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Yankees at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Yankees (45-33) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (41-38). Carlos Rodón is slated to take the mound for New York against for Cincinnati and Chase Burns in his MLB debut.

The Reds took the opening game of the series, 6-1, as an Aaron Judge homer in the first inning was the only score for the Yankees. Elly De La Cruz had a monster day as recorded a single, triple, and homer yesterday as he was a double away from the cycle.

New York is 3-8 over the last 11 games and scored three or fewer runs in all eight losses. Cincinnati has won the past two games and six of the previous nine as these two teams trend in opposite directions.

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 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 Reds

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: YES, FDSNOH

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

Odds for the Yankees at the Reds

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-162), Reds (+136)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Carlos Rodón vs. 
    • Yankees: Carlos Rodón, (9-5, 3.11 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Chase Burns, (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: Making his 2025 season debut

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • 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 Cincinnati Reds 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 Yankees at Reds

  • The Yankees have won 14 of their 25 matchups against National League teams this season
  • The Yankees' last 5 road games have stayed under the Total
  • The Reds have covered the Run Line in 4 straight matchups against the Yankees
  • New York is 9-7 on the ML when Carlos Rodon pitches this season and 4-2 in the last six starts

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)
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Rays at Royals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 24

Its Tuesday, June 24 and the Rays (43-35) are in Kansas City to take on the Royals (38-40).

Taj Bradley is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Kris Bubic for Kansas City.

The Rays are surging having won seven of their last ten to climb within two games of the Yankees in the American League East. The Royals are treading water in the American League Central. They are 10.5 games behind the Tigers in the Amercian League Central but just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.

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 Rays at Royals

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, FDSNKC

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 Rays at the Royals

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+119), Royals (-142)
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Taj Bradley vs. Kris Bubic
    • Rays: Taj Bradley (4-5, 4.95 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/18 vs. Baltimore - 1.1IP, 6ER, 6H, 1BB, 2Ks
    • Royals: Kris Bubic (6-4, 2.12 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/18 at Texas - 5.1IP, 3ER, 9H, 1BB, 6Ks

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 Rays at Royals

  • The Rays have won 3 straight on the road
  • The Rays' last 3 road games have gone over the Total
  • The Rays have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 1.30 units
  • Junior Caminero has at least 1 hit in 7 of his last 8 games (13-30)
  • Bobby Witt Jr. is riding a 7-game hitting streak (11-28)

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 Rays and the Royals

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 Rays and the Royals:

  • 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 Tampa Bay Rays 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)
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Rangers at Orioles Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Rangers (38-41) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (34-44). Jacob Latz is slated to take the mound for Texas against Charlie Morton for Baltimore.

Baltimore took the opening game of the series in shutout fashion, winning 6-0 as they extend to 7-4 over the last 11 games. The Orioles have won five straight with Morton on the mound.

Texas has lost the past two games scoring a total of three runs. Since reaching .500, the Rangers have lost five of the last seven games.

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 Rangers at Orioles

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 6:35PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, MASN

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 Rangers at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+108), Orioles (-126)
  • Spread:  Orioles -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Orioles

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Jacob Latz vs. Charlie Morton
    • Rangers: Jacob Latz, (1-0, 3.26 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 0 Strikeouts
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton, (4-7, 5.64 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

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

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 Rangers and the Orioles:

  • 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 Texas Rangers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 10.0.

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 Rangers at Orioles

  • The Rangers have won 4 of their last 5 series
  • 7 of the Orioles' last 8 games (88%) have stayed under the Total
  • The Rangers have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight road games
  • Baltimore is 5-0 on the ML and 4-1 ATS in the last five games that Charlie Morton has pitched

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)
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Braves at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Braves (36-41) are in Queens to take on the Mets (46-33). Spencer Strider is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against Frankie Montas for New York.

The Braves took the first game of the series, 3-2 and survived a late push from New York via a two-run homer from Juan Soto. Ronald Acuna Jr. homered as well to give Atlanta a 8-3 record over the past 11 games.

New York has lost the past two games are 1-9 over the last 10 games. The Mets have scored two or fewer runs scored in five out of the last six and seven out of 10.

