Category: MLB

Despite garnering 14% of the vote in our alternative Player of the Game poll after the Braves were shut out in Boston, Carlos Carrasco has been designated for assignment for the third time this season. If the last two go-arounds are anything to go by, the minor league contract is piping-hot off the printer and his locker in Gwinnett is untouched, awaiting his return.

In all seriousness, his four innings of relief after Bryce Elder’s struggles on Wednesday were a gift that saved many of the arms in the bullpen. This is huge for our big three of Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias, who will be especially well-rested ahead of this three-game set in Cincinnati since they weren’t needed in yesterday’s blowout.

In his place, the Braves have recalled a fresh arm in righty Anthony Molina, who will join the club for his second stint this season. His lone outing came in Colorado, where he pitched two perfect innings (with one walk allowed) before being optioned back down to Triple-A.

No team has truly had the San Diego Padres’ number this year. The Philadelphia Phillies certainly did this week, becoming the first team of 2026 to sweep the Friars. Yet again, despite multiple scoring opportunities, the Padres couldn’t capitalize and found themselves unable to back starter Walker Buehler’s gem.

And Buehler did pitch a gem. He faced the minimum amount of batters before getting into the fifth inning, looking even better than Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez (though the latter eventually won the duel).

This week has continued to prove true the belief that no matter how good your pitching is, you still need at least one run to win. The Padres have barely been able to get that lately. They’ll need to in order to right the ship against the Washington Nationals.

Taking the mound

Andrew Alvarez (WAS) v. Lucas Giolito (SD)

The 26-year-old Alvarez has been used sparingly by the Nats. He made his MLB debut in 2025, starting five games for Washington and pitching to a solid 2.31 ERA.

Alvarez has pitched in four games this year, though none of them has been a start. He’s got strikeout stuff, with 16 K’s racked up in just 12 2/3 innings pitched. The Padres will need to find a way to solve the young left-hander if they hope to put a stop to their recent losing streak.

Giolito has been a rotation stabilizer since joining San Diego’s rotation. He boats a 2.70 ERA after two starts. That’s honestly higher than it should be after looking stellar in both of his appearances.

The righty was signed to a small deal with the Friars after a prolonged free agency, and has only pitched 10 innings, but the upside is tantalizing. If he can limit Washington’s hot hitters like CJ Abrams and James Wood, Giolito will be well on his way to elite status.

Batter up!

Jackson Merrill looked completely different in Wednesday’s finale compared to Tuesday’s eyesore of a performance. He went 2-for-4 with a double and zero strikeouts after going 0-for-4 with two Ks on Tuesday. If that can last, him and Tatis could finally buoy this struggling Padres offense.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
2. Miguel Andujar, DH
3. Gavin Sheets, 1B
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Jackson Merrill, CF
7. Ramón Laureano, LF
8. Nick Castellanos, RF
9. Rodolfo Durán, C

Andujar and Sheets have been unproductive since posting incredible first halves in the month of May. If the two are able to turn things around, it would be a major boost for the floundering Friars.

Machado has been the same, though certainly much more pronounced. He’s batting just .169, though hit two home runs across the most recent homestand. His batting average across his last seven games is a measly .083.

Relief corps

With the game scoreless in the fifth inning and Philly threatening to score, San Diego turned to its vaunted bullpen. It did not work out. Adrian Morejon came in and allowed both of Buehler’s runners to score, gifting the Phillies a 2-0 lead that wouldn’t be relinquished.

After that, Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam and Ron Marinaccio pitched in relief. Though Marinaccio surrendered a homer, the bullpen was otherwise its usual sterling self.

With the off day on Thursday, all of the ‘pen will be rested and available for the first time in a while. But Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez will be the most rested after not pitching since Tuesday.

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We're looking at even money (or better) plays for both of our favorite MLB picks heading into the final weekend of May.

Why should you back the Phillies tonight (vs. the Dodgers) and the Orioles against the Jays? Read on to find out!

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: BAL ML	+100
Jon Metler: PHI ML	+108

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Orioles moneyline

Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket

The Jays have the pressure of getting back to .500 today, but they’re also extremely shorthanded on the mound. Toronto is rolling with a bullpen game and is likely without its three best relievers in Tyler Rogers, Jeff Hoffman, and closer Louis Varland, all of whom pitched on back-to-back days — and Toronto hasn’t had a day off all week. Triple-A call-up Austin Voth will likely be asked to cover innings, and he owns a career 4.70 ERA across 360 MLB innings with 61 home runs allowed. This grades out as one of the biggest +EV plays on the board today, per THE BAT projections, which have a fair price around -188 on this moneyline. Reliever availability is a massive edge that doesn’t appear to be fully priced into the current number

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• How to watch: MASN, SN1

Jon Metler's expert pick: Phillies moneyline

Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket

This one is pretty simple: If the market is giving me plus money on the Philadelphia Phillies with Zack Wheeler on the mound, I’m going to hit the button every time. The Phillies are trading around 48 cents on the moneyline, but I make them closer to 53-cent (-113) favorites in this matchup. The Dodgers are built around veteran hitters who excel at working counts, drawing walks, and capitalizing on mistakes for extra-base damage. The problem is: That approach doesn’t work nearly as well against Wheeler, who owns an elite 1.91 BB/9 this season and rarely gives lineups free opportunities on the bases. He forces teams to earn everything offensively, and he does it while pitching efficiently enough to work deep into games and limit exposure to the bullpen.

