Category: Baseball

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Drew Rasmussen might be the hottest pitcher in baseball right now - it’s a no-brainer to ride with him in our Rays vs. Mariners prediction.

The Tampa Bay Rays walk into T-Mobile Park as +105 underdogs at Polymarket despite running away with the AL East and having 12 more wins on the season over the Seattle Mariners. Let’s take advantage, shall we?

Let’s get right into my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 7, and build that bankroll for the weekend.

Who will win Rays vs Mariners today: Tampa Bay Rays (+105)

Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays has been incredible this year, sporting a career-low 4.3% walk rate and 3.14 xERA across 117 innings pitched. Truly outstanding stuff.

We’re catching him during the best stint of his campaign tonight, too, having thrown 13 frames of shutout baseball across his last two starts.

It only gets better against the Seattle Mariners, punching them out at a 26% clip across 46 plate appearances.

It helps that the sticks are just as successful against Logan Gilbert on the other side, with Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero a combined 6-for-19 with an xBA of over .300 against the Mariners ace in their career.

No matter which angle you look at in this game, it’s all screaming Rays (they’re 4-0 in their last four games against a righty), which I’d price closer to -105. Let’s take advantage of this value and run with it.

Looking for more plays for today? Our Colby Marchio drops his MLB moneyline picks for the entire slate tonight.

COVERS INTEL: Can Logan Gilbert handle the Rays? Not only do Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero have his number, but afer 59 plate appearances against the right-hander, Tampa Bay owns a .270 xBA and .430 xSLG. That should be enough to get us the W.

Rays vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 runs (+109)

One of the biggest reasons I love the Rays in this spot is because of Mr. Rasmussen, so it’s no surprise we’re rocking with the plus-money Under in this situation.

Looking at the MLB trends, the Under is 8-1 in the Rays’ last nine road games against a team with a winning record - that’ll play tonight.

Gilbert is no slouch, either, owning a career-low 5.4% walk rate himself, meaning both teams are going to have to earn their runs at T-Mobile Park - the most pitcher-friendly diamond in baseball.

I’m all over this Under at a full unit, and I’d play it up to +100.

Rays vs Mariners weather

It's a perfect night for baseball in Seattle, with temperatures sitting at a balmy 25 degrees farenheit around first pitch.

Rays vs Mariners odds

• Moneyline: Rays (+105) | Mariners (-116)
• Run line: Rays -1.5 (+180) | Mariners +1.5 (-200)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-126) | Under 6.5 (+109)

Rays vs Mariners trend

The Rays have simply risen to the occasion this year against good pitching, going 4-0 in their last four games against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Mariners.

How to watch Rays vs Mariners and game info

Rays vs Mariners latest injuries

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Buster Posey didn’t mince words during his interview with KNBR on Thursday.

Three weeks ago, a KNBR producer unknowingly shared his honest feelings about the Giants exec during a live segment of the morning show “Murph & Markus.”

“Posey sucks, man,” the unnamed producer said while testing out a microphone.

For the first time since the hot mic moment, Posey returned as a guest on the show and left no doubt that he had heard what the KNBR employee said.

“Make sure the mics aren’t hot before you talk trash about me,” Posey said as his parting words before leaving the studio.

Host Markus Boucher and guest host John Dickinson didn’t bat an eye, however. Boucher laughed it off and reassured Posey the hot mic incident wouldn’t happen again.

Posey has been the recipient of much criticism over the course of the Giants’ 2026 season because of his handling of the team as well as the media. San Francisco has struggled significantly under first-year manager Tony Vitello and was active at the trade deadline because of its disastrous performance.

“Yeah, we’ll make sure the behind-the-scenes boys don’t press any hot mics. Appreciate you. Love you, Buster. Thank you, man. Buster Posey with the mic drop. Yeah, his mic was hot for that one,” Boucher said.

But beyond the team’s spiral, Posey has looked inadequate or ill-prepared in front of the media, especially following the Giants’ LGBTQ Pride Night controversy when he had no answers for reporters.

This week, however, Posey seemed primed to respond, and he did just that on Thursday to conclude his KNBR interview.  

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The New York Yankees are -131 favorites at home against the Atlanta Braves tonight, and my Braves vs. Yankees predictions are laying the juice.

This is a strong storyline game, with Max Fried making his first career start against the organization he came up with, and Tyler Mahle making his Braves debut after being acquired from San Francisco. The betting angle starts with the matchup: Fried’s contact control against a scorching Atlanta lineup.

Here are my MLB picks for Friday, Aug. 7.

Who will win Braves vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-131)

I’m backing the New York Yankees moneyline for two units down to -145. There’s some anecdotal appeal in Max Fried facing his former team for the first time, but the matchup is the real reason.

Fried has allowed only three barrels on 197 batted balls this season, with a .254 xSLG and 2.39 xERA. That profile plays well against an Atlanta Braves lineup that ranks fourth in barrel rate but is closer to average when forced to string hits together.

Tyler Mahle is not a disaster (despite what his ERA says), but his 4.07 xERA and 9.2% walk rate are easy pressure points for the Bronx Bombers.

COVERS INTEL:Fried’s barrel rate has dropped from 6.9% last season to 1.5% this year, the biggest reason his xERA sits more than seven-tenths of a run below his actual ERA.

Braves vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-126)

I’m playing the Under because Fried gives this game a strong run-prevention base. His 49% ground-ball rate and .241 xwOBA allowed are elite indicators against a Braves lineup that is reliant on fly balls.

The Yankees’ offense also been ugly recently. They were held to one run Wednesday, going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Mahle is exploitable, but he's still a more-than-capable arm to slow down a stagnant offense.

You'll also get a well-focused pitcher hoping to make a strong impression with his new team.

Playable to 8 at +100.

Braves vs Yankees weather

Weather could matter more for timing than run environment tonight. It is hot at Yankee Stadium, with temperatures expected to sit in the low-to-mid 80s around first pitch, and there is thunderstorm risk in the early evening.

Braves vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Braves +119 | Yankees -131
• Run line: Braves +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 8 | Under 8

Braves vs Yankees trend

The Yankees have covered the F5 run line in seven of their last nine games (+5.00 Units / 46% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Yankees.

