The Athletics visit the Padres tonight, and that matchup will headline my favorite MLB picks today for the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best NRFI and YRFI picks for Saturday, May 23.
Best NRFI/YRFI bets today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI (Game 2)
-105
/ - NRFI
-115
/ - NRFI
-122
Cardinals at Reds Game 2: NRFI (-105)
The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds meet in the second game of a doubleheader tonight, and neither team has been doing much damage in the first inning lately.
The Cards haven't scored in the opening frame in four straight games, and while they're hitting .297 in the first, St. Louis has scored in the first just 13 times this season.
As for the Reds, they're in the midst of a seven-game run without a run in the first, and overall, they also struggle to produce offense out of the gates.
Kyle Leahy owns an 8-1 NRFI/YRFI record this season as he takes the hill for the Cardinals, while Chase Petty had a scoreless first in his big league debut earlier this month.
He usually comes out unscathed in the first inning, and the Padres have a .140 average in the opening frame.
The A's aren't much better, batting .202 in the first, and scoring in the opening frame only 13 times in 2026.
They will see Lucas Giolito, who tossed a scoreless first in his season debut last Sunday. He's also held this Athletics lineup to a .206 average across 34 at-bats.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Padres.TV, NBC Sports California
Mets at Marlins: NRFI (-122)
Today's matchup between the New York Mets and Miami Marlins profiles to be a low-scoring one, especially in the opening frame.
Freddy Peralta has surrendered a run in the first just once in 10 outings this season, while Max Meyer has an 8-2 NRFI/YRFI record of his own. The Mets rarely score in the first, and Meyer has been dominant in '26.
Peralta has had success against this Marlins lineup, holding them to a .200 average across 35 at-bats. Miami has also failed to score in the first inning in back-to-back contests.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, Marlins.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 9-18, -3.08 units
What is a NRFI bet?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - APRIL 09: Adam Serwinowski #27 of the Tulsa Drillers pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Blowout wins in Double-A and High-A were he highlights from Friday night in the Dodgers minor leagues.
Player of the day
It feels weird that for a game in which Tulsa scored 14 runs this award goes to a pitcher, but Adam Serwinowski had his best start of the season, striking out 10 in his seven innings, matching the longest start of his professional career, and allowed only one run on three singles and two walks.
The Comets fell behind 7-3 in four innings and their comeback fell just short in a loss to the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks).
Tyler Fitzgerald homered, singled, and drove in three runs. He played left field on Friday and in his three and a half weeks with Oklahoma City has also started games at third base, second base, shortstop, and right field.
Ryder Ryan kept the Comets in it with four scoreless, hitless innings of bulk relief to get through the seventh.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers didn’t need much offense with Serwinowski having such a good game, but the Tulsa bats went wild in a rout of the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins). Josue De Paula had four hits, including two doubles plus a walk.
Elijah Hainline drove in five runs with a two-run home run, a two-run double, and sacrifice fly. The Drillers shortstop has driven in runs in all three games he’s played this week in Wichita, with nine total RBI.
Kendall George kept things going with two more hits, stole another base, and scored three runs, his career-best 13th straight game scoring at least once. George in May has scored 30 runs in 19 games.
High-A Great Lakes
Chuck Davalan and Eduardo Quintero shined atop the order in the Loons blowout of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers). Davalan doubled, singled, walked twice, stole two bases, scored four runs, and drove in four runs from the leadoff spot.
Quintero singled three times, stole three bases, and scored three runs while batting second. First baseman Jose Hernandez homered, doubled, and singled in the win.
Christian Zazueta struck out five in his five innings, with two runs allowed, both on a two-run home run in the first inning.
Class-A Ontario
Tower Buzzers pitchers allowed multiple runs in six different innings while getting pasted by the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners). Ontario did score the final three runs of the game, cutting the final deficit to a lean 14 runs.
Starter Jesus Tillero took the brunt of the damage, allowing nine runs (seven earned) in his 3 1/3 innings.
Arizona Complex League
On Thursday right-hander Tyler Gough made his second rehab appearance in Arizona, and in those two outings has allowed two runs in his three innings with seven strikeouts among his 13 batters faced. Gough was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in November 16 for Robinson Ortiz, the left-hander the Dodgers added to the 40-man on November 6. Gough, 22, missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery and is on the injured list for Ontario in Class-A, the same level he pitched at in 2023-24 in Modesto.
Transaction
Double-A: Right-hander Joel Ibarra was released, after the 23-year-old from Mexico walked 23 of his 59 batters faced (38.9 percent) with 10 runs (nine earned) and 12 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings over 12 games this year for Tulsa.
Another busy slate in the Majors today screams value in my latest MLB player props. I'll be highlighting Paul Skenes, Ronald Acuna Jr. and George Kirby.
