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Braves option right-handers Davis Daniel and Wander Suero to Triple-A Gwinnett

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves optioned right-handers Davis Daniel and Wander Suero, who combined to give up nine runs in Tuesday night’s 9-0 loss to San Francisco, to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Daniel (0-1, 5.40) allowed five earned runs in five innings. Suero gave up four runs in two innings. The two combined to issue six walks, adding to their woes.

The Braves recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd and right-hander Hunter Stratton before Wednesday’s game against the Giants. Dodd has a 3.75 ERA in 11 games, all in relief. The Braves acquired Stratton from Pittsburgh on July 1.

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Might Clay Holmes help the Mets' bullpen this year?

Clay Holmes has topped his previous career high in innings, pitching 108.2 already this season. The Mets are looking for relievers at the trade deadline.

The question almost asks itself: Might the team just ask Holmes to return to the bullpen, the role in which he made two All-Star teams with the Yankees?

Here’s the answer:

The Mets do not feel that a return to the bullpen for Holmes is necessary for him to remain healthy and productive. Holmes is not only pitching effectively, but recovering well, sources say.

Having said that, it is not out of the question that the Mets could ultimately consider asking Holmes to serve as a reliever again down the stretch and adding to their rotation at the trade deadline. But such a move is not necessary to preserve Holmes’ health, nor is it Plan A.

First and foremost, the Mets are looking to trade for multiple relievers, and will likely do so before the July 31 deadline.

While they have checked in on starting pitchers -- from the Pirates' Mitch Keller to the Athletics' Luis Severino, to anyone else with an arm and a pulse -- they do not see an obvious opening in their rotation. Neither Holmes nor David Peterson nor Kodai Senga nor Frankie Montas nor Sean Manaea has earned a demotion to the bullpen.

If deals for relievers somehow fail to materialize, the Mets are comfortable using prospects Nolan McLean, Blade Tidwell and Jonah Tong in relief roles this season (Tong is the least likely to make his MLB debut this year). According to sources, the team was already strongly considering giving McLean a spot start a few weeks ago when injuries temporarily decimated the staff.

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Watch top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge blast walk-off home run in Triple-A

Watch top Giants prospect Bryce Eldridge blast walk-off home run in Triple-A originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

No. 1 Giants prospect and first baseman Bryce Eldridge sent a ball to Mars on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old, whom San Francisco selected No. 16 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, broke a 2-2 tied game with a walk-off 406-foot, 105.5-mph home run to right field to give his River Cats a 3-2 win over the Las Vegas Aviators at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday.

There’s the mighty bat that caught the Giants’ eye two drafts ago and is worthy of the No. 18 spot — and place as the No. 1 first baseman — on MLB’s top-100 prospect list.

It was Eldridge’s 12th homer of 2025 and fifth over his 21 games with the River Cats. He also hit an absolute tank in Tuesday’s series-opening 8-0 win against the Aviators.

Eldridge now is slashing .231/.279/.474 with 18 hits and 19 RBI for the River Cats, and .263/.326/.493 with 55 hits and 40 RBI over 57 games between rookie ball, Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento.

The prospect has struggled in Triple-A and just recently returned from the moderate hamstring injury that kept him on the IL since June 24. 

Perhaps his walk-off and current stretch of four hits in four games is the spark Eldridge, known for his power-hitting abilities at 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds, needs to return to the hitter who evidently outmatched Double-A competition.

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Mets 2025 MLB trade deadline buzz: New York reportedly shopping Paul Blackburn

Here's the latest Metsnews and buzz ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline...

July 29, 11:45 p.m.

The Mets are going to be buyers during this deadline, but they could also sell some pieces.

According to The Athletic's Tim Britton and Will Sammon, the Mets are actively shopping starting pitcher Paul Blackburn.

It's not expected that the Mets would get a big return for Blackburn, but with a logjam in the starting rotation -- which consists of Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, David Peterson and Clay Holmes -- New York could sell from a position of strength to a team looking for a backend starter.

Blackburn has appeared in just six games (four starts) this season thanks to a number of injuries.

He has a 7.71 ERA but has pitched well in Triple-A as he continues his rehab from a right shoulder impingement.

Blackburn is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA in six starts with Syracuse this season.

July 29, 11:30 a.m.

With time growing short before the deadline for transactions slams shut, the race to find bullpen arms grows more intense.

