Category: Baseball

To get back to .500, the Royals would have to win about 58 percent of their remaining games. The current list of teams playing at or above that rate includes the Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Brewers, and Rays. Last season, only four teams finished the year above that level. Can the Royals be a top-five team over the next 90 games? I think the answer is an emphatic no. With injuries to multiple position players, as well as members of the rotation and bullpen, there is no reason to believe this season is going to get back on track. That means it is time to plan for the future, and there are several things that need to happen to salvage something from 2026.

Decide where these players belong

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone are the two biggest names in this group. I like Matthew’s post on Vinnie, and I think I would go even further. Moving Jac back to first base immediately after Pasquantino went down says to me that the organization does not see him as the right fielder for the next half-decade. He has some range issues and is a large human being, so despite his arm, I think Cags should be viewed as the first baseman of the next contending Royals team. It may be that the Royals see it that way, too. That leads to some not-so-fun discussions about how to handle the fan-favorite cryptid who has been at first base for most of this season.

Next for me are Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and Luinder Avila. Do any – or all – of these guys need to end up in the bullpen? I do not know when, or if, Ragans and Bubic will return, but if they do, it might be time to consider their fragility a reason to take them out of the rotation. They know more than I do about each player’s health prospects, but their histories at this point make a reduced workload at least worth considering if it helps keep them on the field and maximize their value.

Avila is a different story. He is still not established, and I think he will eventually end up in the bullpen. For now, though, they have the luxury of using him as a starter for the rest of this season to see if he can figure it out. Let him start until he proves he can’t. Two of his last three trips out there showed some promise, though there are still walk-rate issues. Yesterday certainly pointed to some problems.

John Rave, Kameron Misner, and anyone else in the high minors whom the team thinks deserves a shot need to get one. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte need to spend as much time on the bench as possible. Even if they build some trade value, bench bats do not bring back blue-chip prospects. Rave deserves one more shot. Misner is probably a fourth outfielder at best, but they might as well make sure. Matthew Lugo? Peyton Wilson? Now is the time to give them an audition if there is any chance they could turn into solutions.

Trade deadline prioritization

Trading needs to be about maximizing the return this year, in my opinion, not maximizing the return with regard to 2027. I know they want to compete next year, and the Bobby Witt Jr. clock is ticking. However, the best prospects in the farm system are all in A-ball. Justin Lamkin may be a significant part of the 2027 team, so there might be some help on the way, but not much. The goal should be to restock the farm system at all levels, not just target players on the cusp of reaching the majors.

The Royals have players other teams will want in Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bubic if healthy, Daniel Lynch IV, John Schreiber, and perhaps a few others. None of those players is likely to bring back a Top 100 prospect, so targeting lower-level players with higher risk and higher ceilings makes more sense this season.

Accountability established

Last season started horribly and was partially salvaged. This season started horribly and has completely flown off the rails. Someone is to blame. They cannot run this entire management team back. This type of evaluation should be happening all the time anyway, but in this case, I do not think you can sell fans on the idea that everyone is doing a great job and should be retained. Some people need to be fired—or reassigned, if the organization still values them.

Alec Zumwalt is the only one who, for me, 100 percent needs to be in a different position. He is five years into running the hitting program with very little to show for it. Bobby Witt Jr. is the only smashing success of his tenure, and I think he would have succeeded anywhere under any hitting coach. I would give Zumwalt the most credit for Maikel Garcia, who is now an everyday player, though he is not even close to last year’s level at the moment. Vinnie has gotten worse over time. Caglianone might be headed in the right direction, but Carter Jensen is not.

Then there is the laundry list of failures, including MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, and others. There are other coaches who might need to go as well. I know a lot of you have Matt Quatraro as the head that most needs to roll, but they need to change something, and they need to get it right.

The Royals cannot fix everything in one summer, but they can use the next three months to answer some important questions. If 2026 is going to be a lost season, the least they can do is make sure it is not a wasted one.

70 out of 162 games down, and it’s safe to say the 2026 Atlanta Braves (46-24) have been a much-needed balm after the last few years of underperformance. The injury bug and occasional offensive outages are still lingering, but the divisional cushion and current position atop MLB make it hard to complain. 

The first round of All-Star voting hasn’t even concluded yet (braves.com/vote, btw) and we’ve already had some incredible moments to look back on. Including, but not limited to:

• THE Big Dom Smith Moment to date, his walkoff grand slam on opening weekend
• Walt Weiss on the West Coast with the form tackle heard ‘round the world
• Three (3) separate instances of Michael Harris II pinch-hit heroics
• Ronald Acuña Jr.’s second HR of the season sailing over the Green Monster for a grand slam
• Matt Olson’s first walk-off as a Brave

I went with a family member to their first Braves game since they moved from Turner Field to Truist Park recently and got to hear some of their favorite game moments and experiences in the old ballpark. I, in turn, got to share some of the homers I’ve been lucky enough to see with my own eyes (Ronald’s 40th to make it 40/40, his first pitch back from injury last year, etc). 

We asked the good people of Battery Power for some of their in-person highlights and favorite moments, and the Feed delivered some gems. 

Nothing like October baseball

Cheers for Chipper

Not wins, but special all the same

Literal history

In the immortal words of dril: “the crack of the bat. the scent of a verdant field. The excitement of the crowd. These are the things that piss base ball fans off the most”

Funny and somewhat true, we also love all those things (and miss them dearly from fall to February). In what non-baseball enjoyers call a “grind”, we see heroes and villains rise and fall, witness feats of athleticism previously unseen, and partake in a pastime rich with history and memory. Thanks for sharing yours with us, Braves Country – we hope there’s many more exciting ones to come for Atlanta this year and beyond.

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It’s another loaded slate on the diamond Tuesday, June 16, and my favorite MLB same-game parlay predictions begin at the top of the docket with the Philadelphia Phillies topping the Miami Marlins.

My top MLB picks wrap up in the late window with the Athletics set to run up the score on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park tonight.

Today's best MLB SGP picks

Game	SGP Odds
MIA vs PHI	+325
NYM vs CIN	+430
PIT vs ATH	+355

Marlins vs Phillies SGP: Luzardo limits Fish

Philadelphia Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his past 10 starts while posting a solid 3.34 xERA and holding opposing hitters to 29% squared-up contact rate, so I’m anticipating him limiting the Miami Marlins tonight given their middling 98 wRC+ against southpaws.

