AfterFrankie Montas was touched up for seven runs on seven hits in just 4.0 innings on Sunday during the Mets' blowout loss to the Giants, manager Carlos Mendoza was non-committal when asked about whether Montas would make his next scheduled start.
"I mean we just got done with the game here," Mendoza said. "He's got to be better and he knows that."
That kind of answer is ordinarily code for a team not being ready to commit to a pitcher's role.
By Monday afternoon, the Mets had committed to Montas' immediate role (sort of), with Mendoza saying he would pitch on Saturday against the Brewers. But there was a caveat.
"So, maybe an opener in front of him, but as of right now, on Saturday, he’s going to play a part in that game," Mendoza explained. "Depending on how we get through on Friday, we’ll see. But like I said, on Saturday he’s pitching."
It's unclear what the Mets hope to gain by using an opener in front of Montas, who has a 6.68 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 33.2 innings over seven starts this season, and has allowed 11.2 hits per nine innings.
Perhaps the plan is for Montas to enter after an inning or two and go through the Brewers' lineup just once before being removed.
Either way, with Montas getting the ball in some fashion on Saturday against a red-hot Milwaukee lineup, the elephants in the room are pitching prospects Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean.
New York Mets starter Brandon Sproat (91) pitches against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
But as of Monday night, they weren't ready to do so.
"I think it's always a combination of when developmentally those guys are ready, and also when there's the need and how to fit it on the roster," Stearns said. "And so, we may get to the point where we decide that it's the best thing to do to bring one or both of them here, but we're not at that point quite yet."
Stearns added:
"I think they're getting close. I think they've both had really good months, and they're making progress."
Sproat has been on fire for Syracuse, allowing just two runs over his last 33.0 innings -- a span of six starts.
As far as McLean, he has been terrific this season in 104.0 innings spit between Double-A Binghamton and Syracuse, posting a 2.60 ERA and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 113 batters.
It's possible the Mets still want Sproat (who struggled earlier this season) and/or McLean (who needs to be more effective against left-handers) to hit more benchmarks before being deemed ready for the majors. But if Montas struggles again on Saturday, it's hard to imagine New York waiting much longer to turn to one of them.
It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Yankees (60-53) are in Arlington to take on the Rangers (59-55). Will Warren is slated to take the mound for New York against Nathan Eovaldi for Texas.
The storyline ahead of this game was not the epic loss for the Yankees to extend its losing streak to four games on Monday night, but the return of Aaron Judge.
Judge has not played since July 25 and was on the 10-day IL. New York has gone 4-6 in the 10 games without Judge and scored for or fewer runs in six of those 10 contests. After starting 8-1 in the second half of the season, Texas is 3-5 since.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch 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.
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Game details & how to watch Yankees at Rangers
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 8:05PM EST
Site: Globe Life Field
City: Arlington, TX
Network/Streaming: YES, RSN
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Odds for the Yankees at the Rangers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Yankees (+115), Rangers (-136)
Spread: Rangers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Rangers
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Will Warren vs. Nathan Eovaldi
Yankees: Will Warren, (6-5, 4.64 ERA) Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Yankees and the Rangers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Yankees at Rangers
New York is 0-4 in the last 4 games
Texas is 3-5 in the past 8 games
The Rangers have won their last 5 games with Nathan Eovaldi as starting pitcher
The Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has an ERA of 1.49 and a WHIP of 0.76 when starting on the mound this season
The Rangers have covered in 8 straight games with Nathan Eovaldi starting
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Rays (55-59) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (55-58). Ryan Pepiot is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against José Soriano for Los Angeles.
The Angels won the series opener, 5-1, taking the lead in the second inning and never looking back. The Rays' slide continues as they are 1-6 over the past seven games and 5-12 in the second half of the season.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Rays at Angels
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 9:38PM EST
Site: Angel Stadium
City: Anaheim, CA
Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, FDSNW
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Odds for the Rays at the Angels
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Rays (+106), Angels (-125)
Spread: Angels -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Angels
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Ryan Pepiot vs. José Soriano
Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (6-9, 3.80 ERA) Last outing: 15.75 ERA, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
Angels: José Soriano, (7-8, 3.65 ERA) Last outing: 1.29 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Angels
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Rays and the Angels:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Angels
Tampa Bay is 1-6 in the past 7 games
Los Angeles is 2-0 in the past 2 games but 2-3 in the last 5
The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 road series against the Angels
The Under has cashed in the Rays' last 4 games
The Rays have failed to cover the Run Line in 8 straight matchups against the Angels
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Brewers (68-44) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (47-64). Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Joey Wentz for Atlanta.
