Baseball – Page 265 – Worldwide Sports News

July 2, 2025

Guardians at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

Its Wednesday, July 2 and the Guardians (40-43) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (50-35).

Tanner Bibee is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Shota Imanaga for Chicago.

The Cubs took the opener in the series by the score of 5-2 last night. Carson Kelly went 2-2 and drove in three runs to pace the offense and Matthew Boyd allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings to earn his eighth win of the season.

Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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 Guardians at Cubs

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 8:05PM EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: CLEG, 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 Guardians at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Guardians (+134), Cubs (-159)
Spread: Cubs -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Cubs

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Tanner Bibee vs. Shota Imanaga
- Guardians: Tanner Bibee (4-8, 3.90 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/26 vs. Toronto - 6IP, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 7Ks
- Cubs: Shota Imanaga (4-2, 2.54 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/26 at St. Louis - 5IP, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 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 Guardians at Cubs

The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
The Guardians' last 3 against the Cubs have stayed under the Total
The Guardians have failed to cover the Run Line in 8 of their last 10 games
Pete Crow-Armstrong snapped an 0-11 streak with a couple of hits last night

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 Guardians and the Cubs

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 Wednesday's game between the Guardians and the Cubs:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is 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

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)

July 2, 2025

White Sox at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

Its Wednesday, July 2 and the White Sox (28-57) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (54-32).

Brandon Eisert is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Clayton Kershaw for Los Angeles.

Shohei Ohtani smacked his 30th home run of the season and Andy Pages and Michael Conforto each drove in a pair of runs to support a strong start for Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the Dodgers rolled to a 6-1 series-opening win.

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

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 Dodgers

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: CHSN, SNLA, MLBN

Odds for the White Sox at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: White Sox (+256), Dodgers (-322)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Dodgers

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Brandon Eisert vs. Clayton Kershaw
- White Sox: Brandon Eisert (2-1, 4.33 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/29 vs. San Francisco - 1IP, 0ER, 1H, 0BB, 2Ks
- Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (4-0, 3.03 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/26 at Colorado - 6IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 5Ks

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of White Sox at Dodgers

The Dodgers have won three straight home games with Clayton Kershaw starting
With Clayton Kershaw as the starter eight of the Dodgers' last 10 home games have gone over the Total
Max Muncy's 6-game hitting streak was snapped last night (0-3)
Andy Pages has hit in three straight (5-12)

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 White Sox and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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 Wednesday's game between the White Sox and the Dodgers:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers 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 recommending 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

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)

July 2, 2025

Brewers at Mets – Game 2 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for July 2

Its Wednesday, July 2 and the Brewers (47-37) are in Queens to take on the Mets (48-37) in a day/night doubleheader. This is a preview of Game 2.

Jacob Misiorowski, MLB's latest phenom, is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Blade Tidwell for New York.

Each of tonight's starters is making his fourth career appearance. It is start #4 for the 23-year-old Misiorowski. He is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings. Tidwell has not fared as well. He has struggled to date allowing 12 earned runs in just 10.2 innings.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Mets

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Citi Field
City: Queens, NY
Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNY

Odds for the Brewers at the Mets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Brewers (-131), Mets (+109)
Spread: Brewers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Mets - Game 2

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Blade Tidwell
- Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (3-0, 1.13 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/25 vs. Pittsburgh - 5IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks
- Mets: Blade Tidwell (0-1, 10.13 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/27 at Pittsburgh - 3.1IP, 4ER, 5H, 2BB, 1K

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Mets

The Brewers are on a 5-game win streak at Citi Field
The Under is 27-19-2 in the Brewers' matchups against National League teams this season
The Brewers have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.26 units
Rhys Hoskins is 1-15 over his last 5 games
Brandon Nimmo is riding a 5-game hitting streak (6-19)

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 2 between the Brewers and the Mets

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.

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 Wednesday's game between the Brewers and the Mets:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers 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 8.0.

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

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

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Brewers at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

Its Wednesday, July 2 and the Brewers (47-37) are in Queens to take on the Mets (48-37).

Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Clay Holmes for New York.

