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Mets reveal rotation order coming out of All-Star break

With the starting rotation back at full strength and All-Star festivities now complete, the Mets announced on Thursday that they'll open the second half of their season with Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, and David Peterson taking the mound at home against the Reds this weekend.

The first left-hander on the bump will be Manaea, who made his long-awaited 2025 debut last Sunday in a road loss to the Royals. He entered as a bulk reliever for Holmes in the sixth inning, and completed 3.1 frames before allowing the game-winning run in the ninth. Overall, Manaea gave up five hits and struck out seven across 65 pitches.

Holmes will be tasked with Saturday's middle game, and the Mets are hoping that the reliever-turned-starter can regain some sharpness. While his workload has been closely monitored of late, the veteran right-hander has logged a 5.28 ERA through three July outings. By design, he also hasn't completed six innings of work since June 7.

The series finale on Sunday will belong to Peterson, who entered the All-Star break on a positive note. The veteran southpaw registered seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts in the Mets' road win over the Orioles on July 10, and produced 6.2 one-run frames one week prior at home against the Brewers.

The Mets (55-42), who trail the rival Phillies by a half-game for first place in the NL East, are scheduled to host the Angels for a three-game set (July 21-23) after the Reds leave town.

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Angels at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

The leaders in the National League East, the Phillies (55-41) welcome the surprising Angels (47-49) to Citizens Bank Park in the City of Brotherly Love for a three-game series beginning Friday night.

Jose Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia.

The Phillies lead the Mets by 0.5 games despite not having their leader, Bryce Harper, in their lineup for the bulk of June. Trea Turner has 112 hits in 94 games and the MVP of the All-Star Game, Kyle Schwarber, has 30 home runs to lead Philadelphia.

Only three teams have more wins on the road in the American League than the Angels. As a result, the Halos are within two games of .500 and within four of a wildcard berth. Taylor Ward is tied for eleventh in baseball with 65 RBIs to lead the Angels.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Angels at Phillies

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNW, NBCSP

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 Angels at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+179), Phillies (-219)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Jose Soriano vs. Jesús Luzardo
    • Angels: Jose Soriano (6-7, 3.90 ERA)
      Last outing: July 13 vs. Arizona - 5IP, 1ER, 5H, 3BB, 3Ks
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (8-5, 4.14 ERA)
      Last outing: July 9 at San Francisco - 7IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 7Ks

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 Angels at Phillies

  • The Phillies have a winning record (9-6) in games against the American League this season
  • The Angels' last 4 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Angels have covered the Run Line in 4 straight road games
  • Jose Soriano has struck out 14 batters in 16IP in July.
  • Jesus Luzardo has struck out 7 batters in 3 of his last 4 starts
  • Bryce Harper is riding a modest 4-game hitting streak (7-16)

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 Friday’s game between the Angels and the Phillies

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 Angels and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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

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2025 MLB Make or Miss Playoff Predictions: Odds, Expert Picks, Best Bets including Red Sox, Padres, Guardians

The second half of the MLB season starts up on Friday, and before first pitch, I have two teams in the make-or-miss playoff market worth betting on -- the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, plus a win total on the Cleveland Guardians.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Boston Red Sox: (-140) to make the playoffs | (+115) to miss the playoffs

The hottest team in all of baseball is the Boston Red Sox, who have won 10 straight games heading into the All-Star break!

That makes this the perfect time to break down their miss or make the playoffs market because this is the best point to sell-high on Boston if you are a non-believer or it could be one of the final times to get a decent price on the Red Sox if you like where this team is headed toward the end of July.

Where do I stand? I am fader. That's right. I enjoy watching and betting on Sox baseball. I think this team is competitive, but still a few hitters and another youthful pitcher or two away from being serious contenders.

To continue to play devil's advocate, it's the schedule in a crowded AL East that does it for me. With records based on the first half of the season, per Tankathon, Boston has the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule (.516 winning %).

Let's look at the first 15 games of the second half for Boston:

3 road games at the Cubs
3 road games at the Phillies
3 home games vs the Dodgers
3 road games at the Twins
3 home games vs the Astros

I mean, 5-7 wins sounds about right for me out of 15 games, respectively, of course. When you consider the Rays, Yankees, and Blue Jays all have similar strength of schedules (10th, 15th, 18th) that are easier than the Red Sox's.