Milwaukee's heater continues after a 3-1 win over Atlanta behind a three-run homer via rookie Isaac Collins. The Brewers have won four consecutive games and seven of the past eight, while the loss dropped the Braves below .500 at home (26-27).
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Brewers at Braves
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Truist Park
City: Atlanta, GA
Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, FDSNSO
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Odds for the Brewers at the Braves
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Brewers (-149), Braves (+124)
Spread: Brewers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Braves
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Joey Wentz
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Braves
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Brewers and the Braves:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Braves
Milwaukee is 7-1 in the last eight and 4-0 in the past four
Atlanta is 5-11 in the second-half of the season
The Brewers have won 12 of their last 15 on the road, while the Braves have lost 3 straight home games
The Over is 4-1 in the Brewers' last 5 matchups against National League teams
The Brewers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 3.31 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!
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Blue Jays (66-48) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (30-82). José Berríos is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Anthony Molina for Colorado.
The Blue Jays dominated the series opener, winning 15-1 behind three homers (8 RBI) to put a stamp on what was an ugly 2-6 stretch for Toronto. The Rockies have now lost two straight and permitted 24 runs in those outings.
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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Rockies
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 8:40PM EST
Site: Coors Field
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, COLR
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Odds for the Blue Jays at the Rockies
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Blue Jays (-207), Rockies (+170)
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5
Total: 11.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Rockies
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: José Berríos vs. Anthony Molina
Blue Jays: José Berríos, (7-4, 3.84 ERA) Last outing: 4.15 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
Rockies: Anthony Molina, (0-0, 7.27 ERA) Last outing: 4.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Blue Jays and the Rockies
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Blue Jays and the Rockies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 11.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Rockies
The Blue Jays have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against NL West teams
The Rockies' last 4 home games have gone over the Total
The Blue Jays have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 matchups against the Rockies
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!
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Padres (62-51) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (54-59). Yu Darvish is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Ryne Nelson for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks won the opener, 6-2, behind an early lead where they never had to look back. Arizona are now winners of three consecutive games, while the Padres dropped two of the previous three that followed six straight wins.
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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Padres at Diamondbacks
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 9:40PM EST
Site: Chase Field
City: Phoenix, AZ
Network/Streaming: SDPA, ARID, MLBN
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Odds for the Padres at the Diamondbacks
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Padres (-136), Diamondbacks (+115)
Spread: Padres -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Diamondbacks
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Yu Darvish vs. Ryne Nelson
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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Diamondbacks
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 Tuesday’s game between the Padres and the Diamondbacks:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Diamondbacks
Arizona is 3-0 in the last three games
Arizona is 5-3 versus San Diego this season
The Diamondbacks have lost 12 of their last 20 games
6 of the Diamondbacks' last 8 matchups against National League teams have gone under the Total
The Diamondbacks have covered the Run Line in 3 straight 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!
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Cardinals (57-57) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (65-48). Miles Mikolas is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Emmet Sheehan for Los Angeles.
The Cardinals opened the series with a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers as Yohel Pozo delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Monday's contest was the Dodgers first game back on the west coast apozofter a nine-game east coast road trip (5-4 record in that span).
Los Angeles has now alternated wins and losses over the past six games, while St. Louis is 2-4 in that span.
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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Cardinals at Dodgers
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: FDSNMW, SNLA, MLBN
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Odds for the Cardinals at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Cardinals (+154), Dodgers (-187)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Dodgers
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Miles Mikolas vs. Emmet Sheehan
Cardinals: Miles Mikolas, (6-8, 4.83 ERA) Last outing: 3.00 ERA, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Cardinals and the Dodgers
Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) thinks the Dodgers will be of value for the next 18 games:
"After a nine-game road trip that went from Boston to Cincinnati to Tampa Bay (5-4 record) — Los Angeles lost its first game back on the west coast, 3-2 to the Cardinals.
In the next 18 games, the Dodgers will be on the west coast for all of them with Colorado being the furthest traveled game. Los Angeles will host St. Louis, Toronto, and San Diego, while visiting San Diego, Colorado, and the Angels — so it's a decent schedule to back the Dodgers -1.5 for plus-money until August 25th when they head to Cincinnati.
