Will Lakers sale impact Dodgers? Owner Mark Walter faces federal probe

Momentary panic swept through Los Angeles on Wednesday morning when news broke that Mark Walter was selling the Los Angeles Lakers only 10 months after being approved as the team's owner, wondering whether the Dodgers are next.

Well, as it turns out, nothing is expected to change.

The Dodgers are not being sold, a high-ranking official familiar with Walter’s plans told USA TODAY Sports, and that it will be business as usual with Walter retaining control of the club and remaining chairman.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of Walter issuing an official statement Wednesday.

So, yes, even when the Dodgers win their next World Series, they can still afford to have a parade and celebrate with Dom Perignon.

The Dodgers are still going to be the Dodgers. Oh, they won’t have the crossover in advertising and marketing with the Lakers any longer, but Walter and the Guggenheim ownership group will have an extra $2.5 billion in their pockets – although they’ll be paying significant taxes on the short-term capital gain.

Walter made himself the cool $2.5 billion profit by purchasing the Lakers for $10 billion last October, and then selling the team for $12.5 billion on Wednesday to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner in the largest sale of an American sports franchise in history. Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and his group also bought a minority stake in the San Francisco Giants earlier this year.

“Owning the Los Angeles Lakers has been one of the great honors of my life – an extraordinary investment, but what I will carry with me is the community, the fans, and a city that treats this team as family,’’ Walter said in a statement provided to ESPN. “I am grateful to Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, the players, and the staff for welcoming me into this chapter. The Lakers belong to Los Angeles, and I have every confidence the best is still ahead.”

But sell the Dodgers next? It’s not happening.

Thanks to Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers became the first baseball team to eclipse $1 billion in annual revenue last season and the money keeps pouring in.

This is a franchise that Walter and his partners purchased for $2.15 billion in 2012 from Frank McCourt. The Dodgers have since become the most profitable team in baseball history, worth an estimated $9 billion.

They are also baseball’s most successful franchise in recent years, winning three World Series championships since 2020, drawing more than four million fans a year, with a payroll about four times the size of small-market franchises.

There’s also no indication that Walter plans to dismantle any part of his sports empire that also includes the Professional Women’s Hockey League, the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks, Chelsea of the English Premier League, and the Cadillac Motor 1 Team.

Yet, Walter and his group are under federal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for alleged loan fraud using insurance money from policy holders to pay loans to undisclosed outside business ventures.

It’s unknown whether the Lakers’ sale, which came together within 72 hours, was tied at all to the investigation.

MLB officials also are unaware of any potential wrongdoings that would impact the Dodgers.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Lakers sale impact Dodgers? Owner Mark Walter faces federal probe

Red Sox News & Links: Harold Rivas to Orioles to complete Adley Rutschman trade

TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 11: Adley Rutschman #31 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after hitting a single during the third inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 11, 2026 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Adley Rutschman deal is finally complete. Harold Rivas, who was widely reported to be a part of the deal on the day it was made, only for that reporting to be walked back, has now officially been named as the final player to be named later going from Boston to Baltimore. An athletic outfielder with a high-risk/high-reward profile, Rivas was the 10th-rated prospect in the system according to Soxprospects.com. As an 18-year-old who has yet to graduate out of the Florida Complex League, he is the definition of a lottery ticket. (Brian Murphy, MLB.com)

The Sox did get one prospect back on deadline day: 21-year-old outfielder Carlos Gutierrez, who came over from the Giants in the Marcelo Mayer deal. Gutierrez has hit the ground running down in Greenville, which probably pleases his Red Sox fan sister. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

As for Rutschman, he immediately proved his value to his new team, reaching base three times in last night’s loss to the Jays. “He’s an All-Star catcher, and I have all the confidence in the world in him,” said battery mate Patrick Sandoval. “He’s a big-time catcher, big-time player. We’re very lucky to have him here.” Rutschman will get the start again tonight before taking Thursday afternoon’s game off as recovers from his wrist injury. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Despite the confidence he had in throwing to Rutschman, Sandoval didn’t have the best night. So why did Chad Tracy leave him in for the sixth inning when he coughed up the lead? “We’re still in a position… where we have to be careful with when we chase (wins) and when we don’t,” Tracy said. “Obviously, we used Guerrero for an inning. You look at that before the game and decide, ‘How much are we willing to chase?’ We’ll chase with one guy, but doing it with two or three guys, then (you’re) having to deal with it on the back side.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)

The counter move to Rutschman’s addition to the roster was the DFA of catcher Jake Rogers, who performed very well for the Sox in his limited time with the team. The Sox are not expecting Rogers to make it through waivers. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

As Rogers departs, a new (old) arm enters. Lefty reliever Alec Gamboa has been recalled to the big league club. He posted an ERA of 2.08 in his first 7 MLB appearances this year. (Rodney Knuppel, NESN)

But let’s face it: lefty middle relievers aren’t the additions you want to hear about right now. It’s Roman Anthony you want, and this losing streak shows why he’s still so important to this team. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

Braves vs Mets Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 12

Atlanta took game two of the series, 4-0, behind a two-run homer by Matt Olson in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach. The current series is tied at one-apiece, but the Mets are 7-5 versus Atlanta this season and outscored the Braves, 62-58 in those 12 games.

