Astros at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 1

Its Tuesday, July 1 and the Astros (50-34) are in Denver to open a series against the Rockies (19-65).

Colton Gordon is slated to take the mound for Houston against Chase Dollander for Colorado.

The Astros were outscored 16-10 over the weekend against the Cubs but took two of three games against the National League Central leaders. The top of their rotation has been fantastic all season and Sunday it was on display as Framber Valdez did not allow a run over six innings to earn his ninth win of the season.

The Rockies remain historically bad. They did, however, pick up a win Sunday in eleven innings in Milwaukee to snap a five-game losing streak. Colorado rallied with a run in the ninth on an Orlando Arcia home run and won it on a Kyle Farmer single in the eleventh.

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 Astros at Rockies

  • Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Time: 8:40PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, COLR

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 Astros at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-181), Rockies (+148)
  • Spread:  Rockies +1.5 (-103)
  • Total: 11 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for July 1, 2025: Colton Gordon vs. Chase Dollander
    • Astros: Colton Gordon (3-1, 3.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 vs. Philadelphia - 5IP, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 4Ks
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander (2-8, 6.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 vs. Dodgers 5.2IP, 3ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K

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 Astros at Rockies

  • The Astros have won their last 4 games against teams with worse records
  • Each of the Astros' last 6 road games at Coors Field have stayed under the Total
  • The Astros have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 10 matchups against the Rockies
  • Colton Gordon has struck out 18 hitters in 21 innings in 4 June starts
  • Jose Altuve hit .242 in June with 22 hits in 91 ABs
  • Cam Smith was 4-10 against the Cubs this weekend and hit .303 for the month of June (27-89)

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 tonight’s game between the Astros and the Rockies

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 Tuesday's game between the Astros and the Rockies:

  • 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 Houston Astros at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the UNDER on the Game Total of 11.

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)

Guardians at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 1

Its Tuesday, July 1 and the Guardians (40-42) are in Chicago to open a series against the Cubs (49-35).

Gavin Williams is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Matthew Boyd for Chicago.

The Cubs are back home following a seven-game road trip that delivered three wins. This past weekend they lost two of three in Houston including a Sunday shut out at the hands of Framber Valdez.

The Guardians were swept this past weekend at home by the St. Louis Cardinals. The offense was blanked in two of the three games including a 7-0 loss Sunday in which they managed just three hits.

Cleveland now sits 11.5 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central while the Cubs lead the National League Central by two games.

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 Guardians at Cubs

  • Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: CLEG, MARQ, TBS

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 Guardians at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+144), Cubs (-176)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5 (+123)
  • Total: 8 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for July 1, 2025: Gavin Williams vs. Matthew Boyd
    • Guardians: Gavin Williams (5-3, 3.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 vs. Toronto - 5.1IP, 3ER, 5H, 3BB, 2Ks
    • Cubs: Matthew Boyd (7-3, 2.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 at St. Louis - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, 3Ks

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 Guardians at Cubs

  • The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 7-3 in the Guardians' last 10 games
  • The Guardians have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 2.90 units
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong was 0-11 against Houston this past weekend
  • Kyle Tucker was 5-13 vs. his old club this past weekend
  • Steven Kwan was 1-14 in the series against St. Louis
  • Jose Ramirez played in 2 of the games vs. St. louis over the weekend and went 0-8

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 tonight’s game between the Guardians 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 Tuesday's game between the Guardians and the Cubs:

  • 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 Chicago Cubs at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.

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)

White Sox at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 1

Its Tuesday, July 1 and the White Sox (28-56) are in Los Angeles to begin a series against the Dodgers (53-32).

Shane Smith is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers return to Chavez Ravine following a six-game road trip that saw them take five of six against the Rockies and the Royals. They finished June 21 games over .500 and comfortably atop the National League West.

The White Sox are out west following a six-game homestand. They lost two of three against the Diamondbacks and won two of three against the Giants. They concluded the homestand with a 5-2 win Sunday. Lenyn Sosa capped a four-run seventh inning with an RBI single that scored Kyle Teel for Chicago's 28th 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 White Sox at Dodgers

  • Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, 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 White Sox at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+261), Dodgers (-329)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for July 1, 2025: Shane Smith vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
    • White Sox: Shane Smith (3-5, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/23 vs. Arizona - 2IP, 5ER, 4H, 2BB, 2Ks
    • Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-6, 2.61 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 at Colorado - 5IP, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 6Ks

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 White Sox at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers have won 13 of their last 20 home games
  • The Under is 25-14-2 in the White Sox's road games this season
  • The White Sox have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 2.36 units
  • Freddie Freeman was 3-7 in 2 games against Kansas City this past weekend
  • Shohei Ohtani was 2-11 in 3 games this weekend against Kansas City
  • Max Muncy is riding a 6-game hitting streak (10-24)

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 tonight’s game between the White Sox 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 Tuesday's game between the White Sox and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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)

Brewers at Mets prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 1

Its Tuesday, July 1 and the Brewers (47-37) are in Queens to begin a series against the Mets (48-37).

Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Clay Holmes for New York.

No team is in more of a freefall than the Mets. Injuries and slumps have resulted in 13 losses in New York's last 16 games. That said, they still sit atop the wild card standings at the beginning of July. The team's pitching troubles can be blamed on recent injuries, but the offense struggles with men on base. For example, New York has hit the sixth-most home runs in baseball but are just 13th in runs scored.

The Brewers lurk right behind the Mets in the Wild Card standings and just a couple of games behind the Cubs in the National League Central. They are a good, if not spectacular team. The Brew Crew has scored the ninth most runs in baseball and possesses the 12th best ERA in the league.

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 Mets

  • Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNY

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 Mets

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+104), Mets (-127)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5 (+158)
  • Total:  8.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for July 1, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Clay Holmes
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta (8-4, 2.90 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/24 vs. Pittsburgh - 5IP, 3ER, 7H, 0BB, 8Ks
    • Mets: Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.97 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/25 vs. Atlanta - 5IP, 1ER, 3H, 4BB, 2Ks

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 Mets

  • The Brewers have won 4 straight road games
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Mets' last 5 games against National League teams
  • The Brewers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.12 units
  • Clay Holmes has struck out 6 or more hitters once since April 20
  • Francisco Lindor is 2-25 (.080) over his last 6 games
  • Juan Soto is riding a 5-game hitting streak (6-17)
  • Pete Alonso saw his 5-game hitting streak (8-19) snapped Sunday

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 tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Mets

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 Tuesday's game between the Brewers and the Mets:

  • 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 leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5.

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)

The myth of the Big Dumper: how Cal Raleigh became a Seattle folk hero

As of 1 July, the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh is leading MLB in home runs with 33.Photograph: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

It’s the dream of every kid who picks up a baseball bat. The score is tied, 1-1. It’s the bottom of the ninth inning. With one swing, you have the chance to make history. That’s the situation Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh found himself in on 30 September 2022. His manager called him up to bat with the game on the line. If his team won, they’d end a 20-year playoff drought. So, what did Raleigh do? He smacked a full-count, pinch-hit, walk-off dinger deep to right field. Cue: the victory music.

After he rounded the bases, Raleigh’s teammates swarmed him, lifted him on to their shoulders and crowned him with a plastic bubblegum bucket. The Pacific Northwest had new baseball royalty and it was about time. For a franchise that had long been promised the next great prospect – from Justin Smoak to Dustin Ackley – it seemed as if the 26-year-old Raleigh was delivering in real-time. No one wanted to jinx it, but many in Seattle crossed their fingers and toes.

This kind of stuff isn’t supposed to happen in Seattle. While the city has ardent baseball fans, the Mariners have, in large part, long been underwhelming. To date, the Mariners remain the only squad in Major League Baseball never to play in a World Series. Save a few stints in the mid-1990s and early-2000s, the Mariners have mostly been irrelevant on the baseball map. What they have had though, is some excellent individual players, including MVPs in Ken Griffey Jr and Ichiro Suzuki. But who knew their fortunes in 2025 would live and die on a catcher nicknamed “The Big Dumper”?

If you ask Raleigh, he’ll admit that he’s always had a large posterior. Throughout his life it’s been a topic of conversation, hence his nickname. Raleigh’s former teammate Jarred Kelenic spilled the beans about the name, which would make Seattleite Sir Mix-a-Lot proud. It was Kelenic who shared the “Big Dumper” name on Twitter in 2021 when Raleigh was called up to the big leagues. And while Raleigh’s mom wasn’t initially a fan of the term, the catcher told ESPN’s Mina Kimes that it’s “grown on her”.

Raleigh says he likes it, too. He told Kimes that he appreciates that fans have something, well, to “gravitate towards.” But along with the nickname, his reputation is growing, too. As of today, Raleigh was leading MLB in home runs. He has 33 while the two sluggers behind him – Aaron Judge and Shoei Ohtani – have 30 and 29 respectively. The switch-hitting Raleigh is also leading the sport in RBI with 71.