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Tuesday’s game between the Cardinals 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 St. Louis Cardinals at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cardinals at Dodgers
At home this season the Dodgers have won 12 of 22 games following a defeat
The Under is 5-0 in the Dodgers' last 5 games
The Cardinals have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games at 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!
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It's Tuesday, August 5 and the Reds (59-54) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (65-47). Zack Littell is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Shota Imanaga for Chicago.
The Reds opened the series with a 3-2 win off a RBI single in the seventh inning. Despite the win, the Cubs still own the season edge, 4-3.
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 first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Reds at Cubs
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Time: 8:05PM EST
Site: Wrigley Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, MARQ, TBS
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Odds for the Reds at the Cubs
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Reds (+152), Cubs (-183)
Spread: Cubs -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Cubs
Pitching matchup for August 5, 2025: Zack Littell vs. Shota Imanaga
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds 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 Tuesday’s game between the Reds 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 Cincinnati Reds 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Cubs
The Cubs have won 4 of their last 5 home series
The Over is 4-1 in the Cubs' last 5 divisional matchups
Chicago is 8-8 since the All-Star break
Cincinnati is 9-7 since the All-Star break
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!
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Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been the odds-on favorite to win his fourth National League MVP award since before the season even began. He tightened his stranglehold on the race through the end of June, leading the NL in homers, OPS, and extra-base hits.
As for Kyle Schwarber, he has largely toiled in obscurity, a distant third on the list behind Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs as recently as last week. Some books didn’t even have odds for him a month ago.
However, Schwarber’s annual June hot streak began a bit later than usual. But it’s here, and it has been a game-changer in the MVP race.
Tuesday night’s performance against the Orioles was the latest haymaker thrown by Schwarber, two resounding left hooks that laid waste to errant pitches. A two-run smash that tied the game at 3-3, then a TKO grand slam in the team’s eight-run sixth inning.
Since July 1, Schwarber leads the NL in homers (15) and RBIs (37), and he’s second in OPS (1.140). Ohtani’s insurmountable lead in the MVP race has been decimated. At FanDuel, for example, he is still a -650 favorite, but Schwarber is on the radar, second-best at +550. PCA is now third at +1300.
Surely, Ohtani adds value to his team with his pitching ability. But looking purely at the offensive numbers, it’s nearly a dead heat:
Ohtani
Schwarber
512
PA
498
102
RUNS
79
38
HR
40
73
RBI
94
.274
BAT AVG
.258
.378
OBP
.382
.600
SLG
.593
.978
OPS
.974
59
XBH
58
These two titans have put on quite a show. The final eight weeks of the regular season should be electric. It’s a shame there can only be one winner.
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been the odds-on favorite to win his fourth National League MVP award since before the season even began. He tightened his stranglehold on the race through the end of June, leading the NL in homers, OPS, and extra-base hits.
As for Kyle Schwarber, he has largely toiled in obscurity, a distant third on the list behind Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs as recently as last week. Some books didn’t even have odds for him a month ago.
However, Schwarber’s annual June hot streak began a bit later than usual. But it’s here, and it has been a game-changer in the MVP race.
Tuesday night’s performance against the Orioles was the latest haymaker thrown by Schwarber, two resounding left hooks that laid waste to errant pitches. A two-run smash that tied the game at 3-3, then a TKO grand slam in the team’s eight-run sixth inning.
Since July 1, Schwarber leads the NL in homers (15) and RBIs (37), and he’s second in OPS (1.140). Ohtani’s insurmountable lead in the MVP race has been decimated. At FanDuel, for example, he is still a -650 favorite, but Schwarber is on the radar, second-best at +550. PCA is now third at +1300.
Surely, Ohtani adds value to his team with his pitching ability. But looking purely at the offensive numbers, it’s nearly a dead heat:
Ohtani
Schwarber
512
PA
498
102
RUNS
79
38
HR
40
73
RBI
94
.274
BAT AVG
.258
.378
OBP
.382
.600
SLG
.593
.978
OPS
.974
59
XBH
58
These two titans have put on quite a show. The final eight weeks of the regular season should be electric. It’s a shame there can only be one winner.
SAN FRANCISCO — The trade deadline often is about what you get back, but because of the specific pieces the Giants traded away last week, that wasn’t really the case initially.
In Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers, Buster Posey and Zack Minasian traded away not just their eighth- and ninth-inning guys, but also the two longest-tenured pitchers in the bullpen. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was the longest-tenured position player and was very popular with the fans who have filled Oracle Park all summer.
It was a somber stretch for the organization, and the initial reaction was to say goodbye to three players who had become big parts of the franchise. But over the next two months and beyond, the focus will be on what came back.
The Giants got eight players in the three trades, including seven who still are in the minor leagues. The reaction from around the league was that they did very well in the Rogers deal, in particular, but Posey felt like the entire haul will help future Giants teams. There definitely was an emphasis on adding some players who are close to the big leagues, and that should help the 2026 group try to reach the postseason.
“You want to feel pretty good about what you’re getting back,” he said last week. “We feel like we added to the system, and yeah, it’s a huge plus to get players like (Blade) Tidwell and (Drew) Gilbert, who we think are very close to major league ready.”
Both could be options later this month or in September, and some of the others aren’t far behind. Here’s a look at what the Giants got back at the deadline, beginning with the one player they already have used:
José Buttó, right-handed reliever
The only acquired player to go right onto the big league roster, Buttó pulled a reverse Tyler Rogers. He was a Met who became a Giant, and over the weekend he pitched well against his former teammates. Like Rogers, he even joined his previous team on the flight back to New York on Wednesday.
Buttó has three strikeouts in two scoreless appearances for the Giants. For the season, he has a 3.47 ERA and 3.31 FIP, and those numbers are 3.40 and 3.84 over parts of four seasons. While Rogers will be a free agent at the end of the year, Buttó is under team control through 2030, so if he sticks, he could give the Giants a nice cost-controlled bullpen weapon for a few years.
The slider is the pitch Buttó used often against his former teammates over the weekend, and it has been his best pitch. Opponents are hitting just .182 off it this season.
Blade Tidwell, right-handed pitcher
Tidwell joined Buttó in going right on the 40-man roster, which was necessary after he made four appearances for the Mets earlier this season. They didn’t go well, as he allowed 15 earned runs in 15 innings, with 10 walks to 10 strikeouts and four homers allowed.
Tidwell’s first two appearances came as a starter and the second two as a long reliever, and the question moving forward is whether he will stick as a rotation option or move to the ‘pen.
Taken 14 picks ahead of Carson Whisenhunt in the 2022 draft and signed to an over-slot deal, the Tennessee product thus far has been developed purely as a starter. Of his 73 minor league appearances, 66 have been starts, and he has a 4.13 ERA with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Tidwell has had command issues, but his walk rate this year is his lowest as a professional.
Minasian said the Giants liked Tidwell’s “plus breaking ball” and Baseball America has his slider as his best pitch. If he ends up in the bullpen, his velocity and a good slider would be a nice combo; he hit 99 mph in one of his big league appearances and averaged 96 mph with his four-seamer across those 15 innings.
Drew Gilbert, outfielder
Tidwell entered the Giants’ MLB Pipeline top 30 list at No. 12 and Gilbert came in at No. 13. The two were teammates at Tennessee and Gilbert went 28th overall to the Houston Astros in the 2022 draft, ahead of Tidwell and Whisenhunt and two picks ahead of Giants first-rounder Reggie Crawford.
Gilbert played in the 2023 Futures Game, but he wasn’t an Astro for long. He was a big piece in the deal that brought Justin Verlander back to Houston from New York at the deadline in 2023. Before the next season, Gilbert was a consensus top-100 prospect.
Gilbert has a .261/.361./453 slash line in the minors with 44 homers, 14 of which have come this season. He had some hamstring issues after getting drafted and hasn’t run much, but he is considered a good defensive center fielder with a plus arm that should allow him to play right at Oracle Park. Given that he already has more than 600 plate appearances in Triple-A, it shouldn’t be long before his MLB debut.
Minasian said the Giants like that Gilbert “plays with an edge.” He also watches Tidwell’s dog occasionally, which should be on his scouting report:
Blade Tidwell says he left his dog, Bentley, with Drew Gilbert in Syracuse.
The 23-year-old has been the DH for Sacramento in his first two games, but at some point the Giants will throw him behind the plate, and that might determine how the entire Doval trade is graded.
Rodriguez was the biggest piece in that deal, which brought back four players, and Posey spoke passionately about his talent after the deadline.