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 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 Braves at Mets

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, SNY, TBS

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 Braves at the Mets

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (-148), Mets (+123)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Spencer Strider vs. Frankie Montas
    • Braves: Spencer Strider, (2-5, 3.89 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Mets: Frankie Montas, (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: Making his 2025 debut

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

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

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 Braves and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Mets 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 Braves at Mets

  • The Braves are on a 3-game win streak at the Mets
  • The Braves' last 4 road games have stayed under the Total
  • Atlanta is 8-3 on the ML over the last 11 games
  • New York is 1-9 on the ML over the past 10 games
  • Atlanta is 2-5 on the ML when Spencer Strider pitches this season and 2-0 in the last two

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)
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Diamondbacks at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Diamondbacks (40-38) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (25-54). Ryne Nelson is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Jordan Leasure for Chicago.

The Diamondbacks took the first game of the series being a dominant 10-0 victory versus the White Sox. Chicago is 2-10 over the past 12 games and 2-2 in the last four entering this contest.

Arizona has won four of the previous five games with all coming by two or more runs. The only loss for the DBacks during that stretch was a 4-2 loss in Colorado. This is the eighth road game of a nine-game road trip for Arizona.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at White Sox

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, CHSN

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

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (-161), White Sox (+135)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Ryne Nelson vs. Jordan Leasure
    • Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson, (4-2, 3.88 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 1 Hit Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • White Sox: Jordan Leasure, (2-4, 4.23 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 1 Strikeout

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Diamondbacks and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks 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 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 Diamondbacks at White Sox

  • The White Sox have lost 8 of their last 10 games
  • The Diamondbacks' last 3 games versus the White Sox have gone over the Total
  • The Diamondbacks have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 2.46 units
  • Chicago is 2-10 on the ML in the last 12 games
  • Arizona is 6-10 when Ryne Nelson pitches this season and 2-0 in the past two

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)
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Pirates at Brewers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Pirates (32-48) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (43-36). Andrew Heaney is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Freddy Peralta for Milwaukee.

Pittsburgh is on a two-game winning streak and took Game 1 of the series yesterday, 5-4 behind the hot play of Nick Gonzales (5 hits, 2 RBI) and a sixth inning RBI triple from Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Milwaukee has won four of the past five games after the loss to the Buccos. The Brewers have scored 47 runs over the last five contests.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Brewers

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, FDSNWI

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

Odds for the Pirates at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+170), Brewers (-206)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Andrew Heaney vs. Freddy Peralta
    • Pirates: Andrew Heaney, (3-6, 3.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (7-4, 2.76 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

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

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

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 Pirates and the Brewers:

  • 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 Pittsburgh Pirates 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.

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

  • With Freddy Peralta starting the Brewers have won 3 straight home games against the Pirates
  • In 5 of the Brewers' last 7 home games the Under has cashed with Freddy Peralta as the starter
  • The Brewers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.26 units
  • The Pirates are 5-10 on the season when Andrew Heaney pitches this season and 1-4 over the last five
  • The Brewers are 9-7 on the season when Freddy Peralta pitches this season and won the last two

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)
Posted on

Shaikin: Walker Buehler struggling to rediscover his Dodgers World Series magic with Red Sox

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers to the plate during.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers during a 9-5 loss to the Angels on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Buehler gave up five runs in the first inning. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Walker Buehler owned our city. When the Dodgers ran out of arms last fall, he instantly reimagined himself as a closer and slayed the mighty New York Yankees in the final inning of the World Series. In the championship parade, he donned the jersey of fellow Fall Classic hero Orel Hershiser. He and catcher Will Smith auctioned the ball used for the final out and donated the $414,000 in proceeds toward wildfire relief.

From the day he arrived at Dodger Stadium as a rookie in 2017, Buehler exuded confidence. Tommy Lasorda had to goad Hershiser into becoming a bulldog. Buehler always had been one.

That made it shocking, frankly, to hear Buehler talk after the Angels dazed him in a five-run first inning Monday at Angel Stadium. They beat him, he beat himself, whatever.

Read more:Max Muncy drives in seven runs off two homers in Dodgers' win over Nationals

But among the words uttered by the one-time Dodgers ace with the supreme confidence were these: “I think I can still pitch in the major leagues.”

Buehler’s earned-run average is 6.29, the highest of any American League pitcher with at least 60 innings.

That leaves the Red Sox with this unsettling dilemma: They are a game and a half out of an American League wild card — and only a game ahead of the Angels — so can they afford to keep Buehler in their starting rotation?

