets dive into tonight’s 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 the 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 and How to Watch: Blue Jays at Brewers

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Brewers.TV, Sportsnet One

 

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.

 

The Latest Odds: Blue Jays vs. Brewers

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (-131), Milwaukee Brewers (+109)
  • Spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+129), Brewers +1.5 (-156)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers: Blue Jays at Brewers

Pitching matchup for April 15:

  • Blue Jays: Dylan Cease
    Season Totals: 14.2 IP, 0-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 26K, 9 BB
  • Brewers: Chad Patrick
    Season Totals: 12.1 IP, 1-0, 0.73 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 7K, 5 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Blue Jays vs. Brewers

  • Ernie Clement has hit in 4 straight (7-18) and 7 of his last 8 games (11-33)
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. is riding a 5-game hitting streak (10-20)
  • William Contreras has hit safely in all 9 games he has played in April (12-36)
  • Jake Bauers has homered in 3 of his last 4 games

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: Blue Jays vs. Brewers

  • The Brewers are 9-7 on the Run Line this season
  • The Blue Jays are 5-11 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 10 times in the Brewers’ 16 games this season (10-6)
  • The OVER has cashed 9 times in Jays’ 16 games (9-7)

 

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!

Expert picks & predictions: Blue Jays vs. Brewers

 

Rotoworld Bet 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 Wednesday’s game between Toronto and Milwaukee:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Brewers on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5.

 

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Reds closer Emilio Pagán appears to be injured on final pitch

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán appeared to injure himself on his final pitch in a night’s 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Pagán recorded his fifth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He appeared to wince following his pitch to Giants pinch hitter Daniel Susac, who flew to the warning track for the final out.

“We got to get him checked out,” Reds manager Terry Francona said following the game. “His hammy grabbed a little bit so we need to check him out. He’s getting looked at right now.”

Pagán extended his scoreless streak to six games and six innings.

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Tigers phenom Kevin McGonigle signs $150 million contract extension after 17 MLB games

Yet another young player has agreed to a long-term extension just days into his major league career. And Kevin McGonigle might be the best bet of the bunch.

McGonigle punctuated his loud debut with the Detroit Tigers by signing an eight-year, $150 million extension Wednesday, April 15, the club announced. The extension begins next year and runs through 2034.

Assuming McGonigle is not demoted to the minor leagues, the deal buys out his first three years of free agency. It includes a $14 million signing bonus, the club announced, and will peak with $23 million salaries in 2032, 2033 and 2034; performance escalators can boost the value of those final three years by up to $10 million.

It's a virtually risk-free bet for the Tigers, who will pay McGonigle, 21, an average of $18.75 million in that span. The early returns suggest the infielder will outperform the terms of his new deal: McGonigle debuted with a four-hit game, is batting .311 with a .417 on-base percentage and .908 OPS and ranks fourth among among AL position players with 1.1 WAR through 17 games.

Apr 14, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) celebrates after he dives in safe at home in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

His underlying statistics are perhaps even more encouraging. McGonigle ranks in the 98th percentile in baserunning value and the 95th percentile with an 11.1% strikeout rate. While his average exit velocity (88.1 mph) and bat speed (71.4 mph) are in the 34th and 39th percentiles, respectively, both metrics should improve as McGonigle - who turns 22 in August - adds strength to his 5-9, 187-pound frame.

McGonigle could have become a free agent at age 27, still the relative prime for a position player, and should he remain on this arc, likely could have exceeded his average annual value in his final two years of arbitration. As a comparison, Bo Bichette, 28, received a $42 million annual salary from the New York Mets on a three-year guarantee this past winter.

Kevin McGonigle contract is latest MLB extension

Yet McGonigle receives significant financial security and the knowledge he's firmly established as the Tigers' franchise cornerstone. He joins the Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin (nine years, $140 million) as well as two players who have yet to make their major league debuts - Seattle's Colt Emerson (eight years, $95 million) and Milwaukee's Cooper Pratt (eight years, $50.75 million) as rookies signing long-term deals just after or before their careers begin.

The Tigers are well-versed in this market: They signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year, $31.64 million deal that also includes three club options before Keith's 2024 debut. He's been a useful player in his first three seasons, and at $4.3 million this season, hardly busts their budget.