I am going to take the plus-money here for 2 units and say Boston misses the playoffs. In a week or two, this could very well be -150 to -200 pending how the Cubs, Phillies, and Dodgers series go. I won't waste time and neither should you. Get some -105, +114 and +115 in my pocket across the three books I play.

Pick: Boston Red Sox to miss the playoffs (2 units)

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!

San Diego Padres: (-115) to make the playoffs | (+105) to miss the playoffs

San Diego is currently a slight favorite to YES -- that they will make the playoffs market. The Padres are 0.5 game ahead of the Giants for the final wild card spot and within 4.0 games of the Mets and Brewers, who are in the other two spots.

Looking at the second half of the year per Tankathon, San Diego has the 4th-easiest strength of schedule remaining

The Padres open the second-half with three games at the Nationals, three more at the Marlins, then to St. Louis for three more road games as part of a nine-game East Coast road trip. However, we have to admit, those are decent matchups to have a winning record across for a 9-game road trip — in other words, it could be much worse.

After that nine-game road trip, the next 27 games will be on the West Coast for San Diego, whether they are in California, Arizona or Washington (the state). San Diego will be in a prime position to make a run at the playoffs, but I still haven't gotten to the best part.

The final month of the season is a great opportunity for the Padres to gain ground too -- in the final 28 games -- 13 of those are against the Orioles, White Sox, and Rockies!

Baltimore could be tanking and we know how atrocious Chicago and Colorado have been the past season and a half. It doesn't get better than that.

Lay 2 units on the Padres to make the playoffs at -115 or -118 odds — out to -140. I think they nab one of those three Wild Card spots.

Pick: Padres to make the playoffs (2 units)

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!

Cleveland Guardians: O/U 79.5 Wins

The Cleveland Guardians are 46-49 with 67 games remaining, and of those 67 games, they have the easiest strength of schedule in all of baseball with an opponent winning percentage below 48%.

If you look at the Guardians' schedule, you'll wish it were your favorite team's schedule.

To start the second half of the year, Cleveland hosts the Athletics and Orioles (4-game series) for seven total games, then to Kansas City for a three-game set to return and host the Rockies and Twins for six more home games.

After that, a quick three games in New York with the Mets before facing the White Sox in Chicago for three, and back to hosting the Marlins for a three-game set.

I just gave you the first 24 games of the 67 and the teams were the Athletics, Orioles, Royals, Rockies, Twins, Mets, White Sox, and Marlins -- beautiful!

It could be a sweaty finish, though, I must admit. The Guardians will host the Royals and White Sox for seven games in mid-September, then a rough patch. Cleveland will play three road games in Detroit, four more in Minnesota, then back at home for six games total hosting Detroit and Texas, so four potential playoff teams over 12 games to finish the season. That's not nearly as appealing, but doable if they run through the cupcake schedule in July and August.

To reach 80 wins, Cleveland will have to finish the second half with a 34-33 record or better. If the Guardians win three of the first four series out of the break for an 8-5 record or better -- we should be feeling good about this play.

Cleveland is also working Shane Bieber back into the mix after having Tommy John surgery in 2024. He makes a rehab start this week, while hitters Lane Thomas and Gabriel Arias are expected back shortly, plus relievers Paul Sewald and Trevor Stephan from the IL -- All good news for Cleveland. I like the Guardians to go over 79.5 wins at -110 odds.