How to watch Braves vs Yankees and game info

Braves vs Yankees latest injuries

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As you know, the Cubs pitching staff has been decimated by injuries this year. It’s one of the reasons Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer went and traded for Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Ryan Zeferjahn — to address perceived weaknesses in both the starting rotation and bullpen.

Before I delve into the question posed in the headline, let me give major props to Cubs manager Craig Counsell for his handling of the rotation and pen. To have this team at 67-49 with all those injuries? Excellent work by Counsell, and I’m going to say it right now: If the Cubs win the NL Central, he’ll be NL Manager of the Year. Or maybe even if they fall just short of a division title.

Now let’s look at the Cubs pitching staff.

As the team enters Friday’s game against the Royals, here are the 13 pitchers on the MLB active roster (in alphabetical order):

Starters (5): Javier Assad, Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Shōta Imanaga, David Peterson

Relievers (8): Aaron Civale, Braxton Garrett, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, Caleb Thielbar, Trent Thornton, Jacob Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn

First order of business: You’ll note the starter list does include Gausman, who was added to the active roster on Wednesday. He’ll start tonight in Kansas City. It does not include Holmes, who will be added either today or tomorrow and will start Saturday’s game. Holmes is currently on the 60-day IL, so a 40-man roster move will be needed.

So who goes when Holmes is added? The Cubs have already stated that Assad will move to the bullpen (and not be demoted, at least for now).

I’d think it’d be Civale. He could likely be DFA and return on a minor-league deal. (This sort of thing appears to be the new market efficiency; the Braves did it with Carlos Carrasco six times this year before finally releasing him last month.)

Here are the rest of the Cubs pitchers who are on the IL (60-day IL as noted, also in alphabetical order):

Ben Brown (60-day)
Edward Cabrera
Hunter Harvey (60-day)
Porter Hodge (60-day)
Gavin Hollowell
Cade Horton (60-day)
Riley Martin (60-day)
Phil Maton
Shelby Miller (60-day)
Hoby Milner
Daniel Palencia
Ethan Roberts
Justin Steele (60-day)

That’s 12 pitchers, just one man short of a full staff, and you could almost make a full rotation and bullpen out of that list.

Anyway.

Of those 12, Hodge and Horton will not pitch this year. That leaves 10.

Of the other five on the 60-day — Brown, Harvey, Martin, Miller and Steele — Brown seems the most likely to pitch again. He was placed on the 60-day mainly as a procedural move. And presuming he does return, he’ll likely be working in relief — an “out-getter,” as Counsell likes to call his pitchers.

Cabrera, Milner and Palencia are currently on rehab assignments and of the three, Milner seems closest to returning. When he does, as I see it the Cubs have two possible moves: Either option Garrett to Triple-A, or DFA Thielbar. My guess is that Thielbar gets more rope and Garrett, who is a possible 2027 rotation candidate, gets optioned.

For Palencia and Cabrera, now we’re getting into speculation. It’s possible the Cubs option Assad at that point to keep him stretched out to start. But who else from that list of eight would go? Cabrera’s likely not going to start, unless the Cubs go to a six-man rotation, which they could, or they move Holmes to the pen, another possibility as he was a good closer for the Yankees for three years. I’m still not seeing any obvious candidate from the current eight.

Beyond that, I suspect Hollowell and Maton remain on the IL the rest of the year, though Hollowell could be activated and optioned. I don’t think we see Maton throw another pitch for the Cubs in 2026.

Roberts was spotted at Wrigley Field this week, but he’s returning to Iowa, from what I have heard, and is likely going to be optioned once he’s done with his rehab assignment.

Harvey has been reported as getting ramped up to return, but I don’t really see him being a contributor to the Cubs this year. Same for Steele, even though it would be a great story to have him back. I haven’t heard a thing about Martin, who was a great story earlier this year; he might also be done for 2026. Miller has been rumored to possibly be ready to return, but — where would they put him?

Again, these are good problems to have. You can never have too much good pitching.

How do you see things shaking out for the Cubs pitching staff the rest of the way?

Hitters who step into the box against Andrés Muñoz in the late innings have a good idea of what they’re going to see: a triple-digit heater or his wicked biting slider. But since last season, Muñoz has been integrating a tiny new wrinkle in his arsenal: the changeup that he developed prior to spring training last year.

Last spring, all the talk was about Muñoz’s hot sexy new “kick change”, even as he acknowledged the pitch was still in developmental form. Despite the spring buzz, Muñoz threw the pitch only sparingly last year (~2% of the time). This season, he’s still throwing the pitch infrequently, but he’s doubled his usage of it from 2025, to about 5%, and he’s used it even more heavily at times, most notably in his recent outings against the lefty-heavy Twins and Tigers. Muñoz uses his changeup almost exclusively to lefties; of the 32 he’s thrown this season, he’s only thrown one to a righty. Ryan did a great writeup on Muñoz earlier this season, in which he noted that Muñoz had been struggling to get his heater past lefties; it looks like Muñoz started to dip into the changeup more heavily as a weapon to deal with lefties.

Mariners fans have been quick to point out the similarities between Muñoz’s changeup and the other most famous changeup in Seattle’s history, that of Mariners legend and king of the cambio, Félix Hernández. Like Félix’s changeup, Muñoz’s features similar heavy drop, between 5-7”, and comes in around 92 mph, about half a tick faster than it averaged last season, when he was still throwing it as a “kick” change, something he said he doesn’t always do now that he’s throwing the pitch more, as the grip is uncomfortable. Traditional pitching wisdom holds that a changeup is effective when there’s a large velocity differential between that and a pitcher’s fastball, but as our own Jake wrote about Félix’s changeup back in 2019, even when Félix’s fastball velocity started to decline, the changeup remained effective because it featured such a different movement profile than his fastball.

Declining velocity isn’t a concern for Muñoz, but the changeup does play off his other pitches well. While Muñoz is a traditional fastball-up slider-down reliever, the slider cuts gloveside, biting in on lefties and away from righties. The changeup tails armside, giving Muñoz a whiff-getting weapon against lefties – if he can tempt them to swing.