McGonigle will follow a similar path - yet the Tigers are quite confident they'll get significant bang for their guaranteed bucks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin McGonigle contract extension: Tigers sign rookie for $150 million

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Orioles manager Craig Albernaz returns — with a broken jaw — a day after being hit by a foul ball

BALTIMORE — With a big bruise on the right side of his face and several fractures, Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was back at the ballpark a day after being hit by a foul ball in the dugout.

“I can’t blow my nose for six weeks, because one of the fractures is kind of like where my orbital bone is,” he said before a 4-3 loss to Arizona. “If I blow my nose, it’s going to go up into my eye.”

Albernaz said he has more than a half-dozen fractures in his cheek area and a broken jaw, but he was relieved to avoid surgery and said he doesn’t need his jaw wired. Albernaz joked that he might grab a Ravens helmet from his desk to wear in the dugout.

Albernaz, in his first season as Baltimore’s manager, was in the part of the dugout closest to the on-deck circle when Jeremiah Jackson’s foul ball struck him in the fifth inning Monday night. He returned to the dugout an inning later when Jackson hit a grand slam, but he ultimately ended up listening to the game on the radio en route to a hospital, where he says he remained until about midnight.

“I was trying to get back out there after my concussion protocol was fine, but they wanted me to get a CT scan,” Albernaz said. “I was trying to get it after the game, but obviously the medical team has better judgment than I do.”

He was back in the dugout Tuesday, but the healing process could take time.

“Six weeks of soft foods,” Albernaz said. “Can’t do anything strenuous.”

Including argue with umpires?

“Medically speaking, yeah I probably shouldn’t,” he said. “I think everything gets thrown out the window when that first pitch happens.”

The Orioles also announced that infielder Jackson Holliday was recalled from his rehab assignment because of mild right wrist soreness. The team said that’s not uncommon following hamate surgery. He will be shut down for a few days.

Albernaz has been loath to give timelines on players returning from injury so as not to create added pressure.

“I said I don’t believe in timelines, and this is a perfect example of that. It all depends on the player,” he said. “It’s great to see Jackson being communicative and open at every turn.”

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Kevin McGonigle and the Tigers agree to eight-year contract extension

DETROIT, MI - APRIL 12: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting his first major league home run in the 5th inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Comerica Park on April 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Marlins 8-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Detroit Tigers announced on Wednesday that infielder Kevin McGonigle has agreed to a long-term deal set to run from 2027-2034. The deal guarantees the rookie phenon $150 million over that eight-year term, with escalators that could make the total worth $160 million. The 21-year-old will be a Tiger until he’s 30 years old under this contract.

One of the tricky parts of working out an extension was the fact that the Tigers are very close to the luxury tax threshold, which comes will a host of penalties that would affect their draft standing in 2027. The McGonigle extension is timed to avoid this, starting in 2027 and covering his last five years of team control, as well as what would have been his first three years of free agency.

McGonigle will make $1 million in 2027, $7 million in 2028, $16 million in 2029, $21 million in 2030, $22 million in 2031, and then $23 million per year from 2032-2034. The deal also includes a $14 million signing bonus, and $5 million in bonus money if McGonigle is traded to another club over the course of the contract. The escalators on the deal could add another $10 million total spread out over the final three years of the deal.

Kevin McGonigle was selected by the Tigers with the 37th overall pick in the 2023 draft. He played his high school ball for Monsignor Bonnor HS in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia. His rapid rise in the farm system made him the consensus second ranked prospect nationally entering the season to the Pirates’ Konnor Griffin. However, his base $150 million deal exceeds Griffin’s $140 million contract extension, making it the biggest contract ever given out to a player still under prospect status.

Across 17 major league games in his rookie season, McGonigle is slashing .311/.417/.492 with one home run, six doubles, a triple, and one stolen base. He has struck out just 11.1 percent of the time, and has walked in 15.3 percent of his plate appearances. He currently ranks 23rd best in the major leagues with a 162 wRC+ mark.

This is great news for the Detroit Tigers and the fanbase.

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Mets looking lost at the plate again in 7th straight loss

LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets’ bats have all but gone silent during a seven-game losing streak. With their best hitter Juan Soto sidelined, the rest of the lineup is pressing to generate offense.

