Category: MLB

Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers

Sunday, September 6, 2026, 1:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

LHP Ian Seymour vs. RHP MacKenzie Gore

Go Rangers!

TODAY’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (73-70) will host the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-68) for the rubber game of their three-game series today at Daikin Park.

RHP Peter Lambert (8-7, 3.66 ERA) will close out the homestand for the Astros today as he starts opposite All-Star LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (14-5, 2.59 ERA) and the Snakes.

SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 53-39 (.576) in their last 92 games (since May 22). That is the second-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox (55-38).

IN THE WEST: The Astros currently hold a 3.0- game lead in the AL West over the second-place Rangers, which ties as their largest division lead of the season. The Astros have stretched this lead lately thanks to an 8-4 record in their last 12 games.

STARTING BLOCKS: Astros starters have a 1.74 ERA (6ER/31IP) with 31 strikeouts, a .171 opponent average (19×111) and a 1.13 WHIP in the six games of this homestand. Stretching back over the Astros last 12 games, in which they’ve gone 8-4, Astros starters own a 2.78 ERA (18ER/58.1IP).

MEASURING UP: The Astros are within a streak of playing four straight teams with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB). The Astros are 29-19 (.604) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. Clubs that the Astros have winning records against include BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (5-2), CLE (4-2), and TB (2-1).

VS. THE D-BACKS: The Astros have won nine of their last 11 games against the Diamondbacks, a streak that dates back to Sept. 29, 2023. This run includes a three-game sweep of the D-backs in Arizona last season from July 21-23, 2025.

TODAY’S BROADCASTS: Today’s game will be televised by Space City Home Network with Kevin Eschenfelder, Geoff Blum and Julia Morales on the call. The English radio broadcast will be on SportsTalk 790 AM with Robert Ford and Josh Reddick behind the mic. As always, the Astros Spanish radio broadcast features Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño on TUDN 102.9 FM.

ROAD WARRIORS: After today’s game, the Astros will embark on a six-game road trip that will take them to Philadelphia (3g) and Tampa Bay (3g). The Astros are 36-33 on the road, compared to their 37-37 record at home. Since going 1-9 on the first road trip of the 2026 season, they have gone 35-24 (.593) on the road since April 14, which ranks third in the Majors in that span. More recently, they are 19-12 (.613) on their last five road trips.

ASTROS ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have recalled RHP Miguel Ullola from Triple a Sugar Land. He takes the roster spot of RHP Kai-Wei Teng, who was optioned to Triple A after last night’s game.

TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros lead the American League in two-out runs (293) on the season, topping the second-place Rays (255) by close to 40 runs. 3B Isaac Paredes has led this effort, as he leads the AL in two-out RBI with 39, trailing only 1B Rafael Devers (40 RBI) in the Majors.

ISAAC’S FABLES: 3B Isaac Paredes has posted a 13-game on-base streak, in which he owns a .404 OBP, which ties as his second-longest on-base streak of the year. He also has hit safely in six consecutive games, batting .318 (7×22) with six RBI and a .945 OPS in that span.

THE HIT MAN: 2B Jose Altuve has 2,496 career hits, needing just four hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Among active players, Altuve ranks second in hits, trailing only 1B Freddie Freeman (2,586).

THREE-BAGGERS: RF Cam Smith tripled again last night, giving him three triples in his last 11 games and six triples on the season, which ranks tied for first in the AL. These are the most triples in a single season by an Astro since OF Kyle Tucker recorded six triples in 2020.

1K BEHIND THE DISH:C Christian Vázquez played in his 1,000th career game as a catcher last night, becoming just the third active catcher to reach 1,000 career games behind the dish. He joined C Salvador Perez (1,427) and C J.T. Realmuto (1,384) in that exclusive group.

THE LAMBO: RHP Peter Lambert has been the most consistent starter for the Astros this season, as he leads the club in wins (8), starts (24), innings pitched (132.2) and strikeouts (131). He’s allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in 18 of his 24 starts on the year and has done so in 10 of his last 11 starts.

STREAKING: LHP Josh Hader has worked 21 consecutive scoreless appearances, spanning 22.0 innings (since July 21). This is the longest streak by an Astros hurler this season and the second-longest active streak in the Majors. Opponents are just 5×71 (.070) vs. Hader during the streak.

THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader recorded his 250th career save on Friday night, becoming the 41st player in modern MLB history to reach 250 career saves. Hader has 23 of those saves this season, in 23 save chances, giving him the most save chances in the Majors this season without a blown save.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1979 –RHP J.R. Richard tosses a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits in a 2-0 Astros win over the Padres in the Astrodome. This marked Richard’s ninth consecutive complete game, a club record that will never be topped.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 6, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ active roster is at 28 and the 40-man roster is at 38.

• Recalled from Triple-A Reno: C Adrian Del Castillo
• Designated for assignment: OF Max Kepler

Good riddance.

Hey, it IS possible to get hits with a runner in scoring position! Who knew? Hopefully, that comeback, from two down through six innings, will have unclogged the pipes as it were. The offense can then do their part to make things easier on the pitching. Five of Arizona’s last seven wins have been by one or two runs, which perhaps plays into the sense of tension lately. Easy victories have been the exception, rather than the rule. But another factor is the team’s inability to put together a winning streak. Never mind seven games, the Diamondbacks have not won more than two in a row since August 1, a span of 32 games.

As a result, the team’s recent progress towards the postseason has felt like one step forward, one step back. The chart above shows their playoff odds (per Baseball Reference) over the past couple of weeks, and the whiplash is real. Since August 24, there have been seven days in which their postseason percentage has changed by 7.5% or more – over half the time. Yesterday’s win, combined with results elsewhere (most obviously the Padres’ loss to the Yankees), resulted in an improvement by 12.2% to 56.8%. That’s the highest since August 15, and despite all the “alarums and excursions” of late, the trend is up. Before the game in Boston where KetelGate started, the odds were 51.4%, so the team is slightly better off now.

A win today – ideally combined with a San Diego loss – would definitely be helpful. Victory would ensure another series crossed off the schedule, with Arizona at least retaining a wild-card spot. That’s all we need to keep doing: reducing the window for the Padres to catch us, until it closes entirely. The D-backs have been almost relentlessly mediocre of late: 5-5 in the last ten, 10-10 over the last twenty, and 15-15 in their last thirty games. But the Padres have been little if any better. If we play out the remaining 19 games, as we have the last 19, Arizona will go 9-10 end at 84 wins. If San Diego do the same over their final 20? They are 9-11, to end the year at 83 wins…

Detroit Tigers (65-77) vs. Cleveland Guardians (72-71)

Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Progressive Field
SB Nation Site:Covering the Corner
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jackson Jobe (1-2, 4.63 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Williams (13-7, 3.81 ERA)

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Sunday Night Baseball between the Twins and White Sox should be an exciting matchup.

I'll be highlighting why Kody Clemens is a great look in my Twins vs. White Sox props and MLB picks for Sunday, Sept. 6.

Twins vs White Sox props for September 6

Pick	Odds
Munetaka Murakami 1+ Hit	-170
Kody Clemens Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI	+100
Tristan Peters 1+ Hit	-160

Twins vs White Sox player prop picks

Munetaka Murakami 1+ hit (-170)

Despite the Chicago White Sox superstar rookie’s recent issues at the dish, Munetaka Murakami is still the most lethal bat in this lineup. The South Side slugger enters Sunday night with the highest matchup rating on both of Batters-Box’s datasets. The model has him covering nearly 85% of Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober’s arsenal.

So far this season, across 31 elite ratings at home, Murakami has recorded at least one hit 67.74% of the time. Overall, across 66 elite ratings, he is still recording a hit 65% of the time.

Although he has been slumping over the last few weeks, Murakami has posted a 33% ground-ball rate, 55.6% hard-hit rate and 11.1% barrel rate over his last five games.

Over the last 60 left-handed hitters Ober has faced, they own a sub-.300 xBA, .525 xSLG and .342 xwOBA.

Is this a juicy price? Yes. But 67.74% implies -210, so we are getting a great edge even though we are paying $1.70. Do not pay more than this because I wouldn’t. If you want to add some value, sprinkle on his double and home run.

Kody Clemens Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (+100)

White Sox right-hander Jose Urquidy has been pure nails for the South Side since joining the team. He does not give up a lick of hard contact, but he does allow hitters to elevate the ball at a high rate. Twins second baseman and son of Roger, Kody Clemens, has been keeping the ball elevated while making plenty of hard contact.

