Another eventful big-league schedule means more chances to cash in on my MLB same-game parlay predictions.
Today's MLB picks are eyeing Paul Skenes to deal against the Cincinnati Reds, while I'm also targeting Walker Buehler to get revenge on his former team as he takes the ball for the San Diego Padres.
Skenes is averaging 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings over his last two starts, including a 10-strikeout performance last time out. He also owns a 2.68 FIP over the last month.
Andrew Abbott has pitched well on the surface, but his recent numbers suggest regression. He owns a 5.30 FIP over his last two outings while walking more than five hitters per nine innings.
Jacob Misiorowski has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball this season, and he continues to dominate. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander owns a stellar 1.10 FIP across his last four starts and hasn't allowed a home run during that span.
He's also stayed Under 1.5 earned runs in four of his last five outings while pitching into the seventh inning or later in four of those starts.
Dodgers at Padres SGP: Buehler deals against ex-team
Walker Buehler has been showing shades of his former self. The San Diego Padres veteran owns a 2.33 FIP over his last two outings, and he's allowed just 0.87 HRs and BBs per nine innings during that span. Buehler has cashed the Under in earned runs surrendered in four straight starts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers send Roki Sasaki to the hill, and he is struggling. He has an FIP over six across his previous two appearances while posting a 43.3% hard-hit rate. Buehler will contain his ex-team, and the Padres will capitalize off Sasaki's struggles.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Royals vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
It is wheels up for the offenses.
The White Sox boast a powerful attack and will see a steady stream of relievers from a bullpen that ranks 29th in HR/FB this season.
The Royals are in a good spot themselves. They have an in-form offense that has hit .272 against righties in June.
White Sox opener David Sandlin has allowed 11 runs over 7.1 innings of work in June, and more damage should be coming his way here.
Kansas City will be forced to score to keep up, making the Over an attractive look. Bet to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-31, +2.20 units
Over/Under bets: 38-31-4, +3.24 units
Royals vs White Sox weather
Temperatures should hover in the mid-60s, with winds blowing from the east. No real impact on hitting conditions.
Royals vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Royals +115 | White Sox -135
Run line: Royals +1.5 (-175) | White Sox -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)
Royals vs White Sox trend
Chicago has hit the moneyline in 23 of the last 30 home games (+17.40 units, 53% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. White Sox.
How to watch Royals vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Royals.TV, CHSN
Royals starting pitcher
TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Royals vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Well, that game was at least a little differently shaped. Sort of. The Cubs broke out to a three-run lead after both starters were excellent. Then the porous Cub bullpen slowly gave back the lead with three different relievers being charged with a run each. But they scored in the tenth and held on. A last at-bat win for this team isn’t odd. That makes 11 of them now by my count. Nine walk-offs and two road wins in their last turn at the plate. That’s 25 percent of the team’s wins. Wow. So different, but not that different. This is a script they’ve followed at home.
Trent Thornton became the eighth different Cub reliever with a save in the first half. Anyone know the Cub record for different players recording saves in a season is? An even harder search would be what the record is at the intersection of most different players with a save and fewest saves. This was the team’s 12th save among 44 wins. Eight players to record 12 saves. Oh and the third intersection? The team is actually good, definitely record wise.
The Cubs swept a season series with the Mets for the first time since 2015. World Series championship in 2027 confirmed. Get your tickets now and place your bets. Surely there is some causation/correlation there, right? This team has so many contradictions. It’s a crazy wild ride. 10 wins in 13 games to finish the first half. Put otherwise, in two stretches, totaling 36 games, they won 30. In the other 45 games, they won 14. 83 percent winning percentage on the peaks and 33 percent winning percentage in the valleys. Unbelievable.
There are so many contradictions that I don’t know what to think of this team. The sum appears better than the parts. I somehow think this team ended up underachieving in the first half while also headed for a second half collapse due to the absolute lack of any frontline pitching. You can’t reasonably expect any of Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Ben Brown or Edward Cabrera to make significant contributions the remainder of this season. How is this team not headed for collapse?
And at the same time, I feel like a fool if I totally write this team off. Their offense has been one of the better units and I could argue they’ve underperformed. Is anyone other than Pete Crow-Armstrong having a particularly good season offensively? Other than being elite at taking walks, this offense hasn’t been that good. Is that modern baseball? Or should they actually be better in the second half? Can they hit enough to stay competitive? I don’t know how good this team really is. But I do know they are a lot of fun to follow. You know, other than when they make you want to pull your hair out.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong had two of the Cubs six hits. He drove in the decisive run with a 10th inning double.
Caleb Thielbar had a perfect eighth inning. He struck out two.
Trent Thornton locked down the 10th inning, facing the minimum.