One target is Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley, who is drawing interest from at least a half-dozen clubs, including the Mets and Yankees, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Helsley has pitched to a 3.00 ERA and 1.389 WHIP over 36 innings and 36 appearances on the season as St. Louis' closer. He has tallied 21 saves on 26 opportunities with 41 strikeouts to 14 walks. A two-time All-Star, he earned his second selection during the 2024 campaign that saw him pitch to a 2.04 ERA and 1.101 WHIP in 66.1 innings over 65 games with 49 saves (tops in MLB) with 79 strikeouts to 23 walks.

Helsley, who just turned 31 earlier this month, is a free agent after the 2025 season.

In addition to the two New York teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays were mentioned by Feinsand.

July 25, 12:30 p.m.

With less than a week to the trade deadline, teams have been asking the Mets about Starling Marte, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

It'll be interesting to see if they actually make the veteran available in the coming days.

Marte seemed like a logical trade candidate when he was struggling earlier this season, but he has turned things around and has served as a solid DH option and bat off the bench.

He did miss some time with a knee injury earlier this month, but is hitting a strong .322 with eight extra base-hits and a .814 OPS since the beginning of May.

July 23, 1:10 p.m.

As the Mets look to upgrade their rotation ahead of the deadline, they are reportedly among the teams that have spoken with the San Diego Padres about right-hander Dylan Cease, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.

As noted by Olney, the Padres are intent on making a playoff push, but they would look to use the impending free agent Cease to help fill out other needs on their roster.

AL East teams and the Chicago Cubs have also spoken with the Padres about him.

Cease has been one of the more reliable arms in the game over the past few seasons, but he put together an extremely disappointing first half of the season.

The 29-year-old has pitched to a 4.64 ERA and 1.29 WHIP while striking out 139 batters over 20 outings.

July 5, 3:06 p.m.

The Mets will certainly be in the market for starting pitching ahead of the trade deadline.

One arm they are showing interest in is Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Keller would likely cost a pretty penny in a potential deal, as he is under contract through 2028. 

The 29-year-old former second-round pick has been spectacular for Pittsburgh this season, pitching to a 3.53 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across a league-leading 21 starts.

While his strikeouts are down, he has been one of the more consistent arms in baseball this year -- recording a quality start in 15 of those appearances, which is also tied for a league-high.

Adding a reliable inning-eater like Keller would be a huge boost for this Mets rotation, which has struggled to work deep into games this year.

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MLB Trade Deadline: Merrill Kelly, Seth Lugo, and other starting pitchers who could be on the block

The MLB trade deadline is just a week away, with the clock running out at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 31st. I thought I would help us prepare for that moment by creating a little cheatsheet of starting pitchers who could be moved at the deadline, and others who might find themselves in starting roles after teammates leave town.

This is not meant to be an analytically-focused document. My goal is to give you as many names of pitchers who may be on a new team by August so that you can begin to think about what might come to pass. I'll offer some quick thoughts on whether I'm interested at all in where this player ends up or not, but this is mainly about allowing us to get a better sense of the starting pitcher landscape.

Starting Pitchers on Expiring Contracts

Seth Lugo - Kansas City Royals

I think Lugo will be the best pitcher moved at the deadline. He has a $15 million player option for 2026, and the Royals have to assume that he'll exercise that and try to cash in on one more big payday before his age 36 season begins. I don't think the Royals will be able to afford him when he does that.

Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly - Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks claim they're not selling at the deadline, but they really should be and likely will be once this week ends and they see how far out of the playoff race they are. Gallen and Kelly are both free agents at the end of the season, so trading at least one of them makes sense for Arizona to at least get something for them before they potentially walk. While Gallen has fallen off the last two years, Kelly has been sneaky good and could be a great addition to a contender's rotation.

Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Tomoyuki Sugano - Baltimore Orioles

We know that the Orioles are looking to trade away players who are not under control next season. That's Eflin, Morton, and Sugano. There's a strong chance that all three of them are dealt. Morton has turned it around since being removed from the rotation in April, and we know that he can be an impactful starter when the curve is working. Eflin has been a consistent starter for the last four years, and if he looks good in his return from the IL this week, then his market could heat up a bit as well.

Michael Soroka - Washington Nationals

Soroka seems like a lock to be traded at the deadline. He's on a one-year contract, and the Nationals will look to get something for him rather than let him walk for nothing. The 27-year-old also has a bit of helium as a second-half breakout candidate thanks to a 3.89 xFIP and 3.57 SIERA that suggest his 5.10 ERA is not indicative of how good he's been. Of course, Washington would love him to flash at least one strong start before the deadline.

