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Orioles-Rays series preview: Facing the AL’s best team

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 5: Tyler Wells #68 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This is a series that, on paper, is not setting up well for the Orioles. Their underwhelming performance of late has dropped them to the bottom of the AL East, though they are still within two games of the final wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Rays have surged to a nine-game winning streak that has them 6.5 games clear of the Yankees in the division, and well atop the junior circuit at large.

These four games will be played in St. Petersburg, where the Rays have been dominant all season long. They own a 41-18 record at home, the best mark in the sport. The Orioles, on the other hand, are 26-33 on the road and 27-28 against teams above .500.

Tampa’s offense comes into this series on fire. They just scored 30 runs in their three-game sweep of the Athletics, though that came on the heels of a stretch where they failed to score more than four runs in four consecutive games. Offense is not the team’s ultimate strength. They are 13th in MLB in runs scored on the year, but several of their big names have succeeded in August, including Chandler Simpson (161 wRC+ since August 1), Junior Caminero (153 wRC+), Jonathan Aranda (124 wRC+), and Yandy Díaz (111 wRC+).

The goal for the Orioles must be to get to the Rays bullpen sooner than later. The unit’s 4.46 ERA since the start of August ranks 24th in MLB, and many of their peripheral numbers are similarly subpar. They could get a boost this weekend with a return of the injured Manuel Rodríguez, who is yet to pitch this year and has already appeared in seven rehab games. Old friend Cole Sulser may also return from back spams, which put him on the shelf at the end of July. For what it’s worth, Tyler Wells has thrown 4.1 scoreless innings so far as a Ray while Bryan Baker has been one of the league’s best closers (1.55 ERA, 34 saves) this season

Adding to the uncertainty of this series is the Orioles pitching situation. They are yet to announce any of their starters for the series. That indicates that a roster move is coming, likely involving Chris Bassitt. The 37-year-old has made three rehab starts, including six shutout innings on August 7. It seems like he will start the opener of this series, but that has not been confirmed yet.

Game 1: Friday, August 14th, 7:10 p.m., MASN

TBD vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-4, 5.46 ERA)

Bassitt has not pitched in a major league game since June 3. His time with the Orioles has been a struggle. He has a 5.27 ERA over 12 appearances and 56.1 innings. He has been sharper during his minor league rehab games, and seems eager to help the team get back into contention. The team’s positive outlook on his health is likely what made the trade of Dean Kremer easier to pull off.

Matz will serve as the opener here. He has not thrown more than two innings in an appearance since late May, and this will be his first start at all since June 2. He has been quite good recently, allowing no runs over his last six appearances. That has dropped his season ERA from 6.29 to to 5.46.

Game 2: Saturday, August 15th, 6:10 p.m., MASN

TBD vs. LHP Ian Seymour (9-3, 4.08 ERA)

This would be Kyle Bradish’s turn in the rotation. He bounced back from a tough start against the Phillies to allow just one earned run over six innings in a tough luck loss to the Rangers. He has already made two starts against the Rays, both back in May. He served up three earned runs over 11.1 innings back then.

Seymour has been a useful piece that Kevin Cash has moved between the rotation and the bullpen several times this year. He has a 4.43 ERA as a starter and a 3.81 ERA as a reliever and has improved as the season has worn on. He has appeared in three games against the O’s this year, tossing 4.1 total innings without allowing an earned run.

Game 3: Sunday, August 16th, 12:15 p.m., Peacock

TBD vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.33 ERA)

This will probably be a Trevor Rogers start, though it remains to be confirmed. The lefty has labored a bit recently. Over his last three starts he has allowed 11 runs (eight earned) over 16 innings. But his peripherals are good. In those same 16 innings he has struck out 19, walked two, and only given up 15 hits. His FIP of 3.08 may be a better reflection than his 4.50 ERA over that stretch.

Peralta had a tough time with the Mets, and things haven’t gotten any better with the Rays. He has allowed 10 runs, all earned, over 9.2 innings in his two starts with the new club. His top line stats are worse than all of his expected numbers, but he has still been nowhere near the Cy Young level he pitched at in Milwaukee. The Rays probably aren’t too worried about it right now as long as he trends up closer to October.

Game 4: Monday, August 17th, 6:05 p.m., MASN

TBD vs. TBD

This is a wraparound series that ends on Monday. Neither team has announced a starter for the finale.

How many games do you think the Orioles will win in this series? Let us know in the comments.

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Astros vs. Mariners Series Preview with Seattle Broadcaster Ryan Rowland-Smith

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: Robbie Kruse shakes hands with Ryan Rowland-Smith after throwing the first pitch before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at T-Mobile Park on June 16, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mariners have been on the ropes lately.   With a sweep, the Astros could deliver a knockout blow, finishing them off once and for all.     If accomplished, it would set the stage for a two-team race between Houston and their interstate foes who reside 250 miles north.       

Ryan Rowland-Smith has been part of the Mariners broadcast team since 2017.   He first gained notoriety by striking out Ken Griffey Jr in his MLB Debut.    Today he dishes for us, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.  

Q: Is it now or never for Seattle in this upcoming series in Houston? 

A: Yes, especially after these losses to the Yankees. I compare this to 2025 when the Mariners were trailing the Astros late in the year, they were coming off a tough series against the Royals but they were in a completely different place. They had offensive threats and really good pitching.

They have gotten to this stage going into Houston up against Yordan Alvarez (he was not in the lineup last year) and really struggling to score runs. This road trip, in my opinion, with decide the season for the Mariners.

Q: When it comes to Cal Raleigh, do you think it’s just a case of him pressing too much and putting too much pressure on himself to make something happen?

A: All of the above. He is carrying the weight of the entire team. He is the team leader but taking the weight of everyone’s struggles on his shoulders. I think the struggles have just layered on from the expectations to be similar to last year, the WBC and no prep, to the injury and to the team struggles. He is really going through it.

 

Q: We saw Julio Rodriguez moved to the five spot in the order.    Do you think that trend will continue?   

A: I think the Mariners are in a position where they have to try different combinations in the lineup as well and put righties in slots to break up lefties. There have been so many variations of lineups this year. Last year it was pretty set in stone, but you have to try something different until something clicks. 

Q: One bright spot has been Randy Arozarena.    What does he bring to the table for Seattle’s offense?

A: More consistency. He used to put up numbers but it was so streaky. He is wearing out the opposite field. He has always had a ton of contact to right field but not this kind of slug. He’s cut down on the chase also. He’s also a free agent at the end of the year, so good time for him to be the most complete hitter in our lineup.

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Phillies on the Pharm: 8/14/2026

DETROIT, MI - JULY 10: Catcher Rafael Marchan #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 10, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Scranton/WB 5, Lehigh Valley 1

IronPigs had a bullpen game and it showed. Tucker Davidson gave up four runs and took his 5th loss of the season. The offense was held to just 4 hits on the game and 3 walks. Rafael Marchan was rehabbing the game and went 1 for 2 at the plate. His mid-game replacement Payton Henry had the lone RBI, a force-out where the bases were loaded. The IronPigs were 0 for 8 with RISP.

Reading 6, Chesapeake 4

27 year old starter Adam Seminaris has put up a nice little season with Reading this year, his first year with the organization after being a 2020 5th round pick of the Angels. He has a 3.24 EA with 131 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. Raylin Heredia hit his 20th HR of the season, a solo shot, and relative newcomer Wuilfredo Antunez (signed back on July 17th) hit his first HR with the org and 13th overall on the season. Heredia also picked up stolen bases 18 and 19, setting himself up for a nice 20/20 soon.

Brooklyn 6, Jersey Shore 1

Sam Highfill takes the loss, his 5th of the season, and has had a very bad time since being called up to High-A. His ERA has has ballooned to 5.83 over 66.1 IP. Meanwhile, the BlueClaws offense was held to 5 hits and went 1 for 12 with RISP. Devin Saltiban had two hits among those five.

Fort Myers 10, Clearwater 4

Always fun when you outhit the opposing team 13 to 9 and still lose the game and that is what happened here. Only two of those hits were for extra-bases. Starter Sean Youngerman gave up 4 of the runs (3 earned) and took his 6th loss. Catcher Macon Winslow had a multi-hit game, the first of his young professional career and is riding a 3-game hitting streak (he also had a throwing error and passed ball…).

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Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Boston shuts down the Jays

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 13: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Bombers took a painful 1-0 loss on Thursday at the hand of the Mariners. They mustered just one hit against Seattle, wasting a very solid effort from Max Fried, as they drop to 6.5 games out of first place in the East. As something resembling a silver lining, they were far from the only contender in the AL to be shutout on Thursday, as quality pitching was abundant around the league on a short day. With a disappointing contest for the Yankees behind us, let’s take a look at some of the other action around the Junior Circuit.

Boston Red Sox (65-56) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) 0

The Red Sox scored in the top half of the first inning on Thursday, and never looked back. Willson Contreras’ RBI double had them up early, and it was left-hander Payton Tolle’s game from that point on.

Boston’s 23-year-old lefty enjoyed one of the best starts of his season against Toronto, as he tossed eight strong shutout innings, striking out four batters and surrendering just two hits. Until the offense broke out late in this one, it was Tolle’s excellence on the mound that had Boston rolling.

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The Red Sox lead remained at just 1-0 until the eighth inning, when they loaded the bases with a pair of singles and an intentional walk. Caleb Durbin made the absolute most of the opportunity, when he belted a grand slam into the Jays’ bullpen in left field.

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Now up-5-0 in the ninth, Boston added some insurance thanks to a sacrifice fly from Masataka Yoshida, and another RBI off the bat of Durbin. Greg Weissert finished things off on the mound after Tolle’s eight innings of work, as the Jays a pair of hits in the scoreless affair. With the win, the Sox maintain their cushion in the wild card race.

