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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Tristan Peters is on a heater, Walker Jenkins is in the big leagues

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition to your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Samuel Basallo - C, BAL (35% rostered)

(OFF THE IL, POWER UPSIDE)

Yes, Basallo has not been good since coming off the injured list, going 4-for-35 in 11 games. However, this is just a pick-up because he's going to play every day, and we know the kind of power he has in his bat. It's a bet on it clicking sometime soon.

Spencer Jones - OF, NYY (30% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, PLATE APPROACH GROWTH?)

Jones is incredibly polarizing. On one hand, he has three home runs and five steals in 23 games in August, and we know the power/speed is real. He also has an 80.5% zone contact rate in August, which is much better than anything he's ever done in the minor leagues. On the other hand, he's hitting just .222 in August; he has an 18.1% swinging strike rate and a 33% strikeout rate. So even if this is Jones with the best zone contact rate he's ever shown, he is still a poor batting average hitter with major strikeout issues and a 92 wRC+. If you want to hunt the power and speed, go for it. Also, when Aaron Judge comes back, it has to be Jones going to the bench, right? Unless the Yankees are going to bench Trent Grisham, but that doesn't seem likely.

Tristan Peters - OF, CWS (23% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK)

Remember when Tristan Peter was named an All-Star? Well, the former Savannah Banana (back when it was a college summer baseball team) is on fire in August, hitting .349/.438/.730 with six home runs, 13 runs scored, 14 RBI, and two steals. Will he continue to hit homers at this rate? It's highly unlikely, but Peters has had a really good season and is seeing the ball really well right now. His defense will continue to keep him in the lineup, so you gotta keep riding this out.

Griffin Conine - OF, MIA (23% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Conine has admittedly cooled off over the last two weeks, but he still has five home runs, a 15% barrel rate, and a 44.7% hard-hit rate in August. Like any hitter with plus power, he is going to go through some cold stretches. You can choose to drop him if you want, but he was too good for 3-4 weeks for us to fully abandon him. He will sit against lefties, so he's a better option if you're in a daily moves league or a mid-week lineup change league. His teammate, Heriberto Hernandez - OF, MIA (9% rostered) is streaking again too with four home runs in August and three of them coming since August 16th. Much like Conine, you can ride a hot stretch with Hernandez's bat.

Jake Burger - 1B, TEX (21% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

Oh, look, another streaking power hitter. Burger is hitting .246/.342/.478 in August with four home runs, 10 RBI, and a 132 wRC+. That's with a 14.3% barrel rate and 53.1% hard-hit rate. He also has home runs in two of his last three games, and all four of his home runs this month have come since August 14th. You're just riding the wave here, especially with the Athletics' pitching staff coming to town.

Tommy Edman - 2B/3B/OF, LAD (21% rostered)

(LINEUP CHANGE, HOT STREAK)

The injury to Andy Pages means that Edman has moved up into the fifth or sixth spot in the Dodgers' lineup. That has really helped his counting stats, and he's hitting gone 5-for-21 with five runs scored, four RBI, and a steal in six games without Pages. It's a small sample size, but taking a contact hitter who hits in the middle of that lineup makes some sense. Mauricio Dubon - 2B/3B/SS/OF, ATL (37% rostered) is now the unquestioned starting shortstop for the Braves, and has multi-position eligibility, which makes him a valuable add in deeper formats as well.

Walker Jenkins - OF, MIN (17% rostered)

(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, PROSPECTPROMOTION)

The Twins are finally calling up Walker Jenkins. The fifth overall selection from the 2023 draft class has slashed an impressive .308/.407/.532 with 12 homers, 28 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a 48/42 K/BB ratio over 307 plate appearances in 69 games at Triple-A St. Paul this season. He has been even better in August, hitting .411/.488/.795 in August with eight home runs, 16 runs scored, 13 RBI, and seven steals. We'd much prefer him to other recent prospect promotions like Spencer Jones and Zac Veen.

Tim Tawa - 1B/2B/3B/OF, ARI (17% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, POWER UPSIDE)

Tawa earned a starting job in July and has not looked back. In 25 games in August, he is hitting .283/.337/.435 with four home runs, 11 runs scored, 11 RBI, and five steals. That's come with a 13% barrel rate, 53% hard-hit rate, and slightly below average 83.7% zone contact rate. Still, Tawa's 12.5% swinging strike rate is fine for somebody who is going to barrel the ball that much. We'd much rather have his power/speed profile than Spencer Jones.

Rafael Flores Jr. - C/1B, PIT (14% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, STARTING JOB)

We can't say we expected this from Flores Jr. The former Yankees prospect came to the Pirates last season in the David Bednar trade. At the time, he had played just 10 games in Triple-A, and it was unclear what he might amount to in a system that hasn't produced a lot of great catching prospects in recent years (not including Ben Rice, who is no longer a catcher). Flores then hit just .228 with four home runs and 38 RBI in 65 games at Triple-A this season, and it seemed like another not-really prospect. Yet, since Endy Rodriguez went on the IL, Flores has been playing most games and has hit .241/.305/.556 with five home runs and 12 RBI in 17 games in August. He has good bat speed and a 52% hard-hit rate and is for sure worth an add in all two-catcher formats.

Angel Genao - 2B/3B/SS, CLE (12% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

We've had Genao on here since he got called up, and James highlighted his potential in a video. In 72 games at Triple-A, Genao hit .309/.395/.494 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 11 steals with a 92% zone contact rate and a 7% swinging strike rate. So far, he has acclimated himself well, hitting .288/.347/.379 with nine runs scored and one steal in 18 games. He doesn't have a ton of power, and the Guardians' offense is not helping him with counting stats, but he continues to get hits, which is certainly valuable if you need batting average. Another multi-position player who has settled into an everyday role is Javier Sanoja - 2B/3B/SS/OF, MIA (17% rostered). In 23 games in August, he's hitting .333/366/.526 with three home runs and 16 RBI, so there has been a surprising amount of production lately.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (12% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE PLAY, RUNS UPSIDE)

When Bolte was called up earlier in the summer, the narrative was that he had finally started to lift the ball a little more and had improved the swing-and-miss issues, which gave him a lower fantasy floor. However, in his first few MLB weeks, he was stealing a lot of bases and hitting a lot of groundballs and not doing much else. Now, in 18 games in August, he's hitting .326/.385/.484 with three home runs, 17 runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He's still only hitting 17% fly balls this month, but the ones he is hitting are often pulled and can leave the yard. He's settled in as the leadoff hitter, so he's a great bet for runs and batting average.

Kaelen Culpepper - SS, MIN (11% rostered)

(PROSPECT PROMOTION, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

James recorded this video ahead of Culpepper’s debut about how his skills could translate to the big leagues. He is the Twins' second-ranked prospect and the 29th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He had a .271 average with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 74 games for Triple-A St. Paul this season, and has hit the ground running in Minnesota. In his first 16 MLB games, he's hitting .333/.381/.526 with three home runs, eight runs scored, and six steals. He has no steals, which is a bummer since he had 17 in Triple-A and 25 last season, but maybe those will come soon.