Perspective is everything as despite having near identical records, these two teams feel entirely different about themselves as they prepare for today's doubleheader.

The Mets have lost their last three and seven of their last ten. Injuries have ravaged the pitching staff and although Juan Soto is now playing like Juan Soto the rest of the offense is laboring. As a result, New York has fallen to two games behind the Phillies in the National League East. The Brewers have won eight of their last ten to climb back into the race in the National League Central. They trail the Cubs by 2.5 games.

Lets dive into the matchup for Game 1 and find a sweat or two.

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Mets

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 1:10PM EST
Site: Citi Field
City: Queens, NY
Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNY

Odds for the Brewers at the Mets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Brewers (+114), Mets (-135)
Spread: Mets -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Mets - Game 1

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Clay Holmes
- Brewers: Freddy Peralta (8-4, 2.90 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/24 vs. Pittsburgh - 5IP, 3ER, 7H, 0BB, 8Ks
- Mets: Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.97 ERA)
  Last outing: 6/25 vs. Atlanta - 5IP, 1ER, 3H, 4BB, 2Ks

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Mets

Freddy Peralta struck out 32 hitters in 28IP in June
Jackson Chourio was 3-12 (.250) over the weekend against Colorado
Juan Soto is riding a 5-game hitting streak (6-17) with 3HRs and 4RBIs

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 today’s Game 1 between the Brewers and the Mets

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.

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 Wednesday's Game 1 between the Brewers and the Mets:

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 8.0.

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

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

Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Hernández: The Dodgers have the best record in baseball. Why they still have room to improve

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 1, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) gives a hand out as Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (44) crosses the plate as they both scored on a 2-RBI single by Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Michael Conforto (23) against Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith (64) in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) — The Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández greets Andy Pages after they both scored on a two-run single by Michael Conforto in the first inning of Tuesday's win over the Chicago White Sox. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

With a 6-1 annihilation of the downtrodden Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, the Dodgers extended their advantage in the National League West to eight games.

Eight games, despite slumps by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

Eight games, despite injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.

Eight games, despite being less than three weeks removed from sharing the division lead with the San Francisco Giants.

Almost everything that could go wrong this season for the Dodgers has gone wrong, and they are ahead of the second-place San Diego Padres by eight games and the third-place Giants by nine. The Dodgers have looked nothing like the 120-win juggernaut they were expected to be, and they have the best record in the major leagues.

“I still believe our best baseball is ahead of us,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Three months remain in the regular season, more than enough time for the Dodgers to become whole, more than enough time for them to transform into baseball’s version of the Mongol army.

Roberts said the Dodgers are “not really playing our best baseball,” and he’s right. They haven’t steamrolled their opponents as much as they have outgutted them.

“We haven’t been at full strength all year,” Roberts said. “A lot of teams can say the same thing. But to our credit, no one has made any excuses about that.”

The Dodgers and Giants were even in the standings on June 13. The Dodgers won 13 of their next 16 games. The Giants lost 12 of their next 16, their blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers shaking up the division but not in the way they wanted.

From mid-May to mid-June, the Dodgers played 26 consecutive games against teams with winning records, but the Giants and Padres failed to take advantage of that. Roberts’ team emerged from that stretch in first place and has continued to increase its division lead since.

What should be disconcerting for the Giants and Padres — as well as the New York Yankees and Mets, and any other aspiring contender — is that the Dodgers have managed to distance themselves from the competition without looking particularly imposing.

Their win over the White Sox on Tuesday night marked the rare game in which they dominated every aspect of the game, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto giving up just one run in seven innings, the offense scoring four runs in the first inning, Shohei Ohtani launching his 30th homer in the fourth, and Jack Dreyer and Anthony Banda each pitching a scoreless inning in relief.

They need more games like this but not just to win the division or secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. They need them to create the momentum required to make another championship run.

“One thing I’ve learned,” Roberts said, “is the most important thing is once you’re [in the playoffs], you’ve got to be playing your best baseball because anything can happen.”

Ohtani has resumed pitching, albeit in a limited capacity. As much talk as there was about how his mound return affected his hitting, Ohtani still homered seven times last month.

