With Nolan McLean gearing up for his MLB debut on Saturday, the Mets were forced to make a corresponding move and they've made it, designating Paul Blackburn for assignment following Friday night's loss to the Seattle Mariners, the team announced.
Blackburn dealt with a lot this season, which started with him on the IL with right knee inflammation.
The right-hander didn't make his season debut until June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which he pitched five scoreless innings. From there, things went downhill for the 31-year-old.
After a slew of ineffective outings, Blackburn went back on the IL with a right shoulder impingement, which he had been rehabbing for the last month.
Healthy once again but with few spots available after the Mets fortified their bullpen at the trade deadline, the veteran was activated on Aug. 13 and pitched that day against the Atlanta Braves.
In what would end up being his final appearance for New York, Blackburn went five innings in what was a blowout loss to save the rest of the bullpen.
In seven games (four starts), the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA.
Joining the Mets at last season's trade deadline, Blackburn only made 12 appearances during his time in New York after spending eight seasons playing for the Athletics.
In his career, the veteran owns a 4.96 ERA in 452 innings.
Meanwhile, McLean said Friday he was "surprised" to get the promotion, but is ready for his MLB debut. He's pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings in the minors this season. The 24-year-old made five starts in Double-A before heading to Triple-A, where he owned a 2.78 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 16 outings.
Luis Gil was solid in his third start this season and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-run blast proved to be the difference as the Yankees held on to defeat the Cardinals, 4-3, on Friday night in St. Louis.
The Yankees' win coupled with the Guardians' loss earlier in the day, increased their lead for the final wild card spot to 1.5 games.
Here are the takeaways...
-Manager Aaron Boone went with a different-looking lineup for Friday's game. With Aaron Judge occupying the DH spot, Giancarlo Stanton was relegated to the bench with Jose Caballero getting the start in right field. Jasson Dominguez and Trent Grisham rounded out the outfield. Cody Bellinger got the start at first base with Ben Rice behind the plate, and it was Rice who set the Yankees up early in this one.
Rice doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs in the first inning. Judge grounded out but drove in Grisham from third. After a Bellinger flyout, Chisholm hit a laser into the right field stands for a two-run shot off starter Andre Pallante to put the Yankees up 3-0.
-Gil was on the mound and was effective despite seemingly nipping at the corners early. He would induce inning-ending double plays in each of his first three innings. Gil was cruising until the fifth inning when he started to lose the zone. The Cardinals got runners on the corners with no outs. But Gil got the next three batters in order (flyout, strikeout, groundout) to get out of the jam.
The same would not be the case in the sixth inning as Gil allowed back-to-back, one-out doubles as the Cardinals got on the board, and was the end of Gil's night.
Mark Leiter Jr. came in, and after a walk, the right-hander got another inning-ending double play, and put a bow on Gil's night.
Gil was economical heading into the sixth, but had to be pulled after tossing 83 pitches (50 strikes) across 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
-The Yankees bullpen was a bit shaky. After Leiter, Camilo Doval was on for the seventh and allowed two runs on one hit, one walk and a HBP in just 0.2 innings pitched. Luke Weaver was called to close the door on the innings, but an 0-2 changeup in the dirt went through Rice's legs and allowed another Cardinals run to score (both charged to Doval) on the wild pitch. Weaver did get the strikeout to end the frame but the Yankees' lead was just 4-3 after seven.
Doval has allowed at least one run in three of his seven outings since being acquired by the Yankees. It's also the third time he's recorded fewer than three outs.
Weaver pitched in and out of trouble in the eighth after a two-out single and his own throwing error put the tying run in scoring position. Weaver got Nolan Gorman to strike out to end the frame.
David Bednar got the Cardinals 1-2-3 in the ninth to pick up his second save as a Yankee.
-After the Yankees went up 4-0, the offense completely went to sleep. They consistently had traffic on the bases but couldn't scratch across any more runs, and the ninth inning was the worst culprit. After Ryan McMahon walked and Caballero singled to lead off the inning, Grisham tried to bunt them over but failed, as McMahon was thrown out at third on the force out. Rice struck out and Judge walked to load the bases for Bellinger. But the slugger popped out to end the threat.
