HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 07: Houston Astros first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) is caught looking in the bottom of the sixth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 7, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
According to a report by Brian McTaggart, the Houston Astros will place OF LaMonte Wade Jr. on the 10-day IL today, and recall OF Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Source: Astros OF Lamonte Wade Jr. will be placed on the 10-day IL today (right hamstring strain) and OF Joey Loperfido will be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land to join the club tonight.
It will be Loperfido's first time with the Astros since he strained his quad April 17.
Wade Jr. made an immediate impact with the Astros after being signed by the team June 4, batting .333 with a .385 OBP and 1.135 OPS. He hit two doubles, a HR and drove in 4 in 4 games (12 AB). He was injured while running out a base hit.
Loperfido, who was re-acquired by the Astros in the offseason, hit .276 with a .348 OBP and .711 OPS with 5 doubles and 7 RBI across 58 AB earlier this season before he was injured running out a groundout.
Loperfido, who was optioned to Triple-A after being activated from the IL last Thursday, is batting .297 with a .381 OBP and .732 OPS with 2 doubles and 4 RBI at Sugar Land over 37 AB.
Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki (5) celebrates a two run homer during the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Gainesville Regional championship baseball game at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, May 31, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I’ll say this upfront: There’s going to be a fair amount of numbers in this article, and some of those numbers aren’t going to look all that great, because Troy played a tough schedule and dealt with injuries throughout the year. But make no mistake, this Troy team is a deserving one of being one of the last 8 college baseball teams standing this postseason. As an anonymous coach told D1Baseball, “You can be a bad team and have a great weekend in the regular season, but you can’t be a bad team and go on a three-week run like they are.”
Troy has been a pesky Sun Belt team for years now, but this year, they were right up there with the top of the conference and are on a pretty magical run, winning their first Division 1 Regional and Super Regional (and thanks to Little Rock coming out of the Hattiesburg regional, Troy got to host their first Super Regional, too) in program history on their way to getting here. They were one of the last teams in the field as an at-large team, but despite their 32-29 record as a mid-major looking maybe less than impressive, this team played one of the toughest schedules in the country — by RPI, their strength of schedule was 8th, with all 7 teams ahead of them being high-end SEC squads who boosted their numbers by playing each other in weekend series. They racked up a midweek win against Georgia early in the year, but really came on in a 14-5 finish to their season that included a midweek win against Alabama and a game win against Southern Miss. They finished tied for 3rd in a 5-bid Sun Belt before beating Florida twice to come out of the Gainesville Regional.
This Troy team is a pretty balanced squad, with pretty high-end talent and decent team results both at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, the headliner is catcher Jimmy Janicki, one of few homegrown players on this roster. Janicki has absolutely raked this season, putting together a slash line of .341/.413/.648. He leads the team in doubles (24), home runs (19), RBI (85), and OPS (1.061). He’s one of the best players remaining in the tournament, even though he hasn’t been up to his standard in the postseason — he’s gone just 6/21 through their 7 games, including 1/9 in their Super Regional sweep of Little Rock. His teammates have picked him up, though, and if he’s going to get back into his groove in Omaha, this offense could go from good to scary in a hurry. Other guys to look out for include right fielder Aaron Piasecki (.346/.454/.539, 24:39 K-BB), who’s got some Kane Kepley in his game as an on-base machine batting leadoff with a flat swing and more than one helping of grit; Indiana transfer third baseman Josh Pyne (.291/.372/.496, 23 2B), who is a doubles machine but strikes out a lot; and junior college transfer DH Jabe Boroff (.264/.393/.670), a hard swinger who missed time with injury and a really slow start to the season but has been on fire in the postseason. He’s got 15 extra base hits out of his 24 total knocks and they’re calling him “Jabe Ruth,” which I must say is an incredible bit.
As a team, the Trojans slash .290/.399/.484 and have hit 93 home runs — the on-base and average numbers rank in the 60-70 range nationally while the home runs rank near top-20, with slugging somewhere in the middle. So this is a team that relies on home runs to score, and to their credit they do that pretty successfully to the tune of 7.2 runs per game. They’re also really, at times detrimentally, aggressive at the plate — they record 1.6 strikeouts per walk, a similar mark to USC and not one that compares favorably to the rest of the field. This isn’t a team that runs a lot, with their stolen bases leader being CF Steven Meier with 11 on 20 attempts. And, oddly, they have 3 guys with at least 17 hit-by-pitches. It’s also a very good defensive lineup — as a team, they’re fielding at a .977 rate and converted four double plays in the game that sent them to Omaha.
Troy has a couple of decent starters in senior duo Tommy Egan (R, 5.38 ERA) and Benjamin Stubbs (L, 4.93 ERA). Egan usually pitches first for them and he’s a crafty guy, with a fastball/cutter combo that doesn’t overpower with velocity but does keep you guessing, and then a curveball/slider off-speed mix. He’s got 99 strikeouts and 32 walks in 87 innings pitched, and threw 7.1 strong frames against Little Rock last weekend. Stubbs has a more typical arsenal, headlined by a fastball that sits 94-96 with average life but good location. He doesn’t miss as many bats as Egan does, but an 83:37 K-BB is still plenty respectable. Hayden Smith has emerged as a third starter for them and has been putting up the best numbers of the bunch lately, albeit with a smaller sample size. He’s got a 2.94 ERA and a .226 batting average against compared to the other two being around .265, but he doesn’t have the strikeout stuff or the zone command of his compatriots, shown by a 28:21 K:BB in 49 innings.
