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Schwarber showcases golf skills following historic night

Schwarber showcases golf skills following historic night originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kyle Schwarber’s performance on Thursday night will be discussed for years to come.

So it’s understandable that Schwarber’s four-home run outburst a 19-4 win over the Braves was still the talk of the Phillies clubhouse on Friday afternoon.

“Incredible,” Jesús Luzardo said of Schwarber becoming the 21st player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. “I’ve never seen that. It was one of a kind. He’s such a good dude that I think everyone was on the top step rooting for him.”

Schwarber missed the opportunity to hit a fifth home run in the eighth inning, flying out to shallow left field with Braves infielder Vidal Brujan on the mound.

“Even when he got out he handled it so well,” Luzardo said. “He was able to laugh about it. He’s such a good sport so it’s easy to root for him when things are going good like that. Last night was one for the history books.”

Schwarber will take aim at more history on Friday.

The Phillies’ record for most home runs in a two-game span is five, set by Mike Schmidt in 1976. Schmidt hit four home runs against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 17th of that season then added another homer the following day.

Schwarber Stays Hot

One day after clubbing four home runs, Schwarber added a golf championship to his resume.

The Phillies held a closest to the pin competition before batting practice on Friday to determine the draft order for their fantasy football league.

A group of players that included Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Jesus Luzardo and Harrison Bader hit pitching wedges from home plate to a makeshift flag in center field.

The winner?

‘Who do you think?” Bader asked afterwards.

That would be Schwarber, who put his wedge within 10 feet of the flag.

“He had to do it after his big night,” Bader said with a smile.

“I’m going to ask him to buy me a lottery ticket,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson joked. “He’s hot.”

The expectation in the clubhouse is that Schwarber – a Bengals fan who grew up in the Cincinnati suburbs – will take wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the first pick.

Outfield Shuffle

Deciding the Phillies’ starting outfield on a daily basis is a delicate balance.

“The challenge is really trying to figure it out,” Thomson said before Friday’s game. “Just really trying to figure out what the rotation is, matchup history, how hot a guy is at the time, (batting) splits, putting all those things together and trying to figure out who the three guys are in the lineup that day. It’s difficult.”

So far the Phillies manager is pressing all the right buttons.

Thomson gave Max Kepler the start in right field on Thursday and Kepler responded with a two-run home run in the first inning. Kepler is hitting .342 with two home runs, six RBI and a .912 OPS in his last 10 games.

Nick Castellanos will be in right field Friday while Kepler moves to left field and Brandon Marsh starts in center field. Castellanos is 4-for-8 with four home runs in his career against Braves starter Bryce Elder.

Harrison Bader is the odd man out Friday despite collecting four hits on Thursday night. Bader is hitting .538 with five extra base hits in his last seven games.

“It was just basically the numbers Nick (Castellanos) has against their starter,” Thomson said when asked why Bader isn’t in Friday’s lineup. “It was a tough call, to tell you the truth. Bader has played the last six in a row and we have a long stretch (of games) ahead. He could probably use the day off.”   

On the Hill

Reigning NL Player of the Week Ranger Suarez takes the mound for the second game of this four-game set against the Braves.

Suarez is 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in his last two starts with 21 strikeouts and zero walks. He’s had success against Atlanta, allowing just one earned run in 13 innings (0.69 ERA) in two starts against the Braves this season.

Meanwhile Elder has struggled throughout the 2025 season. His 6.12 ERA ranks 107th out of 109 MLB pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched this year.

Elder allowed nine earned runs in just two innings against the Phillies on June 27th. He surrendered three home runs in that game, a 13-0 Phillies win.

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Mets activate Jonah Tong ahead of big-league debut, option Kevin Herget

The Mets have officially added Jonah Tong to the active roster ahead of his big-league debut Friday night against the Marlins on SNY. 

Tong dominated across two levels of the minors before receiving the highly-anticipated call. 

The 22-year-old top prospect pitched to a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while striking out a whopping 179 batters over 22 starts between Double-A and Triple-A.

He’ll now look to carry that success to the Big Apple down the stretch.

