MLB Same-Game Parlay Predictions: Our Best SGP Picks for Friday, June 12

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It’s a busy night of the diamond, and I’ve got three MLB same-game parlay predictions to cover you for all the action Friday, June 12.

My top MLB picks begin with an AL Central showdown between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians and wrap up with an SGP for the matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins.

Today's best MLB SGP picks

Tigers vs Guardians SGP: Detroit motors to another win

The Detroit Tigers are turning the corner with a fifth-ranked xwOBA and 6.9 runs per game during their active 7-2 stretch, while the Cleveland Guardians rank 29th in xwOBA while averaging 3.5 runs per game during their own 3-8 skid.

Additionally, Detroit starter Jack Flaherty has fanned six or more batters in four consecutive starts with a sterling 2.37 xFIP, and outfielder Riley Greene has been a force against righties over the past three years with a high-end .374 wOBA and .237 ISO while hitting in the heart of the lineup.

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: CLEG, DSN

Phillies vs Brewers SGP: Misiorowski builds on Cy Young bid

Milwaukee Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski paces the majors in both ERA and xFIP, so with the Brew Crew also ranking third in wOBA across the past 30 days, I’m anticipating them pulling away from the Philadelphia Phillies tonight. 

Still, I’m expecting Philly rookie Andrew Painter to pitch deep enough to record four or more strikeouts. His 4.68 xFIP is way below his 6.21 ERA, and Painter has limited opposing hitters to a below-average 34.9% hard-hit rate.

Finally, Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is ripe to snap out of a 0-for-9 slump, considering he sports a .304 batting average and .419 wOBA against righties this season.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: BREW, NBCSP

Cardinals vs Twins SGP: Minny lambastes Leahy

St. Louis Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (4.42 ERA and 4.34 xFIP) has surrendered the highest blast-contact rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings, so I’m anticipating a short outing paving the way for four or fewer strikeouts from the righty.

Left-handed bats have teed off on Leahy to the tune of a .421 wOBA and .962 OPS, and Minnesota Twins infielder Tristan Gray has been sneakily productive down the lineup with four runs, 11 hits and 12 RBI across his past 13 games.

Of course, the Twins have a sizable edge on the mound with Joe Ryan sporting a solid 3.02 ERA and 3.60 xFIP.

  • Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: MNNT, CARD
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • SGP picks: 8-16, +12.0 units

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Orioles fans aren’t expecting a revival before the All-Star break

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 11: Baltimore Orioles fans arrive at Oriole Park prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Orioles fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

At times this year, never for more than three days at a time, the Orioles can almost convince you that maybe they will be able to be a good team, or at least a good enough team. If there are a few good games in a row from the starting pitchers at the same time the offense does positive things, when they’re doing that, it doesn’t feel foolish to believe. The only problem is that they can’t do it more than three games in a row. Or at least they haven’t done it yet.

In this week’s survey, I asked Orioles fans whether they think the team can get back above .500 before the All-Star break. At the time I posted the survey, that would have required an 18-12 record before the break. They went 2-1 in the remaining games in the Mariners series since then, so we’re now talking 16-11 between now and July 12’s game. Can they do that? Here’s what you said:

That’s a resounding no. It’s almost even a shocking no, because in my experience these surveys have tended towards the optimistic, perhaps even the foolishly optimistic. With the way the Orioles managed to lose on Monday and Tuesday – the two freshest games in people’s minds as they would have been voting this week – it seems the optimism was temporarily beaten out of them. I don’t blame them. I don’t think this team can get back above .500 before the break either.

They’re probably going to have to fire off at least a five-game winning streak to do it. That’s a tall order with the recent state of the rotation. There aren’t five good pitchers out there. There might not even be two. We’ll see if they can do anything to make us feel a little better in hosting the struggling Padres.

This week’s survey was sponsored by FanDuel.

SB Nation Reacts Survey Results: How Many Games Will Astros Win in June?

HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 05: (left to right) Houston Astros center fielder Brice Matthews (0), Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6), and Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) celebrate the team 5-1 win in the top of the ninth inning during the MLB game between the Athletics and Houston Astros on June 5, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We asked, you’ve spoken.

This was our initial survey post:

June is a huge month for Houston, as they face primarily teams with losing records and need to show they can get back to .500 and legitimately chase a playoff spot.

Here is what you said:

More optimism than pessimism among readers, but not optimistic they can crawl to .500 by month end.

Do you think the Astros can get to .500 by the deadline?

Survey is powered by FanDuel.

Capitol Punishment: Mariners vs. Nationals Series Preview

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals in the dugout has teammates throw sunflower seeds at him after he hit a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the third inning of a major league baseball game at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a strong start to their series in Baltimore, the Mariners had to settle for a split series after two lackluster efforts on Wednesday and Thursday. That eight-game win streak a week ago is doing a lot of heavy lifting for Seattle’s overall place in the standings. It feels like the team has slipped back into the listless play that defined a lot of the first two months of the season. Maybe it’s just the fatigue of a long East Coast road trip. Whatever it is, they’ll wrap up the trip with a three-game set in Washington DC.