The Dodgers aren’t counting on Ohtani to make seven- or eight-inning starts in the postseason, but they think he could contribute four or five innings at a time without compromising his offensive production.

Betts was kept out of the lineup on Tuesday, Roberts categorizing the day off as “more of a mental day.” Betts hasn’t found much of an offensive rhythm this season, but his track record indicates he is bound to break out of his slump.

“He’s an easy guy to bet on,” Roberts said of the eight-time All-Star.

The same could be said of Freeman.

The Dodgers also received uplifting news on the injury front.

Roki Sasaki played catch on Tuesday and was clocked at 91 mph, a sign that his season might not be over.

Snell and reliever Blake Treinen will pitch live batting practice sessions on Wednesday, marking their first time facing hitters since landing on the injured list. A day later, Glasnow is scheduled to make what could be his final start of a minor league rehabilitation assignment, with the Dodgers hopeful he can throw about 75 pitches over five innings. If management continues to have doubts whether Snell or Glasnow will be available in October, it can always make a move before the July 31 trade deadline.

As the team with the best record in baseball, the Dodgers technically have nowhere to go but down. In reality, they can only improve from here. This is their floor. By the time the playoffs come around, they should be a better team than they are now.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

July 2, 2025

Phillies notes: Wheeler's performance in June, Kemp expectations moving forward

Phillies notes: Wheeler's performance in June, Kemp expectations moving forward originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The return of Bryce Harper to the Phillies lineup on Monday after missing 22 games was supposed to be the biggest story of the night heading into a three-game set against the San Diego Padres. But not long after the first baseman got his standing ovation in his first at-bat, the bigger talking point of the game turned towards the pitching of starter Zack Wheeler, who continued his dominance with eight scoreless inning, 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Wheeler continued to cement himself as one of the National League Cy Young favorites by improving to 8-3 with a 2.27 ERA. His month of June was off the charts good, as he allowed just two earned runs in 31 innings (0.58 ERA) along with 42 strikeouts.

He is the first pitcher since 1900 to allow two earned or fewer over 30 or more innings with 40-plus strikeouts in June.

A little lower down on the storylines of the evening was what Harper’s return meant to others, such as rookie Otto Kemp, who filled in more than admirably during Harper’s absence. He averaged .266 with a four-hit game thrown in against Toronto and his first home run in the Majors at Atlanta. He has moved around defensively with time spent in leftfield, third and first base.

“I’m going to take the same approach as what I’ve been doing,” Kemp said before Wednesday’s doubleheader. “Just try to be ready to play everyday and for me it’s about knowing ahead a little bit. We have a series coming up where we’re going to face a couple of lefties so I’ll probably get a little bit more time. So just kind of looking ahead that way and making sure I’m staying up to date in left. Up to date in the infield. Just making sure that I’m ready to go whenever I’m needed.”

Prior to being called up to the Phillies, Kemp made the decision not to get a feel what Citizen’s Bank Park was about before playing a game. It is a decision he certainly doesn’t regret. “‘I’m trying not to get used to much of anything, definitely not taking anything for granted,” he said. “I mean, there’s 45,000 people here almost every night. That’s cool. I’m glad I didn’t take in anything here before I was called up. All of the amenities that we get here are pretty cool, too.

“So far, I just tried to come up and do what I did that got me called up here. Try to catch on with a lot of the guys and learn different things. I know at some point I’ll have to make more adjustments the more I play, but right now it’s more of just do what I do, keep working on getting better in the infield and outfield with all the instruction I’m getting.”

How did Harper come out of his first game back?

Manager Rob Thomson said before Game 1 that Bryce Harper was doing well after his return on Monday with nothing major to report. “Don’t know yet (If Harper would play both games. He was starting Game 1). “He was ready to go yesterday and he’s ready to go today. We’ll just check him out after the (first) game today. We spoke about it yesterday and we’ll see where he’s at.”

Any updates on Nola?

When asked for an update on starter Aaron Nola, Thomson said, ” I think they are going to try and get him up on the slope today. Hopefully we get him up on the mound for a full bullpen session this week.” Asked if Nola would need a spring training-like rehab to get back, Thomson agreed. “I’d say pretty close. He’s starting over, really.”