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Other Games

Detroit Tigers (60-61) 3, Cleveland Guardians (59-63) 0:

Despite all of the selling taking place at the deadline, the Tigers netted another win on Thursday, and actually have hold of the final wild card spot in the American League. They took the lead in the third inning, thanks to a timely ground out, but would later add on to their total with a homer from Eduardo Valencia and an RBI from Spencer Torkelson. Most importantly, starter Keider Montero worked 6.1 scoreless frames, while the Detroit bullpen continued that trend to keep the Guardians out of the run column for the day. With no Tarik Skubal or Casey Mize, the Tigers still find themselves very much involved in the playoff hunt.

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Cincinnati Reds (58-62) 9, Chicago White Sox (62-58) 8:

Elsewhere in the Central, the White Sox dropped a tough one in a slugfest at home. The Reds jumped out early, with homers from Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suárez putting them up three runs in the first inning. The White Sox countered with help from some big hits off the bat of Randal Grichuk, whose double gave them the lead in the second inning, but the Cincinnati bats would not be silenced. The Reds plated six more runs between the third and the sixth, which included another long ball, this one from Tyler Stephenson. Chicago did what they could to stage a comeback, initially down 9-5, when a pair of big hits in the ninth cut the lead to just one, though they couldn’t ultimately complete the comeback.

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Los Angeles Angels (48-74) 7, Texas Rangers (60-62) 0:

The Angels jumped on the trend of tossing shutouts, doing so against Texas late on Thursday. All nine Los Angeles hitters tallied a hit in this one, including three each from Mike Trout and Denzer Guzman, who played big roles in the seven-run output. All the while, Walbert Ureña and the Angels’ bullpen kept things in check and the Rangers out of the run column. With the Tigers winning, the Rangers drop to a half-game out of the wild card with their loss.

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Mariners News: Colt Emerson, Hunter Greene, and Buster Posey

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 8: Former San Francisco Giants player Buster Posey waits in the dugout before the Wall of Fame pregame ceremony at Oracle Park on August 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning everyone and happy Friday!

The Mariners snapped their six-game skid yesterday in a 1-0 win over the Yankees.

The team heads to Houston today for a key three-game series against the first-place club in the AL West, with first pitch slated for 5:10 PM PT.

In Mariners news…

Around the league…

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How worried are you about the Red Sox after the losing streak?

TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 13: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Red Sox 5-game losing streak, thankfully, is over. And while I wouldn’t exactly say that Red Sox Nation was panicking this week, there certainly was a sense of “oh no, what’s going on here?” as the bats went silent and the losses piled up.

It’s hard to blame anyone for feeling that way— we were subjected to some UGLY baseball for the first third of the season. A lot of fans probably don’t fully trust this team, and for good reason. And yet the FanGraphs playoff odds remain extremely favorable for the Sox, who currently sit with a 94.2% chance of making the playoffs. (And, by the way, that number never even dropped below 90% during the mini losing streak.)

So after Payton Tolle’s heroics yesterday, how are we feeling today? Are you brushing off the losing streak as something that almost every team goes through at some point, or are you worried about fundamental issues with the roster (i.e. the lacking of power hitting) popping up again?

Talk about the streakiest team in MLB history and whatever else you’d like in this space and, as always, be good to one another.

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Ranking all 30 MLB ballparks based on Yelp reviews

The great divide between critics and the casual fan has never been greater, and the work of critics is under much more scrutiny than ever before.

Take a look at any movie on Rotten Tomatoes, and you'll see the disconnect between critics and fans. The same can be said about MLB stadiums. While supposed experts can give their take on a certain ballpark, nothing beats the opinions of the thousands of folks actually attending the games.

That's where Yelp comes into play. A collection full of people's thoughts and their greatest and worst experiences at each MLB park is exactly what we need to put together a true ranking of all 30 MLB home stadiums.

All 30 MLB stadiums, ranked by Yelp reviews

NOTE: If two stadiums have the same rating (out of 5 stars), preference will be given to the stadium with more total reviews on Yelp

30) Tampa Bay Rays - Tropicana Field (3.5, 488 reviews)

  • Brian L. writes, "It's a little weird, but not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I can guarantee you that 90% of the "experts" making those arbitrary ballpark ranking lists online haven't even been to most of the ballparks. The seating and playing area is really swell! The concourse feels a little claustrophobic, and the food areas feel a little like a food court. No balls hit the catwalks or scaffolding, but I thought it was just fine." — 3 stars
  • William S. writes, "Only a venue locals can love. Awful sound system and big screens. But, the lighting was fine. A/C was the sole redeeming value. $20 parking if paid on the day of." — 2 stars

29) Texas Rangers - Globe Life Field (3.6, 234 reviews)

  • Mahnaz S. writes, "The stadium is really nice and i love that it has AC. There are multiple food/drink area with seating! People were nice and helped us to find our section. But the food is not good! We got jumbo hot dog and received two small hot dogs instead and the nachos is very disappointing." — 4 stars
  • Ken F. writes, "The stadium is fine and clean, but $20 beers they have an over 2000% mark up. Yes, I said 2000% mark up. The prices is why it gets one star. I like my Rangers, but the prices are out of control." — 1 star

28) Toronto Blue Jays - Rogers Centre (3.6, 395 reviews)

  • Flynn B. writes, "I mean it's a great place (and a great team), but the stadium itself is a great spot that brings Toronto's culture together." — 4 stars
  • Rob K. writes, "This was my first trip to the Rogers Centre since 2006. There have been extensive renovations since my last visit. I saw a Blue Jays vs. Cubs game on a sold out Thursday 3:07 game. I purchased a GA ticket just to get inside and found a good place to stand on the left field line. I can't comment on the food, I had a good hot dog outside. I did have a beer inside which was a local option. It was cold and tasty. There seemed to be a lot of options, and plenty of large gathering places inside. Great environment to watch a game, electric crowd, very friendly employees, and plenty of pre/post-game options outside the park." — 3 stars

27) Miami Marlins - loanDepot Park (3.7, 181 reviews)

  • Rob K. writes, "Not impressed at all. I was staying in Miami Beach and went to a Marlins game, the second game of the 2024 season. There is nothing immediately around the park to frequent (other than Wendy's or Subway). Parking is extremely easy, and nearby (if desired ). Bobblehead Museum in centerfield is amusing. Nothing exceptional about the concessions inside the park, or the ballpark itself. Roof was open during my visit which certainly helped the experience." — 3 stars
  • Alan N. writes, "Came for another game with the roof closed. Not as great an experience as roof open, but still a decent ballpark. Parking is kind of a nightmare. I made one wrong turn and I had to circle the whole stadium to go back in the right direction. Took me an hour to leave the area." — 4 stars

26) Athletics - Sutter Health Park (3.8, 485 reviews)

  • Janelle M. writes, "This ballpark is okay. Tt's small and definitely not meant for major league games at all. There is absolutely no shade so expect to get cooked if it's a hot sunny day. There is plenty of parking at the ballpark. Or you can street park in downtown Sacramento or at the parking garages. Overall, it's just okay, but I'd come back periodically." — 3 stars
  • Gary I. writes, "It is truly survival of the fittest here. Watch on TV if you actually want to watch the game and have a seat. If you go solo, get here 1.5 hours early and never eat or use the restroom or you will loose your place." — 2 stars

25) Atlanta Braves - Truist Park (3.8, 683 reviews)

  • Dmitry D. writes, "For a big organization like this they could do better. We came with a clear bag that we always take to every ballpark, but here and Dodgers Stadium they didn't let us in and we had to waste $20. Their food is overpriced and just left a sour taste in our mouths since we had things in that bag that we wanted to take with us." — 1 star
  • Liz H. writes, "Leaving after a game is a nightmare. How is there no mass transit near a major stadium? The closest one is a bus stop a mile away. It's not feasible to walk because it's either unbearably hot out or raining. And there's gridlock traffic. The stadium has good concessions but everything is expensive." — 3 stars

24) Arizona Diamondbacks - Chase Field (3.8, 979 reviews)

  • Ken R. writes, "A great venue to attend baseball games and concerts. I love the variety of food and ease of getting in and out of the park even on the busiest of game nights." — 5 stars
  • Betty C. writes, "Great seat layout makes every one able to see the action at home plate. Nice scoreboard that replicates digitally what an old time park scoreboard would look like. Of course, the prices are astronomical for the food and beverages." — 4 stars

23) Washington Nationals - Nationals Park (3.8, 1.1K reviews)

  • David Z. writes, "Took metro to the game, short walk to the stadium. Plenty of food or drinks options if you want to pregame outside, but also plenty of options inside as well. Stander high stadium prices here. Most vendors quick to process orders and keep the line moving. For hot days there are mister fans in various locations to cool the summer heat. Good views throughout the park to enjoy a game or event!" — 4 stars
  • Juan F. writes, "Second MLB stadium I have ever been to. It's a nice arena with a good assortment of stands for food, drinks, booze and merchandise. We had no issues at security or leaving the ballpark. Drinks were easy to get as there are some self checkout places." — 4 stars

22) Los Angeles Dodgers - Dodger Stadium (3.8, 2.7K reviews)

  • Gary H. writes, "As far as stadiums go, this one is really nice to watch a game, but their food choices are horrible. No cotton candy for the kids. They ran out of dodger dogs at several booths in the 3rd inning. And just in general sh*t choices for food if you want to eat somewhat healthy. $50 for a cheeseburger??! I couldn't believe. Are they trying to get us to not buy food?" — 3 stars
  • Lakeshia O. writes, "One of the best stadiums we've been to! It was our first dodgers game and we had a blast! There is literally so much for you to in the stadium for both kids and adults! The food was pretty good and normal pricing for a stadium (we tried the nachos and the pizza). They have a cute experience to get your picture on a trading card! It's $25. Super cute and fun! There's tons of food right when you enter the stadium and when you're inside by your seats! And the game was good! Love Dodger fans. A really good experience!" — 5 stars