The Yankees were 3-for-17 with RISP and left nine men on base.
-Dominguez, getting his first at-bat since Aug. 10, finished 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but delivered with an opposite-field single in the third inning to drive in the Yankees' fourth run of the game.
Caballero went 2-for-3 with a walk and one strikeout, while Rice finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Judge went 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI groundout. He's now 5-for-29 since returning from the IL.
-One piece of good news for the Yankees was that Paul Goldschmidt came in to play first base in the eighth inning for defensive purposes. It looks as if the veteran slugger will avoid an IL stint.
Game MVP: Yankees bullpen (not named Doval)
The combination of Leiter, Weaver and Bednar got nine outs without allowing a run
A yet-to-be-finished mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. outside of a future Eat Fantastic restaurant in Redondo Beach features images of Dodgers Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, as well as an altered version of an iconic Kobe Bryant photo. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
The image is iconic — Kobe Bryant letting out a roar while tugging on his gold Lakers jersey after scoring 49 points during a playoff win over the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2008.
It has been used in numerous murals around Southern California, including one that is being painted in larger-than-life form on the side of a future Eat Fantastic restaurant on the 700 block of North Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.
This particular painting, however, is a little different from the others, and from the original image itself. Bryant's intensity is still there. His pose is exactly the same. He is still wearing a No. 24 jersey.
But in this version, that jersey is not gold with "Lakers" spelled across the chest in purple letters.
It's white, with "Dodgers" across the chest in blue letters.
Gustavo Zermeño Jr. altered an iconic image of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for a Dodgers mural he is painting in Redondo Beach. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
The altered version of the iconic image is just one portion of a sprawling mural paying tribute to the Dodgers' 2024 World Series championship. It's on the north-facing side of a former Carl's Jr. building that will open later this year as part of the growing Eat Fantastic chain in the Los Angeles area.
The mural was conceived by artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. and Eat Fantastic owner Efthemios Alexander Tsiboukas. It features some of the key figures from the Dodgers' title run — players Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani (with his beloved dog Decoy) and rapper Ice Cube, who is shown riding in a classic Dodger blue convertible as he did when he performed before Game 3 of the World Series.
And then there's the late Lakers legend Bryant, whose inclusion in the piece was a must, Zermeño said.
"Each [Eat Fantastic] location has a Kobe mural, at least the ones that have a good wall," said Zermeño, who is a huge fan of both the Dodgers and Bryant. "And for this location, [Tsiboukas] wanted to create something for the Dodgers' championship team. That's why Kobe has the Dodger jersey on, you know, staying on theme with the locations having a Kobe mural."
Zermeño said the original idea was to paint Bryant wearing a Dodgers baseball jersey, as he did while attending the team's games over the years before his shocking death in January 2020.
Lakers' Kobe Bryant celebrates a three–pointer against the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2008, at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
"So we looked up a bunch of images," Zermeño said. "A lot of them are obviously cool images, but either they were very pixelated, or just didn't have what we wanted, that really aggressive Mamba-mentality feel.
"So we found this image. And you know, this image has been done before in several murals. But with the Dodger jersey, we wanted to throw a twist on it."
Tsiboukas said: "That's my favorite picture of him. I have the exact same one [painted at the restaurant location] in Arcadia. He's wearing the real jersey, though, the yellow one. So I wanted a replica of that same one I did in Arcadia, and do it in a Dodger jersey, because of the Dodger dynasty right now."
The purple and gold may have been removed from the jersey, but Zermeño said he purposefully incorporated them into the sunset depicted behind Bryant as a nod to the Lakers.
Zermeño started working on the mural Aug. 7 and expects to have it completed next week, ahead of Bryant's Aug. 23 birthday. The portion featuring Bryant is already done — and it has garnered mixed reactions.
"For the most part, I've gotten a pretty positive reaction over it," Zermeño said. "You know, a lot of Laker fans are also Dodger fans, so I think that overlap is pretty consistent throughout L.A. But yeah, man, you're always going to have some haters. I think a lot of it is more like playful taunting. ...