Nick Martinez - Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are in an interesting situation. They are two games over .500, which is great, but they are also 8.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. Will they make a push for that final spot or stand pat? Can they make a push while also dealing away Nick Martinez, who will be a free agent at the end of the season? Martinez has been effective as both a starter and a reliever in his career, and is the type of versatile veteran that a contending team would love.

Aaron Civale and Adrian Houser - Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are certainly sellers, and they're almost certain to trade away the two veterans they added earlier this season. Houser was signed in April after he was cut by the Rangers, and Civale came over in the trade for Andrew Vaughn. Both have pitched well enough that they could be a low-cost move for a contending team to add a back-end rotation piece at the deadline.

Nestor Cortes and Jose Quintana - Milwaukee Brewers

It's odd to suggest that the Brewers would trade away a starting pitcher when they currently have one of the best records in baseball, but they also have too many starting pitchers. As of right now, they don't even have Logan Henderson, Tobias Myers, and Nestor Cortes in their rotation. They could easily trade away a starter and still have a tremendous rotation. Cortes and Quintana are both veterans with playoff experience, which would be attractive to other teams, but also be attractive to the Brewers. They just feel like the most likely pieces to be moved.

Patrick Corbin - Texas Rangers

Who would have thought that Patrick Corbin would have trade value in 2025, but who also would have thought that he would pitch to a 3.91 ERA at 36 years old. The Rangers would almost certainly take what they can get for a pending free agent that they never expected to rely on this season anyway.

Andrew Heaney - Pittsburgh Pirates

Heaney is in a similar situation to Corbin, except he's actually pitched worse with a 5.03 ERA in 102 innings for the Pirates. Still, he's a known commodity around the league, and some team may want to add a veteran left-hander to their rotation.

Tyler Anderson - Los Angeles Angels

Hey look, another veteran lefty that could be had at the deadline. Anderson has an elite changeup and a career 4.28 ERA, which will always make him interesting to a team that needs a lefty for their rotation. The Angels should have traded him at the deadline last year when he had a 3.81 ERA, but, well, it's the Angels.

Zack Littell - Tampa Bay Rays

I'm convinced that Zack Littell is being traded. It's just the perfect Rays move. Yes, they're in playoff contention, and, yes, Littell has been solid for them, but he's also a free agent at the end of the season, and the Rays don't like getting nothing for a player who leaves them. They could trade Littell now for bullpen help or a high-upside lower-minors prospect and then slot Joe Boyle into his spot in the rotation and likely have a better starting rotation while getting back a controllable asset. It just seems like a move they'd lock in.

Chris Paddack - Minnesota Twins

The Twins have fallen out of contention and are now looking to deal away players who are not locked into contracts with the team. Paddack seemed to be on his way out early in the season, but he put together a solid stretch in May and June. Unfortunately, his production has dipped of late, which may make him less enticing to teams looking for starting pitching.

Multi-Year Starting Pitchers

Jacob deGrom (Texas Rangers) and Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins)

I don't think either one of these guys gets moved. Yes, I guess it's feasible given that their names have come up in rumors, but I just wouldn't expect it.

Freddy Peralta - Milwaukee Brewers

I also don't think Peralta is being traded. Yes, the Brewers have plenty of starting pitcher options, and they moved on from Corbin Burnes when they felt like they couldn't re-sign him, but Peralta won't be a free agent next season, and this Brewers team has the best record in baseball. Maybe they trade Peralta next year or in the offseason.

Nathan Eovaldi - Texas Rangers

I think it's far more likely that Eovaldi gets dealt. He has two years remaining on his contract, but he'll be 36 years old next season and is paid $29 million for 2026 and $24 million for 2027. The Rangers love him because he's good, but also because he's a vocal leader, which allows Jacob deGrom to quietly go about his business without having to be a mouthpiece for the team. That's a role deGrom loves to play. I think that will cause the Rangers to keep Eovaldi, but he's certainly older than many of the young stars on the team, so maybe they move him to try and get younger with their pitching staff.

Mitch Keller - Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are cheap, so they probably don't want Keller's salary on the books anymore. He has three years and about $55 million left on his deal, which won't impede a team that has seen him flash the upside of an SP2 at times. With so many pitchers flourishing away from Pittsburgh, there are likely teams out there who would take a gamble to see if they can optimize his pitch mix to have him hit that upside more consistently. With guys like Ryan and Peralta unlikely to be moved, Keller might be the best controllable starter on the market (other than one I'll mention in Miami).

