Category: Baseball

Baseball News

Posted on

Astros at Athletics Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 18

It's Wednesday, June 18, and the Astros (42-31) take on the Athletics (30-45). Framber Valdez is slated to take the mound for Houston against Luis Severino for the Athletics.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Astros at Athletics

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 10:05PM EST
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, Space City Home Network

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

Odds for the Astros at the Athletics

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (-162), Athletics (+136)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Athletics

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Framber Valdez vs. Luis Severino
    • Astros: Framber Valdez, (7-4, 3.10 ERA)
      Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 6/12): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 12 Strikeouts
    • Athletics: Luis Severino, (2-6, 4.47 ERA)
      Last outing (Kansas City, 6/13): 7.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 1 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Astros at Athletics

  • The Astros' record in their last 5 games stands at 4-1
  • The Over is 23-14 in the Athletics' home games this season
  • The Athletics have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.59 units

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Astros and the Athletics

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Astros and the Athletics:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Athletics at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Stott catches Marlins by surprise with his biggest swing in a month

Stott catches Marlins by surprise with his biggest swing in a month originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies’ coldest hitter was the one most responsible for their 4-2 win Wednesday night in Miami and the player benched the day before made the defensive play of the game to end it.

Bryson Stott, hitting .183 with a .246 on-base percentage and one home run since May 9, produced one of his best swings of the year in the fourth inning against Marlins right-hander Adam Mazur, hitting a game-changing three-run homer.

It probably caught Miami by surprise. Stott swings at the first pitch less than any hitter in the National League (12%) but attacked Mazur’s first offering, a 94 mph fastball up in the zone and over the plate, clobbering it to right-center field to turn a one-run lead into a four-run lead.

It was more than enough support for Ranger Suarez, who tossed seven more ho-hum innings of one-run ball in his eighth consecutive gem.

Still, the Phillies had to hold on at the end as Matt Strahm put three men on base in the ninth inning and had the winning run at the plate. Nick Fortes hit a flyball to deep right field that Nick Castellanos raced backward to catch, leaping up against the wall to end the game.

Castellanos returned to the lineup after a one-game benching for making an inappropriate comment after being pulled for a defensive replacement late in Monday’s win. He made a mistake on the bases but had a multi-hit game.

So did Alec Bohm with two singles and a double in five at-bats. He’s all the way up to .291 and is hitting .336 with an .867 OPS over the last two calendar months.

Suarez set the tone again. The lefty is 6-1 in his last eight starts with a 1.17 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. All eight have been at least six innings and six have been longer. This has been every bit as good as Suarez was in the first half last season when he looked like a Cy Young candidate before being derailed by a back injury.

The Phillies are 44-30 with one more game in Miami on Thursday night before three huge ones at home this weekend against the Mets. The Phils entered the night two back in the NL East.

It was only one swing from Stott but it was a good sign that he’s healthy after irritating a nerve in his right elbow in his final at-bat Monday night. Stott tried to walk off and shake off the pain that night and stayed in the game after being visited by a trainer, surprisingly playing the next day even though manager Rob Thomson told reporters he’d consider giving the second baseman a rest.

The month of June had been especially rough, with Stott going 7-for-52 (.135) with one extra-base hit, a double. He’s been seeing plenty of pitches, fouling plenty of pitches off and running deep counts but not ending them with any consistency or authority.

In his first at-bat Wednesday night, the first pitch Stott saw was a 94 mph fastball right down the middle. He took it for a called strike and ended up whiffing.

The league-average rate of swinging at the first pitch is once every three plate appearances. Stott does so about once every nine plate appearances. He may have told himself walking back to the dugout, if I get another first-pitch cookie, I’m not passing it up. He did, and he unloaded. He also later walked, singled and stole a base.

The Phillies scored in only one inning, the fourth, but it sure helps when they have Suarez piling up zeroes while the offense finds its footing.

The only run Suarez let across was a fifth-inning homer by Connor Norby. He matched a season-high with eight strikeouts.