All that said, the real strength of the Trojans’ pitching staff, in my opinion, is in the bullpen. Zach Crotchfelt (L, 3.50 ERA, 74:22 K-BB) is a relief ace who spent time at Auburn and Texas Tech before landing with the Trojans for his senior year, and he’s a flamethrower who’s playing his best baseball of late. Closer Dylan Alonso (R, 4.63 ERA, .204 BAA) is another hard-throwing reliever with a 95-97 heater to go with a slider/curve breaking ball mix; he’s a legit draft prospect this year. Cooper Ellingworth and Noah Thigpen have been hit around a little more, but they’ve eaten a ton of innings for the Trojans as well; they’re dangerous if they get run support. And freshman Matt Dill could be a wild card, with a respectable ERA of 5.50 and other stats that make him look like a real strike-thrower — the kind who might not wow you, but could also get through 3 innings in a blink.
It’s a tough world for mid-majors in college baseball, and Troy coach Skylar Meade has done a really admirable job building this roster basically anew through smart transfer portal adds from just about every level of the sport, with Janicki as the centerpiece. This has been a fun team to watch and they’re capable of doing damage, especially with the bats in the top half of their lineup. While neither their offense nor their pitching is necessarily the best in the field, Troy certainly has a team that’s plenty good enough to compete with anybody, and a star who’d be one of the 3 best players on any of the teams in Omaha.
BRONX, NY - MAY 07: Pitcher Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches in his first MLB game during a game between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 7, 2025 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In this week on the farm, we saw the first organizational no-hitter of the season in Scranton, several breakout hitting performances in Somerset, some real pitching struggles down in Hudson Valley, and a Tampa squad that’s putting it all together.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 31-31, 7 GB in the International League East after a 3-4 week against the Syracuse Mets (Mets)
Run differential: +8
Coming up: Home vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)
The first week of June was pretty meh for the RailRiders, who suffered a losing week due to a Wednesday doubleheader that threw in an extra game. They won the first two games, lost the next two, won on Friday, and then got unceremoniously shut down over the weekend. Despite losing more ground on the week, they had the org’s biggest highlight, which was the first no-hitter of the season on Friday.
Brendan Beck tossed seven no-hit innings in one of his finest starts of the season before Carson Coleman finished it off with a pair of no-hit frames, capping it off with a 6-6-3 double play to end the game. It’s the first RailRiders no-hitter since Sean Boyle’s seven-inning one in 2021 and the first nine-inning no-hitter since Luis Gil, Reggie McClain, and Stephen Ridings combined for one earlier that season:
With Spencer Jones moving back up to the big leagues due to Aaron Judge’s injury, the focus was back solely on George Lombard Jr., who had a okay week at the plate. Jasson Domínguez began a rehab assignment on Friday and went 0-for-7 across two games in left field. Could they give him some work in right field? I’d bet against that… for now. Tyler Hardman had some big hits this week, and the team also welcomed back Marco Luciano from the injured list.
Dom Hamel got the Tuesday and Sunday starts and was passable. Elmer Rodríguez bounced back nicely from a few tough starts in a row with 5.2 two-run innings with six strikeouts on Thursday, while Adam Kloffenstein took the loss on Saturday.
For the rest of the pitching staff, there was a pretty seismic shift with Carlos Lagrange moving to the bullpen. He still threw four innings on Wednesday in some of his best work of the season with seven strikeouts, but you have to think it’s more of a “deload” period, and it could be a few weeks before he’s in the 1-2 inning role.
Yovanny Cruz and Bradley Hanner took losses late in the week in a pair of close losses. Eric Reyzelman, the most MLB-ready relief prospect, was placed on the injured list with a reported back injury mid-week. While better than an arm injury, he had back issues last year that derailed his 2025 season.
Record: 30-27, 1 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 4-2 week against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals)
Run differential: +27
Coming up: Home vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
How is it possible to have a winning week, but your run differential goes down by eight runs? Well, that happens when your loss on Friday night was one of the worst in team history, 21-4. Outside of that game, they won four close, medium-scoring games and lost another one by one run in a solid week that saw them inch closer to the division lead.
Somerset’s high-powered offense had one of its worst weeks of the season after Jace Avina was placed on the injured list early in the week. The May Eastern League Player of the Month was en fuego. Garrett Martin hit another three home runs and is up to 19, while DJ Gladney caught fire with four home runs and seven extra-base hits. I’d also like to mention Cole Gabrielson, who was promoted to fill Avina’s spot in the outfield and homered twice in Friday’s blowout loss.
Outside of Jack Cebert’s rough outing on Friday, it was a good week for the starting pitching. Trent Sellers tossed a quality start, Cade Smith finally came around with five solid innings on Wednesday, Xavier Rivas struck out nine in four innings on Thursday, Chase Chaney tossed six shutout innings, and Kyle Carr continued a strong stretch with nine strikeouts in five innings. Ben Hess only pitched one inning on Sunday, getting stuck in a 40-pitch inning.
The bullpen was up-and-down. Guys like Hayden Merda and Kelly Austin traded good and bad outings, while Chris Veach and Ben Grable pitched well in multi-inning efforts on Friday. 2024 UDFA Tony Rossi got a promotion on Friday and tossed a scoreless inning in his Double-A debut after a terrific year and change in Hudson Valley.
