The Cincinnati Reds will try to make it two in a row at home tonight as they host the New York Mets at the Great American Ball Park.
Both pitchers are having rough years, but there’s more reason for hope with Kodai Senga, which is why I’m taking New York to win in my Mets vs. Reds predictions.
Keep reading to see why I like the Mets, and get the rest of my free MLB picks for Tuesday, June 16.
Who will win Mets vs Reds today: Mets moneyline (-124)
While both pitchers have struggled this season, I can envision New York Mets starter Kodai Senga having a strong outing.
Senga gets whiffs on 29% of swings, a necessary tool against a Cincinnati Reds lineup that barrels up balls 10.3% of the time, the second-best rate in the majors.
Reds starter Brady Singer has an xERA of 5.80, and is striking out just 16.7% of batters. He isn’t fooling anyone, getting batters to chase only 27.6% of the time.
Analytically, Singer has been among the worst starters in the majors this season.
Even in a disappointing season, Senga’s forkball does present a unique challenge, and the Reds have yet to face the pitch — which Senga throws 23% of the time — this season. Senga looked strong in his final minor league start, allowing just one run and one hit in six innings.
These teams are well below league average in run production, and I’m happy to take the Under at 9 runs or more.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-16, -3.84 units
Over/Under bets: 10-17, -7.59 units
Mets vs Reds odds
Moneyline: Mets -124 | Reds +106
Run line: Mets -1.5 | Reds +1.5
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Mets vs Reds trend
The Reds are 0-7 straight up in Singer’s last seven starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Reds.
How to watch Mets vs Reds and game info
Location
Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
Date
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, Reds.TV
Mets starting pitcher
Kodai Senga (0-4, 9.00 ERA)
Reds starting pitcher
Brady Singer (2-6, 5.61 ERA)
Mets vs Reds latest injuries
Mets vs Reds weather
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ST. LOUIS — San Diego pitcher Ron Marinaccio was issued a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for hitting Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson shortly before the end of the Padres’ 9-3 victory over the Orioles.
Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations, concluded that Marinaccio intentionally hit Henderson with the pitch.
Padres manager Craig Stammen was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount in connection with that same play, Hill announced.
While Stammen elected to serve his suspension on Monday night, when San Diego visited St. Louis, Marinaccio chose to appeal. Hill said Marinaccio will be eligible to keep playing until his appeal process is complete.
Marinaccio hit Henderson with the first pitch of an at-bat, which occurred with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and San Diego leading by six.
Marinaccio was ejected, and Stammen came out to argue and was tossed, too.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MARCH 30: Manager Matt Quatraro #33 of the Kansas City Royals and general manager and president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo talk in the dugout prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on March 30, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To get back to .500, the Royals would have to win about 58 percent of their remaining games. The current list of teams playing at or above that rate includes the Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Brewers, and Rays. Last season, only four teams finished the year above that level. Can the Royals be a top-five team over the next 90 games? I think the answer is an emphatic no. With injuries to multiple position players, as well as members of the rotation and bullpen, there is no reason to believe this season is going to get back on track. That means it is time to plan for the future, and there are several things that need to happen to salvage something from 2026.
Decide where these players belong
Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone are the two biggest names in this group. I like Matthew’s post on Vinnie, and I think I would go even further. Moving Jac back to first base immediately after Pasquantino went down says to me that the organization does not see him as the right fielder for the next half-decade. He has some range issues and is a large human being, so despite his arm, I think Cags should be viewed as the first baseman of the next contending Royals team. It may be that the Royals see it that way, too. That leads to some not-so-fun discussions about how to handle the fan-favorite cryptid who has been at first base for most of this season.
Next for me are Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and Luinder Avila. Do any – or all – of these guys need to end up in the bullpen? I do not know when, or if, Ragans and Bubic will return, but if they do, it might be time to consider their fragility a reason to take them out of the rotation. They know more than I do about each player’s health prospects, but their histories at this point make a reduced workload at least worth considering if it helps keep them on the field and maximize their value.
Avila is a different story. He is still not established, and I think he will eventually end up in the bullpen. For now, though, they have the luxury of using him as a starter for the rest of this season to see if he can figure it out. Let him start until he proves he can’t. Two of his last three trips out there showed some promise, though there are still walk-rate issues. Yesterday certainly pointed to some problems.
John Rave, Kameron Misner, and anyone else in the high minors whom the team thinks deserves a shot need to get one. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte need to spend as much time on the bench as possible. Even if they build some trade value, bench bats do not bring back blue-chip prospects. Rave deserves one more shot. Misner is probably a fourth outfielder at best, but they might as well make sure. Matthew Lugo? Peyton Wilson? Now is the time to give them an audition if there is any chance they could turn into solutions.