“We’ll talk about it,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler tosses his glove and cap into the dugout.
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler tosses his glove and cap into the dugout as he leaves the field after giving up five runs in the first inning of a 9-5 loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium on Monday. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Buehler does not shy from accountability, or from the question of whether he worries that the Red Sox might move him to the bullpen, at least for a spell.

“Yeah, I think you have to,” he said. “At some point, there are 26 guys that are going to help this team hopefully make the playoffs.

“If you’re not one of them, I don’t really think it matters what you’ve done in years past.”

In his previous start, Cora noted before the game, Buehler had failed to retire eight batters with two-strike counts.

In this game, after the Red Sox handed him a 3-0 lead, Zach Neto hit Buehler’s first pitch over the center-field fence. The Angels scored the remaining four runs with two outs. In all, the Angels scored five runs on two hits, two hit batters and four walks.

Buehler hit the Angels’ No. 7 batter with two strikes, walked the No. 8 batter with two strikes, and walked the No. 9 batter with two strikes. Then he hit Neto to force home a run.

Read more:‘It’s going to be gradual.’ Why Dodgers aren’t rushing Shohei Ohtani’s pitching buildup

“It’s embarrassing,” Buehler said. “It’s just not who I want to be as a baseball player. Obviously, I’d rather get whacked around than do that.

“Somehow, this year, I’ve managed to do all the negative things you can. I’ll keep working. It’s just tough to let down our team, especially with the first inning that we had.”

The Dodgers signed Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to replace Buehler and Jack Flaherty in their rotation. Snell and Sasaki are on the injured list. Flaherty has a 4.83 ERA and an AL-high eight losses for the team with the best record in the majors, the Detroit Tigers.

Buehler has started 13 games, more than anyone on the Red Sox except Garrett Crochet and more than anyone on the Dodgers except Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dustin May. Buehler’s ERA in seven games since returning from an injured list stint for what the Red Sox called shoulder bursitis: 8.59.

Cora insists that Buehler’s stuff and velocity are fine, and that mechanics and execution are the issues. Buehler walked a career-high seven in his four innings on Monday, more than he walked in 15 innings in the 2024 postseason. Opposing batters have an OPS over 1.000 against his four-seam fastball.

“Honestly, his stuff is good. It’s really good,” Cora said before the game. “The one thing we always talk about is the misses. If you look at his four-seamer, when he goes up, it’s actually a non-competitive pitch.

“If we can tighten that up — and that’s with more repetitions, of course — he’s going to be OK. Hopefully, it starts soon.”

After the game, Cora said he is “100%” sure Buehler is not pitching hurt. Buehler, asked if he is pitching through anything, said: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Read more:Shaikin: Why is Dodger Stadium SO LOUD?

Buehler is in his first full season after his second Tommy John surgery. The track record for pitchers returning to their previous performance level after a second such surgery is not encouraging. Shohei Ohtani is trying the same thing this season.

For the Dodgers last October, after returning for an abbreviated season, Buehler threw 10 shutout innings in the league championship series and the World Series. I asked him whether the comeback might be harder over the course of a full season. That was the context for volunteering his remark about his ability to pitch in the majors.

“I think, in all honesty, it’s a lot easier to stay good than to get good,” he said. “The guys on the other side of the field from me drive nice cars, get paid a lot of money to be really good at what they do. Outside of a couple swings, I think largely I beat myself, which is just not something that you can do here.

“I think it’s in there. I think my arm still moves good. I think I can still make the ball move. I think I can still pitch in the major leagues.

“At some point, the belief, it gets hard to keep tricking yourself. At some point, I have got to put some results up there, for myself, but also for this organization.”

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Walker Buehler sits in the dugout.
Walker Buehler sits in the dugout after being pulled in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners on June 17. (John Froschauer / Associated Press)

That is the reality, and the reason for the talk about whether the Red Sox might remove him from their rotation.

“I’m a guy open to doing whatever needs to be done,” he said.

“I’m a starting pitcher. I’ve been a starting pitcher my whole life. I don’t necessarily think that changing that is going to somehow magically fix everything.”

Something’s gotta give. Could be his results, could be his role. Whatever the case, he'll always have last October.

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Blue Jays at Guardians prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for June 24

Its Tuesday, June 24 and the Blue Jays (41-36) are in Cleveland to open a series against the Guardians (39-37).

Eric Lauer is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Logan Allen for Cleveland.