Record: 25-31, 11 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 2-4 week against the Frederick Keys (Orioles)
Run differential: -19
Coming up: Home vs. Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies)
Hudson Valley’s been in a big-time rut over the last few weeks for a variety of reasons. This week? It was a really rough one for the pitching. Outside of a 10-1 win on Thursday, they allowed at least seven runs in every other game, combining to allow 55 runs across six games. The one silver lining was the offense’s late explosion to come back from a 10-3 deficit on Friday, winning 14-13.
Offensively, Core Jackson continued to hit. Since returning from the injured list, he’s raised his OPS by 120 points. Josh Moylan (8-for-23, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 2B) caught fire mid-week to help him out, while Roderick Arias showed some life at the plate as well. Wilson Rodriguez and Eric Genther had worse weeks, while Kaeden Kent homered early in the week before getting seven hits in a two-game span.
It was harder to find a good start this week than you’d like. Bryce Cunningham scuffled, Luis Serna, Chase Hampton, Sean Paul Liñan, and Franyer Herrera all got lit up by the Frederick offense, and Rory Fox got brutalized by his defense, allowing seven unearned runs out of 10 in 4.2 innings. The bright spot was Allen Facundo (more on him later) on Thursday.
In a week where you allowed over nine runs a game, you probably could’ve expected a rough week from the bullpen. There was some good, but not many relievers got through the week without allowing a run in some way. Losing Rossi to a promotion continued to batter their depth there, as guys like Thomas Balboni Jr. and Wilmy Sanchez get higher-leverage innings.
Record: 30-27, 6 GB in the Florida State League West after a 5-1 week against the Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals)
Run differential: +22
Coming up: Away @ Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
The Tampa Tarpons are arguably playing the best of any Yankee affiliate. When was the last time you could say that? They had a phenomenal week against Palm Beach, scoring 26 total runs in the first two games and eight on Friday before winning two close games during the weekend. A shutout loss on Thursday was all that stopped them from their first sweep of the season.
It was a quieter week for Jackson Lovich, but the train kept rolling for Hans Montero and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. JoJo Jackson had his best week since a strong April, while Willy Montero seems to be finding something over the last few weeks. It also helps that they got a talent infusion when Logan Maxwell (7-for-13, HR, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 BB, 4 SB) returned from the injured list.
Thatcher Hurd (4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K) had a great bounce-back game on Tuesday after a miserable Single-A debut. Wyatt Parliament struggled on Wednesday, Henry Lalane (5.1 IP, 1 R, 6 K) tossed a third straight strong outing on Friday, and both Tyler Boudreau and Brennan Stuprich continued strong stretches with good starts over the weekend.
The bullpen had a terrific week, with the likes of Jose M. Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez, and Jose Martinez pitching well. Justin West seems to have unlocked something moving into a multi-inning relief role, tossing another three scoreless innings on Tuesday. The same can be said for JT Etheridge, who pitched well on Wednesday. Mac Heuer had six strikeouts in 2.2 scoreless innings, but was pulled mid-AB due to an undisclosed injury. He hasn’t been placed on the IL… yet.
Record: 14-13, 6 GB in the FCL North after a 3-2 week.
Run differential: +15
Some good and some bad here. Wilberson De Pena looked human this week, but his down week was made up for in spades by the likes of Richard Matic and a suddenly blisteringly hot Dexters Peralta, who’s now up to seven home runs on the year. The strikeout rate is concerning, but he’s still young. Jose Castro returned from injury late in the week, but the looming dread hanging over the bats is the fact that Dax Kilby hasn’t played in 10 days. Did he re-aggravate the hamstring injury?
Omar Gonzalez continued to be a force for the rotation. He’s been the best pitcher on the team. Blake Gillespie has been so-so, and Sabier Marte has been better of late, but Stanly Alcantara and Manuel Cruz have struggled. 2025 UDFA Austin Breedlove out of Tennessee has been a revelation in the bullpen, allowing just three runs in 13.2 innings with 18 strikeouts and just five walks. He should be in Tampa soon.
Woof. What a rough week for these two. The DSL Yankees have had some abysmal closes to games. They blew a 14-7 lead to DSL Mets Blue, a 6-2 lead to DSL Rangers Red, and a 4-3 lead to DSL Tigers 2 in the ninth. Meanwhile, it’s either been high-scoring losses or blowouts for the Bombers, including being no-hit on Monday.
Isaias Castillo is the standout bat here. The 17-year-old hit for the cycle on Tuesday and carried it through the week to lead the DSL in home runs through six games. Juan Torres, Stiven Marinez, and Alessandro Rodriguez are all hitting well around him.
On the pitching side, it’s a lot of ugly, but there were some impressive performances. Yunior Jerez tossed five no-hit innings with seven strikeouts. Kevin Centeno and Sebastian Rivas also stood out in brief, 2-3 inning spells.
How do you take the Prospect of the Week mantle from a guy who tossed seven no-hit innings? How about tossing six of your own, but being even more dominant?
Facundo’s been a niche prospect for a good bit, often producing in the FCL and Tampa over the last few years while battling injuries that stagnate him. A strong start to 2026 earned him a promotion to High-A Hudson Valley, where he’s traded good starts and bad starts. Last time out, he walked four and hit a batter in a miserable first inning before gritting his way through six.
On Thursday, Facundo was brilliant. He did continue to struggle with command, but he had every pitch working in six brilliant innings. We don’t have Statcast data for High-A, but he kept Frederick hitters off balance all night, which is pretty impressive considering they scored over 10 runs a game in the other five.