Connor Norby - 1B/2B/3B, COL (10% rostered)

(SWING CHANGE, STARTING JOB)

Eric wrote an article this week on hitters who were making key changes to their processand mentioned that Norby had made a major batting stance change with the Rockies. Since coming to the Rockies, Norby is hitting .310/.408/.571 with a 43% hard-hit rate and a two-degree attack angle towards the opposite field side, which is less opposite field focused than with the Marlins. His stance is now 20 degrees more open, and his feet are 10 inches closer together. The general idea is that a narrower stance like that can help make it easier to keep weight on the back foot to create more power. We've previously seen that unlock more power for Brice Turang, so it wouldn't be a shock if it's working for Joby. Jeff McNeil - 1B/2B/OF, ATH (17% rostered) is another option for batting average. In 32 games since the All-Star break, McNeil is hitting .361/.381/.509 with three home runs, 15 runs scored, and 20 RBI. There is very little healthy competition behind him in Sacramento right now, so we'll roll the dice.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand - 1B/3B, BAL (10% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, POTENTIAL STARTING JOB)

CES is getting a chance to start at third base against both righties and lefties, and has had a solid month of August, hitting .250/.284/.474 with four home runs and 16 RBI. He has a 17% barrel rate and 45% hard-hit rate but also a 30% strikeout rate. Another factor to consider is that Blaze Alexander looks set to come back off the injured list, and he will likely take that third base job back. Will the Orioles play CES at 1B? Can they play him at DH and let Basallo catch more often? We have to see how the playing time shakes out.

Garrett Mitchell - OF, MIL (9% rostered)

SWING CHANGE, PERFORMANCE SURGE)

We covered Mitchell earlier in the summer when he made a major batting stance change in June and then had a huge month of July. He keeps producing, even if it's not at the rate he was before. Before changing his batting stance, Mitchell had a 77.1% zone contact rate, but that has jumped up to 83.1% since then. It was 87.1% in July and has since trended down a bit in August, but both months have been well ahead of what we saw in the past. Since changing his stance, his strikeout rate has fallen from 34.2% to 28.2%, his batting average has gone from .251 to .282, and his OPS has increased from .761 to .804. Those are noteworthy and intriguing changes. It may also be coming together for Hector Rodriguez - OF, CIN (2% rostered), who has gone 8-for-21 with three home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI over his last five games. It's a small sample size, but this was a prospect we were interested in who gets to play his home games in an elite offensive environment.

Joey Ortiz - SS/3B, MIL (6% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, SPEED UPSIDE)

We had Ortiz on her a few weeks ago when he had changed his swing, but then his playing time became inconsistent. Now, in 16 games in August, he's hitting .309/.365/.491 with two home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, and one steal. That's come with a 7% barrel rate and 44% hard-hit rate, which are well up from what we're used to seeing out of Ortiz. They need to keep playing him while he's hitting.

Dylan Beavers - OF, BAL (3% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POWER SURGE)

Beavers has taken the left field job and run with it in Baltimore. In 22 games in August, he's hitting .262/.338/.508 with four home runs, eight runs scored, 13 RBI, and one steal. That's with a 16% barrel rate and 46% hard-hit rate. His bat speed is up one mph in the second half, and his swing has more loft with a steeper angle of the sweet spot of the bat at contact. That could be leading to his recent power surge, but it's worth a gamble.

Pedro Ramirez - 2B/3B, CHC (3% rostered)

(POTENTIAL STARTING JOB, PROSPECT PEDIGREE)

With Dansby Swanson out for the regular season, Nico Hoerner has moved to shortstop, and Ramirez has become the regular second baseman for the Cubs. On the season, Ramirez is slashing .286/.345/.429 with three home runs, 24 runs scored, 21 RBI, and seven steals. That’s given him a 114 wRC+ that’s good for 11th-best among all qualified rookies. However, every rookie ahead of him on that list has at least 251 plate appearances. Among all 50 qualified rookies, Ramirez also ranks 12th in wOBA, 13th in on-base percentage, 14th in contact rate, and 17th in hard-hit rate. It’s a small sample size, but he’s fitting right in with what’s considered to be one of the better rookie hitter groups we’ve seen in a while. The only question is what happens to his playing time now that Matt Shaw has returned.

Luis Lara - OF, MIN (3% rostered)

(BATTING STANCE CHANGE, HOT STREAK)

Lara is another Brewers hitter who has made a swing change that appears to be working. Over his last 15 games, Lara is hitting .308/.345/.423 with one home run, nine runs scored, six RBI, and one steal. Now, some of that could be because the Brewers have seen so many lefties lately, but Lara could push Sal Frelick for the starting job in right field. It's a situation to monitor.

Drew Gilbert - OF, SF (1% rostered)

(POWER UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Drew Gilbert plays against all right-handed pitching and has been hitting the ball well in August with a .265/.333/.515 slash line with four home runs, 15 runs scored, and 15 RBI. He was an intriguing prospect back when the Mets traded for him a few years ago, and while it never came together in New York, the plate discipline has always been good, and there is some pop in his bat. He figures to get a long leash in San Francisco this month. Another rookie outfielder who's surging is Nathan Church - OF, STL (2% rostered), who's hitting .313/.368/.463 in 20 games in August with two home runs, nine runs scored, 14 RBI, and three steals. Another rookie on a bad team, Church figures to be in the lineup every day.

Seaver King - SS, WSN (1% rostered)

(STASH, POWER/SPEED COMBO)

A prospect with stash potential, King has 18 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a 150 wRC+ in 91 games split between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He may get an opportunity for some big-league shortstop reps, given the recent news that CJ Abrams is shifting to second base. You don't NEED to get ahead of this and stash King, but we'd add him immediately if news came that he was getting a shot

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Jacob Lopez - SP, ATH (30% rostered)

This just keeps happening, and we're having flashbacks of that insane 11-13 start stretch of tremendous production last year that Lopez was on last year. In seven starts since rejoining the rotation, he has a 2.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 29.9% strikeout rate in 38.2 innings. We know Sacramento is scary, but we also know that finding good pitchers in deeper formats is incredibly challenging. He also pitches on the road next week.

Kodai Senga - SP/RP, NYM (26% rostered)

With Devin Williams landing on the IL, Senga is the closer in New York. He has three saves in his last two weeks and really only one bad outing in a blown save against the White Sox. We know he will be volatile because he's Kodai Senga, but it's worth a look if you need saves.

Mason Montgomery - RP, PIT (26% rostered)

We thought Luke Weaver would walk into Pittsburgh and just take the closer's role. It hasn't happened. Granted, the Pirates only have five saves in August, but Montgomery has four of them, and Weaver doesn't have one. Montgomery always had elite swing-and-miss ability, so if he's now the main guy at the back of the bullpen, he needs to be added.

Joe Musgrove - SP, SD (24% rostered)

Musgrove will be returning from the IL next week after throwing 60 pitches (70% strikes) across five innings in Triple-A on Thursday. He said that he feels better than he has in two years, and his fastball velocity is up over 94 mph in his rehab outings. We'd prefer to add him and keep him on our bench for the first start, but he's worth a spec add at this point since he gets Cincinnati and Washington in his first two starts.