Over the 30-year-old's last 10 games, Clemens owns a .694 xSLG and .265 ISO while generating a 33.3% ground-ball rate, 55.6% hard-hit rate and sub-15% barrel rate. Clemens owns the hottest bat in the Twins lineup, and snagging his HRR prop at even money feels like a steal.

Do not pay juice for this prop. Plus money, or nothing.

Tristan Peters 1+ hit (-160)

I am not thrilled with telling you all to pay this much juice for a seven-eight-hole hitter, but the way Tristan Peters has been hitting the ball lately, asking for the bare minimum is very doable. The former Banana Ball player owns a .296 BA, .519 SLG, and .886 OPS while posting an almost 61% hard-hit rate.

If Ober is allowing left-handed hitters to own a sub-.280 BA and .486 SLG while allowing a 70.5% elevation rate on the road, asking Peters to find some grass at $1.60 is not a big ask.

Shop around; there are far shorter prices. Do not pay more than this.

How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info

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.

It’s series finale time, and it’s the rubber match between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, a pair of teams who expected to be a whole lot better than they are.

On the mound for the Giants is left-hander César Perdomo, who makes his second career appearance. The 24-year old, who was only just added to the roster, made his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and gave up just one run in four relief innings. Now he’ll get a chance for his first Major League start, and his first Major League win. In nine starts with AAA Sacramento this year, Perdomo had a 5.10 ERA and a 5.33 FIP, with 36 strikeouts and 20 walks in 47.2 innings.

For the Mets, it’s right-hander Christian Scott, a 27-year old in his second career season. Scott has made 20 starts this year, and is 4-4 with a 3.80 ERA, a 3.76 FIP, and 113 strikeouts to 44 walks in 94.2 innings. In his last outing, Scott gave up three runs in 5.1 innings against the Houston Astros.

Enjoy the baseball, everyone!

Game #144

Who: San Francisco Giants (59-84) vs. New York Mets (64-78)

Where: Citi Field, Queens, New York

When: 11:40 a.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

The Houston Astros announced this morning that they are recalling reliever Miguel Ullola from Triple-A Sugar Land. The team optioned reliever Kai-Wei Teng to Sugar Land following last night’s game.

Ullola, 24, is 0-0, 4.50 ERA for Houston in 4 appearances spanning 6 innings. He has allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, walked 1 and struck out 9. He did allow 2 HR.

At Sugar Land this season, Ullola converted from a starter to a reliever, as the team believed it would help with his control issues. He is 5-4 with a 4.21 ERA for the Space Cowboys this season. In 39 appearances (including 10 starts) Ullola has allowed 45 hits and 42 walks in 66.1 IP, with 90 strikeouts.

Teng, 27, started the season well but has struggled since developing arm fatigue and then landing on the IL with a knee sprain in late June. Teng is 5-7 this season with a 4.76 ERA. In 30 appearances (including 10 starts), Teng has allowed 69 hits, 33 walks and 10 HR in 73.2 IP. He has struck out 73, but he has hit 13 batters.

Teng had allowed a run in each of his last 3 outings. In that time, he has allowed 6 ER in 3.1 IP on 6 hits, 3 walks and only 2 strikeouts. He took the loss on Tuesday Sept. 1 when he allowed 3 runs in 2 innings against the White Sox.

It’s been a tough week in Birdland. After beginning the week with two heartbreaking losses in Denver, the Orioles have been thoroughly outplayed in three straight losses to the Red Sox. 

Pitching hasn’t been the problem for the O’s. During their current five game losing streak, Baltimore has three quality starts and none of their starters have allowed more than three runs. 

Offensively, the Orioles have been a disaster. Over the last fives, Baltimore is averaging just 2.4 runs/game. The O’s haven’t scored any runs since Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s two-run homer in the 9th inning of Thursday’s Game 1 vs. the Red Sox. Friday and Saturday’s shutout losses was only the second time all season the O’s were shutout in back-to-back games. 

The Orioles’ playoff chances are on life support, and if they want to stop them from flatlining, they’ll have to score some runs against stingy southpaw Payton Tolle. The rookie left-hander has faced the Orioles twice this season, both times in Fenway Park. 