GameTimeMariners StarterNationals StarterMariners Win%Nationals Win%
Game 1Friday, June 12 | 3:45 pmRHP Bryce MillerRHP Zack Littell59.1%40.9%
Game 2Saturday, June 13 | 1:05 pmRHP Luis CastilloRHP Cade Cavalli50.9%49.1%
Game 3Sunday, June 14 | 10:35 amRHP Emerson HancockRHP Miles Mikolas58.5%41.5%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewMarinersNationalsEdge
Batting (wRC+)107 (2nd in AL)107 (3rd in NL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)-16 (14th)1 (8th)Nationals
Starting Pitching (FIP-)90 (3rd)114 (11th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)92 (6th)119 (14th)Mariners

The Nationals have been one of the feel good stories in the National League to start this year. Stuck in a long rebuilding cycle since winning the World Series back in 2019, this is the first time they’ve shown a little progress towards actually breaking out of their doldrums. This big step forward comes after they hired Paul Toboni to take over as their new president of baseball operations last fall, becoming the youngest top executive in baseball. While there’s still plenty of work to do on the roster, especially on the pitching side of things, the lineup has been one of the most potent in baseball this year.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
James WoodDHL32229.8%17.4%0.263160
Luis García Jr.1BL21715.2%3.7%0.202107
Curtis Mead3BR19217.2%12.5%0.242134
CJ AbramsSSL28820.1%10.1%0.239150
Dylan CrewsRFR7619.7%2.6%0.09945
Daylen LileLFL30017.3%7.7%0.159107
Keibert RuizCS14213.4%2.8%0.215113
Nasim Nuñez2BS22222.1%9.9%0.02651
Jacob YoungCFR22818.4%4.8%0.16090

The Nationals have scored the second most runs in baseball thanks to a handful of breakouts from their young stars in the making. James Wood is looking like he’s ascended to a true superstar level this year; he’s absolutely crushing the ball and has mostly gotten his high whiff rate under control too. He’s already accumulated 3.0 fWAR, just shy of his total from last year, and has slugged 18 home runs. CJ Abrams has also taken a star turn, pushing his wRC+ up to 150 behind a huge increase in power output and patience at the plate.

It’s not just their two stars who have ascended, they’re seeing big steps forward from a bunch of their role players too. Curtis Mead, Keibert Ruiz, Luis García Jr., and Jacob Young have all enjoyed varying levels of newfound success this year. 

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Zack Littell64.114.0%7.2%14.6%35.5%4.765.95
Bryce Miller2729.3%5.1%7.4%41.3%1.332.47
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam25.1%35.4%91.680571020.397
Sinker24.8%9.6%91.18235690.501
Splitter15.0%25.9%83.991511250.300
Slider35.1%29.1%87.98168900.372
Sweeper17.4%5.7%79.381

Zack Littell has carved out a nice little career as a back-end starter after spending the first five years of his career as an up-and-down long reliever. It took a trade to the Rays to unlock his potential and he accumulated 4.4 fWAR across parts of three seasons in Tampa Bay. He signed with the Nationals this offseason and got off to a really poor start with his new ballclub. Through his first six starts of the season, he was running a 7.85 ERA and a 9.03 FIP. As soon as the calendar flipped to May, he turned things around, lowering his ERA to 2.27 and his FIP to 3.47 over his last seven appearances (four starts and three bulk relief appearances). He lives on the margins with a deep repertoire of modest pitches that he can usually command to any part of the strike zone.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Cade Cavalli69.224.3%8.0%7.0%46.3%3.883.36
Luis Castillo6122.5%8.5%10.7%36.9%5.164.18
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam39.9%38.7%96.59784670.376
Sinker32.4%7.4%96.0100791180.346
Changeup2.4%15.4%88.99057790.277
Curveball25.3%38.6%85.31071321180.270
Sweeper25.3%5.3%85.5117771230.322

It’s been a long and winding road for Cade Cavalli over the last few years. A former first-round draft pick back in 2020, he quickly made a name for himself as a top prospect the next year and made his big league debut in August 2022. He made one start in the majors and then was shut down with a shoulder injury. He injured his elbow the next spring and missed all of ‘23 and most of ‘24. With all that missed development time, it’s no surprise he struggled after rehabbing from his injury. He’s been excellent this year, showing off all the skills that earned him such a high prospect rating all those years ago. His best pitch is a hard curveball and he’s added a variation on that breaking ball that has a bit more horizontal break which Statcast labels a sweeper.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Miles Mikolas6114.5%6.1%17.7%45.4%5.905.63
Emerson Hancock75.225.0%5.8%12.2%41.4%2.743.72
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam25.4%29.1%93.38490700.366
Sinker36.4%19.3%92.788781090.350
Changeup1.6%14.3%85.883
Curveball11.0%16.5%76.5100571240.349
Slider25.7%20.8%87.594661180.289
Sweeper14.7%1.3%81.794

After years of soaking up innings in the Cardinals rotation, the Nationals signed Miles Mikolas to do the same for their young roster. As you’d expect from a wily veteran, he’s got a deep repertoire of six different pitches that he mixes well to keep batters off balance. His usually excellent command has waned a bit as he’s grown older — his 6.1% walk rate this year is higher than it’s been since 2014 (!). There really isn’t much more to his approach. He doesn’t strike out very many batters, his batted ball profile is pretty average, and his stuff isn’t getting any better with age.


The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Mariners36-340.514+26L-W-W-L-L
Rangers34-340.5001.0+16L-W-L-W-W
Athletics33-350.4852.0-41L-W-L-W-W
Astros31-390.4435.0-38W-L-W-L-L
Angels27-420.3918.5-42L-W-L-W-W
TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Yankees41-260.612+7.5+103L-W-W-W-W
Guardians37-330.529+2.0-6W-L-L-L-L
Rangers34-340.500+16L-W-L-W-W
Athletics33-350.4851.0-41L-W-L-W-W
Blue Jays33-360.4781.5-18W-W-L-W-L
Orioles33-370.4712.0-30L-L-L-W-W

The Rangers won their series against the Royals this week, climbing back to .500 and inching closer to the Mariners in the AL West standings; they’ll travel to Boston this weekend. Playing in the Las Vegas heat/altitude/Triple-A band box, the Athletics played three wild games against the Brewers this week. They’ll continue that Vegas homestand with a three-game set against the Rockies. The Astros wound up losing their series against the Angels, squeaking by with an extra-innings win on Monday but losing the deciding game on Wednesday in extras again. They’ll take the place of the Rangers and play the Royals in Kansas City this weekend.