Trade deadline prioritization
Trading needs to be about maximizing the return this year, in my opinion, not maximizing the return with regard to 2027. I know they want to compete next year, and the Bobby Witt Jr. clock is ticking. However, the best prospects in the farm system are all in A-ball. Justin Lamkin may be a significant part of the 2027 team, so there might be some help on the way, but not much. The goal should be to restock the farm system at all levels, not just target players on the cusp of reaching the majors.
The Royals have players other teams will want in Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bubic if healthy, Daniel Lynch IV, John Schreiber, and perhaps a few others. None of those players is likely to bring back a Top 100 prospect, so targeting lower-level players with higher risk and higher ceilings makes more sense this season.
Accountability established
Last season started horribly and was partially salvaged. This season started horribly and has completely flown off the rails. Someone is to blame. They cannot run this entire management team back. This type of evaluation should be happening all the time anyway, but in this case, I do not think you can sell fans on the idea that everyone is doing a great job and should be retained. Some people need to be fired—or reassigned, if the organization still values them.
Alec Zumwalt is the only one who, for me, 100 percent needs to be in a different position. He is five years into running the hitting program with very little to show for it. Bobby Witt Jr. is the only smashing success of his tenure, and I think he would have succeeded anywhere under any hitting coach. I would give Zumwalt the most credit for Maikel Garcia, who is now an everyday player, though he is not even close to last year’s level at the moment. Vinnie has gotten worse over time. Caglianone might be headed in the right direction, but Carter Jensen is not.
Then there is the laundry list of failures, including MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, and others. There are other coaches who might need to go as well. I know a lot of you have Matt Quatraro as the head that most needs to roll, but they need to change something, and they need to get it right.
The Royals cannot fix everything in one summer, but they can use the next three months to answer some important questions. If 2026 is going to be a lost season, the least they can do is make sure it is not a wasted one.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: Fans celebrate an Atlanta Braves score during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
70 out of 162 games down, and it’s safe to say the 2026 Atlanta Braves (46-24) have been a much-needed balm after the last few years of underperformance. The injury bug and occasional offensive outages are still lingering, but the divisional cushion and current position atop MLB make it hard to complain.
The first round of All-Star voting hasn’t even concluded yet (braves.com/vote, btw) and we’ve already had some incredible moments to look back on. Including, but not limited to:
THE Big Dom Smith Moment to date, his walkoff grand slam on opening weekend
Walt Weiss on the West Coast with the form tackle heard ‘round the world
Three (3) separate instances of Michael Harris II pinch-hit heroics
Ronald Acuña Jr.’s second HR of the season sailing over the Green Monster for a grand slam
Matt Olson’s first walk-off as a Brave
I went with a family member to their first Braves game since they moved from Turner Field to Truist Park recently and got to hear some of their favorite game moments and experiences in the old ballpark. I, in turn, got to share some of the homers I’ve been lucky enough to see with my own eyes (Ronald’s 40th to make it 40/40, his first pitch back from injury last year, etc).
We asked the good people of Battery Power for some of their in-person highlights and favorite moments, and the Feed delivered some gems.
Nothing like October baseball
Cheers for Chipper
Not wins, but special all the same
Literal history
In the immortal words of dril: “the crack of the bat. the scent of a verdant field. The excitement of the crowd. These are the things that piss base ball fans off the most”
Funny and somewhat true, we also love all those things (and miss them dearly from fall to February). In what non-baseball enjoyers call a “grind”, we see heroes and villains rise and fall, witness feats of athleticism previously unseen, and partake in a pastime rich with history and memory. Thanks for sharing yours with us, Braves Country – we hope there’s many more exciting ones to come for Atlanta this year and beyond.
It’s another loaded slate on the diamond Tuesday, June 16, and my favorite MLB same-game parlay predictions begin at the top of the docket with the Philadelphia Phillies topping the Miami Marlins.
My top MLB picks wrap up in the late window with the Athletics set to run up the score on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park tonight.
I’m also expecting Philly stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to lead the way offensively. Schwarber has teed off on righties to the tune of a .380 wOBA and .319 ISO, and Harper has been every bit as good with respective .415 and .301 marks.
The Mets rank eighth in baseball in xwOBA over the past two weeks, after all, and New York star Juan Soto has been automatic against righties with a .420 wOBA and .290 ISO since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.
Still, Singer has picked up five or more strikeouts in four of his past six starts with his strikeout percentage climbing to 20.9% after posting a 13.1% mark through his first seven outings, so I'd recommend this SGP down to +400.
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.
Looking to help those in need and score free Pittsburgh Pirates tickets while you're at it? This week, you're in luck.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding their 30th annual blood drive June 16 through June 18, with additional dates to donate blood scheduled in August. Those who donate will get ticket vouchers for upcoming Pirates games.
When is the Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 blood drive?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding a blood drive several days this week, with additional dates scheduled in August. Here's when you can stop by PNC Park's press conference room to donate:
Tuesday, June 16: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 18: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Do I need an appointment to donate at the Pittsburgh Pirates blood drive?