It’s Cristopher Sanchez’ turn in the finale Thursday night. He’s faced the Marlins only once since 2023 and it was his only career shutout last June.

Posted on

What we learned as Justin Verlander, Giants' bats struggle in loss to Guardians

What we learned as Justin Verlander, Giants' bats struggle in loss to Guardians originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — With school out for the summer, fantastic weather and a new guy named Rafael Devers, the Giants have drawn more than 70,000 fans to the first two weeknight games against the Cleveland Guardians. They haven’t done much to send all those fans home happy. 

It was another quiet night for the new-look lineup as the Giants lost 4-2 to the Cleveland Guardians, who will go for a sweep Thursday. There has been a lot to be excited about since Sunday, but the Giants also have quietly lost five of their last six games. 

Justin Verlander gave up a run in the first and a three-run homer in the fourth Wednesday, putting the Giants in an early hole. The bullpen held tough from there, and Heliot Ramos got two runs back with his 12th homer.

A walk and a balk put a runner on second with one out in the seventh, but Patrick Bailey and Ramos struck out. 

Mike Yastrzemski got the crowd buzzing with a two-out single in the ninth, but Bailey went down looking. The Giants went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and they’re 8-for-52 over their last six games with 51 runners left on base. 

Still Searching

Verlander never could have imagined being winless near the end of June, but he was 0-3 before he went on the IL with pec discomfort and he left with the Giants trailing 4-0 on Wednesday. 

Three of the runs came on the biggest mistake of the night, an 0-2 fastball to second baseman Daniel Schneemann that was middle-middle and got blasted into the seats. That rally started when Tyler Fitzgerald made an error on a grounder to the right side. 

Verlander struck out six and showed his normal velocity, but he also gave up seven hits and walked one. While the error hurt, the line also could have been worse. Spencer Bivens stranded a pair of Verlander’s runners in the fifth. 

Night Two

The second night was a lot quieter for Devers than the first. The new DH went 0-for-3 with a walk in his second game in orange and black, with his most notable at-bat ending quickly.

Willy Adames blooped a single to right to lead off the bottom of the eighth and bring Devers up as the tying run. The crowd started to rise as he dug in against lefty Tim Herrin, but Devers swung at the first pitch and skied it to left. A flyout by Wilmer Flores and a pop-up by Casey Schmitt ended the threat. 

Welcome Back

There should have been little doubt that Bailey would have a solid night in his return from a neck strain. Bailey is extremely close with Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz, a former Giants coach who refers to Bailey as one of his sons. 

The two exchanged plenty of texts in recent days and Bailey assured his former coach that he would be in the lineup against his team. Bailey didn’t show any rust behind the plate, throwing a runner out in his first inning back.

Bailey had just six hits in 42 right-handed at-bats before going on the IL, but he was 2-for-2 against left-hander Logan Allen. In his first at-bat back, he hit a slow roller that stayed true along the edge of the grass and went for an infield single. Two innings later, he singled to center. 

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Red Sox issue statement in response to AI bot interviews report

Red Sox issue statement in response to AI bot interviews report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox again found themselves in damage control mode on Wednesday.

While dealing with the fallout of the Rafael Devers trade, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was further scrutinized following a bombshell Yahoo! Sports report by Joon Lee. Lee’s report detailed a dysfunctional front office under Breslow’s leadership.

Lee added another stunning revelation Tuesday on NBC Sports Boston’s Early Edition. According to Lee, the Red Sox used AI (artificial intelligence) bots to conduct several rounds of interviews with a baseball operations job candidate.

“What’s happening with the Red Sox, with Sam Kennedy, with Craig Breslow, with Alex Cora, is a state of organizational dysfunction,” Lee said, as seen in the video player above. “I heard last night about an interview with — the Red Sox were trying to recruit a new person for their baseball operations department, and during this interview process, the entire interview was conducted with an AI bot, where you would record the answers to the questions and then the Red Sox would then evaluate them.

“And this wasn’t just one round. It wasn’t just two rounds. It was five rounds of interviews where this person did not talk to another person in the Red Sox organization.”