Pick: Cleveland Guardians Over 79.5 Wins (2 units)

Vaughn Dalzell’s MLB Futures Card

2 units: Boston Red Sox to miss the playoffs (+115)
2 units: San Diego Padres to make the playoffs (-115)
2 units: Cleveland Guardians Over 79.5 Wins (-110)
2 units: Aaron Judge to lead MLB in home runs (+130)
2 units: Cam Smith to win AL Rookie of the Year (+150)
2 units: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (-110)

1 unit: Shohei Ohtani to win NL MVP (-110)
1 unit: Bobby Witt to win AL MVP (+450)
1 unit: Elly De La Cruz to win NL MVP (+2000)
1 unit: Garrett Crochet to win AL CY Young (+450)
1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+115)
1 unit: Paul Skenes to win NL CY Young (+300)
1 unit: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (+100)
1 unit: Byron Buxton to win AL Comeback Player of the Year (+430)
1 unit: New York Yankees to win AL East (-115)

0.5 unit: Dodgers to win 117-plus games (+650)
0.5 unit: Paul Skenes to lead MLB in wins (+1400)
0.5 unit: Garrett Crochet to lead MLB in wins (+2200)
0.5 unit: Juan Soto to lead the MLB in homers (+2800)
0.5 unit: Yordan Alvarez to lead the MLB in homers (+2000)
0.5 unit: Roman Anthony to win AL Rookie of the Year (+1200)
0.5 unit: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (+1100)

0.25 unit: Aaron Judge to bat .400 by the All-Star break (+800)
0.25 unit: Aaron Judge to bat .400 for the season (+5500)
0.25 unit: Oneil Cruz to lead MLB in stolen bases (+15000)

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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Revisiting our 2025 Red Sox season predictions at the break

Revisiting our 2025 Red Sox season predictions at the break originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Have the 2025 Boston Red Sox matched our preseason expectations?

If we asked that question a month ago, the answer likely would have been a resounding “no.” After an offseason of optimism, Boston looked like the same mediocre club that hasn’t been able to get out of its own way since it last reached the playoffs in 2021.

But the Red Sox rolled into the All-Star break with 10 consecutive victories to put themselves back into the postseason conversation. Suddenly, the optimism that came with their active offseason seems justified.

Before the 2025 season began, our three-man NBC Sports Boston panel shared predictions for the campaign as part of our “Spring Storylines” series. We picked our team MVPs and Cy Youngs, breakout stars, All-Star break headlines, trade deadline predictions, and more.

Now that we’ve reached the All-Star break, we wanted to see how our preseason predictions have aged. See how our vision of the 2025 season has compared with reality below:

Who will be Red Sox’ Cy Young and MVP?

Justin Leger: MVP – Jarren Duran, Cy Young – Garrett Crochet

Duran started to heat up before the break, but he hasn’t been the team’s MVP this season. He went through some tough stretches at the plate and his defense in left field has often left plenty to be desired. While he’s still a key contributor, some might say he’s been a slight disappointment in 2025. I named Carlos Narvaez the club’s first-half MVP in my midseason superlatives, but I won’t argue with those who pick the guy I predicted to be the 2025 Red Sox “Cy Young.”

Crochet has been as advertised since joining via the blockbuster offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox. He’s the unquestioned Red Sox ace, so this very non-bold prediction has proven to be accurate.

Nick Goss: MVP – Rafael Devers, Cy Young – Brayan Bello

Oof. The Devers prediction hurts, but it’s hard to blame Nick here. No one foresaw Devers being traded to the San Francisco Giants in June.

As for the Bello pick, it wouldn’t be so bad if Crochet didn’t exist. Bello has been impressive this season, posting a 3.14 ERA over 16 outings. Can he keep it up for the rest of the year?

Darren Hartwell: MVP – Triston Casas, Cy Young – Garrett Crochet

Darren’s MVP prediction fell apart in May when Casas went down with a season-ending knee injury. Have to wonder whether he jinxed the Red Sox first baseman.

He made up for it with the Crochet pick, which was a no-brainer all along.

Who will be Red Sox’ breakout star?

Justin Leger: Roman Anthony

Anthony got the call to The Show in June. After a brief adjustment period, baseball’s No. 1 prospect caught fire and played a huge role in Boston winning 10 consecutive games. He has a chance to win the AL Rookie of the Year award despite his late start.

Nick Goss: Garrett Crochet

Crochet technically broke out last year, when he earned his first All-Star nod with the Chicago White Sox. But this season, the 26-year-old has taken his game to another level and is a legitimate AL Cy Young contender.