I'm back on the home run beat after a short IL stint, but ready to hit the ground running with a home run slate loaded with great hitting conditions and some pick-on pitchers to cash some MLB player props.
While everyone is rushing out the door to bet dingers in the Brewers-A's game, the real home run value can be found at Coors Field today, and I'm adding Seiya Suzuki to my slate alongside Josh Jung and Lars Nootbaar from my earlier picks.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Tuesday, June 9.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Lars Nootbaar
+503
Josh Jung
+700
Seiya Suzuki
+390
💲Today's HR parlay
+22335
Home run pick: Lars Nootbaar (+503)
There is value in Lars Nootbaar, who returned to the lineup last week and looks fully healthy.
Over a small sample, he leads the team in HR/FB rate (20%), fly-ball rate (71.4%), and slugging percentage (.700), while ranking second in bat speed at 75.7 mph. He has already gone deep in just 13 plate appearances and added a double after a rehab stint in which he launched three home runs. With 15-mph winds screaming out to center field, he’s my favorite St. Louis Cardinals target at this price in a favorable home-run matchup.
Freddy Peralta ranks 33rd among starters in HR/FB rate over the last month, which plays well with Nootbaar’s ability to get the ball in the air. The bullpen behind him has also been giving up home runs lately and is generating a lot of fly-ball outs.
Nootbaar is an everyday player who could even find himself in the leadoff spot, which would give him a chance at an extra at-bat today. It’s a play to +435. Ivan Herrera (+710) and Alec Burleson (+502) are also on the radar in this game.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Cardinals.TV
Home run pick: Josh Jung (+700)
Kauffman Stadium might not be the best home run park, but 15-mph winds blowing out to left-center and temperatures pushing 90 degrees create a great environment for dingers today.
The Texas Rangers have the better side of the matchup against Stephen Kolek, who generates plenty of ground balls, but when hitters do get the ball in the air against him, it tends to leave the yard. He's also making his first start after returning from the family medical emergency list.
Josh Jung at +500 or better is my favorite way to attack this spot. He ranks among the team's Top 3 hitters in power metrics and has recorded a hit in 16 of his last 18 games while posting a .930 OPS.
He also just faced the Kansas City Royals three series ago and responded with three extra-base hits while slugging .786 during the matchup. The Royals' bullpen adds to the appeal, ranking in the bottom third of baseball in HR/9.
Evan Carter (+830) and Brandon Nimmo (+538) also project as +EV home run plays, per the player projections at Covers.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Royals.TV, Rangers Sports Network
Home run pick: Seiya Suzuki (+390)
I want a Chicago Cubs bat in Denver in today's MLB picks, with 15-mph winds blowing out to right field and temperatures pushing near 90 degrees.
It’s also a spot where Tomoyuki Sugano looks vulnerable, carrying a 7.58 xERA that sits well above his sub-4.00 surface ERA. This was a pitcher who had one of the worst HR/FB rates in baseball last season, and he wasn't even pitching at Coors half the time.
Seiya Suzuki at +390 projects as one of the top +EV home run options in this game, with a fair price closer to +300. He is part of a small group of Chicago hitters who have been swinging it well over the last two weeks, and he stands out with a price 150 points better than the others.
Even if Sugano manages to limit damage, the Colorado Rockies bullpen has been horrendous, posting a 10.20 ERA and 2.08 HR/9 over the last 14 days. Everyone might be looking at Las Vegas for dingers today, but the better value is in Colorado.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, Rockies.TV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-105, -35.94 units
Today’s HR parlay
Lars Nootbaar
Bet Now +22335
Josh Jung
Seiya Suzuki
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.
It's the best day of the week for baseball. Tuesday.
We've got a full slate loaded with opportunities to cash in on some of the league’s best hitters to do damage at the plate.
My MLB player props for Tuesday, June 9, are eyeing Julio Rodriguez, Ian Happ, and Shohei Ohtani.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Julio Rodriguez
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Ian Happ
Over 1.5 total bases
-124
Shohei Ohtani
Over 1.5 total bases
+111
Julio Rodriguez Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
First game of the day, the Seattle Mariners take on the Baltimore Orioles, and we're hyper-focused on Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez as we back the over on his total bases prop this evening.
The young star has been terrorizing southpaws this season, posting a 173 wRC+, .987 OPS, 50% hard-hit rate, and a 12.5% barrel rate. Over his last 30 plate appearances against lefties, he's making 60% hard contact while batting .286 with a .571 SLG and .904 OPS.
Today marks Rodriguez's 52nd elite rating on Batters-Box. In his previous 51 elite ratings, he's gone Over this prop 45% of the time and has left the yard in 21% of those contests. He's also gone Over 1.5 total bases in seven of his last 10 elite-rated games.
The young slugger draws Trevor Rogers this evening, a pitcher against whom he owns an 80.2% arsenal coverage rating.
The lefty has allowed right-handed hitters to do just about whatever they want this season, surrendering 42.4% hard contact at home. Over the last 60 right-handed batters he's faced, opponents have posted a .320 xBA, .514 xSLG, and .340 xwOBA. During that same stretch, Rogers has allowed 45.8% hard contact, an 8.3% barrel rate, and a massive 68.8% elevation rate.