Game 81, June 25: Cubs 4, Mets 3 (44-37)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Trent Thornton (.445). IP, 3 BF (Sv 1)
Hero: Matthew Boyd (.249). 4.2 IP, 21 BF, 4 H, 4 BB, 0 ER, 4 K
Sidekick: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.242). 2-5, 2B, RBI
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Hoby Milner (-.258). 0 IP, 3 BF, 3 H, ER
Goat: Michael Busch (-.122). 1-5
Kid: Dansby Swanson (-.108). 0-4, R
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s RBI-double with one out in the tenth. (.290)
Mets Play of the Game: Jared Young’s solo homer off of Phil Maton leading off the seventh inning. (.237)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 79 Winner: Dansby Swanson received 148 of 153 votes.
Game 80 Winner: Dansby Swanson received 103 of 144 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +21
Michael Busch +18
Ben Brown +13.5
Carson Kelly +12.5
Trent Thornton +11.5
Jacob Webb/Jameson Taillon -8
Edward Cabrera -9.5
Phil Maton -10
Caleb Thielbar -13
Seiya Suzuki -22.5
Up Next: It’s best to not think about this weekend series. The Cubs won four straight and nine of 13 and then charitably forfeited the next three. Win one. Any one. That would be such a triumph at this point. Colin Rea (5-5, 4.99) vs. Jacob Misiorowski (8-3, 1.45). A totally reasonable matchup. A great way to spend my Friday night. Have I ever mentioned I have friends there who are rabid Brewers fans (and Packers and everything else Wisconsin, woohoo). Yep. There are going to be no unreasonable takes on a Friday night.
Gonna have to sweep this series to keep rolling to 10 straight. Those are the rules, right?
Jun 7, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Several players who helped shape the success of the current Phillies run left in the off-season or even departed in the middle of 2026, in the case of Rob Thomson.
In the first installment, we covered the first few days for each of these players in their new homes. Now that we are in late June, there is a much better idea of how each of their seasons is going and whether the Phillies made the right decisions or not (there is still not enough time to judge but it’s fine).
Ranger Suárez’s Career Year
In 15 starts with Boston, Ranger Suárez is on pace for a career season. He is on pace to eclipse his 4.0 fWAR 2025 season, his innings total, and has a 2.83 ERA with an even better FIP.
The Red Sox have made a few tweaks with him; his primary fastball to right-handed hitters is his cutter, with a slight uptick in four-seam usage and fewer sinkers. Against left-handed hitters, Suárez is weirdly throwing a lot more four-seam fastballs and is getting worse results. In 2025, Suárez allowed a .611 OPS to lefties and is at .730 in Boston. Maybe there is a new tweak in the second half to cut those numbers down.
The changes have also cut his groundball rate down from a well above average 48% to 39.4%, so there could end up being some regression if this continues.
Another interesting wrinkle is that Boston has been cutting his outings a little quicker than the Phillies did. In 26 starts with the Phillies last season, he appeared in the sixth inning 20 times and in the seventh another 14. Through 15 starts in Boston, he’s appeared in the sixth inning eight times and only four in the seventh.
Part of this is probably because of organizational philosophy, the Red Sox losing more games, and also Suárez’s injury history. If it helps get him to 30 starts, then the juice is probably worth the squeeze here.
Castellanos Cut
While the Padres were in Philadelphia earlier this month, San Diego released Nick Castellanos and he has not signed with a team since. In 39 games with the Padres, Castellanos hit .191 with a .560 OPS and had -1.0 bWAR. He was one of the worst players in the sport.
Things have not gone well for Harrison Bader and Matt Strahm on their new teams. Bader has only played in 30 games and is currently on the injured list with a foot injury. He’s taken a major step back as a player overall, hitting just .170 with a .557 OPS and has not graded out nearly as well defensively.
There are significant red flags for Bader, his sprint speed and arm strength have taken nose dives, he’s missed most of the season because of injuries, and is 32. This all looks to be the signs of a player who isn’t going to be major league caliber anymore.
Matt Strahm is another player the Phillies seemed to give up on at the right time. His fastball velocity lost more than a full tick and he is now completely ineffective. His strikeout rate went down by 10% from 2025 to 2026, he is now walking hitters at a below average rate, and is not getting any soft contact.
In 25.2 innings, Strahm has a 5.96 ERA and looks like someone who will end up getting released before the season ends.
Taijuan Walker was released by the Phillies back in late April and signed a minor league deal with the Angels. He was cut then signed again at one point and most recently was released a few days ago. In three AAA starts with the Salt Lake Bees, Walker had a 4.91 ERA in 14.2 innings.
Eduardo Tait, the other player in the package that got the Phillies Jhoan Duran, has taken a step back as a 19 year old in A+ ball, hitting just .221 with an 81 wRC+.
More stuff
Walker Buehler made two starts against the Phillies in late May and early June, throwing a combined 11.1 innings of 3 run ball. For the season, Buehler has been a solid piece to the Padres rotation as a minor league signing with a 3.96 ERA in 72.2 innings this season.
Kody Clemens is having the best season of his career with a .767 OPS with the Twins. Neat.
