NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.
Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and comes a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.
Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire after death.
Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, it appears the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.
Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.
Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”
Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.
A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.
Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Chicago Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. Jackson twice appeared on a BBWAA ballot before the Hall’s rules change, receiving 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.
What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?
Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall.
Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.
Without the ban, both players appear to be eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.
A 10-person historical overview committee selects the ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.
Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
Did Trump help get Rose reinstated?
Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.
It’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail. Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.
Pete Rose remains MLB’s all-time hits leader.Photograph: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and other deceased players have been removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list. The decision clears the path for the sport’s all-time hits leader and the storied Chicago White Sox star to be considered for the Hall of Fame.
Manfred ruled that MLB’s punishment of banned individuals ends upon their death. “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M Lenkov, who petitioned for Rose’s removal in January.
Rose accepted his ban in 1989 after an MLB investigation found he bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson and seven other White Sox players were banned for life in 1921 for allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series. Rose died in September at age 83; Jackson passed away in 1951.
The ruling also removes 16 other deceased players and one deceased owner from MLB’s banned list, including Jackson’s former teammates Eddie Cicotte and George ‘Buck’ Weaver.
Rose and Jackson are now eligible for the Hall of Fame, with their cases expected to be reviewed by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027. Both would need 12 of 16 votes for induction, meaning the earliest possible enshrinement would be summer 2028.
Lenkov, who led the petition for Rose’s reinstatement, called the decision “a long journey”. He plans to meet with Hall of Fame officials to discuss Rose’s candidacy. “Reds Nation will not only be able to celebrate Pete’s legacy, but now optimistically be able to look forward to the possibility that Pete will join other baseball immortals,” Lenkov said.
The decision has sparked debate. John Dowd, who led MLB’s original investigation into Rose, criticized the move, saying the ban’s significance should not be erased after death. “There’s no difference with him being dead – it’s about behavior, conduct, and reputation,” Dowd told ESPN.
Rose’s career remains unmatched, with 4,256 hits, three World Series titles, and a .303 lifetime batting average. Jackson, despite his involvement in the 1919 scandal, finished with a career .356 average – the fourth highest in MLB history.
Rose and Jackson’s eligibility for Cooperstown now rests with Hall of Fame voters, reigniting debates about integrity, redemption, and legacy in America’s pastime.
SEATTLE (AP) — New York Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle fracture ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
In a corresponding move, infielder DJ LeMahieu completed his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
In the ninth inning of New York’s 11-5 victory over Seattle on Monday night, Cabrera fractured his left ankle on an awkward slide when he reached back for the plate and scored the Yankees’ final run on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly.
Cabrera is in his fourth MLB season and has become a regular in the Yankees’ lineup. He is hitting .243 this season with one home run and 11 RBIs.
“He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge said after Monday’s game. “He wears his jersey with pride. This is a tough one, especially a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got an opportunity to be our everyday guy and been excelling at it.”
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson, banned after his participation in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, also was reinstated in a sweeping decision by commissioner Rob Manfred that included other deceased players from the list. All are eligible for election to the Hall of Fame.
An MLB statement released Tuesday referred to it as a "policy decision."
"This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose has made it incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision on this unprecedented issue in the modern era as Mr. Rose is the first person banned after the tenure of commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list.
"Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLB’s policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual."
Rose had been exiled from the sport since 1989, after he was found by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti (yes, the father of actor Paul Giamatti) to have been betting on his team’s games while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Rose died Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 83.
Rose's daughter, Fawn Rose, filed a petition for reinstatement Jan. 8 and met with Manfred. In February, President Trump advocated for the lifetime ban to be lifted in a social media post, then met with Manfred in April to discuss the matter.
Jeffrey Lenkov, a Los Angeles lawyer who represented Rose at the time of his death and prepared the petition pro bono, told The Times the decision was the result of several years of working with Manfred and his executive team.
"The Rose family and I are extremely overjoyed," Lenkov said. "The reinstatement in and of itself is a historic moment because many people, including Pete at times, thought the ban would never be lifted.
"Getting into the Hall of Fame on his merits is an opportunity he wanted and should be able to receive now."