• Time: 10:15 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Apple TV

More MLB best bets for today

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Someone has to win as the -127 favored Chicago Cubs, fresh off a 10-game losing streak, meet the St. Louis Cardinals, losers of the last four.

These teams are separated by a half game, with the Wild Card cutoff line between them, so as if a historic rivalry wasn’t enough, both teams will be looking at this as a crucial series.

For as close as these two teams are in record and trajectory, the odds seem to be much more heavily slanted. That’s why my Cubs vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks are starting with a St. Louis victory.

Who will win Cubs vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (+115)

The St. Louis Cardinals are underdogs despite being the home team and being better over the last 10.

Andre Pallante's improved pitch mix has paid dividends, and he's allowed just two runs across 12 2/3 innings over his last two starts. In an even matchup with a more reliable starter, I’d take St. Louis and the plus-money odds.

The Chicago Cubs start Shota Imanaga, coming off two starts where he allowed 15 runs and five homers in 10 1/3 innings. On offense, Chicago has been shut out almost as many times (4) as they’ve scored five (5) over the last 18 games.

COVERS INTEL: Historically, the fastball is the only one of Pallante’s pitches teams can hit, and he’s throwing it just 30% of the time, down from 44% last year. His breaking stuff is 93rd percentile, and he’s making batters guess wrong. They swing at pitches in the strike zone 63% of the time, down 5.2% from last year, and his chase rate has moved up 14 percentiles.  

Cubs vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-130)

Chicago scored 17 in winning the last two in Pittsburgh, but neither team has been hitting it well this month. After entering the month in the Top 5 in batting, the Cubs rank 14th in MLB at the plate in May. 

Their OPS of .652 is down 128 points, and they’re batting 11% below league average in May. St. Louis is two spots lower in the May rankings and has dropped 61 points in OPS. They’re also 8% under the league average.  

While Imanaga has struggled lately, his underlying metrics are still among baseball’s best. This Cubs bullpen has also been solid, with a 2.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP on the year.

Cubs vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Cubs -130 | Cardinals +110
• Run line: Cubs -1.5 (+135) | Cardinals +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Cubs vs Cardinals trend

The Cardinals have cashed the Under in 15 of their last 22 games for +9.5 units and a 39% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info

Cubs vs Cardinals latest injuries

Cubs vs Cardinals weather

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The Dodgers have one more series to go to finish off their May schedule, hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for three games at Dodger Stadium. Philadelphia got off to a terrible start and fired their manager, but are 20-8 since under old friend Don Mattingly, while the Dodgers have won 12 of their last 14.

The start of May was a little bit of a struggle for the Dodgers, dropping seven of their first 11 games and winning only one of their first four series. Since then they’ve won four straight series.

Among the highlights this month were Andy Pages hitting three home runs in Houston, the Dodgers scratching together a win over Chris Sale, a lopsided sweep in Anaheim, the Pages sacrifice fly off Mason Miller in San Diego, part of a week of two road series wins over the playoff-contending Padres and Brewers, and sweeping the Rockies while taking a combined no-hitter into the eighth inning on Wednesday.

There have been other moments too, including Roki Sasaki having the best start of his MLB career, and the first career saves for both Will Klein and Kyle Hurt. I’m sure I’m missing a few others.

Today’s question is what is your favorite Dodgers moment of this May?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 57 games into the 2026 season and they have been a pleasant surprise so far. If the season ended today they wouldn’t make the playoffs but they are only 2 games out of the NL wild card spot. The team has been a surprise but who on the team has been the biggest surprise so far ? 

I think Brandon Lowe has been the most pleasant surprise on the team so far. The Pirates acquired him in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros. His deal this season is a one year deal worth $11.5 millio.n

When the Bucs made the deal in the offseason, it was an upgrade at the second base position, but I don’t think anyone expected him to bring this much power. Through his first 50-plus games, Lowe has a batting average of .265 and an OPS over .900.

Lowe leads the team in home runs with 14. The Pirates were ranked dead last in home runs last year with only 117. His power has greatly improved the offense, which already has 61 homers on the season. The 31 year old also ranks 11th in the Majors in home runs .

Lowe also leads the team in RBIs with 36. The 36 RBIs is enough for 16th in the Majors. Lowe has been strong with people in scoring positions and has been the main power source for the offense.

Lowe’s power is what is most surprising about him because of his time in Tampa Bay he has never been known for being a power guy. He did have that massive year in 2021 where he hit 39 home runs and 99 RBIs. This year in Pittsburgh feels like that year, and he has been a big reason why the Pirates are above .500 right now. 

Oneil Cruz has also been a surprise because of the rough year he had last year, he has been putting up big time numbers with a dangerous speed to power combo. Spencer Horwitz has been hot of late and he has been a nice surprise as well with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs. 