The latest setback was a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve been outscored 36-10 during their skid and are mired in the NL East cellar at 7-11.

Soto is nursing a calf injury and isn’t expected back for another two to three weeks.

Francisco Lindor raised his batting average 18 points to .194 with a leadoff home run — his first RBI of the season — against World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It snapped the team’s streak of 20 scoreless innings and helped the Mets avoid three consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1992.

But Yamamoto promptly set down the next 20 batters in a row.

New York’s only other hits were a double by Bo Bichette in the seventh and singles by Carson Benge and Lindor in the eighth.

Trailing by a run in the ninth, the Mets got overly aggressive at the plate and Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia struck out the side to end the game.

“We chase and it’s hard to score in situations like that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “You really have to force those guys to come in the strike zone and right now we’re not doing that, especially at the end of the game.”

The Mets are hitting .178 during the skid, including .083 with runners in scoring position (2 for 24). They are averaging 1.43 runs per game with just eight extra-base hits.

“You’re down one run and you’re basically trying to hit one out of the ballpark and that’s when the chase comes,” Mendoza said. “If you continue to swing at pitches out of the strike zone, they’re going to continue to do that, so we have to make adjustments.”

The Mets struck out 11 times, their fourth straight game with double-digit strikeouts. Jorge Polanco, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos had two strikeouts each.

“It’s easy to put too much pressure on yourself,” Mendoza said. “You got to go back to your fundamentals, you got to go back to what got you to this level, understanding that you are a great hitter.”

If not, he said, the offensive struggles can spiral.

“I know it’s tough right now, but the last thing you could do is just panic and try to do too much,” Mendoza said.

The lone bright spot for the Mets was rookie Nolan McLean. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up one run and two hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

“He pretty much dominated one of the best lineups,” Mendoza said. “It sucks losing when you get that type of outing.”

McLean has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his first 12 major league games.

“It was fun to watch McLean pitch,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Man, he’s special.”

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Yankees At-Bat of the Week: Trent Grisham (4/13)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees celebrates his fifth inning pinch hit three run home run against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Monday night’s game against the Angels had a chance to be the most demoralizing loss of the Yankees’ season, even amid a five-game losing streak that included getting one-hit by the A’s and a 17-inning stretch where they failed to score. The offense had rightly come under fire for failing to uphold their end of the bargain as more than half the lineup languished below the Mendoza Line. You can therefore imagine the anxiety produced by the bats finally coming alive in the series opener against the Angels, only for the pitching staff to squander three separate leads.

It was admittedly difficult to muster even a mote of optimism after Mike Trout hit the second of his lead-altering home runs, leaving the Yankees in a two-run deficit heading into the ninth — Aaron Judge and his pair of home runs not due to bat again barring a lengthy rally. However, Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off with a single against closer Jordan Romano to offer the slightest glimmer of hope, bringing Trent Grisham to the plate as the possible tying run, the struggling center fielder having already impacted the game with a pinch-hit, three-run blast in the fifth.

Romano has been a two-pitch pitcher for the last four years, throwing the four-seamer and slider in roughly equal proportions, and he starts this AB with the heater.

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The pitch is over the plate, but sails a bit on Romano to land above the strike zone. Centrally-located, elevated four-seamers are tough pitches to lay off for the hitter because of how well you see the ball out of the hand, but Grisham doesn’t even flinch as he watches it into the catcher’s glove for ball one.

Romano sticks with the fastball given that the previous pitch didn’t miss by all that much.

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This one’s also decently close to the zone, about knee-high but a half a foot off the plate away. Once again, there’s not even a twitch out of Grisham as he takes it for ball two. It’s pretty clear between his previous two AB’s and these first two pitches that Grisham is seeing the ball well.

After watching Grisham spit on the last two fastballs, Romano tries to steal a strike with the backdoor slider to get back into the count.

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He misses his spot, but it’s still a decent pitch, landing just an inch or two below the zone for a ball. It’s actually a hell of a take by Grisham, the pitch in the zone right up until the last five feet before home plate when it’s downward break tilts it below the bottom edge of the zone. Somehow, Grisham is still able to identify this as a ball almost immediately out of Romano’s hand, despite how long it looked like a strike.

Behind in the count 3-0, Romano has to throw a heater down the pipe to avoid putting the tying run on base with no outs.