“I know (he) is not ranked very high (but) the guy, all he has done is hit,” he said. “I think he has been a player that, listening to our pro scouting department talk about him, that has kind of come on the scene a little bit later. He has never really been a famous guy (but) you’re a .308 career hitter in the minor leagues, you watch his swing and he sprays the ball all over the field. We’re happy and excited about him.”
Rodriguez has hit at least .296 in every professional season and has a .395 OBP in six minor league years. He only has reached double-digit homers once, but the Giants are buying into the hit tool and low strikeout rate — and the idea that he can catch.
Rodriguez has caught and played both corner infield spots, but he has a strong arm and Minasian said he thinks he “can be a quality defensive catcher.” If that’s the case, he should be Patrick Bailey’s backup next season, and as a right-handed hitter, he’s an ideal partner. That’s something the Giants haven’t had the last couple of years.
Trystan Vrieling, right-handed pitcher
Born in Idaho and raised in Washington State, Vrieling grew up a Giants fan. He told Trey Wilson of the Richmond Flying Squirrels that he was “shocked” to be in a trade for Doval.
“Man, I had watched Doval throw for a long time,” he said on Wilson’s podcast.
Vrieling was drafted out of Gonzaga in 2022 but missed all of the next season with an elbow fracture. He has a 4.36 ERA in the minor leagues while featuring a deep pitch mix.
Minasian noted that Vrieling’s velocity is trending up, and the Giants saw him at 95 mph consistently just before the deadline. Vrieling also throws a cutter, two sliders, a curve and changeup. If he can find a reliable mix, he could be a back-end starter down the line.
Parks Harber, corner infielder
Undrafted out of UNC, Harber had a .914 OPS in A-ball this year, but there’s a caveat. He turns 24 next month, so he’s pretty old for that level and the Giants probably will want to test him against better competition whenever he returns from the IL, which he was on at the time of the deal.
Harber is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and he hit 20 homers as a college junior. He has played first base and third base this year, and batted .326 after a promotion to High-A.
Carlos De La Rosa, left-handed pitcher
If you would like to feel old as you read this, note that De La Rosa was born in 2007. He’s exactly the type of player you want thrown into a deal like this one.
The lefty is 17 years old and has just 22 professional innings in the Dominican Summer League, with a promising 36 strikeouts. He has a low 90s fastball that has hit 96 mph, and Minasian referred to him as a prospect with “upside.” Baseball America notes that De La Rosa has the “highest ceiling” of the four players that got traded for Doval.
It’s possible that De La Rosa finds more velo as he gets older and stronger and turns into a really good prospect. It’s also possible this is the last we hear of him. It’s a lottery ticket, the type that front offices love.
Yunior Marte, right-handed pitcher
You don’t get much for trading rentals like Yastrzemski, but the Giants seem to have done pretty well here. The 21-year-old Marte — not to be confused with the other Yunior Marte, who once was a Giant and got traded for Erik Miller — was slowed by a meniscus injury earlier in his career, but he’s having a very good year.
In 19 starts in A-ball before the deal, Marte had a 2.74 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He has 79 strikeouts in 82 innings, and he has limited walks and homers as a professional.
Listed at 6-foot-5, Marte has a low 90s fastball that has touched 97. MLB Pipeline views him as a potential No. 4 starter, with the possibility of being a good bullpen fit down the line, too.
Just before the start of Monday night’s Boston Red Sox-Kansas City Royals game, Sox manager Alex Cora made a last-minute lineup switch that had fans scrolling their social feeds for updates.
Roman Anthony, the Sox rookie star who has helped propel the team to first place in the Wild Card race, was scratched from the lineup, but it wasn’t immediately clear why. Was he ill? Did he suffer an injury? Was the future of the season in jeopardy?
As it turns out, Anthony wasn’t seriously injured, but experienced some mid-back tightness, and the team chose to replace him in right field with Wilyer Abreu as a precaution.
“Came out to the line, everything felt normal all day, and I felt something as I was standign on the line. Just figured we’d be cautious with it,” Anthony said after the game. “It just was super uncomfortable, and I relayed that quickly and we just decided we were going to shut it down.”
Anthony is expected to sit out Tuesday’s game as well, but could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday.
“Yeah, obviously, I’ll get with the training staff and figure that out, but already definitely trending in the right direction and feeling better than it was earlier,” Anthony said.