Why keep Schwarber in the 2-spot?

Thomson said that he will keep Schwarber at the No. 2 spot for now. “I want to do whatever I can to get him some more strikes,” with Harper providing the protection Thomson wants to see for the Phillies best home run hitter.

July 2, 2025

Yankees at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Yankees (48-37) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (47-38). Will Warren is slated to take the mound for New York against José Berríos for Toronto.

The Blue Jays took Game 2 of the series, 12-5, behind a monster eight-run eight inning to pull away from the Yankees after New York tied it up 4-4.

This is the third game of a four-game series between Toronto and New York. Toronto is 5-1 in the last six games, while New York is 3-3 in that span.

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 Yankees at Blue Jays

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 7:07PM EST
Site: Rogers Centre
City: Toronto, ON
Network/Streaming: AmazonPV, Sportsnet

Odds for the Yankees at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Yankees (-130), Blue Jays (+109)
Spread: Yankees -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Blue Jays

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Will Warren vs. José Berríos
- Yankees: Will Warren, (5-4, 4.37 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
- Blue Jays: José Berríos, (4-3, 3.27 ERA)
  Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 8 Strikeouts

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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 Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and the Blue Jays:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays 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 Yankees at Blue Jays

The Yankees have won 20 of 35 games following a defeat
When Jose Berrios takes the mound for the Blue Jays the Over is 9-6-2 (53%)
The Blue Jays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.62 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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Twins at Marlins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Twins (40-45) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (38-45). Simeon Woods Richardson is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Janson Junk for Miami.

Miami is on a season long eight-game winning streak that continued with a 2-0 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday. Miami has outscored its opponents 54 to 34 during this stretch.

Minnesota has lost three consecutive games and is 4-14 over the previous 18 games. The Twins follow up this road series with a nine-game home stand versus Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh before the All-Star break.

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

Game details & how to watch Twins at Marlins

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 6:40PM EST
Site: LoanDepot Park
City: Miami, FL
Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNFL

Odds for the Twins at the Marlins

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Twins (-125), Marlins (+105)
Spread: Twins -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Marlins

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Simeon Woods Richardson vs. Janson Junk
- Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson, (3-4, 4.63 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
- Marlins: Janson Junk, (2-0, 3.73 ERA)
  Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 1 Strikeout

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Marlins

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.

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 Wednesday’s game between the Twins and the Marlins:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Miami Marlins 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 Twins at Marlins

The Twins have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
Minnesota is 6-6 in Simeon Woods Richardson's starts
13 of the Marlins' last 15 home games stayed under the Total
The Marlins have covered the Run Line in 14 of their last 17 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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Padres at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Padres (45-39) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (50-35). Nick Pivetta is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Mick Abel for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia took the series opener 4-0 in Bryce Harper’s return and the strong pitching of Zack Wheeler. Harper recorded a walk and two outs in three at-bats, while Wheeler recorded 10 strikeouts to zero walks over 8.0 shutout innings of work.

The Phillies have won three out of the last four after dropping three consecutive games. San Diego is the opposite having lost three of the past four outings to follow up a 4-1 stretch.

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

Game details & how to watch Padres at Phillies

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 1:05PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: SDPA, NBCSP, MLBN

Odds for the Padres at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Padres (-108), Phillies (-111)
Spread: Phillies 1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Phillies

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Nick Pivetta vs. Mick Abel
- Padres: Nick Pivetta, (8-2, 3.36 ERA)
  Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
- Phillies: Mick Abel, (2-1, 3.47 ERA)
  Last outing: 3.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 1 Strikeout

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres 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.

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 Wednesday’s game between the Padres 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 San Diego Padres at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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 Padres at Phillies

The Padres are 10-6 when Nick Pivetta starts
The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
Each of the Padres’ last 3 road games with the Phillies have stayed under the Total
The Phillies are up 3.92 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Citizens Bank Park

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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Tigers at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Tigers (53-32) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (35-49). Tyler Holton is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Trevor Williams for Washington.

Game 1 between the Tigers and Nationals was postponed yesterday, so we have a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Detroit is coming off a series win over the Twins, while the Nationals took their series against the Angels. Both teams won two of three. This is the first game of a four game series.