His first matchup with Baltimore back in June saw him toss 6 shutout innings while punching out five. A month later, the Orioles tagged Tolle for 4 runs, though he struck out 9 in a game Boston won 6-5. 

Much like Brandon Young for the Orioles, Tolle pitching has meant wins for Boston. The Red Sox are 9-1 in the left-hander’s last 10 outings. 

The Orioles will turn to right-handler Kyle Bradish as they look to end they five-game skid. Bradish has faced Boston twice this year, guiding the O’s to a win in Boston in July, but taking the L against the Red Sox back in April. His last six starts have been a bit rocky for the Orioles’ former ace, putting up a 5.10 over 30 innings. 

orioles lineup

1. Blaze Alexander (R) 1B
2. Pete Alonso (R) 1B
3. Coby Mayo (R) DH
4. Christian Encarnacion-Strand
5. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
6. Rece Hinds (R) LF
7. Leody Taveras (S) RF
8. Carlos Narváez (R) C
9. Colton Cowser (L) CF

Red Sox lineup

1. Roman Anthony (L) RF
2. Mickey Gasper (S) 1B
3. Adley Rutschman (S) C
4. Trevor Story (R) SS
5. Nick Sogard (S) 2B
6. Caleb Turbin (R) 3B
7. Jarren Duran (L) LF
8. Andruw Monestario (R) DH
9. Eli White (R) CF

The Baltimore Orioles are clinging to their playoff lives. They’ve dropped five straight games and sit three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the final Wild Card spot, with two teams between them. With just 19 games remaining, they’ll need to turn things around in a hurry to sneak into the final spot.

Unfortunately for Baltimore, they have an opponent with added motivation. After Blaze Alexander’s questionable slide and subsequent hyping of the crowd on Friday, the Red Sox weren’t happy. Last night, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa mocked Alexander’s slide, and Sonny Gray said they wanted to “bury” the Orioles. If last night wasn’t the final nail in the coffin for Baltimore, a sixth straight loss could be.

Payton Tolle goes for the Red Sox, who went 5.2 against the Seattle Mariners last Monday. He looked fatigued throughout the start, so the extra rest is very welcome for Tolle. The team has an off day each week to finish the season, making the pitching management much simpler. The Orioles will throw Kyle Bradish. He held the Sox to one run over six innings back in July, but has a 5.71 ERA over his seven starts since then.

In roster news Ceddanne Rafaela went on the injured list retroactive to September 3rd with a quad sprain, while Nate Eaton was recalled to take his place. Eli White gets his fourth straight start in center field today.

We’re still 3.5 games behind the Yankees, but dates with the Angels and Royals on the horizon represent a chance to stack wins and gain ground if New York scuffles. Taking care of the O’s is up first, though, at 1:35 PM EST on NESN and WEEI.

Lineups

Mets lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – DH
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Carson Benge – RF
5. Mark Vientos – 1B
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Nick Morabito – LF
8. A.J. Ewing – CF
9. Luis Torrens – C

SP: Christian Scott – RHP

Giants lineup

1. Drew Gilbert – CF
2. Rafael Devers – DH
3. Bryce Eldridge – 1B
4. Jonah Cox – 2B
5. Jung Hoo Lee – RF
6. Osleivis Basabe – 3B
7. Grant McCray – LF
8. Drew Cavanaugh – C
9. Christian Koss – SS

SP: Cesar Perdomo – LHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 1:40 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Let's kick off this beautiful Sunday with three of my favorite home run props and predictions for today's MLB slate.

Find out why I am backing Kyle Stowers, Spencer Jones, and Rafael Devers.

Here are my favorite MLB picks for Sunday, Sept. 6.

MLB home run props for today

For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Player to hit a HR	Chance
Kyle Stowers	17%
Spencer Jones	16%
Rafael Devers	22%
💲Today's HR parlay	118.00x

Home run prediction: Kyle Stowers (17%)

Miami Marlins slugger Kyle Stowers has been on a heater, and we have to back him to leave the yard against Chicago Cubs right-hander Clay Holmes.

Over his last few games, Stowers has been generating too much hard contact to ignore. Over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitching, he has an 83.3% hard-hit rate and a 25% barrel rate. On top of that, he owns a .577 SLG, .977 OPS, and .269 ISO.