A big pitcher surprise has been Braxton Ashcraft who has the best ERA on the team with 2.75. With Skenes struggling of late, Ashcraft’s performance has been huge for what is already a deep starting rotation. 

Comment below who you guys think has been the most pleasant surprise on the team so far.

I went to my second Kansas City Royals game of the season on Wednesday night. I was in great company and just love being at a live baseball game, I was as depressed about the team leaving Kauffman Stadium after a 7-0 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees as I have been in a long time.

I came into the season believing that the back-to-back winning seasons were signs of real improvement, and I liked a lot of the decisions J.J. Piccolo made this offseason. While there is still time to turn the season around, the Royals are somehow only 5.5 games back of the third Wild Card spot, it feels pretty hopeless after another sweep at the hand of the Bronx Bombers. The Royals are 22-34 entering Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers, and it’s going to take a miracle run for the team to reach the preseason expectations that many of us had for them, including the expectations the team itself had.

There is plenty of blame to go around for the start of the 2026 season, and I have a feeling we will continue to spend a lot of time unpacking all the failures and implications of those failures for the rest of the summer. There are not too many positives to look at right now, but one of the bright spots on the team is star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt is holding up his end of the bargain, looking like the best version of the all-around talent that we have seen the past few years.

His defense has been incredible this year. He is either first or second to Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete-Crow Armstrong among all defenders in most advanced defensive metrics. He is on pace to win both the Gold Glove for AL shortstop for the third time, and the Platinum Glove for best AL defender for the second time. It truly amazes me how much growth Witt has shown as a defender since his rookie season, and is giving me hope that someday Cater Jensen will be able to improve his defense as well.

His offense is also going strong. He is hitting 30% above league-average, and is doing so as the only regular in the lineup hitting above league-average. In fact, Elias Diaz in 23 plate appearances is the only other Royals hitter who has posted an above-average mark so far this year. Witt is drawing more walks in 2026 while striking out slightly less, which is a great combination to have as a hitter. We are also due for a Witt goes nuclear month, which will raise his overall numbers as well. Witt might win another Silver Slugger this season, which would be his third one of those.

Witt enters Friday with 3.4 fWAR, which is the highest mark in the AL. He is 0.6 WAR ahead of the position player in second place, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. The Astros have had a disappointing start to the season and Alvarez normally misses some timer each season with various injuries, so I think there’s a real chance that Witt has significantly more WAR than any AL player by the end of the year. He will need to if he is going to win MVP in 2026; voters have come a long way, but I assume they would still rather vote for a player whose team is in the playoff picture than one who is fighting to stay out of last place in the AL Central.

I want Witt to collect as much personal hardware as he can and four awards in one season will strengthen his future Hall of Fame candidacy. Despite the team struggling around him, Witt has held up his end of the bargain and played like a superstar. It’s been refreshing to watch him play so well this year amidst all the disappointment and struggles coming from the rest of the Royals.

Witt right now has more fWAR than the rest of the Royals position players combined, 3.4 WAR compared to 1.6 WAR. Third baseman Maikel Garcia has had a fine start to the year with 1.3 WAR of his own, but so many Royals position players are currently producing at or below replacement level. Issac Collins, Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Nick Loftin are all currently below replacement level, while Starling Marte, Michael Massey, Lane Thomas and Elias Diaz each have .1 WAR. Having eight position players at or below replacement level is a disaster for Kansas City; Witt’s production is helping keep the wheels from completely falling off to start the year.

Not only do I want Witt to collect as many awards as he can, I want him to stay in Kansas City for as long as he can. He can opt out of his deal after the 2030 season, which including 2026 is five seasons away. That feels like a long ways out from now, but I know how quickly time flies in the life of a sports fan. Injuries can happen or Witt and the front office could get sideways and he demand a trade. We just don’t know what the future holds. I want Witt’s career to resemble George Brett’s, which featured frequent trips to the postseason with Brett as the best player on the team. Right now, Witt’s career is taking more of a Mike Trout path; amazing player on a terrible team who has barely played in the postseason.

I don’t want to ignore or take for granted the great season that Witt is having so far, and I don’t want the Royals too either. Each year Witt is on the Royals, the team should be trying to compete for a spot in the postseason. While this year is technically not lost yet, it is certainly on life support. If the team can save the season then great, but if not the front office needs to figure out how to not let another superstar effort from Witt go to waste.

Your 2026 New York Mets: I just didn’t do my job

“I just didn’t do my job. I didn’t get to my spot. And that’s on me.” -David Peterson [MLB]

The Mets continue to look for answers for what has been a dreadful start to the season…

“We still believe in those guys, we feel good with the rotation. They are just going through a stretch here with Nolan [McLean] and the back-to-back outings not going his way, but you still trust those guys that we have. We have got to help those guys get through it. They have been pretty good for us in keeping us in games.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

…with incongruent statements that support the current starting pitchers…

“I would say [Peterson’s Tuesday outing] was just a little bit of an anomaly. I think the last three or four outings have been really good and it’s just continuing to refine the locations of his pitches and understand where weak contact happens and just continue to work on some of those smaller details with him.” -pitching coach Justin Willard [New York Post]

…while leaving room to make changes….