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Pretty straightforward here: no reason to give the green light and risk a double play ball — Grisham is taking all the way knowing he still has the count leverage fully in his favor if it gets to 3-1.

Interestingly, Romano doesn’t give in with the count 3-1 and throw another heater in the zone. He tries to throw a chase slider below the zone hoping for a whiff or, better yet, for Grisham to roll over a weak grounder.

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Instead, he leaves this breaking ball right in a lefty’s wheelhouse down and in, and Grisham does not miss. It’s awesome to see his mechanics and approach in this situation. He gets his front foot down early in case it’s a heater. However, he holds that front hip square and keeps his weight back, allowing him to be right on time to the off-speed while still maintaining a solid base to drive it with power. This tells me that Grisham is almost sitting on a mistake slider in the zone in this situation, which demonstrates excellent knowledge of his opponent. He barrels the ball to right for his second home run and fifth RBI of the night to truly ignite the game-winning rally.

Here’s the full AB:

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Speaking to the media prior to the start of this series, Judge called out the offense as a whole for pressing and trying to play hero. He implored his teammates to simplify their approaches — hunt a pitch in a particular zone and pass the baton to the next hitter if that pitch does not come. Grisham’s approach in this AB exemplified his captain’s commands. Knowing Romano’s propensity to be wild both in and out of the zone, it looks to me that Grisham is waiting for Romano to make a mistake with the slider in the zone. He disregards all the other pitches that don’t match the criteria of what he is hunting before ambushing the slider that he knows he can do damage on, and boy did he come up clutch after starting the game on the bench. His home run leveled the scores at ten apiece, setting up José Caballero’s double, steal of third, and scamper home on a walk-off wild pitch by Romano in this early contender for game of the year.

Grisham was such an important piece for the Yankees last season, his revamped approach underlining the front office’s decision to bring him back on the qualifying offer. He’s still the same remade ballplayer in 2026, placing in the 94th percentile or better in hard-hit rate, chase rate, walk rate, and squared-up rate. The results obviously weren’t there the first two weeks of the season, but the process remained sound and had to bear fruit eventually. This performance is hopefully just the shot in the arm needed to restore confidence and kickstart what I feel can be just as productive a season as 2025.

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Where to watch Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 15

The Chicago Cubs (8-9) and Philadelphia Phillies (8-9) meet in the decisive third game of their series. The teams split their first two games. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Shota Imanaga for the Cubs and Jesús Luzardo for the Phillies.

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

  • TV Channels: NBCSP, Marquee Sports Network

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Chicago Cubs: 8-9 (No. 5 in NL Central)

  • Philadelphia Phillies: 8-9 (No. 3 in NL East)

  • Spread: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies -135 (54.7%) / Chicago Cubs +110 (45.3%)

  • Over/Under: 8.5

Chicago Cubs: Shota Imanaga (0-1, ERA: 2.81, K: 20, WHIP: 0.81)
Philadelphia Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (1-2, ERA: 6.23, K: 26, WHIP: 1.15)

Weather: 90°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 42,901 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Brewers’ Pat Murphy criticizes booing of Trevor Megill while pondering how to get him back on track

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy is leaving open the possibility he could at least temporarily consider other closing options due to Trevor Megill’s early-season struggles.

Megill, an All-Star last season, was booed by the American Family Field crowd while allowing three runs in the ninth inning of a 9-7, 10-innng loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The outing left Megill with a 14.40 earned run average.

“I’m definitely way better than that,” Megill said. “Pitches can be a lot better. Pitch execution can be a lot better. A lot of things can be better.”

Murphy said afterward he may consider using someone else in the ninth inning, but noted that he didn’t want to decide that issue immediately after such an emotional loss.

He also emphasized Megill shouldn’t be getting booed, particularly after the way the veteran right-hander performed last year. Megill came back from a late-season arm injury and earned the save in Milwaukee’s Game 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series.

“These aren’t machines out there,” Murphy said. “These are people. I thought that was in poor taste, but I’ve done things in poor taste, too.”

Megill has given up eight earned runs through five innings this season. Last year, he didn’t allow his eighth earned run until mid-June.

“Is he throwing the ball well? No,” Murphy said. “Is he giving up hard contact? Yes. Do they swing at it like they know it’s coming? Yes. But did the guy save 30 games for us last year. I think he did. My heart goes out to him right now. It bleeds for him. He’s feeling it.”