Darren Hartwell: Marcelo Mayer

Mayer was called up to the majors in late May. The Red Sox’ top infield prospect has been silky smooth defensively, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement at the plate, particularly against lefties. We wouldn’t say he has broken out just yet.

Boldest prediction for 2025 Red Sox season

Justin Leger: Red Sox win the American League East

The Red Sox are only three games back in the AL East standings. If chief baseball officer Craig Breslow pushes the right buttons ahead of the trade deadline, winning the division is a real possibility.

Nick Goss: Red Sox make the playoffs

Boston currently holds the second Wild Card spot, so this remains a strong possibility. Again, whether it happens or not will depend on Breslow’s deadline moves.

Darren Hartwell: Red Sox have three-plus All-Stars for the first time since 2021, but Bregman isn’t one of them

Darren was correct, sort of. The Red Sox had three All-Stars, but Alex Bregman was one of them along with Crochet closer Aroldis Chapman.

What will be the Red Sox All-Star break headline?

Justin Leger: Garrett Crochet shines as AL All-Star starter

Crochet was selected to the All-Star Game, but he opted out of playing in the Midsummer Classic to manage his workload. He wouldn’t have been the AL starter anyway, as that honor belonged to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.

Nick Goss: Red Sox will be buyers

Thanks to the Red Sox’ 10-game win streak, Nick likely nailed this one. Boston is expected to buy at the deadline, with Breslow specifically eyeing “impact starting pitching.”

Darren Hartwell: “The Kids Are All Right”

With this one, Darren was referring to Red Sox top prospects Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell. Each have reached the majors and impressed at different points in the campaign, but it hasn’t exactly gone as planned.

Campbell was sent back down to Triple-A Worcester after struggling mightily in May and June. Mayer has shown flashes, but he needs to improve against left-handed pitching. Anthony has looked the part as baseball’s top prospect, but he’s been in the big leagues for only a month.

Red Sox trade deadline predictions

Justin Leger: Red Sox trade for Ryan Helsley

Helsley tops our list of 10 relievers Boston should target ahead of the deadline after ESPN’s Jeff Passan named him as the Red Sox’ “best match.” The Red Sox could use another reliable high-leverage arm, and he’d form an elite setup-closer combination with Chapman.

Nick Goss: Red Sox acquire a veteran star

Nick specifically mentioned Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for this one, but the Blue Jays slugger signed a lucrative extension with Toronto in April. However, he isn’t technically wrong as Boston should add a veteran star this summer.

Darren Hartwell: Boston trades Wilyer Abreu for bullpen help

If the Red Sox trade Abreu, it’ll probably be for a frontline starting pitcher. Still, Darren was on to something with this one. Rumors have swirled in recent weeks about Boston potentially trading Abreu or Duran to clear its outfield logjam. It’s certainly something to monitor over the next two weeks.

How will the Red Sox’ 2025 season end?

Justin Leger: Red Sox win the division by a hair, then lose in the ALCS

It’s possible in a weak American League. Some prominent MLB insiders are even starting to call Boston a real World Series contender.

Nick Goss: Red Sox make the playoffs, lose in the ALDS, and prove they are a team on the rise

Not quite as ambitiious, but a solid prediction nonetheless that has a strong chance of coming to fruition.

Darren Hartwell: The Red Sox end their postseason drought, but their bullpen comes back to bite them.

Boston’s bullpen was a weakness in 2024, but it has actually been a strength this year with 37-year-old closer Chapman being virtually untouchable. Can the group keep it up over the second half, and will Breslow add an arm or two to the mix?

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Freddie Freeman MLB Network documentary showcases storied career, and his vulnerability

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1, 2024: Los Angeles Dodgers first base Freddie Freeman.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman speaks at the celebration at Dodgers Stadium commemorating the team's World Series championship last fall. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A young Freddie Freeman slipped down a waterslide, two orange inflatable floaties hoisting his arms — and body weight — above the water.

“Here comes Freddie,” calls out Rosemary Freeman, Freddie’s mother, early in the MLB Network Presents documentary "Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story" — set to debut on MLB Network on Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific (and rerun at 9:30 p.m.).