Yankees Sequence of the Week: Fernando Cruz (6/9)

CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 09: Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees celebrates his team's 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on June 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fernando Cruz can certainly frustrate. But far more often of late, Cruz has dazzled with both dominant displays and gritty performances coming out of the bullpen. Perhaps no performance better encapsulates these game-changing abilities than his five-out save in the middle game against the Guardians Tuesday night. He struck out four of the five batters he faced including three in a row in the ninth to lock down the Yankees’ 3-2 victory in Cleveland. As impressive as several of the other Yankees pitchers have been, there was really no competition for this edition of Yankees Sequence of the Week.

We join Cruz with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Chase DeLauter standing on first after drawing a leadoff walk. The Yankees cling to a 3-2 lead courtesy of Spencer Jones’ first big league home run and the go-ahead solo blast from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth. The bullpen has performed spectacularly to this point in relief of a laboring Gerrit Cole, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Camilo Doval, and Jake Bird have all put up zeroes following Cole’s departure after four. Cruz has already worked his magic in the previous frame, inheriting a pair of base runners from Bird but striking out Travis Bazzana and getting José Ramírez to line out to strand both in place. Angel Martínez steps to the plate as the Guardians’ last hope having already collected a pair of base knocks on the day.

Cruz has been experimenting with varying his first pitch selection in recent weeks, usually looking to establish a called strike one with a four-seamer or slider to set up chase on the splitter for the rest of the AB. However, he has a single-minded approach in this spot, not wanting to mess around with either of his less dependable pitches. He throws perhaps the best splitter in baseball and goes full send with his number one pitch.

It’s pretty obvious that Martínez is sitting dead splitter in this spot, given the way he is able to track this pitch that starts as a ball above the strike zone and ends as a ball below it. His swing is matched perfectly to the movement of the pitch, but he’s just a tad early as he rips it foul to the right.

Despite seeing that Martínez was all over that first pitch splitter, there’s no flinch from Cruz. It’s almost like he’s saying, “Here’s my best against your best, let’s see if you can beat me.” He maintains supreme confidence in his splitter, knowing that if he executes to his spot, there are very few hitters in the league if any that can hit it.

This is frankly an unfair pitch from Cruz. This splitter breaks downward ten more inches than the previous one. You can see the look of bewilderment on Martínez’s face as he just nicks the top of the ball for a foul tip into J.C. Escarra’s glove. He swung exactly where he thought this pitch would end up based on the movement of the prior splitter, only for this one to dive downwards way more than he was expecting.

Now that Cruz has shown he can throw the splitter in the zone and still get a swinging strike, he has Martínez in big trouble with the count 0-2. If he can execute another splitter just a little lower than the one he just threw, the hitter should have no shot at making contact.

Decent execution from Cruz, even better take from Martínez. This splitter leaves Cruz’s hand looking like an elevated, centrally-located strike before plummeting down and away almost into the dirt — just insane movement on the pitch and kudos to the hitter for not chasing.

That ball doesn’t change anything in this AB. Cruz still has the count leverage overwhelmingly in his favor and knows he can enforce his will upon Martínez with one more well executed splitter.

Swing and a miss, good night. Cruz caps of this untouchable sequence with his best splitter yet. The pitch travels about halfway to home looking like a meatball strike on the inner half. Just after the ball passes through the hitter’s swing decision point, it drops off the table falling over three feet before it reaches Escarra. Martínez has already started his swing before the pitch’s movement kicks in, meaning it is actually impossible for him to make contact.

Here’s the full sequence:

I don’t think it is a stretch to say that Cruz is the Yankees’ most trusted reliever at the moment. He has by far the best swing and miss stuff of their entire relief stable. With David Bednar’s recent upturn in form, the Yankees once again have a formidable duo for the final two (or more) innings of a winning ballgame. For anyone who may have missed the game on Tuesday or didn’t get to see all five outs that Cruz recorded, I leave this for your viewing pleasure:

Opposition research: Jacob Misiorowski

May 25, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws a pitch during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski first caught the attention of Phillies fans when he was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team. The selection was somewhat curious because Miz (Sorry for the nickname usage, but I’m not typing out Misiorowski every time) was a rookie with only five career starts. And it was annoying for Phillies fans since they had two veteran pitchers in Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez who merited inclusion over the rookie.

In 2026, when Miz makes the team, it will be deserved. He consistently throws pitches above 100 MPH and hitters aren’t having an easy time of it.

The best competition in baseball this season might be between Sanchez and Miz to see which of them starts the All-Star Game. Miz fans will point to his higher strikeout rate and minimally lower ERA. Sanchez fans will (correctly) counter that he has a higher WAR due to throwing more innings (Miz has never pitched in the eighth inning of a major league game), walking fewer batters, and having a worse defense behind him.

There’s no shame in being the league’s second-best pitcher, so Miz should be proud to get the ball after Sanchez gets the start. It’s not like this is a tough decision for NL manager Dave Roberts. With the game in Philadelphia, does he really want to choose someone besides Sanchez and have the starting pitcher get booed by the crowd?

The Phillies can help their ace’s chances on Friday night when Miz is scheduled to start. The Phillies haven’t done all that well against flamethrowing phenoms in recent years, but they had some success when they saw Miz last season, scoring three runs in 4.1 innings.

Bryce Harper was certainly not impressed by the velocity.

Hating on the Brewers

It’s hard to say that any one MLB franchise is the most irrelevant, but the Brewers are probably on the short list. Back in 1998, when MLB needed a team to switch from the American League to the National League, they went with the Brewers, figuring nobody in the AL would miss them. (And as far as I can tell, they haven’t.)

Much like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Milwaukee originally got their franchise by stealing one from Seattle, but unlike the Thunder, the Brewers haven’t rewarded their new home fans with a championship.

They’ve only made it to the World Series once, and the majority of people reading this probably weren’t even alive for that.