On Wednesday, the Red Sox released the following statement addressing Lee’s report:

“We wanted to reach out to you because we are seeing unsubstantiated reports about the Red Sox using AI bots to hire candidates,” the statement reads, according to MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith. “Since 2012, the club has used a tool called HireVue to screen applicants for all roles across the organization. The Red Sox are one of several MLB clubs to use this tool, which asks candidates to answer a few questions in a recorded video for the hiring manager to get a sense of the person beyond their resume. This is one of several steps in the hiring process and is just one factor that helps determine which candidates should advance to an in-person interview.

“On average, the club receives over 500 applicants per position, and for some roles, as many as 3,000. This tool is in no way a replacement for in-person interviews, simply one of many steps that helps the club screen the many candidates who apply for each job posting.

“We wanted to ensure all of you had this information directly from us and would appreciate your partnership in helping clear up these unsupported claims.”

HireVue is an AI and human resources management company that allows clients to conduct interviews where the job candidate interacts with a computer instead of a human interviewer. Many companies utilize the technology to narrow down candidates early in the interview process, so it’s no surprise that the Red Sox use it with the number of applicants they receive. What stands out from Lee’s report is that the organization allegedly used it for five interview rounds.

Breslow addressed that part of the report earlier Wednesday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com.

“I think my short answer is, I’m not sure, because I know that I have had direct conversations with people,” Breslow said. “But like I said, if using this as kind of like a first filter, because the number of people who want to work with [the Red Sox] is so big, it makes sense. Now, I don’t think we can make hiring decisions without actually talking to someone.”

While the Red Sox have been somewhat of a mess off the field, they’ve been red-hot in recent weeks. After taking two out of three in their series against the Seattle Mariners, they’ve won nine of their last nine games and have sole possession of the third American League Wild Card spot at 39-37.

The intriguing Red Sox storylines will continue Friday when the club visits Devers’ new team, the San Francisco Giants.

Posted on

Guardians at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 18

It's Wednesday, June 18 and the Guardians (36-35) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (41-32). Logan Allen is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Justin Verlander for San Francisco.

The Guardians won a close low-scoring game last night over the Giants.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Guardians at Giants

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 9:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCS BA, Guardians TV

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

Odds for the Guardians at the Giants

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+122), Giants (-146)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Logan Allen vs. Justin Verlander
    • Guardians: Logan Allen, (4-4, 4.28 ERA)
      Last outing (Cincinnati Reds, 6/11): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Justin Verlander, (0-3, 4.33 ERA)
      Last outing (Athletics, 5/18): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 1 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Guardians at Giants

  • The Giants are showing a 111% return on investment at home on the Money Line
  • The Giants' last 3 home games have stayed under the Total
  • The Guardians have covered the Run Line in 4 straight games at the Giants

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Guardians and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Guardians and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Red Sox at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 18

It's Wednesday, June 18 and the Red Sox (38-37) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (37-35). Garrett Crochet is slated to take the mound for Boston against Luis Castillo for Seattle.

After getting shutout in game one of the series, the Mariners returned the favor with a 8-0 domination of the Red Sox.

Bryan Woo was dominant on the mound. He only gave up one hit in 7.0 shut-out innings.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Mariners

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 4:10PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: ROOTNW, NESN

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

Odds for the Red Sox at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-125), Mariners (+105)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Garrett Crochet vs. Luis Castillo
    • Red Sox: Garrett Crochet, (6-4, 2.24 ERA)
      Last outing (New York Yankees, 6/13): 8.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Mariners: Luis Castillo, (4-4, 3.29 ERA)
      Last outing (Cleveland Guardians, 6/13): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Mariners

  • The Red Sox have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games
  • In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo has an ERA of 2.48

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Mariners

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Seattle Mariners at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Brewers at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 18

It's Wednesday, June 18 and the Brewers (39-35) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (45-28). Jacob Misiorowski is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Jameson Taillon for Chicago.