These stats, along with Raleigh’s recent Gold and Platinum Glove Awards, which were given to him for his outstanding fielding, inspire fans to regularly rain down “MVP” chants. The son of a baseball coach, Raleigh knows, however, not to pay much attention to all the praise. It’s early in the year and the Ms are in the middle of a postseason race. Besides, catchers are normally not the sort to seek extra limelight and Raleigh is cut from that same cloth. Still, fun is fun. That’s why he’s accepted a spot in this year’s Home Run Derby.

And who will be throwing meatballs for him to hit over the fence in the competition? His father. Born in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Raleigh went to high school in the Tarheel State. He attended college at Florida State University, and the Mariners drafted him with the 90th pick in 2018. He got his call to play in the majors on 11 July 2021, and he’s been improving steadily ever since. In 2022, which was his first full year with the M’s, Raleigh hit .211 with 27 home runs. Now, he’s raced well past those numbers.

Raleigh told Kimes that he found ways to improve his game by assessing his hitting like an opposing catcher. The backstop wondered, “How would I get myself out?” In that way, he’s not only worked on his strengths, he’s poked at his deficiencies to shore them up. But Raleigh doesn’t just hit and field well. As the team’s No. 1 catcher, he’s also partly responsible for the success of the team’s pitching staff, which has been one of the best in baseball of late. With a rotation featuring names like Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert, Raleigh has to keep their games in mind, too.

So far 2025 has been up and down for the Mariners. The team has endured a few losing streaks, but it’s also enjoyed several weeks leading their American League West division. Today, they are in prime position to earn a wildcard spot in the playoffs, but there’s still a lot of season left. Thankfully for Ms fans, the franchise is led by Raleigh. While the squad’s cool as ice center fielder Julio Rodriguez is the multi-time All-Star and $400m man, Raleigh, who’s under contract for six years and $105m, is the team’s most productive offensive player.

But both guys are helping to stoke the fires of hope for Mariners loyalists. While many in Seattle wanted more from the team after their brilliant 2022 finish, which saw them win a Wild Card game against Toronto and move onto the Divisional Series round, there is a sense that the Ms have momentum now. Though they have missed the playoffs every year since 2022, despite coming close several times, now, with the MLB home run leader behind the plate, the city’s hope for an extended 2025 seems especially valid.

Best of all for those in the Emerald City: The potential 2025 MLB MVP likes playing in Seattle. He says he wants to stay in the area and proved that in the offseason by signing a six-year, $105m extension to stay with the Ms. That contract will keep him in the city through 2030. “This place has always felt like home,” Raleigh said when he signed the deal, adding, “I won’t stop grinding until this city gets what it deserves, and that is a perennial playoff team and a World Series championship.”

For a region that knows a lot about songwriting, that’s music to many ears.

D-backs fan who interfered on play vs. Giants appears to be repeat offender

D-backs fan who interfered on play vs. Giants appears to be repeat offender originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants might wake up on Tuesday morning feeling a little conspiratorial.

And for good reason.

In the top of the eighth inning of their 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday at Chase Field, Giants infielder Christian Koss roped what initially was a game-tying home run just over the left-center field wall that evened the score 3-3.

However, upon review, the call was overturned because of possible interference from a Diamondbacks fan, and Koss was awarded a double, not a home run.

Shortly after the play, Diamondbacks fans on social media were quick to point out that the fan who leaned over the wall to catch Koss’ hit has been involved in not one, not two, not three, not four, but potentially five similar incidents.

And another that involved the Giants.

All five incidents, including Monday night’s, are shown in this video:

The fan reportedly was escorted out of Chase Field after his latest incident on Monday night, and if he was involved in previous plays, as it appears he was, should further disciplinary action be taken?

Given he’s potentially robbed the Giants of two big home runs in recent years, San Francisco might have some thoughts.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

‘Better Than My Birthday’: Bobby Bonilla on His Special Day

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made an art of deferred contracts

The team currently has $1.01 billion in deferred contracts extended to eight players, including $680 million to Shohei Ohtani, and smaller amounts to pitcher Blake Snell, infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, and reliever Tanner Scott, all of whom signed last offseason with the Dodgers.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Bobby Bonilla, who boasts one of the most well-known deferred contracts in Major League Baseball, said about the Dodgers deferred deals. “It’s a reminder that I did the right thing by putting the money away.”

Bonillia has the granddaddy of all deferred deals, and July 1 is his biggest day of the year. The date has become synonymous with the former Major League outfielder, who now works for the MLB Players Association, because he will receive his deposit of $1.2 million from the New York Mets, the 15th of 25 payments that will extend annually to 2035.