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose hits a line drive single to break Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in 1985. (Associated Press)
From his 24-year career that resulted in more MLB hits — 4,256 hits — than any other player in history to his lifetime ban, Rose's saga was as complex and sad as it was triumphant. Pete Rose Night will take place Wednesday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and the decision to lift the ban undoubtedly will elevate the mood.
Here is a look at key elements of his rise, fall and potential inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
Will Rose or Jackson immediately be inducted into the Hall of Fame?
No. Barring an unforeseen exception, the earliest Rose could be considered for induction would be the summer of 2028. The committee that could vote him into the hall — the Classic Baseball Era Committee — doesn't convene until December 2027.
Rose is not eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Assn. of America because its ballot includes only candidates whose playing careers ended no more than 15 years prior to the election. Rose retired in 1986. In 1991, two years after Rose was banned from baseball and months before he was set to make the ballot — players become eligible for consideration five years after they retire — the hall’s board of directors passed a rule prohibiting anybody on the ineligible list from being a candidate.
Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark issued a statement making it clear Rose, Jackson and the others are eligible for induction.
"The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration," the statement said. "Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered."
Now that Rose is eligible, his case will be reviewed by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era Committee which evaluates players who made their greatest impact before 1980. Rose would qualify for consideration because his 24-year career began in 1963.
The committee voted in Dick Allen and Dave Parker this year. When it convenes again to vote for 2028 induction, Rose would need the backing of an aye from a 75% majority — 12 of the 16 members.
Since before the 1919 Black Sox Scandal resulted in Jackson and other players being banned for life for taking money from gamblers and throwing games, Major League Baseball has had a rule against gambling to protect the integrity of the game. Rule 21(d) is posted in every clubhouse and states: “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible."
Rose bet on the Cincinnati Reds when he was the team's player-manager in 1985 and '86, and the manager in '87. An MLB investigation headed by lawyer John Dowd resulted in a 225-page report released in 1989 that named men that Rose allegedly placed bets with and cited evidence that Rose bet on Reds games.
Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose before a spring training game March 22, 1989, after the Commissioner's Office investigation into his gambling was released. (John Swart / Associated Press)
After denying for nearly 15 years that he bet on baseball, Rose admitted doing so in his 2004 book, “My Prison Without Bars,” written with Rick Hill. Later, he would sign and sell baseballs with the inscription, “Sorry I bet on baseball.” The balls currently go for $200 to $400 apiece online.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Rose began gambling as a youngster when his dad took him to a local racetrack. By the time he reached the big leagues, he was betting on college and pro basketball and pro football in addition to the horses.
“On Feb. 5, 1986, I wrote three checks for eight grand each to cover my losses on the NFL playoffs,” Rose wrote. “The NFL turned into March Madness, which turned into the NBA playoffs, which always turned into the skids.
"I always lived by one hard and fast rule: You don’t bet on baseball. But for the first time in my life, I was no longer playing baseball, just managing. A part of me was still looking for ways to recapture the high I got from winning batting titles and World Series. If I couldn’t get the high from playing baseball, then I needed a substitute.
"I can’t honestly remember the first time I bet on baseball. But I remember the first time I spoke openly about it. I was sitting in my living room, watching the 1986 playoffs between the Mets and the Astros. I had a group of friends over for the game. Without even thinking of the consequences, I said, ‘Betting on the playoffs makes the games more exciting to watch.’ ”
Rose's immense popularity in his hometown began to erode when the Dowd Report was made public.
“Forever and ever and ever, the people here have been solidly behind Pete,” Marty Brennaman, longtime broadcaster for the Reds, told The Times' Bill Plaschke. “This is the most provincial city I’ve lived in. I can’t imagine a more provincial city.
“But now, there is a segment of the population where, if they haven’t completely gone the other way against Pete, there is at least an element of doubt in their minds. People are becoming divided.”
Longtime Cincinnati historian Dan Hurley insisted the public reaction was even harsher.
“I think the reaction finally is, ‘Hey, they got him,’ ” Hurley said of Rose. “And for us, that’s not very pleasant.”
Rose does have his supporters within baseball. Terry Francona, his former teammate who is in his first season as Reds manager, recently said, "If he’s not in the Hall of Fame, there isn’t one."
Why the change of heart by MLB?