Taj Bradley - Tampa Bay Rays

Bradley's name has come up in some trade rumors of late, and, like I mentioned with Littell, he could be a perfect fit for the Rays BOTH selling and buying at the deadline. Bradley is 24 years old and has one more year before he even enters arbitration. Then he'll be under team control until 2029. However, his salary will begin to rise starting in 2027 when his arbitration years begin, and the Rays have not been able to get things to click for Bradley. They could potentially move him for a sizable return and know that they have guys like Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour to fill his spot in the rotation.

Edward Cabrera and Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins

Coming into the season, I think Alcantara would have been everybody's pick to be the best starting pitcher available at the deadline, but he has really tanked his value with a poor season coming off Tommy John surgery. The Marlins could still trade him, but a team would have to make an offer that suggests they believe Alcantara can get back to near Cy Young levels. If not, the Marlins will just hold on and hope he increases his value next spring. Which means Cabrera could be the starter that Miami moves this year. He has changed his arm slot and gone more sinker-heavy this year, which has really helped his overall performance; however, he has never been a consistent performer at the big league level and has also battled injuries. This might be a chance for Miami to sell high.

Mick Abel - Philadelphia Phillies

Abel recaptured a lot of value this season after a mediocre year in Double-A last year. He struggled a bit at the MLB level, but he's just 23 years old and has the type of upside that teams would be attracted to. He's essentially a top prospect pitcher that's also MLB-ready, like Kyle Harrison, who was a key component in the Rafael Devers deal. The Phillies will have a fully locked-in rotation once Aaron Nola comes back, and Andrew Painter is at Triple-A, so perhaps they would use Abel as a trade piece to bring in a big-time bat, like Jarren Duran, or a reliever, like Emmanuel Clase or Cade Smith.

Reid Detmers - Los Angeles Angels

No, Detmers is not currently a starting pitcher, but there are certainly teams out there that would love to trade for the 26-year-old and put him back in the rotation. Still, he's arbitration-eligible for three more seasons and is pitching well for the Angels as a reliever, so I can't see them trading him.

Jeffery Springs - Athletics

Springs is the exact type of pitcher we'll joke about not having value, but actually does. He has a career 3.60 ERA in 427.2 big league innings and has a 3.11 career ERA in 280.1 innings as a starting pitcher. Teams are going to look at that from a pitcher who is owed only $10.5 million in each of the next two seasons and see that as a better deal than anybody they might be able to land on the free-agent market.

Starting Pitchers Who Could Move into Rotations

This will just be a list rather than a breakdown of each player, but these are some names of starting pitchers I think could join their rotations full-time after the trade deadline:

- Joe Boyle, Tampa Bay Rays
- Chayce McDermott, Baltimore Orioles
- Andrew Morris, Minnesota Twins
- Jairo Iriarte, Chicago White Sox
- Wikelman Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
- Caden Dana, Los Angeles Angels
- Chase Silseth, Los Angeles Angels
- Jacob Latz, Texas Rangers
- Jack Perkins, Athletics
- JT Ginn, Athletics
- Bubba Chandler, Pittsburgh Pirates (PLEASE!)
- Johan Oviedo, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Yilber Diaz, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Anthony Desclafani, Arizona Diamondbacks

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Twins at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 23

Its Wednesday, July 23 and the Twins (49-52) are in Los Angeles to close out their series against the Dodgers (59-43).

Chris Paddack is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Tyler Glasnow for Los Angeles.

The Twins won a slugfest last night, 10-7, to even the series at one game apiece. Christian Vazquez drove in three runs and Carlos Correa scored four runs to pace the attack. Shohei Ohtani homered for the fourth straight game and Andy Pages for the second consecutive night but it was not enough for the Dodgers.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, 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 Twins at Dodgers

  • Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • Time: 4:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, SNLA, 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 Twins at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (+197), Dodgers (-240)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for July 23, 2025: Chris Paddack vs. Tyler Glasnow
    • Twins: Chris Paddack (3-9, 5.14 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 at Colorado - 9.00 ERA, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Dodgers: Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.10 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 vs. Milwaukee - 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 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!

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

  • The Dodgers have won 4 of their last 5 games against AL Central teams
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Twins' last 10 games
  • Shohei Ohtani has gone yard in 4 straight games
  • Will Smith is 6-17 (.353) in 5 games since the All-Star Break

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Twins and the Dodgers

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 Wednesday's game between the Twins and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers 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 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Brewers at Mariners prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 23

Its Wednesday, July 23 and the Brewers (60-41) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (54-47) in the finale of their three-game series.

Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Luis Castillo for Seattle.