According to Batters-Box, where he owns an elite rating today, Stowers covers more than 83% of Holmes' pitch mix.

Despite Holmes' success against left-handed hitters this season, the way Stowers sees and hits the ball makes this hard to pass up.

Take this down to 20%.

• Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MIAM, MARQ

Home run prediction: Spencer Jones (16%)

In my Yankees vs. Padres predictions, I wrote that I liked Ben Rice over Spencer Jones, but I kept coming back to Jones. He is 100% a go this evening.

Jones has been crushing right-handed pitching over his last 30 at-bats, owning a .538 SLG and .307 ISO while generating a 62.5% hard-hit rate and 25% barrel rate.

Over the last 60 left-handed hitters Padres starter Michael King has faced, they are generating a barrel rate of nearly 10%, while posting a .291 xBA, .548 xSLG and .406 xwOBA.

Five of Jones' last 10 batted balls have been at least 102 mph off the bat. It is hard to pass up backing a guy making that much hard contact.

Take this down to 20%. 

• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: YES, SDPA

Home run prediction: Rafael Devers (22%)

Another heavy hitter who has been making a boatload of hard contact is San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers. Over his last 10 games, he has generated the third-highest barrel rate while posting a 62.1% hard-hit rate and .949 SLG.

This afternoon, he draws New York Mets right-hander Christian Scott, who has been getting lit up by left-handed hitters. The last 30 lefties he has faced own a .346 xBA, .526 xSLG and .383 xwOBA. Scott is also allowing 2.70 HR/9 during that span.

Devers enters Sunday with the second-highest matchup rating on Batters-Box, where he covers 100% of Scott's pitch mix.

Ride the hot bat.

Take this down to 24%.

• Time: 1:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SNY, NBCSBA

Best home run combo for Sept. 6

Kyle Stowers	Trade Now 118.00x
Spencer Jones
Rafael Devers

Want more baseball parlays? Check out our MLB parlay picks page!

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Through two games of this Braves-Phillies series, we’re exactly back where we started.

After one win apiece, the Braves’ NL East lead remains four games.

Atlanta can push that back to five or the Phillies can reduce it to three during Sunday afternoon’s 1:10 p.m. ET matchup at Citizens Bank Park, which will be a national broadcast on NBC.

The Braves are turning to Tyler Mahle, who has made a strong case for best deadline rotation addition through his first five starts with Atlanta, while the Phillies will counter with Aaron Nola, who is in the midst of a resurgent stretch himself.

Follow along and share your thoughts below.

Game Info

Preview

Lineups

It should be a very interesting final two weeks to the International League season.

Entering Triple-A play on Sunday, nine teams are within 4.5 games of first place in the second-half IL standings. At the top of those standings are the Rochester Red Wings, Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, with a 37-25 record. One game back are the Yankees’ Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders with a 35-25 record. Those teams will meet in a six-game series starting Monday* at ESL Ballpark in New York.

*There’s a rare Monday game on Labor Day; the two teams will be off on Tuesday and resume the series on Wednesday.

At 82-53 overall, Rochester has the most wins in the IL this season. In the first half, the Red Wings finished one game behind the champion Memphis Redbirds. The RailRiders are 72-62 overall.

In the season series, the RailRiders hold a 10-8 edge, outscoring the Red Wings, 101-94. They took four of six games from April 1-5 in Rochester and four of six from April 21-26 at PNC Field in northeastern Pennsylvania. When Rochester returned in an August 4-9 series, it won four of six.

Both teams are evenly matched. Rochester ranks second in the league in team batting average at .264 and the RailRiders rank third at .262. The RailRiders are second in the league in home runs with 195 and the Red Wings tied for third with 189. Rochester is third in team earned-run average at 4.44, the RailRiders fourth at 4.47.

Trey Lipscomb leads the way for the Red Wings, batting .292 while ranking second in the league in home runs (30) and RBIs (88) and tied for second in hits (135). Phillip Glasser bats .271 with 44 RBIs. Andrew Pinckney hits .270 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. Seaver King is the No. 4 prospect in the Nationals organization and is batting .301 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs. One of his home runs came off Carlos Rodón when the Yankees’ 2025 All-Star lefty was making a rehab start on August 8th at PNC Field.