Walk-ins are welcome, but it's recommended to schedule an appointment to donate blood. You can register ahead of time through the Pirates' website.
What games do I get tickets for if I donate blood at the Pirates blood drive?
Blood donors will get a voucher for two tickets for regular home season games, with the exception of Friday and Saturday games.
The voucher can be redeemed online at the Pittsburgh Pirates' website.
Where do Pittsburgh Pirates blood drive donations go?
The Pirates partnered with Vitalant, a nonprofit organization that collects blood from volunteer donors and then provides those donations to hospitals around the country.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Mets vs. Reds - Over 9.5
Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket
Let's take the Over at Great American Ballpark, which grades out as the second-best park for runs today, per Ballpark Pal, aided by a bit of wind blowing out to left field.
The Cincinnati Reds hung a 12-pack in the opener last night and could keep the offense rolling against New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, who is making his first start since a spine/arm injury.
Senga was getting crushed before landing on the IL, allowing 17 runs over his final 8 1/3 innings across three starts. His fly ball rate has also spiked this season, which is never ideal in this park.
On the other side, Brady Singer owns one of the worst HR/FB rates in baseball, and his 4.9 K/9 at home is a massive drop from his 8.3 K/9 mark on the road. THE BAT projections make this fair closer to -164 with 11.82 projected runs.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNY, Reds.TV
Jon Metler's expert pick: Cardinals moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
One team has the star power and the bigger names, but the other side is offering the value.
The St. Louis Cardinals are trading at 52 cents, while I make them closer to 56, giving us enough edge to back them in this spot. Michael King takes the mound for the San Diego Padres, and he leans heavily on his sweeping slider, which generates a ton of horizontal movement and is particularly effective against right-handed hitters.
The problem for King is that St. Louis is expected to feature five left-handed bats, and that slider tends to break into their barrels rather than away from them. I also love the way the Cardinals are constructed offensively. Their ability to alternate left-handed and right-handed hitters throughout the lineup makes it difficult for a pitcher like King to establish a rhythm.
With the handedness constantly changing from one at-bat to the next, King's pitch sequencing and location become more difficult to establish, limiting the effectiveness of his best weapon while creating a favorable matchup for St. Louis.
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
How to watch: TBS
Neil Parker's expert pick: Mets moneyline
Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket
Singer has surrendered the second-highest blast contact rate with the seventh-highest xERA among starters with at least 50 innings this season, so I’m anticipating an improving Mets offense to have success at the dish tonight.
The Mets rank eighth in baseball in xwOBA over the past two weeks, after all, and Senga was in complete command while fanning nine batters across six innings in his latest rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNY, Reds.TV
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Pirates vs. A's Over 10.5
Price: 54¢ (-117) at Polymarket
Everything points toward a slugfest tonight at Sutter Health Park.
Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller is in the middle of a brutal stretch, allowing 18 earned runs across his last three starts while carrying an ugly 8.70 ERA over his last six outings.
The A’s counter with Jack Perkins, who's primarily worked out of the bullpen. He owns a 6.20 ERA and hasn’t pitched beyond 4 2/3 innings all season. That’s bad news, with both bullpens also struggling, each posting ERAs north of six over the last two weeks.
Add in an A’s offense ranked second in OPS during those two weeks, Pittsburgh’s 15-4 Over run, and 10 mph winds blowing out, and the Over is the clear play.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBC Sports California
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.
Jun 14, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) bats during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
We’re back with another Reacts Survey, and this week we’re asking fans about the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia!
While it seems all but guaranteed that we’ll see Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski in the big game, we’re wondering which other Brewer you’d most like to see make an appearance. We’ve narrowed it down to fellow starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfielder Jackson Chourio, second baseman Brice Turang, first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers, and catcher William Contreras.
Harrison, 24, is putting together the best year of his career, as he’s totaled 65 2/3 innings over 13 starts for Milwaukee, pitching to a 2.47 ERA, 3.05 FIP, and 80 strikeouts — and that’s including a blow-up appearance where he allowed eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the A’s in Las Vegas.
Chourio, 22, missed the first month-plus of the season, but he’s been better than ever since returning, as he’s hitting .322/.370/.572 with nine homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs, 27 runs, and five steals across 35 games. He’s also fresh off an NL Player of the Week selection, as he slugged five homers and drove in at least one run in each of Milwaukee’s six games.
Turang, 26, got out to a red-hot start but has cooled off a bit in recent weeks. Even so, he’s hitting .261/.378/.457 with 10 homers, 14 doubles, 42 RBIs, 53 runs, and 12 steals across 65 games while also providing above-average defense. After finishing in 14th place in last year’s MVP voting, it only seems deserving that he should be an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Bauers, 30, is having a bit of a breakout year, as he has 1.7 bWAR over 60 games, easily the best mark of his career. He’s hitting .276/.374/.519 with 13 homers, 12 doubles, 46 RBIs, 40 runs, and five steals, as he’s started to make a few more starts in the outfield as Pat Murphy tries to get both him and the red-hot Andrew Vaughn in the lineup.