Franchise great Paul Molitor did win a World Series MVP award, but that’s probably not especially comforting for Brewers fans since he did it as a member of the Blue Jays. (Boo!)

As for this year’s team, they’ve established a 3.5 game lead in the NL Central, which means they’re likely headed back to the playoffs. And they’re just as likely to once again lose once they get there. At least the Phillies gave the Dodgers a good fight in the NLDS. The Brewers pretty much rolled over in the NLCS, scoring a total of four runs in the sweep.

The Brewers are somewhat annoying in that they seem to lose a key player or two every offseason and still come back and make the playoffs. They traded Freddy Peralta to the Mets in the offseason, and while Peralta has been a bit disappointing in New York (LOLMets), the Brewers’ pitching staff hasn’t missed him much.

Also, the Brewers retired the number for Bud Selig, which ew, no. When you do something like that, your franchise doesn’t deserve to ever win a World Series.

Trivia

Last week’s question: In the first ever game between the Phillies and White Sox, future Phillie Kenny Lofton delivered a game-winning hit. Chappdaddy got it right.

This week’s question: The Phillies’ first game at Milwaukee’s American Family Field (nee Miller Park) was a 10-4 win on August 14, 2001. Which Phillie had three hits in that game?

Additional thought about the series

The Phillies have been doing well in the series when both Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler make starts, while the others haven’t gone as well. Sanchez will start on Sunday, but they’ll need to hope that Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola can deliver quality starts the other two days.

Nola has good career numbers against the Brewers, but most of the success against them has come at home. He has a 4.60 ERA in Milwaukee. Some of that was skewed by last year’s start in which he was knocked around for five runs in the first inning, but sadly, there’s nothing about Nola’s performance this season to think that we won’t see a repeat of that.

Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, June 12

The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 41-26 record, face the Toronto Blue Jays, who are third in the AL East with a 33-36 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Toronto at -115 and the Yankees at -105. Starting pitchers are Ryan Weathers for New York, with a 3.86 ERA, and TBD for Toronto.

  • Date: Friday, June 12

  • Time: 7:37 p.m. ET / 4:37 p.m. PT

  • Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON

  • TV Channels: Sportsnet, SN1, TVA Sports, YES

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • New York Yankees: 41-26 (second in AL East)

  • Toronto Blue Jays: 33-36 (third in AL East)

  • Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

  • Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays -115 / New York Yankees -105

  • Over/Under: 8.0

New York Yankees: Ryan Weathers (2-4, ERA: 3.86, K: 79, WHIP: 1.16)

Toronto Blue Jays: TBD

Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 75°F at first pitch

Marlins vs Pirates Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 12

Pittsburgh (35-34) and Miami (34-35) meet at PNC Park for a three game weekend series in the heat. Miami won four out of seven games last season when the two met, but Pittsburgh took two out of three at home.

Miami has won five straight games and eight of the past nine. The Marlins are currently riding their longest winning streak of the season as the offense has been ripping lately. Miami is hitting .292 over the last five games (2nd) and has nine stolen bases (3rd) to go along with 27 RBI (T-7th). The Marlins also hold the MLB's best ERA in the last seven days at 1.80 with a 1.89 OBA.

The Pirates are coming off a series loss to the Dodgers and have now lost five of the past six games. Pittsburgh ranks 29th in ERA (6.70) over the past seven days (five games) and 28th in the past 15 days (6.14 ERA over 12 games). The Buccos have been struggling but are tied for third in the NL Central and 2.0 games ahead of last place. Pittsburgh was dealt some bad news when Oneil Cruz went on the IL with a broken hand. The offense is hitting .243 (19th) over the past five games with eight home runs (T-6th).

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 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 Marlins at Pirates

  • Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park 
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN / MLB TV

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 Marlins at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Miami Marlins (+119), Pittsburgh Pirates (-143)
  • Spread: Pirates -1.5 (+141), Marlins +1.5 (-171)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Marlins at Pirates

  • Friday's pitching matchup (June 12): Sandy Alcantara vs. Braxton Ashcraft
  • Pirates: Braxton Ashcraft  

2026 stats: 79.2 IP, 5-3, 3.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 86 Ks, 17 BB

  • Marlins: Sandy Alcantara  

2026 Stats: 89.1 IP, 5-4, 4.33 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 64 Ks, 22 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Marlins’ Otto Lopez is hitting .344 with 93 hits, 5 home runs and 30 RBI over 270 at-bats
  • The Marlins’ Jakob Marsee is hitting .205 with 47 hits and 61 strikeouts over 229 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds is hitting .265 with 64 hits, 7 home runs, and 40 RBI over 245 at-bats
  • The Pirates’ Marcell Ozuna is hitting .193 with 36 hits and 60 strikeouts over 187 at-bats

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 Marlins at Pirates

  • The Marlins are 34-35 ATS
  • The Pirates are 34-35 ATS
  • The Marlins are 39-27-3 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
  • The Pirates are 40-27-1 to the Over, ranking sixth-best
  • The Marlins are 14-16 ATS on the road
  • The Pirates are 16-19 ATS at home

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Pirates and the Marlins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Marlins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Marlins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5

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Cardinals offense leans on preparation as young hitters like Jordan Walker, JJ Wetherholt lead a resurgence

This was meant to be a rebuilding year for the St. Louis Cardinals. After finishing six games under .500 in 2025, they traded away established veterans like Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan in the hopes of kick-starting a rebuild around their young roster. In a competitive NL Central division, many expected them to be the doormat for at least the 2026 season. Not that the Cardinals' hitters paid attention or cared.

"We are a young group of guys, but I think a lot of it is our mentality," said rookie outfielder Nathan Church. "We're never out of the game, and we're always going to compete, no matter what the score is. I think having that mentality, one through nine, is what's leading to our success."