"A couple of people driving by — I think they're just trying to be funny, making a joke, like yelling 'He didn't play for the Dodgers!' or like, 'He was a Laker!' And then some people are just curious why I made that change. I think the people that are curious are older, some of the older crowd that, I guess, doesn't understand why I would switch it, you know?"
Tsiboukas said he has seen a lot of online discussion about it, including on the popular kobemural Instagram page.
"Maybe 70% love it, and 30% are like, 'That looks like a Clipper jersey,'" Tsiboukas said. "It's causing a lot of friction back and forth, but it's good topic. It's raising awareness. It's keeping Kobe's legacy alive."
Gustavo Zermeño Jr. hand paints part of Mookie Betts' mouth onto his Dodgers mural outside the future Eat Fantastic restaurant in Redondo Beach. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy, holding a Dodger Dog toy in his mouth, are depicted in a new mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. (Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times)
Zermeño said he doesn't mind the discourse over his artwork.
“It just, it sparks that conversation," he said. "So regardless of whether people like it or not, I think it kind of breaks the ice for people to come up and ask questions and learn more about why we created it, and the process of putting it together. ...
“It's art, you know, and art's meant to kind of create some type of conversation. And if we were to put him with a regular jersey, people would have been like, ‘Oh, that's cool, but it's been done X amount of times,' you know? I've seen that photo in at least five different murals. So, yeah, I think switching it up definitely — I don't want to say it elevated the piece, but it definitely created more conversation than there would be if we just kept the original jersey.”
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy sits in the dugout during a game against the Chicago White Sox on July 3. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Ahead of their biggest series of the season, the Dodgers suffered another significant injury blow.
Third baseman Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a Grade 1 right oblique strain ahead of the team’s pivotal divisional matchup against the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers are hopeful Muncy’s injury — which manager Dave Roberts said was similar to, but more mild, than the oblique and rib problem that sidelined him for much of last year — won’t be season ending.
However, Muncy will be out for at least several weeks, with Roberts offering no firm timetable beyond that.
"I don't think anyone knows right now, but certainly beyond the 10 days,” Roberts said. “I think that's a safe bet."
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The last time the Dodgers lost Muncy, to a knee injury in early July that kept him out for about a month, their offense cratered.
Before that point, the team had led the majors in scoring, with 25 more runs than any other club. But over the 25 games he missed, they ranked last, averaging 3.5 runs per game while other star hitters endured slumps.
That sequence served as a reminder of Muncy’s importance to the team. Even after a slow start this year, he was hitting .258 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs in 89 games.
"It's certainly a tough loss," Roberts said. "I think it's just, guys got to continue to perform to their abilities. It's hard to kind of backfill Max, what he brings as far as the plate discipline, the slug, the on-base, all that stuff. I feel good about our lineup, the guys that we have, and they've just got to go out there and take good at-bats. That's kind of all we can do right now."
Muncy’s injury comes amid other key injuries to the lineup.
Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández (the team’s primary backup options at third base) are unlikely to return before September. Because of that, the club had already dug deep into its minor-league depth, including calling up highly touted prospect Alex Freeland — who has hit just .176 since arriving, but got the start at third base Friday.
It’s also San Francisco’s sixth straight loss, their third such streak in just over a month.
Though Friday’s 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park looked much different than the previous five, the result was the same — and just as disheartening.
“It’s just like, we can’t get our timing right with anything,” manager Bob Melvin said postgame. “Everybody is feeling it right now, especially at home. You lose games, you lose multiple games and you lose them in different fashions — it’s not a great feeling.
“But I think we take the field every day in good spirits, and you got to do it again the next day, unfortunately.”
The Giants’ offense woke up quickly Friday night against Rays starter Joe Boyle, pushing six runs across in the first three innings. By comparison, the Giants had scored only five total runs in their previous five games.
The #SFGiants have scored six runs through three innings tonight.
They scored five runs combined during their current five-game losing streak.
Willy Adames ended an 0-for-24 streak at the plate with a third-inning homer, while the bottom of the Giants’ order showed life as well. Christian Koss reached base in all four of his plate appearances, while Patrick Bailey knocked a two-run double the other way to give San Francisco a 6-3 lead.