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

Game details & how to watch Tigers at Nationals

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 1:05PM EST
Site: Nationals Park
City: Washington, DC
Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, MASN2

Odds for the Tigers at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Tigers (-170), Nationals (+142)
Spread: Tigers -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Nationals

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Tyler Holton vs. Trevor Williams
- Tigers: Tyler Holton, (3-3, 4.34 ERA)
  Last outing: 1.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 0 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
- Nationals: Trevor Williams, (3-9, 5.65 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

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

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.

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 Wednesday’s game between the Tigers and the Nationals:

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 Washington Nationals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 at National League teams
The Tigers' last 3 road games have gone over the Total
The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.47 units
Washington is 1-4 in the last five Trevor Williams' starts
Washington is 6-10 on the ML when Williams pitches this season

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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Cardinals at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for July 2

It's Wednesday, July 2 and the Cardinals (47-40) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (37-50). Sonny Gray is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates continued its hot play with a 1-0 win on a Henry Davis sacrifice fly in the eight inning of Game 2 in the series. Pittsburgh has a chance to sweep the Cardinals — revenge for St. Louis sweeping Pittsburgh earlier in the season.

Pittsburgh has scored 38 runs during their season-long five-game winning streak and 55 runs during the current 7-2 stretch they're on. St. Louis is 10-5 in the last 15 games despite losing the past two games.

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

Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Pirates

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Time: 12:35PM EST
Site: PNC Park
City: Pittsburgh, PA
Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, SNP, MLBN

Odds for the Cardinals at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

Moneyline: Cardinals (-140), Pirates (+118)
Spread: Cardinals -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Pirates

Pitching matchup for July 2, 2025: Sonny Gray vs. Mitch Keller
- Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (8-2, 3.36 ERA)
  Last outing: 9.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 0 Walks, and 11 Strikeouts
- Pirates: Mitch Keller, (2-10, 3.90 ERA)
  Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts

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

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 Wednesday’s game between the Cardinals and the Pirates:

Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Cardinals at Pirates

The Pirates have a losing record (10-17) in divisional matchups this season
The under has cashed in the Pirates' last three head-to-heads against the Cardinals with Mitch Keller starting
The Pirates have covered in three straight games with Mitch Keller as their opening pitcher
The Pirates are 1-5 on the ML in the last six games that Mitch Keller pitches
The Cardinals are 8-1 in the last nine Sonny Gray starts
The Cardinals are 3-2 on the ML against the Pirates

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)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Mets vs. Brewers: How to watch Game 1 of doubleheader on SNY on July 2, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series against the Brewers at Citi Field in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

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

Mets Notes

Juan Soto is hitting .330/.476/.742 with 12 homers, four doubles, 26 walks, 22 RBI, and 27 runs scored over his last 29 games
Jeff McNeilhas an .859 OPS in 43 games dating back to May 7
Edwin Diaz has a 0.41 ERA over his last 22 games

BREWERS	METS
Sal Frelick, RF	Francisco Lindor, SS
William Contreras, C	Starling Marte, DH
Christian Yelich, DH	Juan Soto, RF
Jackson Chourio, RF	Pete Alonso, 1B
Brice Turang, 2B	Brandon Nimmo, LF
Isaac Collins, LF	Mark Vientos, 3B
Jake Bauers, 1B	Jeff McNeil, CF
Joey Ortiz, SS	Luis Torrens, C
Anthony Seigler, 3B	Brett Baty, 2B

What channel is SNY?

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

How can I stream the game?

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

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

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

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

Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account.

Select the SNY Mets game you wish to view from the Multimedia Center.

How can I watch the game on the MLB App?

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

Download the free MLB App.

Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.

Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”

To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.

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

July 2, 2025

MLB NL Rookie of the Year Predictions: Odds, expert picks, including Jacob Misiorowski, Burns, Ramirez

The National League Rookie of the Year market is beginning to look like a runaway as Jacob Misiorowski attempts to become a household name.

The Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher is now listed at -180 at DraftKings Sportsbook after being +1700 prior to his first start.