The Toronto Blue Jays have their hands full this afternoon as Paul Skenes takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates. While the righty hasn't been as lights-out in 2026, he's still one of the most electrifying arms in baseball. Skenes has struck out 63 batters in 55 innings this season.
He's hit the Over in punchouts in five consecutive outings as well. Although Skenes was hit around a bit in his last start, he still collected seven Ks against the Philadelphia Phillies. In just 18 at-bats against this Jays lineup, Skenes has eight strikeouts. Toronto doesn't usually strike out a lot, but they're struggling right now, averaging 12 Ks across their previous three games.
Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 0.5 runs (-149)
I had this pick a couple of days ago, and Ronald Acuna Jr. came through again. While he did finish 0-for-4 with no offensive contributions on Friday evening, the Atlanta Braves star has a favorable matchup here. The Washington Nationals send Jake Irvin to the bump, and Acuna is 3-for-6 lifetime against him.
The slugger has come across the plate in five of his last six games, and the Braves are the top team in the Majors with RISP. Since returning from injury, Acuna Jr has four runs across five appearances, too. The Nats also have a horrendous bullpen that sports a 4.87 ERA.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision, Nationals.TV
George Kirby Over 4.5 strikeouts (-163)
George Kirby has compiled 52 strikeouts in 62.2 innings of work this season, and he's cashed the Over in punchouts in four consecutive appearances. The right-hander struck out six last time out against the San Diego Padres.
Kirby faces the Kansas City Royals tonight, who he's held to a .210 average across 62 at-bats. KC is around the middle of the pack in team Ks, but they're striking out nearly 10 times per game across their previous three contests.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FS1, FOX One
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 36-65, +4.44 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 22: Nick Castellanos #21 of the San Diego Padres celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the fifth inning at Petco Park on May 22, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It did not look like it was going to be a good day for the San Diego Padres when their starting pitcher, Walker Buehler, allowed two runs in the first inning. It did not look much better when he allowed the visiting Athletics to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning. But in the end, the Padres were able to tie the game in the fifth, take the lead in the seventh and add three insurance runs in the eighth inning to give San Diego a 7-3 win at Petco Park on Friday night.
The Padres displayed their power in the early innings of the game – although none of that came from Fernando Tatis Jr. – when Manny Machado hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, Nick Castellanos hit a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and Ramon Laureano put the home team in front with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Jason Adam came out of the bullpen with San Diego leading 4-3 and allowed what looked like a leadoff double on a ball hit to left-center field. Bryce Johnson, who got the start in place of the injured Jackson Merrill, raced into the gap, made a backhand play on the ball and threw a one-hop strike to Sung-Mun Song at second base to throw out Tyler Soderstrom for the first out of the inning. Adam then got a groundout and flyout from the next two batters to send the Padres to the plate in the bottom half of the inning.
Rodolfo Duran opened the bottom of the eighth inning with a single. He was followed by Tatis who also singled, to put runners at first and second. Miguel Andujar followed with a single to load the bases and Gavin Sheets stepped into the batter’s box with the bases loaded and no outs. Sheets delivered with a ground ball into left center that scored two runs and pushed Andujar to third base to give San Diego a 6-3 lead. Machado struck out for the first out, but Xander Bogaerts picked him up with a sacrifice fly to center field, which allowed Andujar to score to put the Padres ahead, 7-3. Laureano was then hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with two outs before Song popped out to end the inning.
Mason Miller who was preparing to face his old team prior to the bottom of the three-run eighth inning, was able to sit back down and watch Jeremiah Estrada come in for the ninth inning. The right-hander faced the minimum and got three outs to secure the win for San Diego.
The Padres face the A’s for Game 2 of the series today at Petco Park at 6:40 p.m.
Machado, Tatis and Merrill have all struggled at the plate this season, but in the case of Machado specifically, Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes that is a direct result of the pitching he has faced over the first quarter of the season.
The Chicago Cubs will try to snap a six-game losing streak when they take on the Houston Astros today.
With Colin Rea on the mound at Wrigley, my Astros vs. Cubs predictions and free MLB picks for Saturday, May 23 see Chicago stopping their skid.
Who will win Astros vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (-142)
Colin Rea has a 2.66 ERA at home this season, allowing four earned runs in the last three starts covering 17 innings.
The Houston Astros are in the bottom half of MLB in scoring, and are hitting .214 in May. At 9-17, they have the second-fewest road wins in the American League.
The Chicago Cubs have won three of the last four in this head-to-head at home, averaging four runs a game. That should be enough to even this series.
COVERS INTEL: Five of Houston’s Top 6 hitters are right handed, and Rea has handled righties well this year, limiting them to a .333 SLG.
Astros vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-115)
The Cubs' offense has dried up, as they’ve scored two runs or fewer in eight of their last 12.
Houston sends converted reliever Kai-Wei Teng to the bump, and he's 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA through three starts, posting 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
This pitching matchup should help continue the trend of cashing the Under in this head-to-head, which has a 5-2 record in the last seven meetings.