I’m also expecting Philly stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to lead the way offensively. Schwarber has teed off on righties to the tune of a .380 wOBA and .319 ISO, and Harper has been every bit as good with respective .415 and .301 marks.

This SGP is in play down to +300.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSP, MIAM

Mets vs Reds SGP: New York stings Singer

Cincinnati Reds starter Brady Singer has surrendered the second-highest blast contact rate with the seventh-highest xERA among starters with at least 50 innings this season, so I’m anticipating an improving New York Mets offense to have success at the dish tonight. 

The Mets rank eighth in baseball in xwOBA over the past two weeks, after all, and New York star Juan Soto has been automatic against righties with a .420 wOBA and .290 ISO since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.

Still, Singer has picked up five or more strikeouts in four of his past six starts with his strikeout percentage climbing to 20.9% after posting a 13.1% mark through his first seven outings, so I'd recommend this SGP down to +400.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CINR, SNY

Pirates vs Athletics SGP: Tough night for Keller

Look for the Athletics to tee off on Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller at the Sutter Health Park launching pad. He conveniently sports the ninth-highest xERA and ninth-lowest strikeout percentage among qualified starting pitchers, and Keller has fanned four or fewer batters in five of his past seven starts.

The Athletics also pace the majors in wOBA while striking out at the fourth-lowest clip in baseball at Sutter Health, and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom has posted a rock-solid .379 wOBA and .220 ISO against righties at home the past two years and hits in the heart of the order.

This SGP is good to go down to +340, too.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSCA, SNP

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Looking to help those in need and score free Pittsburgh Pirates tickets while you're at it? This week, you're in luck.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding their 30th annual blood drive June 16 through June 18, with additional dates to donate blood scheduled in August. Those who donate will get ticket vouchers for upcoming Pirates games.

When is the Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 blood drive?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding a blood drive several days this week, with additional dates scheduled in August. Here's when you can stop by PNC Park's press conference room to donate:

• Tuesday, June 16: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Do I need an appointment to donate at the Pittsburgh Pirates blood drive?

Walk-ins are welcome, but it's recommended to schedule an appointment to donate blood. You can register ahead of time through the Pirates' website.

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We've got a full slate of baseball ahead, and our MLB Expert Picks have you covered.

We're coming at the New York Mets-Cincinnati Reds game from a couple of angles, but both anticipate some runs to be scored at Great American Ballpark.

That and more in our MLB picks for Tuesday, June 16.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: NYM/CIN Over 9.5	-113
Jon Metler: STL ML	-108
Neil Parker: NYM ML	-113
Joe Osborne: PIT/A's Over 10.5	-117

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Mets vs. Reds - Over 9.5

Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket

Let's take the Over at Great American Ballpark, which grades out as the second-best park for runs today, per Ballpark Pal, aided by a bit of wind blowing out to left field.

The Cincinnati Reds hung a 12-pack in the opener last night and could keep the offense rolling against New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, who is making his first start since a spine/arm injury. 

Senga was getting crushed before landing on the IL, allowing 17 runs over his final 8 1/3 innings across three starts. His fly ball rate has also spiked this season, which is never ideal in this park. 

On the other side, Brady Singer owns one of the worst HR/FB rates in baseball, and his 4.9 K/9 at home is a massive drop from his 8.3 K/9 mark on the road. THE BAT projections make this fair closer to -164 with 11.82 projected runs.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• How to watch: SNY, Reds.TV

Jon Metler's expert pick: Cardinals moneyline

Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket

One team has the star power and the bigger names, but the other side is offering the value.

The St. Louis Cardinals are trading at 52 cents, while I make them closer to 56, giving us enough edge to back them in this spot. Michael King takes the mound for the San Diego Padres, and he leans heavily on his sweeping slider, which generates a ton of horizontal movement and is particularly effective against right-handed hitters. 

The problem for King is that St. Louis is expected to feature five left-handed bats, and that slider tends to break into their barrels rather than away from them. I also love the way the Cardinals are constructed offensively. Their ability to alternate left-handed and right-handed hitters throughout the lineup makes it difficult for a pitcher like King to establish a rhythm.

With the handedness constantly changing from one at-bat to the next, King's pitch sequencing and location become more difficult to establish, limiting the effectiveness of his best weapon while creating a favorable matchup for St. Louis.

• Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
• How to watch: TBS

Neil Parker's expert pick: Mets moneyline

Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket

Singer has surrendered the second-highest blast contact rate with the seventh-highest xERA among starters with at least 50 innings this season, so I’m anticipating an improving Mets offense to have success at the dish tonight.

The Mets rank eighth in baseball in xwOBA over the past two weeks, after all, and Senga was in complete command while fanning nine batters across six innings in his latest rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• How to watch: SNY, Reds.TV

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Pirates vs. A's Over 10.5

Price: 54¢ (-117) at Polymarket

Everything points toward a slugfest tonight at Sutter Health Park.

Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller is in the middle of a brutal stretch, allowing 18 earned runs across his last three starts while carrying an ugly 8.70 ERA over his last six outings. 

The A’s counter with Jack Perkins, who's primarily worked out of the bullpen. He owns a 6.20 ERA and hasn’t pitched beyond 4 2/3 innings all season. That’s bad news, with both bullpens also struggling, each posting ERAs north of six over the last two weeks.

Add in an A’s offense ranked second in OPS during those two weeks, Pittsburgh’s 15-4 Over run, and 10 mph winds blowing out, and the Over is the clear play.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBC Sports California

More MLB best bets for today

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

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

We’re back with another Reacts Survey, and this week we’re asking fans about the upcoming All-Star Game in Philadelphia!

While it seems all but guaranteed that we’ll see Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski in the big game, we’re wondering which other Brewer you’d most like to see make an appearance. We’ve narrowed it down to fellow starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfielder Jackson Chourio, second baseman Brice Turang, first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers, and catcher William Contreras.