In a corresponding roster move, right-hander Kevin Herget has been optioned to Syracuse. 

Herget threw well in his lone appearance back in the majors, striking out two over 2.2 scoreless innings at the backend of Thursday’s loss to Miami. 

He's now pitched to a strong 1.13 ERA in just four games with the Mets this year. 

New York cleared a spot on the 40 Man Friday by sending Ty Adcock outright to Syracuse. 

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Why did Red Sox release Walker Buehler? Craig Breslow explains decision

Why did Red Sox release Walker Buehler? Craig Breslow explains decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It didn’t come as a surprise when the Red Sox moved Walker Buehler to the bullpen last week given the right-handed starter struggled in the rotation. But it was expected the two-time MLB All-Star would be given some time to gain comfortability in the ‘pen seeing how he started 162 of 164 games since 2018.

That was before circumstances changed, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said after the Red Sox released Buehler on Friday afternoon.

“Our hope and our expectation was we were going to be able to provide enough runway to give him a chance to settle in and transition into that role and then contribute down the stretch and get some meaningful outs for us,” Breslow said before the Red Sox opened a three-game series against the Pirates. “But circumstances changed.”

A key factor, as Breslow indicated, was Boston placing Richard Fitts (right arm neuritis) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. In turn, the Red Sox needed a starter for the back end of their rotation and selected promising left-hander Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester.

Tolle is the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. He’s scheduled to make his MLB debut opposite Pirates superstar Paul Skenes at Fenway Park on Friday.

Red Sox setup man Justin Slaten was activated from the injured list Thursday, as well. Having not pitched since late May, Slaten’s return could help an already-dominant bullpen. He has a 3.47 ERA in 24 games this season.

Breslow admitted it was a tough decision to release Buehler, who the Red Sox signed to a one-year, $21 million deal just eight months ago. Buehler opened the season third in the starting rotation behind left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and right-hander Tanner Houck, whose mid-May injury opened the spot right behind Crochet.

Buehler, however, couldn’t take advantage. He went six-plus innings in eight of his 22 starts and the Red Sox went 12-10 in those contests. The 31-year-old departs Boston after compiling a 5.45 ERA in 112.1 innings across 23 games.

When asked why the Red Sox opted to outright release Buehler as opposed to designating him for assignment and thus give the ballclub time to plot its next move, Breslow expressed it was in fairness to Buehler.

“Just trying to be mindful and respectful of who he is and what he’s accomplished,” Breslow said.

Buehler now has an opportunity to latch on with a team in the midst of a playoff push while Boston believes the arrival of Tolle and return of Slaten to pay dividends down the stretch.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Payton Tolle, Jake Cronenworth and Sal Stewart

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Payton Tolle (SP Red Sox): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues

We’re getting two top pitching prospect debuts Friday with the Mets calling up Jonah Tong and the Red Sox promoting left-hander Payton Tolle to face the Pirates, Tong’s already been picked up in most active leagues, but he comes highly recommend. Tolle, one of the year’s biggest surprises in the minors, probably isn’t quite as good of a short-term bet, but he’s still well worth trying. A 2024 second-round pick out of TCU, Tolle made his pro debut at High-A Greenville this season, opening up with a 3.62 ERA and a 79/14 K/BB in 49 2/3 innings over 11 outings. That earned him a bump to Double-A, where he posted a 1.67 ERA and a 37/7 K/BB in 27 innings. He’d since moved up to Triple-A, where he had a 3.60 ERA and a 17/2 K/BB. It’s not quite as impressive as Tong’s resume, but his overall 3.04 ERA, 36.5% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate is still pretty remarkable.

A low-90s guys in college, Tolle has been working at 94-98 mph this year and often reaching 90 mph on his cutter. His slider is the best of his three breaking balls, and his changeup isn’t bad, though he hasn’t used it much in Triple-A. Standing 6-foot-6, he gets about as much extension on his pitches as anyone in the majors, making everything function as though it’s a little faster than it actually is. His low arm angle would seem to give righties a pretty good look at his pitches, but one wouldn’t know it from the numbers. Both lefties and righties have batted .203 against him this year. Righties have slugged .327, compared to .339 for lefties.