As it turned out, the Sox didn’t need Anthony on Monday anyway, as they beat the Royals 8-5 behind strong pitching from starter Brayan Bello and strong offensive performances from Jarren Duran and Rob Refsnyder.
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers during a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Brock Stewart slumped in front of a mostly empty locker in the middle of the Dodgers clubhouse Monday afternoon, a stall that used to belong to pitcher Dustin May, as clubhouse attendants rushed over with boxes of brand new size 13 cleats.
A week ago Stewart was pitching for the Minnesota Twins, who wear red cleats. The Dodgers don’t, so Stewart needed a makeover.
“I got blue gloves coming too,” he said.
Getting dressed properly isn’t the only thing players have to worry about when they change teams in the middle of the season. Stewart had a home and family in Minnesota to pack up and move when he learned Thursday that he had been traded from a team with a losing record to one chasing a second straight World Series title.
By late Monday evening, Stewart found himself in the middle of that pennant race when he took the mound in the ninth inning of a tie game. It didn’t end well, with Stewart (2-2) surrendering a run on three hits while getting just two outs in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
It was a rude homecoming for the right-hander, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 but waived five years later after pitching 36 times over parts of four seasons. After he remade himself during a six-year sojourn in which dropped down to independent ball, Stewart was brought back to Los Angeles to stabilize an overworked, injury-plagued bullpen that has struggled.
In his first appearance at Dodger Stadium in the home uniform since 2019, he added to those struggles, giving up hits to the first two batters he faced, then falling behind 2-0 to pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, who flared a single over the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.
For manager Dave Roberts, one bad outing won’t change Stewart’s role.
“That’s baseball,” he said.
“He's a high-leverage guy,” Roberts added. “He was certainly needed for our ballclub and I will use him as such.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches from the dugout during a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Stewart certainly wasn’t the only reliever who struggled, with both bullpens wasting excellent efforts by starters Tyler Glasnow and Sonny Gray.
Glasnow gave the Dodgers (65-48) seven strong innings for the second time in three starts, conceding a run on three hits — none after the second inning — while striking out seven. Gray was even better in his seven innings, giving up just a fourth-inning solo home run to Freddie Freeman and a second-inning walk to Max Muncy before leaving with the score tied 1-1.
Anthony Banda was the first man out of a Dodger bullpen that has pitched more innings than any in baseball. Three batters later the Cardinals (57-57) went ahead on Iván Herrera’s home run to center.
Cardinals reliever Riley O’Brien gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a double to Teoscar Hernández.
So with the score even again, Roberts called on Stewart, who has had a whirlwind week. Five days ago he was on his way to Cleveland with the Twins when he got a call to fly to Tampa, Fla., to join the Dodgers instead. That left his wife Christina to pack up the couple’s house, their sons, 3-year-old Jett and 16-month-old Cal, and their hound-mix puppy and move to Los Angeles.
“My wife is just wearing the brunt of it,” he said. “That's maybe what people don't understand.”
Roberts, who played in five cities in his career, said the challenge of changing teams can go beyond finding the right color glove and cleats. But the transition was easier for Stewart since he broke in with the Dodgers.
“He's familiar with some of the players, most of the coaching staff, the city itself, the ballpark,” he said. “Things like that are part of his past routine.”
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home in the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)
Stewart, arguably the biggest acquisition the Dodgers made at the trade deadline, had been in Los Angeles less than a day when he got to the ballpark Monday. He agreed he didn’t have much time to get acclimated, though he said he may need some time to find his way around the clubhouse, which underwent a $100-million renovation last winter.
As for his job, he said the Dodgers had made that clear.
“Andrew [Friedman] and [Brandon] Gomes just told me don't try to change anything. Just do what you've been doing and that'll be good enough,” he said, referencing the team’s president of baseball operations and general manager, respectively.
It wasn’t good enough Monday. But, Roberts said afterward, there’s still a lot more games to be played.
Right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to throw the equivalent of three innings to hitters Friday and if that goes well, he could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week. He has not pitched in nearly three months after going on the IL with a shoulder impingement.
Edman goes on injured list
Utilityman Hyeseong Kim, out since July 29 with a shoulder issue, is swinging a bat and taking grounders. Roberts is optimistic Kim will be able to return soon. But another utility player, Tommy Edman, went on the IL with an ankle injury. With Kim, Edman and Kiké Hernández, another utility player, all out with injuries, Roberts has not had the usual versatility he has enjoyed in fielding a lineup.