That’s the big if; of those 32 changeups Muñoz has thrown this season, 22 have been balls, and one a called strike (fun fact: the one called strike was also the one changeup thrown to a righty, and it was Jose Altuve). But when hitters swing, they don’t make contact – the pitch currently has a 100% whiff rate. Sometimes the changeup comes in just fully noncompetitive, too far outside to tempt even the most swing-happy of fellas.

But the changeup is more than just a pitch Muñoz hopes to throw for strikes or as a weapon against lefties. It’s a pitch he can use to give hitters a different look as opposed to just the fastball/sinker and slider. And it’s a pitch he can go to when he’s being taxed in an inning or having to throw multiple innings. In his two outings during the Giants series, he threw no changeups, mostly because he didn’t need to, both times blowing through his assigned slate of hitters on just nine pitches each time. But in a multi-inning outing against the Twins where he needed 24 pitches, he threw the changeup six times, or about 25% total.

But what Muñoz says he really values about the changeup – and why he’s not as concerned about throwing it for swinging strikes, even if that’s a nice bonus – is how it can help him reset his mechanics. Muñoz has a famously wonky delivery, falling hard off the mound to the first base side on his finish: something that’s not as noticeable when he’s getting whiffs on his heater and slider, but is a tough look when he’s walking hitters, which he’s always done at an above-average clip. But for all the sturm und drang about Muñoz’s season this year, he’s actually right in line with his career walk rate while striking out a career-high: almost 37% of hitters facing Muñoz are punching out. Muñoz credits his changeup for helping him get back in line when he’s struggling with his command.

“I used to use that pitch to reset when I have some issues with command,” said Muñoz, who has thrown a changeup since 2019, but only rarely at the big-league level until recently. “Like if I’m not able to control, I throw a changeup, and that’s my reset, like, okay, I can go back to the fastball, I can go back to the slider. It just helps me get back in line.”

“Even in the throwing program, when I throw and I feel like something is off, I throw a changeup and I throw the next fastball and it’s good. So that’s why I say that’s like a reset for me.“

But Muñoz doesn’t discount the power of the changeup when he can land it close to the zone – hence that 100% whiff rate when hitters do choose to swing.

“If it looks like it’s in the zone, they’re going to swing at it, especially with two strikes.”

For now, Muñoz is happy to use the changeup primarily as a way to check in with his body when he feels like he’s getting out of his mechanics. It’s still a distant third offering behind his heater/sinker and slider. But whether it develops into a true swing-and-miss weapon or just settles in as a way for Muñoz to check in with himself, it’s a useful tool in Muñoz’s arsenal. Sometimes change is good.

Your 2026 former New York Mets: Oh, that was the problem, before the deadline the Mets had ’winning’ way lower on their priority list. Glad, the Mets brass caught that so they can begin their 2015-esque run.

“My first priority [said that day] is winning.”” -Bo Bichette [New York Mets]

Full disclosure, I’ve been on vacation the past two week with (thankfully) spotting internet, so I’m literally catching up on who was traded and who remains as I blog…

“Any time you find yourself in a situation like this, it’s not the most fun thing. You see people leave that you have good relationships with. It means that you’re not in a great place in the standings. But for us, we still have to show up and try to win every day, continue to be professionals. That’s what we’re looking forward to doing.” -Bo Bichette [New York Mets]

…so with h/t to David Roth of Defector,Let’s Remember Some Guys!

First, do you guys remember Bo Bichette? I remember him as well as his father Dante Bichette, who had a four-year run where he drove in 514 declines Rib Eye Steaks that paired with a somewhat edible four-year cumulative 0.6 fWAR. Which is just a wonderfully perfect mid-90s stat line that Dante was able to parlay into a three-year, $21 million extension for his age 35, 36, and 37 year old seasons. The contract ended up being a steal…/checks Baseball-Reference/…oh, wait, it went immediately south and the Rockies bailed one season into the three-year deal.

“I think [Bichette’s] in a good spot — as good as you can be. His intent coming here was competing for a World Series, and I think that is heavy on a lot of guys where we find ourselves at this moment. At the same time, carrying that heavy burden doesn’t make you perform well. Going out and believing you’re one of the best players on the planet and swinging the bat like it does.” -Mets Manager Tom Andy Green [Mets]

Anyways, absolutely not apropos of Remembering Some Bad Contracts to players with surnames of Bichette, Bo Bichette knows he’s having a down year and doesn’t feel great about it. But I bet he was Remembering Some Contracts and can console himself knowing his contract has $84 million guaranteed after this season and he will still have leverage to opt out if somehow that’s will be lead to being paid more than $42 million.

In other words, we’re going to start getting lots of quotes about how much he loves NY because he’s not opting out and no team will trade for him unless Cohen/Stearns eat at least the worth of 514 Rib Eye Steaks of his contracts.

“The way I look at it is, I think there’s no doubt this team is going to be better next year. I really believe that. There’s still a lot of talent in this room, a lot of young talent that’s really hungry, combined with guys that have been around who have done a lot of great things in this game. And then on top of that, typically when you have a season like this, people show up a little bit more motivated. So I think that this group is going to be well prepared to be better next year.” -Bo Bichette [Mets]

Honestly, I don’t really Remember Andy Green as A Guy and it might be tough for him to earn a spot as in Let’s Remember Some Former Mets Managers but he’s trying to hit the ground running because his use of MBA Buzzwords during post-game interviews might be making David Stearns roll his eyes.

I had to read additional context prior to the quote to realize Andy Green was talking about Jorge Polanco (another Guy I might not Remember) breaking out of a slump and not that the Mets might be paying his salary via some kind of equity in lieu of cash agreement.

“Sometimes, the sweat equity gets you rolling again.” -Andy Green [Mets]

I know the season is lost, but it’s nice the Mets are brought in former rival Placido Polanco to have the Farewell Tour he always wanted while giving Mets fans a chance to Remember him.

“It feels great to come through after putting a lot of work in.” -Jorge Polanco [Mets]

I’m going to level with you, while I think I’m pretty good at Remembering Some Guys, specifically former Mets from the mid-90s through today [Eric Valent, Desi Reliford, Bartolomé Fortunato]; I’m no David Roth.

Because while I’m confident David Roth will be able to Remember Jefry Yan in the future; I’m going to need Jefry Yan to do something so good or so bad in order for him to earn a spot in my brain where Guys like Dae-sung Koon have permanent residence.