Finally, Contreras, 28, continues to be a leader on this young Brewer squad. While he has just 1.3 bWAR, he’s still hitting .295/.352/.411 with six homers, 12 doubles, 43 RBIs, 39 runs, and a steal while providing veteran leadership and leading the league in ABS challenges (his 88 as a catcher easily outpace the second-place Edgar Quero, who has 68).
MLB provided a voting update yesterday, and while pitchers (like Miz and Harrison) aren’t eligible to be selected via votes, all four of the position players mentioned here are within shouting distance:
Chourio: 15th among outfielders at 252,264 votes (current sixth place: Jordan Walker at 437,071 votes)
Turang: second among second baseman at 373,656 votes (current second place: Bryson Stott at 399,729 votes)
Bauers: fourth among first baseman at 207,276 votes (current second place: Matt Olson at 802,848 votes)
Contreras: fourth among catchers at 303,240 votes (current second place: Will Smith at 662,883 votes)
Which of these five would you most like to see in July’s All-Star Game? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 09: Luis García Jr. #2 of the Washington Nationals bats during the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We have talked a lot about the Nats offense this season, and for good reason. Between the star duo of James Wood and CJ Abrams, as well as supporting pieces like Curtis Mead, Jacob Young and Daylen Lile, the boys have gotten a lot of love here. However, one player I have not talked much about is Luis Garcia Jr., and I want to change that.
He has flown under the radar this year, but since the start of May, Garcia has been one of the Nats best run producers. Garcia has 29 RBI since the start of May, and 23 of those have come since May 24th. He always seems to come through with runners on base, and has been a great combination of contact and power in this Nats lineup.
Luis García Jr. has 23 RBI since May 24, tied for the most in Major League Baseball. pic.twitter.com/K9JykCRTWy
— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) June 16, 2026
After a rough April, questions loomed about Garcia’s future with the team. Yohandy Morales and Abimelec Ortiz’s performances in AAA put the pressure on Garcia, who moved to first base this year. However, in May he hit .288 with an .818 OPS. In June, his average is only .222, but 7 of his 10 hits have been XBH, which is why he has an .833 OPS.
At this point, we know who Luis Garcia Jr. is. He has a unique blend of contact skills and power. However, his awful approach prevents him from being a truly great hitter. That has remained the case this season, with Garcia chasing 42% of the time and walking just 3.4% of the time. Despite a solid .259 batting average, his OBP is just .283.
Just because he does not walk does not mean he is a bat hitter. Garcia still has an OPS in the mid .700’s and is on pace for 22 homers and over 100 RBI. The lack of plate discipline is quite frustrating, but that is just part of the package at this point. His ability to hit some of those bad balls makes it more palatable.
Luis García Jr. is on pace for his first 20+ home run season.
From a pure WAR perspective, Garcia is nothing special. He has 0.3 fWAR and 0.6 bWAR. His bat is slightly above average and he does not provide much value in the field or on the bases. However, his ability to drive in runners and be a presence around the Nats star duo does give him some value.
Another thing that Garcia has been doing to give him value comes off the field. When you are around the team, you can tell that Garcia is one of the leaders. Despite having just turned 26, Garcia is the longest tenured Nat and one of the veterans in the clubhouse. He debuted as a 20 year old back in 2020, so he has seen a lot in the league at this point.
One thing Garcia seems to do well is keep the guys loose. He always has a smile on his face, and is one of those guys that realizes baseball should be fun. Garcia is always chatting at the end of the bench and is the ringleader in the Nats new sunflower seed home run celebration.
While the leadership is great, you do need to provide value on the field. The best way Garcia does this is by driving in runs. He has been money in big moments. With the bases loaded, Garcia Jr. is 7/12 this season with 18 RBI. His average with RISP is all the way up at .317.
Garcia does not try to do too much with runners in scoring position. Rather, he just wants to get the bat on the ball and find green grass. He only has one homer with RISP, but he always seems to come through with that RBI single that scores two runners. That is exactly what he did last night.
I am still not sure if Garcia is in the Nats long term plans. His lack of plate discipline or defense really cuts into his value. However, he has been a solid ball player this year, especially since the start of May, where he has an .823 OPS. Garcia hits the ball very hard and makes a ton of contact. Even with his warts, there is value in that profile, especially with runners in scoring position.
CINCINNATI — Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz could go on a rehab assignment this weekend if the next couple of days go according to plan.
De La Cruz — who has been sidelined since June 1 due to a right hamstring strain — ran the bases and took some infield grounders before a night’s game against the New York Mets. He will run the bases again before a final decision is made.