But even after their hot start at the plate, the Giants’ issues with runners in scoring position resurfaced again late in a tie game. After two hit batters and a single loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, San Francisco still couldn’t get a ball out of the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.
The Rays, meanwhile, managed to do what the Giants couldn’t, converting a first-and-third, no outs situation into the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
That clutch hitting was yet again the difference in a San Francisco loss. The Giants went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners, while Tampa Bay went 5-for-12.
To make matters worse for the Giants’ offense, Matt Chapman hit the IL again before Friday’s game with right hand inflammation stemming from his June injury. The All-Star third baseman spoke to the media postgame, explaining that he received two cortisone shots in his hand Friday to help relieve the inflammation.
Chapman said he has been dealing with pain while swinging since his initial return from the IL in early July, but he’s dealt with incerased soreness over the past two weeks — which has coincided with a decrease in performance at the plate.
“It’s something that kind of has to scar over,” Chapman detailed about the three tears he sustained in his hand. “There hasn’t been enough time for the scarring to happen, so I’ve been trying to just push through it, do what I can.
“I think just from constantly playing, the inflammation just kept going and I couldn’t get ahead of it. So, we’re just hoping this cortisone shot … can get me over the hump, and that way I can be productive and help the team win.”
Both Melvin and Chapman seemed optimistic that the Giants star could return after just the minimum 10 days.
But later that night, Chapman’s backup at third base suffered an injury scare as well, when Casey Schmitt was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning.
Melvin said Schmitt has a right forearm contusion and X-rays came back negative.
“It’s probably going to be a couple of days for him, though,” Melvin told reporters. “Obviously, it’s hard to lose him, but we have some guys that can fill in for now. Hopefully it’s not too long.”
Needless to say, the Giants’ run of bad luck continued in multiple facets on Friday night.
WASHINGTON — Kyle Schwarber said the Phillies were hoping not to hear anything “super serious” on Jhoan Duran’s injury Friday night.
So far, so good.
Duran exited the Phils’ 6-2 win over the Nationals sitting in the bullpen cart after he was hit in the right ankle by a 94.1 mph Paul DeJong liner. A Phillies official said X-rays on Duran were negative and he’ll be evaluated further Saturday.
The Phils’ closer had a slight limp in the postgame clubhouse. On the field, he’d grimaced and struggled to put weight on his right foot during an extended delay. DeJong’s comebacker evidently struck him in a painful spot.
“It hit him off the right ankle, the outer (part) of his ankle,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He ran like a shot over to retrieve the ball, and then once he got there the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in.
“But before the cart came out — I know it took a long time — he actually said, ‘I feel better. I think I can walk over to the dugout.’ But we have all these steps out here (leading to the clubhouse), so we just wanted to use the cart and take him all the way around.”
The Phillies held a four-run lead when Duran entered because Schwarber bashed a three-run homer in the seventh inning and Bryce Harper made it back-to-back jacks. David Robertson got the last three outs and the Phils halted a three-game losing streak.
They’ll learn more about Duran’s ankle in the days to come. Caution was the obvious approach Friday.
“He’s 240 pounds,” Thomson said with a smile. “I don’t want him carrying all that up the stairs.”
Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average.
The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked.
Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge.
Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded.
The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.
Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.
Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning.
“It’s been iffy, to be honest with you,” Wheeler said of his command lately. “Today was a little bit better. I was able to throw high with ease instead of feeling like I was trying to throw it high. That’s my bread and butter, just letting it go and it rides up there. Once I get a full feel for that back, I think everything else will kind of just fall into place.”
For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.
Schwarber stepped up and slugged.
His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.
From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.
The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.
Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right ankle. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in.
Following the game, a Phillies official said X-rays on Duran were negative and he’ll be evaluated further on Saturday.
Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.
On deck
Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.
Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average.
The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked.
Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge.
Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded.
The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.
Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.
Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning.
For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.
Schwarber stepped up and slugged.
His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.
From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.
The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.
Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right foot. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in. This story will be updated when more information on his injury is available.
Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.
On deck
Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.
