Rafael Devers makes his debut at first base for Giants after refusing to play position for Red Sox

ATLANTA — Rafael Devers was in the lineup at first base for the San Francisco Giants at Atlanta on Tuesday night, the slugger's first start at the position that he refused to play for his prior team, the Boston Red Sox.

Boston traded Devers to San Francisco in June after his relationship with management deteriorated less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023.

The Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to designated hitter. He balked before agreeing to the switch, but when Boston first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the position and he declined.

After the trade, Devers started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he felt comfortable. Asked why he was willing to play the position for the Giants and not the Red Sox, Devers said he felt he had “earned some respect” because of his production in Boston, adding that he would have made the switch if the Red Sox had asked at the beginning of spring training.

Devers has struggled since the move to the West Coast, batting .219 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 29 games for the Giants, all at DH. He batted .272 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs in 73 games for Boston.

A three-time All-Star, Devers is a .277 batter with 217 homers in nine seasons.

The Giants took a six-game losing streak into their meeting with the Braves that dropped them to 52-49, 3 1/2 games out of a wild-card playoff spot. San Francisco ranked 23rd in the majors in runs per game.

Yankees Injury Updates: Fernando Cruz's oblique not fully healed, Yerry De Los Santos needs 'a couple' more rehab games

Prior to the middle game of the Yankees' three-game set against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone delivered injury updates on a few players...

The Yankees' bullpen has experienced a number of injuries this season, including to one of their high-leverage arms.

Fernando Cruz was placed on the IL back in late June due to an oblique strain and the Yankees skipper gave an update on his status. Speaking with the media, including the Daily News' Gary Phillips, Boone revealed that Cruz had started his throwing program over the weekend as expected.

Boone also said that the oblique hasn't fully healed, so it's a slower program. It was once thought that Cruz could return to the Yankees in August, but the right-hander's timeline is unclear at this point.

Across 32 appearances, Cruz has been one of the Yankees' best relievers. He's pitched to a 3.00 ERA, recorded two saves and struck out 54 batters in 33.0 innings.

As for Yerry De Los Santos, Boone said the right-hander needs "a couple" more rehab games but should be "in play here very soon."

De Los Santos was placed on the IL in mid-June with elbow discomfort and just completed his first rehab appearance this week. Back on July 19, De Los Santos tossed one inning, allowing two runs on three hits (one home run) while striking out two batters.

In 14 appearances in the majors this year, the 27-year-old has pitched to a 1.80 ERA and struck out 13 batters across 20.0 innings.

May 26, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (33) delivers to the plate in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
May 26, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (33) delivers to the plate in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Ryan Yarbrough not throwing from mound yet

Boone said the reliever-turned-starter has not begun mound work yet, but he is throwing.

Yarbrough was placed on the IL with an oblique strain back in June, which came at a bad time for the Yankees who have had a number of injuries to the rotation this season. That includes Luis Gil starting the season on the IL -- and has yet to hit a major league mound yet -- Gerrit Cole missing the season after elbow surgery and Clarke Schmidt starting on the IL and suffering his own elbow injury that took him out for the rest of the year.

Before the IL, Yarbrough pitched in 16 games (eight starts), where he pitched to a 3.90 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

As the Yankees wait for Gil to return, Yarbrough could give the rotation a boost. Or, if the Yankees make a trade deadline deal for a starter, he can give the bullpen a long man for the rest of the season and postseason.

Rich Hill isn't finished yet. Former Dodgers and Angels player will pitch for his 14th MLB team

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game
Rich Hill pitches for the Boston Red Sox against the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 1. Hill will start for the Kansas City Royals, his record-tying 14th MLB team, on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

20 seasons.

13 teams.

386 games.

248 starts.

And Rich Hill isn't finished yet.

All of those numbers are going to increase by one Tuesday night when the 45-year-old pitcher takes the mound for the Kansas City Royals when they play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro confirmed Monday that Hill would be called up from triple-A Omaha, where he has gone 4-4 with a 5.36 ERA over nine starts and has struck out 10, nine and eight batters in individual games this season.

Read more:Hernández: 'Still a threat.' Why Shohei Ohtani needs to remain a two-player for Dodgers

“He's done well,” Quatraro told reporters of Hill, who pitched for the Boston Red Sox last year before signing a minor league deal with the Royals during the offseason. “He’s had a couple of ups and downs, performance-wise. But when he's been locating, he’s been really good."

At 45 years and 133 days, Hill will be the oldest pitcher to start an MLB game since the Colorado Rockies' Jamie Moyer (49 years, 191 days) on May 27, 2012.

Hill also will tie Edwin Jackson's record of having played for 14 MLB teams and will do so against the team for which he made his major league debut — and in the very same park — on June 16, 2005.

Between his time with the Cubs and his ensuing start with the Royals, Hill also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Red Sox (in four separate stints), Cleveland Indians, Angels, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.

While his stint in Anaheim was a mere blip at just two games during the 2014 season, Hill made much more of an impact during his four seasons with the Dodgers, from 2016 to 2019.

Read more:Column: Dodgers’ Rich Hill ready to start putting controversial World Series exit behind him

During that span, Hill went 30-16 with 427 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.16 in the regular season. He appeared in 12 postseason games (including three during two World Series runs), going 1-2 with 62 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.70.

"I feel great," Hill said, going into his final season with the Dodgers and his 15th overall. “I don’t really know where there is a point of enough is enough. I feel like I can keep going for a while.”

More than six years later, Hill is still keeping it going.