“Once I had him at two strikes, I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to throw that slider,’ and if I freeze him, which is exactly what I did, I’m going to celebrate accordingly.” -Jefry Marte Yan [Mets]

“Honestly, I don’t think about [the Cleveland booing him or something, I did not see the game TBH]. They can do whatever they want there. They’re paying their tickets, so if they want to yell at me, they want to boo me, they can do whatever they want. I’m in my zone, and I’m going to enjoy my game any way that I want to.” – Jefry Yan Gomes [Mets]

The Mets should have Remembered Some Guys with real stuff instead of the fake stuff they went with in the first half.

“It’s real stuff. The fastball is alive.” – Shawn Andy Green [Mets]

Of course I Remember Kodai Senga. I also remember convincing myself his injury plagued 2024 was a blessing in disguise because /putting on my David Stearns-Andy Green MBA fedora/ it meant Senga could not opt out and the Mets were going to get SOOO much Surplus Value.

“Whatever role is given to me, I’m going to throw in that role — regardless of what I say,” Senga said through an interpreter. “If I say I want to be a starter, the team could tell me, ‘Just look at your stats.’ And I don’t have anything to say back to them.” -Kodai Senga [Mets]

I’m not in the ‘giving up’ on David Stearns camp yet,but when I Remember Some Front Office Guys, I remember how excited I was when Sandy Alderson was hired. To be fair to Alderson, he was dealt a bad hand with a barren farm, bad contracts and *cough /The Wilpons/*. With that said, and to put it very lightly, the second Sandy Alderson run included some notable missteps.

I know these Mets are not going to go on a run, but I’m going to continue to watch as is my wont, so Godspeed Jared Young or ChaseChac Chaise ChayseChayce McDermott, you have a chance to do something that can earn you a coveted spot in Mets Sickos Fans’ Remember Some Guys rolodex.

“First and foremost, we added a tremendous amount of talent all throughout our system. Different shapes and sizes, different positional groupings, arms and bats, really good defenders. So overall, we believe that we’ve added to our system. We added players that will help us in New York and overall strengthen the quality of our farm system.” -David Stearns [Mets]

On this day 16 years ago,

the Blue Jays defeated the Rays 17-7.

Toronto hit eight home runs: Aaron Hill hit two, while Adam Lind, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and Lyle Overbay each added one.

And, of course, J.P. Arencibia—playing in his first MLB game—hit two home runs and went 4-for-5 with a double.

At that moment, the future looked bright.

From the recap:

What a way to begin a major league career: he homered on the first pitch he saw, doubled in his second at-bat, singled in his third, and hit another home run in his fourth. He finished with 11 total bases, 3 runs, and 3 RBI. It seemed impossible not to pencil J.P. Arencibia into the lineup every day after such a debut, though I was sure Cito would find a way not to.

J.P. started just 9 of the remaining 52 games, hitting .143/.189/.343 in 37 plate appearances that season and going hitless in 15 September at-bats. I can’t help but wonder how different his career might have been if Cito had shown more faith and played him regularly from the start. When young players only get sporadic opportunities, they sometimes feel pressure to be great every time out—a tough way to begin a career.

Also, from the recap:

Arencibia became just the third Blue Jay to homer in his first career game, joining Alvis Woods and Junior Felix. During his postgame interview, he was covered in shaving cream, doused with two buckets of Gatorade, and then got another round of shaving cream. Please, Cito, play him tomorrow.

Cito didn’t play him the next day.

There are five Blue Jays who started their career with a home run:

• Al Woods (1977)

• Junior Félix (1989)

• J.P. (2010)

• Davis Schneider (August 4, 2023)

• Charles McAdoo (June 1, 2026)

Jordan Bastian tweeted that, since 1900, no other player had 4 hits and 2 home runs in his MLB debut.

As we know, J.P.’s career didn’t unfold as hoped. He struggled with breaking balls and never mastered the strike zone, finishing with 85 walks and 484 strikeouts.

He spent four seasons with Toronto, hitting .212/.258/.408 with 64 home runs over 380 games.

After the Jays, he played 62 games for the Rangers in 2014 (primarily at first base) and 24 games for the Rays in 2015.

His defense was always a work in progress. He had a decent arm, throwing out 27% of base stealers, but also allowed his share of passed balls and wild pitches. If he had hit better, his defense would have been more forgivable. Off the field, he was great with fans—I once saw him in Calgary, playing with children and clearly enjoying himself.

Other performances of note:

Travis Snider led off and was 2 for 2 with 2 walks.

Yunel Escobar went 3 for 6.

Bautista hit his 34th home run, leading the A.L.

Edwin Encarnacion went 3 for 5 and made his 10th error of the season.

On the pitching side:

Brad Mills started and gave up 5 runs in 4 innings.

Brian Tallet pitched 3 innings of relief, got the win, and allowed 2 unearned runs.

Jason Frasor pitched a scoreless inning.

David Purcey started the 9th, giving up 2 hits and 2 walks, getting just 1 out.

Casey Janssen got the last 2 outs of the game, giving up a hit and a walk and allowing both of his inherited runs to score.

25 Years Ago

Chris Woodward belted three home runs against the Mariners. Amazingly, the Jays lost 5-4

Despite spending seven seasons and 362 games with the Jays—hitting just 26 home runs for Toronto—three of those came in this single game, which is remarkable.

In total, Woodward played 12 years in MLB and finished with 33 career home runs, so 9.1% of his career homers were hit in this one outing

The Mariners lineup at the time featured some greats:

• Ichiro Suzuki led off and collected two hits.
• John Olerud went 1-for-4.
• Edgar Martinez hit cleanup and notched two hits, including a home run and two RBI.

The Jays carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth inning, but reliever Scott Cassidy allowed a run in the eighth and then the go-ahead run in the ninth. I have no memory of Cassidy, though he pitched in 58 games that year—his rookie season—with a 5.73 ERA. A wild stat: in seven save opportunities, he blew all seven (in fairness, he wasn’t a closer, but Buck Martinez and Carlos Tosca—managers that season—used him as a setup man, and the team lacked reliable relievers or starters. It was basically Roy Halladay and pray for rain.