Ben Joyce - RP, LAA (23% rostered)

Joyce was activated off the injured list two weeks ago and has promptly taken over the closer's role. James recorded a video last week on his stuff, path to the major leagues, and potential moving forward. He's hitting 103 mph on the radar gun, and with Sammy Natera Jr. landing on the IL, it's just Joyce for saves now.

Jackson Jobe - SP, DET (21% rostered)

Listen, we know it's hard to trust Jackson Jobe. His four-seamer just isn't that great of a pitch, and he's not missing bats. That being said, he gets the Twins and Guardians in a two-start week this week, and we think you can roll the dice in 15-teamers.

Andrew Painter - SP, PHI (21% rostered)

Andrew Painter is reinventing himself, and his roster rate needs to be climbing higher than this. We now have a few starts where he has leaned on his new changeup (was previously a splitter) more than any other pitch. We also have recent starts where he changed his grip on his four-seamerand got more velocity and vertical movement than he ever had. 18 inches of iVB at 97 mph is something we can easily get behind. Eric referred to him as Cade Cavalli 2.0 for his in-season adjustments, and we'd be adding him almost everywhere right now.

Gage Jump - SP, ATH (13% rostered)

Gage Jump gets two starts on the road next week in Texas and Seattle. If not now, when? JT Ginn - SP, ATH (32% rostered) gets those same matchups. That's really the end of the analysis.

Eric Lauer - SP/RP, LAD (12% rostered)

With Roki Sasaki on the injured list, Lauer is back in the Dodgers' rotation. He gets to face the Nationals next weekend, so if you're streaming for wins, Lauer should be back on your radar.

Dean Kremer - SP, MIN (10% rostered)

The Twins are a good pitching organization. We shouldn't forget that. In four starts with the Twins, Kremer has a 3.18 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 20/8 K/BB ratio in 22.2 innings. He's your textbook 15-team streamer, and he gets Detroit next week, so we can use that matchup.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (5% rostered)

Guess who's back, back again? It turns out, Elvis had never left the building. Over the last month, Alvarado has a 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and three saves in 13 innings. He appears to be the closer again for the Athletics, and if you can stomach the risk, you can get back on this bandwagon.

Nate Pearson - RP, KC (3% rostered)

It appears we have a new closer in KC. Pearson was a top pitching prospect in Toronto, but injuries prevented him from ever breaking through as a starter. He finally got a chance as a reliever with the Cubs, and he's been bouncing around a bit, but he seems to have the 9th inning role in Kansas City now. Given his pedigree and potential strikeout upside, he's worth an add since he has a 0.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and two saves in his last 12.2 innings.

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Red Sox vs Yankees Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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Cam Schlittler has emerged as an American League Cy Young contender, and he headlines the rivalry opener as the Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees tonight. New York is the favorite at 61% on the moneyline, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.

Schlittler’s edge over Patrick Sandoval shapes my Red Sox vs. Yankees predictions, which back New York on the moneyline, lean Under the total, and target a Yankees slugger to go deep.

Read more in my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 28.

Who will win Red Sox vs Yankees today: New York Yankees (61%)

Cam Schlittler gives the New York Yankees the clearest advantage in this matchup, and the 60% probability is reasonable enough to back the Yankees despite the strong recent form from the Boston Red Sox. Schlittler enters 11-6 with a 2.16 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts. He’s the clear AL Cy Young frontrunner.

Boston counters with Patrick Sandoval, whose 4.54 ERA and 1.76 WHIP make for a much shakier profile. Opponents are batting .323 with an .866 OPS against him, and his last five starts have included 33 hits and 14 walks over just 25 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox have been one of baseball’s hottest teams since the All-Star break, but their production against right-handed pitching has dipped on the road. With Schlittler controlling traffic and the Yankees hitting lefties well at home, I’ll side with New York.

I’d play the Yankees up to about 62%.

Red Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (56%)

Schlittler’s dominance is enough to bet on a weak offensive effort from Boston and, ultimately, the Under 7.5. He has allowed just 14 home runs across 158 innings, limiting one of the quickest ways a total gets away, and his sub-1.00 WHIP makes sustained rallies hard to string together.

New York has a favorable matchup against Sandoval, but the Yankees remain without Aaron Judge and managed only one run on five hits against Houston on Thursday. That lowers their offensive ceiling enough so that the Under doesn’t need Sandoval to pitch brilliantly.

If Schlittler keeps Boston around two runs, scores like 4-2 or 5-2 stay firmly in play. At 56%, I prefer backing the stronger starter to dictate the scoring environment.

I’d play the Under up to about 58%.

Red Sox vs Yankees home run prediction: Paul Goldschmidt (22%)

Paul Goldschmidt draws one of the most favorable individual matchups in the Yankees lineup, and the 14-cent price offers roughly a 7x payout if it hits. Goldschmidt has crushed left-handed pitching this season, batting .308 with a .585 slugging mark and nine home runs in 152 plate appearances against southpaws.

The pitch-level fit is even better. Sandoval’s four-seam fastball has been hit for a .423 average and a .692 slugging mark, one of the weakest pitches in his arsenal, and Goldschmidt has hammered four-seamers for a .694 slugging mark and a +8 Statcast run value this season.

Sandoval allows plenty of hard contact to right-handed hitters, and Goldschmidt gets exactly the pitch he’s punished all year.

I’ll take the long price on his platoon power and play this up to 16% for a quarter unit.

Ethan Diamandas' 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-6 (-3.07 units)
  • Over/Under bets: 6-3 (+2.96 units)

Red Sox vs Yankees weather

Yankee Stadium is warm at 80 degrees for first pitch, with just a light 3.4 mph wind that leaves the air fairly neutral. That warmth and the park's hitter-friendly dimensions add a bit of carry, a nice backdrop for the Paul Goldschmidt home run bet.

Red Sox vs Yankees odds

  • Moneyline: Red Sox 41% | Yankees 60%
  • Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (59%) | Yankees -1.5 (42%)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (48%) | Under 7.5 (53%)

Red Sox vs Yankees trend

The Yankees have posted an .848 OPS against left-handed pitching at home over the last month, a timely statistic with Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval on the mound. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Yankees.

How to watch Red Sox vs Yankees and game info

LocationYankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
DateFriday, August 28, 2026
First pitch7:15 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Red Sox starting pitcherPatrick Sandoval
(1-2, 4.54 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcherCam Schlittler
(11-6, 2.17 ERA)

Red Sox vs Yankees latest injuries

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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Giants WR Malachi Fields' fantasy stock is rising

According to Jordan Raanan, New York Giants WR Malachi Fields could start the season as the team's No. 2 receiver. The team traded up to get him in the third round because they were infatuated with his size, physicality and ability to make contested catches. He has shown all of that in camp.