Cal Raleigh's 39th home run in the bottom of the sixth inning last night was the decisive blow as the Mariners snapped the Brewer's 11-game win streak by the score of 1-0. Raleigh's bomb was one of only four hits for Seattle on the night, but it was enough thanks in large part to Logan Gilbert's 6.1 innings of two-hit, 10K shutout ball.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, 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 Brewers at Mariners

  • Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • Time: 3:40PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, RSNW

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 Brewers at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+113), Mariners (-133)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for July 23, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Luis Castillo
    • Brewers: Quinn Priester (8-2, 3.33 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 at Dodgers - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Luis Castillo (7-5, 3.21 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 vs. Houston - 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Mariners

  • The Brewers have won 7 of their last 10 road games
  • In his last 5 home starts, Mariners' pitcher Luis Castillo has an ERA of 1.44
  • The Mariners have covered the Run Line in 5 of Luis Castillo's last 7 starts
  • Cal Raleigh has hit safely in 4 of 5 starts (4-20) since the All-Star Break
  • Jackson Chourio's hitting streak has reached 16 games (23-62)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Brewers and the Mariners

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 Wednesday's game between the Brewers and the Mariners:

  • 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 Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Fenway Park Workers Give Aramark 48-Hour Strike Deadline

Concession workers at Fenway Park could walk off the job during the Boston Red Sox’s upcoming series against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Unite Here Local 26 has given food and beverage provider Aramark until 12 p.m. ET on Friday to offer the stadium’s hospitality staffers a new contract. Should Aramark miss the deadline, the unionized workers will walk off the job during the three-game set this weekend.

The union, which represents concession employees at the stadium as well as other hospitality workers throughout Boston, on June 15 authorized a strike that could be called at any point during the MLB season. At the time, Aramark said it had contingency plans in place should the normal staffers walk off the job.

The Red Sox forwarded a request for comment to Aramark, which said it intends “to keep working with the union toward a settlement that works for everyone. In the event of a strike, we have contingency plans in place to ensure that services are not interrupted.”

The most recent bargaining talks took place last Tuesday, though the two sides remain far apart on key issues.

In addition to a desire for higher wages, one of the biggest worries for Local 26 is the use of self-service machines that Aramark implemented at Fenway back in 2023. Aramark installed six machines created by Mashgin—two self-checkout units that dispense beer and four self-checkout popcorn stations. Employees are concerned that the machines could make them expendable by minimizing the human interaction they say adds to the experience of making Fenway “America’s most beloved ballpark.”

Mashgin’s machines are deployed at 20 of the 30 MLB ballparks in addition to at least 120 more sports venues, at least 100 hospitals and more than 3,000 convenience stores. In April, the company said that during the 2024 season, it “delivered a median transaction time of under 15 seconds across over 3.6 million transactions and $88 million in concession sales.”

In a union Zoom call with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) last week, the former presidential candidate highlighted that interaction when talking about a visit to Fenway last year when the Red Sox were taking on the Dodgers. He followed up that Zoom invite with a scathing letter to Aramark CEO John J. Zillmer and Red Sox owner John Henry, calling out the valuations of both the company and team and expressing concern over the AI-powered self-checkout units.

“If Aramark can afford to pay you $18.7 million in compensation and provide nearly $100 million in dividends for your wealthy shareholders,” the senator wrote to Zillmer, “it can afford to pay all of your workers a living wage and not threaten to take away their jobs and their income with faceless Mashgin touchscreen computers.”

Sanders cited the team’s valuation, saying that it has gone up by over $4 billion since Henry bought the team in 2002 for $380 million. The Red Sox rank third in Sportico’sMLB franchise valuations at $6.03 billion, with a $5.22 billion valuation for the team itself and $810 million for team-related business and real estate, including Fenway Park.

Local 26 also appealed to Henry in an open letter emailed to Fenway Sports Group, the Red Sox’s holding company, on Tuesday evening, asking for him and leadership at FSG to intervene. “Mr. Henry, Fenway Park is your house,” the letter said. “We’re asking you … to intervene. We’re asking you to tell Aramark to bring reasonable proposals to the table that recognize our value and our role in making Fenway thrive.”

Because concession work at Fenway is seasonal, the union said a sustained indefinite strike would have presented too many obstacles for members who are part-time workers at the ballpark. There are no definitive dates for the next potential strike if union members are off for the full Dodgers series.

The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Thursday before the Dodgers series opens on Friday. The team will be on the road for a three-game set in Minnesota before opening the month of August with a six-game homestand against Houston and Kansas City.

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Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez shows he has come a long way with complete-game victory

PHILADELPHIA — As recently as two years ago, Cristopher Sánchez was a pitcher in transition, earning some major league time yet frequently shuttling between the Phillies and their Triple-A affiliate in the Lehigh Valley.