Weston Wilson has split time between Baltimore and Seattle this year as a right handed corner utility option. Across 53 plate appearances, Wilson has a 78 OPS+ and has been a below replacement level player.
The best story for last, Donovan Walton has been amazing for the Los Angeles Angels. The 32-year-old journeyman middle infielder has played in 26 games with the Angels and has a .885 OPS. Maybe the Angels are willing to trade him and Wade Meckler at the deadline because they don’t seem to want to trade anyone else.
The Kansas City Royals have reached the season midpoint at 34-48, fourteen games below .500 and sitting in last place in the AL Central. It is not where anyone wanted to be, but Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco find more to talk about than the record alone would suggest.
The headline story continues to be Jac Caglianone, who leads the team with 14 home runs and is flirting with franchise records for June production. We break down the adjustments that have fueled his recent surge, the mechanical changes that are translating into real power output, and the realistic conversation about a Home Run Derby bid.
Carter Jensen’s 16-game hitting streak is a remarkable run for a rookie catcher and a reminder that the development pipeline is producing players who can contribute at the major league level. We examine his progress alongside a broader conversation about the coaching staff’s impact on hitting, with offensive metrics improving notably in June even as the overall record continues to disappoint.
Injury management remains a recurring concern. The decision-making around IL placements and strategic rest periods gets a candid evaluation, and we wonder whether the organization’s approach is protecting players for the long term or simply creating more instability in the short term. Bobby Witt Jr.’s All-Star candidacy and the latest voting updates are also covered, even as his health remains something fans are monitoring closely.
The episode rounds out with a look ahead to the upcoming series against the Chicago White Sox, including pitching matchup breakdowns, a discussion of the Royals’ draft prospects and the college-versus-high-school player development debate, and John Rave’s recent stance change and what it could mean for his offensive ceiling.
ST. LOUIS — The Arizona Diamondbacks activated outfielder Max Kepler from the restricted list following his completion of an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Kepler, who signed a free agent deal with the Diamondbacks on June 7, hit .333 with two home runs in 10 minor league games. He was fifth in the batting order and played left field for the Diamondbacks against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kepler was suspended in January for a positive test for Epitrenbolone, a metabolite of Trenbolone that’s contained in some products used in body-building stores and has been used in products to promote cattle growth. Kepler was the first player suspended by MLB for the substance since public announcements of the penalty details began in 2005.
“It’s a great opportunity for him,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I’m glad that he’s here. … He’s been working his tail off to get back here as soon as possible, and the fact that he’s in this lineup tonight is not surprising to any of us. He’s going to go out there and help us win a baseball game by impacting it the right way.”
Kepler, 33, hit .216 with 18 homers and 52 RBIs with Philadelphia last year after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract. He was slowed in 2024 by left patellar tendinitis and had core surgery after the season to repair a sports hernia.
He has a .235 average with 179 home runs and 560 RBIs over an 11-year career.
“I don’t know what happened, but he paid his penalty,” Lovullo said. “He served it, and he’s here, and he wants to show the world that he can still play this game at a very high level.”
To make room for Kepler on the 40 man, the Diamondbacks moved RHP Ryne Nelson (strained right elbow) to the 60-day disabled list. Arizona also optioned OF Tim Tawa and LHP Mitch Bratt to Triple-A Reno and recalled RHP Juan Burgos.
They’ve had a more potent offense than the Chicago Cubs over the course of the season, and the recent numbers are better as well.
Milwaukee ranks fourth in wOBA and OPS against right-handed pitching in June. Even with recent improvements, Chicago sits 16th and 18th over the same period.
Misiorowski has allowed 0.33 runs per start since May 1, making it impossible for any offense to get going in the slightest.
He faced the Cubs during that stretch and pitched six innings of shutout ball while striking out eight batters. Predictably, that game went Under 7.5 runs.
I don’t see the Cubs scoring more than a run or two here, which puts a lot of pressure on the Brewers to score in bulk.
I expect a 5-1 type of game, and see plenty of value on an Under of 7.5 runs. Bet to -140.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-31, +2.20 units
Over/Under bets: 38-31-4, +3.24 units
Cubs vs Brewers weather
Clear to partly cloudy skies are expected tonight with temperatures dipping into the mid-fifties tonight.
Cubs vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Cubs +210 | Brewers -260
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (+100) | Brewers -1.5 (-120)
Over/Under: Over 7.0 (-125) | Under 7.0 (+105)
Cubs vs Brewers trend
Milwaukee has hit the run line in 23 of the last 40 home games (+10.25 units, 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Brewers.
How to watch Cubs vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
7:45 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (5-5, 4.99 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Jacob Misiorowski (8-3, 1.45 ERA)
Cubs vs Brewers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Green comes down from the Mets' front office, having served as the team's vice president for player development since before the 2024 season. In that role, he oversaw the entire farm system and minor league operations.