“It’s bigger than my birthday,” Bonilla said when reached via phone at his home on the west coast of Florida. “People know this date more than they know my birthday. I think it’s very cool. People are just happy that I put the money aside.”

For the record, his birthday is Feb. 23, and he’s 62 years old. Bonilla’s 16-year career ended in 2001, but he’s more famous for his deferred contract than he is for his 287 homers and .279 batting average across eight teams. 

Bonilla’s deal, arranged by his then-agent Dennis Gilbert, worked well for the cash-poor former Mets owner Fred Wilpon at the time—but it worked even better for Bonilla, who will ultimately earn about five times the $5.9 million cash value of what was left on the contract because of an 8% interest rate. Bonilla collected his first dividends from the plan in 2011, and he’s scheduled to earn precisely $1,193,248.20 from the Mets each year until he’s 72 years old.

Bonilla, who was born and raised in the Bronx, said spending a lot of money as a player was never a big deal for him. The deferred money was not meant to protect him from squandering money.

“It was just being sure I put money away,” Bonilla said. “I wasn’t that much of a big spender. I never needed five of the same car or 17 houses. I never overdid anything. But the most important thing with Dennis, and I expressed that as a young player, I just wanted to have when I retired.”

Bonilla’s contract was not the first deferred contract paid by a club to a player. The San Diego Padres, under then-president Ballard Smith, signed shortstop Garry Templeton and closer Goose Gossage to long-term deals tied to annuities in the 1980s. In 1984, reliever Bruce Sutter inked a six-year, $9.1 million contract with the Braves that paid out $47 million, thanks to a 12.3% interest rate.

According to MLB rules, clubs must invest or set aside deferred money as if it is actually being paid in real time to the player, who doesn’t have to pay taxes on it until he begins to collect. Another way to circumvent the luxury tax process is to give players large upfront signing bonuses. Six of L.A.’s deals since signing Mookie Betts in 2020 include $207 million in bonuses, most of them up front, although the $65 million is being paid to Betts over 15 years. Ohtani didn’t get a bonus.

As far as the luxury tax is concerned,  deferred money is discounted annually during the term of the contract. Bonuses are actually amortized equally each year rather than being credited as a lump sum in the year paid.

For example, Ohtani’s $70 million over 10 years is being charged as $41.6 million toward the luxury tax because of the decreasing value of the dollar each year of the deferral. 

In the modern game, Bonilla gets the credit for getting it all started.

“A lot of times they call it the greatest contract of all time in a lot of people’s minds,” Bonilla said. “It wasn’t the first of its kind. I’m not going to say that before me people didn’t put money away. And now Dodgers players are doing it to their advantage. But my contract got particular traction, maybe because of the circumstances. It’s a fun day.”

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Yankees' Trent Grisham 'optimistic' after hamstring injury forced him to exit Monday's loss

Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham was optimistic about his hamstring after he was forced to exit Monday's loss to the Toronto Blue Jays for the bottom of the fifth inning.

"It's too early to tell," Grisham said from the locker room following the 5-4 loss in Toronto, the Yanks' 11th loss in their last 17 games.

Grisham said he sustained the injury in the home half of the fourth inning when his spike got caught underneath him when he decided not to make a diving attempt at a two-out single off the bat of Jonatan Clase. The outfielder said it "wasn't good enough... to keep going the rest of the game."

"I'm trying to be optimistic about it and really see how it wakes up in the morning," he answered when asked about his level of concern.

"I've dealt with hammy's before in the past, and it just didn't feel like any other one," Grisham said, before clarifying that he meant the discomfort wasn't "worse, just different."

Manager Aaron Boone said Grisham was not sent for any additional testing or an MRI after Monday's game, but was getting worked on by team trainers.

"Hoping it's not something that's too long, whether it's a day-to-day scenario, whether it's an IL, I'm not sure yet," Boone said.

After putting up poor numbers while sparingly in his first season in The Bronx (batting .190 with a .675 OPS in 76 games), Grisham has done much better while getting more consistent time in the lineup. Through his first 72 games, he is slashing .246/.348/.467 for a .815 OPS with 15 home runs and 32 RBI.

"He's been a great player for us," Boone added. "... but obviously he's been an outstanding two-way player for us all year. But whatever happens with it, we'll manage it and get through it. Hopefully it's not something that is too serious."

Grisham added he was "not expecting" to go for any testing on Tuesday morning. New York continues the four-game set with an afternoon (3:07 p.m.) first pitch.