He was also trying to establish himself, at both levels, as a starting pitcher, one who has now not only has shown an affinity for pitching for length, but pitching as effectively as anyone in baseball.

The 28-yeaer-old Sánchez showed his stuff again Tuesday night, pitching a four-hitter in a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. In the course of a 106-pitch gem, he allowed a fourth-inning home run to Rob Refsnyder and also struck out 12 and induced 13 ground-ball outs.

While only becoming a regular starter late in the 2023 season, Sánchez wiped away his early career inconsistency and became an All-Star last season, and probably should have been one this season. He is 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA, has gone six innings or more over his last nine consecutive outings.

“That just tells me that the work we’ve been doing since the offseason is working,” Sánchez said of his consistency. “And that’s something I take a lot of pride in.”

With a vulnerable bullpen and usual second-starter Aaron Nola suffering a bad season start before going down with an injury, Sánchez’s growth is something the Phillies desperately needed. He has responded with a cool demeanor and an arsenal that includes a high-90s fastball often tempered with a killer change-up.

“He has electric stuff,” Bryce Harper said of Sanchez after the Phillies improved to 58-43. “He’s done a great job for us. Just throws strikes. He’s kind of evolved into an ace for us.”

Sánchez also has an understanding with manager Rob Thomson ... he isn’t usually a pitcher who asks to come out of a game. Hence, when Sanchez kicked into an unusual celebration after striking out Refsnyder for the second time in the game to end the eighth inning, it turned out this show still had an inning to go.

“No, I always wait for the manager to tell me I’m done,” Sánchez said. “I wait for him to come to me.”

Thomson went to his second ace starter after the eighth, “just to see if he was OK.

“He said, ‘No, I’m not tired, I’d tell you if I was tired,’” Thomson said. “So we sent him back out.”

It took only 10 pitches in the ninth for Sánchez to finish out his third career complete game. With it will come yet more recognition that this guy is on the list of potential National League Cy Young Award candidates.

That’s a long way from the hopeful pitcher splitting time between the minors and majors just a few seasons ago.

“That was very hard, but I never gave up,” Sánchez said. “I was staying strong, both mentally and physically, and I was always ready for the opportunity whenever it came.”

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Rich Hill becomes oldest player in majors with start against Cubs

CHICAGO — Kansas City’s Rich Hill seemed a bit rusty in his return to the majors as baseball’s oldest active player on Tuesday night.

His Royals teammates didn’t make the 45-year-old left-hander’s start against the Cubs any easier.

Hill gave up three runs and six hits over five innings in his first major league appearance since last September with Boston. He threw 90 pitches (55 strikes), walking two and striking out one before Jonathan Bowlan took over for the sixth with Chicago leading 3-0.

The Cubs went on to win 6-0 with Hill taking the loss.

Hill labored in the second inning when he threw 31 pitches and allowed two unearned runs as the Royals let him down defensively and Chicago took a 2-0 lead.

“He battled his butt off out there,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “It was tough work out there early.

“He had a couple of walks in there, but he made a lot of competitive pitches. Some of them didn’t go his way, but we didn’t play tight enough behind him to keep it where it was. Otherwise he’s probably looking at one, maybe no runs.”

After Dansby Swanson led off second with a single, third baseman Nick Loftin dropped Ian Happ’s sharp grounder on a potential double-play ball. First baseman Salvador Perez then thew out Happ at second on Justin Turner’s grounder, but bobbled Jonathan India’s return throw on what should have been a double play.

Matt Shaw had a run-scoring infield single and Nico Hoerner drove in one on a fielder’s choice.

“You know, the second inning was a little bit of a grind to get through,” Hill said. “But overall, I felt like the ball came out of my hand pretty much the way I wanted to.”

Hill settled in for his final three innings. He retired eight of nine before Carson Kelly singled with two outs in the fifth and Pete Crow-Armstrong lined an RBI double over right-fielder Jac Caglianone.

The Cubs also stole four bases off Hill, including a double steal by Turner and Shaw in the second.

Hill was selected from Triple-A Omaha before the game. In corresponding moves, the Royals optioned right-hander Andrew Hoffman to Omaha and designated outfielder Tyler Gentry for assignment.

Hill’s start at Wrigley Field marked the debut of his 21st season in the majors and his first with Kansas City. The Royals are his 14th major league team, matching Edwin Jackson’s record.

Hill became the oldest player to start a major league game since May 27, 2012, when lefty Jamie Moyer tossed his final game with Colorado at age 49.