Luke Prokopec surrendered a walk-off home run to catcher Dan Wilson in the 10th, taking the loss. Prokopec finished the year with a 6.78 ERA in 22 games (12 starts).

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of a six-game losing skid, but the visitors are still heavy -163 favorites tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona starter Merrill Kelly has been brutal this season, which is why I’m backing LA to get back in the win column in my Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks.

Who will win Dodgers vs Diamondbacks today: Dodgers (-168)

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be happy to see Merrill Kelly on the mound tonight. Kelly’s pitching run value, xERA (7.17), and xBA (.305) all rank in the bottom percentile among MLB pitchers this year.

The Arizona Diamondbacks starter throws his four-seamer more than 26% of the time – a pitch that the Dodgers have feasted on vs. righties. 

LA ranks fourth in MLB in average (.270), fifth in SLG (.465), and seventh in wRAA (30.2) against that pitch type.

We’re paying the Dodgers tax, but I’m still taking LA up to -170.

COVERS INTEL: Roki Sasaki relies heavily on his four-seamer as well, and the Diamondbacks are hitting just .173 vs. that pitch from righties over their last 13 games.

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-126)

Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki hasn’t been great this season, but he’s turned it up over his last four outings with a stingy 2.25 ERA through that span.

And unlike the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks have struggled against the four-seamer from righties, which also happens to be Sasaki’s most common pitch (42.2%).

Arizona sits 27th in team average (.225) and SLG (.401) vs. that pitch type, suggesting their bats will be quiet tonight.

The Under has cashed in each of Sasaki’s last four starts, while the Under is 3-1-1 in Kelly’s last five outings.

I’d play the Under to -130 tonight.

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks weather

Tonight’s forecast calls for mostly clear skies with light winds blowing out to right field in a hitter-friendly ballpark.

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks odds

• Moneyline: Dodgers -163 | Diamondbacks +156
• Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-104) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (-100)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (+117) | Under 9.5 (-122)

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks trend

Under is 7-0 in Kelly's last 7 starts following a team loss. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks.

How to watch Dodgers vs Diamondbacks and game info

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks latest injuries

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In the press conference immediately following the MLB Trade Deadline, Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos stated that outside of Tarik Skubal, there was only one other starting pitcher (who he refused to name at the time) who they viewed as an “impact starter” at this year’s trade deadline. There was a lot of speculation surrounding both the Braves and Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom and it appears that there may have been some legitimate activity going on there.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that the Braves and Rangers apparently had an agreement in place for a trade that apparently hinged on whether deGrom wanted to stay in Texas or waive his no-trade clause in order to go to Cobb County. Rosenthal is using two anonymous baseball executives as his source in the reporting. Here’s the relevant quote from his Trade Deadline aftermath story:

For deGrom, [Anthopoulos] was willing to take on a sizable portion of the pitcher’s remaining salary — about $11 million this season and $37 million next season.…Two executives said a trade almost certainly was in place. The execs, granted anonymity for their candor, pointed out that teams do not approach players about waiving no-trade clauses so close to the deadline unless something is done.

The Braves also were involved in discussions for right-hander José Soriano and other starters, according to a person briefed on their talks. But other than Skubal and deGrom, they did not view those pitchers as difference-makers, or even better than what they had.

The news about José Soriano is interesting and considering what we know about the Blue Jays and their organization’s relationship with Anthopoulos, there was maybe a bit of extra satisfaction on Toronto’s part that they were able to beat AA to the punch when it came to pulling off a deal with the Angels. As far as deGrom goes, that’s a very significant commitment to make in terms of salary so that really tells you just how much Atlanta’s front office wanted to add deGrom into the fold.

I recommend that you read the article if you’re subscribed, as Rosenthal also discusses what the Braves were willing to give up for Tarik Skubal (reader, unsurprisingly it was a lot). There’s a lot in there to think about and it’s to the point where if you were disappointed with the deadline (I’m right there with you), you at least understand what the approach was for Atlanta heading into this year’s intense trade deadline.

With that being said, it does at least appear sincere that the Braves figured that it would be “deGrom (or Soriano) or bust” and they ended up getting the latter as a result. We’ll see how this all ends up going as time passes. For now, the Braves have to be feeling at least a little confident that things may end up working out after the performances that their starters had earlier this week (and also after Casey Mize got blown up for eight earned runs against the Diamondbacks in his Padres debut) but time will tell when it comes to figuring out if AA was right to pass up on all other deals going forward. We’ll see what happens!

Welcome to the California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where we review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-inning, 3-run start this week; 11-7 record, 2.76 ERA on season)

There haven’t been many heroic performances during the Dodgers’ six-game losing streak. But Yamamoto’s outing against the Red Sox last Saturday was an exception.

It wasn’t that he halted the Dodgers’ skid, instead taking the loss after giving up the decisive run in the eighth inning. Or that he was particularly dominant, striking out only three batters in a performance that actually saw his ERA slightly rise from 2.72 to 2.76.

But that Yamamoto was pitching at all –– much less effectively enough to complete eight innings –– was nonetheless a feat.

In the days leading up to the start, the already diminutive right-hander lost roughly eight pounds after getting sick at the end of the team’s previous road trip in New York. He spent the week slowly recovering, and had his rotation turn pushed back a day (after a bullpen game on Friday) to regain some extra strength.

It didn’t stop him from making his fourth eight-plus-inning start this year, which is tied with Sandy Alcantara for most in the majors. He also remains in the thick of the Cy Young race, ranking sixth in the NL in ERA, fifth in innings pitched and second in WHIP.

This week, Yamamoto stayed back in Los Angeles during the Chicago portion of the team’s road trip to keep recuperating. He rejoined them in Arizona ahead of his next scheduled start on Saturday.

DODGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Shohei Ohtani (10-for-24, 3 home runs, 5 RBIs this week; .297 average, .954 OPS, 26 home runs, 70 RBIs this season)

How much Ohtani’s day off from the Dodgers’ lineup last Thursday helped his knee still isn’t clear.

But it certainly didn’t seem to hamper his scorching hot swing.

Though the Dodgers’ two-way star has still not resumed a throwing program amid his ongoing knee injury, now more than a month removed from his last pitching start, Ohtani is in the midst of perhaps his most productive stretch at the plate all season.