After winning eight-straight games, Atlanta has gone 2-3 over the next five games versus the Yankees and Mets. Atlanta is 7-3 on the month and rank third in ERA (2.68), lead the league in OBA (.194), and fourth-best WHIP (1.11). The offense has been backed by homers. Atlanta has 16 homers, which is the third-best and they've scored the 10th-most runs (48) in August.

New York is 6-4 to start August, including a 6-2 record on this current nine-game road trip. The Mets rank top 10 in batting average (.259), home runs (15), runs scored (52), SLG (.447), and OPS (.778). On the year, the Mets have been a bottom-10 offense, so this is an impressive stretch for New York, especially without Juan Soto.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Mets at Braves

  • Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
  • Time: 7:15 PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV 

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

Odds for the Mets at the Braves

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-174), New York Mets (+161)
  • Spread: Braves -1.5 (+114), Mets +1.5 (-137)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Braves 

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (August 12): Zac Thornton vs Tyler Mahle  
  • Mets: Zac Thornton  

2026 stats: 39.1 IP, 3-2, 2.52 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 27 K, 12 BB

  • Braves: Tyler Mahle  

2026 Stats: 100.2 IP, 3-9, 4.83 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 98 K, 39 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • Matt Olson is hitting .297 in August (11/37) with six home runs
  • Austin Riley is hitting .303 in August (10/33)
  • Ronald Acuna Jr is hitting .238 in August (10/42)
  • Bo Bichette is hitting .325 in August (13/40)
  • Francisco Lindor is hitting .293 in August (12/41)

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

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

  • Atlanta is 65-55 ATS, ranking sixth-best
  • New York is 57-64 ATS, ranking eighth-worst
  • Atlanta is 58-56-6 to the Under
  • New York is 57-54-10 to the Under
  • Atlanta is 34-27 ATS at home, ranking fourth-best
  • New York is 29-33 ATS on the road, ranking seventh-worst

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Mets and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Braves at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5

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Orioles vs. Twins discussion

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 7: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on August 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Even with the Orioles trying their darndest to bury their postseason chances on their own, the rest of the American League just refuses to do all that much to throw more dirt on this team. They linger on, two or three games out – currently two – and while it’s not terribly likely that they leapfrog four teams to make it in as the third wild card team, the flame of hope has not gone out entirely just yet.

Probably it will go out when their next ten games after today are against the Rays and Yankees. But it’s not out yet, so winning today’s game still matters. The Orioles flip back ahead of the Twins in that wild card picture if they win the finale today.

Elements of a decent enough team are in this mix somewhere. That’s the frustrating thing! That’s been the frustrating thing all season long. They should have been better than this. Even without the guys who were traded last week, they still could be better.

Last night’s effort by Gunnar Henderson was a tantalizing look at what “better” might look like. It’s pretty simple, really: If the guy who should have been the team’s best player starts playing like the team’s best player again, the Orioles are better off. It is fun to dream about that better Henderson re-emerging suddenly on August 11 and staying with us through the remainder of this season plus the next two as well.

That’s the same kind of fun that it is to dream about the stuff you’d do with a lottery jackpot in the several hundred million dollar range. It’s not going to happen, but assuming you don’t spend money you can’t afford to waste to get one or two plays, it really doesn’t cost too much to believe in it until the numbers come in.

If the Orioles prove themselves good enough to get to like 84 wins, there’s no reason they couldn’t start beating all the other flawed teams in the AL in short series. They probably won’t, but they still could. That’s better than nothing.

Orioles lineup

  1. Gunnar Henderson – SS
  2. Pete Alonso – 1B
  3. Jackson Holliday – 2B
  4. Tyler O’Neill – DH
  5. Dylan Beavers – LF
  6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 3B
  7. Leody Taveras – RF
  8. Christian Franklin – CF
  9. Carlos Narváez – C

This is the lineup supporting Shane Baz. Or at least, hopefully it will support him. Baz has not gotten much run support at all this season, his 4-11 record standing as a testament to the declining value of judging a pitcher’s quality by his W-L. Baz has a 3.76 ERA (111 ERA+) and is averaging just about six innings per start. The defense behind him at times and a lack of run support at other times have not helped him. Maybe it will go better today.

Henderson continues in the leadoff spot. As mentioned above, this finally paid off last night. Will it continue? I doubt it. The Orioles have no real choice but to believe in Henderson and they are choosing to express this in the most dramatic way possible, throwing him in at the top of the lineup when his season performance this season has not earned it in any way.