SOURCE: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan

Why It Matters: Fields is an intriguing WR5 with an ADP of 229. He could be a steal late in drafts.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants WR Malachi Fields' fantasy stock is rising

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Raiders fans are high on Cian Slone

Cian Slone
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 13: Cian Slone #48 and Jahfari Harvey #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate Sloan's sack against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter of a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 27-14. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 53-man roster is on all of our minds these days.

The team, of course, must establish its initial 53-man regular-season roster by Sunday afternoon’s NFL deadline. So, with that in mind, we dedicated our Tuesday Community Question to the subject. We asked our readers which undrafted rookie has become their favorite this preseason.

Unsurprisingly, the most popular answer was pass-rusher Cian Slone. The North Carolina State product signed with the Raiders with some excitement and he has delivered. Slone has flashed since the offseason and had a strong preseason.

He has a solid chance to make the 53-man roster and if not, he should be part of the team’s practice squad. So, good call, folks.

You can check out the comments to the post here.

Head to the comments section to share your thoughts and join the conversation. You can sign up for a commenting account below and we have full-time moderators to enforce the Community Guidelines.

Cheers and have a great weekend.

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From benched, doubted and overlooked, to Super Bowl MVP

It’s easy to simply say Jalen Hurts stinks. Not like a smelly person or anything, but bad at football. Which is a bit of a lazy read. In recent years, he hasn’t exactly fit the mold of a traditional QB and could maybe fairly be called a tush-push merchant, but those labels massively overshadow one of the league’s more unique journeys.

In college at Alabama, Hurts was on an early path to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in a storied program… and then got replaced in the 2018 National Championship. Oddly, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. While it initially put him in a dark place where he considered quitting football altogether, he learned to be patient and take advantage of the opportunities when they came. It led to a Heisman finalist recognition at the University of Oklahoma.

When he entered the league with the Philadelphia Eagles, people still doubted him. Thought to be stuck as a backup who would hardly ever see the field. He stayed cool and waited for his shot. When he got it, he thrived. Two Super Bowl appearances in three years and won it all on the second go-around, earning Super Bowl MVP. So yeah, when you factor in the journey, it’s a bit uninspired to simply call the dude trash. He’s a champion after all. So let’s look at the phases of Jalen Hurts that made him who he is.

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Alec Pierce: Week 1 is the goal

Colts receiver Alec Pierce got back to practice on Thursday, having come off the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason ankle surgery.

Pierce said after the session that he’s on schedule with the season quickly approaching.

“Yeah, Week 1 is the goal,” Pierce said, via transcript from the team. “[J]ust first time being back out here, wearing the helmet, playing with the other NFL players, right? So, it's — you got to knock a little bit of rust off, but been working in PT, been working kind of off and on with the trainers. They've been doing a good job preparing me, getting me ready.

“So, just a little different once you get back out here, get timing from Daniel [Jones] and these other NFL arms.”

Though Pierce noted he’s been ramping up throughout camp, the process of getting back on the field was still a little tough on him, mentally.

“You just got to find ways to try and stay in it because you're going to be in those meetings and stuff,” Pierce said. “It’s good to be around the guys. They kind of — they keep your spirits up and stuff because sitting and watching film and watching walk-through, watching practice, like it gets a little monotonous. You want to be out there. You want to be out there helping the team, making plays with the team, working with your brothers. But the guys have been great. They've been checking in with me. Other than just not being out there on the field, everything's been the same.”

Head coach Shane Steichen said it was great to have Pierce back on the field and the team is working to get him ready for Week 1. That’s a good sign for Pierce as he continues his process.

Last season, Pierce caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards with six touchdowns. He’s led the league in yards per reception in each of the last two years.

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Blackhawks Predicted To Finish 8th In Central Division Again

The 2026 edition of The Hockey News Yearbook is now available. Get it and more here. Included is incredible coverage of some of the game's top storylines, along with breakdowns of each team ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

For the Chicago Blackhawks, they predicted them to come in last place in the Central Division once again. Another 8th-place finish doesn't mean that they didn't improve, as an 8th-place finish a year ago was still an 11-point jump. This year, they are aiming to be in the playoff race for much longer, but it is going to be difficult. 

Part of the mountain is the division that they play in. The Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars are all legitimate threats to win the Stanley Cup. The Utah Mammoth are right there too, and this could be the year that they make that jump. 

As for the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets, there is a lot of uncertainty. However, all three of them have proven rosters that have finished ahead of Chicago for multiple years in a row. 

Unsurprisingly, Connor Bedard, Patrick Kane, Spencer Knight, and Bowen Byram are the most talked-about players when describing what could go right for Chicago. The expectation is that Kane's presence will help out all of the young players on the team, not just Bedard. With most of the roster in the early days of their careers, it is hard to project winning with so much unknown. 

Eventually, the Blackhawks are going to come out of the rebuild in the Bedard era. Whenever that is, it will come as a surprise at first. Leaders on the team like Connor Bedard, Alex Vlasic, and others have already expressed belief that they will take a step in 2026-27. Does that mean coming out of the Central Division's basement? Only time will tell. 

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This Week in Mets Quotes: Gabba Gabba Hey!

Aug 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Sports broadcaster Mike Breen (r) is interviewed by former Major League Baseball player Todd Zeile (l) prior to the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Your 2026 New York Mets: It was an interesting set of circumstances.

“[Gasser] is a low-slot lefty where the ball really rises. It was an interesting set of circumstances for them. Typically, when you lose your starter on the first pitch of the game, you get put in a much worse situation. They had Gasser [pitch] five days ago and he threw [79] pitches. [Today] was literally his [bullpen day]. Not often do you have a starter sitting in the ‘pen to take the ball. … Our lineup was optimized to face the righty today. So you had a lot of matchups that favored Gasser. We didn’t flip it.” -Interim Manager Andy Green [Mets]

Gabba gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us.

“I can’t believe I’m sitting here. I’m like a kid in a candy store. You guys have no idea how fun this has been for me tonight. I got to meet Sean Manaea, who I’m such a big fan of. I got to meet Zac Thornton, who I’m so impressed with. This is a big deal — I was on the field!” -Mike Breen [New York Post]

There’s the problem, the Mets spent the offseason putting together a team that put the ball in play but forgot to also make it a really good team.

“The challenge was, [the Brewers] are a really good team that put the ball in play. When you face a team like that, it’s rolling the dice. They are going to put the ball in play. It’s on you to make your best pitches.” -Robert Stock [Mets]

It doesn’t quite feel that way but I ran the numbers and ‘he’s had some nice starts’ and a couple ‘he’d want back’ checks out.

“We just finished up the game right now. We’ll talk about this [pitching staff] and see where our heads are at. [Robert Stock] had some nice starts for us. This is another one I’m sure he would want back.” -Interim Manager Andy Green [Mets]

You know what, Shawn Andy Green is absolutely right. I’m officially dropping the ‘interim manager’ bit.