21) Houston Astros - Daikin Park (3.9, 694 reviews)

  • Rebecca M. writes, "Such a great Park to experience priceless memories at, the baseball games, the concerts. This is nostalgic. Although there was a name change everything else feels familiar. Easy entry, affordable food, huge merch store! We love this classic Houston staple. We hope it's around for many more years to come!" — 4 stars
  • Rob K. writes, "This was my second visit to the Astros ballpark, with my first visit coming in 2009. I'm not a big fan of the park. First, there isn't a lot around the park to visit pregame. Second, unless you're on the lower level the A/C doesn't make it up to the second deck. I've been to all the current domed stadiums in MLB and this is in the bottom tier of that group." — 3 stars

20) Los Angeles Angels - Angel Stadium (3.9, 1.9K reviews)

  • Rosa R. writes, "Although I'm a Dodger fan, I love the Angels and coming to this baseball park! Brought our daughter-in-law and granddaughter to their first baseball game! Been a while since we've been here, I remember the food was better then, maybe just the chicken wasn't hitting the spot in the nachos, it was okay. Unfortunately, where we were sitting, got a little rowdy and we had to leave early, before the fireworks, bummer!" — 4 stars
  • Alan N. writes, "Super mid stadium and super mid team. They increased parking to $25. That's ridiculous. The team is trash. Don't charge $25." — 3 stars

19) Chicago White Sox - Rate Field (4.0, 773 reviews)

  • Alan N. writes, "Good stadium. The team is trying to turn it around so better fans in the crowd. Much better young talent on the field. Fun place to be. Food was good. Ice cream was standard." — 4 stars
  • Caroline L. writes, "Get here early at least 90 minutes before the game it's no joke. It's so unorganized of where to park and they do close some small roads. I definitely recommend the CTA train instead of driving. It would've been waaaay easier." — 4 stars

18) New York Yankees - Yankee Stadium (4.0, 1.7K reviews)

  • James T. writes, "From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is electric, The stadium is fairly clean, it could use some paint and cleaning in some spots, broken handrails, etc…The stadium offers excellent sightlines The food and beverage options are super pricey and full of booze (no energy drinks?) the staff is friendly and helpful." — 4 stars
  • Derek A. writes, "It's always been a dream to make it to the baseball Mecca so being here felt surreal. This is more of an admiration post opposed to a review! I'll be back for another game, concert etc. The prices are NY prices so don't expect not to spend money while your here." — 4 stars

17) New York Mets - Citi Field (4.1, 1.3K reviews)

  • Riki J. writes, "Citi Field is hands down my favorite stadium in the whole wide world. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is electric and there's always something to see, eat, or do. The food options are some of the best you'll find at any ballpark, the staff is consistently friendly and helpful, and the stadium itself is clean, modern, and easy to navigate. Whether you're a lifelong Mets fan or just visiting for a game, Citi Field absolutely lives up to the hype. Every visit feels like an experience, not just a baseball game. Now if the Mets could get a little good mojo going on the field, it would be the perfect place." — 5 stars
  • Nadia C. writes, "Nothing like stadium chicken fingers! great selection of food choices. there is something for everybody!" — 4 stars

16) Detroit Tigers - Comerica Park (4.2, 510 reviews)

  • Maya C. writes, "I really enjoy going down to the ballpark! I am a long time Detroit Tigers fan and Comerica Park has become their home over the past couple decades and I enjoy the experience overall. I would love to have more affordable ticket prices. It would be great to have more food choices on the upper levels and not just in the food court area. Those things are just on my wish list. I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons I love the beautiful setting of the stadium with the backdrop of the cityscape." — 4 stars
  • Jennifer R. writes, "We loved the Tiger Den visitor experience. You have your own entrance with expedited security and ticket scanning. The access to the lounge was great for pre game drinks and to avoid the rain passing through. The usher assigned to our section was A++ - she was friendly, helpful and professional. Tons of food and drink options (and a surprisingly legit margarita to be had). The fans were into it and the post game fireworks show was incredible." — 5 stars

15) Colorado Rockies - Coors Field (4.2, 889 reviews)

  • Charles R. writes, "Foods a little over priced and parking too. The stadium is great and the field crew are amazing especially on snow games or hail games. They get the field up and ready. I tend to park way up on California and just walk down not only do I beat the traffic I also get to swing by restaurants off of 16th Street. The stadium has some of the best Colorado sunsets and the fireworks from 4th July are amazing as well." — 5 stars
  • James M. writes, "I had not visited Coors Field in a number of years and really enjoyed the recent experience. Located in lower downtown, the ballpark was a short, pleasant walk from our hotel. We really appreciated the clean, well-maintained facility and enjoyed the great views of the Rocky Mountains." — 5 stars

14) Seattle Mariners - T-Mobile Park (4.2, 1.1K reviews)

  • Karla S. writes, "Beautiful stadium glad we were able to catch a game on our trip to Seattle. Great atmosphere, great fans, lots of food and beverages. They even have a phone charging station which I thought was super cool. The stadiums has a great set up, anywhere you sit you'll have a great view, I especially liked that you can watch the pitchers warm up. If you're ever in Seattle I recommend watching a game at T-Mobile Park." — 5 stars
  • Michelle H. writes, "We had such a fun time at T-Mobile park, there are so many unique food and drink options. The playground in the outfield is great when the kids are getting restless and everyone was great. Overall great experience and would definitely come back." — 4 stars

13) San Diego Padres - Petco Park (4.2, 2.2K reviews)

  • Anh-Dao T. writes, "The rumors are true. Petco Park is definitely one of the best MLB stadiums! We were shocked it was so packed on a Tuesday and the vibe was very chill and friendly. Great food stands, including Hodads and Mister Softee right next to each other. We enjoyed the barbeque burger with onion rings and my son was thrilled to see his favorite ice cream at the park." — 5 stars
  • Cheryl G. writes, "Petco Park is beautiful! It's always a good time going to see the Padres play. Sometimes you even get really lucky with a killer sunset. I've been to a couple other events there and I've always thought they were well put on. The concessions are pretty good, there's a big variety of food and I love all the local craft breweries. It is crazy expensive to eat and drink there. The last time I went, I got a hot pretzel and I went into this little area where they pre-authorize my card and then I just picked up whatever food and drinks I wanted and the camera charged me the appropriate amount when I left. That was kind of cool." — 4 stars

12) Kansas City Royals - Kauffman Stadium (4.3, 387 reviews)

  • David M. writes, "Going to Kauffman to see the Royals is always a great time. There isn't a bad seat in the stadium and you can typically find cheap and affordable tickets. There are plenty of food stands but the options are lacking. They are getting better options when it comes to food and beer but there is still some work to be done here. They have all of your favorite stadium eats and there are some local options as well." — 4 stars
  • Dawn S. writes, "We got to see Royals vs. Padres and loved every minute of it. Yes it was hot outside but my whole family loved the experience. Can't wait to come back." — 5 stars

11) Cleveland Guardians - Progressive Field (4.3, 404 reviews)

  • Cyrus A. writes, "Say what you will about the Guardians, but at least they play at a beautiful ballpark. Like other cities in the Midwest, Cleveland has the luxury of putting its stadiums in/next to downtown, making it super walkable from the city center. Very convenient. The stadium itself has a great layout, with a field below ground level that almost makes it feel like a minor league park (with better views for fans)." — 4 stars
  • Emma B. writes, "This was our 25th active MLB stadium. Nice ballpark. We came early and checked out Heritage Park, met a hotdog over there! We sat behind the visitor's dugout on 1st base and seems to be in a season tickets area, which was cool to chat with them. Tried their ballpark mustard, wasn't a fan. Hotdogs and beer was on special for the weekend. Meet the mascot as well. Visited from out of town, stayed downtown near 4th street, easy walk to stadium." — 4 stars

10) Cincinnati Reds - Great American Ball Park (4.3, 505 reviews)

  • Lindsay H. writes, "Easy parking, inexpensive tickets, and a great game experience, overall. Very family friendly. Best kid zone/parent accommodations I have ever encountered in a baseball stadium. Reading and sensory rooms, nursing room, playground, family restrooms, and batting cages with t-ball stands. This is near the swings and couches that overlook the river and skyline. On a lower level, there is a mini ball field where they will pitch to kids 12 and under. Kids can also try to catch/field the balls from the outfield." — 4 stars
  • Tyanna M. writes, "Love GABP. Lots of parking in garage around the park. You can purchase parking when you purchase your tickets. Tickets are viable in the Ballpark app. Lots of good options in the park. Fun games to play prior to the game. Typical opening time us 1.5 hours prior to game time but if it differs it will be posted in the Cincinnati Reds website. We always have fun at this ballpark." — 5 stars

9) Philadelphia Phillies - Citizens Bank Park (4.3, 651 reviews)

  • Ken J. writes, "Gates open 90 minutes the first pitch. We got to our seats right away and went shopping in the team store in section 134. The amount of Phillies gear is staggering! Our ushers were super friendly and very knowledgeable about the stadium and where to find what ever we needed. Thank you to the Phillies and staff for making our first return trip to Citizens Bank Park in nearly 20 years a great experience that our kids will never forget." — 4 stars
  • Alan N. writes, "Good ballpark with great fans! Love the area behind right field where the kids can go hang out! Getting a photo with the Phanatic is one of the hardest thing to do, but I stumbled into some great luck finding him. A lot to see and a lot to take in. Ring the bell!" — 4 stars

8) Milwaukee Brewers - American Family Field (4.3, 685 reviews)