The Red Sox will be cautious with Tolle’s workload, though since he’s at just 91 2/3 innings, he shouldn’t have to be shut down at any point. Mostly, it’s an in-game issue; Tolle hasn’t thrown more than 90 pitches in an outing this year and has been pulled before hitting 75 in each of his last eight starts. It’s probably going to make it tough for him to complete five innings against major league hitters, and he might actually have more fantasy value if the Red Sox gave him the Bubba Chandler treatment and brought him in mid-game. Still, best to pick him up and see what happens.

Jake Cronenworth (2B Padres): Rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues

There’s definitely nothing sexy about grabbing Cronenworth. He doesn’t steal bases, he doesn’t really hit for average and he has only middling power, which has produced 10 homers and 47 RBI in 108 games this season. What he does have is seven games against the Rockies over the next 2 1/2 weeks, and barring an injury, there’s a good chance he’ll start every one of them. He and Ryan O’Hearn, who is 32% rostered at the moment, make for great short-term pickups who can probably be dropped come Sept. 16.

It’s not just the Rockies, either. The Padres are in Minnesota this weekend and then get the Orioles at home in the first half of next week. Their other non-Rockies series comes at home against the Reds. That’s a lot of mediocre arms to take advantage of. One probably doesn’t want Cronenworth rostered over a Jackson Holliday or Xavier Edwards for the rest of the season, but it’s worth making the switch now and figuring out something else for the final two weeks.

Sal Stewart (3B Reds): Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues

The Mets and Red Sox are going for it, and it’s time for the Reds to do the same and bring up their No. 1 prospect in Stewart. Pretty strictly a third baseman in the first half of the season, Stewart has recently been getting starts at second and first as the Reds try to figure out how best to fit him in. Even if he’s cooled off this week, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ solid play for his new team has made third base less of a concern. Second base is the team’s biggest issue right now, and though Spencer Steer has been better of late, the Reds still rank near the bottom of the league in their production at first base.

Stewart opened this year by hitting a fine .306/.377/.473 in 80 games for Double-A Chattanooga, but he’s really taken off since a promotion to Triple-A Louisville; he’s batting .313/.397/.642, and he has as many homers (10) in 156 plate appearances for his new team as he did in 329 for Chattanooga. He’s striking out just 16 percent of the time, and he’s even gone 17-for-20 stealing bases.

It’d be a big mistake if Stewart isn’t the Reds’ offensive addition when rosters expand Monday. They probably shouldn’t even wait out the weekend. Even if they don’t trust him defensively at second, they have the ability to plug in Gavin Lux there and use Stewart mostly at DH. There’s no lack of options for a team playing so many averagish bats. Maybe Stewart won’t be a big upgrade immediately, but he’s earned a shot, and in a nice situation for hitters, he should be picked up in mixed leagues when it comes.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- The Brewers’ Abner Uribe is still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues and could rate as a top-10 closer while Trevor Megill is down with a flexor strain.

- David Hamilton is getting an opportunity at second base against right-handers and is 8-for-18 with a homer and a steal in Boston’s last six games. Those looking for steals might want to give him a try. Hamilton is 18-for-23 swiping bases in 164 plate appearances this season.

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Giants' All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez recommended to have Tommy John surgery

Giants' All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez recommended to have Tommy John surgery originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Giants make one last playoff push, they sustained a massive blow on Friday.

All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez has been recommended to have season-ending Tommy John surgery by multiple doctors, the Giants announced a few hours before opening a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Oracle Park.

Rodriguez will decide on the course of treatment this weekend.

The Giants placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday due to a right elbow sprain, and now he’s likely to miss the entire 2026 season if he undergoes surgery.

The 25-year-old Rodriguez was in the midst of a breakout season when the elbow injury initially popped up. In 50 2/3 innings in 50 appearances this season, he posted a 1.78 ERA with 67 strikeouts and four saves.

Before the MLB All-Star break, Rodriguez was practically unhittable, posting a 0.86 ERA in 41 games. But things didn’t go well after his first Midsummer Classic nod, as he racked up a 6.00 ERA in just nine games.