Entering Friday, he had hits in nine straight games, five of which were multi-hit efforts. He had four home runs in his last eight, including his first multi-homer performance of the year on Wednesday. And, after the questions that were raised last week when lingering knee soreness forced him to miss a game, he offered a reminder that –– as a hitter, at least –– his injury still isn’t having a notable impact; ensuring his most valuable tool, his bat, isn’t being diminished.

Where things stand with Ohtani’s arm, of course, is less clear.

He did not resume catch play in Chicago this week, though manager Dave Roberts continues to insist that will happen “soon.”

The urgency to get him built all the way back up (at least, as fast as possible with two months still left before the playoffs) isn’t as pressing as it once was, either, thanks to the arrival of Tarik Skubal.

The Dodgers still expect to get something out of him on the mound again this year. But for now, while Ohtani’s two-way status grows more uncertain, there aren’t any worries about his hitting. That remains the most important thing.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

How worried should Dodgers be about the standings?

So much for the two-time defending champions having no meaningful baseball left to play this season.

Their recent losing streak might not be jeopardizing their playoff chances (Fangraphs still gives them a, *checks notes*, 100% probability of reaching October) or endangering their division lead (they enter this weekend’s series in Arizona 8 ½ games clear of the second-place Diamondbacks), but it has created unexpected competition for a pivotal playoff seeding.

While the Dodgers have dropped six in a row, the Atlanta Braves have won eight-straight, helping them leapfrog the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed in the National League. The Dodgers are also now three games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL’s best record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Securing a first-round bye and home-field advantage will undoubtedly be goals for the Dodgers over the rest of the season.

But, even amid the more condensed standings now, there is still probably a limit to how urgently they will push for them.

Last year, after all, the Dodgers defended their title even as the NL’s No. 3 seed, which required them to play a best-of-three wild card round and open all three of their subsequent series on the road. 

And while they’d like an easier playoff path this October, they’re also unlikely to start pushing their aging roster any extra, or riding their banged-up pitching staff any harder, for the sake of seeding alone. 

Instead, they’ll trust that if they simply play better down the stretch, the rest will take care of itself.

DODGERS PROSPECT OF THE WEEK

Josue De Paula (9-for-22, 5 home runs this week; .314 average, .972 OPS, 21 home runs, 82 RBIs this year)

The Dodgers’ top-ranked prospect was never going anywhere in the Skubal sweepstakes. This week, the 21-year-old slugger offered a resounding reminder why.

As deadline rumors swirled, De Paula mashed four home runs and collected nine RBIs in a torrid four-game stretch, setting a new high point in a season that has seen him unlock much more of his tantalizing potential at the plate.

Now, the question is how soon he could be promoted to triple-A.

The Dodgers did clear a pathway in the outfield with their Oklahoma City affiliate, after trading Jack Suwinski to Tampa Bay at the deadline for Hunter Feduccia. The expectation has been that either De Paula or Mike Sirota (the team’s next-best outfield prospect, who has also been tearing it up with double-A Tulsa) will thus take another step up the minor-league ladder.

For now, neither have gotten the call. Still, many more weeks like this, and De Paula won’t be stuck in double-A for much longer.

FUTURE DODGER OF THE WEEK

Usually, we dedicate this section to identifying a player the Dodgers could potentially acquire in the future (sometimes far-fetched, other times not).

But this week, we decided we’d review the past, and see how many of our predictions so far this season came true at the deadline.

Skubal, of course, has been a common name in this section. We picked him early in the season as an obvious deadline candidate, and again after his May elbow procedure as a potential offseason signing. We then went back to the well again in last week’s weekly recap, as it became clear the Dodgers would make a real effort to get him.

In late June, we also highlighted Ben Rortvedt’s name as a possible target, as the team’s need at catcher became impossible to ignore.

As for the dozen or so other players featured in this space this year (from Mason Miller to Jacob Misiorowski to Nolan McLean to Munetaka Murakami)? Well, we’re either wrong –– or perhaps simply early. 

After all, as the Dodgers showed once again at this trade deadline, whenever there is a star player potentially available in some form or fashion, they’ll almost always be in the hunt for them; no matter how far-fetched it once might have seemed.

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An exciting weekend of baseball is ahead, starting with a full slate of games this Friday, August 8.

Our MLB expert picks are here to help you get your weekend off to a winning start. See why the Orioles should be part of your MLB picks tonight.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Jon Metler: BAL ML	+127
Joe Osborne: CLE ML	-136

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Orioles moneyline

Price: 44¢ (+127) at Polymarket

The matchup for Shane Baz is the main reason I'm backing this bet, but the Texas Rangers also feel like a team in a strange spot after the trade deadline. Reports surfaced that Texas was shopping veterans Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi despite remaining in the American League playoff race, creating some uncertainty around the clubhouse.

On the field, Baz draws a favorable matchup. Three of the Rangers' top five left-handed hitters—Seager, Joc Pederson, and Evan Carter—do their best damage on pitches at the bottom of the zone. Baz attacks in the opposite manner, using a riding four-seam fastball at the top of the strike zone before tunneling his secondary pitches off it.

That pitch mix should help neutralize the Rangers' pull-side power. 

The Baltimore Orioles are trading as a 44-cent underdog, but I make them closer to a 48-cent underdog, which is why I'm hitting the button.

• Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Apple TV

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Guardians moneyline

Price: 58¢ (-136) at Polymarket

The Chicago White Sox are in a brutal spot tonight after being swept in Boston and losing a 13-inning game yesterday. Chicago used seven relievers in the loss and now turns to Noah Schultz, who owns a 5.82 ERA and rarely pitches deep into games.

The White Sox are also just 1-7 across his last eight appearances.

Meanwhile, Parker Messick has allowed only one earned run in each of his three starts since the All-Star break. He owns a 2.20 road ERA and has held Chicago hitters to a .174 batting average in two starts against them this season.

Back the Cleveland Guardians to -150.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: CleGuardians.TV, CHSN

More MLB best bets for today

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Nine straight series wins was just what the doctor ordered. And every Red Sox fan. They’re pitching, hitting homers, playing defense. They look like the best team in baseball. And for the last month or so, they’ve been the best. They won two of three against the Athletics in Sacramento, possibly hindered by the sun angles, and will get three games to test themselves against the team at Fenway Park. This weekend will help answer if it was the Athletics pitching – which hasn’t been great – or the batter’s eye that proved challenging for the Sox in that series.