Harrison, 24, is putting together the best year of his career, as he’s totaled 65 2/3 innings over 13 starts for Milwaukee, pitching to a 2.47 ERA, 3.05 FIP, and 80 strikeouts — and that’s including a blow-up appearance where he allowed eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings against the A’s in Las Vegas.

Chourio, 22, missed the first month-plus of the season, but he’s been better than ever since returning, as he’s hitting .322/.370/.572 with nine homers, 11 doubles, 26 RBIs, 27 runs, and five steals across 35 games. He’s also fresh off an NL Player of the Week selection, as he slugged five homers and drove in at least one run in each of Milwaukee’s six games.

Turang, 26, got out to a red-hot start but has cooled off a bit in recent weeks. Even so, he’s hitting .261/.378/.457 with 10 homers, 14 doubles, 42 RBIs, 53 runs, and 12 steals across 65 games while also providing above-average defense. After finishing in 14th place in last year’s MVP voting, it only seems deserving that he should be an All-Star for the first time in his career.

Bauers, 30, is having a bit of a breakout year, as he has 1.7 bWAR over 60 games, easily the best mark of his career. He’s hitting .276/.374/.519 with 13 homers, 12 doubles, 46 RBIs, 40 runs, and five steals, as he’s started to make a few more starts in the outfield as Pat Murphy tries to get both him and the red-hot Andrew Vaughn in the lineup.

Finally, Contreras, 28, continues to be a leader on this young Brewer squad. While he has just 1.3 bWAR, he’s still hitting .295/.352/.411 with six homers, 12 doubles, 43 RBIs, 39 runs, and a steal while providing veteran leadership and leading the league in ABS challenges (his 88 as a catcher easily outpace the second-place Edgar Quero, who has 68).

MLB provided a voting update yesterday, and while pitchers (like Miz and Harrison) aren’t eligible to be selected via votes, all four of the position players mentioned here are within shouting distance:

• Chourio: 15th among outfielders at 252,264 votes (current sixth place: Jordan Walker at 437,071 votes)
• Turang: second among second baseman at 373,656 votes (current second place: Bryson Stott at 399,729 votes)
• Bauers: fourth among first baseman at 207,276 votes (current second place: Matt Olson at 802,848 votes)
• Contreras: fourth among catchers at 303,240 votes (current second place: Will Smith at 662,883 votes)

Which of these five would you most like to see in July’s All-Star Game? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!

We have talked a lot about the Nats offense this season, and for good reason. Between the star duo of James Wood and CJ Abrams, as well as supporting pieces like Curtis Mead, Jacob Young and Daylen Lile, the boys have gotten a lot of love here. However, one player I have not talked much about is Luis Garcia Jr., and I want to change that.

He has flown under the radar this year, but since the start of May, Garcia has been one of the Nats best run producers. Garcia has 29 RBI since the start of May, and 23 of those have come since May 24th. He always seems to come through with runners on base, and has been a great combination of contact and power in this Nats lineup.

After a rough April, questions loomed about Garcia’s future with the team. Yohandy Morales and Abimelec Ortiz’s performances in AAA put the pressure on Garcia, who moved to first base this year. However, in May he hit .288 with an .818 OPS. In June, his average is only .222, but 7 of his 10 hits have been XBH, which is why he has an .833 OPS. 

At this point, we know who Luis Garcia Jr. is. He has a unique blend of contact skills and power. However, his awful approach prevents him from being a truly great hitter. That has remained the case this season, with Garcia chasing 42% of the time and walking just 3.4% of the time. Despite a solid .259 batting average, his OBP is just .283.

Just because he does not walk does not mean he is a bat hitter. Garcia still has an OPS in the mid .700’s and is on pace for 22 homers and over 100 RBI. The lack of plate discipline is quite frustrating, but that is just part of the package at this point. His ability to hit some of those bad balls makes it more palatable.

From a pure WAR perspective, Garcia is nothing special. He has 0.3 fWAR and 0.6 bWAR. His bat is slightly above average and he does not provide much value in the field or on the bases. However, his ability to drive in runners and be a presence around the Nats star duo does give him some value.

Another thing that Garcia has been doing to give him value comes off the field. When you are around the team, you can tell that Garcia is one of the leaders. Despite having just turned 26, Garcia is the longest tenured Nat and one of the veterans in the clubhouse. He debuted as a 20 year old back in 2020, so he has seen a lot in the league at this point.

One thing Garcia seems to do well is keep the guys loose. He always has a smile on his face, and is one of those guys that realizes baseball should be fun. Garcia is always chatting at the end of the bench and is the ringleader in the Nats new sunflower seed home run celebration.

While the leadership is great, you do need to provide value on the field. The best way Garcia does this is by driving in runs. He has been money in big moments. With the bases loaded, Garcia Jr. is 7/12 this season with 18 RBI. His average with RISP is all the way up at .317.

Garcia does not try to do too much with runners in scoring position. Rather, he just wants to get the bat on the ball and find green grass. He only has one homer with RISP, but he always seems to come through with that RBI single that scores two runners. That is exactly what he did last night.

I am still not sure if Garcia is in the Nats long term plans. His lack of plate discipline or defense really cuts into his value. However, he has been a solid ball player this year, especially since the start of May, where he has an .823 OPS. Garcia hits the ball very hard and makes a ton of contact. Even with his warts, there is value in that profile, especially with runners in scoring position.

Sean McAdam, one of the most experienced reporters on the Red Sox beat, recently wrote that it was “nearly impossible” to imagine Craig Breslow surviving this season as the Red Sox CBO. While that certainly feels true at this juncture, he is only third on this list of front office executives facing the most pressure leading up to this year’s trade deadline. (Buster Olney, ESPN)

What’s so interesting about Breslow’s precarious job security is that he can point to many offseason moves that have unquestionably been smashing successes. The Willson Contreras trade is foremost among them, as Contreras is on pace to hit 38 homers, obliterating his previous career-high of 24. “I’m not looking to put the pressure on myself to get to 30 [home runs], or to get to some number,” he said. “[T]here’s still a lot of season left, but I feel good at the plate, try to make contact, and if I get to 30, thank God.” (Avery Hill, Boston Globe)