Past managerial experience
Green does have some experience in the managers' seat, having previously served as the head man for the Padres for close to three seasons until he was fired late in the 2019 campaign.
San Diego was in the midst of a rebuild during his time there, and he led them to a 274-366 record.
Following his departure, he joined David Ross' staff as the Cubs' bench coach, a role that he filled until Chicago decided to bring in Craig Counsell to replace Ross, ultimately bringing him to the Big Apple.
Playing career
Green was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 24th round of the 2000 MLB Draft. He was a consistent .300 hitter throughout his journey through the minors, and ended up making his big league debut during the 2004 season.
Green, a utility man, never quite stuck as a regular in the majors and ended up taking his talents over to Japan, where he played for the Nippon Ham Fighters for a year.
He spent time in the Reds organization upon his return to the U.S., then ended up back at the big league level with the Mets for a very brief stint during the 2009 season.
Green had 46 hits in 230 at-bats during his four MLB seasons.
30 May 1998: Trever Miller of the Houston Astros in action during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport | Getty Images
Trever Miller pitched 13 seasons in the majors. He’d appear in 230 games as a reliever for the Astros and was a member of the 98′ squad that won 102 games. Trever joins us exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: You came to Houston as part of a big trade. Where were you when you heard the news?
A: I remember exactly where I was. I was in the hospital; my son was born the day before that. I was actually holding him and taking the phone call, and they told me I was traded. At the time, I could care less, I was just caught up in the emotions of welcoming my son into the world. I was a proud papa at the time.
Q: How much did you know about Houston?
A: I didn’t know anything, really. I had never been there before. I was east coast, brought up through the Tigers organization so I had never really been over there but once I got there, I fell in love with the town and the people.
Q: You came to a good situation as well. That 1998 team was one of the greatest assembled in franchise history. What do you most remember about that season?
A: 1998 was fantastic. We had a lot of future Hall of Famers, and we won lots of ball games. That was my first experience in the playoffs and focusing on the playoff picture.
I was the long man that season coming out of the bullpen, and I went 18 days without getting into a ballgame. That’s how good our starters were. I had to go and do short bullpen sessions with the burn rule just to try to stay sharp.
Q: What happened when you finally got in after such a long layoff?
A: We were playing in Montreal. I’m going back to the hotel with Sean Bergman, who’s scheduled to start the next day. I said to him “tomorrow, you go six innings and get the win by a score of 10-0, and I’ll come in the final three innings and close it out to get my first save.”
Well, it turns out that he pitched six innings, the score was actually 8-0, he left in the 7th with the bases loaded, I came in and got out of that jam by some miracle (laughs) and I pitch two more innings to get the save. In the process, I also got my first big league hit. I hit a double, and that wound up being the 10th run scored. I got my first hit and my first save in the same game! I also pitched for the first time in 18 days!
Q: Did you like playing for Phil Garner?
A: I did. Phil used me a ton. The end of one year I had like 76 appearances.
At the end of that season, Phil looked me right in the eye and said, “I rode you pretty hard this last month, didn’t I?” I was like “yes you did, I did my best.”
So, I get home, and I go to do my first off-season workout, and I can barely even lift a 10 lb. dumbbell to curl. My arm was fried and I spent that whole offseason just trying to get back to neutral.
Q: What do you think of pitching today?
A: The fans seem to love it, so I like it for them. I think there’s too many reviews and I hate the pitcher’s clock. My wife thinks that the clock has created a deal where the romance of baseball is gone. I tend to agree with that.
I don’t see pitching anymore, I see guys trying to throw it as hard as they can. I don’t think I’d get a look from a scout if I only threw in the low 90’s which is what I threw back then.
Q: Final question. Jose Lima was one of your teammates. Do you have a favorite story about Lima?
A: We came up together with Detroit. We had a guy that would serve soup to us in the fall league. Jose was always loud and boisterous. We all loved him, but he irked some of the older people.
So, we are going through the soup line one day, and the man pours soup into our bowls and Lima says something that the man doesn’t like and he takes the giant soup spoon and hits him right over the head with it! (laughs). Soup went flying everywhere.
Jose wanted to fight him, we had to hold him back, we were all dying laughing. It was the funniest thing I’d ever seen.
The Houston Astros were able to grind out a 2-1 win in the series opener Thursday night.
While Detroit is slightly favored to even things up Friday, my Astros vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the road team.
Who will win Astros vs Tigers today: Houston Astros (+100)
Spencer Arrighetti was borderline untouchable the first couple of months despite rocky numbers beneath the surface.
The pendulum has swung a little too far the other way over the last month, with Arrighetti posting a 5.79 ERA despite a respectable 3.89 FIP.
He is poised to get back on track against the Detroit Tigers, who sit 26th in wOBA vs. righties the past two weeks.
The Houston Astros rank 16th in wOBA and eighth in ISO during the same period. They should cause trouble for Keider Montero, whose 4.68 xFIP signals regression is coming.