Pete Rose speaks at a news conference in Las Vegas after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he has no intention of altering Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Rose first petitioned for reinstatement in 1997 when Bud Selig was commissioner. Selig didn't meet with Rose until 2002 and did not rule on the issue before he retired in 2006. Manfred rejected a second petition by Rose in 2015, saying, "Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing, so clearly established by the Dowd Report, or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of the circumstances that led to his permanent eligibility in 1989.
"Absent such credible evidence, allowing him to work in the game presents an unacceptable risk of a future violation by him of Rule 21, and thus to the integrity of our sport. I, therefore, must reject Mr. Rose's application for reinstatement."
Rose's death created an opportunity to revisit his status. If the permanently ineligible list exists to prevent a person who poses a threat to the integrity of the game from working in baseball, could that status change when the person is no longer living?
Roses adorn the statue of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati after the all-time hits leader died. (Kareem Elgazzar / Associated Press)
"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote in a letter to Lenkov. "Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve."
That argument was made in the December petition by Rose's family, and Manfred took it into consideration.
"Pete in his lifetime felt he had done his time, paid the price," Lenkov said. "I believe he lived with a scarlet letter on him because of it. His punishment was substantial."
Manfred's ruling removes 16 deceased players and one deceased owner from the banned list. Included are some additional 1919 White Sox players found to have taken money from gamblers to throw games, including pitcher Eddie Cicotte and third baseman George “Buck” Weaver.
The relationship between gambling and professional sports — including MLB — has evolved dramatically in recent years. Sports betting is legal in 40 states, and the American Gaming Assn. estimates that its total economic impact is $328 billion a year and revenue from it exceeded $115 billion in 2024.
Yet restrictions still apply, again to protect the integrity of the game. Can a baseball player, coach or umpire bet on March Madness brackets, the Super Bowl or participate in a fantasy football league? Yes. Can they bet on anything — baseball or otherwise — through illegal or offshore bookmakers? No.
What was President Trump's role in the reinstatement?
Even before the family’s petition for reinstatement had become public, Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Feb. 28 that read:
"Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as 'Charlie Hustle,' into the Baseball Hall of fame. Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!
"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING."
No evidence has surfaced of Rose betting on the Reds to lose. After confessing in his book that he bet on baseball, he emphasized that point.
“I bet on my own team to win,” Rose told NJ.com. “That’s what I did in a nutshell. I was wrong, but I didn’t taint the game. I bet on my team every night because that’s the confidence that I had in my players.”
A pardon wasn't necessary for Manfred to reinstate Rose, who in 1990 served five months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion.
Trump met with Manfred at the White House on April 16, but neither man spoke publicly about what they discussed. MLB issued a statement that said, "President Trump is a longtime fan of baseball. As he has done in the past, commissioner Manfred was pleased to visit the White House again to discuss issues pertaining to baseball with the president.”
What are Pete Rose's Hall of Fame credentials?
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose is congratulated by his teammates after he broke Ty Cobb's hitting record in Cincinnati on Sept. 11, 1985. (Associated Press)
Rose broke Ty Cobb's career hits total of 4,189 in 1985 and finished with 4,256. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and the NL Most Valuable Player in 1973. He won three batting titles and three World Series titles — two with the Reds in 1975 and '76 and one with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.
Rose batted .303 with an on-base percentage of .375, earning the nickname "Charlie Hustle" because he sprinted to first base even on a walk. He led the NL in hits seven times, doubles five times, and in 1978 put together a 44-game hitting streak, second in baseball history to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game streak.
Rose played in more games (3,562), had more plate appearances (15,890) and more at-bats (14,053) than any other player.
Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Nationals (17-25) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (20-21). Michael Soroka is slated to take the mound for Washington against Spencer Schwellenbach for Atlanta.
The Braves took game one of the series 4-3. Grant Holmes picked up the win. He only gave up one earned run in 6.1 innings. He also struck out four batters.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Odds for the Nationals at the Braves
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Nationals (+193), Braves (-235)
Spread: Braves -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Braves
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Michael Soroka vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
Nationals: Michael Soroka, (0-2, 7.20 ERA) Last outing (Cleveland Guardians, 5/7): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Nationals at Braves
The Braves have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
6 of the Braves' last 7 home matchups against the Nationals have stayed under the Total
The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.76 units
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Braves
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Nationals 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 Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Angels (17-23) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (25-15). José Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Dylan Cease for San Diego.