Houston also has an impressive 8-0-1 Under record in its last nine.
Eric Rosales' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-6, +1.99 units
Over/Under bets: 10-3, +6.74 units
Astros vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Astros +133 | Cubs -138
Run line: Astros +1.5 | Cubs -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Astros vs Cubs trend
Seven of Chicago's last eight games vs. AL West opponents have gone Under the total. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Cubs.
How to watch Astros vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, May 23, 2026
First pitch
2:20 p.m. ET
TV
Space City HN, Marquee
Astros starting pitcher
Kai-Wei Teng (2-3, 2.61 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Colin Rea (4-2, 4.98 ERA)
Astros vs Cubs latest injuries
Astros vs Cubs weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 22: Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe (14) catches a throw to home plate in time to tag Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) out during an MLB baseball game against the Rangers played on May 22, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Angels 9, Rangers 6
That was unpleasant.
For the second time on this road trip, the Rangers scored a fairly large number of runs, but still lost.
Previously, it was a combination of MacKenzie Gore’s lat and bad defense that was the primary cause of the lost.
This time, it was Jacob deGrom giving up six runs in three innings.
A six run, three inning outing from Jacob deGrom really makes you question whether you understand the universe.
What does it say about our understanding of the world when Cal Quantrill outpitches Jacob deGrom?
Has madness overtaken us? Does nothing have any meaning? Is it all randomness and chaos?
Zach Neto is launching bombs off of Rangers pitches. Someone named Wade Meckler took Jacob deGrom deep. How do we fit that into our worldview?
Are our struggles to fathom such events due to our own limitations, our blinkered views and inherent biases? Or are we at a point where acausal phenomena are ascendent, where surrealist scapes are the accepted norm?
Also, Skip Schumaker did that thing again where he hit for Evan Carter too early, and it is annoying.
Down two, leading off the seventh, Sam Haggerty pinch hit for Carter and popped out. The very next inning, with two on and two out, Carter’s spot in the lineup came up, and Haggerty, who hits righthanded pitchers about as well as…
Look, I can’t think of an appropriate metaphor. Or simile. I was going to say about as well as I do, but you know, that’s not fair to Sam Haggerty. I would be unable to make contact against a major league righthanded pitcher. Even Chris Martin, who returned to action in this game and gave up two runs in the eighth, including Zach Neto’s second home run of the game, and look, dammit, Zach Neto doesn’t even sound like a real name, its a Star Wars-ass name, and you shouldn’t be allowing him to home off of you, much less allow him to homer twice in one game, once against one of the best pitchers of his generation, even if said pitcher’s fastball has become ass for some reason.
The first three batters Chris Martin faced were Neto, who had a 109.6 mph homer, Mike Trout, who had a 110.2 mph double, and Nolan Schanuel, who had a 104.2 mph single. That’s certainly the type of results that leads one to believe Martin didn’t need any more time out on his rehab assignment.
Zach Neto makes me think of Judge Ito, who Pauly Shore famously wanted to offer a burrito.
Pauly Shore is terrible, by the way.
I’m in fact embarrassed I even mentioned him.
I’d go back and delete it, but it already happened, so even deleting it would just mean I was lying to myself about mentioning him, plus it seems apropos that in a game where Jacob deGrom gives up six runs in three innings that I would make a reference to something terrible that I’m embarrassed to have mentioned, even if I really shouldn’t be embarrassed, I guess, because random things run through your brain and sometimes you think of things that are objectively terrible, like right now that “Well I’m-a chicken fried” song just popped into my head, and that’s a really awful song and there’s no reason for it to have suddenly appeared like that.
See, y’all wanted the Rangers to start scoring more runs. Now they are scoring more runs and the pitching staff is giving up more runs. This team is like a rug, where you flatted it in one plus and a bulge pops up elsewhere.
Jacob deGrom’s fastball topped out at 98.2 mph, averaging 96.8 mph. Cal Quantrill’s sinker reached 95.0 mph. Jalen Beeks touched 94.8 mph with his fastball. Chris Martin’s fastball maxed out at 96.3 mph.
Brandon Nimmo had a 108.7 mph home run, a 101.7 mph ground out, and a 101.2 mph double. Alejandro Osuna had a 104.6 mph single and a 101.8 mph double. Evan Carter had a 104.1 mph triple. Danny Jansen had a 103.6 mph homer. Jake Burger had a 102.6 mph double. Josh Jung had a 102.3 mph fly out.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: An overall photo before the game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees on May 6, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees will have to wait another day to snap out of their divisional funk. They dropped back-to-back contests against the Blue Jays earlier this week to end the four-game set at Yankee Stadium in disappointing fashion, and a slim 1-0 lead against the first-place Rays in Gerrit Cole’s long-awaited comeback from Tommy John surgery last night went up in smoke thanks to shoddy defense and relief. The previously potent New York offense has scored 3 runs in their last 30 innings of play. Inspiring!