Manager Terry Francona said the likely rehab assignment would be to Triple-A Louisville, which is at Gwinnett. The Reds’ Single-A affiliate in Dayton also is on the road.
“I mean Triple-A is always probably the best because of competition, but trying to work through just what’s the easiest,” Francona said.
De La Cruz left the May 31 game against the Atlanta Braves with right hamstring tightness after he had a base hit in the fifth inning. He had a streak of appearing in 276 consecutive games snapped, the sixth-longest streak for a Reds player in the expansion era (since 1961). His streak began on July 30, 2024.
Before going on the injured list, De La Cruz was batting .280 with 12 home runs.
“We’ve talked to him several times because the one thing I don’t want him to ever feel is one that we’re not listening to him and two that we don’t want him to play. We’re dying for him to play,” Francona said. “I just don’t think you can do what’s right when it’s convenient. That’s the best way and I think down deep, I think he understands. I just think he wants to play desperately and I respect that a lot. He really just wants to play.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 09: Aroldis Chapman #44 of the Boston Red Sox walks on the field prior to the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Alex Zadorozny/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Sean McAdam, one of the most experienced reporters on the Red Sox beat, recently wrote that it was “nearly impossible” to imagine Craig Breslow surviving this season as the Red Sox CBO. While that certainly feels true at this juncture, he is only third on this list of front office executives facing the most pressure leading up to this year’s trade deadline. (Buster Olney, ESPN)
What’s so interesting about Breslow’s precarious job security is that he can point to many offseason moves that have unquestionably been smashing successes. The Willson Contreras trade is foremost among them, as Contreras is on pace to hit 38 homers, obliterating his previous career-high of 24. “I’m not looking to put the pressure on myself to get to 30 [home runs], or to get to some number,” he said. “[T]here’s still a lot of season left, but I feel good at the plate, try to make contact, and if I get to 30, thank God.” (Avery Hill, Boston Globe)
Another move that’s worked out is Wilyer Abreu getting at-bats against left-handed pitching. His success is not a coincidence. “Five or six days per week, November into February, he practiced by initially using little more than a traditional pitching machine. Instead of putting the machine on the mound, he shaded it off to the first base side “to exaggerate the angle” of a real lefthanded pitcher. ‘As close as I can, literally behind my back,’ he said. ‘Try to work the angle.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
But despite the success they’ve had this season, neither Contreras or Abreu is going to start the All-Star Game. In fact, with the first round of voting under way, no Red Sox player is even close. (Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald)
If Craig Breslow does decide to sell at the deadline, who are the Sox’ most likely trading partners? Look to the Padres as a good fit for Jarren Duran and the surprising White Sox as a good fit for Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman, says one analyst. (Jim Bowden, The Athletic)
But while Gray, Chapman, and possibly Contreras are already considered to be amongst the biggest potential prizes of the trade deadline, some executives are pushing back on the idea that the Red Sox will get a haul for any of them. “I think a lot of these players have a chance to be difference makers, but here would be my questions if acquiring any of them,” one NL executive said. “You have to treat Sonny and Aroldis as one-year deals, and that’s a big buyout. Would you pay Sonny $20 million for the rest of this year? Aroldis will almost certainly opt out…Duran would be a sell-low [option] at this point; he has struggled to hit even though he has had some power.” (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)
But don’t talk to Sonny Gray about being traded. He says he’s not remotely paying attention to any of that:
A patch on the sleeve of batter Spartanburger catcher Malcolm Moore (27) before the game with the Hub City Spartanburgers and Winston Salem Dash at Fifth Third Bank Field in Spartanburg, S.C. July 4, 2025. | Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Malcolm Moore, the Texas Rangers’ first round draft pick in 2024, has been promoted from high-A Hub City to AA Frisco, it was announced today.
Moore, a 22 year old catcher, had a disappointing 2025 season, as he slashed .195/.300/.276 on the year, primarily at high-A Hub City, while missing time due to a fractured thumb. He also played 17 games in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .231/.275/.328.
Moore returned to Hub City to start the 2026 season and initially got off to a slow start before heating up. He has slashed .300/.387/.542 in 217 plate appearances for Hub City this year, with 10 homers, 20 walks and 42 Ks while throwing out 33% of baserunners. He joins fellow 2024 draftees Dylan Dreiling, Rafe Perich, Keith Jones II, Dalton Pence, Eric Loomis and Joey Danielson on the Frisco roster.
The Roughriders have an 11 a.m. game today, and I would guess Moore will be in the lineup.
King has compiled a 7.64 xERA and 6.81 FIP across his last two starts while allowing an alarming 2.84 home runs per nine innings. He also owns a 38.6% hard-hit rate during the last month.
St. Louis should generate offense against King, while Pallante is well positioned to keep a struggling Padres lineup in check.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
COVERS INTEL: The Cardinals have an impressive 48.7% hard hit rate over their last seven games, suggesting this matchup against a struggling King is a perfect spot to keep raking.