The moment of archival footage, coordinating producer Jed Tuminaro said, caused Freddie Freeman to choke up watching his late mother — who died when the Dodgers star first baseman was 10 years old — say his name.

Freeman wears his emotions on his sleeve, and in "Driven: The Freddie Freeman Story," the 35-year-old showcases vulnerability about his journey from Atlanta to Los Angeles, his son Max’s encounter with Guillain-Barré syndrome and most recently, his World Series most valuable player heroics.

Read more:Hernández: 'Time heals everything.' Freddie Freeman, Braves fans find peace at All-Star Game

“He'll cry on the field, he’ll cry away from the field,” said Paul Solga, a producer on the documentary. “Going back through the interview, that was the best stuff, and that was the stuff that really popped out from his interview. When we were putting it all together, that stuff rose to the top, and we thought it was a great way to showcase not only the player, but the person.”

Freddie Freeman, the teammate, is a through line throughout the documentary. Near the end, Freeman says, “When you talk to people about former players, it’s not usually about, 'Oh, was he a good player?'... Was he a good dude?”

The production crew interviewed a handful of former and current teammates who convey the latter.

Freeman’s best friend in baseball, Jason Heyward — who played with Freeman on both the Braves and the Dodgers — as well as Dansby Swanson, Mookie Betts and Justin Turner, all speak to Freeman’s journey across 16 years in the pros, a career that’s still ongoing.

Both managers Freeman won a World Series with, the Braves' Brian Snitker and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts, have plenty to say aboutthe ballplayer he is, but emphasized who he is as a person, and what he brings to the clubhouse.

“A lot of times, if you get teammates, they give you some nice stuff,” Tuminaro said, adding that this is just the third documentary they’ve produced on a current player (Mike Trout and Fernando Tatis Jr. being the others). “Oh, he hits to all fields and he makes a great play, and that's fine, and that's nice. We need that stuff. But what stood out to me, almost everybody in this, but especially teammates, seemed like they were speaking more to the person, quite often, than the ball player.”

If Freddie Freeman wasn't enough of a jumping-off point for the documentary, the filmmakers interviewed his father, Fred Freeman, a source that provided a "gold mine" of information. Tuminaro said that it’s hard not to be drawn to the anecdotes and personality of Fred Freeman, an energetic and soft-spoken man, much like his son.

When Solga was in Fred Freeman’s home, interviewing him, he asked if there were any home tapes — archival footage — that the documentary crew could see. Fred trekked up the stairs of his home and trotted back down with an envelope filled with flash drives and photos.

“He goes, ‘Here, take a look, take whatever you'd like,’” Solga said. “And I was like, ‘Are you serious?’”

Tuminaro said that Fred Freeman is at the center of two of his favorite moments in the documentary — some parental honesty after Freddie’s injuries throughout the 2024 postseason, and then pure glee following his son’s iconic 2024 World Series grand slam.

“He provided a raw sense of emotion that I think only someone in his position could do,” Tuminaro said.

Read more:'It was awesome.' Clayton Kershaw is the All-Star among All-Stars as NL defeats AL

Solga said that many of the documentaries MLB Network creates are focused on players of an older generation, and they come up in an era where there’s less of a trail of images and videos to forage through. With Freddie, whether it was Fred or Rosemary handling the camcorder, you could see Freeman grow from a toddler to a preteen practicing an early version of his signature swing.

The 90-minute documentary takes the viewer through Freeman’s full career: loss in childhood, the decision to forgo a college commitment at Cal State Fullerton for the MLB Draft, all the way to MLB.

But what fans will probably leave with after watching is another perspective on Freddie Freeman — one that pulls back the curtain on a player not often outspoken about issues beyond the ballpark.

“There are just so many ups and downs in his story, and I'm not sure if everyone's really aware of that,” Tuminaro said. "And so many of these great moments, he's had to overcome some adversity to achieve that. … what it takes to overcome that adversity and deliver in those big moments.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets back from break with trade deadline ahead, and Mitch Voit stops by | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo look back at All-Star week and the MLB Draft, while looking ahead to the trade deadline and the second half of the season.