“Everything [Lindor] has is put on the field to win a baseball game. I think we’re all cognizant of where we are [in the standings], but there was a game to be played with fans that filled the stadium — and gave a crazy roar after that play — and so you just enjoy those moments. It’s one of the reasons you play the game.” – Interim Manager Andy Green [New York Post]

No, I get by with a little help from my friends

“The team has picked me up more times than I’ve picked them up this year. So to be there for the guys, it meant a lot. I’ve been wanting to do that.” -Francisco Lindor [New York Post]

I’m gonna try with a little help from my friends

“Be the best version of myself. Be Francisco Lindor. Play as hard as I can day in and day out. Give everything I got to the guys.” -Francisco Lindor [New York Post]

Do all pitcher’s have this much introspection while they’re on the mound? Is that what Steve Trachsel was doing in-between every pitch?

“I had a moment of realization that I’m in a position where the game could end potentially with one pitch, one swing of the bat. [Senga said of his thought process on the mound.] Seeing the ball like that, it just kind of dawned on me again that that’s the type of role that I’m playing right now.” -Kodai Senga [MLB]

Luis Robert Jr. with some really nice thoughts on the Mets.

“This is a team that will always have a special place in my heart. I keep tabs of the results of the games, and I am really proud to see how they are performing this season.” -Luis Robert Jr. [New York Post]

As the only person that was kind of into Hansel Robles’ whole deal; don’t listen to him Jefry, you do you.

“Certainly, Jefry [Yan] will learn not to jump before the play is over. That’s something he’s still working through. I think the emotions of the moment got him there.” -Andy Green [MLB]

I think we’ve all given the term ‘runway’ enough runway to try to overuse a different buzzword this offseason.

“[Jared Young] always been a good hitter. This is the first time he’s gotten any runway in the big leagues, and he’s been really good. Those are the type of at-bats you have been getting. That’s a legit closer that has really good stuff and another big swing from him.” -Andy Green [New York Post]

/Count Rugen voice/ Get some rest, if you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything.

“We’ll see where [Bichette] is when he wakes up in the morning. You never really know how the ankle is until the next day. I’m hoping he is fine.” -Andy Green [Mets]

“I probably should have said something earlier. That’s just a boneheaded mistake on my side. But I am glad the results came back the way they did and it wasn’t worse. It could have been worse if I kept pitching through it.” -Austin Warren [New York Post]

“It was definitely different walking out to the pen the first night but I feel like everyone is stepping up and doing their job. That is all we can ask for right now.” -Austin Warren [New York Post]

Baseball is the best.

“[Mike Breen was working with WNBC radio during the [Mets] ’86 playoff run. And even though Hernandez was known as a great quote and a favorite of the media, Breen was still, as an early career journalist, intimidated.] I called you Mr. Hernandez, which I realize was a mistake at the time. I couldn’t tell you how intimidated I was, first off, because I was standing in front of Keith Hernandez. … You were a great quote back then, writers loved you. But I was 25, probably looked 17, and I was scared.” -Mike Breen [New York Post]

/Obligatory Jeff McNeil joke/

Let’s just say my time here moved me…TO A BIGGER HOUSE!

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Falcons vs Dolphins Preseason Watch Party

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown defended by Kendall Sheffield #41 of the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter in the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Falcons face the Dolphins in the third and final preseason game of the 2026 NFL season. Kevin Knight and Adnan Ikic bring you live coverage through all four quarters, including updates on the Falcons closest position battles, the players to watch during Friday’s game, and a whole lot more.

Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of The Falcoholic Live!

Watch the stream below or on YouTube

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Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouTube for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at falcoholiclive@gmail.com.

Thanks for watching!

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Packers Film Room, Preseason Week 2: Emptying the Notebook on the Offense

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 21: Green Bay Packers tight end Drake Dabney (49) runs after a catch in the first quarter during a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on August 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

During the season, I tend to dig into either specific plays or look at some of the bigger picture takeaways. Scheme and gameplan and blah blah blah. The preseason is different because those things don’t really matter. I’m more concerned with how individual players looked. So I watch a ton of players, taking notes and gathering clips, then look up and realize I don’t have time to write about them all. What a fool I’ve been! The week is almost over! This week I got a chance to write about Jordan Love and Trey Smack, but then it all went south on me.

So, today, we’re just doing a bit of a data dump. I’ll write about some of the players I watched on offense, throw out some notes and clips and we’ll all move on with our days. Let’s go.

Offense

Isaiah Neyor (80)

Week 1 saw Neyor as a possession receiver. A lot of stuff close to the line. He has speed (ran a 4.4 40 at the Combine), but we didn’t get a chance to see him open it up last week. He had a few snaps running deep this week. I’ll say that it didn’t look quite as explosive as Sturdivant, but his speed was on display more than we saw in week 1. He shows a solid ability to stack the corner when he gets over the top, as well.

One issue I had in Week 1 was Neyor’s blocking. He showed both a willingness to block and an understanding of where to be, but every single block attempt involved him wrapping his arms around his target. We saw some better form in that regard this week.

In the shorter area, he shows some really nice snap at the top of his routes to create separation.

Week 1 saw him working primarily outside. This week saw him in the slot a bit more, and he looked good when put there. If he’s able to improve his blocking form, working as a blocker out of the slot could be a nice spot for him.

We didn’t necessarily get a ton of flashes this week, but he continues to show a well-rounded skillset.

J. Michael Sturdivant (87)

Unlike Neyor, we pretty much only got go routes from Sturdivant in Week 1. His explosion/speed was on full display, but we didn’t see much more than that. This week we got a little more, with Sturdivant showing good, sharp breaks at the top of his shorter routes.

This is something that could really serve him well with more room to work: threaten with his speed, then break off a route.

In this next clip, you can see him attacking the outside shoulder of the defender before snapping back inside. Unfortunately, this is the play he was injured on, so there were limited snaps for Sturdivant this week.

We did get to see a bit of blocking, and the process looked much better than we had previously seen. In Week 1, he was tentative and didn’t always seem to know where he was supposed to be as the play unfolded. This week he attacked the blocking much better.

Drake Dabney (49)

I thought Dabney looked much more comfortable this week. Locked down some of his blocking assignments, and was at the very least a general nuisance when he wasn’t locking up. He knew where to be and wasn’t shy about engaging. Has a little movement as a receiver as well. Not necessarily a field-stretching type of guy, but there might be a little more here than I had previously thought.

McCallan Castles (47)

Looked a lot like Dabney in terms of his approach, but didn’t work quite as well as a receiver. Of the two, I’d certainly prefer Dabney at this point, but Castles showed some nice things as a blocker.

Jager Burton (52)

I didn’t get a chance to highlight Burton on all of these clips. Apologies.

If you’ve seen one clip of Burton this week, it’s this one. And it’s a good one. He’s working as left guard, going against Zach Allen. Burton has good drive off the line, controls the rep and ends up burying Allen. Tremendous rep.

I’m also a sucker for a young guy who is always looking for work. As the rep goes on Burton doesn’t have anyone to block, so he puts a shoulder into #96.

You can also see his strength as he drives as part of a double team. He keeps driving through the whistle, which is always something I like to see.

Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. We saw him win against Zach Allen earlier. Here, he very much does not do that. Allen gets into Burton’s body and easily sheds the block attempt to hit Lloyd.

Down in the low red zone, he fires off and gets out over his skis quickly, allowing #98 to control the rep and easily shed the block.