Megill entered the game with a 4-3 lead, but he opened the ninth by walking Eloy Jiménez and allowing a ground-rule double to Davis Schneider. Both runners eventually scored. Kazuma Okamoto and Ernie Clement had RBI singles off Megill.

The bullpen’s inability to protect a lead caused Milwaukee to lose its sixth straight, which represents its longest skid since 2023. The Brewers wasted a gutsy performance from Jacob Misiorowski, who overcame an illness to work 5 1/3 innings while allowing two runs.

One reason Murphy could stick with Megill in the closer’s role is because the right-hander had handled that assignment so effectively before this year. Megill had a combined 51 saves from 2024-25. He posted a 2.49 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 47 innings last year.

The Brewers also don’t have many great alternatives.

Abner Uribe was one of the game’s top setup men last season, but he also is off to a slow start. He has allowed three runs over his last two outings and has a 5.68 ERA after finishing last season at 1.67.

Jared Koenig, who had 27 holds and a 2.86 ERA last season, is on the injured list with an elbow issue.

Murphy takes issue with the notation that the early-season struggles of these relievers is due to their heavy workload last year as the Brewers advanced to the NL Championship Series. Murphy noted that Megill, for instance, is throwing at a similar velocity as he did at this point last year.

Now, Murphy faces a hard decision as he decides whether to keep using Megill in that ninth-inning role.

“The way he’s throwing the ball now, he doesn’t deserve it,” Murphy said, “but he can earn it back.”

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Nationals at Pirates Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 15

The Washington Nationals (8-9) take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-7) for the third of a four-game series. Pittsburgh won Monday's matchup, 16-5, but Washington took Tuesday's, 5-4 in a thriller.

Since the Pirates' five-game winning streak, the Buccos have gone 4-4 over the next eight games. Pittsburgh has gone 5-3 at home so far and the offense has been cooking at PNC Park. The Pirates have the second-best batting average at home (.278) and are tied 11th for the most RBI (44).

Washington is 4-1 over the last five games for its best five-game stretch of the season so far. The Nationals have outscored its opponents 34-30 in that span with the Pirates scoring 16 in one game. Washington is 7-4 on the road this season despite the pitching staff having a 5.06 ERA (25th) and the offense boasting the second-highest batting average (.283).

Lets 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 the 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 Nationals at Pirates

  • Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park 
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 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 Nationals at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Washington Nationals (+149), Pittsburgh Pirates (-181)
  • Spread: Nationals +1.5 (-136), Pirates -1.5 (+113)
  • Total: 9.5

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Pirates

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (April 15): Jake Irvin vs. Mason Montgomery
  • Nationals: Jake Irvin  

2026 stats: 14.0 IP, 1-1, 7.07 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 16 Ks, 8 BB

  • Pirates: Mason Montgomery 

2026 Stats: 7.1 IP, 1-0, 6.14 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 16 Ks, 5 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Nationals’ CJ Abrams is hitting .356 with 21 hits, 41 total bases, and six home runs over 59 at-bats
  • The Nationals’ Nasim Nunez is hitting .192 with 10 hits and 12 strikeouts over 52 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Oneil Cruz is hitting .328 with 22 hits, 40 total bases, and seven stolen bases over 67 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .106 with five hits, 12 strikeouts, and five walks over 47 at-bats

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 Nationals at Pirates

  • The Nationals 11-6 ATS this season
  • The Pirates are 11-6 ATS this season
  • The Nationals are 12-5 to the Over this season
  • The Pirates are 10-7 to the Over 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Pirates

Rotoworld Bet 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 Wednesday's game between the Nationals and the Pirates.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pirates at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.5

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
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  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Snake Bytes 4/25: Kelly’s Heroes

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 14: Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Merrill Kelly Makes Season Debut
Merrill Kelly brought the team a vintage Kelly performance when he took the mound to make his 2026 debut against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Bullpen Holds Off Orioles, Giving Kelly Win in Season Debut
After blowing a 7-1 lead the previous night, it was understandable that there was some tension when the Diamondbacks needed to protect a two-run lead for 11 outs, the same number of outs as they needed on that dreadful night.