On the mound, Red Wings right-hander Chander Champlain is 8-5 with a 3.68 ERA, which ranks second in the league, and 85 strikeouts in 120 innings. If his name rings a bell, he was a 2021 ninth-round pick by the Yankees and part of the Royals’ return for Andrew Benintendi in the trade at the 2022 deadline; he signed with the Nats as a minor-league free agent this past offseason. He combined with four relievers on a two-hit shutout of the RailRiders on April 22nd. Two more familiar faces in the bullpen are former RailRiders Yovanny Cruz and Jake Bird, who were in the trade the Yankees made with the Nationals to acquire Luis García Jr. Both were briefly in the Nats’ big-league bullpen after the deadline but have since been sent back to Triple-A.

Oswaldo Cabrera leads the RailRiders in batting at .291 with 17 home runs and 65 RBIs. He is tied for fifth in the league in hits with 128. Yanquiel Fernández is tied for sixth in the league with 24 home runs and tied for third with 78 RBIs. Duke Ellis ranks second in the IL with 49 steals.

Anthony Volpe has provided an offensive spark since being sent down by the Yankees in early August. In 26 games, he is batting .300 with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 20 RBIs. Five of his home runs have come in the last six games.

“He looks like a man on a mission,” RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan said. “We’re getting a good glimpse of the Anthony Volpe that a lot of the people in New York have fallen in love with. It’s fun to see him play with that freedom, that energy that he has.”

Brendan Beck is the top pitcher in the league, ranking first in innings (125.2), strikeouts (140), ERA (2.86), opponents’ battings average (.204) and WHIP (1.04) and second in wins (9). Rochester did inflict one of Beck’s two losses this season April 26th. However, the right-hander has not lost since, winning seven games with 10 no-decisions. One of the wins came against the Red Wings on August 4th when he tossed six shutout innings and struck out a career-high 12.

While the RailRiders can help themselves against Rochester this week, they also have to be aware of the teams behind them in the standings. The Worcester Red Sox, Indianapolis Indians, St. Paul Saints, Durham Bulls, Syracuse Mets, Columbus Clippers, and Nashville Sounds are all still in the mix and have ideas at making a run at first place.

However, Duncan said the RailRiders can’t get too caught up in scoreboard watching.

“We can only control what we can control and that’s what we’re going to put all our energy into,” Duncan said. “When those games happen, they bring enough energy on their own. To try to induce it by worrying about all that stuff, it’s a trap. Any time you start hunting those on the scoreboard and start letting it get in your head, it’s a trap to get you out of who you are. These guys play hard every single day no matter what situation they’re in. It’s fun to just go out there and win a game regardless.”

While the second-half title likely won’t be clinched this week, the series between the RailRiders and Rochester could go a long way in determining who does.

“I feel like we’re in a good spot to get that first place,” RailRiders pitcher Alexander Cornielle said. “The guys are rolling, coming together more, speaking on stuff as a team that we need to get better at. We support each other and I feel like we’ve hit that point in the season where everything is falling in place. I feel like we have a pretty good chance of making first place. I don’t like to speak on the future, but I’m pretty confident that we have the tools here to make it.”

When Jonah Tong takes the mound for the Mets on Monday afternoon against the Miami Marlins, it will mark his first action in the majors since June 2, and just his fourth appearance overall in the bigs this season. 

But interim manager Andy Green made it clear that Tong will stay in the Mets' rotation for the remainder of the season, giving the young pitcher more clarity than he's had in past call-ups.

"He’s had a good run here recently (with Syracuse) and we want to see him build on it," Green said. "So, I think we’re all excited to see it, and we’ll continue to hand him the ball for the rest of this year. We’re not going to make a secret of that. He’s going to post when it’s his turn to pitch, and he hasn’t really had that knowledge at any point in his big-league career."

"We recognize there’s not a lot of season left, but the season that is left, he’s going to be in the rotation and he’s going to get the baseball."

While his 2026 season hasn’t necessarily gone the way that Tong and many others have hoped, the young right-hander is ready for his next opportunity. 

“Just continue what I’ve been doing all year. Just stacking days and honestly just going out there and having fun,” Tong said on Sunday in the Mets clubhouse. “I find we play our best when we’re out there having fun.”

The 2025 season was certainly a lot of fun for Tong, as he dominated the minor leagues to the tune of a 1.43 ERA and a whopping 179 strikeouts in 113.2 combined innings between Binghamton and Syracuse (mostly with Binghamton).