Grisham went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a strikeout before he left the game. Jasson Dominguez, who entered to play left with Cody Bellinger moving to center, went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a strikeout.

Orioles place right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day IL with low back discomfort

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list on Monday with low back discomfort.

The Orioles also lost catcher Chadwick Tromp during the opener of a three-game series at Texas. Tromp departed in the third inning because of lower back tightness.

Gary Sánchez moved from designated hitter to catcher, inserting pitcher Trevor Rogers into the lineup. Using a Ryan Mountcastle bat and his own helmet, Rogers struck out looking for the first out of the fourth.

The Orioles already were playing without catchers Adley Rutschman and Maverick Handley because of injuries.

Eflin got hurt Saturday during an 11-3 loss to Tampa Bay. He was tagged for four runs and five hits in one inning before he was replaced by Scott Blewett.

Manager Tony Mansolino said Eflin has a back strain.

“We’re kind of still sorting through everything right now,” he said before the game. "It’s hard to be optimistic or not be optimistic until we have all the information.”

Mansolino also said Charlie Morton is going to be pushed back a couple days because of “a very low-grade” elbow tendinitis. Brandon Young is slated to start on Tuesday, and Morton will pitch on Friday night at Atlanta.

The 31-year-old Eflin, Baltimore's opening-day starter, is 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA in 12 outings - part of a disappointing season for the last-place Orioles. He also was on the IL from April 8 to May 11 with a right lat strain.

Eflin is 0-3 with a 17.00 ERA in his last three starts, allowing 27 hits in nine innings.

Young was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the matchup with the Rangers. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three starts for the Orioles this year.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Yankees waste away early lead, allow four sixth-inning runs in 5-4 loss to Blue Jays

The Yankees led early but allowed four runs to cross in the sixth inning and fell to the Blue Jays, 5-4, on Monday night in Toronto.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Carlos Rodón avoided first-inning damage after allowing a two-out double to slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Despite a hit-by-pitch, Rodón kept it a scoreless game through the second inning two with two strikeouts in the frame. The left-hander found himself in another tough spot in the third with two on and no outs, but got Guerrero to fly out and Alejandro Kirk to ground into a forceout.

Rodón continued to keep runs off the board in the fourth inning, striking out Will Wagner to escape the jam with runners on the corners. The lefty allowed his first run in the fifth after a wild pitch as Guerrero drove in Ernie Clement from third base on a groundout to make it 2-1. Rodón let up a leadoff double to Davis Schneider in the bottom of the sixth and that ended up being the last batter he faced.

Rodón's final line: two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 96 pitches across 5-plus innings of work.

-- Putting a bow on his scorching hot June, Jazz Chisholm Jr. blasted a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Max Scherzer in the top of the fourth inning to give the Yanks a 2-0 lead. It's his fourth homer in the past five games. Since returning from injury on June 3, Chisholm is slashing .318/.378/.614 with seven home runs, five doubles, and 19 RBI in 88 at-bats.

-- Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer battled through five innings of work and 71 pitches, holding the Yankees' bats to just three hits while striking out seven. New York was 0-for-2 with RISP and left one on base (Anthony Volpe after a double) against Scherzer.

-- Trent Grisham exited the game before the bottom of the fifth inning as Cody Bellinger moved to CF and Jasson Domínguez entered in LF. It was later announced that Grisham left with left hamstring tightness.

-- Mark Leiter Jr. replaced Rodón with a runner on second and immediately found himself in a bigger jam when Myles Straw singled and advanced to second on Volpe's throwing error. Nathan Lukes then made it a one-run game, and after a strikeout and wild pitch, Leiter let up a game-tying single to Clement. Jonathan Loáisiga came in for relief but allowed a two-run single to Guerrero, giving the Blue Jays a 5-3 lead.

-- Aaron Judge was intentionally walked by LHP Brendon Little with a runner on first base and one out in the top of the sixth inning, and the move worked against Chisholm, but not Giancarlo Stanton. The slugger drove in Domínguez to make it a 3-1 game. Judge was intentionally walked for a second time in the top of the eighth with no outs after Bellinger homered (No. 12) to cut the Toronto lead to 5-4. Domínguez singled in the ninth to give NY a chance, but Bellinger flied out to end the game.

Game MVP: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladdy finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI to give him 15 RBI on the month and 44 RBI so far this year.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Blue Jays continue their four-game series in Toronto on Tuesday at 3:07 p.m.

Max Fried (10-2, 1.92 ERA) starts for the Yanks, opposed by Kevin Gausman (6-6, 4.21 ERA) for the Blue Jays.