One thing I think can be said about manager Craig Albernaz is that he believes in his guys. This trait would seem laudable if his supposed-to-be-good guys were playing better and if he had better guys overall. Henderson, Rico Garcia, and Grant Wolfram between them have probably generated a decent percentage of the disappointment in the first-year skipper. For Garcia and Wolfram, at least, part of the answer is that Mike Elias could have signed better relievers.

Speaking of Henderson, we’re running a poll this week that asks if he will ever have a good season for the Orioles again. Have you voted yet?

Twins lineup

  1. Trevor Larnach – LF
  2. Royce Lewis – 1B
  3. Josh Bell – DH
  4. Koby Clemens – 2B
  5. Brooks Lee – 3B
  6. Luke Keaschall – CF
  7. Victor Caratini – C
  8. Alan Roden – RF
  9. Ryan Kreidler – SS

The Twins starter, Zebby Matthews, has a 5.23 ERA so far in this season. Orioles fans are regrettably well acquainted in the 2026 season with what this means for today’s game.

Reds vs White Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Chicago White Sox sit as a -148 home favorite on Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, with first pitch scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET at Rate Field.

However, my Reds vs. White Sox predictions are backing Cincinnati as a road underdog behind a pitching matchup that is far closer than the price suggests.

Read more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Who will win Reds vs White Sox today: Reds moneyline (+134)

The Chicago White Sox have been the better team this season, but I don’t see enough separation in Wednesday’s pitching matchup to lay this price.

Luis Castillo owns a 5.30 ERA and is 0-3 with a 6.33 ERA over his last five appearances, including five earned runs in four innings in his White Sox debut.

Rhett Lowder’s 5.26 ERA doesn’t look much better on paper, but his recent work is far more encouraging. He's allowed only two earned runs in each of his last three starts.

Chicago deserves to be favored at home, but at +134, the Cincinnati Reds don’t need to be the likelier winner for there to be value. With Lowder trending up and Castillo trending down, I’d play this pick to +120.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Castillo’s four-seam fastball has cratered from a +11 run value in 2025 to -5 in 2026, with opponents’ slugging jumping from .411 to .466, and he still throws it more than 44% of the time.

Reds vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)

Lowder’s recent improvement makes the Under tempting, but there’s enough volatility on both sides of this matchup to prefer the Over at 8.5.

Castillo is the biggest reason, pairing his 5.30 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and a career-high home run rate.

Chicago punishes mistakes as one of baseball’s stronger home run clubs, hitting three solo homers in Tuesday’s opener. Cincinnati’s relief group has been one of the weakest in baseball, while Chicago’s just coughed up a three-run eighth-inning lead in the opener.

With two starters carrying ERAs north of 5.25 and shaky pens behind them, I like the number at 8.5, and I’d play this to -130.

Reds vs White Sox home run prediction: Sal Stewart (+474)

I’m chasing a Reds home run here because Castillo has been extremely vulnerable to the long ball, allowing at least two homers in three of his last four outings. His most-used pitch, the four-seam fastball, has become a liability.

Enter Sal Stewart, the Reds’ best four-seam masher, who slugs .643 against the pitch with a +14 run value. The rookie has 25 home runs this season and has gone deep six times in his last 22 games.

I love his price and I’d play this down to +400, at a half unit.

Reds vs White Sox weather

Weather at Rate Field leans hitter-friendly on Wednesday night, with warm temperatures and high humidity near 90%, one of the muggiest environments on the MLB slate. The ballpark already ranks among the best in baseball for home runs, so those conditions give a slight boost to offense and to the Stewart home-run pick. 

Reds vs White Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Reds +134 | White Sox -148
  • Run line: Reds +1.5 | White Sox -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Reds vs White Sox trend

Cincinnati has cashed the moneyline in seven of its last 10 games as a road underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. White Sox.

How to watch Reds vs White Sox and game info

LocationRate Field, Chicago, IL
DateWednesday, August 12, 2026
First pitch7:40 p.m. ET
TVReds.TV, CHSN
Reds starting pitcherRhett Lowder
(4-7, 5.26 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcherLuis Castillo
(3-9, 5.30 ERA)

Reds vs White Sox 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.

Guardians vs Tigers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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With left-hander Framber Valdez on the bump, the Detroit Tigers are a -122 moneyline favorite tonight against their AL Central rivals, the Cleveland Guardians. 

With the struggling Foster Griffin on the hill for Cleveland, my Guardians vs. Tigers predictions are targeting Detroit in-form offense to thrive. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, August 12. 

Who will win Guardians vs Tigers today: Tigers moneyline (-126)

Framber Valdez has been throwing the ball well for the Detroit Tigers. Across his last two starts, he owns a 2.37 FIP while not allowing a single home run.

Over the last month, Valdez also has a 3.79 FIP, and he now faces a Cleveland Guardians lineup that has struggled against lefties, posting an 88 wRC+.