The Angels won game one of the series 9-5 yesterday. Michael King had a decent outing on the mound for the Padres. He only gave up two earned runs on four hits. Things really went south for the Padres when reliever Robert Suarez gave up five earned runs in 0.1 innings.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Angels at Padres
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: Petco Park
City: San Diego, CA
Network/Streaming: Padres.TV, FanDuel Sports Network West
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Odds for the Angels at the Padres
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Angels (+166), Padres (-200)
Spread: Padres -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Padres
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: José Soriano vs. Dylan Cease
Angels: José Soriano, (2-4, 4.00 ERA) Last outing (Toronto Blue Jays, 5/8): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
Padres: Dylan Cease, (1-2, 4.91 ERA) Last outing (New York Yankees, 5/7): 6.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Angels at Padres
Betting the Padres on the Money Line in all games this season would have shown a 114% return on investment
The Over is 13-7 in the Padres' and the Angels' last 10 games combined
The Angels have covered the Run Line in 4 straight matchups against the Padres
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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 Angels and the Padres:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
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Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Royals (25-18) are in Houston to take on the Astros (20-20). Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Framber Valdez for Houston.
The Royals' hot play continued with a 7-5 win over the Astros in game one of the series. Michael Wacha picked up the win for the Royals. He only gave up two earned runs in 6.1 innings pitched, on eight hits and two walks.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Royals at Astros
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 8:10PM EST
Site: Minute Maid Park
City: Houston, TX
Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City
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Odds for the Royals at the Astros
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Royals (+119), Astros (-141)
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Astros
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Framber Valdez
Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.69 ERA) Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 5/8): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Astros
The Astros went 11-5 (.688) at home last season with Framber Valdez starting
This season the Astros pitcher Framber Valdez has an ERA of 3.94 and a WHIP of 1.16 when opening
The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.16 units
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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 Royals and the Astros:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros 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 over on the Game Total of 7.0.
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Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Marlins (15-25) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (24-18).
Valente Bellozo is slated to take the mound for Miami against Ben Brown for Chicago.
The series opened last night with the Cubs rolling to a 5-2 win. Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki both went deep for the Cubs to pace the attack.
Lets dive into Game 2 of this series and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Marlins at Cubs
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: FDSNFL, MARQ
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Odds for the Marlins at the Cubs
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Marlins (+202), Cubs (-247)
Spread: Cubs -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Cubs
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Valente Bellozo vs. Ben Brown
Marlins: Valente Bellozo (0-2, 3.50 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 vs. Dodgers - 5.1IP, 0ER, 1H, 2BB, 7Ks
Cubs: Ben Brown (3-3, 4.95 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 vs. San Francisco - 5IP, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 9Ks
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Marlins at Cubs
The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
The Marlins' last 3 road games have stayed under the Total
The Marlins have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 games
Dansby Swanson is 5-10 over his last 3 games
Since seeing his 7-game hitting streak snapped, Ian Happ is hitless in his last 3 games (0-10)
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Marlins and the Cubs
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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 Marlins 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 Chicago Cubs at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Pirates (14-28) are in Queens to take on the Mets (27-15).
Mitch Keller is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Kodai Senga for New York.
The Mets claimed the series opener last night, 4-3. Pete Alonso's sacrifice fly in the ninth plated the winning run after the Bucs tied the game at 3 in the top of the final frame.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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.
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Game details & how to watch Pirates at Mets
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Citi Field
City: Queens, NY
Network/Streaming: SNP, SNY
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Odds for the Pirates at the Mets
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Pirates (+204), Mets (-250)
Spread: Mets -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Mets
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Mitch Keller vs. Kodai Senga
Pirates: Mitch Keller (1-4, 4.40 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 at St. Louis - 6IP, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 6Ks
Mets: Kodai Senga (4-2, 1.16 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 at Arizona - 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 5BB, 4Ks
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Mets
Francisco Lindor has at least one hit in 5 straight games (10-23)
Pete Alonso has a single hit in each of the last 4 games (4-17)
The Mets have won 16 of their last 20 games at Citi Field against the Pirates
The Under has cashed in 6 of the Mets' last 8 home games with Kodai Senga as the starting pitcher
Betting the Mets on the Run Line with Kodai Senga as the starter has returned a 1.35-unit profit in 2025
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 Pirates and the Mets
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 Pirates and the Mets:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play ATS on the New York Mets at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
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We’re now officially more than one quarter of the way through the MLB season and it’s getting increasingly difficult to find standout players on the waiver wire.