Hill is filling a spot in the Royals rotation for Michael Lorenzen, out with a left oblique strain. Quatraro didn’t say when he might pitch next.

And Hill clearly wants to.

“It’s easy to say that you love it, but when you know you have more to give, it’s tough to walk away,” Hill said.

At 45 years and 133 days, Hill became the oldest player in Royals history, passing Hall-of-Fame right-hander Gaylord Perry, who appeared in two games with Kansas City in 1983 after he turned 45.

The 6-foot-5 Hill began his career with the Cubs, making his big-league debut with a one-inning relief appearance against the Florida Marlins on June 15, 2005. He gave up two runs and three hits.

Hill had been at Omaha after signing a minor-league free-agent deal with the Royals in May. He was 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts at Omaha.

A Boston native, Hill appeared in four games last season for the Red Sox. Without spring training, he started his preparation at home in Massachusetts.

“You know going into this season, is knowing there was something left and knowing I could contribute to a ball club,” Hill said

He made 11 postseason starts during his four years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, including two World Series starts in 2017 and another in 2018. He went 11-5 during the latter regular season.

Hill entered 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA in 368 career MLB games.

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Mets activating reliever José Buttó ahead of Wednesday's Angels series finale

The Mets received a nice boost to their bullpen ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Angels, as right-hander José Buttó was reinstated off the 15-day IL.

Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed the move, adding that reliever Justin Garza was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the roster.

Buttó was placed on the IL on July 4 (retroactive to July 1) with an illness.

"He’s good to go," Mendoza said when asked if there were any restrictions on Buttó, who often pitches multiple innings during his relief appearances.

The 27-year-old has proven himself as a weapon out of the ‘pen for the Mets, pitching to a 2.47 ERA this season while striking out 39 batters and walking 20 across 43.2 innings (31 games).

"He’s been a big part of our bullpen, and we felt it when he went down," Mendoza said. "I’m glad that he’s back and feeling good."

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Royals at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 23

Its Wednesday, July 23 and the Royals (49-53) are in Chicago to close out their series with the Cubs (60-41).

Seth Lugo is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Colin Rea for Chicago.

The series is even at one game apiece following Chicago's 6-0 shutout of KC last night. Matthew Boyd threw seven scoreless innings to improve to 11-3 on the season and five different Cubs drove in runs to lead a balanced attack.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, 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 Cubs

  • Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, MARQ

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 Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+120), Cubs (-142)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for July 23, 2025: Seth Lugo vs. Colin Rea
    • Royals: Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.94 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 at Miami - 7.50 ERA, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Colin Rea (8-3, 3.80 ERA)
      Last outing: July 18 vs, Boston - 1.80 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 4 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!

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

  • The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 home games
  • The Total has cashed the under in 29 of the Royals' 52 road games this season
  • Nico Hoerner is 7-20 since the All-Star Break
  • Dansby Swanson is 5-12 over his last 3 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!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Royals and the Cubs

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 Wednesday's game between the Royals and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 10.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Giants at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 23

Its Wednesday, July 23 and the Giants (53-49) and the Braves (44-56) close out a series today in Atlanta.

Justin Verlander is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Spencer Strider for Atlanta.

The Giants evened the series at a game apiece with a 9-0 smack of the Braves last night. Wilmer Flores drove in four runs and Rafael Devers added a couple hits for San Francisco. Landed Roupp allowed four hits over five shutout innings to earn his seventh win of the season.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, 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 Giants at Braves

  • Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • Time: 12:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, FDSNSO, 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 Giants at the Braves

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Giants (+144), Braves (-173)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for July 23, 2025: Justin Verlander vs. Spencer Strider
    • Giants: Justin Verlander (0-8, 4.99 ERA)
      Last outing: 13.50 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 0 Strikeout
    • Braves: Spencer Strider (4-7, 3.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 8 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!

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

  • The Giants have gone 1-4 in their last 5 games
  • The Under is 9-3 (75%) when Spencer Strider has started for the Braves
  • The Braves are up 0.61 units on the Run Line at Truist Park in 2025 with Spencer Strider starting
  • Rafael Devers is 5-13 over his last 3 games
  • Willy Adames is 8-18 over his last 5 games with 3 HRs

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Giants and the Braves

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 Wednesday's game between the Giants and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Francisco Giants 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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Another underwhelming deadline? Red Sox ‘not inclined' to make big moves

Another underwhelming deadline? Red Sox ‘not inclined' to make big moves originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has emphasized the importance of adding “impact starting pitching” before the MLB trade deadline, but will he be willing to pay the price for a quality arm?