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.

David Stearns' trade deadline approach, Francisco Alvarez is back, and David Wright day reaction | The Mets Pod

On the latest episode of The Mets Pod presented by Tri-State Cadillac, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo look back at the week that was coming off of the All-Star break.

Leading off, Connor and Joe talk about the Mets' offense playing small ball, Francisco Alvarez's return to the big-league club, and Brett Baty's contributions to the lineup. Then, the guys discuss the trade deadline and how president of baseball operations David Stearns plans to approach things for the Mets.

Connor and Joe also share their reaction to David Wright's number retirement and go Down on the Farm to discuss potential position player call-ups. They wrap the show with their scoreboard predictions and some Mailbag questions answered about Seth Lugo and potential prospects in centerfield.

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

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cristopher Sanchez stayed at the top of his game and continued to perform like one of the best pitchers in baseball Tuesday night.

Sanchez starred in a 4-1 Phillies win over the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. He threw the third complete game of his career and allowed just four hits and one run. Sanchez’s 12 strikeouts tied his career high and he walked no one.

The 58-43 Phillies will go for a three-game series sweep on Wednesday evening. Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 4.29 ERA) is set to face Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59 ERA). 

Sanchez is now 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA this season. He’s been brilliant the last two months. The 29-year-old lefty hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since May 24. He’s conceded a single run in each of his last six starts.

The Phillies grabbed a first-inning lead with singles by Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Catcher’s interference then got thrown into a strange spotlight again one night after a very unusual 10th-inning walk-off.

The Phils were aggressive on the base paths vs. Red Sox starter Richard Fitts in the first and Harper took that to the extreme, sprinting home on an 0-1 pitch to Brandon Marsh. Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled interference on Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez for stepping into the batter’s box. Following extended discussion among the umpires, the call stood. A bemused Marsh confirmed he should stay at first base. 

Max Kepler lifted a solo shot 407 feet to right-center field to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Schwarber put the Phils up 4-0 with two outs by belting a 3-1 slider into the bullpen. 

Sanchez retired the first nine Red Sox in order on five groundouts and four strikeouts. He had great command and his work looked routine. 

Boston’s first baserunner was Rob Refsnyder, who trotted around the diamond to open the fourth inning. Refsnyder’s homer was the first against Sanchez since June 3. 

Sanchez was soon back on track. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and every at-bat finished with a whiff at his changeup. For the night, Boston hitters swung at 22 Sanchez changeups and only made contact eight times. 

The Phillies couldn’t manage any runs after the second inning. That was perfectly fine with Sanchez on the hill.

Sanchez fell behind Refsnyder 3-0 with a runner on second base and two outs in the eighth inning. He was unbothered, eventually striking Refsnyder out on a changeup. Sanchez pounded his glove and shouted in celebration as he walked off the mound.

The home fans roared when they saw Sanchez coming out for the ninth inning. Sanchez said he had “goosebumps.”

He wrapped up the night with an electric 1-2-3 inning, striking out Romy Gonzalez on his 106th pitch.

“He’s a determined guy,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He wants to get it done, he wants to finish it. He doesn’t want to come out. He doesn’t like coming out in the middle of an inning. … If he’s in trouble, he wants to get himself out of trouble. He’s really grown up the last couple of years.”

Injury updates 

Aaron Nola threw a pregame bullpen session, which Thomson said “went really well.” 

Nola (right rib stress fracture) last pitched for the Phillies on May 14. 

“Forty-two pitches. Threw all his pitches,” Thomson said. “Velocity was very good in the bullpen. So we’ll take him to New York and he’ll do another BP on Friday, an extended BP. It’ll be two-plus innings … and then he’ll definitely do a rehab start.”

In other injury news, the Phillies placed Joe Ross on the 15-day injury list with back spasms and recalled Alan Rangel from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Thomson called the IL stint “just a precaution” and said he’s “positive” Ross will return after 15 days. 

Wood signs rookie deal 

Phillies first-round draft pick Gage Wood inked his first MLB contract Wednesday. 

The 21-year-old righty out of Arkansas also soaked in Citizens Bank Park with his family.

“It’s awesome,” Wood told reporters pregame. “Got to come up here to Philly for the first time. Worked my whole life for this, so this is a blessing and I’m ready to get going.”

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox

Sanchez stays brilliant and Phillies win another strange game vs. Red Sox  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Cristopher Sanchez stayed at the top of his game and continued to perform like one of the best pitchers in baseball Tuesday night.

Sanchez starred in a 4-1 Phillies win over the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. He threw the third complete game of his career and allowed just four hits and one run. Sanchez’s 12 strikeouts tied his career high. 

The 58-43 Phillies will go for a three-game series sweep on Wednesday evening. Jesus Luzardo (8-5, 4.29 ERA) is set to face Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.59 ERA). 

Sanchez is now 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA this season. He’s been brilliant the last two months. The 29-year-old lefty hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start since May 24. He’s conceded a single run in each of his last six starts.

The Phillies grabbed a first-inning lead with singles by Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. Catcher’s interference then got thrown into a strange spotlight again one night after a very unusual 10th-inning walk-off.

The Phils were aggressive on the base paths vs. Red Sox starter Richard Fitts in the first and Harper took that to the extreme, sprinting home on an 0-1 pitch to Brandon Marsh. Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled interference on Boston backstop Carlos Narvaez for stepping into the batter’s box. Following extended discussion among the umpires, the call stood. A bemused Marsh confirmed he should stay at first base. 