As for Foster Griffin, he was lit up in his Cleveland debut last week, allowing five earned runs. Griffin also compiled a 5.74 xERA over his previous three appearances before that while still with the Nationals.

The Tigers are an offensive juggernaut right now, carrying a 130 wRC+ over their last 11 contests into tonight’s matchup. They also have a 100 wRC+ vs lefties. 

Detroit has the edge. Play this pick up to -140.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Guardians have struggled to produce offensively on the road, posting an 86 wRC+ compared to a 103 mark at Progressive Field. That gives Valdez another matchup edge in Detroit. 

Guardians vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-121)

This total sits at 8.5, and I'm liking the Under. While neither bullpen has been perfect lately, both offenses are showing very little power right now. Cleveland owns a .111 ISO over the last week, while Detroit sits even lower at .090 during that span.

The Tigers’ bullpen has been manageable with a 4.07 FIP over the last week while allowing 1.27 HR/9. Cleveland’s pen is more concerning with a 5.19 FIP and 7.25 BB/9, but the Guardians’ lineup has not shown enough thump lately to fully push this toward the Over.

With both offenses lacking power, this profiles as a lower-scoring game.

Play this pick up to -130.

Guardians vs Tigers home run prediction: Jo Adell (+510)

Jo Adell may only have one home run in his last seven contests, but he is smashing the baseball right now, even if it has not left the yard as often as he’d like. The slugger owns a 46.7% hard-hit rate and 20% barrel rate over the last two weeks.

What really stands out is the 20-degree average launch angle. Adell is consistently getting lift on the baseball, with a 60% fly-ball rate during that span. He has also smoked 10 homers off lefties this season and owns a .269 ISO against them.

Adell is a solid candidate to go yard.

Play this pick down to +500.

Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 48-58, -17.92 units
  • Over/Under bets: 58-45, +6.31 units

Guardians vs Tigers weather

Weather at Comerica Park looks playable tonight after some earlier afternoon storm risk in Detroit. Conditions should be partly cloudy to mostly clear by first pitch, with temperatures falling from about 81°F at 7 p.m. to 72°F by 11 p.m. Overall, it looks mild with no major weather edge for scoring.

Guardians vs Tigers odds

  • Moneyline: Cleveland +117 | Detroit -122
  • Run line: Cleveland +1.5 (-186) | Detroit -1.5 (+170)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Guardians vs Tigers trend

The Detroit Tigers have hit the Moneyline in 24 of their last 35 games (+9.35 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Tigers.

How to watch Guardians vs Tigers and game info

LocationComerica Park, Detroit, MI
DateWednesday, August 12, 2026
First pitch6:40 p.m. ET
TVCleGuardians.TV, DSN
Guardians starting pitcherFoster Griffin 
(12-4, 3.31 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcherFramber Valdez
(7-7, 4.17 ERA)

Guardians vs Tigers 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.

How to win a Cy Young

We’re three-quarters of the way through the season, and while Drew Rasmussen and I really wanted the Yankees to trade for Reid Detmers at the deadline, there are two pitchers gunning for the AL Cy Young. New York’s Cam Schlittler has surpassed expectations for his sophomore season, and Dylan Cease has been just about the only watchable player on a bad Blue Jays team.

At time of writing, the two were separated by 0.1 fWAR, a difference that is quite literally negligible. Cease has done it in about 20 fewer innings, so on a per-inning basis he’s been slightly more valuable, but Schlittler leads the AL in innings pitched and I think that does matter, even in the five-and-fly era we find ourselves in. Although Cease is posting an insane 36.1-percent strikeout rate, Schlittler’s superior control means he’s a hair ahead in K-BB rate at 26.1 percent to 25.5 percent; I personally consider this to be the single most useful pitching stat.

To keep up the fun, they even mirrored each other in recent starts. Last Thursday at the Friendly Confines, Cease went seven shutout innings against a likely playoff team, striking out 10 against a single walk. The Jays lost. On Sunday, Cam went seven innings against a likely playoff team, allowing a single run, sitting down 11 on strikes while walking nobody, and the Yankees lost. It’s one of those strange things about baseball; position dictates the two men will never actually face off against one another, but they’re going blow-for-blow in a heavyweight fight.

There’s 40-ish games left this year, and that means about eight starts apiece for the two favorites. The question isn’t what they’ve done so far in 2026, it’s how they’ll close down the stretch. The big mark against Schlittler is his home runs, a symptom of throwing so many pitches in the zone — as of Tuesday morning, Cease put the ball in the zone 42 percent of the time, Schlittler 49 percent. It seems a major focus of the Yankee’s season has been making guys hit their way aboard, and while that’s worked for the most part, he’s allowed twice as many homers as his northern rival.