The Cubs won game one 5-3 last night against the Brewers. Ben Brown started on the mound for the Cubs. He struck out five batters and gave up six hits and two earned runs in 5.0 innings pitched.

The Cubs have now extended their lead in the NL Central to 6.5 games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Cubs

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: Marquee Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Network

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

Odds for the Brewers at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+130), Cubs (-156)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Jacob Misiorowski vs. Jameson Taillon
    • Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski, (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing (St Louis Cardinals, 6/12): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon, (7-3, 3.48 ERA)
      Last outing (Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/12): 6.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

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

  • The Cubs have won 3 straight home games with Jameson Taillon starting
  • In the Cubs' home games, this season When Jameson Taillon started a home game on the mound for the Cubs the Under is 5-2 (71%)
  • With Jameson Taillon toeing the rubber betting the Cubs on the Run Line would have returned a 0.97-unit profit in 2025

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline, and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Brewers and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Yankees activating JT Brubaker, adding intriguing arm to pitching staff

After a long road to a return from Tommy John surgery that was extended when he suffered three broken ribs in spring training, right-handed pitcher JT Brubakeris finally set for his Yankees debut.

Brubaker will be activated ahead of Wednesday's game against the Angels, reports Robert Murray of FanSided.

He last pitched in the majors in 2022, when he was still with the Pirates -- where he spent the first three (and only, to this point) seasons of his big league career.

The Yankees swung a trade for Brubaker last March, when they acquired him from Pittsburgh for international bonus pool money and a player to be named later -- that player turned out to be prospect Keiner Delgado.

Brubaker has a career 4.99 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 324 strikeouts in 315.2 innings.

He worked almost exclusively as a starter with Pittsburgh, starting 61 games and working in relief twice.

The Yankees' current starting rotation consists of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Ryan Yarbrough, and Will Warren, so the safe bet is that Brubaker will be deployed as a reliever who has the potential to go multiple innings at a time.

Brubaker made six appearances (all starts) while rehabbing in the minors.

In his most recent game, for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Brubaker tossed five hitless innings while allowing one run, walking two, and striking out three.

Posted on

MLB trade deadline preview: When is it? Which teams and players could be involved?

MLB trade deadline preview: When is it? Which teams and players could be involved? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s the last chance for MLB teams to load up in 2025.

The trade deadline can be critical for clubs looking to make postseason runs. Whether it’s adding another bullpen arm or power bat, World Series-winning teams can often look back at the deadline as a turning point.

So, when is the 2025 trade deadline? What teams could be buying and selling? And which players will be on the move?

Here’s everything to know for the upcoming deadline:

What is the MLB trade deadline?

The trade deadline is the last moment where teams can swap players for the rest of the 2025 season. Teams can still release or sign players, but there are no team-to-team transactions allowed once the deadline has passed.

When is the MLB trade deadline 2025?

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31 at 4 p.m. ET.

What teams will buy and sell at the MLB trade deadline?

To figure out who could buy and who could sell at the deadline, you can basically just look at the standings.

Teams at the top will likely be looking for another player or two to aid in their playoff run, while teams at the bottom could try to get rid of big contracts and recoup prospects. Here are three teams that could buy and sell:

BUYERS

  1. Detroit Tigers: The AL Central leaders are all-in this year after a surprise postseason run in 2024. Detroit could look for some bullpen help, and they have an elite farm system to sell off.
  2. New York Yankees: Aaron Boone’s squad is struggling offensively without Juan Soto, who left as a free agent. Another bat would go a long way for the defending AL pennant winners.
  3. Philadelphia Phillies: It’s been a tough stretch for Philly, but the team is still firmly in contention to win the NL East. Dave Dombrowski is always ready to make a trade, and 2025 will be no different.

SELLERS

  1. Atlanta Braves: One of the most underwhelming teams in baseball could look toward the future at this year’s deadline. The Braves have several intriguing pieces that could be auctioned off.
  2. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles were supposed to be building a dynasty with ample young talent. Instead, they’ve floundered to last place in the AL East. Any veterans on the roster could be moved next month.
  3. Arizona Diamondbacks: Injuries have made life difficult this season for the 2023 NL pennant winners. A retool and refocus for 2026 should be Arizona’s top priority at the deadline.