Leading off, Connor and Joe talk about Pete and Peterson at the All-Star Game, Jonah Tong and Carson Benge at the Futures Game, David Wright getting his number retired, and what kind of talent the Mets added during the draft.

Then the organization’s first pick, Michigan infielder Mitch Voit, joins the show to talk about his development, his emotions about getting selected by the Mets, and his career goals.

The guys also go Down on the Farm to discuss the best time to call up pitchers Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, and wrap the show with Mailbag questions answered about potential trade ideas as the MLB Trade Deadline approaches.

Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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White Sox at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 18

The White Sox (32-65) are in Pittsburgh to begin life after the All-Star Break with a series against the Pirates (39-58) beginning Friday, July 18.

Jonathan Cannon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Bailey Falter for Pittsburgh.

This is a series featuring two struggling, last place clubs. The Bucs are entrenched in the cellar in the National League Central. They are 19 games under .500 and 18.5 games behind the Cubs. Nobody has scored fewer runs than Pittsburgh. The Pirates have touched home plate just 326 times (3.3 runs/game) this season.

Chicago is better than last season but still sit 33 games under .500 and 27 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central. The run differential for the White Sox is a robust -98.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch White Sox at Pirates

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, SNP

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 White Sox at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+144), Pirates (-173)
  • Spread:  Pirates -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Jonathan Cannon vs. Bailey Falter
    • White Sox: Jonathan Cannon (3-7, 4.44ERA)
      Last outing: 7/11 vs. Cleveland - 5IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 5Ks
    • Pirates: Bailey Falter (6-4, 3.79ERA)
      Last outing: 7/9 at Kansas City - 4.2IP, 3ER, 6H, 2BB, 3Ks

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 White Sox at Pirates

  • The Pirates have won their last 5 home games
  • The Under is 4-1 in the White Sox's last 5 road games
  • The Pirates are up 2.88 units on the Run Line in their last 5 at home
  • Oneil Cruz is riding a 5-game hitting streak (6-16)
  • Andrew McCutcheon has a hit in 3 of his last 4 games (3-15)

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 Friday’s game between the White Sox and the Pirates

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 White Sox and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White 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)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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MLB power rankings roundup: Red Sox rise amid 10-game win streak

MLB power rankings roundup: Red Sox rise amid 10-game win streak originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox entered the 2025 MLB season with heightened expectations. After a disappointing start to the campaign, they’ve started to live up to those expectations with their recent hot streak.

They entered the All-Star break with 10 consecutive wins, giving them a 53-45 record that puts them only three games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings. If the season ended today, they’d clinch the second AL Wild Card spot and their first postseason berth since 2021.

But there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played, and the next two weeks could ultimately determine Boston’s fate. Before the July 31 trade deadline, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is expected to make moves — particularly for starting pitching — that can help his team stay in postseason contention over the final two months.

Time will tell whether Breslow pushes the right buttons, but for now, MLB pundits are buying back in on this Red Sox club. Boston has skyrocketed into or near the top 10 in the latest batch of national MLB power rankings.

Here’s where the Red Sox stand as we prepare for the second half, according to experts across the league:

FanGraphs (Jake Mailhot): 7th

“The Red Sox head into the All-Star break as the hottest team in baseball. They won their 10th game in a row on Sunday, completing a huge four-game sweep over the Rays to overtake Tampa Bay in the Wild Card standings. Boston is getting healthy at just the right time too; both Alex Bregman and Masataka Yoshida were activated off the IL last week. The real star of this hot streak has been Ceddanne Rafaela, who blasted a dramatic three-run walk-off home run on Friday. He’s posted a .390/.405/.902 slash line in July.”

Bleacher Report (Kerry Miller): 9th

“While that four-game sweep of the Rays was mighty impressive and shook up the AL East standings, surging into the All-Star break is nothing new for the Red Sox. They went 8-1 in their final nine games of the first half in 2023 as well as 10-3 last year before their current 10-game winning streak. But can they maintain that momentum for a change? Boston went from a combined 101-86 in the first half of the past two seasons to a combined 58-79 after the ASB, and they have the toughest remaining schedule in the American League, including a gauntlet in the next nine games.“

NBC Sports (D.J. Short): 10th

“I was high on the Red Sox coming into the year, and while things haven’t exactly worked out the way I thought they would — Rafael Devers trade included — they’ve won 10 straight games to put themselves in a strong position leading into the trade deadline.”