But his 2025 call-up was a struggle, as he pitched to a 7.71 ERA in five starts, looking like he needed more seasoning before coming back to the majors, and his minor league numbers this season have not been nearly as dominant. 

In 23 games with Syracuse this season, Tong has pitched to a 4.54 ERA, and his strikeout numbers, while still impressive at 126 punchouts in 107 innings, aren’t quite as overpowering as they were a year ago.

“There are so many things that we have control over in our career, and sometimes there are just lessons that have to be learned,” Tong said. “I’m just really excited to see the person that I’ve become out of it.”

Tong, knowing that he's in the rotation for the remainder of the season, is still taking things one day at a time, and he’s focused on being where his feet are, as he likes to say.

“I think just day by day and brick by brick. I’m the same kid I was last year as I am this year,” he said. “The only difference is I just have a boatload of experience that I didn’t have last year. 

“Excited for the opportunity … Just enjoy the process and really take each day as it is.”

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The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins wrap up a series on Sunday Night Baseball, with the White Sox installed as a modest favorite and the total set at 8.5.

The White Sox are turning this into a bullpen day. Bryan Hudson opens, Jose Urquidy follows in bulk relief, and the Twins counter with Bailey Ober, who ranks in the Bottom 10 percentile of baseball in both strikeout rate and whiff rate this year.

Chicago's late-season form is clearly the better of these two clubs, and the way this game is being pitched has my White Sox vs. Twins prediction backing the home team. See why I'm also backing the Over in my MLB picks on Sunday, Sep. 6.

Who will win Twins vs White Sox today: White Sox -1.5 (39%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Minnesota Twins arm Bailey Ober ranks in the Bottom 10th percentile in K rate and whiff rate, and his fastball sits in the Bottom 1st percentile for velocity in baseball. That's why I'm fading him.

That's a specific problem against a Chicago White Sox lineup that already ranks above MLB average in both fly-ball rate (27.8%) and barrel rate (8.4%): they don't need to grind through counts against a low-whiff arm; they need to lift the ball, which is exactly what his profile will invite.

On the other side, you'll get Bryan Hudson as an opener against a lineup he should have success against for at least one frame. Jose Urquidy follows him in an expected bulk role. He hasn't had a great season, but the underlying metrics tell a different story: an actual ERA exceeding 5.00 but an expected ERA at around 3.00.

I'm banking on some of that positive regression coming here against a below-average offense. I'd play this to 41%.

COVERS INTEL: Jose Urquidy's contact profile is generally elite, ranking in the Bottom 20th percentile in both hard-hit and barrel rate allowed. 

Twins vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (50%)

I'm on the Over for two units up to 54%. 

I've covered why I think Ober will struggle enough, which means the White Sox should do the heavy lifting. There's a bit of guesswork on the other side with a semi-bullpen profile game; however, Sean Newcomb is unlikely to be available today, removing one of Chicago's better late-inning arms.

For me, there's a real crooked number threat posed by Chicago, so anything the Twins do is a bonus. However, a thinner White Sox pen behind a short-outing opener does give Minnesota its own window to score. Two lineups with real paths to damage is the Over profile I want. 

Twins vs White Sox home run prediction: Josh Bell (14%)

Josh Bell is a switch-hitter who bats left-handed against right-handers, and it's been his best power split of the year: 12 dingers and a .432 slugging mark in just over 300 ABs against right-handed pitching, ahead of his output against lefties.

Urquidy's extension ranks in the Bottom 9th percentile in baseball, and his fastball velocity in the Bottom 21st, a below-average combination that gives hitters more time to read the ball. I like this matchup for a guy with enough power and a platoon advantage, especially at the price.  

Twins vs White Sox weather

Conditions at Rate Field are expected to be mild: mid-70s, partly cloudy, 10 mph winds and no rain. Nothing here materially juices the total or knocks down fly balls.

Twins vs White Sox odds

• Moneyline: Twins 43% | White Sox 58%
• Run line: Twins +1.5 | White Sox -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Twins vs White Sox trend

The Over is 6-1-1 in Minnesota's last eight games during Game 3 of a series. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Phillies.

How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info

Twins vs White Sox latest injuries

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