“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a conversation. But we’re going to need all of them. We’re going to need [Peterson] to throw important innings for us. Whether it’s as a starter, whether it’s coming after an opener or pitching out of the bullpen, we’re going to need innings from him. … And Sean, another good outing for him. So I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a discussion here what’s next when it comes down to the next turn in the rotation.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

…while it doesn’t feel this way, the starters rank 11th in the league with a 3.83 FIP which is, you know, okay…

“It’s tough,. It’s part of baseball, but we know we have to perform better.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

…so this is a lot of focus on the rotation this week…

“I want to be on a team that I know is going to put all the effort in getting a championship sooner or later. I feel that way here.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

…while the Mets offense is currently 29th in the league with a 85RC+

“If something happens later, there’s nothing I can do. Just be ready for everything.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

Nolan McLean does have a 4.40 ERA but he also running a 11.01 K/9, 2.79 BB/9, 111 Pitching+, 3.03 xFIP and subjectively been a joy to watch, he’ll be fine

“It’s just bad pitching, honestly. If I’m just gonna be straight up, I just haven’t been pitching my best, and I gotta be better.” -Nolan McLean [New York Post]

“[McLean’s] gonna get back on track. He’s got too good of stuff for this to keep going. … It just sucks it happens on back-to-back outings, especially in the middle of this stretch.” [New York Post]

One of the themes of the offseason was we wanted to acquire players who put the ball in play…

“The Mets liked Polanco for his bat; he had a 134 OPS-plus last season and tends to put the ball in play (something they set out to improve from last year’s club).” -Will Sammon [The Athletic]

…Me sowing: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! Me reaping: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.

“The biggest thing is our ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark. It’s hard to score three or four (runs) on just singles. You’ve got to be able to drive the ball, and right now we’re having a hard time doing that.” -Carlos Mendoza [The Athletic]

David Stearns talking like he’s been asked to do a satirical impression of a person who attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is a lot easier to take when we’re winning

“We absolutely have to look at our risk assessment on injured players, or players who get injured once they’re here. Certainly, we know we’re taking a level of risk when we bring players in with injury histories. We’re feeling that risk right now.” -David Stearns [The Athletic]

Lost to some during this tough stretch is Juan Soto is currently running a 173 wRC+ just like we would want him to

“I’m just trying to do damage. I can’t control if it’s going over the wall or not.” -Juan Soto [MLB]

“[Soto’s] locked in. And he’s one of the best, if not the best at what he does. … He’s just a special player doing his thing.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

“It’s special seeing [Soto]go to work every day. Basically check a box that he’s going to hit a homer or do something cool that day.” -Carson Benge [MLB]

“I just keep thinking to do damage every time. The difference is the results. Sometimes I get the results. Sometimes I don’t. I just feel good. I’ve been seeing the ball well. I’ve been swinging the bat well. Just do damage whenever I can.” -Juan Soto [MLB]

Yeah man, watching this season thus far I feel like ‘I am stretched out well enough’ too

“I feel like I am stretched out well enough,” -Sean Manaea [New York Post]

Always a good sign when your manager has to seperate quotes using the word ‘sucks’ in a week

“I mean, [every losing streak are] all frustrating. Especially when you’re not playing well. They’re all the same, to be honest with you. Yeah, it sucks.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

But don’t worry, the major league team isn’t the only thing that ‘sucks’ in the organization this season

“If there’s a frustration, it’s being aware of [what’s going wrong on offense], feeling like you’re making some adjustments and then still not getting the result relative to the type of adjustment that you feel like you made.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

“Because it’s not reality. At the end of the day, you gotta figure out a way to not just produce offensively, but execute and win games.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

“We have a very good group that we’re putting on the field every day. I don’t think our thought process or expectations really change because every team goes through injuries and things like that. Everybody in the room is a professional and we have a job to do and everyone’s focused on trying to get that done.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

I can behind community being number one but can you maybe make raising that 64 wRC+ a little higher on your priority list [Bloggers Note: The prior statement was with tonguefirmly in cheek, I have not looked into it but I’m sure the ‘4 Thru 9 Foundation’ and ‘Metropolitan PGA Foundations’ are noble causes]

Worcester Red Sox 1, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 0 (BOX)

Jack Anderson has had his ups and downs throughout this season, even making a stop in Boston for a few days back in April. Thursday night was one of those “ups”, striking out eight batters and allowing just one hit over 4 2/3 innings. That would be the only hit that the RailRiders (NYY) could muster on the day, as the bullpen was just as dominant. Since Anderson was one out short of a win, that went to Seth Martinez (1 1/3 innings), and Tommy Kahnle got his fourth save. Kahnle’s ERA is down to 1.47 on the season and will deserve a call-up at some point.

Worcester got the lone run of the game in the top of the first, thanks to an Anthony Siegler home run. Siegler played 34 games for the Brewers a year ago, and will probably get a shot in Boston at some point. I’m not sure if anyone has been following Kyle Harrison this season, but it would be nice to get a contribution in 2026 from one of the players the Brewers sent back for him.