Another move that’s worked out is Wilyer Abreu getting at-bats against left-handed pitching. His success is not a coincidence. “Five or six days per week, November into February, he practiced by initially using little more than a traditional pitching machine. Instead of putting the machine on the mound, he shaded it off to the first base side “to exaggerate the angle” of a real lefthanded pitcher. ‘As close as I can, literally behind my back,’ he said. ‘Try to work the angle.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

But despite the success they’ve had this season, neither Contreras or Abreu is going to start the All-Star Game. In fact, with the first round of voting under way, no Red Sox player is even close. (Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald)

If Craig Breslow does decide to sell at the deadline, who are the Sox’ most likely trading partners? Look to the Padres as a good fit for Jarren Duran and the surprising White Sox as a good fit for Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman, says one analyst. (Jim Bowden, The Athletic)

But while Gray, Chapman, and possibly Contreras are already considered to be amongst the biggest potential prizes of the trade deadline, some executives are pushing back on the idea that the Red Sox will get a haul for any of them. “I think a lot of these players have a chance to be difference makers, but here would be my questions if acquiring any of them,” one NL executive said. “You have to treat Sonny and Aroldis as one-year deals, and that’s a big buyout. Would you pay Sonny $20 million for the rest of this year? Aroldis will almost certainly opt out…Duran would be a sell-low [option] at this point; he has struggled to hit even though he has had some power.” (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)

But don’t talk to Sonny Gray about being traded. He says he’s not remotely paying attention to any of that:

Malcolm Moore, the Texas Rangers’ first round draft pick in 2024, has been promoted from high-A Hub City to AA Frisco, it was announced today.

Moore, a 22 year old catcher, had a disappointing 2025 season, as he slashed .195/.300/.276 on the year, primarily at high-A Hub City, while missing time due to a fractured thumb. He also played 17 games in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .231/.275/.328.

Moore returned to Hub City to start the 2026 season and initially got off to a slow start before heating up. He has slashed .300/.387/.542 in 217 plate appearances for Hub City this year, with 10 homers, 20 walks and 42 Ks while throwing out 33% of baserunners. He joins fellow 2024 draftees Dylan Dreiling, Rafe Perich, Keith Jones II, Dalton Pence, Eric Loomis and Joey Danielson on the Frisco roster.

The Roughriders have an 11 a.m. game today, and I would guess Moore will be in the lineup.

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The St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres meet once again tonight as Michael King looks to get back on track. 

However, my Cardinals vs. Padres predictions are targeting St. Louis to capitalize on King's recent struggles with an impressive offenisve display. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, June 16.

Who will win Padres vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (-109)

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King hasn't been his dominant self this season, sporting a 4.30 FIP. 

King has compiled a 7.64 xERA and 6.81 FIP across his last two starts while allowing an alarming 2.84 home runs per nine innings. He also owns a 38.6% hard-hit rate during the last month.

The St. Louis Cardinals counter with Andre Pallante, who's allowed a mere 3.2% barrel rate over his last two starts to go along with a solid 3.19 xERA. Pallante has surrendered just 0.77 home runs per nine innings over the last two weeks.

St. Louis should generate offense against King, while Pallante is well positioned to keep a struggling Padres lineup in check.

I'll play this pick up to -130.

COVERS INTEL: The Cardinals have an impressive 48.7% hard hit rate over their last seven games, suggesting this matchup against a struggling King is a perfect spot to keep raking. 

Padres vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-125)

Despite King's recent struggles, he's worked into the sixth inning in three consecutive starts, limiting the amount of bullpen exposure.

San Diego's relief corps has been elite, posting a 2.30 ERA and 3.36 FIP over the last week while allowing just 0.66 home runs per nine innings.

As for St. Louis, Pallante typically pitches into the fifth or sixth inning. While the relief corps owns a 4.46 xERA over the last two weeks, the unit enters extremely well-rested after Dustin May threw a shutout on Monday.

The Padres are batting just .234 over their last six games and own a modest .172 ISO during that stretch. 

I'll play this pick up to -140. 

Padres vs Cardinals odds

• Moneyline: Padres -100 | Cardinals -104
• Run line: Padres -1.5 (+170) | Cardinals +1.5 (-186)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+113) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Padres vs Cardinals trend

The Padres have hit the Under in 24 of their last 40 games (+6.50 Units / 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Padres vs Cardinals and game info

Padres vs Cardinals latest injuries

Padres vs Cardinals weather

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The present day New York Yankees are in a fight for the lead in the American League East. Of course, there’s plenty of season left, but the Tampa Bay Rays have been either ahead of them or right on their heels. And in order for the Bombers to stay in the lead (and help separate themselves from the pack now without their leading slugger), they’re going to need even more of a full team effort.

That effort stems across the organization, from the hitters in the lineup, to those in the rotation, and those in the bullpen. One of the members at the back of the Yankees rotation who has continued to show just how valuable he can be is Will Warren, the young right-hander who is hoping to solidify himself not just as an above-average major league starter, but someone who can go above and beyond in the biggest moments for a Yankees team looking for another World Series title.

William Harper Warren
Born: June 16, 1999 (Brandon, MS)
Yankees Tenure: 2024-present

Will Warren was born in the southern region of the United States in Brandon, Mississippi. He grew up on the diamond before attending Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, Mississippi from 2013 to 2017. He wasn’t the tallest, and he certainly wasn’t the biggest player on the field, but he racked up excellent numbers on the mound in high school, finishing his senior season with a 1.59 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched in his 10 appearances.

Warren attended Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana from 2018 to 2021. His freshman year he was utilized exclusively in the bullpen, appearing in 18 games and finishing with a 3.04 ERA. However, in his sophomore year he transitioned into a starter role; it was a slow start for the right-hander, though. In 14 games started and 16 games played, he finished with a 6.72 ERA in 67.0 innings pitched. He only allowed four home runs through the season, but he also allowed 74 hits and 50 earned runs. His coaching staff didn’t give up on his stuff, though. In his junior season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Warren only pitched five games (which he finished with a 1.90 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched). He pitched two games as a starter and three out of the bullpen, but, just as it was in MLB, it was an odd season for every level of every sport.

His make-or-break senior season was where Warren finally seemed to grip the reins a bit more than he had in previous years. He pitched in 14 games and started all of them. He finished with an ERA of 2.57 across 91.0 innings (an average of 6.2 innings per game). He also pitched two complete games that year and finished with 95 strikeouts.