Since June 12, Misiorowski's odds have moved from +1700 to +1100 to +300 to +150 to -110 to -190 and in that span — it's clear that no one else has shined the way he has.

Make sure you follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

National League Rookie of the Year: Jacob Misiorowski (-180)

There is an influx of new generational talent coming up the MLB pipeline from players capable of stealing bases at record rates like Chandler Simpson of the Rays or Paul Skenes starting the All-Star game as a rookie last year for the Pirates — the next in line for stardom is Jacob Misiorowski.

In his first three career starts, Misiorowski (-180) has totaled 16.0 innings pitched, 3 wins to 0 losses, 3 hits allowed, 2 earned runs allowed (1.13 ERA), and 19 strikeouts to 7 walks. Misiorowski walked four in his debut start against St. Louis but walked three and struck out 14 over the next two starts.

In his MLB debut against the Cardinals, Misiorowski made an immediate impact throwing 100+ MPH pitches in his first three pitches and 11 of his first 24. He recorded the fastest pitch of any Brewer in the statcast era dating back to 2008, plus recorded a no-hitter through 5.0 innings. The 23-year-old is a star.

Misiorowski's latest rise came when he went head-to-head with Paul Skenes and the Pirates. It was a sight and very hyped game as these could be two of the best pitchers over the next five to ten years. Skenes is 6-foot-3 and 260 lbs, in other words a tank, while Misiorowski is 6-foot-7 and 197 lbs — a slender assassin.

Milwaukee was victorious against Pittsburgh, 4-2, and Misiorowski dominated for his third straight win. Misiorowski went five strong scoreless innings on 74 pitches with eight strikeouts, two walks, and two hits allowed.

While Skenes dominated last year and was the talk of the rookie pitching class, it's clear that Misiorowski is the 2025 version. At anything below -250 (DraftKings has -180), Misiorowski is a play because the award is his to lose.

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!

Cincinnati's Chase Burns (+2500) appeared to be Misiorowski's biggest competition after his MLB debut consisted of eight strikeouts over 5.0 innings against the Yankees, including five of the first six batters. However, Burns could not get out the first inning (0.1 IP) in his next start, on the road at St. Louis. Burns allowed five earned runs (seven runs overall), five hits, two walks and one homer. We can't trust that, so I will pass on Burns.

Atlanta's Drake Baldwin (+450) is now second in terms of odds, but has gone cold recently. Baldwin is hitless over the last four games (9 AB) and hitting 0.83 over the past seven days (12 AB).

In the last 30 days, Baldwin is hitting .186 with 14 strikeouts to 10 walks, plus 11 hits, 11 RBI, and four homers. Overall, a .273 batting average, 9 home runs and 26 RBI through 57 games isn't anything to hang your head on, but I don't think it will be enough to hang with Misiorowski.

Miami's Agustin Ramirez(+1300) has watched his odds decrease in the past week despite Miami's eight-game winning streak. Ramirez is hitting .252 with 12 homers and 33 RBI through 59 games this season and even been hot over the last week with a .417 batting average (24 AB), 10 hits and 6 RBI.

If there was another bet to make in this market, it's Ramirez, but something is fishy for him to be playing well and seeing his odds move from +450 to +1300. Keep an eye on Ramirez because he may be the main hedge in this market.

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!

Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler (+7000) was another player to keep an eye on for NL Rookie of the Year, but his big league debut will be delayed even further after six earned runs allowed over 2.2 innings in his most recent Triple-A start. Chandler was expected to make a debut in May or early June this season, but his struggles have prevented that.

Misiorowski's teammates Chad Patrick (+3000) and Isaac Collins (+2500) havemade strides in this market, but sharing the spotlight won't earn either many first place votes.

The Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim (+2500) is another contender because of his .369 batting average on 31 hits through 38 games, but the sample size is still relatively low. Kim has two homers, seven stolen bags, 12 RBI, 16 runs scored, and 19 strikeouts to five walks, so there isn't a lot of encouragement there outside the batting average.

It's obvious that Misiorowski is the play. I already played Misiorowski at +1100 and -110 odds and gave those out here at NBC, so if you haven't bet on him already, you are running out of time.