Max Kepler lifted a solo shot 407 feet to right-center field to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Kyle Schwarber put the Phils up 4-0 with two outs by belting a 3-1 slider into the bullpen. 

Sanchez retired the first nine Red Sox in order on five groundouts and four strikeouts. He had great command and his work looked routine. 

Boston’s first baserunner was Rob Refsnyder, who trotted around the diamond to open the fourth inning. Refsnyder’s homer was the first against Sanchez since June 3. 

Sanchez was soon back on track. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and every at-bat finished with a whiff at his changeup. For the night, Boston hitters swung at 22 Sanchez changeups and only made contact eight times. 

The Phillies couldn’t manage any runs after the second inning. That was perfectly fine with Sanchez on the hill.

Sanchez fell behind Refsnyder 3-0 with a runner on second base and two outs in the eighth inning. He was unbothered, eventually striking Refsnyder out on a changeup. Sanchez pounded his glove and shouted in celebration as he walked off the mound.

The home fans roared when they saw Sanchez coming out for the ninth inning. He wrapped up the night with an electric 1-2-3 inning, striking out Romy Gonzalez on his 106th pitch.

Injury updates 

Aaron Nola threw a pregame bullpen session, which Phillies manager Rob Thomson said “went really well.” 

Nola (right rib stress fracture) last pitched for the Phillies on May 14. 

“Forty-two pitches. Threw all his pitches,” Thomson said. “Velocity was very good in the bullpen. So we’ll take him to New York and he’ll do another BP on Friday, an extended BP. It’ll be two-plus innings … and then he’ll definitely do a rehab start.”

In other injury news, the Phillies placed Joe Ross on the 15-day injury list with back spasms and recalled Alan Rangel from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Wood signs rookie deal 

Phillies first-round draft pick Gage Wood inked his first MLB contract Wednesday. 

The 21-year-old righty out of Arkansas also soaked in Citizens Bank Park with his family.

“It’s awesome,” Wood told reporters pregame. “Got to come up here to Philly for the first time. Worked my whole life for this, so this is a blessing and I’m ready to get going.”

Rafael Devers' first-base debut leads to success at plate as Giants drub Braves

Rafael Devers' first-base debut leads to success at plate as Giants drub Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Entering Tuesday on a six-game losing streak, the Giants desperately needed to switch something up.

Having your star slugger play a new position for the first time in his MLB career might not be the obvious move to help turn things around, but that’s exactly what San Francisco manager Bob Melvin did.

And the early returns couldn’t have been much better, as the Giants shellacked the Atlanta Braves 9-0 at Truist Park to end their July slide.

Landen Roupp’s five shutout innings certainly deserve credit, but at the forefront of the momentum-shifting win were Rafael Devers and Wilmer Flores, who traded places for a night to great success.

Devers never had played first base at any level in his career and hadn’t appeared in the field at all this season prior to Tuesday night. He hardly was tested with minimal defensive action in his debut, but his mere presence on the field could lead to a resurgence at the plate.

Primarily a third baseman during his Boston Red Sox tenure, Devers was asked postgame if he believes his offense is better when he’s playing in the field rather than serving as a designated hitter.

“Definitely. It keeps me active,” Devers told reporters, speaking through translator Erwin Higueros. “It keeps my head out of just thinking about the next at-bat. I’m the kind of player that likes to be active, likes to be on the field. I’d rather be on the field than be in the cage hitting all the time and just thinking about the next at-bat.”

It’s only one game, but the results backed up that intuition. Devers entered the night with just a .667 OPS in 29 games with the Giants — all at DH. On Tuesday, he went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Over his entire career, meanwhile, Devers’ OPS improves by about 18 points playing in the field compared to DHing.

Though his defensive fit this season was the center of much discourse in Boston, Devers’ eagerness to play first base in San Francisco has been clear.

In fact, Devers revealed Tuesday he ordered a first baseman’s glove right away after he arrived in San Francisco.

The three-time MLB All-Star also might not be the sole beneficiary of Melvin’s defensive swap.

In recent weeks, Flores has been tasked with playing first base more often, which has coincided with a drop in his offensive production. But in his first game as a DH since June 15, Flores hit his first home run since June 7, a three-run blast in the seventh inning that put the game to bed. He also added a sacrifice fly in the second despite being behind in the count 0-2.

“Flo, his numbers DHing have been really good, and he hits another home run tonight,” Melvin said postgame. “So it’s good to be able to get him off his feet.”

Flores, who turns 34 in two weeks, has dealt with injuries later in his career. In 2024, he struggled with a career-low .206 average in just 71 games as he dealt with a nagging knee injury. So, as the Giants enter the final third of the MLB season, it might not hurt to put their best clutch hitter in a more relaxed situation.

Melvin mentioned Devers will return to DH on Wednesday, while Flores will get the day off. Nevertheless, how the Giants manage two of their most important hitters in the field could be a big storyline to watch during the rest of the year.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jac Caglianone, Zebby Matthews, and Jesús Sánchez

With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, it’s time to start positioning ourselves for the championship push. Whether you’re trying to hold onto a top spot, pushing the leader, desperately trying to play catchup, or positioning yourself for the playoffs, reinforcements are vital this time of year

Most waiver wires have been picked over though and it’s difficult to find impact players readily available in most leagues at this point in the season.

Fear not, because there are still a handful of available players that have the chance to be difference makers that help push us towards glory.

MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Seattle Mariners
The streaking Brewers continue to exceed expectations this season.

Here are three players that are under 40% rostered on Yahoo leagues that you should strongly consider adding.