The second game of the Yankees/Rays series was supposed to be this afternoon at 1:35pm ET, but the weather for Memorial Day weekend is awful this year. With a dismal forecast for the entire day, the Yankees and Major League Baseball have already announced that the matinee is postponed. Since the Yankees and Rays will be lucky to get in the other planned game on Sunday, the announced twin bill will not be tomorrow but rather when the Rays are in town near the end of the season, September 22nd. The split doubleheader will feature the makeup game at 1:05pm ET and the already-scheduled nightcap at 7:05pm ET.
Today's game has been rescheduled due to the forecast of sustained inclement weather and will be made up as the first game of a split-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:05 PM.
Hopefully none of you who were already planning on attending this afternoon actually made it out the door! That’s the advantage of the early postponement call for the general public.
Fingers crossed that they can get in the series finale tomorrow rather than have to schedule another doubleheader. Will Warren was expected to get the ball tomorrow at 1:35pm ET against Shane McClanahan; we’ll see if the Yankees stick to that plan or go with Ryan Weathers, who would also be on normal rest.
The star right-hander allowed two hits over six scoreless innings in his first start in 569 days after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2025 season.
Sunday's game is still scheduled for 1:35 p.m., but rain throughout the area could ruin fans' Memorial Day Weekend plans.
Today's game has been rescheduled due to the forecast of sustained inclement weather and will be made up as the first game of a split-admission doubleheader on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:05 PM.
The rangers prepares to battle in a scene from the television series 'Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers', Circa 1993. (Photo by Fox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Joseph Dzierwa #67 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Vincent Mizzoni/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This was a well-played game all around for the Tides, starting with a quality start by Nestor German, who worked six innings and gave up three runs. He struck out five and walked one. It was German’s longest outing of the year. Nick Raquet, Cameron Foster, and Andrew Magno each worked a scoreless inning of relief. Magno’s outing lowered his season ERA to 0.92.
The Tides also brought their bats to Jacksonville, starting with 5’5” shortstop Payton Eeles, who crushed an opposite-field grand slam in the top of the third. It was part of a three-hit day for Eeles, who’s batting .364 with a .933 OPS. He stole a base, too. Heston Kjerstad broke out of an 0-for-7 drought by going 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand contributed two hits as well. The Tides had 16 baserunners and went 4-for-10 with RISP.
Outfielder Michael Siani, claimed on waivers from the Dodgers on Monday, made his organizational debut and went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
All eyes were on Joseph Dzierwa’s Double-A debut, and it started out about as brilliantly as possible. Dzierwa mowed through five scoreless innings, only giving up his first hit with two outs in the fifth. He struck out the side in the second inning. He was fantastic…until the top of the sixth, when he hit the wall in a big way. A leadoff error opened the floodgates for the Patriots, who followed with an RBI double, then three consecutive singles that chased Dzierwa from the game. The bullpen allowed one of his inherited runners to score.
Dzierwa’s final line was 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), and — most impressively — 10 strikeouts and no walks. Had he left the game after the fifth, we’d be raving about his performance. Even with his rough sixth, it was a strong Double-A debut for the guy who’s emerging as the Orioles’ top pitching prospect.
There wasn’t much offense to speak of for the Baysox. They managed only four hits, which included an Aron Estrada homer. They also went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Ethan Anderson reached base thrice on a single and two walks.
High-A: Frederick Keys vs. Greenville Drive (Red Sox) — POSTPONED
The Keys were supposed to play a doubleheader to make up Thursday’s rainout, but instead they played none as both games got washed out. One game was rescheduled for tomorrow while the other was canceled outright.
Low-A: Wilson Warbirds (Brewers) 7, Delmarva Shorebirds 2
This was a 2-2 game until the bottom of the eighth, when the Warbirds erupted for five runs to take a commanding lead. Reliever Luis Beltrán was tagged for all five runs, though only three were earned. First baseman Juan Perez and right fielder Junior Aybar made errors on back-to-back plays with two outs, each scoring a run. Beltrán also walked in a run. It was that kind of game. Starter Brayan Orrantia lasted four innings, giving up two runs and five walks.
It was a rough night offensively for the Shorebirds, who struck out 11 times and walked just once. They had six hits, all singles. Nobody drove in any runs, as the two they scored came on a Warbirds throwing error. Delmarva fell to 15-28 on the season.
BONUS FCL NOTE: Newly signed veteran outfielder Tommy Pham made his organizational debut for the Florida Complex League Orioles. He went 0-for-1 with a strikeout and a walk.