Following his four seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, he was drafted by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft. He made his professional debut in 2022 with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the High-A South Atlantic League, where he pitched eight total games before a call up to Double-A with the Somerset Patriots. He had a 3.60 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 35.0 innings pitched with the Renegades and then didn’t return to High-A ball. He stayed in Double-A for the rest of the season and pitched 18 games, all as a starter, and he acclimated as well as many would expect for a 23-year-old fresh to pro ball. He finished the season with a 4.06 ERA in 94.0 innings pitched with 83 strikeouts. And even though he allowed a decent amount of hits, he avoided the long ball and was able to strike batters out when he needed to.

Warren returned to Somerset at the beginning of the 2023 season, but the same story unfolded for him between Double and Triple-A as it had for High-A and Double-A the year before. He pitched in only six games with the Patriots before being called up again — the Yankees thought he should be with Scranton following a dominant 2.45 ERA start. He stayed in Triple-A for the rest of the year and pitched 99.2 innings, crossing the 100 strikeout mark for a single team for the first time in his career with 110. The first half of his season was a lot more rocky than the second half, given that he was still adjusting to the Automated Balls-Strikes system that Triple-A had just adopted at that point. But when he found his stride, there was a clear look at the potential he could provide to a major league rotation. He finished the year not just having allowed only two runs in 28.2 innings in September, but he also won the International League Pitcher of the Month award thanks to that performance. He ended with a 7-4 record with the Railriders, and would earn himself a shot with the big league team in the 2024 season.

However, the next year wasn’t as glamorous for Warren as he may have wanted it to be. He was invited to spring training as a non-roster player, but was eventually sent backto Triple-A and struggled. He pitched 23 games and crossed the 100.0 innings pitched plateau for the first time in his professional career. However, a 5.91 ERA was not the number in the box score anyone was expecting as one of the Yankees farm system’s top pitchers. Nonetheless, he was given the chance to make his major league debut after Gerrit Cole was scratched from his July 30th start due to general body fatigue. At age 25, Warren, donning the number 98, ran out to the mound for his first major league start. And it wasn’t the best start of all time, but there were certainly flashes as he posted 5.1 innings pitched with four hits, six strikeouts, two walks, and four earned runs against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Remaining with the team for the rest of the 2024 season, Warren received five more apperances on a major league mound (four of which were starts), but he posted a 10.51 ERA, a result of problems that had plagued him prior to the big leagues: giving up lots of contact and a lot of baserunners.

Warren was on the Opening Day roster for the Yankees in 2025 due to injuries to both Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, and he was thrown into the fire. He won his first major league game against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium on April 12th, and went on to pitch 162.1 innings that season over 33 games, 33.1 more innings pitched than ever in his career, and about 53 more innings pitched at a single level in his career. A highlight of his year was posting his career-high in strikeouts against the Los Angeles Angels in six innings pitched a day following his 26th birthday.

Warren finished the season with a 4.44 ERA, a 92 ERA+, and questions about his future with the Yankees arose considering the return of Gil and, eventually, Cole, put his position in the rotation in jeopardy. The 2026 season (particularly his start to the year) was going to be crucial. But, Cole wasn’t set to return until a bit into the season, and Carlos Rodón, who had elbow surgery in October, wasn’t going to be ready for Opening Day either, giving Warren the perfect chance to seize his moment.

And he did. Warren, alongside new acquisition Ryan Weathers at the back of the rotation, was fantastic through the early parts of the season and helped build confidence in a fanbase that may have been shaky on him. He finished with a 2.59 ERA and 3-0 record in six games through March and April, and, even though things have begun to come back down to Earth following a 3.82 ERA in May (despite a 4-1 record over that time as well), he still managed plenty of excellent outings, including another 11 strikeout performance at Yankee Stadium against the Kansas City Royals, tying his career-high.

June has been less favorable to Warren than Yankees fans may want to see, but he has the stuff to remain a solid, durable arm at the back of the Bombers rotation. We’ll be celebrating his birthday following an outing where he had to labor against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday, but also with the start of a new series, as the Yankees welcome the Chicago White Sox. Happy birthday Will, and best of luck the rest of this season!

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

JT Benson

Week: 5 G, 16 AB, .250/.400/.813, 4 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 K, 0/1 SB (High-A)

2026 Season: 33 G, 116 AB, .276/.361/.578, 32 H, 10 2B, 5 3B, 5 HR, 11 BB, 36 K, 8/11 SB, .355 BABIP (Single-A) / 19 G, 63 AB, .238/.360/.460, 15 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 20 K, 3/5 SB, .317 BABIP (High-A)

This was not a good week for the Mets minor league offense. In total, the St. Lucie Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and Syracuse Mets hit 16 home runs in a combined 24 games. Add in two triples and twenty-seven doubles, and that’s 45 total extra base hits over 24 games, which comes out to roughly two per game. JT Benson was responsible for 2 home runs and 4 extra base hits- 13% of all of the home runs hit this week and 8% of all of the extra base hits- and is our Mets minor league hitter of the week as a result.

Johnathon Tyler Benson was signed by the Mets this March. Previously, he attended the University of Louisville, where he played for three seasons, hitting a cumulative .284/.402/.494 in 128 games with 16 home runs, 51 stolen bases, and 66 walks to 96 strikeouts between 2022 and 2024. The outfielder went undrafted after graduating and played for the Lake Country DockHounds, an independent team in the American Association. There, he hit .286/.385/.418 in 27 games with 2 home runs, 9 stolen bases, and 9 walks to 19 strikeouts. The right-hander was unable to garner a contract with a major league team and returned to the indies in 2025, signing a contract with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier Association. There, he hit .295/.412/.477 in 80 games, with 10 home runs, 24 walks, and 45 walks to 67 strikeouts. He planned on returning to the DockHounds for the 2026 and had reached an agreement with team management, but the Mets offered him a minor league contract and he wisely did not turn the opportunity down.

