Interleague action heads to Southern California tonight, and our Twins vs Padres prediction breaks down where to find the best betting value at Petco Park.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for August 21, and fatten that wallet before the weekend.
Who will win Twins vs Padres today: Padres Moneyline (-121)
Expect the Padres to capitalize on Prielipp's control issues early — he's walked 10 batters over his last three starts — build a lead, and turn the game over to their 28th-ranked bullpen to lock down the victory.
COVERS INTEL: San Diego is 8-3 in its last 11 home games against American League opponents, while Minnesota is 13-26 against National League opponents this year.
Twins vs Padres Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 runs (+105)
Petco Park may have a reputation as a pitcher's paradise, but this 7.5-run total is slightly too low with Prielipp on the mound.
Prielipp's 41.1 hard-hit percentage leaves plenty of room for San Diego to put up multi-run frames, while the Twins' lineup features enough middle-of-the-order power to scrape together runs against Randy Vasquez.
Expect both lineups to generate scoring opportunities and push this total past the line.
Twins vs Padres home run prediction: Manny Machado (+474)
Manny Machado continues to be a power threat when facing southpaws at Petco Park (.416 SLG).
Prielipp has surrendered high barrel rates to right-handed hitters all season, making Machado a prime candidate to lift one over the fence.
The value on Machado clearing the outfield wall tonight is too good to pass up, let's ride with him as one of our best bets.
Dustin Saracini's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-8, -2.78 units
Over/Under bets: 5-7, -2.75 units
Twins vs Padres weather
It's a perfect night for baseball in San Diego tonight, with temperatures sitting at 78 degrees Fahrenheit prior to first pitch.
Twins vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Minnesota (+113) | San Diego (-121)
Run line: Minnesota +1.5 (-178) | San Diego -1.5 (+170)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+105) | Under 8.5 (-113)
Twins vs Padres trend
The Over is 7-0-2 in Prielipp's last nine starts as an underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs Padres.
How to watch Twins vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Friday, Aug. 21, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
Padres.TV, Twins.TV
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (3-6, 5.34 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Randy Vasquez (8-6, 4.30 ERA)
Twins vs Padres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson goes up for a shot between New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and New York Knicks guard Josh Hart during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post)
Klay Thompson’s tenure with the Mavericks has ended — and he’s expected to join an Eastern Conference contender.
Thompson and the Mavericks agreed to a buyout agreement, the team announced Friday, and one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history is expected to sign a two-year, $13 million deal with the Heat — who won the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes back in June — after clearing waivers, according to ESPN.
His stint in Dallas concluded after two seasons, and Thompson had one year remaining on his three-year, $50 million deal from back in 2024.
Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson goes up for a shot between New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and New York Knicks guard Josh Hart during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Klay is one of the great players and competitors of his generation, and we are grateful for everything he brought to the Mavericks organization,” Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a release. “We have tremendous respect for Klay and all that he has accomplished throughout his career, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Thompson, a five-time All-Star four-time champion while playing alongside Stephen Curry with the Warriors, joined the Mavericks ahead of the 2024-25 campaign as part of a sign-and-trade.
He struggled while averaging just 11.7 points per game last year, shot 38.3% from behind the arc and mostly settled into a role as a Dallas reserve — only starting eight games.
It marked a stark difference — for both role and production — from when he averaged 21.9 points per game and shot 41.2% from 3 during the 2022-23 campaign with Golden State.
Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors drives past D’Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
But once he signs with the Heat, he’ll instantly join another contender serving as one of the Knicks’ most daunting obstacles in their quest to repeat and have a chance to carve out a sizable role again.
Miami landed Antetokounmpo from the Bucks in exchange for three first-round picks, a pick swap, a second-rounder, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.
And while he’s not the same star he once was with Golden State, Thompson has still made the fourth-most 3-pointers in NBA history — passing Damian Lillard during a January game and now sits just 74 behind Ray Allen for the third-most in league history.
For the second time in nine days, an NBA owner’s stake in their franchise has been flipped after a period of brief control.
Marc Lore is selling his majority stake in the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx to businessman Marc Stad, making Stad the controlling owner of the franchise. This comes just 14 months after Lore bought the Timberwolves alongside former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
Lore will retain a minority stake in the franchise, and Rodriguez will also increase his minority shares in the Timberwolves with the transaction. Stad had been a minority investor in the team.
According to ESPN, the transaction was agreed to with a $4.5 billion valuation.
“We have been working together for years with a shared goal of building the Timberwolves and Lynx into the best organization in basketball on and off the floor,” Stad, Rodriguez and Lore said Friday, Aug. 21 in a joint statement. “Our priority is and always will be championships. Our new agreement, pending league approval, is an evolution of the partnership we have built together and strengthening of our commitment to our team and our culture.”