On Friday at 7:05, Michael Sansone (1-3, 5.57) will be on the bump for the Woo Sox.

Portland Sea Dogs 10, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 9 (BOX)

A wild game in Binghamton (NYM) on Thursday. The Sea Dogs went down 9-2 after four innings before putting up a six-spot in the fifth inning, capped by a bomb to center field from designated hitter Johanfran Garcia to bring Portland within a run.

Tyler McDonough’s RBI double in the seventh tied the game, and an RBI groundout from Will Turner was the game-winner in the eighth. Marvin Alcantara and Brooks Brannon each had two hits on the day, along with two RBI.

John Holobetz and Patrick Halligan combined for the nine runs allowed early in this one. Cooper Adams got his fifth win, and Joe Vogatsky his second save.

Portland hands the ball to Dalton Rogers (0-0, 1.69) at 7:00 on Friday.

Greenville Drive 3, Asheville Tourists 2, 10 inn. (BOX)

The Drive made it three-for-three, working our way down the Red Sox’ affiliates, walking off the Tourists (HOU) 3-2 in ten innings on Thursday. The runs were not particularly noteworthy for Greenville, scoring on a sacrifice fly, a throwing error, and a walk-off wild pitch. Freili Encarnacion had two hits on the day.

Devin Futrell provided a strong start, striking out six and allowing two runs over five innings. Ben Hansen delivered four shutout innings in relief, and Brandon Neely threw a clean tenth inning to get his second win.

On Friday, the Drive will play at 6:45 and have not yet announced a starter.

Hickory Crawdads 7, Salem RidgeYaks 3 (BOX)

The RidgeYaks could not complete the minor league sweep on Thursday night, falling 7-3 to the Crawdads (TEX). First baseman Frederik Jimenez had a big day at the plate for Salem, with an RBI double in the fifth and a solo home run in the seventh. Andrews Opata also had a two hit day, with an RBI.

Jason Gilman was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Jose Bello (0-1, 2.82) gets the ball at 6:35 on Friday for the RidgeYaks.

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Another juicy Friday awaits. A full 15-game MLB slate sits before us, and I managed to find three of my favorite props across tonight’s action.

We will be filling our cards with plenty of plus-money plays and a handful of props carrying serious value.

Some of the league’s biggest names are in fantastic spots this evening, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Rafael Devers, and Brandon Lowe.

Let’s have some FUN with our MLB player props for Friday, May 29. 

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Rafael Devers	Double	+267
Rafael Devers	To hit a home run	+328
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.	Over 1.5 Total Bases	-102
Brandon Lowe	Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI	-114

Rafael Devers Double (+267) | Home Run (+328)

Why on Earth would we be sprinkling on San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers to record a double and a home run instead of targeting his bases or hits, runs, or RBI props?

Well, typically, there is minimal value on a guy in a prime spot, especially when that prime spot happens to be Rafael Devers vs. Michael Lorenzen in Coors Field.

I am not paying -125 for over 1.5 bases or -104 for over 2.5 HRR when I can sprinkle on two props north of +250. If I think Devers is due to boom, I am expecting the ceiling.

And what is a missed home run? Typically a double.

The Giants slugger has turned it on this month, generating 68.18% hard contact, a 22.73% barrel rate, and a .369 wOBA over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.

On the other side, Lorenzen has been getting torched by lefties lately, allowing 50% hard contact, a 21.1% barrel rate, and just a 26.3% ground ball rate over his last 60 batters faced. Those left-handed hitters also own a .452 xBA, .924 xSLG, and .466 xwOBA against him.

If you are nervous about taking these props, pay the juice on the bases line, but I think there is far more value on the double and home run.

• Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rockies TV

Brandon Lowe Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-114)

I got pretty filthy backing Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe tonight. I am all over his hits, runs, RBI prop, along with his double and home run props. I was basically forced into the double because of the price, and I always back any hitter I am on to leave the yard.

This evening, the Pirates slugger takes on Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley, who has allowed left-handed hitters to elevate the ball all season long. Over the last 60 lefties he has faced, opponents are producing a 22.2% barrel rate, 58.3% fly ball rate, and a .570 expected slugging percentage.

On the other side, in Lowe’s last 30 matchups against right-handed pitching, he owns a 60% hard-hit rate, 20% barrel rate, and 55% fly ball rate. Not to mention, he also carries 73% arsenal coverage against Bradley’s offerings.

If, for some reason, the Pirates slugger just misses a home run but still finds an extra-base hit, I am banking on it being a double. Similar to Devers' above.

So why not just take the over on his total bases? Well, in 82 elite ratings, Lowe has gone over 1.5 HRR 60.98% of the time, according to Batters-Box. I trust those trends, but if you want the plus money, I fully endorse it.

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Apple TV

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (-102) 

Talk about a mouthwatering spot for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the Toronto Blue Jays star takes on Trevor Rogers and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday evening. The face of the 6 enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box, where he continues to sport some delectable trends in elite spots.