Saturday’s scheduled games:
Norfolk: at Jacksonville, 6:35 PM. Starter: Cameron Weston (0-1, 6.56)
Chesapeake: vs. Somerset, 6:35 PM. Starter: Sebastian Gongora (1-1, 4.21)
Frederick: vs. Greenville, 6:00 PM. Starter: Yeiber Cartaya (0-0, 0.87)
Delmarva: at Wilson, 7:05 PM. Starter: Caden Hunter (1-0, 0.95)
NORTH PORT, FL - MARCH 14: James Karinchak #00 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch during the spring training game between the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves on March 14, 2026 at CoolToday Park in North Port, FL. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves have released 11.5 million dollars of bullpen funds that were committed to Aaron Bummer and Joel Payamps. A few relievers, like Carlos Carrasco, Ian Hamilton, and Osvaldo Bido, have come and gone (and/or come and gone in a circular pattern). Meanwhile, James Karinchak has been silencing Triple-A batters in obscurity. I know he might have some questions around him, but he has a 2.84/3.14/3.24 line and a 36.0% strikeout rate in Gwinnett and the Braves won’t leave the country anyway. Does his absence have anything to do with his velocity dropping from 94.8 to 93.0 MPH? Probably, but also who cares? If he grabbed an inning or two here and there, it may help out the Braves. He could join the Cookie Carrasco Caravan, which I imagine consists of a rented Escalade that Carrasco drives to the next city after he gets designated for assignment.
Rowdy Tellez was a signing late in March. Tellez did not complete Spring Training but did play in the World Baseball Classic. The first few weeks looked very much like a Spring for Rowdy, but even with that slow start he has an .876 OPS and a 124 wRC+ in Triple-A overall. I imagine the issue here is that Matt Olson mans his primary position. Ronald Acuña Jr, the thermonuclear Dominic Smith, and when available Drake Baldwin hold down the designated hitter spot. So I think he’s currently depth for Olson, and may be third on the depth chart because Smith may be ahead of him. He would definitely be a great option in that 28th man roster spot in September and pinch hitting option in October, should the Braves somehow manage to get there.
On May 8, 2025, Chicago native and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Soon after the announcement, news broke that the newest Holy Man was a lifelong White Sox fan who was in the crowd for Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. Because Chicago can’t be chill about anything, and the White Sox needed something good to cling to, the team took the news and ran with it. In August, they are even doing a Pope Hat night where everyone in attendance receives a White Sox-themed mitre.
Fresh off a 121-loss season, the South Siders were determined to only climb up from rock-bottom. There was a new manager and front office changes after a slew of firings — and now, a direct line with God. They still finished in last place, losing 102 games, but progress toward rebuilding was made, as several rookies debuted and gave fans something to be excited about.
Colson Montgomery, who was previously sent to Arizona to fix his issues at the plate, came up to the big leagues on July 4, 2025. He recorded his first MLB hit the next day, an RBI triple, and finished the game 3-for-5. On July 22, Montgomery hit his first career home run, and a month later he hit his first career grand slam. Montgomery finished his rookie year having appeared in 71 games and hitting .239 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs. Finally, we could see signs of life in the dugout!
While the Pope still looms large, driving the narrative again in 2026, His Holiness can’t be the only guy getting credit (although he just got a signed Paul Konerko jersey!).
There seem to be other forms of magical thinking helping the White Sox on their surprisingly good start.
Enter Munetaka Murakami. Mune has been a force behind the plate, hitting .246 with 17 home runs (second in the league behind Kyle Schwarber) and 36 RBIs at the time of me writing this. He had the key hit in Friday’s win in San Francisco, a beautiful three-run double down the right-field line, as the White Sox put up nine runs in the fourth inning against the Giants. Yes, NINE RUNS IN ONE INNING. No other team prioritized Murakami on their radar, fearing the Japanese slugger would struggle at the plate. While the fear could’ve been credible, 29 teams passed on Mune before Chris Getz stepped in.
But two other hitters have been great this season alongside Murakami. Miguel Vargas has really come out of his shell and proven to be quite the slugger. Not far behind his Japanese teammate, Vargas is sitting at .237 with 11 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 41 hits.
Montgomery has been carving out quite the sophomore season as well, with an average of .222, 13 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 40 hits.
The team as a whole seems to be having a blast. Sure, wins help, but so does a little silliness and establishing new traditions. Word broke that Murakami took Montgomery and his teammates out to a sushi dinner, resulting in a new sushi celebration.
In late April, before his demotion, Jordan Leasure went on Amazon and purchased a $20 Harry Potter wand for Mike Vasil. What happened next has been non-stop entertainment. Despite his TJS setback from Spring Training, Vasil is such an important member of the White Sox clubhouse that he’s remained with the team for both home and road games, casting spells and waving his magic wand to help not only with morale, but perhaps wins as well.
So what’s the sorcery behind the wand? Does the magic stem from the power of friendship? Is Vasil secretly a warlock? As a Stevie Nicks wannabe/witchy woman/recovering Catholic, this question keeps me up at night. Quite literally, as it’s nearly midnight on Friday and I had to get my thoughts out on this.
Whatever it is, Mune is buying into it, and no one can prove that it wasn’t the reason behind his home run on against the Cubs on May 16.