Offense continues to scuffle as Giants lose another game, another infielder

Offense continues to scuffle as Giants lose another game, another infielder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

PHOENIX — The planned reset for Tyler Fitzgerald lasted just a week, and it wasn’t exactly stress-free. A few days after he returned to Triple-A Sacramento, Fitzgerald got drilled on the left hand, leaving him with an ugly bruise, but no fracture. Fitzgerald considered himself lucky, and on Monday, he found himself back in the big league lineup after Casey Schmitt went on the IL with a more troubling bone bruise. 

On his first night back, the Opening Day second baseman hit a pair of doubles, including one that tied the game in the top of the seventh. It was a needed night for a young player who was looking for ways to get his confidence back.

“It felt good to hit the ball hard again,” Fitzgerald said. “I haven’t done that in a while.”

That was the silver lining for the Giants. The rest of this night fit in with the week that Fitzgerald missed, and really, with the last month-plus of baseball.

The Giants lost 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, falling to 1-6 in this two-week stretch that’s supposed to be the easiest on their schedule. They have scored just seven runs in four games on this road trip, but this goes much deeper. 

Over the last 40 games, the lineup has scored more than four runs just 11 times. In nearly half of those games (16), they have scored two runs or fewer. 

The frustration is boiling over, and it didn’t help that a potential game-tying rally Monday was possibly harmed by fan interference. A Diamondbacks fan reached over the wall to grab Christian Koss’ double in the eighth, and when a lengthy review left Koss at second, Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos struck out. The Ramos strikeout — on a ball that was off the plate — set manager Bob Melvin off. He was ejected before the bottom of the ninth. 

“Heliot gets the bat taken out of his hands like that for the second time in the game,” Melvin said. “[The catcher] is literally set up underneath his armpit and the ball is off the plate, outside. That’s a tough one. But look, we’re in this position because we’re not scoring enough runs and doing much offensively, so it gets frustrating.”

There are a lot of reasons to be frustrated right now, including the fact that the Giants in many ways wasted one of the best months of Logan Webb’s career. He threw 40 1/3 innings in June and allowed just 10 runs, but the team went 3-3. Webb gave up three runs Monday on a lot of soft contact, but the Giants didn’t give him much support. 

A few weeks ago, Webb was asked about the offense’s struggles and pointed out that he’s seen much tougher times. This latest skid, though, is starting to climb the rankings. 

“It’s pretty tough,” Webb said. “It’s tough right now, but if we want to go to the places that we want to go to, we have to get through it. We’ve just got to kind of dig deep and show up tomorrow. That’s the only thing we can do.”

The latest loss took place in front of just about the entire front office, but if any changes are coming, they haven’t been telegraphed. Buster Posey has shown a lot of patience this year, and he is said to be exhibiting it now, as well. He had a long talk with hitting coach Pat Burrell before batting practice on Monday, and then he leaned on the rail and watched a team that continues to put the work in every afternoon, but has little to show for it. 

Posey already made his big move, acquiring Rafael Devers, but the slugger has an OPS under .700 as a Giant and struck out four times on Monday. The last one came with the tying run on second after the Koss fly ball. 

The Giants felt that the ball would have been a double had it not been touched, but it still stung, and not just in the moment. Koss wasn’t going to be able to stretch it even if the ball bounced off the wall, as he had pulled his hamstring earlier in the game. He won’t play Tuesday and there’s a chance he hits the IL.

Already without Matt Chapman, the Giants have lost fill-ins Schmitt and Koss over the past week. It’s bad luck, but all they had to do was look across the field to know that they’ve actually done pretty well in the health department this year. The Diamondbacks lost Corbin Burnes to Tommy John surgery and will play this series without star outfielder Corbin Carroll and catcher Gabriel Moreno. First baseman Josh Naylor was also out of the lineup Monday. 

“It happens. It sucks that it happens, but look around baseball and how many guys are going out, especially this part of the year,” Webb said of the latest injury at third base. “That’s why they call it the dog days of summer. It’s tough, but it’s next man up and find a way.”

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What we learned as Logan Webb strengthens MLB All-Star case despite Giants' loss

What we learned as Logan Webb strengthens MLB All-Star case despite Giants' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

PHOENIX — The 113-degree weather at first pitch on Monday night did nothing to help the Giants heat up at the plate.

For the sixth time in seven games, they were on the losing end, this time falling 4-2 to an Arizona Diamondbacks squad that is banged-up and desperately trying to stay in the wild-card race. The Giants have dropped three of four on this three-city trip so far, scoring just seven total runs. 