Anything below -120 for this prop is a go in my book. Don't want to lay the juice? Take his home run prop or a double prop for a little more value.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, SEAM
Ian Happ Over 1.5 total bases (-124)
My shirt is covered in drool because these numbers for Chicago Cubs switch-hitter Ian Happ to go over his total bases prop tonight at Coors Field are absolutely delectable.
The longtime Cub has been tearing the cover off the ball lately, batting .414 with a 1.034 SLG and 1.467 OPS over his last 30 at-bats against right-handed pitchers. During that stretch, he's generated 59.1% hard contact and a 13.6% barrel rate.
Happ draws seasoned Colorado Rockies sophomore Tomoyuki Sugano, who owns the worst pitcher rating on Batters-Box's current season rankings. The veteran Japanese right-hander is allowing 50.71% hard contact to opposing hitters while carrying just a 13.33% strikeout rate.
Left-handed bats have absolutely torched him recently. Over the last 60 lefties he's faced, opponents have posted a 49% hard-contact rate, 25.5% barrel rate, and 72.6% elevation rate. Those hitters have also produced a ridiculous .429 xBA, .977 xSLG, and .548 xwOBA during that span.
With this game at Coors Field, Happ carrying 78.7% arsenal coverage, and Sugano getting shelled, I have to be all over Mr. Happ's total bases tonight. If this number climbs, I'd pivot to his double and home run props instead.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, COLR
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 Total Bases (+111)
We are really here for the value. Getting Shohei Ohtani to go Over 1.5 bases at +111 is a gift. I do not care if Jesus Christ in his prime is on the mound; Ohtani always has a chance.
He has cleared 2+ bases in eight of his last 10 elite-rated road spots.
If you want to pay the -125 price on his hits + runs + RBI prop, I fully endorse that as well. The trend is your friend there.
Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Ohtani is hitting .423 with a .645 slugging percentage and a 1.154 OPS, while generating 63.2% hard contact. He also has a 73.7% arsenal coverage rate against Skenes’ pitch mix.
Even if Skenes has success early, once Pittsburgh goes to the bullpen, Ohtani is still in a strong position to do damage. The Pirates bullpen allows the highest hard-contact rate to left-handed hitters at home, and is also allowing an 82.8% elevation rate.
At +111, this feels like a steal. Even if it does not always hit, the price itself is the win. I would take this down to +100.
Do not forget to sprinkle on the home run as well; it's hovering around 4/1.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNP, SNLA
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 197-345-29, +1.30 units
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 Maven wonders how Rangers fans feel about ex-Blueshirt bench boss Peter Laviolette getting the Kings head coaching gig.
Like many of Lavvy's NHL stints – remember, he broke in with the Islanders – Pete did some good things with the Rangers because he's got savvy, experience and a few other good qualities.
But he couldn't fix the Rangers clubhouse negativity and the fact that – whatever Pete's message – his troops reacted as if they had "heard that song before."
We wish him luck in L.A. but I don't expect any John Tortorella miracles!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 02: Colt Emerson #4 of the Seattle Mariners makes a catch for the final out against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on June 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the last three weeks, Colt Emerson has made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners, notched his first MLB hit with a home run, hit his first career triple, hit three more home runs, and made some stellar plays at third base. Emerson still can’t legally buy a beer yet, but his scorching first three weeks in the league are a big part of the Mariners getting their season on track with winning streaks, home run-fueled comebacks, and walk-off victories at home. He’s become extremely important at work in a very short amount of time, so much so that when he was a late-scratch for Monday’s game with back tightness, the collar-tugging was palatable around Mariners-ville.
Hopefully it’s nothing a couple days off won’t fix, but before that happened, I asked y’all in the FEED last week to submit your hottest takes regarding Emerson’s ceiling and floor as player. What audacious heights will he reach? Will his lows be trench-like or simply pedestrian? Let’s review some responses and throw some rankings on them using my patented and very scientific Mariners Hot Take Ranking System:
Poster SomethingTotallyIllogical says:
“His three preseason ZiPs comps were the 20 y.o. seasons of Jurickson Profar, Roy White, and JP Crawford.
Profar, oscillation around replacement until steroids.
Roy White (1965-1979), 41 WAR career. First positive WAR in fourth season age 24. Median season 3 WAR, max 5.8.
JP, replacement level until arriving in Seattle age 24. Should be at 20 WAR career end-of-season. Median season 1.9 WAR, max 4.8.“
Hmmm, ZiPs here provides an interesting range of player comps with Profar being the floor, J.P. being the mid-to-upper range, and Roy White being a very high ceiling. Also, wow, Roy White. I was not familiar with your game! Dude played left field for 15 seasons for the Yankees, posted 6.8 WAR in 1970 while playing all 162 games. Sure, sign me up for that! Rating this take an IWAKUMA.
Poster jmozeika says:
“As a ceiling I kind of have him in the Corey Seager but healthy range (so less down years, and more longevity).. maybe 55 career fWAR. Maybe slightly better than Corey Seager because of his discerning eye and better plate discipline.
The floor? Maybe a pre-2021 JP Crawford. Good glove, but the bat for some reason just doesn’t stick. 1.5 to 2.0 fWAR during his prime years but falls out of usefulness as he ages out of his glove.“
Sure, healthy Corey Seager sounds smashing. I will also take that any day. And another J.P. mention but his not-s0-great seasons as his floor. Wouldn’t be terrible, but a bit disappointing given Colt’s hot start. Rating this take a BOSIO.
Poster aubrey94 says:
“ceiling I think J-Ram; there is no floor but I’ll say Adam Frazier.”