Kelly’s Return Pushes Pfaadt to Bullpen
A flurry of moves was made yesterday to accommodate the return of Merrill Kelly. Perhaps the biggest was hte moving of Brandon Pfaadt to the bullpen.

Pfaadt to Bullpen and Soroka to Rotation the Right Call – For Now
There exists a litany of easons that this will continue to be a fluid situation.

Moreno to IL
Gabriel Moreno has been placed on the IL as part of five moves made by the Diamondbacks. Aramis Garcia has been called up to take Moreno’s place for now. Pavin Smith was moved to the 60-day. Merrill Kelly was activated and Taylor Rashi was optioned to AAA-Reno.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to Start Rehab Assignment
Gurriel suffered a torn ACL on 1 September of last season. The rehab assignment now puts a ticking clock on Moreno’s return to the 26-man roster.

Blaze Alexander Discusses Facing Former Club
The utility man speaks about facing some of his old comrades as the Diamondbacks try to take down his new club, the Baltimore Orioles.

Craig Albernaz has Fractured Face
A scary incident occurred on Monday night when a foul ball was rocketed into the Orioles bullpen and struck manager Craig Albernaz in the face. Albernaz returned to duty Tuesday night, despite numerous cheek fractures and a broken jaw. He’s currently unable to blow his nose for six weeks but looks to be able to avoid surgery.

Other Baseball News

Top-100 Prospects Making Promotion Noise
The fact that only three names are listed here gives some idea of just how slow some players can get started when it is still chilly out.

What Players Think About ABS
Now that we have a few weeks of ABS in the bigs, players have been asked to weigh in on what they think.

Jarren Duran Gets Obscene with Fan Who ‘Crossed Line”
Jarren Duran being classy as alawys.

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Red Sox Minor Lines: Patrick Sandoval struggles again

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Los Angeles Angels shakes his hand and grimaces in pain after an injury on his throwing arm following a walk to Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the this inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Worcester: L, 4-9 (BOX SCORE)

“Struggling” out of the gate seems relative now with consecutive poor performances by Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray, but Patrick Sandoval doesn’t quite seem ready to rejoin the Major League roster in a few weeks (due to being a pitcher, he gets a month of rehab time.) He struck out just one through two innings, allowing five runs, and taking 59 pitches to do so with just 30 falling in for strikes. For the second consecutive start, he just generally looked like he couldn’t find the strike zone. Tyler Uberstine, usually a beacon of good stuff, even got knocked around by this Nashville (Brewers AAA) club, even though the staff did keep it in the park.

Offensively, you don’t stand much of a chance when the pitching walks eleven batters, or when the defense commits three errors, but the offensive support wasn’t awesome, either. Catcher Jason Delay hit an early home run, but it was downhill from there, as the WooSox left nine stranded.

Portland: W, 4-2 (BOX SCORE)

Franklin Arias, who’s been hitting to the tune of a .500+ batting average on the young season, hasn’t really showcased his power tool yet. That changed on Tuesday night in Altoona (Pirates AA) as he hit his first home run of the season. The team didn’t particularly look great offensively outside of that home run, though Nate Biaz got himself a couple knocks. But Isaac Coffey, Cooper Adams, Cade Feeney and Patrick Halligan kept it a winnable game despite with thirteen strikeouts and only two runs allowed.

Greenville: L, 0-3 (BOX SCORE)

Shea Sprague had a blip, as he allowed two Hot Rod (Rays High-A) home runs in five innings. It’s honestly funny how serviceable the page the 2024 13th round draft pick has been for Greenville so far this April: his ERA is exactly 4. On Tuesday, he gave up four hits and a walk in five innings (for a WHIP of 1) struck five out, but did have those balls leave the park. But, the truth is, Sprague could have been a lot worse… or he could have been a lot better… but it wouldn’t have mattered HOW good he was, because Greenville could not hit the Bowling Green pitching, settling for just one baserunner all night, when Yophery Rodriguez, a return from the Quinn Preiser trade now residing at the bottom of the lineup (he hit first or second for most of the season in 2025), broke up the perfect game with a double in the bottom of the sixth.