As previously mentioned, I can be a little witchy. Not the wicked witch you see in the movies (though I used to watch the 1996 classic The Craft to help me sleep), but someone who believes in good vibes and manifesting. Manifestation, for those unsure, is the practice of using thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to turn intangible goals and desires into physical reality. At the beginning of the season, I felt the shift with this team. I was very high on the rebuild, claimed Davis Martin as my star pitcher, and predicted they would win more than 70 games this season. Yes, you read that right: 70+ games. All things I wrote down in a manifestation ritual back in January. It felt right.
As we reach the end of May, the White Sox are playing better than .500 and sitting in second place in the American League Central. Martin is 7-1 with an ERA of just 2.04 and is being recognized as one of the top pitchers in baseball. Baseball writers who would otherwise turn a blind eye to the team that just lost a record-breaking 121 games two seasons ago are starting to see what the White Sox are quietly building. Suddenly, taking two of three games in the Crosstown series is nothing. Who cares about those North Siders, or that center fielder? Can he catch the ball like Tristan Peters?
Not to mention the tape on the helmets — first from Sam Antonacci and also now Andrew Benintendi — that has helped with hitting the ball and getting on base.
There are plenty of factors at play for the 2026 White Sox. Taking a chance on a player, creating a fun environment, new traditions, a magic wand, some pseudoscience, and the holiest man in the world on your side. All of these can certainly create the perfect storm and allow people to believe again, even if it’s because of some higher power.
But I’m here to tell you, it’s time to believe in the players, too. They are putting in the work day-to-day, and making baseball fun on the South Side again.
My favorite MLB moneyline parlay for today features the surging Tampa Bay Rays, winners of nine of 10, and the Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes touching down in Toronto for the first time.
It also includes the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves, who always feel like a good bet to throw into a parlay.
This one pays out at a nice +935.
Looking for more moneyline plays for today? Check out our full MLB moneyline picks for today's slate.
I’m having a hard time understanding how the Tampa Bay Rays, who are 8-2 in their last 10 and starting Drew Rasmussen, find themselves as underdogs against the Yankees.
Rasmussen blanketed New York on April 12, pitching six scoreless innings of one-hit ball and striking out seven.
New York has lost three straight, and Yankees starter Ryan Weathers just got torched for five runs on seven hits last time out.
MLB moneyline parlay leg 2: Pirates (vs Blue Jays, 3:07 p.m. ET)
Win probability: 60.8%
Pittsburgh Pirates SP Paul Skenes is coming off an outlier performance where he was tagged for five runs in a loss to the Phillies.
He’s bounced back from two other starts where he’s allowed at least three runs this year, giving up a total of five hits, one earned run, and 12 strikeouts in that scenario.
The Jays are a light-hitting team at the moment, ranking 26th or worse in on-base, slugging and OPS, and 22nd in runs per game.
The Tigers are a mess, with seven straight losses and just two wins in their last 15 overall.
Over the last week, their offense has been abysmal, ranking last in slugging percentage and OPS, and Bottom-3 in runs scored, on-base percentage and batting average — spoiling what’s been a serviceable 3.66 ERA over that span.
The Baltimore Orioles have won five of six Brandon Young starts on the year, and the righty has allowed just two earned runs in each of his last two outings.
The Atlanta Braves keep churning out wins, looking for their fifth straight as they visit the nation’s capital.
Grant Holmes is coming off a dynamite start, pitching six scoreless innings.
The Braves have dominated this head-to-head, going 8-2 in the last 10 and putting up at least five runs in seven of those wins.
Jake Irvin has already been beat up by the Braves once this season, taking the loss after allowing four runs on three hits, including a home run in a 9-4 defeat.
How much does this MLB moneyline parlay pay out?
The best price on today's MLB moneyline parlay, from our top-ranked baseball betting sites, sits around the +900 range, with a max payout of +935.
That means that a $10 wager on this four-leg parlay returns $103.50 ($93.50 + your original $10 stake).
MLB parlay betting FAQs & tips
Can you add player props to an MLB moneyline parlay?
Yes, you can add player props (or Over/Unders, team totals, etc.), but your wager changes from a traditional multi-game parlay to a modified same-game parlay (depending on the bet, called a SGP+, SGPx, or super parlay) that blends a standard parlay with a same/single-game parlay.
What happens to an MLB moneyline parlay if a game gets rained out?
In the event one of your parlay legs gets postponed, most sportsbook with just remove that leg from the parlay and recalculate the odds of the bet without that game (reducing the total odds).
What are the main types of parlays I can make?
Traditional parlays: Each leg of the parlay comes from a different game
Same-game parlays (SGPs): Every leg of the parlay comes from the same game.