The Giants likely will use Ryan Walker as the primary closer with Rodriguez done for the season and Camilo Doval in New York after a trade-deadline deal to the Yankees.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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The Rangers' Success This Upcoming Season Could Dictate Artemi Panarin's Future

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers’ success during the 2025-26 season could dictate a lot of things for the organization. 

Artemi Panarin is entering the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract and is in need of a new contract extension. 

Is signing Panarin to a long-term contract extension the direction the Rangers want to go in? 

After missing the playoffs last season, the future of the Rangers seems murky. It’s unclear if last season’s performance was just a fluke or if the Blueshirts are heading toward a downward spiral. 

If their struggles continue, NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes that Panarin could be on the trade block. 

However, if the Rangers are able to bounce back and jump into Stanley Cup contention, Seravalli is under the impression that the Rangers and Panarin will finalize a deal. 

“I could for sure see (a trade) happening if the Rangers are out (of playoff contention),” Seravalli said. “But I’m going to tell you this: I don’t think the Rangers are going to be out. I have the Rangers as a playoff team. I have the Rangers as a bounce-back team.

“New coach, new environment, new mood... I think they can reinvent themselves in a pretty big way this upcoming season. I've got the Rangers in, and if the Rangers are in, I would assume at some point that means finding a deal for Artemi Panarin that makes sense on an extension.”

It’s unknown if the Rangers and Panarin’s camp have engaged in any sort of contract discussions. 

Regardless, Panarin is a cornerstone piece of the franchise, and if the Rangers are able to get back on track, there’s no doubt the 33-year-old forward should be in New York for the foreseeable future.

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Brewers at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Brewers (83-52) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (78-56). Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Shane Bieber for Toronto.

This is the first and only series of the season between Toronto and Milwaukee. Over the last six games, the two are opposites with the Brewers at 2-4 and the Blue Jays at 4-2. Milwaukee has lost or tied its opponent for three straight series after being one of the hottest teams in all of baseball.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 & how to watch Brewers at Blue Jays

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, Sportsnet, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+114), Blue Jays (-136)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Shane Bieber
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (15-5, 2.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Blue Jays: Shane Bieber, (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Blue Jays

  • Toronto is 4-2 over the next 6 games
  • Milwaukee is 2-4 over the last 6 games
  • In the Blue Jays' last 10 games where they've held a rest advantage over their opponents the Under is 7-3
  • The Blue Jays are 1-9 against the Run Line on the last 10 occasions that they've had a rest advantage
  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 at American League teams

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Blue Jays

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Brewers and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Cardinals at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Cardinals (66-69) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (68-66). Matthew Liberatore is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Zack Littell for Cincinnati.

The Cardinals are Reds are tied for the season series at four games apiece as they prepare for this three-game series. Both enter on bit of losing skids with St. Louis at 2-4 over the last six games and Cincinnati at 1-6 over the past seven (0-3 in the last three). The Reds are 4.0 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot while the Cardinals are 6.5 back.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 & how to watch Cardinals at Reds

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, FDSNOH

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cardinals at the Reds

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (+106), Reds (-126)
  • Spread:  Reds -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Matthew Liberatore vs. Zack Littell
    • Cardinals: Matthew Liberatore, (6-11, 4.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 8.31 ERA, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Zack Littell, (9-8, 3.58 ERA)
      Last outing: 9.00 ERA, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at Reds

  • The two are tied at 4-4 on the season
  • Cincinnati is 0-3 in the last 3 games and 1-6 in the past 7
  • St. Louis is 2-4 in the last 6 games
  • The Over is 7-2-1 for the Cardinals' and the Reds' last 5 games combined
  • The Cardinals have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 games
  • The Cardinals have lost their last 3 games against teams with better records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cardinals and the Reds

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Cardinals and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the St. Louis Cardinals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler

Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Once viewed as a veteran starting pitcher who would help the Red Sox in their pursuit of meaningful late-season baseball, right-hander Walker Buehler won’t be in Boston to see it.