Salem: L, 5-7 (BOX SCORE)

If the offense was distributed better across the whole farm, we’d be having a different discussion. This seems obvious at its core, but this game looked close on the surface, but Salem pitching got taken for a ride a little bit, namely Adam Bates closing out the fifth for Leighton Finley and not having a particular awesome sixth. Skylar King hit his second home run in less than a week, but although his bat looks dependable, his key moments are in losing efforts. Where have I heard that before…

Have a stress-free tax day Wednesday.

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Cubs at Phillies Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for April 15

The Chicago Cubs (8-9) take on the Philadelphia Phillies (8-9) in the final matchup of a three-game series. The Cubs won yesterday, 10-4 after the Phillies won the opening game, 13-7.

Chicago evened up the series with a 10-4 win yesterday in a series that has featured 34 total runs! The Cubs are now 4-4 on the road this season and scored 43 total runs (10th-most) with the seventh-best batting average (.247). Chicago is back at home versus the Mets this weekend with three day games on tap.

Philadelphia is now 2-2 in the last four games and 2-5 in the last seven games. The Phillies are 5-6 at home and own and the third-worst ERA (5.25) and allow the third-highest opponent batting average (.274). Offensively, the Phillies are tied for the third-most home runs hit at home (14), but are 18th in batting average (.241). Philadelphia hosts Atlanta this weekend for a three-game set before going to Chicago to face the Cubs again.

Lets 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 the 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 Cubs at Phillies

  • Date: Wednesday, April 14, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park 
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN

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 Cubs at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Chicago Cubs (+119), Philadelphia Phillies (-143)
  • Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-175), Phillies -1.5 (+144)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Phillies

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (April 15): Jesus Luzardo vs. Shota Imanaga
  • Cubs: Shota Imanaga 

2026 stats: 16.0 IP, 0-1, 2.81 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 20 Ks, 4 BB

  • Phillies: Jesus Luzardo 

2026 Stats: 17.1 IP, 1-2, 6.23 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 26 Ks, 4 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not!

  • The Phillies’ Bryce Harper is hitting .258 with 16 hits and 30 total bases over 62 at-bats
  • The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .153 with nine hits and 12 strikeouts over 59 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Nico Hoerner is hitting .303 with 20 hits and 30 total bases over 66 at-bats
  • The Cubs’ Michael Busch is hitting .161 with nine hits, 13 strikeouts, and nine walks over 56 at-bats

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 Cubs at Phillies

  • The Cubs are 6-11 ATS this season
  • The Phillies are an MLB-worst 4-13 ATS this season
  • The Cubs are 10-6-1 to the Over this season
  • The Phillies are 9-7-1 to the Over 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cubs and the Phillies

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 Wednesday's game between the Cubs and the Phillies.

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cubs at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.5

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)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Where to watch New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Wednesday, April 15

Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to be on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they attempt to sweep a three-game series from the New York Mets. The Dogers won Tuesday’s game 2-1, handing the Mets their seventh straight loss. Clay Holmes is scheduled to start for the Mets.

  • New York Mets: 7-11 (No. 5 in NL East)

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 13-4 (No. 1 in NL West)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers -235 (67.0%) / New York Mets +190 (33.0%)

  • Over/Under: 8.0

New York Mets: Clay Holmes (2-1, ERA: 1.50, K: 12, WHIP: 1.11)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (1-0, ERA: 0.00, K: 8, WHIP: 0.75)

Weather: 68°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 56,000 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

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Rangers reliever Luis Curvelo hurt while delivering a wild pitch against the Athletics

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Texas reliever Luis Curvelo appeared to injure his throwing arm while delivering a wild pitch in the seventh inning of a game against the Athletics.

Curvelo’s pitch to right-handed batter Jacob Wilson sailed well left of the left-handed batter’s box and to the backstop.

As the 25-year-old, Venezuelan righty released the ball, he skipped off the mound in apparent pain, pulled his left hand immediately out of his glove and waved at the dugout in an apparent signal for a trainer while letting his glove drop to the ground.

Curvelo did not throw another pitch and was replaced by Tyler Alexander.

The Rangers did not immediately provide an injury update.

When a trainer arrived at the mound, Curvelo briefly touched his upper right arm with his left hand before walking to the dugout with a pained expression on his face.

Curvelo, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock on April 5, faced only Wilson while appearing in his fourth game this season.

In his previous three appearances for the Rangers this season, Curvelo had allowed six hits and three earned runs in five innings while also striking out three batters.