Now to Cease’s credit, one of the goals of his season seems to be controlling contact quality. He’s running the lowest barrel rate, average exit velo, fly ball rate, and second-lowest hard-hit rate of his career, exactly what you’d want to do to keep the ball in the yard. xFIP, which adjusts FIP to assume a normal home run rate, does expect some slight regression down the stretch, pegging him for a 2.68 mark instead of his current 2.40 ERA. This has less to do with any choices Cease is making, and more to do with the fact that it’s just unlikely for any pitcher to surrender so few home runs. (Indeed just yesterday, he gave up multiplehomers in a start for just the fourth time this year.)

We can try and map out who Schlittler will face down the stretch — it’s imperfect as the Yankees have a key series with Boston at the end of the month that Cam’s currently not tabbed to start in, and it might make sense for the club to shuffle the rotation around to make sure he makes an appearance over say, Will Warren. There’s also a persistent rumor that Carlos Rodón will return to the team, but hey I’ll believe that when I see it. Those caveats aside, Cam’s tabbed for four starts on the road, against the Blue Jays, Angels, Padres, and Diamondbacks. This is critical when we’ve seen him develop a pretty stark home/road split this season, with a paltry 1.10 ERA/2.39 FIP on the road, compared to a 3.95 ERA/2.95 FIP at the Stadium.

I also think the innings matter!

Cease has been more valuable on a per-inning basis, like I said above. On a 200-inning pace, Dylan would have a 6.9 fWAR season, Cam would be at “just” 6.3. But Dylan Cease isn’t going to throw 200 innings, averaging exactly six innings a start he may not make it to 180. If—and it’s a big if—Cam ends the season effectively tied with Cease across multiple metrics but has a clear lead across the AL in innings pitched, I actually think that makes him more deserving of the award.

Yes, yes, per-inning basis and all, but there’s a certain security you have when you know your pitcher is going to go deep into the game every fifth day. It brings stability to the rotation and nobody’s rotation stays healthy all season, it gives you more options the day before Cam’s start, where Aaron Boone can say “OK, let’s make XYZ move because Schlittler is probably pitching deep tomorrow.” It also gives you more options the day after, since the bullpen is probably a little more rested after the righty starts.

My biggest complaint with the rise of the bullpen game is that the more pitchers you use, the greater the chance that one guy just doesn’t have it that day. He slept funny the night before and his neck has a pinch, or he can’t get a handle on his slider, it’s not really his fault but he just doesn’t have it. The fewer pitchers you use, the fewer possible points of failure. Bulk does matter, to me.

With a quarter of the season to go, figuring out the home runs, the Yankee Stadium issue — which may be one and the same, Cam gives up 1.11 HR/9 in the Bronx and 0.70 away — and continuing to pitch deep into each start is the trifecta for a Cy Young season. Dylan Cease may see some regression, especially on the home run front, but you can’t win a major award by hoping the other guy slows down. I expect this to come right down to the wire, but hopefully Cam ends up on top.

Gamethread 8/12: Phillies at Cardinals

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 07: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 reacts during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Toronto Blue Jays on August 7th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Who wins the rubbermatch today? Will Luis Arraez get a hit? Do the Phillies score more than 0-1 runs? Come find out starting 2:15 today with Zack Wheeler on the mound! Lineups:

Game 122: Orioles at Twins

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 10: Zebby Matthews #52 of the Minnesota Twins looks on with the Budweiser Clydesdales against the Los Angeles Angels on July 10, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

FIRST PITCH: 1240p Central
TELEVISION: Twins.TV, presented by Progressive
RADIO: WCCO 830 AM, KMNB 102.9 FM, Dan Gladden Radio Network, Audacy App
KNOW THE FOE:Camden Chat

The Minnesota Twins walk into yet another rubber match as they look to take the series from the visiting Baltimore Orioles this afternoon. Winning this series will mean a sixth series victory in a row for the home nine as well as gaining a game against the Orioles as they are also in the hunt for the American League Wild Card race.

Shane Baz will take the mound for Baltimore. He faced Minnesota in the opening series of the season and went 5.1 innings en route to an 8-6 win for them. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs while striking out four and did not earn a decision in the game. The rest of his campaign has been good so far this year in a strong Baltimore rotation; he owns a 3.76 ERA/3.35 FIP over 23 starts, but his strikeout numbers are down compared to last year.

Minnesota will call upon Zebby Matthews to start today. He continues to stretch himself out from a season perspective has he’s already eclipsed his total number of innings pitched from last season. The Twins have won the last two games behind Zebby – both five-inning outings, both allowing three earned runs, both allowing two walks, and one game where he notched 10 Ks against the Seattle Mariners. He’s been dealing with a blister on one of his feet, so that is something on which to keep an eye. (That does not allow you to open the door to Twinkie Town After Dark!)