The Red Sox released Buehler eight months after they signed him to a one-year, $21 million deal, the team announced Friday afternoon before opening a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A two-time MLB All-Star, Buehler began the season as the No. 3 starter in Boston’s rotation behind left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and right-hander Tanner Houck. Houck was placed on the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain on May 13, which figured to open the door for Buehler to cement himself as a top-of-rotation complement for the lefty Crochet.

Unfortunately for both the two-time World Series champion and the Red Sox, Buehler failed to deliver on those expectations.

Buehler went 7-7 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts for the Red Sox this season. He surpassed six innings pitched in eight of those 22 starts and Boston was 12-10 in those games.

Buehler’s struggles prompted manager Alex Cora to demote him to the bullpen last week. While a change wasn’t unexpected — and was a move Buehler understood — he responded by allowing two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings at Yankee Stadium.

That outing marked his final appearance for the Red Sox, who opted not to use Buehler in any of its four games against the Orioles this week. Boston swept the four-game series with three of those wins coming by one run — situations where Cora notably didn’t use Buehler.

In other roster moves Friday, the Red Sox selected left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester, recalled infielder/outfielder Nick Sogard and optioned outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia.

Tolle, the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox farm system, will make his MLB debut opposite Pirates ace Paul Skenes at Fenway Park on Friday night.

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Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler

Red Sox announce release of right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Once viewed as a veteran starting pitcher who would help the Red Sox in their pursuit of meaningful late-season baseball, right-hander Walker Buehler won’t be in Boston to see it.

The Red Sox released Buehler eight months after they signed him to a one-year, $21 million deal, the team announced Friday afternoon before opening a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A two-time MLB All-Star, Buehler started the season third in Boston’s rotation behind left-handed ace Garrett Crochet and right-hander Tanner Houck. Houck was placed on the injured list with a right flexor pronator strain on May 13, which figured to open the door for Buehler to cement himself as a top-of-rotation complement for the lefty Crochet.

Unfortunately for both the two-time World Series champion and they Red Sox, Buehler failed to deliver on those expectations.

Buehler went 7-7 with a 5.40 ERA in 22 starts for the Red Sox. Boston was 12-10 in games Buehler started, prompting manager Alex Cora to demote Buehler to the bullpen last week. While a change wasn’t unexpected, and was a move Buehler understood, he gave up two runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium last Friday.

It marked his final appearance for the Red Sox, who opted not to use Buehler in any of its four games against the Baltimore Orioles. Boston swept the four-game series with three one-run wins at Camden Yards.

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Kyle Schwarber's 4-homer game was historic, but his harmless pop-up averted controversy

Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber reacts after a home run during a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hits one of his four home runs Thursday in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

Kyle Schwarber's last swing Thursday night was a disappointment. He'd hit four home runs, and in the eighth inning had a chance to become the first player in major league history to hit a fifth. He popped up.

By doing so, however, the Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter averted a certain controversy and cries that his accomplishment was tainted.

Why? Because the pitcher he faced was Atlanta Braves infielder Vidal Bruján, a position player mopping up the last inning of the Phillies' 19-4 victory at Citizens Bank Park.

Bruján lobbed a 57.4 mph pitch over the middle of the plate. Schwarber hit it straight into the air for an infield-fly rule out. Controversy averted.

By going deep in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Schwarber became the 21st player to hit four home runs in a game, an accomplishment even more rare than a perfect game, 24 of which have been pitched.

Schwarber was only the fourth player to get a chance to hit a fifth homer, joining Mike Cameron (2002), Lou Gehrig (1932) and Bobby Lowe (1894). Everyone else on the list hit their fourth home run in their last at-bat.

"I thought he was going to do it, I really did,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters after the game. “There was no doubt in my mind."

Schwarber was less sure. He has 333 career home runs and an MLB-leading 49 this season, but has zero home runs in 15 plate appearances against position players, against whom he is two for 10 with two walks, two hit-by-pitches and one sacrifice fly.

"I've got a mental block somewhere in my head that I'm not very good against position players,” Schwarber said.