CBS Sports (Matt Snyder): 10th

“A 10-game winning streak and only three games out. My “Red Sox win the AL East” preseason prediction lives!”

USA TODAY (Gabe Lacques): 10th

“In addition to his offensive exploits, rookie Carlos Narvaez leads the majors with 20 runners caught stealing.”

MLB.com (Will Leitch): 11th

“The Red Sox have been excited about their young hitters for many moons at this point, but they couldn’t have asked for a better time for them to break through than in the immediate weeks after trading Rafael Devers. Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony, all hitting like crazy, all in their 20s, all at the perfect moment.“

Pitcher List (Pablo Figueroa): 11th

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MLB All-Star pitchers overwhelmingly pick Giants' Barry Bonds as dream matchup

MLB All-Star pitchers overwhelmingly pick Giants' Barry Bonds as dream matchup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

If there were one adjective to describe the pitchers selected for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, it would be courageous.

Because courage is exactly what it takes to openly request the challenge of facing Giants legend and MLB’s all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds, in a hypothetical matchup.

Bonds was selected more than any other player when a handful of MLB’s best pitchers were asked which All-Star from any era they would want to face.

That group includes Giants ace Logan Webb, who was quick to relay that Bonds already informed him how that hypothetical matchup would play out.

“Probably a homer, he always tells me it would be a homer,” Webb said with a chuckle.

Bonds’ assessment is understandable, as the seven-time MLB MVP holds the league record for home runs in a season (73) as well as the all-time mark with 762 career dingers on his resume.

However, Webb wasn’t the only player to keep it real when discussing how this hypothetical matchup with Bonds would unfold.

“Probably not well for me,” Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen said. “But that’s all right, just having the opportunity to say you competed against him would be special.”

Chicago White Sox right-hander Shane Smith was blunt in his prediction as well.

“He’d probably go yard,” Smith said. “Thankfully, I don’t have to face him, but if I did, I think that would be really cool.”

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader voiced a bit more confidence in his ability to get the best of Bonds, but couldn’t ignore the likelihood of the outcome the other pitchers mentioned either.

“Either a punchy [strikeout] or a homer,” Hader said. “Flip a coin, I guess.”

Hader’s confidence could stem from the lefty-lefty matchup, with Bonds having lower career numbers across the board against southpaws. Still, “lower” is relative when speaking about Bonds, who still slashed .289/.569/.986 in 4,147 career plate appearances against left-handed pitchers.

There is a strong case to be made that Bonds is the most feared hitter ever to pick up a baseball bat, holding MLB’s all-time record in both walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688). His decorated resume includes an eye-popping .444 career OPS, leading MLB in that statistic in 10 different seasons during his career.

Still, Webb is confident he’d find a way to get Bonds out at least one time.

“I think I could get him once,” Webb said with a grin.

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Red Sox at Cubs prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 18

Friday, July 18, the Boston Red Sox (53-45) open a series in Chicago at Wrigley Field against the Cubs (57-39).

Lucas Giolito is slated to take the mound for Boston against Colin Rea for Chicago.

There is no hotter team in baseball than the Red Sox who have ripped off ten straight wins. As a result, Boston is back in the race in the American League East trailing Toronto by three games. No question the return of Alex Bregman has only added to the team's recent momentum.

The Cubs continue to set the pace in the National League Central. They lead the Brewers by one game. Pete Crow-Armstrong (25 HRs) and Kyle Tucker (100 Hits) pace what has been a lethal offense to this point this season. Only the Dodgers (518) have scored more runs than the Cubs (512) this season.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Cubs

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: NESN, MARQ, 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 Red Sox at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (+108), Cubs (-128)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Lucas Giolito vs. Colin Rea
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito (6-1, 3.36 ERA)
      Last outing: July 9 vs. Colorado - 7.2IP, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 7Ks
    • Cubs: Colin Rea (7-3, 3.91 ERA)
      Last outing: July 10 vs. St. Louis - 6.2IP, 1ER, 2H, 2BB, 4Ks