Back Houston to -115.
COVERS INTEL:Montero ranks in the the 13th percentile in K%, which should lead to a lot of balls put in play by an Astros attack sitting eighth in hard hit rate vs. righties the past two weeks.
Astros vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Under 9.0 (-115)
The Astros have struggled to deliver ceiling-level offensive performances, scoring four runs or fewer in eight of their last 10 games.
It’s been a similar story for the Tigers. They plated just 28 runs over the last nine games (3.11 per), eight of which came Under the pre-game total.
While Arrighetti and Montero have both pitched worse than their season outputs suggest, these are not the offenses to truly take advantage.
The bullpens are also in great shape, and each team sits Top-3 in bullpen FIP during the month of June.
Bet the Under to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 42-31, +2.2 units
Over/Under bets: 38-31-4, +3.24 units
Astros vs Tigers weather
Temperatures in the high 60s are expected with slight winds blowing inwards. Small boost to the pitchers.
Astros vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Astros -105 | Tigers -115
Run line: Astros +1.5 (-210) | Tigers -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-105) | Under 9.0 (-115)
Astros vs Tigers trend
Houston has won 12 of the last 18 away games (+7.50 units, 40% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Tigers.
How to watch Astros vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
SCHN, DSN
Astros starting pitcher
Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.31 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA)
Astros vs Tigers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Mariners and Guardians open a weekend three‑game set tonight in Cleveland. The Guardians are home after salvaging the final game of their three-game series against the White Sox. Cleveland won, 4-3, in ten innings last night. Cade Smith gave up solo home runs to B Montgomery and Randal Grichuk to blow a 3-1 lead last night but Cleveland prevailed in the tenth thanks to a Kahlil Watson single that scored Petey Halpin. The Mariners dropped their second straight in Pittsburgh last night. Bubba Chandler was elusive last night, limiting the Mariners to one run over 5.1 innings despite giving up five hits and walking three hitters. Seattle was 1-10 with runners in scoring position as they fell back to .500 for the season (41-41). The Mariners have scored three or fewer runs in 11 straight games.
It is not surprising that the season series between Seattle and Cleveland is tied 2–2 heading into tonight’s matchup. Both teams have shown similar statistical profiles on the mound and at the plate. Seattle owns a .231 team batting average with 100 home runs, while Cleveland sits at .228 with 75 homers. Seattle carries a 3.71 ERA (5th in MLB), and Cleveland follows closely with a 3.79 ERA (6th).
Tonight’s pitching matchup features Luis Castillo for Seattle and Joey Cantillo for Cleveland. Castillo enters at 2–6 with a 5.22 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.40 WHIP across 70.2 innings. Cantillo’s season has been far more positive with an overall record of 6–3, a 4.05 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and an identical 1.40 WHIP over 80 innings.
Seattle’s hottest hitter over the last week plus is Dominic Canzone. The fact he is considered a hot hitter despite going just 8‑for‑30 in his last 10 games is a testament to just how bad Seattle has been at the plate. Julio Rodríguez is 3-9 over the last two games but is hitting a mere .198 in June. Cleveland’s Travis Bazzana is 11‑for‑36 with two doubles, three home runs, and seven RBI over his last 10 games.
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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Mariners vs. Guardians
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Mariners vs. Guardians
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Josh Naylor picked up at least 1 hit in each of the 3 games against Pittsburgh (5-11)
Randy Arozarena is just 2-20 over his last 6 games
Cal Raleigh has hit in 3 straight games (3-12)
Brayan Rocchio was 4-14 in the 3 games against the White Sox earlier this week
Rocchio is 9-30 over his last 7 games
Kyle Manzardo was 1-9 against the White Sox
Steven Kwan was 3-8 against the White Sox the past 2 games after going hitless in his previous 4 games (0-8)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mariners vs. Guardians
The Mariners are an MLB-worst 31-51 on the Run Line this season
The Guardians are 43-38 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 39 times in Cleveland’s 81 games this season (39-42)
The OVER has cashed 39 times in the Mariners’ 82 games this season (39-40-3)
Expert picks & predictions: Mariners vs. Guardians
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Mariners and the Guardians:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Guardians on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 13: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros pitches in the fourth inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on May 13, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (35-42) won 11-0 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Dezenzo RBI single and Ferreras RBI groundout. McCullers got a rehab start for Sugar Land and went 3 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts. The offense got 2 more runs in the 7th on a Biggio RBI triple and Whitcomb RBI single. Sugar Land blew it open in the 8th scoring a run on a wild pitch, a Brooks grand slam, Cole walk and Spence walk. Hendrickson tossed 5 scoreless innings in relief and Fleury had a scoreless 9th to close out the 11-0 win.