  • Tracy M. writes, "I love coming to this unique ballpark. There are some nice kids activities outside to use before the game, like a playground, miniature golf, chalk drawing, and other sponsored activities. The facility itself has many other activities like batting games and ski ball for kids to play too. There is a nice variety of food and drink choices. The bathrooms are always clean and stocked. It's always an exciting fun time!" — 5 stars
  • Alexander D. writes, "What an atmosphere and great pricing! I think the beauty is in the atmosphere as it is authentic to Milwaukee highlighting a lot of local favorites. My favorite is the local tap offerings as I brought a friend from out of state and he could come enjoy what Milwaukee has to offer. Also it's so accessible with all of the shuttle offerings. I have also enjoyed the tailgating experience they offer. Who also can't be mad at a ballpark with a value menu." — 5 stars

7) Minnesota Twins - Target Field (4.4, 479 reviews)

  • Brian L. writes, "I'll go ahead and put this in the top five of ballparks I've visited. Indeed a surprise, but the whole experience just felt "right". The stadium is very nicely designed, incorporated into the existing city infrastructure, and the exposed limestone walls in the outfield are a pleasant touch." — 5 stars
  • Rob K. writes, "My wife and I attended a Sunday afternoon game against the St. Louis Cardinals. I've been to all current 30 MLB Ballparks and without a doubt this is in the top-10. Ballpark is in a great location and everyone is extremely friendly. We were staying nearby and walked to the game. Based on the prices, seat locations, and any other variables this is a 5 star venue. We had club seats which were extremely comfortable and well priced. It's a great ballpark you don't want to miss. I'd love to return." — 5 stars

6) St. Louis Cardinals - Busch Stadium (4.4, 647 reviews)

  • Brandi C. writes, "One of the best baseball stadiums to watch a game! Even if you are a passerby, you can see some of the field. The restaurants across the street even have some limited seating on their balcony's to enjoy the game. Bright and non-covered open field. Easy access to all gates." — 5 stars
  • Gary K. writes, "Visited the stadium for the very first time to watch the Cardinals beat Texas...go Cardinals! Every staff member I encountered was super nice and accommodating. They were very courteous and polite to me and my party as we spoke with them trying to find our seats, getting drinks, and on the way out. Absolutely a great time at a beautiful stadium." — 5 stars

5) Chicago Cubs - Wrigley Field (4.4, 1.9K reviews)

  • Debbie F. writes, "What's not to love about this ballpark??? They still have the old scoreboard being turned by hand. The location is great! Ok, getting here is a pain and takes forever. But, the ballpark is cool and so worth the experience. The surrounding area has lots to do before and after the game. Easy to make a day/evening out of cheers on the Cubs and being entertained." — 5 stars
  • James L. writes, "What a field and what a fan base that is very passionate with their team. Also, what a beautiful stadium. I enjoyed it very much and the food was good and drinks were good too. Everyone here is so friendly." — 5 stars

4) Baltimore Orioles - Orioles Park at Camden Yards (4.5, 897 reviews)

  • Kimberly J. writes, "It's always a good time at Camden Yards. Every seat seems to have a great view of the field. The variety of food and drink options are endless. The staff is always helpful. My only complaint is the pricing or overpriced food and drinks. Other than that, I love coming here for O's games." — 4 stars
  • Chanel L. writes, "As always the best Baseball Park one can visit. The atmosphere is ways 100. The food has gotten better as well as spirited drink options. The fan interaction is awesome. Many fun activities to keep it fun as well." — 5 stars

3) Boston Red Sox - Fenway Park (4.5, 1.6K reviews)

  • Thao T. writes, "One of my favorite ballparks. Fenway is smaller than most other ballparks so you get a better view. It is a very historic ballpark so a guided tour will fill in many details and provide access to the Green Monster. I was able to access the VIP suites during a collegiate football event and the food, service, and views were amazing. Definitely a must see whether you're from Boston or visiting. That surrounding area has lots of food and drink options as well as Target and Star Market which are very convenient." — 5 stars
  • Robert D. writes, "This place IS amazing! Whether you are a Red Sox fan or not this is a must if you are a baseball fan. The rich history, the unique park and the "Green Monster" are things worth seeing an experiencing. We did a tour plus the game. Simply awesome and you should go!!" — 5 stars

2) San Francisco Giants - Oracle Park (4.5, 3.5K reviews)

  • Nell C. writes, "Oracle Park had great acoustics and each seat had a decent view to the ball field. Park food is always overpriced but the Japanese hot dog is pretty good. Fries are nice and crispy." — 5 stars
  • Lucy L. writes, "Beautiful ball park with a million dollar gorgeous view of San Francisco Bay. Easy transportation by bus, street car, train, or parking lot nearby. Very well-organized, professional, helpful and thoughtful staff here. Many food & drink options that emphasize local foods. Many seat options to choose from around the ball park. Fun to walk around the place to check out displays such as World Series trophies, the giant mitt & coke bottle slide, the cable car, and many statues and plaques to admire on many famous ball players. I've been coming here for years with my family and will keep coming back for games. I also appreciate that the park hosts many other non-baseball events. Go Giants!" — 5 stars

1) Pittsburgh Pirates - PNC Park (4.6, 714 reviews)

  • Jen B. writes, "One of the best spots in Pittsburgh. We went to our first Pup Night this week and it was a blast. They had bandanas for the dogs, treats, ice cream, a litter box situation, photos…all sorts of stuff. They put you in the roof top area which is a great space." — 5 stars
  • Olivia C. writes, "I would have given it 5 stars...but I'm a Mariners fan and we lost that day! It is a beautiful stadium with amazing bridges to get there. But I'm bias against T-Mobile Park!" — 4 stars

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Ranking all 30 MLB ballparks based on Yelp reviews

Posted on

Friday morning Rangers things

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers runs the bases in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 13, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning, LSB.

The Rangers suffered another horrible loss last night.

Shawn McFarland wraps up the disastrous series in Anaheim.

Jacob deGrom had to leave the game early due to arm issues.

Degrom will undergo imaging later today.

Elsewhere Evan Grant answered Rangers questions in a live Q&A.

And good news! The BZZR app is now on Roku. So…. there’s that.

That’s all for this morning. Sigh.

Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Joshua Báez arrives in style, Brandon Pfaadt is untouchable

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition to your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Joshua Báez - OF, STL (58% rostered)

(PROSPECT STASH, POWER UPSIDE)

Báez 23-year-old outfielder is one of the Cardinals' top hitting prospects and possesses tantalizing power and speed upside to make an impact for fantasy managers down the stretch, even if he struggles with some swing-and-miss. Báez has hit 33 homers with 21 steals with a .893 OPS across 102 games with Triple-A Memphis. This comes after a 20/54 season across High-A and Double-A in 2025. Those tools make him one of the better lottery tickets to stash for a final push in fantasy leagues. Yes, he strikes out a lot, and there will be swing-and-misses, but the other tools should make up for it. It could also be the time to stash Charlie Condon - 1B/OF, COL (8% rostered). The 23-year-old is hitting .279/.395/.538 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, and six steals in 98 games at Triple-A this season. If Cole Carrigg can truly hang at shortstop, then the DH spot in Colorado could be Condon's in a week or so.

Sunday update: well, we probably just watched the greatest debut game ever. Not even just in baseball, possibly all sports, all-time. First, Báez demolished the first pitch he saw as a big leaguer for a 449 home run to dead center.

He didn't stop there. He homered again in his next at-bat and then AGAIN in the next on. He is the first player ever to hit three home runs in their first three major league at-bats or even just three times in their first game. The hype is surreal at the moment, so be ready to bid heavily if you want to add him while remembering that with his monster tools, there are still swing-and-miss concerns that come with them.

Zack Gelof - 2B/3B/OF, ATH (43% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

Gelof returned from the IL on August 10th and has gone 5-for-12 with two home runs, five runs scored, and three RBI in his three games back. Gelof has been great for the A's this season, cutting down on his swing rate and being more selective in his approach, which has led to real gains in contact rate and zone contact rate. His bat speed is also up, and he remains a solid power/speed option with 13 home runs and eight steals in 70 games this season. If he was dropped, he needs to be added back.

Lawrence Butler - OF, ATH (35% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

A few weeks ago, Eric had Butler in an article on players likely to have a second-half surge. In that article, Eric mentioned that the early part of the season was clearly a struggle for Butler after undergoing offseason surgery on both knees. He wasn't hitting well in May and June, but the hard-hit rate was going up, the groundball rates were coming down, and his bat speed was back up around 74.3 mph, so it seemed like better times were coming. In 25 games in the second half, Butler is hitting .241/.307/.468, but he has four home runs, 14 runs scored, 11 RBI, and three steals. That comes with an 11.5% barrel rate and 47.5% hard-hit rate, while he's also playing every day; even against lefties. That's a profile that works in 5-OF leagues or deeper formats.

Sunday update: Butler homered in three consecutive games between Tuesday and Friday as he starts to string together some solid play. He was also in the lineup against left-handed pitchers on Saturday and Sunday as he's now firmly an everyday player.

Andruw Monasterio - 1B/2B/3B/SS, BOS (31% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME, HOT STREAK)

We've had Monasterio here for a bit, and the shine may be waning, but he's still playing regularly and putting together solid numbers. In 23 games since the All-Star break, he's hitting .351/.424/.506 with one home run, 12 runs scored, 16 RBI, and two steals. He's unlikely to keep playing at this level, but the Red Sox don't have another player that can play shortstop until Trevor Story is back from the IL or they call up top prospect Franklin Arias, so it makes sense to keep running Monasterio out there until he fully cools off.

Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (25% rostered)

(COORS FIELD, POWER UPSIDE)

Eric featured Cole Carrigg as a player who could gain fantasy value after the deadline, but we didn't think it would be as a shortstop. After the Rockies called up Zac Veen (more on that later), they've been using Carrigg as their starting shortstop because they have three other OFs they want to get into the lineup against righties. It's only been 24 innings, but the results have been fine considering he has very little minor league experience at shortstop over the last three years. If he gains SS eligibility and you can add that to his .292/.375/.489 slash line with five home runs, 35 runs scored, 30 RBI, and seven steals, you've got a solid profile. He has well below-average barrel and hard-hit rates, so he’s not tearing the cover off of the ball, but he has good bat speed and is making better-than-league-average zone contact, which is a nice profile in Coors Field.