They went down quietly against right-hander Ryan Nelson until the seventh, when Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo did them a favor by going to his bullpen with two on and two down. Tyler Fitzgerald immediately greeted Juan Morillo with a two-run double to the gap in right-center, tying the game. 

The Diamondbacks went back on top in the bottom of the inning, but in the eighth, it appeared another Giants infielder had tied the game. Christian Koss — playing third base because Casey Schmitt joined Matt Chapman on the IL — hit a high fly ball to left and went into his home run trot. Left fielder Tim Tawa made a leaping attempt at the wall, but the ball was caught by a Diamondbacks fan who reached over and interfered with Tawa. 

Koss was sent back to second, but the Giants challenged that it was actually a home run. After a lengthy review in New York, it was ruled that the ball would not have left the yard and Koss was left on second. That’s how it ended, as Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos struck out as the fan was getting kicked out of Chase Field. An inning later, manager Bob Melvin was ejected. 

No June Swoon Over Here

Logan Webb went at least six innings in all six starts in June, and it wasn’t until the final one that he allowed more than two runs. The Diamondbacks put three runs on his line, but there was a lot of soft contact, including in the seventh. Webb gave up three hits in that inning: one at 68 mph, one at 70 mph, and one that bounced through the right side of the infield. After a run scored, Randy Rodriguez entered and mowed down the three-four hitters to protect a couple of Webb’s runs. 

The staff ace threw 40 1/3 innings in May and allowed 10 runs. He walked just seven and struck out 43, putting himself in position to potentially join Robbie Ray as a National League Pitcher of the Month. At the very least, Webb secured an MLB All-Star spot, and he should be in consideration to start the game. 

Welcome Back

Melvin didn’t really know what to say when asked before the game if Fitzgerald had enough time in Triple-A to actually get a mental breather. The young infielder barely even had time to unpack, and his four-game stint back with the River Cats included a hit-by-pitch on the wrist that had to be checked out by Giants trainers when he returned Monday to take Casey Schmitt’s roster spot. 

The Giants wanted Fitzgerald to get some confidence back in the minors, and he sure looked like he was carrying some swagger when he turned and yelled back to the dugout before the runners had scored on his game-tying double. Fitzgerald had a couple of doubles in his first game back. 

Slow Start

Devers struck out four times for the fourth time in his career. He did it twice in the shortened 2020 MLB season, and also this March 28 when he was still with the Boston Red Sox. On Monday, Ramos struck out three times, giving the Giants seven from their two-three hitters. 

Devers struck out about once per game this season in Boston but has 21 in 13 games in orange and black. He has a .670 OPS as a Giant, which is 235 points below where he was at before the trade that was supposed to lead the Giants to better offensive days. 

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Wilyer Abreu hits inside-the-park HR and grand slam in game vs. Reds

Wilyer Abreu hits inside-the-park HR and grand slam in game vs. Reds originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Wilyer Abreu etched his name into Boston Red Sox history during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Abreu launched one roughly 420 feet off the center-field wall at Fenway Park and turned on the jets for an electrifying inside-the-park home run. It was the first Red Sox inside-the-parker since Eduardo Nunez’s in 2018.

Abreu’s rare feat gave the Red Sox an 8-5 lead, and he wasn’t done yet. In the eighth inning, he came through again with his first career grand slam to widen Boston’s lead to 13-5.

Those were Abreu’s 15th and 16th homers of the season. He is the first Red Sox player to hit an inside-the-park homer and a conventional homer in the same game since Pokey Reese in 2004.

The Red Sox went on to defeat the Reds in the series opener, 13-6.

Wheeler exceptional through 8 scoreless innings to hand Phillies win over Padres

Wheeler exceptional through 8 scoreless innings to hand Phillies win over Padres originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Talk about starting the week (and the homestand) off right.

The Phillies wrapped up June on a strong note, collecting their 50th win of the season Monday against the Padres, 4-0.

The club finished the month 14-13, and while it was a stretch teetering along the .500 mark, the Phillies enter July sitting two games up on the Mets in the NL East. Only the Dodgers have a better record in the National League.

To be able to say that, even with the offensive coin toss they’ve had over the past few weeks, is a feat in itself.

It’s a broken record when it comes to Zack Wheeler starts but the Phillies are spoiled rotten when he takes the mound. Wheeler went 8.0 innings for the first time this season and didn’t allow a run on six hits. It’s the first time he’s reached double-digit strikeouts (10) since Apr. 18 against the Marlins (13). Monday also marked his third straight scoreless outing.