Get involved with Misiorowski one way or another for NL Rookie of the Year as it's his award to lose.

Pick: Jacob Misiorowski to win NL Rookie of the Year (Total of 1.5 units risked)

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:

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

July 2, 2025

Giants notes: Bob Melvin patching third base together until Matt Chapman returns

Giants notes: Bob Melvin patching third base together until Matt Chapman returns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

PHOENIX — Giants veteran Wilmer Flores smiled on Tuesday afternoon and shrugged. He didn’t have a lot of answers to give, and that was understandable.

Flores found out early in the day that he would be starting at third base for the first time in 14 months, and he figured he would probably have to borrow a glove from Matt Chapman, who is on the IL. Flores said returning to third might be a little uncomfortable, but added he had to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. The Giants needed him at third, and he was up for it.

“We probably have a week to try to get by,” manager Bob Melvin said.

The Giants expect Chapman back when they return home next week, although given how fast he’s progressing and how poorly the team is playing, it wouldn’t be a shock if he talked his way into the lineup this weekend.

Melvin said Chapman has been in his ear constantly about speeding up the rehab process, but the Giants want to make sure Chapman doesn’t do anything that leads to concerns in the second half. Already, he is ahead of schedule.

Melvin said Chapman was “letting it go” in the cage on Tuesday and looked good. He also went through a full workout defensively.

“But we also have to stay on what we feel is the right timetable,” Melvin said. “We take direction from the training staff and try to calm him down along the way, as well.”

Until Chapman returns, it’ll be Flores and Brett Wisely at third base. Melvin resisted starting Flores at first base when LaMonte Wade Jr. struggled because there’s concern about wearing him down physically, but the Diamondbacks didn’t test him Tuesday. Flores didn’t touch the ball until the seventh, when he smoothly fielded a grounder. Only one Diamondbacks hitter even pretended to bunt on Flores, who was playing back all night.

The Giants have talked about putting Rafael Devers back at his natural position, but he’s dealing with groin and back tightness. He still has not even played first base for his new team.

“He’s not yet physically ready to play first, so third would be the same thing,” Melvin said. “Once he’s able to play in the field, he has told me he’s open for anything.”

Tough Timing

Casey Schmitt went down with an injury during the best stretch of his big league career, and the same thing happened to Christian Koss, who had been starting at third. He had a five-game hitting streak going and was 9-for-19 with three doubles in five starts at third base, but he went on the IL on Tuesday with a left hamstring strain that he suffered in Monday’s loss.

The Giants did not give much detail about the severity of the hamstring injury, but Melvin said it might be a while. The active roster spot went to Luis Matos, who had a .770 OPS and three homers in 20 games back in Triple-A. Matos doubled to left in his first at-bat back.

What Went Wrong?

The Diamondbacks scored three unearned runs on Tuesday after a pair of passed balls by Patrick Bailey. One in the third allowed a runner to advance, and he scored on a two-out single. In the fifth, Bailey couldn’t hold onto what would have been an inning-ending strike three; the next batter hit a two-run homer.

Bailey is on his way to a second consecutive Gold Glove Award, but there have been quite a few dropped balls this season, and it’s not hard for the staff to figure out why it’s happening.

“He’s one of the better framers in the game, but that was three runs there,” Melvin said. “There has to be a period or an area where you can’t go after that — you’ve just got to catch it. At least tonight, the ramifications were big.”

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July 2, 2025

Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers cruise past the White Sox

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 1, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) pitches against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, shown here earlier this season, had a strong outing Tuesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

For the Chicago White Sox, it was not a question of whether Shane Smith was the best pitcher they had to offer against the Dodgers — he was very likely their best.

Among White Sox pitchers with 10 or more starts, the rookie right-hander had the best strikeout-per-nine inning rate (8.2), as well as the lowest earned-run average (3.38) entering the game. Smith had been respectably good on a young White Sox roster that has been anything but.

Yet, Smith couldn’t make up the gulf in quality between the best-in-the-National-League Dodgers (54-32) and the worst-in-the-American-League White Sox (28-57). The Dodgers would make sure of that in quick fashion. A four-run, two-out rally in the first inning separated the teams quickly in a 6-1 victory to begin the six-game homestand.