Burton has showed some really nice stuff that makes me believe he will be a good player, but it doesn’t seem like he’s ready just yet. There are too many reps of him getting overpowered or controlled through the entire rep. Other times it seems like he’s fine, but the defensive lineman is just holding him in place until he needs to shed.

Burton also got beat multiple times by an inside swim move. His recovery move was to turn and lunge with his arms wide, which feels like offensive holding waiting to happen.

Albums listened to: Pedro the Lion – It’s Hard to Find a Friend; Dolly Parton – Ultimate Dolly Parton

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Bears Question of the Day: Which Historical Roster Cut Stung the Most?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 26: Trevis Gipson #99 of the Chicago Bears celebrates with Terrell Lewis #52 after forcing a fumble against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 26, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chicago Bears fans are some of the most loyal fans you will ever find. We love our players, and that includes backups, undrafted free agents, practice squad players, and even former players (we miss you, DJ!) But one thing I have noticed about emotions is that the highs are matched by the lows. No better reminder of that than roster cuts. Right?!

With teams required to make cuts to get down to 53-man rosters this Sunday at 5:00 pm CST, it got me thinking about which players I hope make the cut. Then my mind went to which cut stands out above the rest over the years, which is my question to you all!

Since you have been a fan of the Bears, which roster cut was the hardest one to witness?

A few camp legends come to mind. Devin Aromashadu, who eventually made the team at WR, as did another camp hero, Dane Sanzenbacher, but others like OLB James Vaughters were not so lucky. Terrell Lewis is another whom I thought earned his roster spot, only to get released at cutdown day, with Trevis Gipson soon to follow. Tanner Gentry, Daniel Braverman, MyCole Pruitt, Armanti Edwards, Tom Zbikowski, Harvey Unga, Josh Beekman, Brandon Rideau, and even our own Ryan Poles were also notable cuts at the end of camp.

But the hardest one for me to stomach was Terrell Lewis in 2023.

We entered that year with a glaring hole at edge rusher despite signing free-agent Yannick Ngakoue that offseason to a 1-year, $10.5 million deal and eventually trading a future 2nd-round pick for Montez Sweat. But why cut Lewis? He was on fire that pre-season and led the league in sacks and forced fumbles. He would go on to practice for the Eagles but not play another down professionally, so clearly Chicago wasn’t the only one to deem him unworthy of a roster spot, but man – he was looking good for us all camp.

What about you? Who comes to mind as far as one of the most difficult roster cuts of all time?

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Rams’ snap counts in preseason finale indicates decisions for Wesley Bailey, Nick Andersen

Inglewood, - August 22: Linebacker Wesley Bailey (47) of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a New Orleans Saints fumble in the second half of a NFL preseason football game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, August 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The playing time for edge rusher Wesley Bailey and safety Nick Andersen in Saturday’s preseason win over the Chargers could indicate that the two undrafted free agents will make Sean McVay’s final 53-man roster. Bailey was pulled from the game after only two snaps, while Andersen only played in eight snaps. Historically, the less that McVay wants to see of you in the preseason, the better.

This should leave McVay with very few unknown bubble decisions, although several of the names in consideration for not making the roster could surprise fans, such as Stetson Bennett and C.J. Daniels.

A week ago, we highlighted the players who either had not played in the preseason at all or who had been held out of the second game after playing in the first. By all accounts, every single one of those decisions by McVay does indicate that the player is making the roster, with the exception of cornerback Zech McPhearson, who was released due to injury.

But while there was pushback on why some players sat out, like Ronnie Rivers, a running back who the majority of fans wanted to see cut in favor of Jarquez Hunter, McVay reiterated how important Rivers is to him because of “trust”. Then Hunter was traded to the Dolphins for Tutu Atwell, clearing the way for Rivers and opening the door for Atwell to make the roster out of left field.

A field once thought to be occupied by Daniels.

Rams notable snap counts vs. Chargers

Per PFF, here are some key snap decisions by McVay on defense:

  • LB Nikhai Green-Hill, 49 snaps
  • EDGE Tomon Fox, 45 snaps
  • CB AZ Hamilton, 42 snaps
  • EDGE Darryl Peterson, 42 snaps
  • CB Cam Lampkin, 36 snaps
  • DT Bill Norton, 30 snaps
  • DT Payton Zdroik, 27 snaps
  • DT Larrell Murchison, 26 snaps
  • DT Tim Keenan, 24 snaps
  • S Nick Andersen, 8 snaps
  • EDGE Wesley Bailey, 2 snaps

That’s not the complete list. It just indicates that McVay didn’t want to see a lot of Anderson or Bailey, but he did want to give those snaps to players like Peterson, Fox, and Tanner Ingle and Alex Cook.

As of last week, there were 21 defensive players held out of the preseason game against the Saints, not including McPhearson.

If we add in Andersen and Bailey, that makes 23. There aren’t many more players on a defensive roster than that. Maybe 2.

Here were some key snap decisions on offense:

  • OT AJ Arcuri, 74 snaps
  • OL Austin Blaske, 74 snaps
  • OL Bryce Henderson, 74 snaps
  • G Wyatt Bowles, 74 snaps
  • WR Brennan Presley, 53 snaps
  • QB Ty Simpson, 48 snaps
  • TE Max Klare, 41 snaps
  • RB Dean Connors, 38 snaps
  • WR CJ Daniels, 34 snaps

Last time we did this, 19 players were held out on offense, with Xavier Smith joining the group in preseason week 2.

So if you take 19 and you add in obvious “made it” candidates Simpson and Klare, that adds up to 21. If the team keeps Tutu Atwell and Xavier Smith (they are similar, but not the same, as Atwell is not a known punt returner), that makes 22.

Do the math:

  • 23 on defense
  • 22 on offense
  • 3 on special teams

That’s already 48 players, leaving only five available spots.

This is a list of 48 that does not include:

  • Bennett
  • Daniels
  • Connors
  • Blaske
  • Arcuri
  • Keenan
  • Lampkin
  • Keagen Trost

Unless Trost is placed on IR, he will also be on the 53-man roster. That would only leave four spots.

If the Rams keep Daniels, in addition to the ones already mentioned, that would be seven wide receivers. Not only would it be seven receivers, it would be seven receivers on a team that has five tight ends.

And if the team keeps Bennett and Connors, it’s an offense with three quarterbacks, four running backs, seven receivers, and five tight ends. A little unusual.

However, if A.J Jackson and Puka Nacua are suspended, then McVay has to keep two additional offensive players on the roster anyway. It’s a bit strange that the NFL hasn’t announced anything on that this close to the season.

Barring that though, it’s hard to see how the Rams can keep every player who outsiders think they should keep or will keep. Certainly C.J. Daniels is 100% on the bubble and not a lock to make the team. He may be the one most “hopeful”, if you can call it that, that Nacua is suspended.

Bennett is taking a roster spot from someone else, if Ty Simpson is named as the backup.

Blaske would be an 11th offensive lineman, which is a luxury teams can usually only afford if they don’t have high numbers at every other offensive position.