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 Red Sox at Cubs

  • The Red Sox have a losing road record this season (21-25) but have won their last 3 games
  • 8 of the Cubs' last 10 home games have gone over the Total
  • The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road games
  • Ronan Anthony is 15-44 (.341) in July
  • Alex Bregman is 2-8 (.250) since returning from the disabled list

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 Friday’s game between the Red Sox and the Cubs

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

  • 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 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:

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  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Watch Philadelphia 2026 MLB All-Star Declaration ceremony

Watch Philadelphia 2026 MLB All-Star Declaration ceremony originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The MLB All-Star Game is coming to Philly!

The Phillies were officially unveiled as the host team for the 2026 midsummer classic in a ceremony Friday at Dilworth Park.

Bryce Harper was on hand, as well as other Phillies legends like Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, John Kruk, Charlie Manuel and, of course, the Phillie Phanatic.

You can watch the event right here.

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Tigers at Rangers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Tigers (59-38) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (48-49). Reese Olson is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Patrick Corbin for Texas.

Detroit enters with a much-needed break after going 0-4 over the last four games after winning five consecutive prior to the losing streak. On the plus side, Detroit ended the first half of the season with the most wins in the MLB at 59 — one ahead of the Dodgers.

The Rangers are coming off back-to-back series wins over the Angels and Astros to get on the right track as they are 8-8 over the last 16. Texas is 3.5 games back of the final wild card spot and will be an intriguing watch in a crowded AL West.

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 Tigers at Rangers

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Globe Life Field
  • City: Arlington, TX
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, CW33

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 Tigers at the Rangers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-125), Rangers (+105)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Rangers

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Reese Olson vs. Patrick Corbin
    • Tigers: Reese Olson, 4-3 2.95 ERA
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 1 Strikeout
    • Rangers: Patrick Corbin, 6-7 4.15 ERA
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the Rangers

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 Tigers and the Rangers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Texas Rangers 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Rangers

  • Detroit is 0-4 in the last four games
  • Texas is 7-10 when Corbin pitches this season
  • Detroit is 6-5 when Olson pitches this season
  • Texas is 2-1 versus Detroit this season
  • Texas is 8-8 over the last 16 games
  • The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 at AL West teams
  • The Tigers' last 4 matchups against American League teams have gone over the Total
  • The Rangers have covered the Run Line in 4 straight 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!

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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Orioles at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 18

It's Friday, July 18 and the Orioles (43-52) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (50-47). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Taj Bradley for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay ended the first half of the season on a four-game losing streak and open up the second half with a three-game home stand against Baltimore, then the Chicago White Sox.

The Orioles are 4-3 against the Rays this season with a series split a two apiece, then a 2-1 series in favor of the Orioles. Baltimore lost its past two games after winning three prior before a much-need break to a disappointing first half of the year.

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 Orioles at Rays

  • Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:35PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNSUN

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 Orioles at the Rays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+107), Rays (-127)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for July 18, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Taj Bradley
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton, (5-7, 5.18 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Taj Bradley, (5-6, 4.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 3 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Rays

Rotoworld Best Bet thinks Chandler Simpson might end up on his betting card:

"Chandler SImpson is third in the MLB with 26 steals at the break and it appears he has solidified his spot on this roster. If he plays most of the second half, he is a good bet at +140 to lead the league in steals.

I have Oneil Cruz at +15000 to do so and he's +700 now, but I am not feeling as confident anymore, plus Simpson would be an ideal outcome for the books since he wasn't listed in the preseason (in AAA)."

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 Orioles and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Rays

  • Baltimore is 4-3 versus Tampa Bay this season
  • Baltimore is 6-4 over the last 10 games
  • Tampa Bay is 0-4 over the last 4 games
  • Chandler Simpson is the odds on favorite to lead the MLB in stolen bases at +150
  • Chandler Simpson has the third-most steals in the league at 26
  • The Rays have won 13 of their last 20 home games
  • The Under is 4-0-1 in the Rays' last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.21 units

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!

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)