SGPx/SGP+/super parlays: At least two legs of the parlay are from the same game, with the rest of the legs from different games.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
May 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Boston Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy (17) in the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Chad Tracy stepped into this role with an interesting résumé. Years developing hitters in the Red Sox minor league system, building lineups with pieces that weren’t quite ready for prime time. Now he’s doing it in the majors, where the margin for error is different and the stakes are real. The early returns: 23 games, a 12-11 record so far.
That record doesn’t tell the whole story, though. The offense hasn’t improved. Not even close. Boston is only averaging 3.14 runs per game under Tracy vs. 4.15 under Alex Cora in the 2026 season. The team hasn’t gotten better at scoring. It’s gotten better at not giving games away, and the pitching deserves most of that credit.
But lineup construction is more of a story here than it might look at first. A lot of what Tracy has done looks similar to what Cora was doing—but the things that are actually different have fundamentally changed how this team operates on a nightly basis.
To understand the difference, I scraped every Red Sox game from Baseball Reference and ran the data through some pretty intense Python. A little caveat; the following analysis covers 49 games through May 21st, just before the start of the Twins series last night.
The clearest finding isn’t about who Tracy puts in the lineup. It’s about what they do once they’re in there.
Both managers shuffle the lineup constantly. Tracy has written 21 different lineups in 22 games. Cora wrote 26 in 27. Neither of them was the stability guy: something changed almost every night.
What’s different is how they shuffle. Under Cora, the same group of players appeared in wildly different spots in the order from game to game. A guy who hit fifth on Tuesday might hit second on Wednesday and seventh on Friday. Under Tracy—when a player is in the lineup, he tends to know where he’s hitting. Tracy changes who’sin the lineup more than he changes where his regulars hit. For some players, that consistency has made a real difference. For others, the consistency is the problem.
Re-Establishing The Top Of The Lineup
No player’s deployment tells the Tracy story more clearly than Jarren Duran’s.
Under Cora, Duran bounced around—second, third, fourth, fifth, and only four games in the lead-off slot. To measure how scattered that was, we calculated a consistency score for each player: a number that captures how all-over-the-place a player’s lineup spot has been across the season. A score of zero means they’ve batted in the exact same spot every single game. The higher the number, the more random their placement has been. Duran’s score under Cora was 2.4. That’s high. Cora never really made up his mind about where Duran fit.
Tracy made up his mind on day one. Duran has batted leadoff in virtually every game since Tracy took over, and his consistency score has dropped to 0.27—basically as close to zero as you’ll see from any player on any team mid-season. Genuinely—with the exception of one game in late April where Duran was put seventh in the order and a sporadic off day here and there—Tracy has looked at Duran, put him first, and hasn’t blinked.
Duran’s overall OPS is .562 on the year. That’s not great for a leadoff hitter. Tracy isn’t rewarding performance here; he’s making a bet. Get your most disruptive presence on base first, let him cause problems at the top, and build from there. Lately, that bet is looking smarter. Duran has started to find his groove over the recent stretch of games, looking more like the hitter who earned this role in the first place. Whether you agree with Tracy’s reasoning or not, it’s a real, committed decision. Cora never quite got there.
Pushing The Problems Down
Under Cora, Durbin averaged the six-hole in the lineup and was a regular presence across 24 starts. Under Tracy, he’s been sliding steadily toward the bottom of the order. He’s now averaging closer to the 8-hole, and the movement has been consistent enough over several weeks that it’s clearly not random. His OPS is .372. That number tells you everything about why. I wrote earlier this season about Durbin’s bat speed being akin to rolling up a newspaper to swat a fly. That hasn’t exactly changed and Tracy is putting him in a position that feels a lot more comfortable for the shape of this team and hopefully for Durbin’s development.
Trevor Story is a different kind of story. Under Cora he was a middle-of-the-order fixture around the cleanup spot. Story was clearly relied upon under Cora to be a leader and was depended on for his slot in the order—regardless of what ownership seems to think. Under Tracy, he’s floated between fourth and eighth: still in the lineup when healthy, but clearly no longer trusted with the big RBI spot he occupied earlier in the season. Story’s Win Probability Added has been the worst on the roster by a significant margin. He’s cost this team more in high-stakes moments than any other hitter. Story last started on May 14 and is now on the injured list until at least July. How much of his previous poor form is due to this sports hernia? Who’s to say.
The bottom of the order under Tracy is where problems go to do the least possible damage. That’s not an insult — it’s just how you manage a roster when you don’t have the depth to hide anything. Durbin gets buried. Story floated downward. And the guys who can actually hit get pushed up.
He Actually Thinks About Matchups
Here’s something that doesn’t show up in the box score: Tracy has written a noticeably different lineup depending on who’s starting on the mound for the other team.
The sample is small, just five games against left-handed starters under Tracy versus seventeen against righties; treat these as trends to watch rather than definitive patterns. Still, the direction is clear enough to be worth discussing.