So what’s it going to be?

The Rams had good news for Bailey and Andersen with how little they played on Thursday. They can only give out so much more good news in the next couple of days.

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Astros vs. Mets prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 28

Following their series win over the Yankees, the Houston Astros (67-67) travel across town to open a weekend series tonight against the New York Mets (60-74). Houston holds a one-game lead over the Rangers and a three-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West while the Mets continue to hold down the cellar in the NL East.

 

The Astros arrive in Queens after a 5-1 series-clinching win last night over the Yankees. three-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees. Hayden Wesneski allowed a single run over five innings to pick up his fourth win in five decisions while Jeremy Pena and Christian Walker each went yard to lead the offense. The Mets enter Friday's opener after dropping the final two games in their three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The offense was non-existent for the entire series scoring just six total runs. The pitching failed the last two days allowing 16 runs. Jacob Misiorowski was more than good enough for the Brewers yesterday, allowing a couple of runs over six innings. The Mets totaled three hits for the game.

 

Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.51 ERA) takes the ball for the Astros tonight. Shoulder issues have limited Brown this season to just 14 starts but his last two have met the expectations the Astros have for their ace. In 10.2 innings, the righthander has struck out nine and allowed three runs. Houston, though, lost both those games and have in fact lost each of his last four starts. The Mets are sending Christian Scott (4-3, 3.73) to the mound. The Mets have won the righthander’s last four starts despite so-so outings by Scott. Last Saturday against the White Sox, Scott lasted just 4.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits. The week before he allowed three runs over 6.1 innings against the Nationals.

 

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: Astros vs. Mets

 

  • Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: New York, NY
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, SCHN, SNY

 

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: Astros vs. Mets – August 28

The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Houston Astros (-105), New York Mets (-102)   
  • Spread: Astros -1.5 (+144), Mets +1.5 (-175)
  • Total: 8.0 runs

 

Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Astros vs. Mets for August 28

  • Astros: Hunter Brown
    Season Totals: 74.1 IP, 3-3, 3.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 76K, 43 BB
  • Mets: Christian Scott
    Season Totals: 89.1 IP, 4-3, 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 111K, 39 BB

 

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Astros vs. Mets

  • Luis Robert Jr. is 5-12 in his career against Hunter Brown
  • Each time Brown has retired Robert Jr. has been via strikeout
  • Marcus Semien is 12-25 against Brown
  • Carson Benge saw his 6-game hitting streak snapped in the series finale against Milwaukee
  • A.J. Ewing had his 4-game hitting streak snapped Thursday as well
  • Christian Scott has struck out 6+ hitters in his last 7 starts and 7+ in  4 of the 7
  • Hunter Brown has struck out 4+ hitters in 8 straight starts
  • Jose Altuve is hitting .304 (24-79) in August
  • Christian Walker’s HR last night was just his 2nd of the month

 

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: Astros vs. Mets

  • The Mets are 61-73 on the Run Line this season
  • The Astros are 66-68 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 60 times in games involving New York this season (60-64-10)
  • The OVER has cashed 70 times in games involving the Astros this season (70-58-6)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Astros vs. Mets for August 28

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Astros:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Astros on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

 

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
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Video evidence only backs battery charges against Packers star Josh Jacobs

A closeup of Josh Jacobs running on a football field without a helmet
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers mandatory minicamp in June. (John Fisher / Getty Images)

Three months after Josh Jacobs was arrested on five charges relating to domestic abuse, the Green Bay Packers star running back on Thursday was formally charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

The Brown County (Wis.) District Attorney’s Office released an incident report that asserts that video footage taken inside Jacobs’ garage corroborates the altercation the alleged victim described. However, a felony and four misdemeanor charges pertaining to domestic violence were dropped.

Jacobs’ legal team led by David Z. Chesnoff issued a statement: “The Brown County District Attorney has reviewed evidence and elected to file misdemeanor charges against Josh that do not include domestic violence. The allegations will be addressed in court, and not in the media. Mr. Jacobs respects the District Attorney’s office and the process it followed.”

The report states that on the morning of May 23, police were dispatched to Jacobs’ home near Green Bay because of a disturbance between Jacobs and a woman described as his girlfriend.

The woman told officers she had a lump on her head as a result of a physical struggle with Jacobs. She said she became upset after looking through Jacobs’ phone and seeing he had been talking to other women. Jacobs had her phone, and she told Jacobs he could look through it, but when she tried to take back her phone, he grabbed her arm and she ended up on the floor.

According to the report, the video shows that Jacobs followed her to the garage. When she attempted to exit, Jacobs grabbed her, threw her to the ground and she struck her head. The woman lay on the ground before standing and walking into the house.

Read more:How an alleged fake 49ers wideout wooed women and took $1.3 million: ‘That’s Google, not me’

The report stated that a responding officer observed redness on the woman’s face and neck and felt the bump on the back of her head.

Retrieving relevant video from the surveillance system in the garage “was complex and took several weeks,” according to the report. Surveillance footage “corroborates the relevant portions of [the alleged victim’s] statements” that occurred in the garage but “does not depict any portion of the incident that is alleged to have occurred inside the residence.”

The day of the incident, Jacobs was charged with felony strangulation and suffocation, and four misdemeanors pertaining to domestic abuse. However, he was released from jail the next day because the District Attorney’s office said it found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

Three months later, that changed, although neither of the Class A misdemeanors filed Thursday mentioned domestic abuse. Jacobs would be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 and not more than nine months in jail if he is convicted.

“Our office sought to ensure a fair and complete review of available evidence, some of which only recently became available to our office due to significant, ongoing forensic efforts by law enforcement,” Brown County District Attorney David L. Lasee said in a statement. “A criminal complaint is nothing more than a written, formal accusation against a defendant alleging the commission of criminal offenses and does not raise any inference of guilt. Mr. Jacobs is presumed innocent of these charges.”

The Packers and the NFL both issued statements saying only that they are monitoring the developments and will cooperate with law enforcement.

Jacobs has been one of the top running backs in the NFL since he was drafted out of Alabama in the first round by the Raiders in 2019. He signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers as a free agent after the 2023 season.

Jacobs, 28, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in four of his seven NFL seasons and last year rushed for 929 yards despite missing two games with a knee injury.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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10 fascinating Eagles questions as training camp ends

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 15: Jihaad Campbell #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles lines up before the snap during an NFL preseason football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fantasy football drafts have been set. The preseason games are almost over. Training camp is done.

Yep, the 2026 NFL season is nearly here, and your Philadelphia Eagles are once again a contender.

Are they the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl and/or win it? Nope. But that’s OK. It’s always better to fly under the radar. We do know that this Eagles roster is stacked with really good players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, featuring a potential top-five unit.

Offensively, there are questions, and there will be struggles. But it was time for this scheme to evolve, so it’s fun anticipating what it all may look like once the regular season begins.

Still, there are a number of questions as yet unanswered as training camp winds down. Here are 10 of the more fascinating ones.

1) Who is the backup QB?

Or perhaps an even more fascinating question… “Is the Eagles’ backup QB for 2026 currently on the roster?”