Sunday update: In six games this week, Carrigg started three times at shortstop, twice in center field, and was on the bench once. The Rockies are prioritizing his and Zac Veen's playing time at the expense of Ezequiel Tovar. That's great news for both rookies and adding a new position eligibility will only boost Carrigg's value.

Josh Bell - 1B, MIN (23% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

We've done this throughout the season with Bell, but he's hitting well again. In 24 games in the second half, he's hitting .272/.350/.402 with three home runs, 12 runs scored, and 12 RBI. The Twins remain a bit of a feisty offense, so you can roll the dice on Bell for now, but just remember that he's a streaky hitter and there will likely be a colder stretch on the other end of this. Nathaniel Lowe - 1B, CLE (3% rostered) is also an interesting target. Yes, he left the friendly confines of Great American Ballpark, but he's starting for the Guardians against all right-handed pitchers. On the season, he's slashing .283/.355/.516 against righties with a .234 ISO, 24.9% strikeout rate, and 13 home runs. If you're in a league where you can sit him when the Guardians face a lot of lefties, we still think he'll give you solid value.

Sunday update: Lowe is 9-for-31 with two home runs and eight RBI since being traded to the Guardians at the deadline. He's a useful first base option.

Griffin Conine - OF, MIA (22% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Back in July, James recorded on Griffin Conine, and he just keeps hitting.In 25 games since the break, he's hitting .293/.384/.640. That's a 1.024 OPS with eight home runs, 13 runs scored, and 15 RBI. He will sit against lefties, so he's a better option if you're in a daily moves league or a mid-week lineup change league, but there is plenty of power in his bat.

Sunday update: the Marlins are facing their first lefty in 10 days on Sunday and Conine is back on the bench. Despite how well he's sit, they have not shown a willingness to give him chances against them.

Cam Smith - OF, HOU (19% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, POTENTIAL HOT STREAK)

Is it possible that Cam Smith is finally turning a corner? James recorded a video this week on that very idea. In 20 games since the All-Star break, he is hitting .254 with a .791 OPS. His fly ball rate over that stretch is 42.9%, and, more importantly, his Pull Air rate is 28.3%, which is well up from his 14.4% career mark, so he is continuing to work to lift the ball. That's been a big issue preventing Smith from truly turning a corner in the past. Smith has a 94.1 mph exit velocity on fly balls and line drives, which is better than Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Jo Adell, so getting the ball in the air more often to the pull side could continue to unlock success for him. Now he just needs to do it consistently. 

Cole Young - 2B, SEA (16% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Since July 1st, Young has been second on the Mariners in wRC+, hitting .266 with five home runs, 15 runs scored, and 11 RBI in 33 games. Over that stretch, he has been one of the best contact hitters in baseball, with a 96.1% zone contact rate and an 87.6% contact rate overall. That gives him the fifth-best zone contact rate in baseball in that stretch behind only Liam Hicks, Jung Hoo Lee, Steven Kwan and Luis Arraez. Pretty nice company. He might be more of a fit in deeper formats because his main value is batting average, but he is contributing a little bit across the board. Andrés Giménez - 2B/SS, TOR (13% rostered) would be another option for batting average or stolen base needs. He had a strong start to the season, but then fell off a little bit. Yet, since the All-Star break, he's hitting .263/.318/.342 with one home run, eight runs, 10 RBI, and six steals in 24 games. The counting stats aren't there because he's hitting at the bottom of the lineup, but if he keeps a solid batting average and steals, he'll be usable in a lot of formats.

Sunday update: Young went 3-for-5 on Saturday with a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI as he quietly puts together a solid season. Some speed would be a great boost to his profile, but he's only attempted three stolen bases since June 1st and was caught on two of those.

Jake Mangum - OF, PIT (15% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Mangum has been on a little heater of late and is now slashing .280/.330/.410 in 20 games since the All-Star break. That has come with two home runs, 12 runs scored, nine RBI, and three steals. Over his last 50 plate appearances, his hard-hit rate and barrel rate have doubled. He's chasing less outside of the zone and has gotten a little more patient. He's been hitting in the top third of the order most of the time, so there's potential for decent value here. If you're just looking for speed, then Esteury Ruiz - OF, MIA (3% rostered) could be an option. He's not playing every day, but he has eight steals in 18 games since the All-Star break. So if that's your main priority, then he can help you there.

Zac Veen - OF, COL (15% rostered)

(RECENT PROSPECT CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

Veen was called up this week after putting together a really impressive season at Triple-A. There remain some questions about playing time and his ability to hit breaking balls, but Eric covered it all in a video on Thursday.

Sunday update: Veen has started in right field in all four games since being called-up and he hit another home run on Friday. He has a shot to put up big numbers for the rest of the season if he can maintain that everyday role. Just be advised that he's been pulled for defense first the sixth and then eighth inning in the two games the Rockies have led late that he started.

Abimelec Ortiz - 1B, WAS (14% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Last week we mentioned that it seemed like Abimelec Ortiz was getting the first crack at the starting first base job after Luis Garcia Jr. was traded to the Yankees. In his 11-game MLB sample, Ortiz has gone 10-for-30 with four home runs and eight RBI. That's a pretty nice introduction to the league. Ortiz, who came over in the MacKenzie Gore trade, had a slow month of April, but then began to warm up, hitting .249/.336/.557 in 58 games at Triple-A. His 17 home runs over that 58-game span ranked 4th in the International League behind Joshua Baez, Hector Rodriguez, and Matt Wallner. His .308 ISO ranked 2nd, trailing only Baez, and his .893 OPS ranked 22nd. On the season at Triple-A, Ortiz had a 14.8% barrel rate and 45.3% hard-hit rate, with just a 19.5% strikeout rate and 9.7% swinging strike rate, so this is not an empty power profile. Ortiz’s 75.5 mph bat speed would also rank 23rd among qualified hitters this season, tied with Elly De La Cruz, and he homered off Cam Schlittler on Monday in New York. His power is legit, and he figures to play against all right-handers in a good lineup.

Luis Rengifo- 2B/3B/OF, SD (14% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

We mentioned last week that it's unclear how long this will last, but Rengifo keeps producing. Since the All-Star break, Rengifo is hitting .325/.423/.458 in 24 games with three home runs, 15 runs scored, 12 RBI, and three steals. He's been playing every day and even hitting second against lefties. This isn't something we're buying into full-time, but it's worth taking note of now.

Angel Genao - 2B/3B/SS, CLE (13% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL-UP, SNEAKY POWER/SPEED)

We had Genao on here last week when he was called up, and James highlighted his potential in a video this past week. In 72 games at Triple-A, Genao hit .309/.395/.494 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 11 steals. If you're comparing him to Lombard Jr., Genao had slightly worse batted ball data in Triple-A, with a 45% hard-hit rate and 89.7 mph average exit velocity. He also has a 71.1 mph bat speed in his brief MLB sample, but he also pulled the ball a ton in Triple-A, with a 49% pull rate. Most of that was on the ground, so we're not expecting to see tons of home run power right away, but Genao also had a 92% zone contact rate and 7% swinging strike rate in Triple-A, so he makes plenty of contact. So far, he has acclimated himself well, going 8-for-27 in eight games with a home run, five runs scored, and a 2/2 K/BB ratio. We think there's a good chance he plays most days with the Guardians using the DH spot to rotate other hitters through to keep them in the lineup.

Sunday update: Genao has started nine of 11 games at three different positions and has gone 10-for-34 with one homer and stolen base each since being called up. That's enough regular playing time to make him viable in most leagues if you need infield help.

Eduardo Valencia - C/1B, DET (7% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, PART-TIME PLAYER)

Valencia has lit the world on fire in a part-time role for the last six weeks. Entering play on Sunday, he's gone 21-for-52 (.404 batting average) with six home runs and 17 RBI. He's started three straight games too as the Tigers faced a run of left-handed pitchers, but that's all his role is for now.

Justin Crawford - OF, PHI (7% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Over his last 50 plate appearances, Justin Crawford has a 90.3 mph average exit velocity, which is well up from his 84.5 mph rate previously, and his 4.9% barrel rate over this recent stretch isn't tremendous, but it's far better than the 1% mark he had before. Over this stretch, he's hitting .319/.365/.426 in 16 games with eight runs, seven RBI, and three steals. Again, these are not numbers that are jumping off the page, but it's a young hitter who is making better contact and seeing more results because of it. That works in deeper formats. If you're just looking for batting average, then Nathan Church - OF, STL (2% rostered) should be an option. Over his last 15 games, Church is hitting .313/.357/.396 with one home run, six runs, nine RBI, and two steals. He continues to play regularly against right-handers and can help you in enough categories to be useful in deeper formats.

Kaelen Culpepper - SS, MIN (6% rostered)

(PROSPECT PROMOTION, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

Culpepper was called up last Friday, and James recorded this video ahead of his debut about how his skills could translate to the big leagues. While he hasn't started every day, he's playing the vast majority of games at shortstop since coming up. Culpepper is the Twins' second-ranked prospect and the 29th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He has a .271 average with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 74 games for Triple-A St. Paul this season, but has gone 11-for-40 (.275) in 10 games since returning from a glute injury in mid-July. He didn't hit the ground running in the big leagues, but it's been only five games, so we'll give him some more time. Culpepper is one of the highest-ranked prospect hitters we're likely to see called up this summer and has a power/speed combination that's worth a gamble in most fantasy leagues.