It's been a surprising amount of success on the offensive side for the Cardinals. Heading into Friday's games, they rank 9th in strikeout rate (21.1%), 9th in Win Probability Added by the offense, 12th in wRC+ (103), 13th in hard-hit rate (40.3%), 14th in runs scored (298), and 14th in OPS (.715). That has the Cardinals eight games over .500 and currently sitting in a playoff spot despite having only one hitter in the starting lineup who's older than 27: Lars Nootbaar, who has played a total of six games this season.

The Cardinals have four hitters with a wRC+ over 110 this season: JJ Wetherholt, a 23-year-old rookie; Ivan Herrera, a 26-year-old in his first year as a starter; Alec Burleson, a 27-year-old elder statesman; and Jordan Walker, a 24-year-old former top prospect who is finally breaking out. In fact, in many ways, Walker is the perfect example of what makes this young Cardinals offense tick.

MLB: Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals

Jun 2, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) reacts after hitting a one run single against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Once the No. 4 ranked prospect in baseball heading into the 2023 season, Walker had a solid MLB debut, hitting .276/.342/.445 in 117 games in 2023 with 16 home runs and seven steals. However, he wasn't able to build off that over the next two years. In 2024, he hit .201/.253/.366 with a 28.1% strikeout rate and was limited to just 51 MLB games. He got more of an opportunity in 2025, but hit .215/.278/.306 in 111 games with just six home runs and a 31.8% strikeout rate. To many, it seemed like Walker would become another top prospect who failed to live up to expectations, but Walker never wavered. He kept putting in the work with the firm belief that he would produce at the level he believed he was capable of.

“Walker deserves 100 percent of the credit," Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told MLB.com during this week’s Mets series. "This game is hard. He is the one going out there and actually putting it together, having an approach and being consistent. To go from getting beat up the last couple of years to where he is at mentally and physically at the moment, he deserves the credit.”

Marmol expounded on that before Thursday's season finale, suggesting that Walker's confidence has "freed him up to just be an athlete and go out and compete, and we're seeing it in all aspects of his game."

We're also seeing a similar development up and down the Cardinals' lineup. The hitters pride themselves on their preparation and their faithfulness to a plan, believing that putting in the work before stepping out onto the field will give them a crucial mental freedom once the game begins. Even in Walker's offseason work on his swing, he mentioned that he and [assistant hitting coach] Casey Chenoweth discussed their plan for his approach beforehand and then "started hitting off the machine, not thinking much about mechanics at all."

That dedication to a plan carries over into the day-to-day aspects of the regular season as well. Especially because this is a young offense, Marmol and his coaching staff have really stressed the importance of gameplanning and thinking through your approach before ever taking the field or stepping into the batter's box.

"I think there's a lot of teaching, anytime you have a younger group, as far as like just setting up the framework for how you want them to look at a game plan, when to veer from it, the communication in game, what that looks like," explained Marmol before the series finale against the Mets. "They're continuing to get better and better at that. Our hitters meetings are pretty interactive, where it's not just [Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown] talking to the group but them speaking into it, and what their plan is. Each hitter goes through and describes what their plan is that day and what they're trying to do against that specific pitcher, but that continues to evolve as far as how well these guys in-game are making adjustments and communicating those adjustments."

That aspect of gameplanning has been the biggest change for some of these young hitters as they rise from the minors to the big leagues.

"You definitely learn really quickly here that you have to just dive deep and be a really good chess player," explained Church, who had 65 plate appearances with the Cardinals last season but won a starting job this year and is hitting .253/.286/.399 with five home runs, 18 RBI, and four steals in 48 games. "In the minors, you kind of get away with stuff, but big leaguers are smart. They do their homework on hitters. Not saying minor league pitchers don't do that, but just trying to understand what the best pitchers are trying to do [against you]."

MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Athletics

May 14, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt (26) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the go-ahead run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

That was seconded by rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt, another top prospect, who won a starting job in spring training and has impressed with a .248/.354/.388 slash line in 62 games while producing nine home runs, 43 runs scored, 28 RBI, and two steals.

"In the minors, guys are more pitching to their game plan," he explained. "Obviously, the aces of the teams, they make a name doing what they do, so they're gonna do that, but in Triple-A, they're not really game planning too much, just a little bit. Here, it's more of a game plan, so each guy's getting pitched to their weaknesses, and so they'll spend more time scouting that. After that, once the league finds out that you're gonna swing at every slider in the dirt on a two-strike count, you're just gonna see that nonstop."

The hitters' meetings are a great chance for the young hitters and coaches to discuss the tendencies they've been seeing and the ones that they expect to see. Even the youngest MLB players have been playing this game at a high level for long enough that they can identify when a pitcher is attacking them differently, but leaning on coaches and the data they can collect to get specifics is often newer for young hitters.

"I would say the coaches will definitely know [how we're being pitched] because they do a ton of work at just looking out at all of our bats and all the data and things like that," admitted Wetherholt. "I'll definitely have that conversation, like, 'Hey, guys, I'm obviously getting more fastballs in, or getting more sliders down,' and then we'll talk about that and how we want to combat that. If it's a problem, you've got to address it."

Which leads to yet another aspect of hitting that can be challenging for younger hitters: in-season adjustments.

Offseason preparation may be more grueling and time-consuming, but it also feels less pressurized. Even if a hitter is altering their swing or approach, they have five or six months in the offseason to tear things down, construct a plan for rebuilding whatever process they're focused on, and then build it back up with regular checks and tweaks along the way. That's a luxury you don't have in the regular season when you have to not only identify if you're being pitched differently or if there's an issue with your swing, but what the change is and how to combat it, all while still preparing for your game that night. Sometimes, like with Jordan Waker, that can take years to figure out.