So, we need to look a bit deeper to find gems. Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers in both the short and long term.
Chandler’s debut is likely imminent. Mainly because he’s proven everything he needs to at Triple-A with a 2.00 ERA over 67 1/3 innings split between the last two seasons with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks.
Apart from those great results, his stuff is incredible. Chandler’s fastball sits in the upper-90s and routinely touches triple digits with great rising action. It has a 42% whiff rate this season in the minors and we can trust itspotential to be one of the best handful of fastballs by any starting pitcher in the league immediately when he’s called up.
Otherwise, his most reliable secondary pitch is a slider that averages 88 mph with great bite. He’s also comfortable with his changeup – a big deal for pitchers who are making the jump to the majors – and has more than doubled the usage of his curveball at triple-A this season compared to last.
Again, the stuff or matter of readiness is not in question. This just comes down to when the Pirates call Chandler’s number, and it could be very soon if they follow the same plan they used last year with Paul Skenes.
Similar to Chandler, Skenes was tormenting Triple-A batters last April and we all knew he’d be in the big leagues before long.
Pittsburgh waited until after the Super Two deadline in early May, which is the annual cut-off that determines whether a player begins the arbitration process after two or three years of service time, and scheduled Skenes for a home game against a division rival. That was Saturday, May 11th against the Cubs.
Now, again, we’re in early May, the Pirates’ next esteemed pitching prospect is on fire, and they have a seven-game homestand coming up next week against the Reds and Brewers.
With their season spinning out of control after the early firing of manager Derek Shelton and a last-place 14-28 record, the organization will be looking for a spark both on and off the field.
Chandler is that spark and he needs to be stashed away on more rosters with an increasing likelihood he debuts sooner rather than later.
Ryan Weathers, SP Marlins
(13% Rostered on Yahoo)
One of the most popular breakout picks from this spring, Weathers is set to make his season debut this coming Wednesday against the Cubs.
While inconsistent and sometimes unimpressive in the past, he showed off improved stuff this spring and that makes him an intriguing flier.
Weathers generated buzz in March when he was tossing 99 mph fastballs with around 20 inches of induced vertical break after previously sitting in the mid-90s with a relatively unimpressive shape.
Only five qualified left-handed starting pitchers in the league right now – Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Jesús Luzardo, Cole Ragans, and MacKenzie Gore – average 95 mph or harder with their fastball. Weathers will join this list when he returns.
He’ll also show a sweeper, slider, changeup, and sinker off that fastball. He threw each at least 14% of the time in his most recent rehab outing and all five pitches exhibited the same extra life they had during spring training before his forearm strain.
Before that injury, his average draft position jumped from around pick 400 in February to nearly inside the top-250 just before he went down. Based on that momentum, there was likely more helium to come, too. The market was telling us that he was inching his way into being viewed as a top-50 type of pitcher.
Now, he’s set to return and the stuff looks exactly as it did when he had all that momentum. Great stuff, great home park, and a guaranteed rotation spot means he should be rostered in more places than he is right now.
Hunter Dobbins, SP Red Sox
(7% Rostered on Yahoo)
The Red Sox have a decision to make next week.
Walker Buehler is set to return from the injured list. Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have come back healthy and that trio plus Garrett Crochet gives them 80% of a solid rotation.
That leaves just one spot between the upstart Dobbins and Tanner Houck.
Dobbins has been solid as a 25-year-old rookie who’s made four scattered, spot-starts over the course of the season. He’s reached the sixth inning in three of those four starts with a 2.78 ERA, 19.8% strikeout rate and 4.2% walk rate.
His low strikeout number hints that these strong results may not have much staying power, but he’s been excellent at limiting damage due to tremendous command and a deep arsenal that includes two distinct sliders, a curveball, and a splitter.
All four of those secondary pitches have a plus movement profile and gives him multiple weapons to attack hitters from each side of the plate with. Also, they help to cover up his four-seam fastball, which doesn’t miss many bats despite sitting at 95 mph.