Jose Fleury, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (33-39) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Blanco made a rehab start for the Hooks and went 3.1 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Brutcher bases loaded walk. They got another run in the 8th inning on a Schiavone RBI single. Hertzler went 4 innings in relief allowing 1 run with 3 strikeouts. The Hooks took a 2-1 lead into the 9th but Swanson allowed 2 runs as Tulsa walked it off.
Cole Hertzler, RHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (19-52) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Asheville offense got on the board in the first inning on a Powell groundout. They got 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Daudet 2 run home run. Oakes started for Asheville and while he struck out 8 over 3.1 innings, he also allowed 4 runs. The offense got another run in the third on a double play and then 3 runs in the 4th on a Moss RBI double and Walker 2 run single. Cruz allowed 2 runs in relief but the rest of the pen was scoreless as they tossed 4.1 innings to close it out.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (36-35) won 5-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning thanks to a Flores 2 run home run, his 10th home run of the season. Shoemaker started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 unearned run over 4.2 innings. The offense added a run in the third on a Luciano RBI double and another in the 4th on a Vasquez sac fly. The offense got another in the 8th on a Nigh RBI single. Weber tossed 3.1 scoreless in relief and Mathiesen closed the door with a scoreless 9th inning as the Woodpeckers won 5-1.
Jun 21, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (3) forces out New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
I don’t often struggle to write series previews. In fact, it’s often my favorite article to compile for Amazin’ Avenue. But I’m going to be honest, I’m struggling to even think about where to begin with this one. But here goes…after a truly horrific stretch of baseball, the New York Mets (34-47) welcome the division rival Philadelphia Phillies (45-36). The two teams squared off last weekend, with Philadelphia taking two out of three on their home turf, and the Mets will look to return the favor.
The Mets enter this series on a six-game skid, a losing streak which began against the Phillies and was exacerbated as the Mets endured a truly embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Cubs at Citi Field. The Mets ended up losing all seven games they played against the Cubs this year, including their three games at Wrigley Field in April.
Losing games is one thing, but these games were borderline noncompetitive, and each game had its own embarrassing component. After a Monday night rain out, the series kicked off in earnest on Tuesday with Kodai Senga putting the final nail in his own coffin by getting rocked once again. Senga, whose ERA now sits at 10.08 after seven starts, has found himself relegated to a bullpen role following his putrid season, but given his performance, you can excuse any Mets fan for being skeptical that this move will pay off.
Following their 9-6 loss on Tuesday, the team was swept in a double header on Wednesday. The winners of the day game (besides the Cubs) were the Norwegians, who captured the hearts and minds of New Yorkers everywhere. The losers, of course, were the Mets and Mets fans everywhere, who are subjected to watching this team. The Mets actually led 3-0 thanks to back-to-back homers from Jared Young and Francisco Alvarez, but the Cubs went on to score 10 unanswered runs. In the nightcap, the Mets’ infield made six (6!) errors en route to a 10-5 loss which was as demoralizing as it was deeply embarrassing.
The series concluded with the closest of the four matches, an extra innings loss on Thursday. The Mets were once again plagued by bad defense, which directly resulted in three unearned runs charged to Freddy Peralta’s final line. The first error came on a routine play that Ronny Mauricio, who was called up earlier that day, could not make, which kicked off a three-run inning for the Cubs. As Carlos Mendoza (now former manager of the Mets) said post game, the errors the team has been making, specifically the ones in this game, were extremely routine plays. Despite a two-run homer from Wagaman and another dinger from Young, the Mets fell in extra innings and ended up leaving a season-high 14 runners on base in the sweep-clinching defeat.
Dansby Swanson had a series for the ages against the Mets, driving in 15 home runs and hitting three homers across the four games. In fact, he was held hitless in the fourth game, so all of that offensive production came in the first three games. In the first game of the doubleheader alone, he hit two homers, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs for Chicago, matching a career high.
On the bright side, Francisco Alvarez has begun to heat up offensively, hitting three homers in the series. He now has eight home runs and a .258/.326/.436 slash line on the season, with a 115 wRC+ and a 0.9 fWAR. Since returning from the IL on June 9, he’s hitting .294/.345/.529 with four homers and a 145 wRC+ in 14 games. At the very least, from the crop of youngsters that includes Ronny Mauricio, Mark Vientos, and Bretty Baty, Alvarez has at least provided you with something to feel good about, and he figures to be the only one from that group to factor into the future.
Any dreams of chasing a Wild Card spot have all but been dashed with this losing streak, as the vibes are literally lower than I can ever remember with this club. At the exact halfway point of the season, the Mets reside at 34-47, meaning that they’re on pace for 68 wins. If these trends continue, they would fail to win 70 games for the first time since the 2003 season, and it’s never a good thing to be compared to the Art Howe years. The Mets are currently 9.5 games back of the final playoff spot in the National League, but only two games ahead of the Rockies for the worst record in the league. They currently are tied for the sixth-worst record in baseball, which is important for MLB Draft Lottery odds, because if they snag a top-six spot of the MLB Draft order, they won’t be dropped ten spots due to the payroll penalty.