GO TWIMS GO



Today’s Lineups:

ORIOLESTWINS
Gunnar Henderson – SSTrevor Larnach – LF
Pete Alonso – 1BRoyce Lewis – 1B
Jackson Holliday – 2BJosh Bell – DH
Tyler O’Neill – DHKody Clemens – 2B
Dylan Beavers – LFBrooks Lee – 3B
Sister Christian – 3BLuke Keaschall – CF
Leody Taveras – RFVictor Caratini – C
Christian Franklin – CFAlan Roden – RF
Carlos Narvaez – CRyan Kreidler – SS
Shane Baz – RHPZebby Matthews – RHP

Mets vs Braves Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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After last night's win, the Atlanta Braves (-175 moneyline favorites) look to secure the series win over New York Mets.

My Mets vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 12, see Atlanta pull off the win at home.

Who will win Mets vs Braves today: Braves moneyline (-175)

Not the sexiest price tag for the Atlanta Braves to come out on top, but I really like this spot.

Tyler Mahle has been lights out over his last five starts, posting a 2.73 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while doing a great job limiting hard contact and barrels.

On the other side, New York Mets southpaw Zac Thornton has some underlying metrics pointing toward regression. He owns a 2.52 ERA on the year, but his xERA sits at 4.11, according to HandiGraphs.

The Mets’ lineup has been seeing the ball very well over the last week, but with how well Mahle has been pitching, I think he can hold them down.

Plus, the Braves own a 114 wRC+, .333 wOBA and .762 OPS over their last 12 games.

I think this is a great spot for the Bravos.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Five Braves hitters own an OPS above .956 over their last 30 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.

Mets vs Braves Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+101)

I am expecting a pitching duel this evening in Atlanta between Mr. Thornton and Mr. Mahle, as both pitchers have done an excellent job limiting hard-hit balls and, especially, barrels. Across both pitchers’ last five starts, their opponents have stayed under an 8.5% barrel rate.

Even with my concerns about Thornton’s expected numbers this season, he has done a spectacular job of not allowing opposing hitters to generate much hard contact against him.

Both offenses have been outstanding over their last 12 games, but if these pitchers are hitting their spots this evening, I expect runs to be at a premium.

Mets vs Braves home run prediction: Matt Olson (+325)

Another game with slim pickings for long-ball looks, but we’ll go with a bat that has been barreling up lefties a ton over his last 30 plate appearances against them.

That would be Braves slugger Matt Olson, who owns a 26.35% barrel rate, .714 SLG and .464 ISO during that stretch.

Despite the lefty-on-lefty matchup, Thornton has been allowing left-handed bats to produce a ton of hard-hit balls and barrel up his offerings at a 12.5% clip over his last 30 faced. During that stretch, those bats have a .296 xBA, .495 xSLG and .522 wOBA.

“But he homered yesterday.”

Okay? Junior Caminero went back-to-back days with a home run over the last two days. It means nothing!

If you’re looking for a Met, I’m leaning Francisco Alvarez. His barrel rate has been through the roof lately.

Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Season Record: 387-752, -17.4 Units
  • Home Run Record: 97-346, +8.7 Units

Mets vs Braves weather

First pitch temperatures should be in the upper 80s, with a slight wind blowing out to left.

Mets vs Braves odds

  • Moneyline: New York +158 | Atlanta -175
  • Run line: New York +1.5 (-142) | Atlanta -1.5 (+124)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-112) | Under 8.5 (+101)

Mets vs Braves trend

The Atlanta Braves have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 11 games (+9.75 Units / 78% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.

How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info

LocationTruist Park, Cumberland, GA
DateWednesday, August 12, 2026
First pitch7:15 p.m. ET
TVSNY, BravesVision
Mets starting pitcherZac Thornton
(3-2, 2.52 ERA)
Braves starting pitcherTyler Mahle
(3-9, 4.83 ERA)

Mets vs Braves latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Dodgers vs Royals Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 12

Max Muncy walked off the Royals (49-72) in a 5-4 comeback win for the Dodgers (72-49) on Tuesday night. Los Angeles has a chance to sweep the Royals before preparing for a four-game series versus Milwaukee.

The Dodgers have won two-straight and three of the past four following its season-long seven-game losing streak. In August, Los Angeles ranks 26th in ERA (4.95) and the offense has not cooked with 36 runs over 10 games (T-23rd) and a .251 batting average (12th).

Kansas City has now lost three consecutive games and five of the previous six. In August, the Royals own the second-worst ERA (5.67) with 57 runs allowed over 10 games and the second-worst WHIP (1.53), and fourth-worst OBA (.274). The Royals have allowed at least five runs in three-straight games and four of the past five.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Royals at Dodgers

  • Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
  • Time: 10:10 PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium 
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV 

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

Odds for the Royals at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-207), Kansas City Royals (+192)
  • Spread: Royals +1.5 (-117), Dodgers -1.5 (-103)
  • Total: 9.0

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Dodgers 

  • Wednesday's pitching matchup (August 12): Eric Lauer vs Daniel Lynch IV  
  • Royals: Daniel Lynch IV  

2026 stats: 47.2 IP, 4-3, 2.45 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 37 K, 14 BB