After an offday Monday, these teams meet in Cleveland looking to make up ground in their respective divisions. The Guardians are 8.5 games behind the Tigers in the American League Central after taking two of three games against the Athletics over the weekend. Toronto lost two of three to the White Sox over the last few days and are 3.5 games behind the Yankees in the American League East.

Lets dive into the series opener 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 Blue Jays at Guardians

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, CLEG

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

Odds for the Blue Jays at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-110), Guardians (-109)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Eric Lauer vs. Logan Allen
    • Blue Jays: Eric Lauer (3-1, 2.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/18 vs. Arizona - 5IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 8Ks
    • Guardians: Logan Allen (5-4, 4.21 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/18 at San Francisco - 5.1IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 4Ks

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

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

  • The Blue Jays have won their last 3 road games against teams with worse records
  • The Under has cashed in the Guardians' last 7 games
  • The Guardians have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 2.90 units
  • Logan Allen has struck out 12 opposing hitters in his last three starts
  • Jose Ramirez has hit in 5 straight games (7-19)
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. is 1-10 over his last 3 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 Blue Jays and the Guardians

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday's game between the Blue Jays and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays 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 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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Athletics at Tigers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 24

Its Tuesday, June 24 and the Athletics (32-48) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (49-30).

Luis Severino is slated to take the mound for Oakland against Tarik Skubal for Detroit.

These teams each enjoyed an off day on Monday. The Athletics lost two of three over the weekend at home to Cleveland while the Tigers were losing two of three in Tampa Bay.

Despite being just 5-5 in their last ten games, Detroit continues to dominate the American League Central. Their lead is a robust 8.5 games. The Athletics are 6-4 in their last ten but continue to bring up the rear in the American League West trailing first place Houston by 14 games.

Lets dive into Game 1 of this series 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 Athletics at Tigers

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, FDSNDT

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 Athletics at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Athletics (+235), Tigers (-293)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Athletics at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Luis Severino vs. Tarik Skubal
    • Athletics: Luis Severino (2-7, 4.42 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/18 vs. Houston - 5IP, 2ER, 9H, 1BB, 5Ks
    • Tigers: Tarik Skubal (8-2, 2.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/19 vs. Pittsburgh - 5.2IP, 2ER, 6H, 3BB, 6Ks

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 Athletics at Tigers

  • The Tigers have a 10-1 record in series openers at home this season
  • The Under has cashed in the Athletics' last 3 games
  • The Athletics have covered the Run Line in 18 of their last 20 games in Detroit
  • Spencer Torkelson is 1-16 over his last 4 games
  • Tyler Soderstrom is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak (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 Athletics and the Tigers

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 Athletics and the Tigers:

  • 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 Detroit Tigers 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)
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Shaikin: What Mark Walter's ownership might mean for local fans watching the Dodgers and Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 14: Dodgers owner Mark Walter, left.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter, along with TWG Global, will become the new controlling owner of the Lakers in a deal that came to light last week. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Once upon a time, sports fans wanted freedom of choice. Why pay for dozens — or perhaps hundreds — of television channels when all you wanted to do was to see your favorite teams play?

The cable era is in its sunset. Streaming is all the rage. No longer need you pay for channels that feature news, movies, cooking and gardening in order to watch the home team.

For sports fans, this has become an expensive mess, too.

The Dodgers require one subscription. The Lakers require another. The Angels, Kings and Clippers require another. The Galaxy and LAFC require another. The Ducks require another — although theirs is free for now.

Read more:Shaikin: Why is Dodger Stadium SO LOUD?

Truth be told, the Dodgers and Lakers run L.A. The most valuable sports broadcasting property in town could be one that carries the Dodgers and Lakers.

For many fans in Los Angeles, that might represent freedom of choice: the one and only must-have sports subscription.

Could that future — one broadcast channel and one streaming app for the Dodgers and Lakers — become reality now that Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Dodgers, is the new controlling owner of the Lakers? Walter hasn’t yet talked publicly about the Lakers deal, so we floated the idea by sports business insiders.

The Lakers are on Spectrum SportsNet. The Dodgers are on SportsNet LA. Who owns those channels?

Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum, owns SportsNet. The Dodgers, through an affiliated company, own SportsNet LA, although Charter operates it and pays the team a rights fee every year, just as it does with the Lakers.

Can Charter walk away from the Lakers deal because of the ownership change?

No.

Could Walter buy out Charter and put the Dodgers and Lakers on the same channel?

In theory, yes. Charter probably would give him the Lakers’ channel for free.