I’ve always wanted a Jose Ramirez on the Mariners. However, I do not want another Captain Slapdick. Bonus points for invoking the obvious LL floor meme. Rating this take as BRASH because it made me think of Colt knocking someone out like Ramirez did to Tim Anderson.
Poster volta-verve says:
“I think he could be a consistent 3/4 WAR guy. I expect him to be 10/20% better than league average with average or plus shortstop defense. His floor would be something like a league average batter with mediocre defense. His ceiling is unfortunately limited by his relative lack of power, but that could change if he grows into it. He’s only 20. Best case scenario, he starts hitting 20/25 homers a year with plus shortstop defense, which is more of a 5/6 WAR player.”
In terms of projections, I find this to be both quite rational and very exciting. A plus-defensive shortstop posting 3 to 6 WAR a season? Oh, so early career Alex Rodriguez is back? Spectacular. Giving this one an BRASH because having a shortstop who rakes feels like the dream of every roster builder that so rarely comes true.
Poster Rumdoodle says:
“Ceiling: Hall of Fame
Floor: Colt Emerson, Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim, Disneyland, California”
Well, someone had to say it. By it, I mean the Hall of Fame. Now that’s a ceiling. A very high one. Combined with a floor that can only be described as a fate worse than death, I have no choice but to brand this take with a sizzling CLIFF LEE. The highest highs and lowest lows.
All right, wrapping it up here. Thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts. Let’s cross our fingers for no IL trip for our boy Colt and go Mariners!
The Cincinnati Reds visit the San Diego Padres this evening as they eye another victory behind ace Chase Burns.
With Burns on the mound and a favorable matchup looming for Cincy's offense, my Reds vs. Padres predictions have the road team prevailing at Petco Park.
Find out more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Reds vs Padres today: Reds (-119)
Chase Burns has put himself in the NL Cy Young conversation this year with a stellar 2.05 ERA and a 7-1 record. The Cincinnati Reds' right-hander has also pitched extremely well on the road this season, compiling a 2.71 FIP and averaging 12.30 Ks per nine innings against 1.80 walks per nine innings.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are struggling immensely at the dish lately, carrying a .191 average and .109 ISO over the last seven days. They're not squaring up the baseball much right now, and San Diego's 23.9% strikeout rate is concerning against a guy like Burns.
On the other side, Lucas Giolito owns a 47.8% hard-hit rate across his last two appearances and an xERA north of six. The Reds have still generated a 38% hard-hit rate across their last six games, suggesting the Reds are capable of taking advantage if Giolito's struggles continue.
I'd play this up to -140.
COVERS INTEL: Giolito has walked 7.2 hitters per nine innings this season across four starts, so expect plenty of traffic on the basepaths tonight.
Reds vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+105)
Giolito is far from reliable, and San Diego's bullpen owns a 5.10 xERA over the last week. More importantly, the Padres relievers have allowed a 50% hard-hit rate during that span.
As for Cincinnati, its bullpen has posted a 5.26 FIP over the last two weeks while walking 4.80 hitters per nine innings. Burns has pitched beyond the sixth inning just once this season, so the Reds' relievers will likely be asked to cover multiple frames as well.
Burns has also allowed two earned runs in each of his last two starts. Even if he pitches well, the bullpens can push this game Over.
Playable to -110.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 21-18, +1.92 units
Over/Under bets: 22-16, +2.25 units
Reds vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Reds -119 | Padres +110
Run line: Reds -1.5 (+156) | Padres +1.5 (-163)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+105) | Under 7.5 (-125)
Reds vs Padres trend
Cincinnati has hit the game total Over in 27 of its last 40 games (+12.55 Units / 28% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Padres.
How to watch Reds vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, Padres.TV
Reds starting pitcher
Chase Burns (7-1, 2.05 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Lucas Giolito (2-1, 4.86 ERA)
Reds vs Padres latest injuries
Reds vs Padres weather
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 Atlanta Braves have been the league's most prolific road offense against right-handed pitching.
With the NL's best showing no signs of slowing down, my Braves vs. White Sox predictions expect their lethal attack to lead the charge against Erick Fedde tonight.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Braves vs White Sox today: Braves (-155)
Erick Fedde owns a 4.94 ERA, and the numbers under the hood are even worse.
He cannot miss bats, and that's a recipe for disaster against the Atlanta Braves, who are fourth in wOBA, second in SLG, and third in fly ball rate against right-handed pitchers.
Look for the offense to power Atlanta to victory. Playable to -165.
Braves vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 9 (-120)
Fedde has allowed a .322 average and .400 wOBA over his last five starts, the worst marks among any pitcher on today’s slate. He is heading for trouble against a Braves' offense that ranks second in OPS against right-handed pitching.
Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox should get to Grant Holmes as well. He has conceded multiple runs against opponents who rank Top-20 in OPS vs. righties, and the Sox sit ninth.
Playable to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 25-21, -2.08 units
Over/Under bets: 21-23-2, -5.01 units
Braves vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Braves -155 | White Sox +135
Run line: Braves -1.5 (-105) | White Sox +1.5 (-125)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-120) | Under 9.0 (+100)
Braves vs White Sox trend
Atlanta has hit the moneyline in 30 of its last 40 road games (+18.95 units, 36% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. White Sox.