  • Dodgers: Eric Lauer  

2026 Stats: 92.0 IP, 6-6, 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 57 K, 29 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • Freddie Freeman has recorded a hit in 17 of his last 20 games
  • Shohei Ohtani is batting .282 to start August (11/39)
  • Mookie Betts is hitting .257 in August (9/35)
  • Isaac Collins is hitting .154 in August (4/26)
  • Jac Caglianone is hitting .425 in August (17/40) with four home runs

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Dodgers

  • Los Angeles is 49-71 ATS, ranking third-worst
  • Kansas City is 56-65 ATS, ranking fifth-worst
  • Los Angeles is 63-56-1 to the Under
  • Kansas City is 62-56-3 to the Under
  • Los Angeles is 20-38 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
  • Kansas City is 28-34 ATS on the road, ranking fifth-worst

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Royals

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Dodgers and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0

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Are Pirates signaling a Paul Skenes shutdown? Or a more actively managed workload?

It feels cliche to ponder the possibility of the Pittsburgh Pirates shutting Paul Skenes down, even in what increasingly looks like another lost season for him and his team.

His overall numbers are far from bad relative to the rest of baseball. His 3.88 ERA is fine. His 2.99 FIP, which measures a pitcher’s effectiveness independent of the defense behind him, is very good. So is his 1.12 WHIP, which measures walks and hits per innings pitched. 

Yes, his velocity is down, noticeably. Skenes topped out at 96.5 mph on Aug. 11, and his season average is at 96.8 mph on his four-seam vs a 98.2 mph average in 2025. No, he doesn’t look like the dominant Cy Young-caliber ace he was his first two seasons. And yes, that reality raises existential questions about the club’s future, specifically his future with it. He also hasn’t fully turned into a proverbial pumpkin the way the narrative around this team would sometimes have one think. 

It nevertheless became a lot harder to ignore the signs that Skenes may not complete the season Aug. 11 in Miami. Manager Don Kelly pulled Skenes after just five innings and 65 pitches against the Marlins, though he said after the game that the decision wasn’t injury related. 

The underlying stat line was deceptive. He allowed just one earned run while scattering five hits and a walk, but he needed Bryan Reynolds to rob Griffin Conine on his final pitch of the evening to avoid a two-run homer that would have given the night a very different feel. 

Before the game, Kelly made one of his frankest acknowledgements yet that something is wrong without pointing specifically to the physical element. 

“The league is adjusting back,” he told reporters. “Paul’s gonna have to fight to make the adjustment back to the league and find a way to adjust himself. Yes, the [velocity]’s down. I think command has been a bigger thing, at least for me. That could come from multiple things. From trying too hard to trying to be too perfect. Maybe trying to get that [velocity] back. You can’t just go get it. How does Paul make the adjustment back?” 

Much has been made locally about Skenes’ workload, which this year included the early ramp up to the World Baseball Classic coming off a career-high at all levels of 187 innings during his Cy Young campaign in 2025. 

He’d have to average more than seven innings per start the rest of the way to hit that number again, assuming he finishes at or near his total of 32 games started last year. 

Through that lens, Kelly’s decision could be seen as a further attempt to manage the number downward. Continuing to allow Skenes the space to work through the necessary adjustments without overexposing him in increasingly meaningless games. 

The Pirates didn’t score a single run of support Tuesday night, after all. The bullpen pitched four scoreless innings the rest of the way, so Skenes’ early departure made no practical impact on the outcome.

Perhaps we should expect more of that the rest of the way, as opposed to an outright shut down. Especially as the race for the final wild-card spot in the National League becomes increasingly bleak. 

The Pirates are now six games back of the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies, who are tied for wild card spots. The Marlins, Cardinals, Nationals and Reds all remain in front of them. And playoff odds via Fangraphs have almost halved again since Aug. 10. They now sit at 4.4%. 

For his part, Skenes seemed to feel afterward that he’d made progress while demurring on the question of being pulled early. 

“I thought it was better in terms of attacking guys,” he told reporters. “Kind of making pitches earlier in the count. 

“If I were the manager, I’d probably do it, too. [Kelly] walked me through everything and it all made sense. Yeah, wish I could have gone more, but it kind of is what it is.” 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are Pirates signaling a Paul Skenes shutdown? Or a more actively managed workload?

MLB Strikeout Props & Pitcher Best Bets for Today, Aug. 12

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It's a getaway day for some, and that's a perfect day to find some MLB player props and dig into what's not priced into the pitcher prop markets.

Drew Rasmussen and Eric Lauer will face offenses looking forward to a day off tomorrow, and their Overs are projecting well, while Zack Wheeler was pushed heavily in his last start and should lose some efficiency and leash today.

These are my favorite pitcher strikeout, pitcher props & MLB picks for Wednesday, August 12.

Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today

Player PickOdds
Rays Drew RasmussenOver 5.5 strikeouts+120
Dodgers Eric LauerOver 4.5 strikeouts+130
Phillies Zack WheelerUnder 17.5 outs+140

Strikeout prop: Drew Rasmussen Over 5.5 strikeouts (+120)

Drew Rasmussen might not go 100 pitches every start, but even with that 90-95-pitch leash, he can rack em up, and he's done so of late. Over his last three starts vs. teams with a big array of K%, the Tampa Bay Rays starter has 27 Ks over his last 20 innings. He has gotten to 5+ Ks in all but two of his last 11 starts since the start of June.

Tampa got a complete game with Nick Martinez last night, as the Athletics lineup has been one of the worst over the last two weeks and a bottom-10 team in K% over that stretch. THE BAT will never like Rasmussen's Overs because of that leash, but his range of outcomes and ability to smash his Overs separates him from other starters.

This price is tough to ignore for a K/inning guy who can get to six frames on a team that hates its bullpen and is looking to win a division.

The All-Star break was perfect for the right-hander as he has allowed just two runs over his last 25 innings and hasn't allowed a run in three straight games. He also gets an Athletics team that might be looking ahead to a day off on Thursday.

  • Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: NBCSCA, Rays.TV

Strikeout prop: Eric Lauer Over 4.5 strikeouts (+130)

Let's take a swing at another heavy plus-money Over K prop against a Kansas City Royals lineup that got carved up by another lefty last night in Blake Snell, who easily topped his 7.5 K prop with a 10-strikeout outing.

Eric Lauer is not Snell, but the Royals are a light-hitting lineup, and they're looking ahead to a day off tomorrow in California before heading to Anaheim.

THE BAT is projecting Lauer to go Over this number on 87 pitches with a fair price of +125, but the Dodgers should give him a six-inning leash with a pitch count that can reach the upper 90s. There’s a good chance he tops that projected pitch count today.

Lauer is also coming off a bad start at Wrigley, his worst as a Dodger, giving him some motivation on his side. The Los Angeles Dodgers could also be without three relievers today, including two lefties, which makes getting length from Lauer even more important.

I'm taking the Over and looking for Lauer to get through six innings with enough volume to cash this plus-money prop.

  • Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: SportsNetLA, Royals.TV

Pitcher outs prop: Zack Wheeler Under 17.5 outs (+141)

Sticking with the plus-money on these, this is my favorite fade of the day. Zack Wheeler is coming off an 116-pitch outing against the Blue Jays, which was the most he has thrown in over five seasons. Making that even heavier is that he threw just 110 combined pitches in his two previous outings.

His form has also fallen off that Cy Young pace, as he owns a 5.71 ERA since the break and has gone Over this number just once.

Looking at the Philadelphia Philliesbullpen, there could be a quicker hook than usual, as all but one arm is available and the high-leverage guys need some work.

There are also some lefties in that St. Louis Cardinals lineup who could end Wheeler's day, with JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson in the mix. There should be five lefties in the Cardinals' lineup today.

I love fading pitchers coming off massive workloads, and the distraction about Wheeler not touching the rubber is just another thing that works in this Under's favor. This isn't a coin flip, but 45%-47% looks like the outcome.

  • Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, NBCSP
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 10-13, -2.8 units

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.

Athletics' Nick Kurtz could miss the rest of the season with a thumb injury

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz may be in danger of missing the rest of the season because of his injured right thumb.

Manager Mark Kotsay told reporters before his team’s game against Tampa Bay that Kurtz needs to be in a brace for four weeks following a platelet-rich plasma injection on Aug. 4. Kotsay alluded to the fact that four weeks without mobility for Kurtz could make a return before the end of September difficult to envision.

Kurtz, 23, went on the injured list with a sprained right thumb on July 11 and returned two weeks later. He struggled at the plate following his return, going 1 for 18 in seven games. Kurtz was expected to see a hand specialist in Los Angeles.

The reigning AL rookie of the year is batting .256 with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs in his second season in the majors. Kurtz, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was selected as an All-Star but unable to participate in Philadelphia because of the injury.

Wednesday Open Thread

TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 10: Charles McAdoo #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays gets doused with a sports drink during their post-game interview after their MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on August 10, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I got a few things going on today, and I’m kind wanting a day off, so lets do an open thread.

I saw a tweet for a post saying “How could the Jays pull it off?“ and I was thinking win a lot of games? That’s it right? Cause blowing up the other teams’ ballparks, with the teams in them, seems a bit over the top.

Of course, having two starting pitchers go on the IL in the past couple of weeks makes it all that much harder.

2.5 games back now but they have to leap over five teams to get there, which is the tough part. If one of those teams goes on a run, it becomes that much harder.

Anyway, use the thread to talk about anything you’d like. If nothing else give me something I can watch on streaming, because I’m watching ‘Heros’ and, as I remembered it, the first season was fairly compelling, but the second season is just a mess.