While David Stearns said he will evaluate the team’s situation with respect to them being buyers or sellers up until the August 3 deadline, the team has seemingly already made it known to the league that they are open for business with their first big move, which was moving on from long-time pitcher David Peterson. The club sent him across to the visitor’s clubhouse after Wednesday’s doubleheader sweep while acquiring an infield prospect in return. Peterson was a free agent so moving on made sense regardless of the team’s situation, but it does at least show that the club seems to be leaning towards the sellers route. With little left to play for on the field, all eyes will be fixated on the trade deadline as the Mets look to extract some value and build up their farm system to help build towards a (hopefully) better future.
And as we publish this article, the team announced “the departure of Carlos Mendoza”, meaning they will have yet another new manager. Andy Green will take over as the interim skipper for the remainder of the 2026 season. A lot more will be discussed about this in the coming days, you can be sure.
The Phillies are in a completely different spot from the Mets. They come in to this series as winners of seven of their last ten games and hold the top Wild Card spot in the National League, one game clear of the Cubs, who just walloped the Mets this week. After a really sluggish start, they are only four games behind the Braves for first place in the National League East. After firing their manager, Rob Thomson, following a 10-19 start, and inserting Don Mattingly into the interim role, Philadelphia is 35-17. After losing their first game to Washington in their recent four-game set, they won the last three, with each of them coming thanks to a ninth inning rally. In the two middle games, they were down to their final strike before erupting to steal the game from the Nats. Must be nice.
Friday, June 26: Zach Thornton vs. Zack Wheeler, 7:10 PM EDT on WPIX
Thorton is making his second spot start for the Mets this season in place of the recently-departed David Peterson. In his one outing, he allowed four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out three and walking two against the Nationals on May 20, which resulted in a loss. In seven outings in Triple-A so far this season (including six starts), he owns a 4.80 ERA. He has struck out 29 and walked 14 across his 31 innings in Syracuse.
Wheeler’s last start came against the Mets on Sunday Night Baseball, and he picked up his seventh win of the 2026 campaign against just one loss. In that outing, he allowed two earned runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, and he struck out seven while walking three batters. In the month of June so far, he has three wins and has posted a 1.82 ERA and a 3.55 FIP in 24 2/3 innings. Opposing batters have managed just a .165 batting average and .559 OPS against him during this stretch, and he’ll look to finish the month off strong against his old club.
Saturday, June 27: Christian Scott vs. Alan Rangel, 7:10 PM EDT on SNY
This will be Scott’s first start in 15 days after he landed on the injured list with a right hip impingement. Perhaps the injury could help explain Scott’s trouble with the long ball in his last start, which came against the Cardinals on June 11 in a game the Mets eventually won. After surrendering just one home run across his first eight starts, he gave up three in the first two innings against the Cardinals, but was able to hold them at bay after that rough start. He ended up going 4 2/3 innings, allowing a season-high seven hits while striking out six and walking one. He did keep his streak of 18 starts allowing four runs or fewer to begin his major league career, which remains a Mets record. Scott has been the Mets’ best starter this year since making his return to the majors, leading the club with a 3.10 ERA.
Rangel is a journeyman pitcher who made his major league debut with 11 innings across five outings for the Phillies last season. He signed as an international free agent in 2014 and bounced around from the Braves to the Angels to Philadelphia, where he finally got a chance at major league action. Saturday will mark his first major league start after making seven relief appearances over the past two season with the Phillies. He enters play having allowed two earned runs over eight innings pitched. His last time out, he pitched five innings and limited the Nationals to one run on five hits. He threw 72 pitches in that one (a career high in the majors), so he is probably in line to pitch between 70 and 80 pitches in this start.
Sunday, June 28: TBD vs. Jesús Luzardo, 1:40 PM EDT on SNY
TBD
The Mets could turn to Tobias Myers or a bullpen game on Sunday, unless they want to promote someone from the minors.
Luzardo has had a bit of an up-and-down year for Philadelphia, and June is a perfect encapsulation of his struggles. In two of his outings this month, he’s allowed five earned runs. In the other two, he’s allowed one earned run and two earned runs. In the latter, he matched his season high by going seven innings. Despite that, the club has won each of his last six starts and eight of his last ten. In his most recent outing, he settled for a no decision but did strike out a season-high 13 batters while allowing five earned runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings against the Nationals. He is currently seventh among NL starting pitchers in innings pitched, and can be relied upon to give the team length, even when he is struggling.
I like the underdog Boston Red Sox to make it two out of two when they meet up with the New York Yankees tonight as +101 home underdogs.
They took the series opener last night and now see a pitcher who is both exploitable and familiar to them.
Here are my Yankees vs Red Sox predictions and MLB picks for Friday, June 26.
Who will win Yankees vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (+101)
Will Warren is a pitcher I've successfully faded all season, and there's reason to do the same here. I'd play the Boston Red Sox down to -108.