Jack Perkins allowed just 2 runs in 5.2 innings to Boston as part of a three-game stretch where he allowed 8 runs over 13.2 innings. Which isn’t great but he gave up 7 to the Marlins before that stretch and 6 to the Tigers right after. Now the righty faces Boston again. Payton Tolle rolled out a 6.0 inning, 7K, 2 run outing against the Dodgers last time out. Almost the same as he put up against these Athletics. Let’s see the rematch!

Gage Jump provided the lone win for the A’s in Sacramento. He went 6.0 innings, struck out 7, didn’t allow a run. But surrounding that start: 4.2 innings and 6 runs against the Diamondbacks and 3.2 innings and 6 runs against the Tigers. Jake Bennett, like Tolle, just keeps rolling along. Around 6.0 innings per start, 3 runs or fewer. What a steal from the Nationals.

J.T. Ginn missed Boston when they were in Sacramento. A righty, he’s been all over the place in the last month. But an 8-run outing against the White Sox sticks out the most. The Red Sox will feature a bullpen start to close out the weekend. The exact makeup of this game isn’t known at the moment so it could be an opener and Bello or it could be a more traditional 1-2 inning per guy event.

Shea Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, and Zack Gelof are all on the IL now.

Since the win against Boston the A’s have lost 8 straight games. Boston has won 8 straight.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Friday, August 7: Jack Perkins (6.72 ERA / 4.61 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (3.30 ERA / 3.41 FIP)

Saturday, August 8: Gage Jump (4.59 ERA / 3.80 FIP) vs. Jake Bennett (2.90 ERA / 3.23 FIP)

Sunday, August 9: J.T. Ginn (3.51 ERA / 4.22 FIP) vs. TBD Bullpen (— ERA / — FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Friday, August 7: 7:10 PM ET on NESN

Saturday, August 8: 4:10 PM ET on NESN

Sunday, August 9: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

The imperfect man pitched a perfect game yesterday.

So read Joe Trimble’s lead on October 9, 1956 in the New York Daily News. The day prior, a man who was an afterthought on a team in the midst of winning its seventh championship in 10 years, a man known more for his carousing off the field than his performance on it, had achieved the unthinkable. He’d held a Brooklyn Dodgers lineup stacked with five Hall of Famers to 27 plate appearances, permitting none to reach base safely in the first and last perfect game in World Series history.

Don James Larsen
Born: August 7, 1929 (Michigan City, IN)
Died: January 1, 2020 (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
Yankees Tenure: 1955-59

Don Larsen grew up on the Indiana side of Lake Michigan. His father, James, played sandlot baseball and passed along the game to young Don, who began playing ball with his father at the age of four. While he was in high school, the family moved to San Diego, where Larsen made the All-Metro Conference basketball team at Point Loma High and garnered several college basketball scholarships. The fun-loving Larsen declined. “I was never much with studies, and I didn’t really have an interest in going to college and studying my life away,” he would later say of his decision.

Instead, Larsen signed a contract with the St. Louis Browns, spending four seasons in their minor-league system before he was drafted into the Army in 1951. He played baseball for an Army team at Fort Shafter on Oahu for two years, returning to the mainland in time for spring training in 1953. The 23-year-old pitched well enough to earn a spot out of camp, an achievement he likened to “Christmas in springtime.”

Larsen was a bright spot on the 100-loss Browns as a rookie, tossing a team-high 192.2 innings with a 4.16 ERA. His teammates gave him a delightfully ’50s nickname that would stick with him throughout his career: Gooney Bird. Depending who you ask, the origin of the moniker was either Larsen’s gangly appearance or his outside-the-lines antics.

The Browns moved to Baltimore for the ‘54 season. The newly christened Orioles once again lost 100 games, with Larsen taking the decision in an MLB-high 21 of them. He won only three games but two came against the mighty Yankees, drawing the attention of the team’s manager, Casey Stengel.

Following the season, he was traded to New York in a mammoth 17-player deal that also netted the Yankees future Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley. Larsen was injured to start the year but pitched well once recalled, going 9-2 in 19 games (13 starts) to help his new team to the pennant. He drew the start in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers. With the Yankees up two games to one and the chance to stake them to a commanding series lead, Larsen faltered, allowing five runs — including two long balls — in four innings as the Dodgers coasted to victory. After the Yankees lost to their chief NL rivals in Game 7, Larsen remained positive about his experience. “I had stretched beyond my childhood dreams by playing for the Yankees in the World Series,” he would later recount. “Even though we lost the championship to the Dodgers, I was thankful to have been even been there in the first place.”

The next year shaped up similarly. An 11-5 record in the regular season as the Yankees repeated as AL champs, followed by an even more frustrating World Series outing against the Dodgers in which he walked four in 1.2 innings as the Yankees coughed up an early six-run lead.

This is where reality and myth start to become inextricable. There’s as much lore around Larsen’s perfect game as any event in Yankees history. New York Daily Mirror writer Arthur Richman later relayed that Larsen told him the night before on the way back from the bars that he would pitch a no-hitter. This was likely impossible given Stengel’s habit of informing pitchers whether they would start on game day, employing his coach, Frank Crosetti, to place a baseball in the starter’s shoe. Much like David Wells, the next Yankee to reach perfection, there’s been much written about the extent of Larsen’s hangover that game day as well.

Whatever the merit of these stories, Larsen took the mound at Yankee Stadium on October 8 prepared to face a lineup that had twice torn him to shreds. The outcome would be different that day, with the 27-year-old needing just 97 pitches to carve up one of the most potent lineups ever assembled. After throwing his improbable perfecto, Larsen jogged off the mound and was intercepted by a euphoric Yogi Berra, the catcher who he hadn’t shaken off a single time all day. Yogi jumped into Larsen’s arms, and a piece of Americana was born.

Larsen would pitch for 10 more seasons but, naturally, never match the majesty of his finest achievement. He embraced the narrow scope of his baseball legacy. “I have thought about that perfect game, more than once a day, every day of my life since the day I threw it,” he said in 2012.