"I try and [make adjustments] as quickly as possible, like every at-bat, honestly, is what I try," stated Church. Wetherholt was a bit more temperate, suggesting that, "if you get pitched consistently from back-to-back teams, then you know there's something that people have found that they want to go towards."

Identifying the issue is the first step of the problem, but finding ways to address it during the grind of an MLB regular season is another challenge altogether.

"There's still some stuff that you can do early on in the day, like in the routines where you're working with some mechanical things," admitted Wetherholt. "It's not going to be anything crazy, but we'll talk about just making slight adjustments in the routine, and then, when you get on the field, you're just in compete mode. If anything, a lot can be pitches that you're trying to swing at and hunt, you know, if there are certain pitches that are giving you trouble, try to lay off those, so make those day-to-day adjustments."

Those are the adjustments Wetherholt has already had to make as a rookie. He came out of the gates well, hitting .256/.378/.479 with seven home runs, 27 runs scored, 16 RBI, and four steals in his first 31 MLB games. He then hit a rough patch once the calendar turned to May, slashing .182/.308/.236 with one home run, six RBI, and a 12/7 K/BB ratio in 14 games, but has been able to claw his way back, hitting .286/.351/.357 with one home runs, 10 runs scored, two steals, and a 9/7 K/BB ratio in 17 games since May 19th.

After that first month of the season, it seemed like pitchers started attacking Wetherholt inside more often (7% inside), and also realized that the rookie has a passive approach they could take more advantage of. Up until May, Wetherholt only had a 48% true first pitch strike rate (that excludes first pitch hits, so only when he goes down 0-1 in the count). In his cold stretch in May, that rose to 56% as pitchers found locations in the strike zone early on where Wetherholt didn't feel like offering.

However, from May 19th on, Wetherholt's early ball in play rate has jumped 4%, and his true first pitch strike rate has fallen back to 43%, while his early called strike rate has gone from 21.6% to 19.7%. These are not monumental changes, but are the small, incremental ones that Wetherholt talked about. He noticed that pitchers were being more successful at stealing first pitch strikes against him, so he got a little bit more aggressive, likely in certain areas of the zone where he knew he could still make good contact, and put more balls in play early to avoid falling behind.

"He's just very steady, especially for his age," explained Marmol. "You would think he's been in the league for a while, just the way he handles the ups and downs, and the day-to-day aspect of what we do. There's a certain demeanor to him, a presence, that's just pretty calming. He doesn't ride the highs and lows. It's pretty impressive."

It's impressive and emblematic of an entire lineup filled with young hitters who have tons of confidence and trust in one another.

"I think a lot of it is just having more confidence in myself and just not trying to do too much," said Church about the success of the team's young hitters.

Wetherholt also mentioned the closeness of the lineup: "We all have good relationships, just talk back and forth, hitting-wise. I've talked with [Nolan Gorman] a lot this year, and that's been a ton of fun. And then obviously guys like [Jordan] Walker and Masyn [Winn] are kind of more my age, that helped show me the ropes, but it's just been definitely a combined effort."

A combined effort built on communication and preparation. The Cardinals' hitters will tell you that they don't think too much about their statistics, and they won't be lying. They trust in their gameplanning and know that, if they prepare the right way, they continue to pile up the only stat that matters, wins.

Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, June 12

The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 44-25 record, face the Chicago White Sox, who are first in the AL Central with a 36-31 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -170 moneyline compared to the Chicago White Sox's +140. Starting pitchers are Roki Sasaki for the Dodgers, with a 4.03 ERA, and Anthony Kay for the White Sox, with a 4.40 ERA.

  • Date: Friday, June 12

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT

  • Where: Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, IL

  • TV Channels: Chicago Sports Network, SportsNet LA

  • Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 44-25 (first in NL West)

  • Chicago White Sox: 36-31 (first in AL Central)

  • Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5

  • Moneyline: Chicago White Sox +140 / Los Angeles Dodgers -170

  • Over/Under: 9.0

Los Angeles Dodgers: Roki Sasaki (3-3, ERA: 4.03, K: 60, WHIP: 1.26)

Chicago White Sox: Anthony Kay (5-1, ERA: 4.40, K: 46, WHIP: 1.45)

Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 82°F at first pitch

South Side Sox Reacts: Feeling confident about the playoffs!

We took a while, but after a month or so off we’re back to asking you about the White Sox and baseball at large vis SB Nation Reacts surveys. This time around, with the White Sox in the catbird seat at the one-third season mark, we issued a straightforward (if unexpected, just a month ago) one:

Woof, lookee what a weak American League and surprisingly strong White Sox team does to a fan base’s confidence! The wild thing is, since we issued the survey, the White Sox have extended their MLB-best run to nine of 13 and moved into first place!

The national questions this week were a little bit fun, a little bit not. First, best hitters in baseball:

No White Sox? OK, OK, no White Sox.

Then, it was (ugh) labor concerns:

Just as things are getting good for us again. Sigh.


Did you miss out on this round of questions? No worry, sign up here to participate in our weekly emailed surveys, and have your White Sox voice be heard!

This week’s Reacts is brought to you by FanDuel.

Dodgers vs. White Sox prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for June 12

The Dodgers (44-25) continue their swing through the Midwest tonight as they open a series in the Windy City against the surprising AL Central-leading White Sox (36-31).

 

The Sox have won seven in a row at home including a pair earlier this week against the NL East-leading Braves. Chicago is one of five American League teams sporting a positive run differential for the season at +10. As positive a stat as that is for Chicago, LA’s run differential is +143 after their series win in Pittsburgh in which they scored 28 runs for the three games.