Sunday update: Culpepper has sat twice in nine games since being called up, which dampens his value a bit. He also hasn't hit higher than seventh in the Twins' order and has been in the ninth spot for four straight starts.

Moisés Ballesteros - C, LAA (4% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Ballesteros now has catcher eligibility in all formats, which is no small feat. It hasn’t been a great rookie season for him, and he's gone just 6-for-36 since coming to the Angels, but we know he has power in his bat. The 22-year-old has shown good plate discipline and has a 9% barrel rate and 48% hard-hit rate during this whole season. We think the hits are going to start to fall, but understand if you're limiting this to two-catcher formats right now. When Agustín Ramírez - C, MIA (32% rostered) was called back up, he seemed to be in a short side of a platoon. However, the injury to Kyle Stowers has opened up some DH at-bats to go along with his backup catcher role. Since returning, Ramirez has gone 5-for-16 with a 7/2 K/B ratio and one extra base hit. It's not electric production, but we know he can hit, so if he's going to play more regularly, he's valuable enough to use in many formats.

Jared Young - 1B, NYM (4% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

Young has been a steady producer as the Mets' primary first baseman this season with eight home runs, three stolen bases, and a .787 OPS through 75 games. He's started against three of the last six lefties they've faced too, making him intriguing in deeper leagues.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Brandon Pfaadt - SP, ARI (42% rostered)

When Brandon Pfaadt first came back up, Eric noted how he had changed his pitch mix to trade strikeout upside for weak contact. Well, he continues to do just that, and it continues to work. In eight starts since rejoining the rotation, he has a 1.32 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and just a 12.4% strikeout rate in 47.2 innings. Now, those ratios will certainly help you, but the lack of strikeouts lowers his ceiling and means that you may not want to use him in harder matchups because the upside may not be worth the risk.

Sunday update: Pfaadt is on another level. He only let two measly runners on base against the Braves on Friday, none reached scoring position, and he out-dueled Chris Sale. This is now the fourth straight outing where Pfaadt has worked into the seventh and allowed zero earned runs. In fact, the last time someone scored one against him was all the way back on July 23rd as his changeup has reached a new level and adding more curveballs has taken tons of pressure off both that and his fastball. It’s been beautiful to watch him turn the corner and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the pitcher-needy Diamondbacks.

Clay Holmes - SP, CHC (41% rostered)

Clay Holmes made his return from the injured list and his Cubs debut on Saturday, and it did not go well. However, he had also missed three months with an injury, so we should have expected some rust. Before fracturing his fibula, the veteran had a 2.39 ERA and 1,10 WHIP in 52.2 innings for the Mets this season, and while he's unlikely to produce at that level going forward, and he won't give you strikeouts, he's still likely going to be a great source of ratios, especially on a team with that kind of infield defense which will vacuum up his grounders.

Sunday update: Holmes cruised to a win and quality start on Friday against the Cardinals with 6 2/3 shutout innings. He only struck out three, but forced 11 ground balls and let the Cubs' superb infield defense do their job. That's going to be the recipe for Holmes moving forward.

Dustin May - SP, MIL (38% rostered)

May got traded to the Brewers at the deadline, which is a big team context upgrade. In his first two starts with his new team, he has allowed three runs on seven hits in 13 innings with 11 strikeouts and five walks. The Brewers seem to be having him lean into his cutter more (shocking) and then elevate his four-seamer for whiffs. It's a plan that has worked for many other pitchers and should work for May too. He's also now a much better bet for wins.

Sean Manaea - SP, NYM (37% rostered)

Oh, look, Manaea is throwing 93 mph again. That's nice. He's averaged at least 92 mph in each of his last three starts, and velo has always been such a huge indicator of success for Manaea in his career. In his last six starts, he has a 2.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 25.2% strikeout rate. At this point, you just need to keep rolling with him.

Sunday update: a sixth inning, three-run home run spoiled what was shaping up to be another stellar outing for Manaea on Saturday. He still managed to strike out seven and allow four runs through 6 1/3 innings as he's returned to form over the last few months.

Keider Montero - SP/RP, DET (35% rostered)

The injury to Jack Flaherty meant that Montero got another shot in the Tigers' rotation, and then both Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize were traded, so Montero is locked into the rotation. We had him in this column for the last two weeks, and Eric also mentioned him in an article on starting pitchers without elite stuff who produce value with command and a deep pitch mix. Montero then went out and did basically what Eric had written about on Thursday, blanking the Guardians for 6/13 innings while allowing just three hits but not striking out a single batter. Much like Pfaadt, this is a low-ceiling ratios play, but it's working.

Jackson Jobe - SP, DET (30% rostered)

The Tigers freed up two spots in their starting rotation after trading away Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. Jobe then took one of those spots and had a pretty good season debut after returning from Tommy John surgery. Eric covered it all in a video this week.

Sunday update: Jobe got lit up by the White Sox on Friday for six runs and nine hits in just 3 2/3 innings. His fastball was hit especially hard, but did hold the increased velocity we were so excited about after his first start.

Martín Pérez - SP, ATL (30% rostered)

Over his last 10 starts, Martín Pérez has a 2.90 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and a 16% strikeout rate in 49.2 innings. You're sensing a trend of pitchers with low strikeout rates but good ratios being available on waivers. Pérez gets a two-start week next week at Minnesota and Milwaukee, and while we don't love that last start, he's pitching well enough to be usable in deeper formats.

Jacob Webb - RP, CHC (29% rostered)

In three save chances since Ryan Zeferjahn joined the team, it was Webb who got all of the chances and converted. On the year, Webb has a 2.38 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 27.4% strikeout rate with eight saves in 53 innings. He will remain the closer until Daniel Palencia (shoulder) comes back, but Palencia's health is no sure thing, and he's not pitching well in Triple-A right now.

Luke Weaver - RP, NYM (25% rostered)

When Eric published an article a few weeks ago about players who could gain value after the trade deadline, he mentioned Weaver as his favorite relief pitcher stash. The 32-year-old had been great for the Mets with a 2.03 ERA and 28% strikeout rate in 40 innings, and the belief was that Weaver's $11 million salary next year was not a total burden for a team to take on. Well, he winds up with the Pirates, and should be their closer. If only the Pirates would generate a single save chance.

Sunday update: Weaver pitched the ninth inning on Saturday in a game that the Pirates were losing 1-0 and gave up three runs. That came after he pitched the eighth inning on Friday in a five-run before Mason Montgomery came on for last out after Kirby Yates ran into trouble in the ninth. This bullpen remains chaotic.

Jacob Lopez - SP, ATH (24% rostered)

Remember when Lopez went on that insane 11-13 start stretch of tremendous production last year? Well, last week we said it was happening again, and it has continued to happen. In five starts since rejoining the rotation, he has a 2.36 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 29.1% strikeout rate in 26.2 innings. He also did that against Washington (before all the trades), Boston, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Cincinnati in Cincinnati. We know Sacramento is scary, but we also know that finding good pitchers in deeper formats is incredibly challenging.

Kade Anderson - SP, SEA (22% rostered)

Will Kade Anderson be called up? Probably, but likely not until the middle of August. However, now could be the time to stash him. The left-hander certainly seems ready. He has a 1.13 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and 40.9% strikeout rate in Double-A. The Mariners have said that they will use him as a starter when he's up, and Bryce Miller's struggles may make that happen sooner rather than later.

Andrew Painter - SP, PHI (19% rostered)

Last week we had Andrew Painter here and mentioned that he remained as inconsistent as ever after he had one pretty solid start where he led with his secondaries to hide his average fastball and then had another start where he threw too many fastballs and left the start with hamstring cramps or tightness. Well, he had another tremendous start this week where he used his new changeup (was previously a splitter) more than any other pitch. That would be an approach we can get behind, so we're down to take a gamble on Painter.

Gage Jump - SP, ATH (17% rostered)

Gage Jump is pitching on the road, so you know we're going to be interested. He has one brutal start on the road so far this season, but even including that, he has a 2.60 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 28.6% strikeout rate in 34.2 innings away from Sacramento. You have to fire him up this week.

Kodai Senga - SP/RP, NYM (17% rostered)

With Devin Williams landing on the IL, it seems that Kodai Senga will get a shot to be the closer in New York. Eric covered the potential upside of that in a video this week.

Sunday update: Senga is the Mets closer right now. He grabbed his second save of the week on Friday night and looks nasty as a reliever with some added fastball velocity and his always impressive ghost fork. Prioritize him if you need saves.

Ben Joyce - RP, LAA (10% rostered)

Joyce was activated off the injured list last week and was back to hitting 103 mph on the radar gun. He then picked up his first save on Wednesday night. The Angels don't create many save opportunities, but Joyce could wind up as their primary closer down the stretch. For now, it seems like he may be splitting chances with Sammy Natera Jr. - RP, LAA (4% rostered). In our fantasy winners and losers article after the trade, D.J. Short wrote up Natera Jr. and said, "Well, somebody has to close games for the Angels, right? Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates, and Brent Suter were all shipped out of town on Monday, so Natera could earn a role by default. The 26-year-old southpaw has been awesome since his call-up in June, posting a 2.28 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. He began his professional career as a starter, but has found a home as a reliever over the past two seasons while getting a ton of whiffs on his fastball and slider. If Natera can continue to limit the walks, he has a real future."

Sunday update: Joyce has converted consecutive save opportunities and looks to have taken over the closer role for the Angels. His fastball worked up to 104.5 mph on Saturday too and through five innings since coming off the injured list, he's allowed just one hit, one walk, and zero runs.

Cristian Javier - SP, HOU (5% rostered)

Yes, we know Javier's last start wasn't great, but we're fans of what Javier has done the last three games, adding in a cutter and using it over 15% of the time. It has lessened his need to rely on the four-seamer and also increased the whiff on his sweeper. Those are good things, and we think it's an approach that will continue to work, even if Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed him for a big home run last Sunday.