Stad is the founder of a California investment management firm, Dragoneer Investment Group.
According to ESPN, Lore opted to reduce his exposure and involvement in the Timberwolves and Lynx as his company, the Wonder Group, plans to make a push for an initial public offering.
This also follows a new trend of owners flipping their investment in a very short period to net a significant profit.
On Aug. 12, Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter agreed to sell his shares of the Los Angeles Lakers to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger at a record $12.5 billion valuation. This was just 10 months after Walter’s purchase of the Lakers had been approved at a valuation of $10 billion, generating a 25% return on his investment in his short tenure.
The Lore and Rodriguez purchase of the Timberwolves was unanimously approved in June 2025, at a valuation of $1.5 billion. Given that Lore sold his stake at the $4.5 billion valuation — which ranks fourth-most in NBA history — Lore stands to make a massive 200% return on his investment in just 14 months.
“One of the great joys I’ve had in my career is spending the last few years helping build the Timberwolves and Lynx with my friend and partner Marc Lore. I’m very excited to announce that this incredible journey reaches a new level today,” Rodriguez said on Friday, Aug. 21 in a statement posted on social media.
“Marc and Elisa Stad, who have been our partners and friends since we bought the teams, will be increasing their investment and joining me as Co-Chairman. I will also be increasing my investment and spending even more time with the teams as Co-Chairman, Governor of the Lynx, and alternate Governor of the Timberwolves, pending league approval.”
The NBA will hold its annual fall board of governors meeting in September in New York, when the transaction might be put up for a vote of approval.
“While Marc Lore will be reducing his role and ownership to focus on his business, he remains an investor and a key part of our partnership,” Rodriguez continued. “I could not be more energized about this evolution and what we’re all going to do together for the Twin Cities.”
The Timberwolves have been a consistent threat in the Western Conference playoffs, though they have failed to break through to the NBA Finals. The team underwent a minor overhaul this offseason after it traded away Julius Randle and Naz Reid in separate deals that returned former Hornets guard LaMelo Ball. The move is meant to provide some offensive relief for star guard Anthony Edwards, who has become one of the more dynamic scorers in the NBA.
The Lynx currently have the best record in the WNBA at 30-7, which is four games clear of the next closest team, the Golden State Valkyries. Minnesota has been one of the more consistent franchises in the WNBA, having won four championships from 2011-17.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the first quarter of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on April 07, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks are buying out veteran guard Klay Thompson, the team announced Friday afternoon. Thompson will become a free agent, and reportedly sign with the Miami Heat.
This was a long-rumored scenario, especially when it became clear the Mavericks were moving in a new direction around Cooper Flagg when ownership hired Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz to run the basketball operations, fired Jason Kidd and hired college coach Dusty May.
Thompson played two seasons in Dallas, and they were far from the memorable experiences that Mavericks fans envisioned when it felt like a coup the Mavericks signed him in the first place away from the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in 2024. Dallas was fresh off an NBA Finals loss to the Celtics that featured multiple role players failing to knock down shots or properly space the floor around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Enter Thompson: statistically the second-greatest three point shooter of all time, someone with championship experience to help Doncic and the Mavericks get over the hump. We all know what happened next, and the team Thompson signed up for was very much not that team after the trade of Doncic last February.
Despite it all, Thompson was a good soldier. We didn’t hear too many whiffs of discontent from Dallas media, and Thompson took on the role of veteran leader as the Mavericks cycled through various young players in the last two seasons due to the Doncic trade and injuries. Thompson never played a playoff game with the Mavericks, that’s a damn shame. But it was fun to see him continue to light it up regularly.
Thompson wasn’t his old self after the two major leg injuries, but he still provided the shooting and spacing the Mavericks desperately needed. Thompson shot 38.7 percent on threes in his two seasons with the Mavericks on 7.7 three point attempts per game. At times he was the entire floor gravity for a Mavericks team that was injured and cramped with inconsistent shooters.
Mavericks fans might lament Thompson being let go for nothing, but it’s the right call: Dallas is fully rebuilding around Flagg, and it’ll be hard to give younger guys more burn if all the veterans hang around the roster. Obviously there needs to be a balance, and teams need adults in the room, but the Mavericks have adults in large supply — moving on and freeing up some of the wing logjam will only help Dallas get a better picture of their roster and evaluate it as time moves on.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 19: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres doubles during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a tough series all around for the San Diego Padres. They fell to the New York Mets in the rubber match after Michael King pitched one of the best games of his season, giving up just two runs and working into the seventh inning. Instead, the Friars came up short, scoring just two runs in the finale. They scored just three total between their two losses.