Padres vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-125)
Despite King's recent struggles, he's worked into the sixth inning in three consecutive starts, limiting the amount of bullpen exposure.
San Diego's relief corps has been elite, posting a 2.30 ERA and 3.36 FIP over the last week while allowing just 0.66 home runs per nine innings.
As for St. Louis, Pallante typically pitches into the fifth or sixth inning. While the relief corps owns a 4.46 xERA over the last two weeks, the unit enters extremely well-rested after Dustin May threw a shutout on Monday.
Run line: Padres -1.5 (+170) | Cardinals +1.5 (-186)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)
Padres vs Cardinals trend
The Padres have hit the Under in 24 of their last 40 games (+6.50 Units / 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Cardinals.
How to watch Padres vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
First pitch
7:45 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (4-5, 3.46 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcher
Andre Pallante (7-4, 3.88 ERA)
Padres vs Cardinals latest injuries
Padres vs Cardinals weather
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TORONTO, ON - JUNE 14: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Peter Sarellas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The present day New York Yankees are in a fight for the lead in the American League East. Of course, there’s plenty of season left, but the Tampa Bay Rays have been either ahead of them or right on their heels. And in order for the Bombers to stay in the lead (and help separate themselves from the pack now without their leading slugger), they’re going to need even more of a full team effort.
That effort stems across the organization, from the hitters in the lineup, to those in the rotation, and those in the bullpen. One of the members at the back of the Yankees rotation who has continued to show just how valuable he can be is Will Warren, the young right-hander who is hoping to solidify himself not just as an above-average major league starter, but someone who can go above and beyond in the biggest moments for a Yankees team looking for another World Series title.
William Harper Warren Born: June 16, 1999 (Brandon, MS) Yankees Tenure: 2024-present
Will Warren was born in the southern region of the United States in Brandon, Mississippi. He grew up on the diamond before attending Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, Mississippi from 2013 to 2017. He wasn’t the tallest, and he certainly wasn’t the biggest player on the field, but he racked up excellent numbers on the mound in high school, finishing his senior season with a 1.59 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched in his 10 appearances.
Warren attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana from 2018 to 2021. His freshman year he was utilized exclusively in the bullpen, appearing in 18 games and finishing with a 3.04 ERA. However, in his sophomore year he transitioned into a starter role; it was a slow start for the right-hander, though. In 14 games started and 16 games played, he finished with a 6.72 ERA in 67.0 innings pitched. He only allowed four home runs through the season, but he also allowed 74 hits and 50 earned runs. His coaching staff didn’t give up on his stuff, though. In his junior season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Warren only pitched five games (which he finished with a 1.90 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched). He pitched two games as a starter and three out of the bullpen, but, just as it was in MLB, it was an odd season for every level of every sport.
His make-or-break senior season was where Warren finally seemed to grip the reins a bit more than he had in previous years. He pitched in 14 games and started all of them. He finished with an ERA of 2.57 across 91.0 innings (an average of 6.2 innings per game). He also pitched two complete games that year and finished with 95 strikeouts.
Following his four seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, he was drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft. He made his professional debut in 2022 with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League, where he pitched eight total games before a call up to Double-A with the Somerset Patriots. He had a 3.60 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched with the Renegades and then didn’t return to High-A ball. He stayed in Double-A for the rest of the season and pitched 18 games, all as a starter, and he acclimated as well as many would expect for a 23-year-old fresh to pro ball. He finished the season with a 4.06 ERA in 94.0 innings pitched with 83 strikeouts. And even though he allowed a decent amount of hits, he avoided the long ball and was able to strike batters out when he needed to.
Warren returned to Somerset at the beginning of the 2023 season, but the same story unfolded for him between Double and Triple-A as it had for High-A and Double-A the year before. He pitched in only six games with the Patriots before being called up again — the Yankees thought he should be with Scranton following a dominant 2.45 ERA start. He stayed in Triple-A for the rest of the year and pitched 99.2 innings, crossing the 100 strikeout mark for a single team for the first time in his career with 110. The first half of his season was a lot more rocky than the second half, given that he was still adjusting to the Automated Balls-Strikes system that Triple-A had just adopted at that point. But when he found his stride, there was a clear look at the potential he could provide to a major league rotation. He finished the year not just having allowed only two runs in 28.2 innings in September, but he also won the International League Pitcher of the Month award thanks to that performance. He ended with a 7-4 record with the Railriders, and would earn himself a shot with the big league team in the 2024 season.