The 24-year-old Benson was assigned to the Single-A St. Lucie Mets to begin his professional career and played with them for roughly a month and a half before being promoted to the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones. In 33 games with St. Lucie, the outfielder hit .276/.361/.578 with 5 home runs, 8 stolen bases, and 11 walks to 36 strikeouts and in 19 games with Brooklyn is currently hitting .238/.360/.460 with 2 home runs, 3 stolen bases, and 8 walks to 20 strikeouts. Altogether, in his first few months of professional baseball, Benson is hitting a cumulative .263/.361/.536 in 52 games with 16 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs, 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts, and 19 walks to 56 strikeouts.

At the plate, Benson stands slightly open, holding his hands high at the eyes, waggling his bat between one and three o’clock. He swings with a moderate leg lift, swinging with a bit of loft; while playing at St. Lucie, he regularly registered 100+ MPH exit velocities and launch angles in the 8-32 sweet spot. On the whole, he is a dead-red fastball hitter; while in St. Lucie, he hit .306/.405/.694 with a 25% Whiff Rate against fastballs, as opposed to .231/.286/.385 with a 50% Whiff Rate against breaking balls and .125/.125/.500 with a 50% Whiff rate against off-speed pitches.

Benson’s batted ball data is very encouraging. With the caveat that he is older than practically everybody else in the league and has much more experience than most, he currently has a 25.6% line drive rate, 33.3% groundball rate, and 41.0% flyball rate. While playing with the St. Lucie Mets earlier in the season, he had equally encouraging 34.2% line drive, 27.8% groundball, and 38.0% flyball rates. At both levels together, he has been pulling the ball at a 40.0% rate, going back up the middle at a 28.3% rate, and going to the opposite field at a 31.7% rate.

Putting the ball in play has been an issue for the outfielder, who had a 27.1% K% in St. Lucie and currently has a 28.2% K% with the Brooklyn Cyclones. Thanks to his extremely favorable spray tendencies, he was able to post a .355 BABIP in St. Lucie and is currently running a .342 BABIP with the Cyclones, and his success seemingly will be highly dependent on his ability to continue maintaining those favorable tendencies and maintaining that high BABIP, because, with a .237 batting average, Benson might quickly become untenable as a hitter if it begins dropping with a BABIP normalization.

Nicolas Carreno

Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K (High-A)

2026 Season: 11 G (6 GS), 41.2 IP, 23 H, 14 R, 9 ER (1.94 ERA), 21 BB, 58 K, .253 BABIP (Single-A) / 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER (1.50 ERA), 2 BB, 9 K, .273 BABIP (High-A)

Venezuelan left-hander Nicolas Carreno was initially signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates back on January 15, 2023, signed to an undisclosed sum- as an undersized left-handed pitcher whose fastball sat 89-91, it is unlikely that the southpaw received much more than a token sum. The 17-year-old was assigned to one of Pittsburgh’s Dominican Summer League affiliates, the Pirates Black and posted a 10.50 ERA in 12.0 innings over 12 games, allowing 12 hits, walking 21, and striking out 17. He began the 2024 season assigned to their other DSL affiliate, the Pirates Gold, and had a bit more success; in 21.2 innings over 8 starts, he posted a 3.74 ERA, allowing 11 hits, walking 17, and striking out 36.

On July 30, 2024, the Pirates traded Carreno to the Mets in exchange for 29-year-old left-hander Josh Walker, who had a 5.11 ERA in 12.1 innings at the major league level and a 2.83 ERA in 28.2 innings with Triple-A Syracuse. Carreno was assigned to the DSL Mets Orange and made three more starts on the season, allowing 4 earned runs in 10.1 innings, giving up 8 hits, walking 7, and striking out 9. All in all, for the DSL Pirates and DSL Mets combined, the left-hander posted a cumulative 3.66 ERA in 32.2 innings over 11 starts, allowing 19 hits, walking 24, and striking out 45.

The 19-year-old was brought stateside in 2025, assigned to the FSL Mets. He appeared in 12 games for them, making 3 starts, and posted a 6.85 ERA in 22.1 innings, allowing 20 hits, walking 19, and striking out 25. He was promoted to Single-A St. Lucie at the end of August and appeared in 2 games for them, making 1 start. In 6.0 innings of work total, he allowed four runs but just one earned run, giving up 6 hits, walking none, and striking out 7. He remained with the St. Lucie Mets when the 2026 season started, and ended up appearing in 11 games, starting 6. The left-hander posted a 1.94 ERA in 41.2 innings, allowing 23 hits, walking 21, and striking out 58. He was promoted to the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones on June 11 and has since made a single start with them, which went quite well.

Carreno, who is listed at 5’10”, 155-pounds, has certainly put on some weight but looks every inch 5’10”. The left-hander throws from a slingy three-quarters arm slot with a long arm action through the back. So far this season, Carreno has relied on a three-pitch mix consisting of a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, and a slider. He used his four-seam fastball about 30% of the time while pitching for St. Lucie, where statcast hookups can give us precise information about his pitches, his two-seam fastball also about 30% of the time, and his slider about 40% of the time.

Carreno’s four-seam fastball sits in the low-to-high-90s, averaging 95 MPH and topping out at 98 MPH. The pitch has averaged 2,500 RPM of spin and roughly 15 inches of induced vertical break, the former above-average for a four-seam fastball and the latter about average. Opposing batters are hitting .267/.452/.467 against the pitch with a 29% Whiff Rate; Carreno often has trouble throwing his fastball for strikes, leading to hittable, grooved pitches in the strike zone when the left-hander needs to throw one in the zone.

His two-seam fastball mirrors almost all of the metrics that his four-seam fastball produces except it has roughly 5 inches less of induced vertical break and about 4-8 additional inches of arm-side movement. He gets fewer swings-and-misses with the pitch but held opposing hitters in the Florida State League to a much more palatable .133/.235/.300 batting line.

By far, Carreno’s best pitch is his slider. The pitch sits in the low-80s-to-low-90s, averaging 86 MPH. With anywhere between 1-5 inches of horizontal movement, the pitch has sharp, cutter-like sudden slice and has carved up Florida State League hitters, limiting them to a .145/.272/.188 batting line with a 44.3% Whiff Rate. The left-hander is able to control and command the pitch better than his fastballs, and the pitch gets reliable swings-and-misses both inside and outside of the zone.