How to watch Braves vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, CHSN
Braves starting pitcher
Grant Holmes (4-2, 3.86 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (1-5, 4.94 ERA)
Braves vs White Sox latest injuries
Braves vs White Sox weather
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.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels first baseman Trey Mancini, a cancer survivor and former Baltimore slugger, had three hits in his first major league game since 2023 in a 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros in 10 innings.
Mancini delivered a run-scoring single in the second inning in his first at-bat. He singled again leading off the fourth before adding a third single in the eighth.
The Angels selected the contract of Mancini and put him in the lineup at first base against the Astros after placing infielders Vaughn Grissom (left oblique strain) and Adam Frazier (right elbow inflammation) on the 10-day injured list.
Mancini, 34, agreed to a minor league contract with the Angels in February, a deal that included an invitation to major league spring training. Mancini hit .273 with six homers, 29 RBIs and three steals for Triple-A Salt Lake this year.
Mancini has batted .263 with 129 homers and 400 RBIs over parts of seven seasons in the majors. He played parts of six seasons with the Orioles and hit a career-high 29 homers in 2019.
Mancini then missed the 2020 season after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon. He made a successful return to the Orioles in 2021, and he won a World Series ring in 2022 after Baltimore traded him to Houston.
He spent part of the 2023 season with the Chicago Cubs. He has since played in the minor league systems of the Reds, Marlins and Diamondbacks.
Mancini opted out of a minor league deal with Arizona last July after batting .308 with 16 homers for Triple-A Reno.
The Angels also recalled infielder Denzer Guzman from Salt Lake and transferred infielder Yoán Moncada to the 60-day injured list.
Although the New York Yankees are road favorites, I am eyeing the underdog value with the Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians just proved their high-contact approach works against Gerrit Cole, and while Slade Cecconi is an inferior arm, the Yanks' offense is vulnerable without their captain in the order.
Read all about it in my Yankees vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 9.
Who will win Yankees vs Guardians today: Guardians moneyline (+105)
I backed the Cleveland Guardians in this same matchup already last week and don’t see a reason to change now. The Guardians got Gerrit Cole for four runs last, and their high-contact approach continues to exploit his limited room for error.
While Cole’s 2.49 xERA looks elite, that 22.0% ground-ball rate is a massive concern against a team that can elevate the ball, but more importantly, puts the ball in play with the lowest whiff rate in the sport.
Slade Cecconi won’t blow anyone away, but the New York Yankees are severely depleted without Aaron Judge. Play to -110
COVERS INTEL: Cleveland’s projected lineup has six hitters at a 13.8% strikeout rate or lower, giving the Guardians the contact depth to keep testing Cole’s low-whiff profile.
Yankees vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)
My eyes are on the Over here, as both lineups possess a viable path to production despite the absence of Judge.
Slade Cecconi’s 4.47 xERA and mediocre 18.4% strikeout rate suggest the Yankees will have plenty of opportunities to put the ball in play and manufacture traffic on the basepaths.
On the other side, Cleveland can repeat their recent success against Cole by sticking to their established blueprint. I’m comfortable taking the Over up to 9 at +100.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 28-22, +5.71 units
Over/Under bets: 31-19, +15.02 units
Yankees vs Guardians odds
Moneyline: Yankees -112 | Guardians +108
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+144) | Guardians +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-112) | Under 8.5 (+108)
Yankees vs Guardians trend
The Cleveland Guardians have covered the first five innings (F5) run line in 30 of their last 50 games (+9.55 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Guardians.
How to watch Yankees vs Guardians and game info
Location
Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Date
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.00 ERA)
Guardians starting pitcher
Slade Cecconi (3-5, 4.92 ERA)
Yankees vs Guardians latest injuries
Yankees vs Guardians weather
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.
LAS VEGAS — Athletics third baseman Max Muncy came off the injured list after missing about six weeks with a fracture in his left hand.
The Athletics announced before their game against Milwaukee in Las Vegas that they had reinstated Muncy. They optioned infielder Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Muncy was recovering from a fractured fifth metacarpal. He last played on April 25.
Muncy is batting .239 with a .308 on-base percentage, two homers, seven RBIs and two steals in 26 games.
Hernaiz batted .237 with a .318 on-base percentage, one homer, seven RBIs and three steals in 47 games.
Jun 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) hits a two run home run during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Boston Red Sox have gotten everything they could have dreamed of when acquiring Willson Contreras.
I don’t think that is breaking news to anyone. Not only does he seem to be the only guy who gives a shit, but he has stabilized a position that became a real issue over the last few seasons. He hits for both average and power, plays superb defense, has displayed leadership qualities that are missing from other veterans, and he’s cool! It’s as good an addition as this franchise has made this decade, especially considering the fact they gave up three pitchers who haven’t contributed anything to the St. Louis Cardinals.
I wouldn’t exactly say that makes him untouchable, though…
Contreras isn’t just one of the club’s trade chips — Aroldis Chapman, Sonny Gray, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten, Jarren Duran, and Masataka Yoshida can all go, too — but he’s undoubtedly the club’s best trade chip.
Contreras entered the week slashing .298/.391/.540 with 13 home runs and 39 runs batted in — with that .931 OPS ranking third behind Ben Rice (1.032) and Munetaka Murakami (.938). If we’re talking about right-handed bats, he might be the best and most affordable option on the market. Taylor Ward isn’t better. Byron Buxton would cost triple. Matt Chapman is having the worst year of his career. It’s an indisputable fact that your first baseman could fetch quite a package in a trade, which is why he’s more valuable to you as a trade chip than an everyday player.