If you want a larger list, Eric Samulski wrote his extended waiver wire piece on Sunday.

Jac Caglianone, OF Royals

(26% Rostered on Yahoo)

Still teeming with potential, the first seven weeks of Caglianone’s career have been a disaster.

After 38 games, he has a lowly .501 OPS – second-lowest among all qualified players since his debut on June 3rd – and has not acclimated well to the corner outfield. In terms of FanGraphs’ wins above replacement, no player in the entire league has been less valuable since he came up.

Yet, the fact that Caglianone is even in the major leagues is a miracle in and of itself.

The Royals drafted him sixth overall just last season and he only played 79 total minor league games before getting the call. While he was flying through the system, he was transitioning to the outfield after splitting his time between first base and pitching in college with the University of Florida.

So, here we have a 22-year-old who was a regular member of a high-level SEC rotation last year that was tasked with trying to revive the Royals’ floundering offense after barely half a season of minor league baseball at a defensive position he’d never played before. This is not an easy assignment!

Funny enough, while his stats are completely abysmal, he’s done a lot of things well enough at the plate to think he could turn a corner soon.

The biggest thing working in Caglianone’s favor is 99th percentile bat speed, on par with super-rookie Nick Kurtz. That was his MO in college and has translated to the big leagues with a max exit velocity of 114.1 mph (92nd percentile) and 90th percentile exit velocity at 110.2 mph (99th percentile). He hits the ball very, very hard

Also, Caglianone has managed to both lift and pull the ball around league average so far. Of course, he’s struggling to do both of those things at the same time with a very low pulled fly ball rate, but just having the capability to do each shows he could be close to it all coming together.

Lastly, he is making tons of contact. His general contact rate is good and zone-contact rate is great despite poor chase and whiff rates. While he’s aggressive in general, he’s especially aggressive in the strike zone. Which is good for a hitter that can do as much damage as he can.

That helps Caglianone pop on one of my favorite leaderboards: barrels per swing. It takes some fancy Baseball Savant search function customization to get there, so I linked it for you guys right here.

I often go back to barrels per swing rather than the normally reported barrels per batted ball event of plate appearance because it adds a swing-decision element into the best stat we have to understand power output.

Caglianone being around the 85th percentile there tells me his power is legit (duh), his swing decisions are solid, and his hit tool is a bit better than anticipated.

Throw away what’s happened so far and pick up Caglianone for the chance he goes on a huge hot streak to close the season.

Zebby Matthews, SP Twins

(18% Rostered on Yahoo)

Of all the arms that could be found on waiver wires right now, Matthews has the best chance to pitch well enough to win you your league for the rest of the season.

He’s more reliable than any injury stash and already in the major leagues unlike any other prospect stash. Also, his upper-90s fastball, strong slider, and excellent command makes him totally equipped to get major league hitters out.

There are a few mitigating factors though as to why he’s flown a bit under the radar to this point.

Matthews opened the season pitching in shorter, three to five inning stints with Triple-A St. Paul. He remained in a quasi-starter’s role for a couple outings when the Twins called him up in mid-May.

They began to push him shortly thereafter, but he struggled to keep runs off the board before landing on the injured list with a shoulder strain in June that kept him sidelined for about six weeks.

He made one rehab start right before the All-Star break and looked excellent in it, striking out nine batters over four scoreless innings. His fastball touched 99 mph and sat around 97 mph over 56 total pitches. In all, he forced 15 swings-and-misses with eight of them coming with his slider. Funny enough, St. Paul’s bullpen allowed eight runs over the following five innings after he was pulled.

In most cases, he would’ve made a few more rehab starts before re-joining the Twins’ staff. Their rotation has been ransacked by injuries though, so they brought him back over the weekend to eat some innings. Annoyingly, his return was in Coors Field where he allowed five runs in four innings. That pushed him to a 6.26 ERA at the major league level this season.

Honestly, that should be considered a blessing in disguise for us. While his results were poor against the Rockies, he still struck out six batters and walked just one. Plus, his velocity looked great. We know for certain that right now, he’s healthy.

On top of that, the ugly ERA is foiled by a low 3.21 SIERA and elite 21.2% strikeout minus walk rate. His stuff is good, his command is great, and he has a bonafide spot in the Twins’ rotation. He is primed for a great final few months of the season ahead.

Jesús Sánchez, OF Marlins

(6% Rostered on Yahoo)

Now 27 years old and hovering around league average for the better part of three years, practically all the hype that surrounded Sánchez as a popular breakout pick over the last few seasons has dissipated.

He’s still producing like the same player he’s been too with eight home runs, nine stolen bases, and a .733 OPS through 79 games.

Ironically, all of those same tools that intrigued us are still present and he’s made some massive improvements under the hood that haven’t shown up in his production to this point.

First off, he currently has the lowest strikeout rate of his career at 21.1%. He’s gotten there by chasing fewer pitches out of the zone, making more contact on pitches in the zone, and dramatically decreasing his whiff rate against breaking balls.

It’s all borderline unbelievable after watching Sánchez flail at breaking ball after breaking ball in the dirt during his first few seasons and the growth in his approach has gotten to a point where we can confidently call it ‘good’.

Past that, he’s pulling his fly balls better than a league-average rate at the moment after not doing so for the past few seasons. It was a skill he had earlier in his career, but lost as he seemed focused on adjusting his approach.