Then, we have Houck, who has a major-league worst 8.04 ERA and is coming off a 2 1/3 innings, 11 earned run catastrophe against the Tigers on Monday. Shockingly, it was the second time this season he’s allowed 11 earned runs in fewer than three innings of work.
Houck has gotten into trouble this season because he’s failed to develop a method for facing left-handed batters. He has a solid sinker and sweeper combo, but that’s really it. Neither of those pitches often perform well for right-handed pitchers against left-handed batters and they’ve allowed a .633 and .690 slugging percentage for Houck, respectively.
Dobbins will face this same Tigers team on Wednesday and a start significantly better than Houck’s could give him a leg up in the race for the fifth starter spot that will be decided soon.
Given Dobbins’ pitch-ability and Houck’s more stuff-centric approach, Houck is better suited for the bullpen anyway. Dobbins is a solid speculative add at the moment with an increased likelihood he’ll be able to stick in this rotation.
Just be mindful of how difficult of a place Fenway Park is to pitch and if Dobbins is on your team, use him more so as a streamer away from home or only at home in favorable matchups.
Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Rockies (7-34) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (21-21). Kyle Freeland is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Jack Leiter for Texas.
The Rangers won a closely contested match in the first game of the series 2-1. The Rockies took a one-run lead in the second inning, but gave up two runs in the sixth, which cost them the game.
While the Rockies lost the game, they covered the massive +3.5 runline.
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.
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Odds for the Rockies at the Rangers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Rockies (+188), Rangers (-228)
Spread: Rangers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Rangers
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Kyle Freeland vs. Jack Leiter
Rangers: Jack Leiter, (2-2, 5.09 ERA) Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 5/8): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Rangers
The Rangers have won 3 straight games, while the Rockies have suffered 4 road losses in a row
The Rangers have failed to cover in their last 4 games against the Rockies
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Rangers
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 Rockies and the Rangers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Athletics (21-20) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (27-14).
Jeffrey Springs is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Landon Knack for Los Angeles.
These teams were each off on Monday. The Athletics lost two of three over the weekend at home to New York. The Dodgers split a four-game set in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks.
Lets dive into today's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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.
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Game details & how to watch Athletics at Dodgers
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, SNLA
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Odds for the Athletics at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Athletics (+168), Dodgers (-202)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Dodgers
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Jeffrey Springs vs. Landon Knack
Athletics: Jeffrey Springs (4-3, 4.81 ERA) Last outing: 5/6 vs. Seattle - 5IP, 2ER, 5H, 2BB, 4Ks
Dodgers: Landon Knack (2-0, 4.61 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 at Miami - 5IP, 0ER, 4H, 1BB, 5Ks
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Athletics at Dodgers
Freddie Freeman has 19 hits in 40 ABs in the month of May
6 of the Athletics' last 8 games (75%) have gone over the Total
The Dodgers are up 1.94 units on the Run Line in their last 5 at home
Mookie Betts is 7-19 (.368) over his last 4 games
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Athletics and the Dodgers
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 Athletics 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 Los Angeles Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
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Roki Sasaki has a 4.72 ERA and 1.485 WHIP in his first eight starts, logging just 34 ⅓ innings with only 24 strikeouts and 22 walks. (Darryl Webb / Associated Press)
In the Tokyo Dome in March, you could almost hear the zip of the ball.
101 mph.
The pop of the catcher’s mitt sounded like a gunshot.
100 mph.
Roki Sasaki would lift his left leg almost to his head, stretch far down the front side of the mound, and let out a grunt as a blur of white leather came screaming from his hand.
For a brief moment, at the very start of his Major League Baseball career, it seemed like the Japanese phenom pitching prospect had already achieved one of his most important rookie objectives.
100 mph.
During his MLB debut in Japan, Sasaki hit those 100-plus-mph velocities on each of his first four big-league pitches. In the first inning of that March 19 game against the Chicago Cubs, he eclipsed 99 mph eight times in a 1-2-3 frame.
For a developing young pitcher who came to the majors this offseason fixated on improving his fastball speeds, it was a promising early sign — an apparent indication that, after suffering a slight drop in fastball velo during his last season in Japan, the 6-foot-4 flamethrower still possessed triple-digit life.