 

However, both teams are trending similarly of late. Each is 6–4 over their last 10 games, with comparable offensive production:

  • Dodgers: .269 team average, have outscored opponents by 14 runs
  • White Sox: .270 team average, outscored opponents by 9 runs

 

Tonight’s expected pitching matchup features:

  • Dodgers: Roki Sasaki (RHP)
    • 3–3 record, 4.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 60 K
  • White Sox: Anthony Kay (LHP)
    • 5–1 record, 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 46 K

 

Sasaki brings more swing-and-miss upside, while Kay has been more effective in the win column despite less dominant peripherals. Kay’s challenge will be navigating a Dodgers’ lineup that ranks among MLB’s best in on-base percentage and overall production, while Sasaki faces a Chicago lineup that has been more opportunistic than explosive.

 

 

Given recent trends, Sasaki’s ability to control early innings could be critical—Chicago has leaned heavily on momentum and situational hitting rather than overwhelming pitching matchups.

 

Hot Hitters (Last 10 Games)

Dodgers

  • Shohei Ohtani: 18-for-41, 3 HR, 9 RBI
  • Andy Pages: Team leader in HR (15 total) and major power threat [espn.com]

Ohtani is the clear tone-setter for LA BUT he left the series finale against the Pirates early. There has been no confirmation as of publication as to his availability for tonight. Pages flies under the radar somehow but continues to provide middle-of-the-order pop.

White Sox

  • Miguel Vargas: 11-for-39, 3 HR over last 10 games

Vargas has been Chicago’s most dangerous recent bat, especially in terms of gap-to-gap power and run production.

 

What to Watch Tonight

  • Contrast in styles: Dodgers bring lineup depth and power (5.3 runs/game), while the White Sox excel in situational hitting and close-game execution.
  • Home-field edge: Chicago’s strong home record (22–11) and active home winning streak make this more competitive than the records suggest.

 

Prior to the season, you would never have said this will be a competitive series. The Dodgers have the statistical edge across the board, but the White Sox counter with home momentum, a recent winning trend, and timely hitting. If the game turns into a higher-scoring affair, it favors Los Angeles; if it stays tight and situational, Chicago has a real shot to take yet another step forward in their surprising season.

 

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

 

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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 and How to Watch: Dodgers vs. White Sox

  • Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Sportsnet LA, CSN

 

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.

 

The Latest Odds: Dodgers vs. White Sox

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: LA Dodgers (-162), Chicago White Sox (+134)
  • Spread: Dodgers -1.5 (+105), White Sox +1.5 (-126)
  • Total: 9.0 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers: Dodgers vs. White Sox for June 12

  • Dodgers: Roki Sasaki
    Season Totals: 58.0 IP, 3-3, 4.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 60K, 21 BB
  • White Sox: Anthony Kay
    Season Totals: 61.1 IP, 5-1, 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 46K, 26 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Dodgers vs. White Sox

  • Kyle Tucker – 3-12 vs. Pirates earlier this week
  • Freddie Freeman has hit in 6 straight games (9-21) and 8 of his last 9 (14-36)
  • Colson Montgomery has hit safely in 3 straight games (3-11)
  • Andrew Benintendi is 2-13 in his last 5 games

 

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: Dodgers vs. White Sox

  • The Dodgers are 36-33 on the Run Line this season
  • The White Sox are 39-28 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 31 times in LA’s 69 games this season (31-38)
  • The OVER has cashed 39 times in the White Sox’ 67 games this season (39-26-2)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Dodgers vs. White Sox

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

 

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

 

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

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Dodgers on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 9.0

 

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MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions June 12

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Although the World Cup is starting to take center stage, another day on the diamond awaits, and there's no shortage of value to be found at Polymarket!

Spearheaded by another dominant outing from Jacob Misiorowski, here are our favorite MLB picks for Friday, June 12. 

MLB expert picks for today

PickOdds
Jon Metler Jon Metler: LAD ML-150
Neil Parker Neil Parker: MIA/PIT NRFI-109
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: MIL -1.5-110

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Jon Metler's expert pick: Dodgers moneyline

Price: 60¢ (-150) at Polymarket

Roki Sasaki may have stumbled out of the gate this season, but over the last 30 days, he's looked every bit like the ace the Los Angeles Dodgers expected. During that stretch, he's posted a 10.73 K/9, a 1.48 ERA, and a 2.29 xFIP, establishing himself as one of the most dominant starters in baseball.

At first glance, Chicago White Sox southpaw Anthony Kay appears capable of creating matchup problems for Los Angeles because of the number of left-handed bats in the Dodgers' lineup. However, this isn't a typical lineup when it comes to platoon splits. 

Freddie Freeman has spent his entire career producing against left-handed pitching at nearly the same level as he does against righties, and Kay's sweeping slider isn't nearly as effective against hitters like Kyle Tucker, whose flat swing path matches up well against that pitch shape.

 Los Angeles deserves to be a bigger favorite here, and I make the Dodgers closer to 63 cents in this matchup.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: CHSN, SportsNet LA

Neil Parker's expert pick: Marlins/Pirates NRFI

Price: 52¢ (-109) at Polymarket

Both Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara and Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft have been sensational in this market this season, combining to pitch 23 scoreless opening frames across 27 starts.

Additionally, Alcantara’s first-inning numbers (5.14 ERA with a .758 OPS allowed) are skewed because all eight runs he’s surrendered came across just three games.

Ashcraft, meanwhile, checks in with an absolutely elite .169 batting average and .414 OPS allowed in the opening frame across his 21 career starts.

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Marlins.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Brewers -1.5

Price: 53¢ (-110) at Polymarket

Jacob Misiorowski is on an insane tear, allowing just one earned run across his last seven starts and helping the Milwaukee Brewers cover the run line in six of those outings.

The Philadelphia Phillies counter with Andrew Painter, whose 6.21 ERA reflects a difficult season that has included several rough road starts. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's offense is firing on all cylinders, leading MLB in both runs scored and OPS over the past week.