In 34 elite ratings away from home:

• 1+ Hit: 76.47%

• 2+ Bases: 50%

• 2+ Hits, Runs & RBI: 55.88%

Guerrero Jr. also owns the highest arsenal coverage for an elite-rated player on today’s slate, mashing nearly 100% of Rogers’ offerings this season.

The southpaw has struggled in 2026 after his breakout campaign in 2025, and right-handed hitters have given him hell. Over the last 60 righties he has faced, opponents are generating 53.2% hard contact with a 14.9% barrel rate, while he has allowed 2.70 HR/9. Those hitters also own a .402 xBA, .745 xSLG, and .475 xwOBA against him.

At nearly even money for a hitter sporting a .432 wOBA and 178 wRC+ against left-handed pitching this season, I want to be involved with Guerrero Jr. tonight.

And yes, as always, sprinkle the home run.

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SportsNet 1

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The 1947 World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers was littered with talent. The biggest name (for more reasons than just his incredible abilities on the baseball diamond) was Jackie Robinson. But there were also the people some modern-day baseball fans might know from the movie “42” based on Robinson: Pee Wee Reese, Eddie Stanky, Dixie Walker, Spider Jorgenson, and Ralph Branca. There were also the usual names waltzing around the Yankees dugout: Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich, and Phil Rizutto.

Among the names who played all seven games in that World Series was George McQuinn, who was toward the end of his playing days but still found a way to power the group to another championship.

George Hartley McQuinn
Born: May 29, 1910 (Arlington, VA)
Died: December 24, 1978 (Alexandria, VA)
Yankees Tenure: 1947-48

George McQuinn was born in Arlington, Virginia, and began playing baseball at the age of seven. He started playing first base at the age of 12 after he saved up enough money to buy a George Sisler model first baseman’s glove. He continued playing baseball throughout his childhood and eventually attended Washington-Lee High School, where he would not just play, but star in baseball and basketball. After his high school career ended, he had the opportunity to play for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, but ultimately turned it down to pursue the professional route.

McQuinn began playing for a semipro team in Northern Virginia before his manager arranged a tryout, and he showed enough skill to earn a contract with the New Haven Profs of the Class A Eastern League. However, he only received 19 at-bats in limited playing time before being released. But that wasn’t the end of the road for him. In fact, it was only the beginning.

One of the veteran infielders for the Profs, Joe Benes, saw something in the 19-year-old McQuinn, so he recommended him to Yankees scout Gene McCann, who signed McQuinn to a contract with the Wheeling Stogies, the Yankees’ farm club in the Class C Middle Atlantic League. He was then promoted for the 1931 season to the Scranton Miners of the Class B New York-Penn League thanks to an impressive .288 batting average, and he lit up those ranks, too, driving in over 1o0 runs with five homers and a .316 average.

McQuinn continued to make an impression and was eventually invited to spring training with the Newark Bears of the International League, which, at the time, was the Yankees’ top minor league team. But because of another player occupying the first base position, McQuinn was shipped north of the border to the Toronto Maple Leafs (no, not the hockey team). And while he started well with Toronto, he was brought back to Binghamton, where he had previously played a season, and he went on to win the New York-Penn League’s Most Valuable Player award.

After returning to Toronto for the 1934 season up until 1936, McQuinn was consistently written about as a potential call-up, but doing so would require the Yankees to have room at first base. And there were some in baseball circles who thought that maybe the Yankees would consider trading Lou Gehrig — yes, two-time MVP, American League Triple Crown and batting title winner, seven-time All-Star, seven-time World Series winner and Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig — in order to bring McQuinn up. Obviously, that did not occur, but it’s certainly a wild alternate history to think about.

In 1936, the Cincinnati Reds purchased McQuinn’s contract from the Yankees on a condition that they could return him by June 1st. And it was at that point that the left-handed first baseman from Virginia got his shot in the majors.

But the story then isn’t a fairytale. McQuinn, at 25, despite all his time in the minors, was not good in his first 38 games as a professional, slashing .201/.262/.284 for an OPS+ of 51. He registered only 13 RBI, no home runs, 10 walks, 27 hits and seven extra-base hits in 134 at-bats. He was so bad, reportedly, because of the Reds pushing him into a thought process that was foreign — trying to focus on pulling the ball instead of hitting all over the diamond. Because of his inability to adjust, he was sent back to the Yankees’ system for further fine-tuning.

McQuinn went back to Toronto after his major league stint and hit .329 over the rest of the 1936 season, then hit .330 again, leading his Bears to a 109-43 record and a pennant win by 25.5 games. And while McQuinn was lighting up the Yankees farm team, Gehrig was still going strong for the big club, playing every single game for the team from 1936 to 1938. So there was no room to squeeze McQuinn into the lineup, and no reason to either, considering what Gehrig was doing at the plate with an average OBP of .454 and an OPS at 1.075 from the ages of 33 to 35.

After the 1937 season, McQuinn was eligible to be drafted by another team and was picked up by the St. Louis Browns, who gave him his first big league shot. This time, he took advantage of it: he played 148 games and set a career-high in batting average as he slashed .324/.384/.477 at the age of 28. McQuinn had the second-highest OPS of anyone on the Browns, showing the world that he was finally on the scene, finishing 21st in the AL MVP Award race.