The issue with Warren has always been that when he's not getting strikeouts, his average hard-hit rate gets exploited by his high-velocity stuff. He also generates whiffs mostly in the zone, pairing a 24% strikeout rate with a bottom-30 percentile chase rate.
The more often you see him, the more success you have. Boston ranks fifth in MLB in doubles, gap-to-gap power that benefits from Fenway Park
COVERS INTEL:Payton Tolle posted a 39% whiff rate on his four-seamer between the majors and minors in 2025.
Yankees vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-116)
I like the Over.
Payton Tolle has walked 10.8% of hitters across varied with a hard-hit rate over 38%. I expect him to be slightly better than his counterpart because of his strikeout stuff, but that doesn't mean it will come without any struggle.
A hard-hit issue against this New York Yankees lineup is a problem, even without Aaron Judge, as they've ranked in the top five of barrel rate and hard-hit rate league-wide all season. Play to 9.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 30-28, +4.67 units
Over/Under bets: 35-24, +14.77 units
Yankees vs Red Sox weather
Yankees vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Yankees -105 | Red Sox +104
Run line: Yankees -1.5 | Red Sox +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Yankees vs Red Sox trend
The Boston Red Sox have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 5 of their last 7 games (+4.25 Units / 48% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Yankees vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Friday, June 26, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, NESN
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-2, 3.45 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (3-5, 3.08 ERA)
Yankees vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 15: Jacob Lombard before the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball scouts love bloodlines, and for good reason. Growing up around the game often provides a head start that can’t be taught, as Bobby Witt Jr. has demonstrated. Jacob Lombard is one of the top prospects for the MLB draft to be held on July 11 during All-Star Week, and he comes from one of baseball’s most accomplished families. He is the son of former major leaguer and current Tigers bench coach George Lombard and the younger brother of Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr., but many evaluators believe the younger Lombard possesses even greater upside.
Standing 6’3” with an outstanding blend of athleticism, speed, and power, Lombard has long been one of the most closely watched players in the 2026 draft class, earning attention on the showcase circuit since his early teens. Scouts consistently praise not only his physical gifts but also the polished instincts and baseball IQ that come from growing up around the game.
Lombard’s ceiling is driven by one of the loudest toolsets in the draft. Keith Law of The Athletic describes him as possessing “some of the best pure tools in the draft class,” highlighting his 70-grade speed, plus raw power, and the athleticism to remain at shortstop long term. Baseball America similarly notes that his profile is “littered with 60s,” calling him one of the best defensive shortstops in the class with graceful actions, excellent footwork, and the ability to become a plus defender. MLB Pipeline echoes those assessments, praising his outstanding range, hands, instincts, and speed while projecting him to stick at shortstop for years. All three outlets agree that if everything comes together offensively, Lombard has legitimate superstar potential.
The biggest question is whether his bat will fully develop to match his exceptional physical tools. While evaluators praise his quick bat speed, low-maintenance swing, and advanced approach, each publication also points to swing-and-miss concerns. Law notes that Lombard struck out on 39 percent of his swings during tracked showcase events in 2025, struggling particularly against sliders and premium velocity. Baseball America identifies his bat-to-ball skills as the biggest question in his profile despite solid pitch recognition, while MLB Pipeline notes he occasionally struggled with elevated fastballs. They also write he is a “people-pleaser”, which may make him more coachable, but they suggest he may have been guilty of making too many mechanical adjustments while trying to incorporate advice from various instructors on the showcase circuit.
If Lombard proves he can make enough consistent contact against elite pitching, there are few players in the class who can match his overall upside. His combination of size, speed, defensive ability, power potential, and baseball instincts has made him a consensus top-ten talent, with some evaluators believing he has the tools worthy of consideration near the very top of the draft. The risk is centered almost entirely on the hit tool, but the reward is a true five-tool shortstop capable of impacting the game in every facet.
Keith Law had a mock draft with the Royals taking Lombard at #6, writing that the Royals were “heaviest” on Lombard and Booth. Kiley McDaniel at ESPN writes that the Royals prefer Lombard over prep outfielder Eric Booth Jr. and pitcher Gio Rojas.
The Royals need more offense, regardless of position. By the time Lombard is ready for the big leagues, Bobby Witt Jr. will be able to opt out of his current contract – and even if the Royals bring him back, Lombard has the athleticism to move to another position. He is the kind of toolsy coachable kid the Royals tend to love, but the questions about his contact skills should give fans a bit of pause. The upside is high with Lombard, but the organization’s track record on developing good plate discipline is spotty, at best.
On the other hand, the last time the Royals selected a toolsy shortstop whose dad played in the big leagues, it worked out just great. But can Lombard be a generational player like Bobby Witt Jr. or another prep star that struggled to hit professional sliders?
vs 
vs 
vs 
COVERS INTEL: Chicago ranks seventh in homers and 