Since 2023 – when he had one of the lowest pulled fly ball rates in the league – Sánchez has moved a few inches deeper in the batter’s box, closed off his stance a good bit, and shortened up his swing a tad while swinging harder more consistently. With all of those tweaks, he’s making contact with the ball nearly five inches further out in front of the plate on average.

There was certainly some intentionality with these changes. Also, probably a function of him working better counts and not being victimized by breaking balls like he had been earlier in his career.

Rumors have been swirling around Sánchez possibly being traded before the deadline next week too. Getting out of loanDepot Park in Miami will only further push him towards a late-season breakout. Just be advised that he still sits against left-handed pitchers, hurting his value in weekly leagues.

MLB Power Rankings: Brewers cruise to the top, Dodgers scuffling

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Brewers climb to the top of our rankings, the Yankees can’t figure out the Blue Jays, another injury for the Astros, Rich Hill is on the brink of history, and we’re taking stock of the upcoming MLB trade deadline.

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

Let’s get started!

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Arizona Diamondbacks
Eric Samulski breaks down hitters and pitchers he thinks will generate fantasy value in the second half.

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Tuesday, July 22.

1) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️

Last week: 5

Your eyes are not fooling you. Winners of 11 straight games, the Brewers have catapulted to the top of our rankings. Similar to Rays teams of the past, they just keep finding ways to defy preseason expectations and win baseball games. Even if they don’t stay atop our rankings, they have established themselves as a serious threat to win the NL Central.

2) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 1

The Tigers have stumbled a bit over the past two weeks, but they still possess the best record in the American League and a dominant lead in the AL Central. It will be interesting to see how they upgrade at the trade deadline, with the bullpen looking like an obvious area of need.

3) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 6

The Blue Jays have won a franchise record 11 straight games at home as well as five straight games against the Yankees, powering them to a four-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East.

4) Chicago Cubs ⬇️

Last week: 3

The Cubs put Seiya Suzuki in center field on Monday with Pete Crow-Armstrong sidelined due to a bruised right knee. That’s not ideal. Even if Crow-Armstrong’s issue is a minor one, look for the Cubs to pursue a skilled defender for depth across their outfield.

5) Houston Astros ⬇️

Last week: 4

Do you know what the Astros really needed? Another injury. Isaac Paredes went down on Saturday with a right hamstring strain. While it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss, it really didn’t look good.

Mauricio Dubon, Zack Short, Brice Matthews (who hit his first two MLB homers on Monday), and Shay Witcomb are all options to fill in, but the trade deadline presents more opportunities.

6) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 2

The Dodgers have lost 10 out of their last 13 games, including a sweep at the hands of the Brewers over the weekend. Mookie Betts can’t shake his funk at the plate, Clayton Kershaw is showing his frustration, and closer Tanner Scott is likely headed to the injured list with a forearm issue, so the vibes are shaky at the moment.

7) Philadelphia Phillies

Last week: 7

Behold one of the weirdest endings to a baseball game in recent memory.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, this was just the second walk-off catcher’s interference since the divisional era and the first since 1971.

8) New York Mets

Last week: 8

Francisco Alvarez made his return to the Mets on Monday after mashing the ball during his promotion in Triple-A and you couldn’t have asked for a better homecoming. The 23-year-old looked strong behind the plate while also drawing two walks and delivering a key double as part of a comeback victory over the Angels. The potential has always been there, so getting Alvarez right would be a game-changer for the Mets down the stretch.

9) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 11

The Padres have won six out of their last eight and find themselves just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Look for the club to address their top-heavy lineup as the trade deadline approaches.

10) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 9

The Yankees can’t seem to figure out the first-place Blue Jays right now and they have all sorts of needs (third base, starting pitcher, bullpen, etc.) in advance of the trade deadline. While Anthony Volpe’s two-homer game against the Braves on Saturday was encouraging, his all-around regression continues to be a daily focus.

11) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 10

Many expect the Red Sox to draw from their position player depth to upgrade in other areas, but Wilyer Abreu is showing that he’s a keeper. The 26-year-old had his fourth multi-homer game of the season on Sunday to help salvage the series finale against the Cubs. He also leads the team with 20 home runs.

12) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 13

In many ways, the Mariners have been the opposite of what we expected: Sixth in homers, tied for seventh in MLB in OPS, but in the middle of the pack in terms of ERA. Improved health should help the rotation, but bullpen appears to be a need going into next week.

13) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 14

The Cardinals are 5-10 this month — including a sweep by the Diamondbacks coming out of the break — so they don’t exactly look like a playoff contender. This puts John Mozeliak in an interesting position going into his final trade deadline in the big chair. Does he wield a heavy hand on his way out or focus on players who are set to become free agents?

14) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 15

Oh, to be a fly on the wall (or, in this case, the mound) in conversations between Terry Francona and Elly De La Cruz.

15) San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 12

On paper, it made all the sense in the world for the Giants to trade for Rafael Devers. It might still work out in the end, but the early returns are decidedly negative. Devers has hit just .219 with two homers and a .667 OPS with the club and the Giants are 11-18 since the trade.

16) Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 16

The Rays are on the fence as a potential contender, but with Brandon Lowe on the injured list again, Ha-Seong Kim dealing with yet another injury, and Shane McClanahan hitting a speed bump in his rehab, things aren’t looking promising.

17) Texas Rangers

Last week: 17

The Rangers have won six out of their last eight as they sit on the bubble among playoff contenders. It was nice to see Josh Jung homer in his return to the majors on Monday against the Athletics, even if his production after his demotion to Triple-A didn’t exactly jump off the page.

18) Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: 18

As we’ve said in previous weeks, the Diamondbacks might have the most high-impact options available via trade. Of course, there’s the prodigious power of Eugenio Suárez, but also Josh Naylor,Merrill Kelly, and Zac Gallen. It should be a fascinating few days in Arizona.

19) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️

Last week: 21

The progress of Jo Adell continues to be a nice story. With a couple of homers over the weekend against the Phillies, the 26-year-old former top prospect is slashing .287/.355/.565 with eight home runs and 24 RBI over his last 28 games.

20) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 23

Even with some better play since their 10-game losing streak, the Guardians are way out in the AL Central and have a few teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race. The big question is if they’d actually consider dealing either Steven Kwan or Emmanuel Clase.

21) Kansas City Royals ⬇️

Last week: 20

That the Royals are turning to 45-year-old Rich Hill to make a start on Tuesday is perhaps emblematic of where the Royals find themselves in late-July, but it’s historic nonetheless. The southpaw will tie Edwin Jackson’s MLB record by suiting up for his 14th MLB team. And to make it truly full circle, he’ll pitch at Wrigley Field, which is where it all began for him in 2005.

22) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 19

Not only do the Twins look like logical sellers at the deadline, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said during the All-Star break that he’s confident the team will be sold soon.

23) Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 24

Even with back-to-back losses as of this writing, the Marlins have won 21 out of their last 31 games. Eury Pérez has been worth the wait while youngsters Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez look like long-term building blocks. It will be interesting to see if the Marlins can turn some of their pitching into more help for the future.

24) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 22

Losers of five out of six, the Orioles are likely going to be forced to embrace reality as a seller. We’ll surely hear about names like Cedric Mullins, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramon Laureano, but the Orioles might be able to get their biggest haul should they decide to trade Félix Bautista.

25) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 25

450-feet homers, scoring from first base on a single, amazing throws. Even in a frustrating season for the Braves, Ronald Acuña Jr. is a must-watch every time he’s on the field.

26) Athletics

Last week: 26

It feels weird to say this, but teams looking for starting pitching will likely be calling the A’s over the next week. Luis Severino would surely welcome a deal, but pitchers like Jeffrey Springs and J.P. Sears could also draw interest.

27) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 28

While the Nationals could fetch a haul of a return for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, interim GM Mike DeBartolo has no intention of dealing from the core of the next contending iteration of the franchise.

28) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 27

There’s no shortage of ways to express the excellence of Paul Skenes, but this stat was mind-blowing to me: Skenes hasn’t allowed a single run in the first inning all season across 21 starts. Kudos to SNY and Gary Cohen for mentioning this on Monday’s Mets broadcast.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

The White Sox became the final team to sweep a series this season by taking three games against the Pirates over the weekend. With a win over the Rays on Monday, the White Sox are 4-0 coming out of the break. That's their best mark in a season since the All-Star break since the World Series-winning club in 2005. History probably won't repeat itself, but it's still fun.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

It has been a frustrating and injury-filled year for Ezequiel Tovar, but he has a chance to finish strong after returning from an oblique injury at the start of the second half. He went 3-for-4 with a homer in Saturday's victory over the Twins.

Starling Marte reinstated from IL as Mets announce series of roster moves

As the Mets continue their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels, the club announced a series of roster moves on Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by the return of outfielder Starling Marte.

The full list of roster moves:

-OF Starling Marte has been reinstated from the 10-Day Injured List

-INF Jared Young was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

-RHP Rico Garcia has reported to the major league team and will be active for Tuesday’s game

-RHP Kevin Herget was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse

-RHP Justin Garza has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse

-RHP Chris Devenski has been designated for assignment

-LHP Brandon Waddell's optional assignment was reversed, and he was placed on the 15-Day Injured List (effective 7/19) with a right hip impingement

Marte was placed on the 10-day IL on July 8 due to a right knee bone bruise, a similar injury to one that he dealt with during spring training.

The 36-year-old has had a solid season for the Mets, slashing .270/.353/.387 with four homers, 20 RBI, and 22 runs scored though injuries have limited him to just 58 games.

Meanwhile, the Mets’ game of bullpen musical chairs continues with Garcia, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees on Monday, being available to pitch on Tuesday, with Justin Garza also getting the call back up to the majors. Both Garcia and Garza have previously pitched with the Mets this season.

Paul Skenes is fine with the Pirates monitoring his workload, as long as they give him the ball

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes wants the ball. All the time.

Yet the only pitcher in major league history to start the All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons also understands the Pittsburgh Pirates are intent on playing the long game with his electric right arm.

They did a year ago, when they put Skenes on a soft innings cap during his remarkable rookie season. They’re doing it again this summer. To a point, anyway.

So when Skenes walked into the dugout on Monday night after needing 86 pitches to get through six innings against the Detroit Tigers, the 23-year-old didn’t put up a fight when manager Don Kelly turned to reliever Braxton Ashcraft for the seventh in what eventually became a 3-0 victory.

“I haven’t had a real start in 10 days,” Skenes said after lowering his ERA to 1.91, the best in the majors. “So it’s a little bit of a ramp back up. I think that it was about as good as it could have been ... a pretty good starting point.”

Sure looked like it. Skenes struck out six while allowing three hits to pick up his first victory since late May. The dry spell had nothing to do with his pitching — Skenes had a 1.77 ERA in his last eight starts entering Monday. Instead, it can be blamed on an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the majors.

Skenes has taken the high road amid his team’s struggles, to the point that Kelly needs to remind himself that Skenes just turned 23 less than two months ago.