While it’s encouraging that the Red Sox have been linked to frontline starters like Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, acquiring such a pitcher would require a significant haul. It could take a prospect package similar to what the Chicago White Sox received for Garrett Crochet, or even a deal centered around All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Breslow isn’t currently motivated to make that kind of bold move. In his trade deadline preview published Wednesday, Passan questioned whether the Red Sox will ultimately stand pat.

“At this moment, the Red Sox are not inclined to engage in any large-scale deadline moves,” Passan wrote. “Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has said the team wants to add after trading (Rafael) Devers, and while it would surprise no one if they did, Boston is an organization that deeply values operating efficiently, and a market like this is the epitome of inefficient. Holding now would speak to the Red Sox’s comfort with their current roster and the exceptional price to bolster it.”

If Passan’s assessment is accurate, that would be a major disappointment. Boston cannot afford another tepid approach at the trade deadline.

The Red Sox (54-49) entered Wednesday six games back in the American League East standings but holding the third Wild Card spot. After an active offseason that included trading for an ace (Crochet) and signing a veteran All-Star (Alex Bregman), they have a real chance to clinch their first postseason berth since 2021. Acquiring an “impact” starting pitcher with one or two complementary pieces could transform this club from a fringe playoff team to a legitimate contender.

Boston’s 2025 season, and perhaps Breslow’s job security, will hinge on his performance at the deadline. Last year’s effort fell flat, as he acquired catcher Danny Jansen, right-hander Quinn Priester, and relievers Luis Garcia and Lucas Sims. None made a meaningful impact down the stretch, and none remain on the roster.

Standing pat, or making only marginal moves, would be unacceptable. It’s time for the Red Sox to go all in, or risk losing the newfound trust of a fan base that entered the season with cautious optimism, and won’t be easily sold on 2026 being “the year.”

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on July 31.

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Justin Verlander, Giants can breathe sigh of relief after win vs. Braves

Justin Verlander, Giants can breathe sigh of relief after win vs. Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s over. It’s finally over.

Justin Verlander’s winless streak came to an end in the Giants’ 9-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday at Truist Park.

The veteran pitcher began his 2025 campaign with 262 career wins, and in his 17th start this season, finally recorded his first in a Giants uniform.

It has been a topic of conversation all season long, much to Verlander’s chagrin, and with a gutsy performance in Wednesday’s series finale, he finally was able to put it to rest.

Verlander (W, 5 IP, H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K) got off to a shaky start in the first inning, walking three batters and surrendering a hit while throwing a total of 40 pitches. At first, it appeared it might be another one of those days for Verlander, but he settled in nicely after the first frame and breezed through four additional innings to qualify for the win.

“It’s great,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of Verlander’s win. “We know it every time he goes out there the guys try extra hard and for whatever reason it just hasn’t worked out. For him to be able to get through five [innings] after throwing upwards of, what, 40 pitches in the first inning, there’s some toughness involved in that. A lot of heat out there.

“He knows that bullpen-wise we’re a little beat up, too. To get through the first was huge for him, and then he ran pretty good after that. Gave us five and got a win and it was celebrated pretty good in there.”

There was a moment after the top of the fifth inning, however, where it started to drizzle at Truist Park, and it looked like Verlander’s final frame might be in jeopardy. 

“I didn’t know, I figured something like that would happen,” Verlander joked postgame. “It would be like ‘OK, this would be the game it gets rained out and it’s going to be a two-hour delay, and they wouldn’t let me go back out.'”

Pitcher wins don’t hold nearly as much value as they used to, but for the 42-year-old Verlander, who came into this season chasing the historic 300-win milestone, every victory is extremely important.

And when they aren’t coming, there at least is a little added pressure to each start he makes.

“I know these guys were really grinding trying to get me [the first win],” Verlander added. “It was something they started talking about and I don’t want that to be the thing. I should keep us in the ballgame no matter what.”

Verlander revealed postgame that a couple Giants players gifted him a nice bottle of wine for the occasion, which he and the locker room celebrated accordingly.

“Emotional, it was awesome,” Giants third baseman Matt Chapman said of the clubhouse vibe. “We’ve wanted so badly to get him that first win and we haven’t necessarily, whether that’s play good defense behind him or swing the bat well or a couple things didn’t go our way, but you know we got the job done today and we were able to get that win for him, so we’re definitely all going to enjoy this one today.”

One particular decision after an average start in late July normally wouldn’t generate this much buzz, but given the extra pressure it might have added to the future Hall of Famer, it certainly is worth celebrating.

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