“The velocity,” manager Dave Roberts said that day, “was good.”
Roki Sasaki's first four pitches of his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome in March were at least 100 mph. He has not reached that velocity since. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Almost two months later, however, in one of the more confounding developments of the Dodgers’ otherwise successful start to the season, Sasaki hasn’t come close to even flirting with 100 mph again.
Instead, over a choppy seven-game sample following the team’s return from Japan, Sasaki has struggled to consistently throw the ball hard, averaging just 96 mph with his four-seamer on the whole this season while sometimes dropping down to the 92-93 mph range.
“It’s not an ideal situation,” pitching coach Mark Prior said. “Clearly, the fastball is not gonna carry through the zone at 93 very effectively.”
For some pitchers, this wouldn’t be as pressing a problem. Even in an era of rising fastball velocities around the sport, sitting in the mid-90s is still safely above the major-league average.
Sasaki, however, needs premium velocity (plus consistent command) to make his heater competitive. Because, for all his other raw natural talent, there isn’t much natural deception to the pitch.
Unlike the best fastballs in the sport, Sasaki doesn’t throw his four-seamer with much spin or “vertical break” (pitch characteristics that can give fastballs a rising illusion as they barrel toward the plate). While others can miss bats at even below-average pitch speeds, Sasaki’s four-seamer has a flatter shape that’s easier to hit.
As a result, his fastball has always been predicated on eye-popping velocity — requiring elite radar-gun readings to blow opponents away.
“The velocity allows for that margin of error,” Prior said last week. “And clearly, that’s not there [right now].”
In evaluating Sasaki’s underwhelming start to the season — he has a 4.72 ERA and 1.485 WHIP in his first eight starts, logging just 34 ⅓ innings with only 24 strikeouts and a whopping 22 walks — the most glaring red flag has been the performance of his fastball.
So far, his trademark splitter has been an effective weapon, yielding just a .158 batting average to opponents while generating whiffs on 35% of swings. His lesser-used slider has been a fine secondary option, with opponents batting just three-for-12 against it while coming up empty on 33% of swings.
Sasaki’s fastball, on the other hand, has been susceptible to the improved level of hitting he has faced in the big leagues, resulting in a .253 opponent batting average, a .494 slugging percentage, almost as many home runs allowed (six, not even including two others that were robbed on leaping catches by Andy Pages) as strikeouts generated (eight), and a 10.1% whiff rate that ranks fifth-lowest for four-seamers among qualified MLB starters.
Granted, Sasaki’s lack of command has factored into such struggles, leaving him all too often in unfavorable hitter’s counts where opponents are better primed to square up mistakes.
“I think guys are on his fastball because it’s the one thing that’s probably in the zone more than anything,” Prior said. “This goes back to his ability to throw the other pitches for strikes, and be able to mix, probably balance with all three.”
Still, since that adrenaline-fueled debut in his home country, Sasaki hasn’t thrown even one fastball that has topped 99 mph. In that same span, he has chucked 27 that failed to eclipse 94 mph. Each week, his declining fastball velocity has become a bigger conversation point around his outings. But so far, few answers have materialized about how he can fix it.
"Just really still in this process of finding out what the root cause [is],” Sasaki said through interpreter Will Ireton this past weekend, after the Arizona Diamondbacks teed off on a heater that averaged 94.9 mph in a four-inning, five-run start that represented his worst outing of the year.
“[I’m] working with my coaches, talking to people about this,” Sasaki added. “I'm not quite exactly sure and can't really state exactly the single reason."
The Dodgers’ coaching staff has faced the same conundrum this year, struggling to identify exactly why an element so critical to Sasaki’s success — fastball velocity was such a point of emphasis during Sasaki’s free agency this winter, he gave interested clubs a “homework assignment” about how they planned to improve it — has been so far from advertised during the start of his rookie season.
Prior acknowledged that there are “clearly some delivery things” that Sasaki is “still trying to work through” right now. After struggling with wild command in his first few appearances, Sasaki and the team also discussed whether slightly dialing back on the intensity of his throws could help him more consistently locate pitches over the plate.
Mechanics alone, however, don’t explain why Sasaki’s fastball has dropped into the low 90s for some stretches of the year, Prior countered.