“He’s wise beyond his years,” Kelly said. “The maturity level he shows when he’s out there, really, I don’t remember seeing anybody in my time (who’s had that).”

The Pirates are relying on it as they try to help him navigate his first full season in the big leagues. He bought in — begrudgingly at first — to the plan to monitor his workload as a rookie. This year, he wanted to take the ball and let it rip.

And while he has — Skenes has thrown 127 innings this season, nearly matching the 133 he tossed after being called up last May — Pittsburgh is trying to find the safest, healthiest path to help him make to late September.

“I don’t think anybody has the perfect answer,” Kelly said. “Just trying to make sure that we’re taking everything into account and collaborating with people that know more than even I do about all of this stuff and taking everybody’s thoughts into consideration and finding what we feel is the best way to go.”

Skenes is a part of that process, and he’s amenable, within reason. He hasn’t thrown more than 88 pitches in any of his four starts this month, even though he’s allowed all of two runs in the process.

“There’s still going to be starts where it’s like, ‘Hey, go out there and pitch,’” Skenes said. “I think we’re just going to pick our times with that. So I don’t know. There’s a long way to go still. So just going to keep pitching until they take the ball out of my hands.”

Kelly is hopeful Skenes can flirt with reaching 200 innings, a goal that seems doable if he can make another dozen starts like his first 21 this season. Skenes is a Cy Young Award contender despite playing for a last-place team that will likely be a seller at the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh’s victory on Monday night was its second in its last 13 games. The energy that characterized Kelly’s first 50 games on the job after replacing Derek Shelton in May has faded in the summer heat.

All around Skenes on Monday, there were signs of a club already looking to the future — again. A handful of the team’s picks in last week’s draft stood on the field at PNC Park after signing contracts. Johan Oviedo, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is hopeful to be back this season, though a return to the rotation might have to wait until 2026.

The team’s misfortunes, however, have not affected Skenes’ mindset or his performance. He can only control what he can control. Things haven’t gone according to plan — not by a long shot — for the Pirates. All the face of the franchise can do is take the ball every handful of days and do his part.

If that means he won’t get to throw until he thinks he’s done some nights, so be it. He’s willing to go along with whatever the plan is, with one notable exception.

“Not skipping a start,” he said. “That’s a no-go. That’s not good. ... That’s not ideal. We’ve done a good job to this point, just working within our own parameters.”

Yankees SS Anthony Volpe makes 12th error in loss to Toronto, tied for most in AL

TORONTO — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Anthony Volpe has made “a few too many” fielding errors this season after the shortstop made his 12th miscue of the season in a 4-1 loss at Toronto. He’s now tied for most in the American League.

Volpe won the AL Gold Glove as a rookie shortstop in 2023, when he made 17 errors in 1,346 2/3 innings. He had 16 errors in 1,416 2/3 innings last year.

Volpe has played 846 2/3 defensive innings this season. He matched Kansas City’s Jonathan India for the AL lead with an errant throw to first base that led to a run in Toronto’s four-run fifth inning.

“I rushed the throw and pulled it and gave Goldy (first baseman Paul Goldschmidt) a tough pick to handle,” Volpe said.

It came one play after third baseman Oswald Peraza also made a throwing error that allowed a run to score.

Boone acknowledged that Volpe’s error total is high but insisted he’s not worried about the shortstop’s overall defensive performance.

“He’s still making a lot of rangy plays, he’s still making a lot of plays,” Boone said. “He just hasn’t been as consistent as he has in his first two years. That’s three or four plays we’re talking about.”

Astros at Diamondbacks prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for July 22

Its Tuesday, July 22 and the Astros (58-42) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (50-51).

Framber Valdez is slated to take the mound for Houston against Eduardo Rodriguez for Arizona.

The American League West leaders took the series opener last night, 6-3. Rookie Brice Matthews cracked the first two home runs of his career and drove in five of the six runs for the Astros. Colton Gordon started for Houston lasting 5.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) to earn his fourth win of the season. Top trade target Eugenio Suarez homered for the fifth time in the last three games for Arizona in the loss.

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 Astros at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, ARID

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 Astros at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-125), Diamondbacks (+105)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for July 22, 2025: Framber Valdez vs. Eduardo Rodriguez
    • Astros: Framber Valdez (10-4, 2.75 ERA)
      Last outing: July 12 vs. Texas - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 10Ks
    • Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez (3-6, 5.94 ERA)
      Last outing: July 10 at San Diego - 4IP, 4ER, 8H, 2HR, 2BB

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 Astros at Diamondbacks

  • The Diamondbacks had their 4-game win streak snapped last night
  • The Astros have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games and bettors who have bet accordingly are profiting 1.49 units
  • Eugenio Suarez has hit in 4 straight (6-14) with 5 HRs and in 6 of his last 7 (9-21) with 7 HRs
  • Brice Matthews is 3-9 over his last 3 games
  • Jose Altuve is 23-63 (.365) in July
  • Christian Walker is 5-12 (.417) over his last 3 games and is hitting .339 in July overall

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 Astros and the Diamondbacks

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 Tuesday's game between the Astros and the Diamondbacks:

  • 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 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

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Brewers at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 22

Its 11 and counting for the Milwaukee Brewers. Its Tuesday, July 22 and the Brewers (60-40) are in Seattle to continue their series against the Mariners (53-47) looking for a 12th straight win.

Rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Logan Gilbert for Seattle.