McQuinn played for the Browns from that 1938 season to 1945 when he was 35 years old. In 1939, he was voted to his first All-Star Game and finished 13th in the MVP race following a season in which he played every game at first base and batted .316 with an OPS of .898 and a career-high 94 RBI. In 1940, he was selected for his second All-Star Game in a row. And since that season, he earned two more All-Star appearances and another top-20 finish in the MVP voting race. From 1941 to 1945, McQuinn slashed .266/.355/.406 for an OPS of .761 and an OPS+ of 111. He hit for a cycle in 1941 and led the AL in fielding percentage for the second season in a row, earning a reputation as the best defensive first baseman in the league and never once dipping below the 99.1 percent mark with the Browns. McQuinn was going to be traded to the Dodgers, who he would eventually face in the 1947 World Series with the Yankees, but he could not clear waivers, so the trade was nullified.

In 1942 and 1943, McQuinn had back issues, which caused his average to drop below expectations, and he also avoided service in World War II because of them, allowing him to stay in baseball while other big-name stars at the time went to fight overseas. And in 1944, when the Browns won the American League pennant against the weakened Yankees (who still gave them a run for their money up until the last day of the season) and faced the National League Pennant-winning Cardinals in the World Series, McQuinn not only continued his All-Star performance from the regular season (the fourth of his career), but he also did everything he could to win his Browns a championship, slashing .438/.609/.750 with one home run, five RBI and seven walks in the six-game series that was eventually lost.

In 1945, McQuinn’s last season with the Browns, he did what everyone expected him to do, even though the Browns did not return to the World Series. And following that season, the 36-year-old McQuinn was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for another first baseman, Dick Siebert, in a deal that was catastrophic for both parties. Siebert could not come to terms with St. Louis and eventually retired, while McQuinn had his first below-average full season in the majors, frustrating A’s fans and leading to conversations that he should have retired. In fact, he almost did had it not been for his wife talking him out of it.

Following his release from the A’s thanks to manager Connie Mack, McQuinn finally got his chance to play for the Yankees 17 years after he entered their farm system in 1930. He took over first base when Tommy Henrich went to left field to cover for an injury, and McQuinn stayed there for the next two seasons.

In his first season in 1947, McQuinn’s spark returned. At the age of 37 and in 144 games, he hit over the .300 mark for the first time since his 29-year-old season in 1939. His on-base percentage rocketed to a career-high .395, and his slugging percentage of .437 was the highest since 1941. It was, statistically, the best season of his career. He finished sixth in MVP voting, the highest finish of his career, and was once again voted into the All-Star Game to represent the Yankees this time. And not only was he incredible in the regular season, but when the Yankees won the pennant in 1947 to face the Dodgers in the World Series, he was lauded as “the storybook story behind the Yankees’ surprising success … in 1947,” according to a sportswriter cited in McQuinn’s profile from the Society for American Baseball Research.

McQuinn didn’t hit super well in the World Series, batting .130, a large disappointment for fans of the game at the time considering his body of work in the regular season, but he still walked away a World Series champion, the first and only of his career after a grueling seven-game series.

The Yankees wanted to bring back McQuinn for one more season, and they did after a bit of a holdout from the 38-year-old. But due to back issues and simply old age, it was clear that McQuinn’s last hurrah came in 1947 (and what a last hurrah it was). He played in only 94 games with the Yankees in 1948, batting .248 with an OPS of 102. Due to his poor form and general wear and tear, the Yankees had no other choice but to release the veteran first baseman at the end of the year, and McQuinn retired as a result. He ended up managing in the Boston Braves organization from 1950 to 1958, then became a scout for the Washington Senators and eventually the Montreal Expos, before officially retiring from baseball in 1971. McQuinn passed away from a stroke in 1978 at the age of 68 in Alexandria, Virginia, at a hospital, but he led an incredible baseball life that had a playing career finished by exactly what every player dreams of: An excellent final full season and a championship to remember against some of the best players to ever play the game. Happy birthday, George!

Today marks Joe Biagini’s 36th birthday.

Biagini joined the Jays as a Rule 5 draft pick before the 2016 season and, somewhat unexpectedly, became a key bullpen contributor. He appeared in 60 games with a 3.06 ERA and served as a long reliever, pitching two innings in 13 of those outings.

He was also known for his engaging interviews and unique sense of humor.

2017 began promisingly with Biagini in a setup role in the bullpen, posting a 2.12 ERA by the end of April. However, injuries in the starting rotation forced Joe into a starting role. His initial starts were solid, but his performance soon declined.

Over nine starts, he struggled with a 6.70 ERA before returning to the bullpen.

In 2018, Biagini began the season in the rotation, making five starts with a 7.71 ERA before returning to the bullpen, where he was less effective than in his rookie campaign. In 2019, he rebounded somewhat, posting a 3.78 ERA in 50 relief appearances.

At the trade deadline, Biagini and Aaron Sanchez were dealt to the Astros in exchange for Derek Fisher, whose time with the Jays was largely forgettable.

Biagini appeared in 17 games for the Astros across 2019 and 2020. Afterward, he joined the Cubs as a free agent, spending most of the season in Triple-A.