Add in the Brewers' elite offensive production at home and Philadelphia's struggles on the road, and Milwaukee is well-positioned to win by multiple runs tonight.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Brewers.TV

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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Pete Crow-Armstrong leads all NL players in the SABR Defensive Index

Pete Crow-Armstrong dives to make yet another five-star catch Thursday in Coors Field | | Denver Post via Getty Images

The Society for American Baseball Research has created something called their Defensive Index, rating players for their defense using a number of different criteria, which you can read about in detail here. The SDI is used, in part, to help decide each year’s Gold Glove and Platinum Glove winners.

SABR announced today that Pete Crow-Armstrong leads all National League players in the SDI, through games of June 7, with an SDI figure of 10.7. Former Cub Cody Bellinger leads all American League players this year at 9.4. Bellinger has played mostly left field for the Yankees this year (54 starts), with nine starts in center field and two in right.

We all know about PCA’s defensive prowess, and he’s likely going to win another Gold Glove this year, and he’ll be a strong candidate for the Platinum Glove, which goes to the best defensive player at any position.

I thought you might also be interested in where other Cubs players rank at their positions in the SDI, through June 7. Here are their rankings among National League players.

Pitcher: The highest-ranked Cubs pitcher is Shōta Imanaga, who ranks tied for 12th at 0.6.

Catcher: Carson Kelly is last among NL catchers at -3.1.

First base: Michael Busch ranks third at 3.0, behind Matt Olson (5.2) and TJ Rumfield (3.4).

Second base: Nico Hoerner ranks fourth at 2.4, behind JJ Wetherholt (4.7), Alex Freeland (3.9) and Ozzie Albies (3.4).

Third base: Alex Bregman (1.9) ranks fifth behind Matt Chapman (8.2), Max Muncy (4.2), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3.5) and Nolan Arenado (2.9).

Shortstop: Dansby Swanson (3.8) ranks second behind Joey Ortiz (4.1).

Left field: Ian Happ ranks sixth at 0.5.

Center field: PCA’s 10.5 is significantly ahead of Andy Pages (8.1).

Right field: Seiya Suzuki leads all right fielders at 3.7, slightly ahead of Corbin Carroll (3.6).

The surprise for me there is Suzuki, who the eye test says has had a good year in the field, though I didn’t necessarily think the metrics would back that up. If he continues along these lines he’ll have a shot at a Gold Glove. Also, Swanson continues to be an elite fielding shortstop even while he’s struggling at the plate. And the Cubs have high-ranking defenders at almost every position.

Here are three and a half minutes of great defensive plays by Cubs so far this year.

Red Sox Minor Lines: Clean Sweep, and not a good one

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Boston Red Sox throws during a Spring Training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 19, 2025 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was a rough day on the farm on Thursday, with the top four Red Sox affiliates generating zero wins. The FCL Red Sox in the Rookie League did win a game 26-6, though, and Franklin Primera went 4-for-5 with a homer and six RBI. The 18-year-old is slashing .448/.587/.731 in 22 games with five home runs in the Complex League. I think I agree with Ed Hand, a new challenge might be in order for Primera. 

Game One: Rochester Red Wings 6, Worcester Red Sox 4 (BOX)

Game Two: Canceled

All of New England waits with bated breath as Patrick Sandoval’s rehab continues at Worcester. Sandoval, who as a reminder is in year two of a 2-year, $18.25M deal, started the game and worked his way up to 33 pitches (18 strikes) in 1 ⅔ innings on Thursday. He allowed one run and struck out three.

Matt Thaiss got the scoring started early, with a three-run bomb in the top of the first off of old friend Luis Perales. 

Perales threw the first 3 ⅔ innings for the Red Wings (WAS), allowing eight baserunners and four earned runs. Perales was bailed out though as the Worcester bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Zack Kelly allowed five baserunners and two runs over an inning and a third, before Devin Sweet got the loss, allowing three runs in two innings. 

Nathan Hickey’s RBI double accounted for the fourth run for the Woo Sox, in a seven inning game which was supposed to be part of a doubleheader. However, the second game was rained out, and has been labeled as “Canceled” rather than “Postponed”. 

Raymond Burgos (1-3, 7.11) gets the ball for the Woo Sox at 6:45 today. Since Brayan Bello had to warm up for the game, before its cancellation, he will be pushed back to Saturday. 

Reading Fightin Phils 5, Portland Sea Dogs 3 (BOX)

Dalton Rogers got the start for the Sea Dogs and struggled against Reading (PHI), allowing nine baserunners and four runs over three innings, taking the loss. Rogers had been excellent in his first three double-A starts, yet to allow a run in the ten previous innings, before a tough one on Thursday. 

On the hitting side, left fielder Will Turner had two hits, including his seventh home run. Brooks Brannon and Johanfran Garcia also contributed two hits and an RBI a piece. 

Gage Ziehl (2-2, 4.98) will take the mound on Friday at 6:45 for Portland. 

Winston-Salem Dash 9, Greenville Drive 1 (BOX)

Jojo Ingrassia got the start for the Drive and threw three excellent innings, allowing on ehit and striking out four Dash hitters (CWS) and left in a 0-0 game. After that, it got ugly!

Greenville reliever Joe Vogatsky got the loss before giving way to PJ Labriola, who allowed six earned runs. The Drive lone run came on a double play ground ball to cut the lead to 8-1. Let’s move past this one. 

Greenville has yet to announce a starter for tonight at 6:45. 

Fayetteville Woodpeckers 12, Salem RidgeYaks 5 (BOX)

Salem pitching was hit hard by the Woodpeckers (HOU) in this game across the board, beginning with starter Leighton Finley who allowed four runs in 4 ⅓ innings, so let’s focus on the hitting. Avinson Pinto had an RBI single, D’Angelo Ortiz knocked in two with a single of his own, and Ilan Fernandez scored a run with a double. Skylar King stole his 20th base of the year. 

The RidgeYaks will send Brady Tygart (0-0, 7.71) to the hill on Friday at 6:35.