George Klassen - SP, LAA (1% rostered)

Eric had Klassen in that same article on players who could see a boost after the trade deadline. There were some big-time command issues with Klassen throughout his minor league career and in his early MLB starts, but in six Triple-A starts in July, he had a 2.48 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 38/11 K/BB ratio in 36.1 innings. We thought he might be figuring it out, but then he walked four guys in four innings in his first start back with the Angels. Yet, this week, he seemed to get back on track, allowing two runs on five hits and walking one over six innings against the Rangers. A 69% strike rate overall is really nice to see from Klassen, and he had 73% strikes on his four-seamer alone. The slider also missed plenty of bats, which is nice to see. However, we would caution that this was mainly a game where he just threw strikes but wasn't a game where he showed precise command inside the strike zone. He remains a true work in progress.

Will Dion - RP, WSN (0% rostered)

Acquired as part of the package for Foster Griffin, Dion has thrown eight scoreless innings to begin his Nationals tenure. Stretching out to presumably take over a bulk role, he worked 4 1/3 hit-less with seven strikeouts innings on Saturday after starter Brad Lord could not make it out of the first. He's smaller lefty with an extreme over-the-top release point that makes his fastball difficult square up, a la Trey Yesavage. Apart from that, he has a changeup that he leans on against right-handed batters and can mix a cutter and curveball too. He holds some deep league intrigue if he can work up to something near a starter's workload.

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Brewers vs Dodgers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's MLB Game

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Two National League contenders collide as the Los Angeles Dodgers (-178) host the Milwaukee Brewers this evening. 

L.A.'s bullpen imploded in the series opener, and the Boys in Blue have been a vastly overvalued commodity this month.

Find out why I'm bullish on Robert Gasser in my Brewers vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 14.

Who will win Brewers vs Dodgers tonight: Brewers moneyline (+165)

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a great team, but they haven't been playing like one lately. 

Dave Roberts' squad is in a prolonged slump (89 wRC+ this month). Pair that with a faulty bullpen (4.81 xFIP) that cost them Thursday's series opener, and it's evident why they've dropped nine of their last 13 games. 

The market is still pricing them like the World Series odds favorite Death Star they're typically viewed as, but it's the dog days of August, and this team is going through it.

I'd play the Milwaukee Brewers down to +160.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Robert Gasser has seen a three-point increase in Stuff+ and a nine-point increase in Location+ since July 1.

Brewers vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-103)

Neither lineup has been hitting with aplomb, ranking 20th (L.A.) and 21st (Milwaukee) in wRC+ this month. 

Given the Dodgers' bullpen struggles, they'll hope for a lengthy outing from Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He's in great form, posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.83 WHIP since May 18 while limiting hitters to a .167 AVG.

The recent uptick in Gasser's Pitching+ metrics is notable, and it's difficult for markets to price that effectively. He's been hurling his four-seamer (109 Stuff+), sinker (107), and slider (128) all well above average in his last six outings. 

The bullpen behind him has been fantastic (3.10 SIERA, 3.28 xFIP this month), so Milwaukee has a strong chance of run suppression.

Brewers vs Dodgers home run prediction: Teoscar Hernandez (+474)

Nine of the 11 home runs Gasser has surrendered have been by right-handed hitters. He surrenders 1.8 home runs per nine innings against righties, so that's who to look for on a night where the wind is blowing out (8-10 mph) to dead center.

Teoscar Hernandez has a 121 wRC+ and .179 ISO against southpaws, so he's a strong culprit to dole out damage. He's a bit undervalued after slumping throughout July, and he's shown signs of the old Teoscar in August (.194 ISO).

JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 29-32, -7.7 units
  • Over/Under bets: 37-25, +10.3 units

Brewers vs Dodgers weather

It's decently warm, and the wind is blowing out to dead center.

Brewers vs Dodgers odds

  • Moneyline: Brewers +170 | Dodgers -178
  • Run line: Brewers +1.5 (-133) | Dodgers -1.5 (+122)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-108) | Under 7.5 (+104)

Brewers vs Dodgers trend

The Brewers are 8-1 in Gasser's last nine starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Brewers vs Dodgers and game info

LocationDodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
DateFriday, August 14, 2026
First pitch10:10 p.m. ET
TVBrewers.TV, SportsNet LA
Brewers starting pitcherRobert Gasser
(3-4, 4.57 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcherYoshinobu Yamamoto
(11-7, 2.65 ERA)

Brewers vs Dodgers 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Aaron Civale is the Superhero vs. the Nationals

This is going to be a quick one. I watched this game for about three innings before heading off with my family for dinner. Boy, did I pick a good one to miss. I basically announced I was trust falling with this team yesterday and then I splatted into this game. Yuck.

The Cubs offense was missing in action Thursday afternoon. The pitching wasn’t much better. Kevin Gausman started well, but didn’t sustain. Remember that one awful David Peterson start? He’s been awfully good besides that. Bad games are gonna happen. One on a Thursday afternoon on the way out of town isn’t going to ruffle my feathers.

This team has finally played enough good ball that you can look at a game like this and just tear the page off of the calendar and keep on trucking. We’re a savvy group around here. No one has to be reminded that good pitching, when it is executing the game plan, is basically going to always win. It has to be both. You have to have very good pitching and you have to have a very good plan. On Thursday, the Nats had both. The Cubs were tarred and feathered.

Not a lot of fun. Moving along.

Three Positives:

  • Michael Busch had a single.
  • Dansby Swanson drew two walks.
  • Aaron Civale threw 3.1 innings and gave the other seven relievers a day off.

Game 122, August 13: Nationals 7, Cubs 0 (71-51)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Aaron Civale (.006). 3.1 IP, 13 BF, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 R, K
  • Hero: Tyrone Taylor (.000). 0-1
  • Sidekick: Dansby Swanson (-.012). 0-1, 2 BB

A negative WPA game makes a rare appearance on the hero podium.

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Kevin Gausman (-.189). 4.2 IP, 22 BF, 7 H, BB, 6 R, 7 K (L 1-1)
  • Goat: Alex Bregman (-.060). 0-3
  • Kid: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.056). 0-4

WPA Play of the Game: Dylan Crews batted with a runner on first and one out in the fourth, the game scoreless. He had an RBI-double. (.143)

Cubs Play of the Game: With the Cubs trailing by one in the fifth, there were runners on first and third and no outs in the fifth. Kevin Gausman struck out Keibert Ruiz. (.052)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 121 Winner: Alex Bregman with 90 of 92 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

  • Pete Crow-Armstrong +28
  • Alex Bregman +20
  • Carson Kelly +14.5
  • Shōta Imanaga +14
  • Trent Thornton +13.5
  • Phil Maton -10
  • Nico Hoerner -11
  • Jameson Taillon -13
  • Dansby Swanson -18
  • Caleb Thielbar -19.5

Up Next: Back to sweet home Chicago, where the Cubs are 35-24. They’ll start a three-game set with the Cardinals ,who are 61-60. The Cardinals had the luxury of an off day Thursday after a day game Wednesday at home. That’s a pretty friendly setup for them. Clay Holmes (4-5, 2.86) will make his second start as a Cub and second start since getting off of the injured list. The first wasn’t great. He pitched against the Cardinals back in March as a member of the Mets and won, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.2 innings. More of that please.

Lefty Matthew Liberatore (5-9, 5.15) starts for the Cardinals. He’s been a bit better of late, but still not winning games (2-4, 4.25, 36 IP) over his last seven. Last time out, he allowed five runs in five innings in a loss to the Rockies. On July 27, the Cubs posted three earned runs on eight hits and two walks in just 3.2 innings. They also got four runs (three earned) in five innings against him in Chicago on July 5. So he’s 1-2 in three starts. More of that, please, too.

Start a good home stand off on the right foot.

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Michael King looks to provide Padres with another solid start

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 12: Wandy Peralta #58 of the San Diego Padres greets pitching coach Ruben Niebla #57 before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park on August 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Diego Padres just completed a run of 26 games in 27 days, the last 16 of which were played without a day off. The Padres got a much-needed day off on Thursday before they open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians tonight.

Michael King has had an up-and-down season thanks to some command and control issues, but he has worked to a 3.37 ERA on the year. In his last outing against the Houston Astros, King delivered a six-inning performance where he allowed one run on three hits and earned a win.

The Padres will need another similar outing from the right-hander if they want to continue the momentum they built over a 5-1 homestand that saw them sweep the Milwaukee Brewers. King could set the tone for the six-game road trip which starts with three games in Cleveland and ends with three games in New York against the New York Mets. The Friar Faithful hope that is a positive tone, but if King is not on his game, it would go the other way.

San Diego opens its road trip and three-game set against Cleveland today at 4:10 p.m.

Padres News:

Baseball News:

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Orioles vs Rays Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Tampa Bay’s 41-18 home record and nine-game win streak make the Rays tough to fade against a slumping Baltimore club.

The Tampa Bay Rays own the best record in baseball at 74-46, and they host the Baltimore Orioles tonight as a -155 home favorite, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field.

That dominance is the backbone of my Orioles vs. Rays predictions, which back Tampa Bay on the moneyline, lean Over the total, and target a Baltimore bat to go deep.

Read more in my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 14.

Who will win Orioles vs Rays today: Rays moneyline (-161)

Kyle Bradish gives the Baltimore Orioles the better traditional starter, but the Tampa Bay Rays are playing too well to fade at home. The Rays enter on a nine-game winning streak and a 9-1 mark over their last 10, and they've been even tougher at Tropicana Field, going 41-18 at home against Baltimore’s 26-33 road record.

Tampa Bay owns the stronger offense on the season, and even Bradish’s 3.69 ERA leaves openings against a lineup this locked in right now. Meanwhile, Baltimore comes in scuffling after losing five of its last seven and hitting just .231 over the team's previous 10 games.