The Brewers claimed sole possession of first place in the National League Central last night with a 6-0 shutout of the Mariners. Brandon Woodruff allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season. Jackson Chourio continues to mash collecting two more hits and driving in a pair to pace the attack that has scored at least six runs in seven of their last eight games. Milwaukee now owns the best record in baseball at 60-40.

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 Brewers at Mariners

  • Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, RSNW, 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 Mariners

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+103), Mariners (-123)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for July 22, 2025: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Logan Gilbert
    • Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 2.81 ERA)
      Last outing: July 8 vs. Dodgers - 6IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 12Ks
    • Mariners: Logan Gilbert (2-3, 3.39 ERA)
      Last outing: July 13 at Detroit - 5.1IP, 0ER, 6H, 2BB, 9Ks

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 Mariners

  • The Brewers have won 4 of their last 5 road trips against teams with winning records
  • The Over is 14-5-1 for the Brewers' and the Mariners' last 10 games combined
  • The Mariners have failed to cover the Run Line in 8 of their last 10 home games
  • Jackson Chourio has now hit safely in 15 straight games (22-59)
  • Christian Yelich is riding a more modest 4-game hitting streak (5-17)
  • Julio Rodriguez is 3-16 (.186) over his last 4 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 Brewers and the Mariners

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 Tuesday's game between the Brewers and the Mariners:

  • 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)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Hernández: 'Still a threat.' Why Shohei Ohtani needs to remain a two-player for Dodgers

Los Angeles, CA - July 21: Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pitches as the Dodgers take on the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium Monday, July 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani made his sixth start of the season on Monday against the Minnesota Twins, going three innings and giving up one run. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

The day after he pitches, Shohei Ohtani turns into Michael Conforto.

Ohtani has played four games on days following his starts, and he’s taken a total of 15 at-bats in them.

He’s collected just one hit.

He’s struck out six times.

Ohtani pitched three innings in the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, which led to manager Dave Roberts being asked about Ohtani’s anticipated Confortization on Tuesday.

Read more:Tanner Scott injury overshadows big nights from Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith in Dodgers win

“In the batter’s box, he’s certainly still a threat,” Roberts said. “So I don’t think right now we’re giving that too much thought.”

Good.

Suspicions that Ohtani’s pitching has negatively affected Ohtani’s hitting have become almost immaterial.

Ohtani will remain a two-way player.

He will remain a two-way player for the remainder of the regular season, and he will remain a two-way player in October.

He should provide more than a couple of innings here and there. He should be a full-blown starter.

Because he wants to. Because the Dodgers need him to.

Ohtani is the best hitter on a team that can’t hit much of anything lately. He is the best pitcher on a team with an injury-ravaged pitching staff that sustained another likely loss on Monday night when closer Tanner Scott departed the game with forearm pain.

His value as a two-way player was evident in the opening game of the three-game series against the Twins, as he gave up a leadoff homer to Byron Buxton and returned the favor by crushing a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning.

The 2-1 lead was gradually extended, by a pair of solo home runs by Will Smith and another bases-empty shot by Andy Pages.

Ohtani pitched three innings, the damage inflicted against him limited to Buxton’s homer even though he was plagued by control problems. Ohtani struck out three batters and was charged with four hits and a walk while throwing 46 pitches.

“I thought I wanted to go four innings, but my pitch count was piling up,” Ohtani said in Japanese.

The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammate Mookie betts after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning Monday.
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammate Mookie betts after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning Monday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

He will be extended to four innings in his next start, Roberts said.

The Dodgers might need every one of them, considering they have lost 10 of their last 13 games.

Ohtani didn’t know it at the time, but he spent six seasons preparing for something like this. On the Angels, he was a great player on a horrible team, which is what the Dodgers are at this moment.

The sorry state of the team didn’t stop Ohtani from trying to carry it then, and that’s not stopping him from trying to carry it now.

“I think he’s very mindful of where our team is right now,” Roberts said. “I feel he’s trying to will his way to kind of getting us over the hump. He’s competing. He’s taking really good at-bats. And he’s fighting. So I love what he’s doing.”

Ohtani has homered in each of the last three games.

“There’s just an extra level of focus I see in the decision-making at the plate,” Roberts said.

Roberts observed that Ohtani wasn’t driven by personal glory. He pointed to how Ohtani offered no resistance when he said he wanted to switch him and Mookie Betts in the batting order, with Ohtani dropping from the leadoff to No. 2 spot.

Ohtani batted first in every game until Sunday when Roberts moved a slumping Betts to the top of the lineup with hopes of jump-starting his season.

When Roberts texted Ohtani his thoughts the previous night, Ohtani replied by telling him to do whatever was best for the team, even if that meant batting him ninth.

Read more:From a day off to the leadoff spot, Dodgers try unraveling mystery of Mookie Betts' slump

“I have absolutely no problem with it,” Ohtani said. “What’s most important is that everyone can hit comfortably.”

Ohtani’s homers in the last two games came right after Betts reached base in front of him, with a single on Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers and with a walk on Monday against Twins starter David Festa.

“He wants to win,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “I think that him playing every day, him pitching, him taking walks when needed and switching spots with Mookie in the order, whatever is in the best interest of the ballclub, that’s what he’s doing.”

Ohtani is now 31. There are questions about whether his body can still withstand the workload required to play both ways, and rightfully so. But as the Dodgers have trudged through this midseason slump, Ohtani has revealed the spirit that was fundamental in making him the best player in the world. Roberts will wager the season on it. He has no other option.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.