Which MLB players will be traded at the deadline this year?

The Boston Red Sox kicked things off early with the stunning move to trade Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. It’s not often that an All-Star on a long-term contract in his prime gets dealt, but this could be the move that sparks a busy deadline.

Here are five players that could be traded before the deadline:

  • Josh Naylor, Diamondbacks, first baseman
  • Marcell Ozuna, Braves, designated hitter
  • Freddy Peralta, Brewers, starting pitcher
  • Zach Eflin, Orioles, starting pitcher
  • Luis Robert, White Sox, outfielder

Posted on

MLB’s Rays in Advanced Talks for $1.7B Sale to Florida Home Builder

The Tampa Bay Rays are in advanced talks to sell the team to a group led by Jacksonville, Fla., developer Patrick Zalupski, according to multiple sources who asked not to be named because the details are private. The deal values the team at roughly $1.7 billion.

Zalupski has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to purchase the team. An LOI is not a purchase agreement, and the deal ultimately might not be completed.

Stu Sternberg, the principal owner, purchased the franchise for $200 million in 2004. Buyers have been circling the Rays in recent years, and The Athletic reported in March that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and other owners were pressuring Sternberg to sell.

The Rays declined to comment. Zalupski and Sternberg didn’t return a request for comment.

If a deal is reached, it would mark only the second MLB team sale since Steve Cohen paid $2.42 billion for the New York Mets in 2020. Last year, David Rubenstein led a group that bought the Baltimore Orioles for $1.73 billion.

The Rays’ long, futile efforts to build a stadium to replace Tropicana Field were dealt a blow last fall by Hurricane Milton, which took the roof off the St. Petersburg, Fla. ballpark and stalled local government plans to fund a new building. The Rays are playing home games this season at the New York Yankees’ Steinbrenner Field, its Minor League Baseball complex in Tampa, Fla.

Zalupski is the founder and CEO of Dream Finders Homes, which specializes in new home construction for first-time home buyers. The company has built and sold more than 38,000 homes in 10 states from its start in late 2008 in Jacksonville through the end of 2024, according to its most recent 10-K filing. The company went public in 2021 and has an enterprise value of $3.4 billion. Zalupski, whose net worth is $1.4 billion per Forbes, serves on the University of Florida Board of Trustees, having been appointed in 2023 by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Known limited partners in Zalupski’s group include Ken Babby—who owns a pair of Minor League Baseball teams: the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Akron RubberDucks—as well as Bill Cosgrove, CEO of Strongsville, Ohio-based Union Home Mortgage. Since 2020, Union Home Mortgage has been the title sponsor of the Gasparilla Bowl, the annual college football bowl game played at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

Under Sternberg, the Rays have typically fielded a bottom-five payroll in MLB but have made nine playoff appearances since 2008 and possess a winning percentage of .545 during that time. Only the big-market, free-spending Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have won more games.

Despite the on-field success, fans have largely avoided the Trop, with attendance among MLB’s bottom four every year since 2011 and last above 18,000 per game in 2013. Failure to secure a new stadium or improve fan support has triggered speculation of a franchise relocation from Tampa. The Rays’ finances have been propped up by annual revenue-sharing checks of roughly $60 million.

The Rays were valued at $1.35 billion, according to Sportico’s most recent MLB valuations, ranking 29th out of 30 MLB teams and just ahead of the Miami Marlins.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Yankees searching for answers after 3rd straight shutout

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees’ offense is drifting toward uncharted territory — and not in a good way.

The team tied a franchise record by getting shut out for the third straight game, when the Yankees went 0 for 10 with runners on base in a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

“Obviously, we’re not getting the job done,” outfielder Cody Bellinger said. “We’re not getting a lot of baserunners. We’re not causing traffic. We’ve got to keep going and wake up tomorrow and we’ve got to get going.”