He returned to the Blue Jays organization in 2022, spending the year with the Buffalo Bisons.

Joe was a fan favourite. The team did him no favours by abruptly moving him into the rotation without time to build up his arm. He was a rare athlete who consistently showed a personality with the media.

Happy Birthday, Joe. Wishing you a great day.

Bill Risley turns 59 today.

Risley, a right-handed reliever, debuted with the Expos in 1992, appearing in just three games over two seasons. After being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, he pitched in 82 games across two years and posted a 3.28 ERA.

The Mariners later traded Risley and Miguel Cairo—who would enjoy a lengthy career, though not with Toronto—for Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart.

Risley spent three injury-plagued seasons (back, gall bladder, and arm issues) with the Jays, pitching in 72 games and recording a 4.83 ERA.

Over his career, he made 157 appearances, posted a 3.98 ERA, and notched one save.

Steven Matz turns 35 today.

Matz began his career with the Mets, spending six seasons with the team before being traded to the Jays for Yennsy Díaz, Sean Reid-Foley, and Josh Winckowski—none of whom made a significant impact in New York.

Matz enjoyed a strong season with Toronto in 2021, going 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA across 29 starts. The Jays finished 91-71 that year, just one game shy of a Wild Card spot.

After the season, he departed in free agency, signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Cardinals. He was 15-14 with a 4.24 ERA with them. Since then he’s pitched for the Red Sox, and this year, the Rays.

Happy Birthday, Steven.

Today, Trever Miller turns 53.

He appeared in six relief outings for Toronto in 2011, a brief stint amid his 13-year MLB career.

In total, Miller pitched in 694 games (including five starts), with a 4.18 ERA and 11 saves.

Happy Birthday, Trever.

Cristopher Sánchez is like the beginning of Shoresy and he declared that he would never allow a run again. In his last 44.2 innings of work, the Sanchize has left opponent offenses in despair.

This sequence to Miguel Andujar was not Sánchez’s best work but I think it captures how streaks like this can work sometimes. He may not always be at his best but pure stuff can be the difference.

He missed on two uncompetitive changeups to Andujar that make the count 2-0. With the likelihood that a hitter is in swing mode with two outs and a runner on, Sánchez goes back to the changeup and it wasn’t a good one but still gets a whiff.

Because it’s probably smart not to throw four straight changeups to a hitter seeing you a third time, he perfectly locates a front hip sinker for a called strike and it perfectly set up a down and away changeup if Sánchez can make it somewhat competitive.

What a player.

Brad Keller’s Righty Problem

Keller was great against everyone in 2025 but it was especially the case for righties. He was able to throw a four-seam, slider, sinker, and sweeper very effectively to limit righties to a .466 OPS allowed for the season.

He has not been able to recapture that same magic in 2026 with righties hitting three home runs off of him already, the same amount as 2025, and have a .730 OPS against him overall.

The Phillies did make some pitch usage tweaks from his Cubs tenure. He has backed off the four-seam to throw a lot more sinkers and a few more sweepers. Right-handed hitters have put three four-seam fastballs in play off Keller. Two singles and a Seiya Suzuki home run. There are some tough variance issues going for him.

There might need to be an adjustment on which glove side breaking ball he should use. The sweeper has a .600 slugging allowed from right handed hitters with a 22.5% whiff. The slider hasn’t allowed an extra base hit.

Against righties, he is throwing the sweeper 28% of the time and the slider 19%. Given the success his sweeper had last year, it shouldn’t be backed off entirely but getting the slider up might be a better way to limit the damage.

Keller’s season overall has been a mixed bag. He was signed to be their sure-fire 8th inning arm because he seemed to carry the rare high floor for a non-closer. But the groundball rate has dropped over 11% from last season with a big increase in flyballs and line drives. It’s not exactly a good sign.

There is also the potential that his 3.80 ERA and 4.12 FIP are a little unsustainable because he has the second-highest HR/FB rate of his career at 18.2%. Keller was at 7.8% with the Cubs last year and never went higher than 15% as a starting pitcher with the Royals. There might be some regression to the mean here but it’s still not what you want out of a reliever making $11 million a year.

Edmundo Sosa has started 3 out of their last 4 games in Left Field

The Phillies have not been able to find a fourth outfielder and have essentially made Edmundo Sosa that despite his inexperience playing the position. Otto Kemp was the first crack but in two different stints with the club is 2 for 25 with no extra base hits.

Felix Reyes got a crack at it in between and didn’t do much either. He homered off Chris Sale in his first-ever big league at bat but only went 6 for 38 with a .421 OPS overall. Dylan Moore got 12 at-bats as a utility player and did not record a hit. It’s now Sosa, who has a .558 OPS overall and barely knows the position because they have no one else.

The bench is wasting two roster spots on Kemp, who can’t beat Sosa out for time in left field, and Garrett Stubbs as their third catcher. Given the issues the offense has and the age of their core players, that just does not seem like a sustainable way to manage the roster. They are essentially playing with ten or eleven players right now and that probably ends up being a bad thing as this season heads into the summer months.