However, the next year wasn’t as glamorous for Warren as he may have wanted it to be. He was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, but was eventually sent backto Triple-A and struggled. He pitched 23 games and crossed the 100.0 innings pitched plateau for the first time in his professional career. However, a 5.91 ERA was not the number in the box score anyone was expecting as one of the Yankees farm system’s top pitchers. Nonetheless, he was given the chance to make his major league debut after Gerrit Cole was scratched from his July 30th start due to general body fatigue. At age 25, Warren, donning the number 98, ran out to the mound for his first major league start. And it wasn’t the best start of all time, but there were certainly flashes as he posted 5.1 innings pitched with four hits, six strikeouts, two walks, and four earned runs against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Remaining with the team for the rest of the 2024 season, Warren received five more apperances on a major league mound (four of which were starts), but he posted a 10.51 ERA, a result of problems that had plagued him prior to the big leagues: giving up lots of contact and a lot of baserunners.
Warren was on the Opening Day roster for the Yankees in 2025 due to injuries to both Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, and he was thrown into the fire. He won his first major league game against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium on April 12th, and went on to pitch 162.1 innings that season over 33 games, 33.1 more innings pitched than ever in his career, and about 53 more innings pitched at a single level in his career. A highlight of his year was posting his career-high in strikeouts against the Los Angeles Angels in six innings pitched a day following his 26th birthday.
Warren finished the season with a 4.44 ERA, a 92 ERA+, and questions about his future with the Yankees arose considering the return of Gil and, eventually, Cole, put his position in the rotation in jeopardy. The 2026 season (particularly his start to the year) was going to be crucial. But, Cole wasn’t set to return until a bit into the season, and Carlos Rodón, who had elbow surgery in October, wasn’t going to be ready for Opening Day either, giving Warren the perfect chance to seize his moment.
And he did. Warren, alongside new acquisition Ryan Weathers at the back of the rotation, was fantastic through the early parts of the season and helped build confidence in a fanbase that may have been shaky on him. He finished with a 2.59 ERA and 3-0 record in six games through March and April, and, even though things have begun to come back down to Earth following a 3.82 ERA in May (despite a 4-1 record over that time as well), he still managed plenty of excellent outings, including another 11 strikeout performance at Yankee Stadium against the Kansas City Royals, tying his career-high.
June has been less favorable to Warren than Yankees fans may want to see, but he has the stuff to remain a solid, durable arm at the back of the Bombers rotation. We’ll be celebrating his birthday following an outing where he had to labor against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, but also with the start of a new series, as the Yankees welcome the Chicago White Sox. Happy birthday Will, and best of luck the rest of this season!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 14: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins bats against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 14, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the trade deadline coming up, the Phillies are going to make a move. That is all but a guarantee at this point being as how, under Dave Dombrowski, they have made a move at each deadline under his control. This year, there are some pretty striking needs the team has that are probably going to be upgraded from the outside as opposed to bringing someone up from the minor leagues.
What the priority order is for those positions can be debated rather thoroughly. The offense has been quite uneven on the season, meaning a bat, preferably a right handed one, should top the wishlist of the team, but an argument can be made for each of these other two. There is no order done here that shows which position is most in need of an upgrade. It’s just some hopes and dreams at three spots on the roster.
Left handed reliever
Dream target: Aroldis Chapman
Jose Alvarado has been shaky, at best. Tanner Banks has been bitten by the BABIP gods far too often and looks simply unreliable. Kyle Backhus was looking decent prior to his injury, but it’s still Kyle Backhus. The team needs a reliable, lockdown left handed reliever and the one best suited to their needs is Chapman. While he’s no longer the dominant force he was before, he’s still one of the premier left handed relievers in the game. His 34.6% strikeout rate is ninth among all relievers with at least 20 innings pitched, his whiff rate of 32.7% still in the top percentiles.
Break it down further, his sinker, among those that have thrown the pitch at least 100 times, has the second best whiff rate in the game, his slider, among those that have thrown it at least 50 times, 14th best in the game at generating swings and misses. He still possesses swing and miss stuff, something that is particularly useful during the postseason. In a still more granular level, Chapman has seen left handed batters 22 times this year and has allowed a .167 slugging percentage. He’s pretty much exactly what the team needs from a left handed pitcher.
The asking price on his services is likely to be high. The Red Sox, if they decide to sell, will have an asset in Chapman that they will want to cash in on. Relievers are always in high demand, particularly those who have Chapman’s skillset. In a bidding war, the team may not have the pieces needed to entice the Red Sox in a trade.
Realistic targets: Jojo Romero, Stephen Okert, Andrew Nardi, Erik Miller
All four pitchers listed here are something of the same: they’re playing on teams that are probably going to sell at the deadline and they’re kind of iffy against left handed hitting. The only one to have a slight quibble with is Romero, who is pitching for the Cardinals, a team in surprising contention in the National League, but they have made no bones about their desire to continue rebuilding, so we’ll throw him in here.
Usually when acquiring a left handed pitcher, one looks to see how well he fares against same sided hitting. These four are surprisingly not that great.