In reality? That appears unlikely any time soon. Walter didn’t get to be a billionaire by turning down half a billion dollars every year.

Read more:Shaikin: Why Wayne Randazzo and Mark Gubicza might be best Angels broadcast duo in 50 years

Go on.

When Charter’s predecessor, Time Warner Cable, launched the channels for the Lakers in 2012 and the Dodgers in 2014, cable and satellite channels were the way most fans watched their home teams. And, because cable and satellite packages required subscribers to pay for 100 channels even if they only watched five, those cooking and gardening enthusiasts helped enrich all those teams.

Fast forward to today: Nielsen reported that in May — for the first time — more Americans watched television via streaming than via broadcast and cable combined. This so-called “cord cutting” has turned the ownership of most sports channels from an asset to a liability, and many operators have either gone out of business or forced teams to take nine-figure hits to their rights fees.

What does this have to do with whether I can watch the Dodgers and Lakers on one channel?

The Dodgers’ channel and the Lakers’ channel each lose money. Walter would choose between acquiring a money-losing Lakers channel or keeping intact the two Charter deals that pay the Dodgers and Lakers more than $500 million combined each year. No team in baseball makes as much money from local television as the Dodgers, and no team in basketball makes as much money from local television as the Lakers.

The Lakers’ deal runs through 2032. The Dodgers’ deal runs through 2038.

Why are those dates important?

While other teams are experimenting with various combinations of cable, satellite, streaming and even free TV, the Lakers and Dodgers can cash in on guaranteed income and let those other teams be the guinea pigs for learning what works and what does not work in the new media world.

Major League Baseball would like to sell a national streaming package in 2028 — one spot to watch your team from wherever you are, with no blackouts — and the NBA figures to explore that option, too. That gives the Dodgers and Lakers a fairly long runway to see what might be best for them, including whether to retain their streaming rights or contribute them to a league package — and what they would require in order to do so.

Might a joint Dodgers-Lakers channel be a long-term solution?

It could be. With the NBA joining MLB in making postseason broadcasts entirely national, the calendar would align nicely: April to September for the Dodgers, October to April for the Lakers. Behind the scenes, one staff could largely replace two.

Read more:Shaikin: How the NFL Sunday Ticket trial could impact baseball's streaming future

The time for the single-team sports channel has come and largely gone. The economics are poor, and the enthusiasm for 24-7, all-access coverage of one team has dissipated into the reality that most fans just want to watch the game.

How about Walter adding teams?

Nothing is impossible. Ted Leonsis, who owns the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics, says the key to sports success could be an ownership bundle: own multiple teams, own the venues in which they play and own the platforms on which fans view their games.

Walter’s investments now include the Dodgers, Lakers and Sparks. SportsNet also airs the Sparks.

In 2012, Walter and his partners looked into buying AEG, which owns the Kings, the Galaxy and Crypto.comArena. AEG owner Philip Anschutz opted not to sell then, but Walter could renew that pursuit and, if successful, would control the two venues and four teams that call downtown L.A. home.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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ESPN tabs Giants as one of ‘best fits' for sluggers potentially on trade market

ESPN tabs Giants as one of ‘best fits' for sluggers potentially on trade market originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants already made the biggest blockbuster trade of the 2025 MLB season, but do they have another sizable move up their sleeve?

After acquiring slugger Rafael Devers in a stunning deal with the Boston Red Sox on June 15, well before the league’s July 31 trade deadline, it’s safe to assume Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey is not done making calls to teams around the league about potential upgrades to the roster.

While it’s highly unlikely that San Francisco pulls off another move as big as the Devers trade, there are some players who could make sense for the Giants in a trade before next month’s deadline.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel ranked MLB’s top-50 trade deadline candidates in their latest column and listed the Giants among the “best fits” for numerous hitters that could become available.

2. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox

ESPN’s chance of trade: 25 percent

Season stats: .257/.309/.406/.715 with five home runs, 38 RBI, 15 stolen bases and a 98 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco, Philadelphia Phillies

5. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN’s chance of trade: 50 percent

Season stats: .251/.323/.569/.892 with 25 home runs, 67 RBI and a 142 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco

9. Josh Naylor, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

ESPN’s chance of trade: 30 percent

Season stats: .303/.358/.467/.824 with nine home runs, 51 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a 128 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas Rangers

10. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

ESPN’s chance of trade: 85 percent

Season stats: .305/.387/.480/.867 with 10 home runs, 29 RBI and a 148 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas

11. Marcell Ozuna, DH, Atlanta Braves

ESPN’s chance of trade: 25 percent

Season stats: .250/.378/.413/.791 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI and a 121 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: San Diego, Seattle, Detroit, Kansas City, San Francisco, Cleveland, Boston

19. Luis Robert Jr., OF, Chicago White Sox

ESPN’s chance of trade: 90 percent

Season stats: .184/.271/.302/.573 with seven home runs, 31 RBI, 22 stolen bases and a 62 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: San Diego, Philadelphia, Cleveland, New York Mets, San Francisco

20. Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels

ESPN’s chance of trade: 45 percent

Season stats: .210/.279/.464/.743 with 19 home runs, 53 RBI and a 104 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: San Diego, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Seattle, San Francisco, Kansas City

26. Adolis Garcia, OF, Texas Rangers

ESPN’s chance of trade: 80 percent

Season stats: .233/.285/.401/.685 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, seven stolen bases and a 97 OPS+

ESPN’s best fits: Philadelphia, Seattle, Cleveland, San Diego, San Francisco

Giants fans, would you like to see any of these players in orange and black?

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Mets having hard time creating opportunities with bottom of the order ‘going through it’

Looking at the Mets’ recent offensive struggles, it’s hard not pointing directly at the bottom of the order.

When this group was clicking, they were arguably one of the deepest lineups in all of baseball. 

Of late, though, they’ve become too reliant on the big boppers at the top coming through with the big knocks. 

That was again the case on Monday night against Atlanta’s Spencer Schwellenbach. 

Juan Soto accounted for New York’s lone runs -- crushing a two-run homer the other way with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to break up the young right-hander’s shutout bid and make it a one-run ballgame. 

Other than that, the Mets managed just five hits on the night. 

Two of them came from Francisco Lindor, one from Brandon Nimmo, and the other two from Brett Baty as he lifted his average to an impressive .538 in five games out of the nine spot in the order this season.

Other than that, the four through eight spots in the Mets’ lineup went a combined 0-for-18 with five strikeouts on the night as they dropped their ninth in their last 10 games. 

They’ve averaged just three runs over that stretch, even with the 11-run outburst on Saturday in Philadelphia. 

“We have a lot of guys on the bottom going through it,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We’re relying pretty much on the top four or five guys and then those guys on the bottom are not able to get on base, that’s why we’re having a hard time scoring runs right now.

“We were talking about when we were playing well how good our lineup was -- right now we have a few guys that are struggling.”

The youngsters have’t been as consistent as hoped. Jeff McNeil has slowed down mightily after his hot start. Tyrone Taylor continues to play stellar defense, but his bat has cooled off as well, and the same can be said for newly appointed starting catcher Luis Torrens.

Jared Young also has just six knocks since being called-up from Syracuse, but he continues to see regular at-bats as the DH. 

Something needs to change in a hurry -- luckily a big reinforcement in on the way, as Mark Vientos will play two more rehab games with Syracuse this week and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Thursday. 

That’s just one addition, though, the rest of this group has to get things turned around quickly.

“We need to continue to support the guys and continue to work,” the skipper said. “But you know this game is all about results, so we continue to have all the confidence in these guys, but we have to be better.”

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Mets waste tremendous bullpen effort in one-run loss to Braves: ‘Those are tough games to lose’

It’s been a bit of a struggle of late for the Mets’ bullpen.

With the starters failing to work deep into games, they’ve been very overworked. 

That was again the case on Monday night, but this time they were able to deliver. 

Paul Blackburn was knocked around by the Braves for the second straight outing and was pulled with two outs in the top of the fifth -- that marked the fifth straight game a Mets starter failed to finish five innings. 

But José Buttó entered into a first-and-third jam and needed just four pitches to clean up the mess, getting Michael Harris II to roll over to end the inning. 

He followed that up with a perfect top of the sixth. 

Ryne Stanek was handed the seventh and he fell into some trouble after issuing a walk and allowing a two-out single to Ozzie Albies, but he let out one of his signature roars after punching out Murphy with a nasty slider. 

Reed Garrett was called upon in the eighth, coming off back-to-back rough outings, and he rebounded nicely with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless frame of his own. 

Edwin Diaz then entered for the ninth, pitching for the first time in five days, and he worked around a pair of hits, striking out Ozzie Albies on three pitches to keep the deficit at just one run. 