The “battle” between incumbent No. 2 Tanner McKee and veteran ginger Andy Dalton has not been a scintillating one. Dalton appeared to be getting more run as Jalen Hurts’ backup this summer, but McKee appeared to outplay him during his more limited action. Neither QB bathed themselves in glory though, and given the fact Dalton appeared to be the front-runner for most of training camp, it’s fair to wonder how much faith the organization has lost in McKee following his lackluster performance in Week 18 last season.

In an ideal scenario, one of these players will be traded after the team’s final preseason game. I would keep McKee over Dalton. There’s more upside there. But if Howie Roseman doesn’t feel good about either player, perhaps a long-rumored trade for Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy or Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson will come to fruition.

2) Can Saquon Barkley lead your fantasy team’s RBs?

Last year, I picked Barkley No. 2 overall in my fantasy draft. I finished in 11th place in a 12-team league.

The two were related.

No one expected Barkley to repeat his 2,005 yard performance from 2024, but a drop from 125.3 yards per game to 71.3 wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. The offensive line was banged up all year and the playcalling and scheme did no one any favors, either.

So we’re all curious to see how Barkley will do in a Sean Mannion offense with a healthy offensive line. If you draft Barkley as your RB1, are you doomed to failure like I was a year ago?

3) Which receiver finishes with the 2nd-most yards?

Barring a disaster (or a breakout performance, I suppose), DeVonta Smith is going to be this team’s leader in receiving yards. But who will be No. 2?

The Ringer’s Philly Special spent the last couple of podcasts asking this question and it made me want to weigh in, too. Based on the preseason, it would appear Dontayvion Wicks is the most likely answer. He looked elusive and quick and is familiar with Mannion and what he’s likely to do. He’s also likely to get a lot of snaps, probably as the team’s slot receiver to start.

Makai Lemon will enter the season as the No. 2, but he missed most of the summer with a hamstring injury. Will he be able to ramp it up and develop enough chemistry with Hurts in a short amount of time to emerge as the team’s second-leading receiver? Rookie receivers rarely have that kind of immediate immpact. And what about camp superstar Darius Cooper? Is he capable of making a “leap?”

And don’t forget tight end Dallas Goedert, who made 15 starts for the first time in his NFL career a season ago, finishing with 591 yards and a career-high 11 TDs. How will Mannion’s offense affect his productivity? Health will be a major factor.

My money is on Wicks.

4) How many starts does Markel Bell make?

The rookie third-round pick has been one of the most impressive new players in camp this year and it sure does look like the team has found its eventual Lane Johnson replacement. For 2026, he’ll enter the season as the team’s swing tackle, and while I’m optimistic about the health of Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, I say that every year. And every year, one of the tackles misses time.

I think we have to pencil Bell in for at least two starts at one of the tackle spots, and if Johnson or Mailata is out for longer, he’s going to be the guy to get those reps, not veteran Fred Johnson. I’m excited to see more of Bell, but hopefully it doesn’t come this year at the expense of either of the team’s Pro Bowl offensive tackles.

5) Is the Eagles’ No. 2 TE currently on the roster?

Goedert will be the starter, but he’s also an injury-prone, 31-year-old tight end. The team drafted Eli Stowers in the second round of the draft hoping he’d be TE2, but his well-documented summer struggles have torpedoed those chances. Right now, run-blocking specialist Johnny Mundt is the No. 2, and if Goedert were to go down, there would be absolutely zero pass-catching options at the tight end position.

In a recent Philly Voice post, Jimmy Kempski noted the Rams appear to have a few too many tight ends on the roster and that one of them could be had in a trade, with Davis Allen mentioned as the most obvious candidate. Earlier in the off-season, former Eagle-turned-Cardinal-turned-Commander Zach Ertz expressed a desire to return to Philadelphia. He has recovered from a devastating knee injury at the end of 2024 and believes he can still play. Other names in the ether, more likely to be dealt at the trade deadline, are Carolina’s Ja’Tavion Sanders, Denver’s Evan Engram and Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts.

6) When will Jonathan Greenard be back?

The Eagles’ biggest off-season acquisition has missed the entire summer with a pec injury that landed him on the PUP list, and NFL insider Adam Schefter said this week he’s unlikely to play in Week 1.

Thankfully, the Eagles are pretty deep on the defensive line, but edge rusher was an area of uncertainty as the off-season began and, without Greenard, they’re lacking one big pass rusher. Also, how long will it take Greenard to get into game shape and perform at his normal levels of production when he does return?

Greenard should not return until he’s fully healthy, even if he misses the first month. No one wants him to come back too soon and play at a sub-optimal level, like we saw with Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson a year ago.

7) Who will lead the Eagles in sacks?

Jalyx Hunt had perhaps the best training camp of anyone on the roster and, with Greenard hurting, he could be the guy. But he’s not the only candidate.

Nolan Smith is finally healthy to start the season and is looking to have a big campaign in the final year of his rookie deal. And on the inside, Jalen Carter, with a big-money contract extension tucked under his very large arms, looks exceedingly good right now, too. It’s harder for tackles to pile up as many sacks as edge rushers, but Carter’s immense talent automatically makes him a possible exception to that rule.

My money is on Hunt, with Greenard piling up some sacks late in the season once he returns.

8) Are we sleeping on Jihaad Campbell?

The talk this summer has been centered on the emergence of Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. as a starting-caliber linebacker in the NFL. That’s a wonderful development and a fantastic legacy story, but are we sleeping on Campbell?

Remember, Campbell was a first round pick and had all the hype in the world at this time last year. Opposing players were cursing that the Eagles had landed a player with the kind of potential impact Campbell has. He understandably moved to the bench last season when Nakobe Dean was ready to play, but with all the attention everyone else on the defense is getting, Campbell has the potential to be a sneaky impact player on this roster.

And, if he isn’t, Trotter, Jr. is there ready for his time in the sun.

9) Are the Eagles suddenly deep at safety?

I had the safety position as the second-weakest area of the team heading into training camp (after wide receiver), but I am changing my tune on this unit. Andrew Mukuba is a second-year player who has, by all accounts, improved and appears destined to snag one of the two starting spots. Veteran Marcus Epps provides a high floor as the other starting safety, but one pleasant surprise has been Michael Carter’s transition from slot corner to safety.

The Eagles suddenly have three safeties who appear capable of starting, something I didn’t foresee when training camp rolled around.

10) Can Jake Elliott get it together for one more season?

The player on the roster I am perhaps the most cynical about is the franchise’s greatest all-time kicker, Jake Elliott.

No one has been a better kicker in the clutch than Jake, and he will one day deservedly enter the team’s Hall of Fame. But Elliott simply can’t do it anymore.

Sure, he’ll knock in 95% of his kicks from inside 45 yards, but in a league where kickers are nailing more 55-65 yard field goals, Elliott’s lack of length is a big problem. It’s confounding that the Eagles didn’t bring in some competition this summer. I don’t get it.

Maybe he has one more good season in him. But for the last two regular seasons, he’s been a well below average NFL kicker. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, they should have tried to do better.