Name/Stats vs. LHH
TBF
ERA
K%
BB%
OPS
Hard%
Erik Miller
41
3.00
29.3%
9.8%
.798
20.0%
Steven Okert
58
1.72
19.0%
5.2%
.442
28.6%
Jojo Romero
53
3.46
30.2%
5.7%
.787
39.4%
Andrew Nardi
48
3.38
29.2%
12.5%
.812
44.4%
These aren’t numbers that blow anyone off the page when considering how well they’d do at their primary job, which would be to get left handed hitters out. The biggest tests in the postseason would come from the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Christian Yelich, et al., so seeing that they haven’t been that good can be a bit disconcerting. These same numbers against right handed hitters are more or less the same, giving a “what you see is what you get” feel.
Yet as with anything, their market they can shop in will be limited thanks to their lack of impact talent they can offer back in a trade. How much team control they have might work in the Phillies favor for a few. Romero is a free agent after this season, Okert has one year of team control left, Nardi two years of control, Miller three. You can basically see how the price would change for each pitcher as their control goes up.
Starting pitcher
Dream target: Tarik Skubal
I mean, this is everyone’s top target. Skubal is the best trade piece on the market no matter the position. The Tigers have more or less faded from the playoff picture, even if Skubal helps them win every fifth day. Their future is best served by moving him and he will command a high asking price.
But consider the fit.
A rotation of Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Tarik Skubal and Jesus Luzardo is instantly, without a doubt, the best rotation in the game. You could pick the Phanatic to pitch as the fifth starter and it would still be the best. Any playoff game that would be started by that quartet, they should be the favorite. They would have to score runs for them, something this offense feels allergic to, but they’d also allow few, if any, runs themselves.
It truly would be the best possible trade they could make.
What would have to go in return? Andrew Painter? Sure, send him on. Painter plus Aidan Miller? Hey, does David Wright 2.0 need help packing? If there is a package that the Phillies could create to make a move for Skubal, they should be entertaining it.
Realistic targets: Michael Lorenzen
It’s not the most desirable outcome for the team as simply keeping the status quo is probably more desirable than trading for someone like Lorenzen, but he is the aisle the team would probably be shopping in considering the quality of their prospects to trade away. Lorenzen had this insane desire to actually want to pitch in Colorado this year and as his numbers suggest, he’s kind of gotten what he’s asked for. He’d be someone to come in and give the team innings, something that maybe they could use if they decided to head to a six-man rotation in August, but he’s not someone they’d pitch in the playoffs at all. That’s something of a benchmark for making trades for a team like the Phillies.
Right handed starting outfielder
Dream target: Byron Buxton
Alright, here me out.
Buxton has for years been the über-talented, oft injured center fielder for the Twins, one that always seemed to put up great numbers in half the time. He is putting together yet another fantastic season, hitting .276/.335/.606 with 23 home runs at the plate, his defense in center field once again sublime and his contract more than palatable to absorb. For a team that is starved for any kind of production from the right side, Buxton would be the perfect salve for what ails them.
The issues?
Price tag and desire.
Buxton has already once refused to be traded from his humble abode in Minnesota. Understandable. Being traded from the organization that drafted, developed, played and ultimately extended you has to be something that would create massive upheaval in one’s life. Maybe Buxton was simply so comfortable with his surroundings last year, he didn’t wish to move. There haven’t been any more whispers of his waiving that no-trade clause he has in his contract, but one can never know exactly what would happen.
The other issue would be the price tag. Trading Buxton would be franchise altering for the Twins. They’d be moving someone that has grown with them into a star, someone who is quite productive and someone who has a contract that isn’t particularly burdensome. It would take a handsome price to pay for the Phillies to be able to pry him loose, likely detonating the top half of their prospect lists to facilitate a move.
Is that worth it?
Realistic targets: Jo Adell? Seiya Suzuki?
I suppose we have to identify these two as the ones the team should be pursuing the most as they have been named already as the targets the Phillies have already been asking about. Both are flawed, but possess something the Phillies have little of: right handed power.
Adell hit 37 home runs last year, yet managed an OPS below .800. That’s difficult to do. He has followed that up with a slugging percentage closer to .375 than .450, something of a problem. To say he struggles on defense would be an undersell, those home run robberies notwithstanding. He would fill that particular need on the Phillies, but would he do it well?
Suzuki is a pending free agent on a team that is looking to add for a postseason run, not really give players away. The Cubs are looking for starting pitching, something the Phillies are also looking to add a dash of themselves. He’s been good with his bad, made a surprisingly good recovery on defense in right field and would be playing regularly in an outfield that is currently without his type of profile.
Yet the Cubs are playing better and are going to need all the offensive help they can get for their own playoff push. Is there really even a match to be made here?
COVERS INTEL: Singer is allowing batters to barrel up his pitches a troubling 11.8% of the time, which won’t work against a New York lineup that has a top-10 barrel rate of 9.1%.
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