It's Friday, August 15 and the Padres (69-52) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (68-53). Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles, while San Diego will announce its starter closer to first pitch as they put Michael King on the IL.
The battle for the NL West gets spicier Friday night when the Padres and Dodgers meet for a three-game series as San Diego is a half-game back.
The Dodgers are coming off four straight losses and the past three were a sweep via the Angels that solidified a 6-0 year head-to-head for the Angels over the Dodgers.
San Diego has won five straight games and seven of the past eight as the continue their climb atop the NL West. The Padres are 14-3 over the last 17 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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.
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Game details & how to watch Padres at Dodgers
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: SDPA, SNLA, MLBN
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Odds for the Padres at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Padres (+118), Dodgers (-138)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Dodgers
Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: TBA vs. Clayton Kershaw
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers
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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 Friday’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Dodgers
San Diego is 5-0 in the last 5 games
San Diego is 14-3 in the last 17 games
The Dodgers are 0-4 in the last 4 games
The Dodgers are 5-2 versus the Padres this season
The Dodgers are 4-1 in the last 5 versus the Padres
The Padres have won their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
With Clayton Kershaw starting the Under has cashed in the Dodgers' last 3 games
With Clayton Kershaw as the opener the Dodgers have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 NL West home matchups
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It's Friday, August 15 and the Tigers (71-52) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (57-64). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Pierson Ohl for Minnesota.
Detroit won the series opener, 4-3, in the 11th inning as the Tigers move to 4-1 over the last five games with three of those wins coming by one run. Minnesota is 1-3 in the past four and 2-4 over the last six as they try to course correct their season that seemed lost at the trade deadline.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 Tigers at Twins
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 8:10PM EST
Site: Target Field
City: Minneapolis, MN
Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, MNNT
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Odds for the Tigers at the Twins
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Tigers (-133), Twins (+112)
Spread: Tigers -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Twins
Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Pierson Ohl
Tigers: Charlie Morton, (7-10, 6.10 ERA) Last outing: 12.46 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
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Rotoworld 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 Friday’s game between the Tigers and the Twins:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Twins
Detroit is 4-1 in the last 5 games
Minnesota is 1-3 in the last 4 games
The Tigers have won four of five games at divisional opponents
Detroit's last three visits to Minnesota have stayed under the total
The Tigers have failed to cover the line in four straight games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
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It's Friday, August 15 and the Rays (59-63) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (59-62). Joe Boyle is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Landen Roupp for San Francisco.
The Giants are on a five-game losing streak and lost two straight series as they enter this home stand with the Rays. Tampa Bay is 2-4 over the past six games, but coming off a series win over the Athletics. Both the Giants and Rays have played themselves out of playoff position in the last 30 days.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 Rays at Giants
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 10:15PM EST
Site: Oracle Park
City: San Francisco, CA
Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, NBCSBA, MLBN
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 Rays at the Giants
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Rays (+110), Giants (-131)
Spread: Giants -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Giants
Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Joe Boyle vs. Landen Roupp
Rays: Joe Boyle, (1-2, 3.82 ERA) Last outing: 16.20 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Giants
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Rays and the Giants:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Giants
The Giants are 0-5 in the last 5 games
The Giants are 1-11 in the last 12 home games
The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
The Over is 4-1 in the Rays' last 5 games
The Giants have failed to cover the Run Line in 17 of their last 20 home games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
CINCINNATI — Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has been activated from the injured list after missing about 2½ weeks with a left tibia contusion.
The move potentially clears the way for the All-Star right-hander to pitch in the NL Central-leading Brewers’ series opener Friday at Cincinnati as they attempt to earn a 13th straight victory, which would match the longest winning streak in franchise history. The Brewers won their first 13 games in 1987.
Misiorowski last pitched on July 28 in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Misiorowski’s knee appeared to buckle in the first inning that night as he fielded a dribbler and threw wildly to first base, though he remained in the game and ended up lasting four innings.
He owns a 4-1 record and 2.70 ERA in seven starts. Misiorowski has struck out 47 batters over 33 1/3 innings.
In other moves Friday, the Brewers optioned right-handed pitcher Grant Anderson to Triple-A Nashville, placed outfielder Blake Perkins on the bereavement list, put outfielder Isaac Collins on the paternity list and recalled infielder Tyler Black and outfielder Steward Berroa from Nashville.