It’s greatness. Time and time and time again.

If you give up a leadoff walk in an inning, there’s a good chance you’ll have to pay for it. In Matt Waldron’s second of six walks of the night, he sent Max Kepler to first on four pitches. Kepler would cross home plate two batters later.

One inning later, Kepler was inches away from helping the Phillies go up three more runs … if it weren’t for one of the best catches to ever happen at Citizens Bank Park.

With two men on, Kepler drilled a ball to deep center field and Jackson Merrill snatched it over the fence. The timing and extension from the 6-foot-3 center fielder was impeccable and he brought the ball, and everyone in the ballpark, back to Earth to end the third.

It’s OK though because the next time the offense was up, utter chaos ensued on the basepaths. Bryson Stott walked, then stole his 13th bag of the season. Brandon Marsh out-hustled Luis Arraez on a groundout to first, which somehow scored Stott. A wild pitch advanced Marsh and he then read a Trea Turner dribble up the third baseline so well, both he and Turner were safe.

Given Turner’s level of consistency this season, it’s borderline absurd his offensive contributions have been discussed so little. Turner is the only player in the National League with over 100 hits (102). The closest to him is Shohei Ohtani, who has eight less with only a one-game differential.

Small ball was what got the job done Sunday in Atlanta to collect a series win. Perhaps the Phillies realized it was a solid enough recipe once again.

When you have your ace on the mound, usually a few runs is all you need.

The addition of a Nick Castellanos long ball was a nice touch, though. It was his second home run in four days.

For the first time in 24 days, Bryce Harper was back in the starting lineup. The club reinstated him from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s game. Harper was dealing with right wrist inflammation, and at this point, he said he didn’t think he “was going to take any other steps forward of feeling better.”

It’s something he and the Phillies will be monitoring for the remainder of the season.

What’s clear though – is how much better the lineup operates with him. Yes, that’s a given because it’s Harper – but having a lineup that stretches out just that bit more is what the Phillies have desperately missed since he went on the IL.

Pitchers approach the Phillies differently when No. 3 is in. Harper didn’t have a hit in his return but walked and was hit by a pitch.

Yankees Injury Notes: Fernando Cruz lands IL, Austin Wells dealing with finger issue

The Yankees announced right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain.

In corresponding moves, right-hander Geoff Hartlieb has been signed to a major league deal and added to the Yanks' active roster. To make room for Hartlieb, who had been pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, on the 40-man roster, infielder CJ Alexander has been designated for assignment.

Curz sustained the injury while warming up with a medicine ball in the weight room on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told reporters ahead of the Yankees series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. He went for an MRI on Monday morning, but the club is still waiting to know the grade of the strain to determine the length of time the reliever will be out. The IL designation was retroactive to June 28.

Cruz had been a stalwart of the back end of New York's bullpen during his first season in The Bronx, pitching to a 3.00 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 33.0 innings over 32 games. He had 54 strikeouts to 14 walks while allowing 13 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits.

Added this offseason in a trade with Cincinnati that sent catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds, Cruz's success is based on a devastating split-finger pitch that has bamboozled batters. He has a 60.2 whiff rate on the pitch, which he is throwing 59.3 percent of the time. Overall, the righty's 49.6 percent whiff rate and 41.2 percent strikeout rate are both in the 100th percentile for all MLB pitchers.

Hartlieb has pitched to a 3.34 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP in 35.0 innings over 24 games at Triple-A this year. The 31-year-old has 38 strikeouts to 10 walks and finished 12 games, collecting two saves. He appeared in five games last season for the Colorado Rockies, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits and four walks over 9.0 innings pitched.

Alexander spent just 13 games in the Yanks organization at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he was claimed by the organization following his DFA by the Athletics organization on June 5. The 28-year-old corner infielder had a .196 average and .498 OPS over his 46 at-bats there. In six games with the A's at the big league level this year, he had three hits in 17 at-bats.

This is the second time Cruz has been on the IL after right shoulder inflammation caused him to miss 15 days in late May.

Austin Wells dealing with finger issue

Wells is having a circulation issue in one of his fingers and will miss his second-straight game on Monday night.

Testing over the past two days ruled out any blood clots.

"It’s not something that bothers him from a performance standpoint," Boone told reporters, via Chris Kirschner.

Boone said he will likely not return to the lineup until Wednesday, which means JC Escarra will catch Tuesday's day game after a night game.

Through 69 games this year, Wells is slashing .214/.275/.424 for a .699 OPS (93 OPS+) with 11 home runs and 45 RBI.