His difficulty is an anomaly. Bruján has an earned-run average of 27.00 in three career pitching appearances, having given up two home runs and nine runs in three innings.

Read more:'Very awkward.' Dodgers wave the white flag historically early in rout to Padres

The Dodgers have used two position players to finish games this season. Kiké Hernández has an ERA of 15.10 in 5 1/3 innings and Miguel Rojas has a 12.60 ERA in five innings, including two in a 16-0 loss to the Cubs when he had the dugout laughing by imitating his teammates.

Rojas wore Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s blue glove, wiggled the ball in it and hesitated during his windup. He imitated Clayton Kershaw, raising his glove high above his head going into the stretch. He tried to look like rookie Roki Sasaki, bending his back knee and lifting his front leg uncomfortably high before releasing the pitch.

All of which took a bit of the sting out of the Dodgers' worst shutout loss in franchise history.

“I guess a little bit of levity in a game like that is certainly helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It just shows [Rojas] watches the games. To be able to throw two innings was huge for us, and we needed every bit of that.”

Yet the ERA of position players pitching since 2021 has been about 10.00, according to FanGraphs. Not everybody is laughing.

Read more:Roki Sasaki takes another step forward, Dodgers' offense regresses in laugher of a loss

Why do position players find themselves on the mound? The practice is stomached by managers who want to protect their actual pitchers from overuse. It's a way of throwing in the towel, waving the white flag, wishing for the mercy rule used in youth baseball.

MLB has acknowledged that the prevalence of position players pitching has become a problem, with critics saying the practice makes a mockery of the game and impacts the validity of statistics — a sacred part of baseball.

As Times assistant sports editor Houston Mitchell wrote, "Might as well bring in the stilts guy from the Savannah Bananas to pitch."

MLB responded in 2023 by implementing a rule restricting the use of position players pitching to games where a team is trailing by at least eight runs at any point, leading by 10 runs in the ninth inning, or in extra innings.

It hasn't done much to stem the tide. Teams are on pace this season to challenge the 2022 record of 132 pitching appearances by position players. As recently as 2008, there were only three such pitching appearances and in 2006 there were none.

So Schwarber hitting a historic fifth home run off anyone other than a legitimate pitcher would have triggered howls from purists and anyone else who believes crushing a 57.4 mph pitch into the seats is a joke.

Read more:Shaikin: How Shohei Ohtani turned the Dodgers into a global entertainment gateway

As it was, belting four homers was quite a feat. Schwarber is the fourth Phillies player to do so, joining Mike Schmidt (1976), Chuck Klein (1936) and Ed Delahanty (1896). He also was the third player to do so this season, joining Eugenio Suárez of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Nick Kurtz of the Athletics.

Others on the short list include the Dodgers' Shawn Green in 2002, who in a 16-3 win over the Brewers also doubled and singled to set a record with 19 total bases.

Schwarber got an early start with a 450-foot solo homer in the first inning and a two-run shot in the third. He added a three-run homer in the fifth and finished with another three-run blast in the seventh inning.

When it looked like he'd get one last at-bat in the eighth, Schwarber yelled out a question while hitting in the underground batting cage adjacent to the dugout.

“I shouldn't have even asked the question, but I was like, 'How many guys have hit five?'” Schwarber said. “And nobody said anything, so I was like, 'Oh, OK, well that answers the question.'"

Thanks to his pop fly against Bruján, the answer remains the same: Nobody.

And thanks to his pop fly against Bruján, nobody can complain that a cherished record was broken in a way that would have raised the ire of many.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Pirates at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Pirates (59-76) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (75-60). Paul Skenes is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Boston.

The Red Sox have yet to name its starting pitcher but it may not matter. Boston is hot with four straight wins and seven of the past eight as they meet Skenes at Fenway. Over the last eight games, Boston has scored 36 runs.