Unfortunately, the effort was wasted as the Mets’ offense failed to come through. 

“Those are tough games to lose,” Carlos Mendoza said. “When you use your high-leverage and aren’t able to close the deal -- we just have to turn the page, but I thought they did a hell of a job keeping us in the game.

“We only get 4.2 out of Blackburn and then everyone else kind of kept the game right there for us. Everybody that came out of that bullpen gave us a chance, we just couldn’t push those runs across.”

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Carlos Mendoza attributes Mets' hitting woes to trailing early, chasing: 'I wouldn't say pressure'

The common thread in most losing streaks is a collective slump at the plate, and the Mets can certainly attest to this notion in the midst of their unsettling mid-June swoon.

After falling to the division-rival Braves on Monday night at Citi Field, the Mets have now hit a measly .215 over a brutal 10-game stretch that's resulted in nine losses and pushed them out of first place in the NL East race.

To make matters worse, their season average with runners in scoring position is down to .219, which ranks second-worst in baseball.

While the Mets' lack of production during their 10-game downturn clearly speaks for itself -- they've scored 30 total runs despite hitting 15 home runs -- the woes have been contagious, from top to bottom in the lineup.

Francisco Lindor (.230) and Pete Alonso (.205) have been ice cold, and on Monday against the Braves, the Mets' bottom half of the order went a combined 2-for-17.

The Mets have allowed their opponent to draw first blood in seven of the last 10 games, and the challenge of trailing early has influenced approaches in the batter's box.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza isn't willing to say the players are pressing, but he too has noticed the recent change in at-bat quality that's caused frustrations and yet to level.

"I don't think it's pressing, I think it's just the situations of the games during this stretch, where we've been playing from behind," Mendoza said. "We need to continue support the guys and continue to work, but it's about results, right? We continue to have all the confidence in these guys, but we've got to be better."

This past weekend against the rival Phillies showed some feast-or-famine offense, as the Mets scored 11 runs in a refreshing Saturday win that was sandwiched between Friday and Sunday losses that only produced a combined three runs.

The barrage on Saturday snapped an ugly seven-game slide, but they're now facing another three-game skid. And chances are they dip there again on Tuesday night, as the Braves are sending Spencer Strider to the mound and the Mets are relying on Frankie Montas, who looked anything but effective during his lengthy rehab assignment.

"We're relying so much on our top guys, and we have a lot of guys in the bottom of the lineup that are going through it right now," Mendoza said. "When that happens, once you get past the fourth or fifth batter, we're having a hard time creating opportunities. It's hard to score like that... We've got a few guys that are struggling."

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Mets’ Paul Blackburn ‘battled’ through second straight tough outing against Braves

Paul Blackburn continues to struggle since moving back into the Mets’ rotation.  

The veteran right-hander was knocked around by the Braves for the second straight outing on Monday night. 

As was the case during their meeting last week, Atlanta jumped on Blackburn early as they pushed a man into scoring position just three pitches into the game, but he was helped out by a heads-up play from Jeff McNeil. 

He wasn’t as lucky in the second, as the leadoff man reached and quickly advanced to second again, but he was able to limit the damage to just one run on a sacrifice fly thanks to a Juan Soto sliding catch. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. then led off the third with a solo shot, and after a double and two walks that loaded the bases with no outs, Blackburn settled down and was able to escape with just one more tally on the board.  

He finally put together a clean inning his next time out, but was unable to finish the fifth. 

Austin Riley crushed a triple high off the center field fence and Sean Murphy drew a two-out walk to chase him from the contest, but José Buttó entered and was able to close his line without further damage. 

Overall, Blackburn allowed three runs on six hits while walking three three over 4.2 innings of work. 

“I feel like I made some adjustments from the last time facing them,” he said. “I hung the curveball to Acuña and he hit it out, but other than that I felt like I made some pretty good pitches and really battled out there.”

Buttó and the rest of the Mets’ bullpen did a tremendous job keeping this one close behind Blackburn, but this was another game during this tough stretch where they were forced to take on a heavy workload. 

It marked the fifth straight contest the Mets’ starter was unable to finish five innings.

“Everything is magnified when you’re struggling,” Blackburn said. “Every night everyone is going out there giving their best shot -- obviously guys don’t want to go four innings, five innings. Guys would love to do what [David] Peterson’s been doing for us.

“It’s just come in, day-by-day, continue to work and sooner or later the tide is going to turn.”