Earlier in his career, when he was still with the Pirates, he was working on adding a changeup to his repertoire, but the project has since been paused and/or cancelled, as the southpaw does not throw a change. As he progresses up the minor league ladder, he will need to develop a suitable third pitch to remain a viable pitcher, though the need for one diminishes a bit if his ultimate destiny is the bullpen, especially with how effective his slider has been.

Players of the Week 2026

Week One/Two (March 27-April 5): Hayden Senger/Cam Tilly

Week Three (April 7-April 12): A.J. Ewing/Christian Scott

Week Four (April 14-April 18): Randy Guzman/Jose Chirinos

Week Five (April 21-April 26): A.J. Ewing/Channing Austin

Week Six (April 30-May 3): A.J. Ewing/Jonah Tong

Week Seven (May 5-May 10): Ryan Clifford/Jonathan Santucci

Week Eight: (May 12-May 17): Jacob Reimer/Zach Thornton

Week Nine: (May 19-May 24): Ryan Clifford/Channing Austin

Week Ten: (May 26-May 31): Ryan Clifford/Jose Chirinos

Week Eleven: (June 2-June 7): Vincent Perozo/Frank Camarillo

This team is stupid. This season is stupid. This game makes WPA look stupid. It isn’t often that I look at a one-run deficit heading to the ninth and am pretty sure the Cubs will eventually walk the game off. I wasn’t sure it would be in the ninth. But I was pretty sure they’d get there. This was definitely a game where it felt like both teams were trying to give the game away, but the Rockies are a bit more adept at doing so.

By the third batter of the ninth inning, I was positive the Cubs would walk this one off barring something like a freak line-drive triple play. And make no mistake, I was factoring that in way beyond any reasonable estimate at the exact likelihood of that event. The Rockies certainly seemed incapable of throwing enough strikes down the stretch of this one to exploit the Cubs’ biggest weakness of striking out three straight times with runners in scoring position. Nor were they likely to even get a couple of weak pop-ups with the gas they were throwing. Any contact seemed likely to be a line drive.

I showed my Nostradamus skills and ability to go way out on tenuous limbs and predict that Pete Crow-Armstrong would eventually hit for the cycle. He’d already had one close call and one close-ish call this year. That felt to me a little like Jake Arrieta before he eventually threw a no-hitter. You just knew that Pete had all of the skills that would make a batter hit for a cycle. He blistered five balls on the day and very easily could have had a five hit cycle.

PCA’s game was one that almost certainly has people looking at WPA confused. I could say that both getting picked off and the sacrifice fly had significant adverse effects on the game. The pickoff of PCA flipped the momentum of the game. The Cubs had two singles, two walks and saw a Rockies wild pitch and didn’t score a run. Then, the Rockies hit a three-run homer in the top of the next inning. But somehow, PCA had a homer, triple, and double before the Rockies scored their first run and if he’d left the game at that point, PCA still wouldn’t make the podium in this game.

If I wanted to defend WPA, I’d say yeah but the Cubs flipped the script and scored a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to walk this off. So much of the equity is tied into those late clutch plays that helped walk it off, right? Then how the heck do I explain how Shōta Imanaga was the Superhero? Well, Imanaga was the Superhero of the first chunk of this game. He allowed one run over 5.2 innings of work. For WPA purposes, Phil Maton gets charged for the one run. But Matt Shaw is the hitting star of those first six innings, by way of his RBI triple to give the Cubs the lead in the sixth.

Then Shaw comes back and gets the walk off to nudge him into the Hero spot in this one. Pedro Ramirez gets a game-tying single in the ninth. That lands him the third spot. Ian Happ’s contribution to the walk off actually lands him fourth. No love from PCA for the cycle in a tight game. That’s about as tough a crowd as you’ll see. But we are watching PCA emerge as a potential Rizzo award winner. Michael Busch is no slouch, but PCA has gained three points on Busch over the last eight games, despite Busch being fairly hot too.

Only one team has fewer saves than the Cubs. That team has nine fewer wins (Angels). I’m not doing a research project on this, but off the top of my head, two of the 10 saves the Cubs do have are three-inning saves. No team has fewer save opportunities than the Cubs. The three teams tied with them for the least opportunities are at 29, 29 and 32 wins. And again, among the 21 save opportunities the Cubs have had are two three-inning saves. If I were going to deep dive these numbers, I would look into how many of the Cubs 11 blown saves were even in the ninth inning? Toss the two three-inning saves and all of the blown saves that were like this one, with the save being blown in the eighth. Not that those don’t count, but I’m looking for the number of actual ninth inning (or later), turn the ball over to a reliever to get three outs for a save. I’m pretty sure also that at least one of the saves is in extra innings.

I did peek quickly at the wins and I think it is one last at bat win, in addition to the nine walk offs. There was one game against the Dodgers in LA where the Cubs scored two runs in the ninth and won 6-4. Unless I’m forgetting a game that entered the ninth tied and ended up being a bit of a blowout, that’s the only last inning road win so far. But at 10 of 38 wins, that means that more than a quarter of this team’s wins are in the final inning. Simply wild. I don’t go down the rabbit holes often, but I wonder what the records are for walk offs and for last inning wins.

Positives:

• Pete Crow-Armstrong with the reverse cycle, giving the Cubs a lead off homer to get things started. He added a sacrifice fly that helped the comeback.
• Shōta Imanaga allowed one run over 5.2 innings.
• Pedro Ramirez came off the bench for two hits and drove in the tying run. I get the frustration that he’s not playing more, but I applaud that A) they are trying to pick spots to allow him to succeed and B) they didn’t shy away from getting him into a close game late and take key plate appearances.
• Matt Shaw got a start and made the most of it. Two hits, one a triple and the walk off walk.

Hat tips to Michael Conforto who had a nice plate appearance and drew a walk and Daniel Palencia who recovered from a lead off walk with three straight strikeouts.