However, Pittsburgh is heating up too. The Pirates have won six of the past eight games and scored 36 runs in the same span as the Red Sox. Pittsburgh's won three of the last four Skenes' starts, so we will see if that success continues in Boston.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 & how to watch Pirates at Red Sox

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, NESN, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Pirates at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (-110), Red Sox (-110)
  • Spread:  Red Sox 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Red Sox

Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Paul Skenes vs. TBA

  • Pirates: Paul Skenes, (8-9, 2.07 ERA)
    Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
  • Red Sox: TBA

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Red Sox

  • The Pirates won 4-0 in Skenes' last start
  • The Pirates are 3-1 in Skenes' last 4 starts
  • Pittsburgh is 6-2 in the last 8 games
  • Boston is 7-1 in the last 8 games
  • Boston is 4-0 in the last 4 games
  • The Over is 12-7-1 in the Pirates' last 10 road games and the Red Sox's last 10 at home combined
  • The Pirates have covered the Run Line in 6 straight games
  • The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against teams with worse records

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Pirates and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Red Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Mariners at Guardians Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Mariners (72-62) are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians (66-66). George Kirby is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Logan Allen for Cleveland.

The Guardians broke a six-game losing streak with two consecutive victories over the Rays to win that three-game series. Seattle on the other hand has won three of the past four games and won back-to-back series over the Athletics and Padres. The Mariners hosted the Guardians for a three-game set in Seattle earlier this season and the Mariners won all three by 12 combined runs. Can the Guardians stay or get hot and return the favor at home?

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 & how to watch Mariners at Guardians

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: RSNW, CLEG

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mariners at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (-157), Guardians (+132)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: George Kirby vs. Logan Allen
    • Mariners: George Kirby, (8-6, 4.05 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
    • Guardians: Logan Allen, (7-10, 4.35 ERA)
      Last outing: 16.20 ERA, 9 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mariners at Guardians

  • Seattle is 3-0 versus Cleveland this year
  • Cleveland is 2-6 in the past 8 games
  • Seattle is 3-1 in the last 4 games and 4-2 over the past 6 games
  • Seattle is 4-7 in the past 11 games
  • Both starting pitchers teams have lost each of their last two games (Kirby, Allen)
  • The Mariners' last 4 road games at the Guardians have gone over the Total
  • The Mariners have failed to cover the Run Line in 12 of their last 15 road games
  • The Mariners have lost 7 of their last 10 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Guardians

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Mariners and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Posted on

Mets vs. Marlins: How to watch on SNY on Aug. 29, 2025

The Mets continue a four-game series against the Marlins at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Jonah Tong will be on the mound for his major league debut. Tong, 22, tore through Double-A and Triple-A this season, posting a 1.43 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while striking out a whopping 179 batters in 113.2 innings over 22 starts
  • Mark Vientosis slashing .357.404/.881 with six homers, four doubles, and 17 RBI in 47 plate appearances over his last 11 games
  • Starling Marte is hitting .354/.404/.582 with four homers and six doubles in 79 plate appearances over his last 24 games
MARLINS
METS
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

Posted on

Diamondbacks at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for August 29

It's Friday, August 29 and the Diamondbacks (66-69) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (77-57). Zac Gallen is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Blake Snell for Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is 4-3 versus Arizona this season and rolls into this three-game series with rest advantage, home field advantage, and is the hotter team. The Dodgers have won four straight games all by two or more runs, while the Diamondbacks are 2-3 in the past five but on a two-game winning streak. This three game series is the second to last series of the season between these two teams (9/23-25).

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 & how to watch Diamondbacks at Dodgers

  • Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, SNLA, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+163), Dodgers (-198)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for August 29, 2025: Zac Gallen vs. Blake Snell
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen, (9-13, 5.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Dodgers: Blake Snell, (3-2, 1.97 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.57 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers are 4-3 versus the Diamondbacks this year
  • The Dodgers are 4-0 in the last 4 games
  • The Diamondbacks are 2-3 in the last 5 games
  • The Diamondbacks are 6-3 in the last 9 games
  • 5 of the Dodgers' last 7 matchups with the Diamondbacks have stayed under the Total
  • The Dodgers are 7-3 against the Run Line in their last 10 games with a rest advantage
  • The Dodgers have won 8 of their last 10 games at home, while the Diamondbacks have lost on 5 straight road trips

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)