Anderson, 28, was 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 53 relief appearances with Milwaukee.
CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk and right-hander Colin Holderman from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday before their series opener against the Cubs in Chicago.
In a corresponding move, the Pirates designated lefty Ryan Borucki for assignment. Right-hander Cam Sanders had been optioned to Indianapolis on Wednesday following a 12-5 loss at Milwaukee that extended the last-place Pirates’ slide to five games.
Sisk, a 28-year-old rookie reliever, was acquired from Kansas City at the trade deadline in a deal that sent starter Bailey Falter to the Royals. Sisk appeared in five games with Kansas City in two stints, in April and May, with no decisions in 5 1/3 innings and a 1.69 ERA.
The 29-year-old Holderman last pitched for the Pirates on May 19, and was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 14 relief appearances before being sent to the minors. Over four major league seasons with the Mets and Pirates, Holderman is 8-10 with a 4.12 ERA.
Borucki is 15-12 with 4.36 ERA over eight seasons with Toronto, Seattle and Pittsburgh. He was 1-3 with 5.28 ERA in 35 games and 30 2/3 innings with the Pirates this season.
Borucki allowed three runs in one inning to the surging Brewers in his final appearance, on Tuesday when Milwaukee routed the Pirates 14-0.
Nolan McLean had just wrapped up his bullpen session on Wednesday afternoon when Syracuse pitching coach A.J. Sager broke the big news.
Sager revealed that his next scheduled start wouldn’t be in Triple-A but rather he was being called up by the Mets to make his highly-anticipated big-league debut.
McLean is set to take the ball on Saturday against the Seattle Mariners.
Even though David Stearns hinted this was more of a possibility the last few weeks, the youngster admitted the promotion came as a bit of a surprise, but he’s excited for the opportunity to jump up to the next level.
“I was trying to do my best to stay in the moment with Syracuse,” McLean said on Friday. “It kind of caught me off guard when A.J. did tell me, it was for sure a surprise -- but it’ll definitely be a dream come true.
“I remember telling my dad when I was little seeing big leaguers, 'I want to do that, it seems fun playing baseball for a living' -- I’m just trying to take it one game at a time, go out and compete as hard as I can tomorrow and take it from there.”
While it was a shock to McLean, it certainly isn’t for those who have seen him pitch.
The 24-year-old has done nothing but cruise his way through minor league lineups this season.
He started the year with Binghamton but was promoted after just five starts and carried that success over to the next level -- pitching to a 2.78 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 16 outings down in Syracuse.
Overall, McLean has posted a stellar 2.45 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings -- a rate of 10.1 K's per nine.
The hope is that he’ll be able to carry that success to the big-league level and provide a much-needed boost for this rotation down the stretch as he slides in in place of the struggling Frankie Montas.
While nerves are certainly expected with a ton of family and friends on hand for his first career outing, he’s just looking to take the ball and do his thing.
“Part of the game is going out there and competing with what you’ve got,” he said. “My stuff isn’t going to change from Syracuse to here, so I’ve got what I have and I’m just going to go out there and try to do my best.”
It's Friday, August 15 and the Phillies (69-52) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (49-72). Zack Wheeler is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against MacKenzie Gore for Washington.
The Nationals opened the series with a 3-2 victory which gave Washington back-to-back wins and a 4-2 mark over the past six games. The Phillies, on the other hand are riding a three-game losing streak, which follows up a four-game winning streak.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 Phillies at Nationals
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 6:45PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: NBCSP, MASN
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 Phillies at the Nationals
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Phillies (-175), Nationals (+146)
Spread: Phillies -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Nationals
Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Zack Wheeler vs. MacKenzie Gore
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Nationals
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Phillies and the Nationals:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Nationals
Philadelphia is 0-3 in the last 3 games
Philadelphia is 7-4 in the last 11 games
Washington is 4-2 in the last 6 games
The Phillies have won 30 of 50 games following a defeat
The Under is 4-1 in the Phillies' last 5 matchups against NL East teams
The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