The Yankees have been blanked in three consecutive games seven times in their 123-year history — but only three times in the last 50 years, most recently from Sept. 22-24, 2016.

The last major league team to get shut out in four straight games was the Kansas City Royals in September 2017.

“It’s a little bit foreign for us to go through this for a few days,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

New York has lost five in a row and mustered only five runs in its past six games, including a 1-0 win in Kansas City. The last time the Yankees scored five runs or fewer in a six-game span was August 1968.

In the past six games, New York is batting .164.

Giancarlo Stanton is 4 for 8 in his first two games since returning from injuries to both elbows. But lineup mainstays Bellinger (.152 in his last eight games), Paul Goldschmidt (.164 in his last 17 games) and Aaron Judge (.125 in his last seven games) are all mired in extended slumps.

Judge, who began the night leading the American League in all three Triple Crown categories, was booed following strikeouts in the sixth and eighth innings.

Boone tinkered with his lineup — batting rookie Jasson Domínguez first and dropping Goldschmidt to sixth — but it didn’t yield results for the Yankees, who were limited to four hits and got just three runners to second base against Kyle Hendricks and a trio of relievers.

Boone implored the Yankees to remain patient at the plate but acknowledged they might have been pressing, when they went up against the soft-tossing Hendricks on an unseasonably cool 67-degree night.

“You want to be the guy (to) kind of get the hit, get it going,” Boone said. “But that’s where the patience comes in and that’s where just you can’t obsess on the result. You can’t go up there (like) ‘I gotta get a hit, I gotta do this.’ It’s got to be, ‘I gotta go take a tough at-bat.’”

Even with the slump, the Yankees still rank among the top five teams in the majors in runs (370), homers (109) and OPS (.784). They finished among the top five in all three categories in five of Boone’s first seven seasons as manager.

“It’s been a little struggle the last couple days, which unfortunately is going to happen,” Boone said. “It’s just always shocking to see our group not score runs, right? Especially a few days in a row now.

“We’ve just got to focus on the little things — think small, big things come.”

Posted on

Padres at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 18

It's Wednesday, June 18, and the Padres (39-33) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (45-29). Stephen Kolek is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Emmet Sheehan for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers won in a shootout last night against the Padres 8-6. Will Smith and Andy Pages had big nights. Smith went 3-4 with two runs, two RBI, and a home run. Pages went 4-4 with three runs, three RBI, and two HR.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Padres at Dodgers

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SportsNet LA, Padres Television Network, MLBN

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

Odds for the Padres at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+149), Dodgers (-179)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Stephen Kolek vs. Emmet Sheehan
    • Padres: Stephen Kolek, (3-2, 3.50 ERA)
      Last outing (Arizona Diamondbacks, 6/13): 4.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers have won their last 5 games against teams with worse records
  • The Over is 12-7-1 in the Padres' matchups against NL West teams this season
  • The Padres have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 6 road games against the Dodgers

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Padres and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Cardinals at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends and stats for June 18

Its Wednesday, June 18 and the Cardinals (38-35) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (23-50).

Sonny Gray is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Sean Burke for Chicago.

St. Louis smacked Chicago, 12-2, last night to open the series. Brendan Donovan picked up 4 of St. Louis' 13 hits in the game. Edgar Quero had two hits in the loss for the ChiSox.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Cardinals at White Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, CHSN

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

Odds for the Cardinals at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (-190), White Sox (+157)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Sonny Gray vs. Sean Burke
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.84 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/12 at Milwaukee - 4.1IP, 6ER, 8H, 1BB, 4Ks
    • White Sox: Sean Burke (3-7, 4.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/11 at Houston - 3.2IP, 7ER, 8H, 1BB, 4Ks

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at White Sox

  • The Cardinals have won 4 of their last 5 on the road against AL Central teams
  • The Over is 19-13-3 in the White Sox's home games this season
  • The Cardinals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.98 units
  • Brendan Donovan has at least 1 hit in 7 of his last 8 games (12-33)
  • Edgar Quero is hitting .359 (14-39) in June

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Cardinals and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Big League Advance Sues Franmil Reyes Over Unpaid Earnings Stake

Big League Advance Fund (BLA) on Monday sued former MLB outfielder Franmil Reyes for allegedly not paying 10% of his earnings as required by a player investment contract. 