Boston is straight up terrible, and despite the fact that the Sox are only a few games back in the race for that final playoff spot, there is little hope that postseason baseball will actually materialize for this club. If it somehow does, there’s even less hope that they can make a run to a title.
(As a quick aside, I’m of the belief that you play for championships. Making the playoffs just to say you made the playoffs is loser shit that should be saved for franchises like the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, and Las Oaklamento Athletics — not the Boston Red Sox.)
Contreras is technically under contract through 2028, which is why some folks view him as a long-term piece. I just view that as another reason why he’ll be worth more in a trade, as the incoming lockout and lack of true direction for this franchise make it far less likely that they’ll be ready to compete for championships by the end of it.
I don’t want to hear about how hard it has been to find a first baseman, either!
Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Abraham Toro, and Dom Smith have ruined all of your brains! It’s actually quite easy, as is evidenced by Murakami taking an outrageously team-friendly deal in Chicago, Rafael Devers, Bryce Harper, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all made the position change relatively easily. It’s not as hard as some have made it out to be.
I just want to see this organization tear things down from the studs, which means firing a few guys, trading others, and resetting the philosophy that has players fighting with coaches and ownership side-eyeing the front-office.
One way to kick things off with a bang? Trade the only guy who has made a difference for the better.
The Rangers are the only Major League Baseball team that has never hosted a Pride Night, an event commonly held during Pride Month to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2026, the team’s schedule again does not include a themed Pride Night for this specific cause.
Instead, the team's community night schedule lists a "Faith and Family Night" on Thursday, June 18, in a game against the Minnesota Twins. The team is also set to recognize mental health awareness, military, first responders and healthcare workers in the month of June.
USA TODAY reached out to the Texas Rangers for comment on its community nights schedule and if there are plans to add a Pride Night in the future but has not heard back as of yet.
For its "Family and Faith Night" Rangers players will share personal testimonies of how faith impacts their lives both on and off the field, according to the MLB website. "Join us for a special afternoon of community, connection, and celebration," the event reads.
What is MLB Pride Night?
MLB Pride Night is a themed event hosted by many Major League Baseball teams during June, which is recognized as Pride Month. The games are designed to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ fans, players and communities.
Pride Nights typically include special in-game programming such as ceremonial first pitches, LGBTQIA+ community recognitions, themed merchandise, ticket packages, and partnerships with local advocacy organizations. Some teams also use the event to spotlight nonprofit groups working on inclusion and equality initiatives.
While the structure and branding vary by club, MLB does not require teams to host Pride Night, so participation is left to individual franchises.
Has the Rangers franchise explained why it does not host Pride Night?
The Texas Rangers have not offered a specific explanation for why they do not host a Pride Night.
When asked about it, the franchise has generally responded with broad inclusivity language, emphasizing that the organization aims to make all fans feel welcome at the ballpark. However, it has not directly addressed the absence of a Pride Night or provided a stated policy rationale for not participating.
In a 2023 interview with NBC DFW, the team said: "Our commitment is to make everyone feel welcome and included in Rangers baseball. That means in our ballpark, at every game, and in all we do — for both our fans and our employees. We deliver on that promise across our many programs to have a positive impact across our entire community.”
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $50 trading bonus after you deposit $50 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/polymarketlogo.png" alt="Polymarket" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
*Eligible locations only
Josh Inglis' expert pick: Cardinals/Mets Over 7.5
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
This is one of the best Overs on the board, with 9.44 runs projected and a fair price of -133 on Over 8. The weather is a major factor, with 15-mph winds blowing out to center field in what should be one of the better hitting environments of the day.
Freddy Peralta is a fly-ball pitcher with concerning HR/FB metrics, making him vulnerable in these conditions. On the other side, Dustin May has been getting squared up at one of the highest rates among MLB starters over the last 30 days and now faces a New York Mets lineup that ranks among the Top 8 in slugging over the last two weeks.
The St. Louis Cardinals aren't typically known for their power, but this matchup and ballpark environment should help elevate their offensive ceiling. With favorable weather, two pitchers carrying home-run risk, and strong projection support, this Over stands out as one of the best totals on the slate.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: Cardinals.TV, SNY
Jon Metler's expert pick: Pirates moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
You rarely get the chance to back the Pittsburgh Pirates at this price when Paul Skenes is on the mound, but that’s exactly the opportunity the market is giving us against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
On paper, the Dodgers appear to have a strong platoon advantage with left-handed hitters like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Kyle Tucker, and Max Muncy in the lineup. In reality, Skenes is one of the few right-handed pitchers capable of minimizing that advantage. His elite sinker-splitter combination tunnels perfectly off a triple-digit fastball, with the splitter diving away from left-handed hitters.
That movement makes it extremely difficult to pull the ball with authority and helps explain why lefties are hitting just .194 with a .554 OPS against him. The Pirates are trading around 52-cent favorites, but I make them closer to 58-cent favorites in this matchup.
That gap is enough for me to back Pittsburgh at this price.
As a result, I'm anticipating the Chicago line to cash in on statistical correction against a struggling Sugano. Additionally, Cubs starter Colin Rea has surrendered a .191 batting average while allowing just seven runs across his past three starts, so I’m confident he can limit the damage enough for the Cubbies to pull away.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: Marquee, Rockies.TV
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.
Lars Nootbaar
Josh Jung
Seiya Suzuki
Julio Rodriguez 
Shohei Ohtani
COVERS INTEL: Giolito has walked 