The biggest mover is Andruw Monasterio. Against RHPs, Monasterio has averaged the sixth or seventh spot in the lineup. Against lefties, he jumps up more than two full spots, closer to the cleanup area. Tracy is using him more as a lefty specialist, recognizing that a right-handed hitter with that kind of flexibility is most valuable when the matchup actually calls for it. See his start on Friday night as DH against southpaw Connor Prielipp as some good evidence there.
The flip side is Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Against righties, he bats around sixth. Against lefties, Tracy buries him ninth. If you know the splits, the reason is obvious. Tracy clearly knows his splits.
Ceddanne Rafaela also bumps up in the order against left-handed starters on average, though the signal is softer than Monasterio’s. Tracy is thinking about the opposing arm when he writes the card.
The One He Still Hasn’t Figured Out
Rafaela’s overall deployment is the honest counterpoint to all of this.
He’s starting almost every game—19 of 22 starts under Tracy—which tells you Tracy values what he brings. But the lineup keeps moving him around without a clear pattern beyond the broad lefty-righty adjustment above. He’s batted fifth, seventh, sixth, eighth, and third. There’s no real home. His consistency score is the second-highest on the roster, meaning he’s more unpredictably placed than almost anyone else in the lineup. He started in the two-hole on Friday in Boston, the first time under Tracy and the fourth time this season. His chaos read in the lineup is all over the place. If Tracy is starting to think of him as a top-of-the-order option against lefties, that’s something to keep an eye on.
Some of that is the nature of who Rafaela is — his defense in center field is good enough that he earns his spot regardless, and Tracy probably has more freedom to move him around because of it. But you get the sense Tracy hasn’t fully decided what offensive role he wants Rafaela in. A consistency score that high doesn’t lie. It means no one knows where he’s batting tomorrow, including the manager.
Mickey Gasper is a footnote worth mentioning in all of this. He didn’t exist in Cora’s lineup—every one of his eight starts has come under Tracy, and he’s been one of the more interesting stories of this stretch. He’s slotting mainly into the 2-hole and posting over a 1.000 OPS. If that holds, Tracy’s going to have to account for him when the roster gets more crowded. Again, is this a product of Tracy coming from Worcester, knowing these AAA regulars better, and having faith about their usage in Boston? Still not enough sample size there to know for sure.
The Lineup Is About To Get A Lot More Complicated
The lineup Chad Tracy will write in July is going to look almost nothing like the one he’s been writing in May. And the decisions waiting for him are legitimately hard ones.
Roman Anthony is the most pressing. He hasn’t started since May 4—14 straight Tracy games missed with his wrist injury—but he’s expected to be the first of the big injured pieces to return. Before this, in the eight starts Anthony made under the new skipper, he batted third seven times and first once. That’s a clear answer about how Tracy sees him. Under Cora, Anthony was essentially the leadoff hitter. That role belongs to Duran now, and it’s not changing when Anthony comes back. The realistic lineup when Anthony is healthy: Duran leading off, maybe Rafaela or a platoon hitting second (we’ll see if Micky Gasper isn’t the first send down back to Worcester at that point in time), Anthony third, Abreu fourth. That’s a real top of the order — and it could come together before the end of June.
Trevor Story is more of a July problem. He’s out until at least then, and honestly, the lineup has been fine enough in his absence given where his numbers were. Whoever fills that spot in the meantime isn’t going to match Story’s name value. They might match his actual production without too much trouble. The more interesting question is what Tracy does with Story when he comes back healthy. Does he reclaim a middle-of-the-order spot on reputation? Or does the data — and Tracy — say otherwise?
And then there’s Triston Casas, who hasn’t appeared in a single game this season. More setbacks in his recovery but he is still contractually obligated to this team. If and when Casas comes back, Tracy has a real decision at first base. Contreras has been the team’s best run-producer this season—10 home runs, solid OPS, 1,000th career RBI, and he’s been doing it at first. You can’t just bench Contreras. But you also can’t ignore what Casas is when healthy. Of the three injured pieces, Casas likely comes back last, which at least gives Tracy some runway before he has to make that call. Even for Conteras, the return of Anthony puts him in a pickle. Is he the five hole man, does he get starts at the two spot, does he shuffle everyone else and stay as the cleanup hitter he’s been in the past week? These are good problems to have, but still hard ones to make.
Chad Tracy has spent 23 games making real decisions and mostly making smart ones. He committed to Duran at the top, buried his problems at the bottom, and genuinely understands his roster enough to make the right tweaks facing lefty vs. righty starters. He responds to what’s in front of him. That’s a coherent approach and the record reflects it.
But the roster he’ll manage in July won’t be exactly the roster he has today. And the decisions he makes when the pieces come back will tell us a lot more about what kind of manager he actually is.
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- NRFI (Game 2)
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Paul Skenes 
Ronald Acuna Jr. 
George Kirby
COVERS INTEL: Five of Houston’s Top 6 hitters are right handed, and Rea has handled righties well this year, limiting them to a 
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