BLA claims Reyes owes $404,908.87 in past due payments plus $298,749.13 in interest on those payments. He also allegedly owes a yet-to-be-determined dollar figure for when Reyes played in Japan’s Nippon League. BLA says Reyes hasn’t made a payment since Sept. 23, 2022, and that it has sent him multiple demand letters in hopes of resolving the dispute privately before having to file a lawsuit.

Through attorneys Lisa R. Hatfield and Max B. Walton of Connolly Gallagher, BLA’s complaint was filed in Delaware Superior Court. It contains only one claim, breach of contract, and asserts a straightforward argument. When Reyes was a 21-year-old outfielder for the San Diego Padres Single-A affiliate Lake Elsinore Storm in 2016, he and BLA signed an investment agreement in which BLA agreed to provide $301,840 to Reyes. In exchange, BLA obtained a 10% stake in Reyes’ professional baseball earnings provided he earned at least $100,000 in a year. 

The contract explicitly included earnings in MLB, the minor leagues and Nippon League, and covered salary, bonuses and other performance-based payments.

From 2018 to 2023, Reyes played for four MLB teams: the Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. Reyes had several impressive seasons, including 2018 and 2021 when he blasted 37 and 30 home runs, respectively. He struggled in 2022 and 2023 before relocating to Japan. Now 29, Reyes has played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for the last couple of years. According to court documents, Reyes also resides in Japan.

BLA’s complaint mentions arguments in favor of player investment contracts, which are sometimes called third-party agreements. “Players,” the complaint asserts, “receive capital—not loans—they can use to, among other things, pay for food, housing, and training while working to secure a professional baseball contract.”  These funds can help players gain “the resources they need to help make their dream of playing professional league baseball a reality.” BLA also takes on some risk: if the player fails to advance and never hits it big, BLA will have made a bad investment. 

As Sportico has detailed, player investment contracts have also attracted criticisms. The MLS Players’ Association, for instance, has described them as “exploitative.” Relatively young athletes, some of whom lack substantial education, might later regret contracting away what could become many millions of dollars. 

Attorneys for Reyes will answer the complaint, attempt to rebut BLA’s allegations and raise defenses. 

An attorney familiar with player investment contracts told Sportico that Reyes signing in 2016 is a significant fact. More recent contracts normally contain arbitration clauses that keep disputes such as this one out of public view.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Twins at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 18

Its Wednesday, June 18 and the Twins (36-36) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (38-35).

Bailey Ober is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Nick Lodolo for Cincinnati as the Twins look to rebound following last night's 6-5 loss to the Reds.

Cincinnati managed just five hits on the night against Twins' pitching, but Will Benson and Jake Fraley collected three of the five hits and drove in four runs to pace the attack. The Reds have now won three in a row while Minnesota has lost five in a row.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

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

Game details & how to watch Twins at Reds

  • Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNOH

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

Odds for the Twins at the Reds

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-108), Reds (-111)
  • Spread:  Reds 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for June 18, 2025: Bailey Ober vs. Nick Lodolo
    • Twins: Bailey Ober (4-3, 4.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/12 vs. Texas - 4.2IP, 7ER, 6H, 6BB, 3Ks
    • Reds: Nick Lodolo (4-5, 3.76 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/11 at Cleveland - 3.1IP, 6ER, 5H, 2BB, 6Ks

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Reds

  • Nick Lodolo has struck out at least 4 opposing hitters in every game since April 8
  • The Twins' last 4 games against the Reds have gone over the Total
  • The Twins have covered the Run Line in 3 straight road games against the Reds
  • Ty France is 0-10 in his last 3 games
  • Jake Fraley is 9-22 (.409) over his last 7 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Twins and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)