With the Rays scorching at the plate and holding one of baseball’s biggest home-road splits, I’m comfortable laying the price despite the pitching disadvantage. I’d play Tampa to -165.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Bradish is more vulnerable than his record suggests, with opponents slugging .524 against his slider, his second-most-used pitch, and .393 against his four-seam fastball.

Orioles vs Rays Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+105)

There are enough weak points in this pitching matchup to take the Over at plus money, starting with Steven Matz. He carries a 5.46 ERA, was pulled from Tampa Bay’s rotation earlier this season after his velocity dipped, and the hurler worked out of the bullpen on Wednesday. Kevin Cash is unlikely to give him a long leash.

Both offenses can move the line in a hurry. Tampa has scored 30 runs over its last three games, including 10, 12, and eight against the Athletics, while Baltimore has put up five runs in each of its last three. The Orioles’ bullpen adds another route to late scoring, entering with a 6.65 ERA over the last seven days.

At 8.5 and +109, I don’t need both starters to implode. Matz’s volatility plus an exploitable Orioles bullpen will get us there organically. I’d play the Over down to -110.

Orioles vs Rays home run prediction: Tyler O'Neil (+388)

Tyler O’Neill has rediscovered his power stroke, and a matchup with left-hander Steven Matz is a great chance to keep it going. O’Neill has homered three times in his last 10 games, including a 425-foot blast against Texas on Sunday, and his production against lefties has been taking off.

Since June 1, O’Neill is hitting .357 against left-handers with an .875 slugging percentage and eight home runs in just 62 plate appearances. Matz is the ideal target for him, as the Rays' lefty has allowed 12 home runs this year, with 10 coming against righties. His sinker, which he throws nearly half the time, carries a -9 Statcast run value.

O’Neill has always punished southpaws, slugging .750 against them during his 31-homer 2024 season, and that part of his game is clearly back. At +340, I’ll take a shot on the power continuing against a pitcher this vulnerable to right-handed home runs. I’d play this to +300 for a quarter unit.

Ethan Diamandas's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 0-1 -1.00 units
  • Over/Under bets: 0-1 -1.00 units

Orioles vs Rays weather

Tropicana Field is a fixed-dome ballpark, so weather is a non-factor tonight. Conditions stay controlled with no wind or precipitation in play, meaning the Over and the O’Neill home run bet come down entirely to the pitching matchups rather than the elements.

Orioles vs Rays odds

  • Moneyline: Baltimore +140 | Tampa Bay -161
  • Run line: Baltimore +1.5 (-168) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+140)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+109) | Under 8.5 (-121)

Orioles vs Rays trend

The Tampa Bay Rays rank first in MLB in batting average (.261), fifth in on-base percentage (.331), and sixth in OPS (.739), with the Rays boasting a top-tier offense that powers both the moneyline and the Over. Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Rays.

How to watch Orioles vs Rays and game info

LocationTropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
DateFriday, August 14, 2026
First pitch7:10 p.m. ET
TVMASN, Rays.TV
Orioles starting pitcherKyle Bradish
(7-11, 3.69 ERA)
Rays starting pitcherSteven Matz
(5-4, 5.46 ERA)

Orioles vs Rays 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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How did Brandon Young remake his game?

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 06: Brandon Young #63 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 6, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is a lot to be negative about round these parts right now—the O’s have lost three of four series, find themselves last in the AL East, and seem ready to change the channel to 2027. I don’t need to perseverate. But this post is a conscious choice to focus on the positive.

And one undeniable bright spot this season has been Brandon Young, the 6’6” Texan bound for Triple-A this spring and not expected to play a role in the rotation.

Well, now he’s arguably the best starter in a rotation that’s actually been decent this season. Young doesn’t have the stuff or talent of Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, or Kyle Bradish, but he leads them all in bWAR (1.9), wins (9, a throwback stat, I know), ERA (3.33), and ERA+ (124).

Not bad for a depth arm not expected to play a role with the Major League team.

Especially given how bad Young’s 2025 season was. The righty had one glorious moment, a near-perfect game against his hometown Houston Astros, where he tossed eight shutout innings and allowed just one hit. But besides that, he was bad: he went 1-7 with a 6.24 ERA, a -0.7 WAR, and a 65 ERA+.

Well, year over year, Young has made a drastic change. The arsenal is different, and the individual pitches are better. Easy to say, hard to do.

Arsenal changes first. In 2025, Young threw six pitches, in order of usage: four-seamer, splitter, curveball, cutter, slider, and changeup. Three of those were simply unplayable. The split-finger was ranked one of the worst in the league, in run value. The cutter got hit at a .429 clip and slugged .857, a pitch Young never recorded a strikeout with all year. The changeup was even worse: hitters batted .625 and slugged 1.000 against it. The latter two are gone entirely from his 2026 mix.

In their place, Young added a new pitch, a sinker, has remade his splitter entirely, and has leaned harder on his slider. His 2026 five-pitch mix, by usage, now runs four-seamer (39.8%), splitter (19.8%), slider (15.3%), sinker (13.5%), and curveball (11.7%). Trimming from six pitches to five let him funnel his offerings into fewer shapes, and the results show it.

Start with the fastball. Young is throwing it about 1.7 mph harder on average this year (94.2 mph, up from 92.5), and it now grades as one of the better heaters in baseball: a 95th-percentile pitch by run value, up from the 30th percentile a year ago. That added velocity buys him a lot of margin, looks like.

The slider is another breakout. In 2025 it was a middling, rarely-used fourth or fifth option, generating just a 19.4% whiff rate and a 10.5% strikeout rate on pitches that ended at-bats. In 2026, it’s a weapon: a 41.1% whiff rate and a 40.5% strikeout rate, by far his best swing-and-miss pitch. Young is throwing it nearly twice as often as he did last year, and hitters simply aren’t squaring it up.

Then there’s the splitter, the new one. As the story goes, on May, after a rough start in Washington, Young was approached by several pitching coaches about trying an entirely new grip. Well, it worked, a totally different pitch from the one he threw last season and in his first six starts of 2026: about five miles lower, with very different spin and much more vertical break. Results have been good with the new grip so far.

The brand-new sinker, well, looks like it’s work in progress. Batters are hitting .324 and slugging .486 against it, but he has, interestingly, used it pretty often as a putaway pitch. Might be worth seeing what the fate of the Brandon Young sinker is. The curveball, finally, a true holdover from last season, has is somewhat improved, too.

There’s surely more to say about the Brandon Young renaissance (including that he’s lately shown signs of fatigue that need to be watched), but it’s worth giving credit to the big righty for something so rare: he went from essentially a AAAA option last season to the team’s most reliable starter option this one. He’s not just skating by, either, cheating the data: his fastball is one of the best in the league right now in run value, he’s 81st percentile in chase rate, and the hard contact against him has plummeted. The lesson? By scrapping his two worst pitches, sharpening his best one, and adding a jolt of fastball velocity, Young has turned himself from an emergency call-up into the answer at the top of a taxed Orioles rotation. If nothing else this season, that’s worth appreciating.

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Minor League Recap: Ralphy Velazquez goes inside the park and Braylon Doughty returns from injury

Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Columbus Clippers 2, Omaha Storm Chasers 8

Clippers fall to 61-54

Offense was hard to come by for Columbus as the lone two runs came on a pair of solo home runs.

Ralphy Velazquez went 1-for-3 with an inside the park home run and a walk. Kyle Manzardo also homered and walked.

No one else reached base safely twice or had an extra base hit, although Kody Huff walked and stole a base.

Starting pitcher Yorman Gomez allowed four runs on six hits in 4.0 innings. He struggled with his control, walking four and striking out just one.

Jack Leftwich allowed two runs on five hits in just 1.1 innings of relief. Jack Jasiak had the lone scoreless outing for the pitching staff, tossing a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts.

Akron RubberDucks 4, Altoona Curve 2

RubberDucks improve to 54-56

Three different players had multi-hit games for Akron in a strong all-around showing.

Aaron Walton was terrific, going 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base.

Dean Curley was even better, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk while Jaison Chourio went 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases.

The biggest story of the game was the fact that Braylon Doughty was back on the mound after a brief trip on the injured list. He returned with a vengeance, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and one strikeout.

Dylan DeLucia followed with 3.0 innings of long relief, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, but the rest of the bullpen slammed the door. Zane Morehouse tossed a scoreless inning and Carter Rustad was superb, finishing the game with 2.0 perfect scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts to earn his third save.

Lake County Captains 1, Dayton Dragons 3 (Game 1)
Lake County Captains 4, Dayton Dragons 3 (Game 2)

Captains move to 58-50

In game one, Welbyn Francisca was the lone offensive standout, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Starting pitcher Jackson Humphries was decent, allowing three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings while striking out four and walking one. Zane Petty was excellent out of the bullpen, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to close out the game and striking out four.

Game two was an opportunity for Jeffrey Mercedes and Luis De La Cruz to shine. Mercedes went 2-for-3 with his 11th home run while De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with his first home run at High-A since being promoted recently. Riley Nelson went 1-for-3 with a walk and Cannon Peebles walked twice.

Starting pitcher Harrison Bodendorf allowed two runs on five hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out three and walked four. Logan McGuire allowed one run in 1.2 innings of long relief and Conner Whittaker finished off the game with a scoreless inning to earn the win.

Hill City Howlers 4, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 11

Howlers fall to 47-64

No one on Hill City had a multi-hit game, although Jonathan Martinez walked a whopping four times and stole a base.

Gabriel Rodriguez doubled, hit a sacrifice fly and stole a base and Alejandro Blasco went 1-for-2 with a walk after coming in the game halfway through it.

Starting pitcher Ryan Prager allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Luis Fernandez followed with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

Unfortunately, Javi Torres got lit up for six runs on four hits and a walk in just 0.2 innings to put the game out of reach.