“I think we’re really pitching well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We’re getting a lot of contributions from guys in the middle to the bottom of the order which is huge. We’re getting timely hits.”

“Obviously, that gauntlet of going through 26 games of some really good opponents record-wise, getting through that, not letting down, staying on the gas — I think that’s good, and finishing strong going into the break.”

Whereas Smith was chased from the game in the fifth inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was excellent again. A week after being pulled after five innings in Denver — because of a lengthy rain delay — Roberts called on the sure-to-be All-Star to pitch with an extended leash.

Yamamoto gave up one run, a two-out RBI double to Lenyn Sosa in the fourth inning, but twirled his way through an otherwise overmatched White Sox lineup, retiring the final 10 batters he faced. The right-hander tossed seven innings, gave up one run and three hits, while striking out eight, walking one and bringing his earned-run average down to 2.51.

“Any given night, a big league team can get you,” Roberts said, “and I was just happy that he was still aggressive and using the split, putting hitters away, but he's doing what he needs to do."

Across his last 12 innings, Yamamoto has given up just four hits.

Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting his 30th homer of the season. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“I think I’m pitching with really good form,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter after the game. “I think it’s becoming very clear what I have to do.”

White Sox first baseman Miguel Vargas — the former Dodgers top prospect who the franchise parted ways with at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman — represented the heart of the Chicago lineup, batting cleanup with his .229 batting average and 10 home runs entering the game.

Vargas, who failed to bring the power in an 0-for-4 effort, received a 2024 World Series ring from Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes during pregame batting practice. Yamamoto set him down his first three times at the plate Tuesday.

“Yoshinobu did spectacular work today,” Shohei Ohtani told NHK, a Japanese television station, after the game.

Of more promising White Sox prospects, rookie Chase Meidroth faced a potential NL Cy Young award candidate. In the third inning, Yamamoto struck out Meidroth with a three-pitch combo: 95-mph fastball on the edge of the strike zone, a 92-mph cutter on the outside corner and a splitter down and in, forcing a swing more than a foot above where the pitch landed.

Andy Pages struck two run-scoring hits — a double and a single — en route to a two-for-four day at the plate. The 24-year-old Cuban slugger sits in sixth in the most recent NL All-Star outfielder voting, and ended Tuesday with a .294 batting average and 57 RBIs, the latter statistic being the best on the Dodgers.

"He's earned it,” Michael Conforto, who struck the two-RBI single that capped off the four-run first, said of Pages’ All-Star candidacy. “What you may or may not see is just how hard he works… really just doesn't seem to take days off.”

Ohtani, who was not a part of the Dodgers' hit parade that led to their first five runs across three innings, joined the run-scoring effort in the fourth with a no-doubt solo home run — 408 feet and 116.3 mph, halfway up the right-field pavilion — off of Smith, his 30th this season. As fireworks unexpectedly shot up from the Dodger Stadium parking lot during the ninth inning — it was a reminder that Wednesday could bring fireworks on the field as Clayton Kershaw takes the mound three strikeouts away from being the 20th MLB player to reach the 3,000-strikeout milestone.

Etc.

Kopech returned to the 15-day injured list — of which he recently returned from on June 7 — with right-knee inflammation. He said before Tuesday’s game that he wasn’t sure what caused the injury, and would characterize the ailment as discomfort rather than pain.

Roberts said there isn’t a timeline for Kopech’s return, but said it was a short-term issue. The 29-year-old, who received a cortisone shot in his knee, had yet to give up a run in eight scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.

In pitchers on their way back from injuries, Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) will throw his third rehabilitation with triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday. The expectation is that Glasnow will pitch five innings/75 pitches, Roberts said.

The Dodgers manager added that Blake Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Blake Treinen (right forearm sprain) will throw to live hitters Wednesday, the next step in their recovery progression.

“Hopefully we're starting to turn the corner a little bit,” Roberts said.

Next Ohtani start

Ohtani will next start on the mound Saturday against the Houston Astros — a 4:05 p.m. start — and southpaw Justin Wrobleski will again piggyback off the two-way star’s opening effort.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.