Game 73, June 15: Cubs 5, Rockies 4 (38-35)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Shōta Imanaga (.294). 5.2 IP, 22 BF, 5 H, BB, ER, 3 K
• Hero: Matt Shaw (.286). 2-4, 3B, BB, 2 RBI, R
• Sidekick: Pedro Ramirez (.276). 2-2, RBI

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Caleb Thielbar (-.508). IP, 4 BF, H, ER, K
• Goat: Phil Maton (-.101). 0.1 IP, 3 BF, BB, HBP
• Kid: Michael Busch (-.099). 0-2, 2 BB, HBP

WPA Play of the Game: Cole Carrigg’s three-run homer off of Caleb Thielbar in the eighth inning turned a one run deficit to a two run lead. (.616)

Cubs Play of the Game: Ian Happ barely got a bat on a ball and bounced it back to Juan Mejia with a runner on first and no outs in the ninth, the Cubs down one. Mejia threw it into centerfield and the Cubs ended up with runners on first and third. (.329)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 72 Winner: There are ongoing issues with polls that Al and I are working on. Informally, it looked like about 4-3 in favor of Pete Crow-Armstrong over Ryan Rolison. Hopefully, that was a representative sample.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Michael Busch +25
• Pete Crow-Armstrong +15
• Ben Brown +12.5
• Michael Conforto +10
• Trent Thornton/Carson Kelly +7.5
• Matt Shaw/Jameson Taillon -8
• Phil Maton -10
• Caleb Thielbar -11
• Dansby Swanson -12
• Seiya Suzuki -23.5

Up Next: Game two of the three-game series. Edward Cabrera (4-3, 4.86) starts against Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.20) in a rematch from a game the Cubs won 9-3 last Thursday. The Cubs scored six runs in just 4.1 innings off of Feltner and Cabrera held the Rockies to two runs over 5.1. It could help that the Rockies ended up using six relievers on Monday and the Cubs only four.

As we close in on the 2026 MLB Draft, the focus on who the Atlanta Braves are looking at for the ninth overall pick has come into focus a bit. Names like Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick, Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell, and Florida prep lefty Gio Rojas seem to be the names most prominently linked to the club. Massachusetts prep lefty Brody Bumila is also a name that has received some buzz. My goal is to start to break down who these players are and their strengths and weaknesses to prepare you for the newest Braves prospect.

We will continue the series by staying locally with Tech All American outfielder Drew Burress, as his name is getting the most buzz right now.

Bio

Name: Drew Burress

Position: Centerfield

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 185

College: Georgia Tech

High School: Houston County HS (Warner Robins, GA)

Previously Drafted: N/A

Bats/Throws: R/R

Stats

2024: .381/.512/.821, 15 2B, 3 3B, 25 HR, 67 RBI, 8-10 SB, 58 BB, 37 K in 285 PA over 58 games

2024: .125/.282/.219, 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3-4 SB, 13 BB, 22 K in 78 PA over 18 games in Cape Cod League

2025: .333/.469/.693, 23 2B, 1 3B, 19 HR, 62 RBI, 10-11 SB, 53 BB, 42 K in 290 PA over 60 games

2026: .358/.473/.657, 22 2B, 3 3B, 16 HR, 60 RBI, 10-14 SB, 49 BB, 43 K in 311 PA over 61 games

Hit 50/55

Burress came onto the scene as a true freshman and has never looked back, with an OPS of 1.130 being his lowest mark in three seasons. He’s never hit below .333 and because he is a patient hitter who will take his share of walks, he has never had an OBP lower than .469. He also struggled to hit with the wood bats in the Cape back in 2024 as well as last summer with the US National team – though to be fair that team as a whole struggled with the bats against Japan.

Two areas where Burress has struggled are against breaking balls and some offspeed. Against 76 to 79 MPH pitches he has slashed .091/.259/.136 with only an 84.2 MPH exit velocity, while in 55 plate appearances against sweepers he slashed .357/.471/.357. Those pitches, particularly low in the zone, have been able to beat him and are why I tend to go with the 50 hit tool grade instead of the 55 others may give, as I think better pitchers in the big leagues will be able to exploit that weakness better than college pitchers were able to.

Power 55

One of the biggest knocks on Burress is that his production has dropped each year at Tech, as his homers and slugging percentage have dropped in both 2025 and again in 2026. Still he hit 35 homers between those two seasons, thanks in part to a quick, compact swing with plenty of bat speed. His raw power is definitely plus, despite him being undersized – but I have him as more of a 55 grade, because I think that will play down slightly on the next level.

It’s known that Burress isn’t very big, probably a bit smaller than his listed 5’9 size. With that and the fact his exit velocities are more good than the elite numbers you would expect from a player with his power production, I tend to believe that his power may not play to it’s maximum in games as a pro. It is also worth noting on pitches between 94-97 MPH he slashed .375/.444/.438 in 16 at bats, with no at bats registered at velocities above that. His exit velocities on those pitches were high, but it is something we haven’t seen him show his power against.

Speed 55

Burress is an above average runner, who should have the speed to both have a real chance to stick in center and steal 20+ bases a year in the big leagues.

Glove 55

He’s got the speed and instincts to be an above average center fielder in the longterm. I would not be too worried about him having to move off the position, at least for the next 5-10 years. In the event he did have to move, his athleticism would be more than enough to slide to either corner and be an asset defensively.

Arm 60

The arm is a plus arm which means in the event that he couldn’t stick in center, he would be more than adequate if he moved over to right field. Not only is his arm big, but he’s displayed a strong ability to pick up the outfield assist – a skill not all big armed outfielders have mastered.

Overall

I like Burress, but at the same time I am not in love with him as a prospect. There are too many questions regarding his hit tool and even the power. I think his ceiling is probably more of a solid regular who hits sixth in a lineup, rather than a potential All Star you want in the heart of the order. When you’re picking at 9th overall, I tend to prefer upside, and am not sure that Burress has that, especially due to the fact his game seemed to take a step backwards ever since his breakout freshman season – rather than forwards.

I personally am a bit lower on Burress than any other rankings I’ve seen, but if the Braves drafted him he would probably rank in the Top 3 prospects in the system – behind Eric Hartman, and right there with Cam Caminiti and Tate Southisene. He could probably start his pro career in High-A Rome, though the Braves could do what they did with Alex Lodise and send him to Low-A to work with that coaching staff – a coaching staff excellent at working with hit tools. Depending on their plan for him, he could possibly make it to Atlanta by the end of next year to late in the 2028 season – but that depends on if they go aggressive or if they believe he needs more work on the hit tool.