Larsen spent three more years in New York, mostly serving as a mediocre swingman but making four more October outings. In the ‘58 Fall Classic, he held Milwaukee off the board for seven innings in an eventual 4-0 victory and pitched 2.1 more innings of one-run ball in the decisive Game 7 to earn his second ring. He’d pitch for six more teams after departing New York at the conclusion of the ‘59 season, including a return to the World Series as a member of the Giants in 1962, pitching back at Yankee Stadium in Games 3 and 4. Larsen made his last appearance with the Cubs in 1967, weeks before his 38th birthday.

After the conclusion of his playing career, Larsen moved to San Jose, where he worked for many years as a paper salesman. After retiring, he moved to Idaho, though he was always a safe bet to return to the site of his former glory each Old-Timers’ Day. Larsen also formed a kinship with the two other pitchers who spun perfect games for the Yankees in the 20th century: David Wells, who coincidentally also went to Point Loma High, and David Cone, whose gem Larsen actually attended since there were pregame festivities celebrating the return of Yogi Berra to Yankee Stadium. Larsen threw the ceremonial first pitch to Berra, and Cone threw the last to Joe Girardi.

Larsen died on the first day of 2020 at the age of 90. Please join us in remembering perhaps the most unlikely of Yankee legends, the everyman who for one day was perfect.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Baseball America updates their Top-100 MLB prospects list with some regularity throughout the year, but the most meaningful mid-season update follows the conclusion of both the MLB Draft and MLB Trade Deadline. Now that the dust has settled, the Rays have seven prospects ranked in the new Top-100, including two in the top twenty.

5. Theo Gillen, OF

The jump in Power has turned Gillen’s profile into one of the best in baseball. This morning in the Slack chat Cole Mitchem comped Gillen’s current profile to Brewers CF Garrett Mitchell or Phillies CF from 2023-2025 Brandon Marsh. Gillen is 8 years younger than both.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 45

13. Grady Emerson, SS

A prep short stop was a prototypical Rays selection at No. 2 overall, but the offensive profile at 17-years young made this the obvious choice as well.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60

54. Nathan Flewelling, C

Tampa Bay’s third round pick from 2024 has risen this year, as BA praises his improving defense and consistent power from his lefthanded swing.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50

59. Caden Bodine, C

The 30th overall selection of the 2025 draft, Bodine might be the star of the loaded Shane Baz trade return, having already rocketed up to Double-A after demolishing the A and A+ levels.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 40 | Run: 40 | Field: 60 | Arm: 45

64. Cooper Flemming, SS / 3B

The team’s 2nd round pick from last season (53rd overall in 2025) boasts a 130 wRC+ in Low-A, outpacing fellow draftees SS Daniel Pierce (100 wRC+, 14th overall in 2025) and OF Brendan Summerhill (98 wRC+, 42nd overall), and in lock step with…

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55

76. Taitn Gray, 1B

… last season’s third round selection, the switch hitting Gray (128 wRC+, 86th overall in 2025). He’s a bit positionless at the moment, and needed a minor elbow surgery to clean up loose bodies, but the bat is real at 18 years young.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50

82. Brody Hopkins, RHP

The key return in the Randy Arozarena trade (now that OF Aidan Smith — who was not a Top-100 prospect — has been traded), Hopkins has seen his walk rate spike to 22% in 85 innings at Triple-A while the Rays try to simplify his delivery mid-season, but the quality of his stuff is still respected.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 70 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 65 | Sweeper: 60 | Control: 40

Diamondbacks News

(MLB.com) Padres even season series with D-backs, gain ground in Wild Card race

They’ve played three series this season. And, after the Padres’ 5-1 victory Thursday night, they’ve split all three of them. It sure looks like this race might go down to the wire — a season-ending three-game series between the two NL West rivals at Petco Park.

“We’ve played these guys pretty even all year round,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “We’ll see them again later in the year in a three-game series. Could be the decider of it all.”

(San Diego Union Tribune) Padres win, earn crucial series split with Diamondbacks

Thursday night was important. Big. Enormous.

But then the magnitude also shrunk in the shadow of the 46 games that remain.

“Uh, yeah, probably,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said Thursday afternoon when asked if he viewed that night’s game as having added consequence. “I mean, right now, the space that we’re in, we’re two games behind these guys. So the best way to get closer is to beat them. So I think that’s the number one priority today.”

(Arizona Sports) Back-and-forth battle between Diamondbacks and Padres to be continued

The Diamondbacks (61-55) and Padres (60-56) remain neck-and-neck in a race for the third NL Wild Card spot with 46 games left. Their final series will close the regular season at Petco Park to determine the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Over the past two seasons, the D-backs took on the Padres at the end of the campaign with their playoff fate in the air. The chance of that happening again is legitimate.

MLB News

(Sporting News) Dave Dombrowski reveals Bryce Harper was key to Phillies trading for Luis Arraez

“It started with Bryce Harper,” Dombrowski said of the bold Arraez trade. Stark noted that, “But Harper opened the door to the Arraez trade by telling Dombrowski multiple times he’d make that move, from first base to right field, if they needed him to.”

Well, it wasn’t to acquire a first baseman, but rather a new second baseman. But the shift for Harper was all the same.

By adding Arraez, Harper would have to move from first base to the outfield, back where he played the majority of his MLB career.

(ESPN) Where all 30 MLB teams stand after 2026 trade deadline

In addition to the usual Stock Watch measurements, I’ve taken a stab at looking how complete each team’s roster is, expressing it as a percentage. The basic details are in the methodology box. The idea is that for contenders, it’s a look at how well-situated a team is for the playoff push and a potential October run. For the noncontenders, it’s a glimpse at just how much work they have to do so that their future Augusts and Septembers are a little more dramatic.

(MLB.com) Arrighetti leaves 1st rehab start in Blue Jays’ system with apparent injury

Spencer Arrighetti, who the Blue Jays acquired at the Trade Deadline for outfielder Daulton Varsho, made his first rehab appearance in Toronto’s system on Thursday, but he left early with an apparent injury.

The 26-year-old Arrighetti, who has been on the injured list since July 25 with right foot nerve irritation, was removed after 2 1/3 hitless innings with Triple-A Buffalo. He threw 39 pitches before he was lifted from the game.