And though Sasaki’s command has somewhat improved while throwing with less velocity, both he and Prior insisted his velo hasn’t dropped this far on purpose.
“For us, it’s always been like, ‘If it’s 100 or if it’s 98, that’s fine, if it’s easier to control or something like that.’ We had that conversation,” Prior said. “But nothing to the degree of where it’s been.”
Given that Sasaki has shown no signs of any physical ailment, it’s possible he could be experiencing more of a pitch conviction issue in his new MLB surroundings, potentially lacking the internal confidence to let his fastball consistently rip at top speeds.
“We go back to the drawing board every week with him. We try to talk to him about some certain things, some ideas,” Prior said. “But ultimately, he’s working through his process, and we’re just trying to support him with everything we can.”
To this point, that process has not involved the addition of a different fastball variety more apt at generating soft contact, such as a two-seamer or cutter. Sasaki has said repeatedly that his primary goal is to first refine his primary fastball-splitter arsenal.
“There’s been a lot of conversations about a lot of different things,” Prior said. “Again, we go every week with him, and we’ve been trying to shed light on things where we think there’s gonna be some improvement. But ultimately, again, I think it’s just him trying to get his footing under him, and be comfortable in what he’s doing.”
Indeed, the Dodgers continue to argue that this is all part of Sasaki’s long-term development arc — inevitable growing pains for a superstar who, despite all the hoopla that surrounded his signing, arrived in the majors as an admitted work in progress.
“He's certainly talented,” Roberts said. “But there's finishing school. That's something that we were prepared for. I know it's harder for him to embrace not having complete success, but this is a tough league."
When Sasaki’s fastball has ticked up, he’s gotten results, too. On heaters thrown at 97 mph or above, opponents are batting just .133 with a .333 slugging percentage, and swinging-and-missing almost twice as often.
“He will make adjustments given how the hitters respond,” Roberts said. “I think you learn that by doing that here."
But until that happens, and Sasaki’s fastball starts returning to the upper 90s or 100-mph levels he flashed in Japan, more struggles could lie ahead. More growing pains might have to be endured.
NEW YORK — Paul Skenes is ready to take on the world.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace announced that he will join Team USA when the World Baseball Classic returns next spring.
The reigning National League Rookie of the Year — who spent two years at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU — is expected to be near the top of the rotation for the Americans, who are coming off a runner-up finish to Japan at the 2023 WBC.
Skenes, who soon turns 23, was the top pick in the 2023 amateur draft. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is 14-7 with a 2.16 ERA in 32 career starts. That includes a 3-4 mark with a 2.63 ERA this season. Skenes gave up one run in six innings against the New York Mets and exited with the lead before Pittsburgh’s bullpen gave it away late in a 4-3 loss.
The 2026 WBC will be held from March 5 to 17 in Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Skenes and the rest of Team USA will begin pool play in Houston from March 6-11.
Its Tuesday, May 13 and the Yankees (24-17) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (22-18).
Max Fried is slated to take the mound for New York against Bryan Woo for Seattle.
Game 1 of the series was won by the Yankees, 11-5. Trent Grisham's spectacular season continued with two home runs in the win and every Yankees' starter collected at least one hit. Julio Rodriguez hit his seventh home run in the loss for the Mariners.
Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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.
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Game details & how to watch Yankees at Mariners
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: T-Mobile Park
City: Seattle, WA
Network/Streaming: YES, RSNW, MLBN
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Odds for the Yankees at the Mariners
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Yankees (-140), Mariners (+118)
Spread: Yankees -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Mariners
Pitching matchup for May 13, 2025: Max Fried vs. Bryan Woo
Yankees: Max Fried (6-0, 1.05 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 vs. San Diego - 7IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 8Ks
Mariners: Bryan Woo (4-1, 3.25 ERA) Last outing: 5/7 at Athletics - 6IP, 5ER, 8H, 1BB, 6Ks
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Yankees at Mariners
The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 games against AL West teams
The Under is 15-6-2 in Yankees' games against American League teams this season
Aaron Judge went 2-3 last night to improve his average to .414
Anthony Volpe has hit in 4 straight games (6-16)
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Mariners
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 Yankees and the Mariners:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.
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D.J. Short