That’s to be expected, though. There are always dips in offense. No one truly expected the Padres’ otherworldly second-half surge to continue all the way to the World Series. But it’s about how you come out of those dips in production that defines what kind of team you are. Hopefully, that will be on full display as the Friars take on the Minnesota Twins back in Petco Park.
Taking the mound
Connor Prielipp (MIN) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
It’s been an up-and-down rookie campaign for Prielipp. The young left-hander has filled out the Twins’ rotation and has done a decent job of it. The lefty owns a 5.34 ERA through 17 starts this season. Prielipp has been consistent in that, posting an ERA over 5.00 in his last seven games and his last 15 games.
Those splits suggest that he won’t be a difficult opponent for the Padres to face. However, San Diego really struggled to score runs in their series against the Mets. If they can’t bounce back from that tonight, it might quickly become a tough weekend for the Friar Faithful back in Petco Park.
The Padres will likely employ an opener and deploy Vásquez in bulk relief. It’s a similar strategy to how they’ve utilized him in his last few outings. That’s seemed to work well. Vásquez owns a 3.00 ERA across his last seven starts despite a middling 4.30 ERA on the season.
Vásquez gave up four runs in his last start against the Cleveland Guardians. Prior to that, he had only given up a combined five runs in six previous starts. That’s good for a 2.05 ERA during that stretch. If Vásquez can rediscover that form tonight, it would make it abundantly easier for the Friars to win the series opener over Minnesota.
Batter up!
Despite a meager offensive showing during their series in New York, the Padres still have one of the best offenses in baseball down the stretch. Not to mention the fact that Fernando Tatis Jr. seems to have found his groove alongside Jackson Merrill. Should those two keep pace alongside Ty France and Manny Machado, it will be hard to stop this ball club.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Gavin Sheets, DH
Luis Rengifo, LF
Freddy Fermin, C
Sung-Mun Song, SS
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts exited the series finale in New York with an apparent injury. The Padres have assured that he is alright and that it was a precaution, but Bogaerts seems due for a rest day nonetheless. It’s possible that Song takes over for him at short for the day before he comes back in Game 2.
Relief corps
It’s quite impossible to say just how important King is to this Padres team. Despite the fact that San Diego lost the series finale, they did so on the backs of an absolute gem. King twirled 6 2/3 innings, surrendering just two runs to the Mets. After that, Jeremiah Estrada entered and immediately gave up two more runs. Those would end up being the difference in the eventual, 4-2, loss. Yuki Matsui relieved Estrada and finished out the game.
Regardless of the loss, King’s performance leaves the bullpen fresh for the series against Minnesota. That would have likely been the case either way (the team had a rest day on Thursday), but it gives them even more time to readjust. Griffin Canning, Kyle Hart, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez are all options for the Friars to turn to.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Jacob Wilson #5 of the Athletics is checked on by a trainer after being hit by a pitch during the bottom of the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on August 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s made several roster moves on Friday afternoon before kicking off their weekend series in Houston, starting by placing young shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 10-day IL among other roster moves:
The Athletics placed INF Jacob Wilson on the 10-day IL, optioned RHP Taylor Rashi to Las Vegas, selected INF Michael Stefanic, and recalled RHP Kade Morris. To make room on the 40-man roster, 1B Nick Kurtz has been transferred to the 60-day IL
Wilson’s IL placement wasn’t the only move but it was the biggest. The second-year infielder has battled shoulder issues since mid-May when he dislocated it diving for an infield single against the Orioles. He managed to work his way back to the team but a thumb injury and this continued shoulder soreness helped contribute to an injury-marred sophomore campaign for Wilson. He just hasn’t been the same guy who thrilled us all last year.
The 24-year-old will end his season with a .266/.298/.388 slash line with just seven long balls. That’s a major step down from his AL ROTY runner-up campaign last year but that shoulder injury could be a major part of the blame. Before his injury he was hitting .292/.311/.398 but post-All Star Break he’d hit just .229/.260/.385. There’s no official word on if he’s going to have surgery on that shoulder this offseason but if he is then the sooner the better. If the A’s are going to bounce back next year they’ll need Wilson in top form.
That wasn’t the only roster move today. Taking Wilson’s immediate spot on the active roster will be fellow infielder Michael Stefanic. This’ll be his second stint with the big league club this year after a very brief stint back in May when he played in two games and went 2-for-5. Capable of playing second, third, and left, he’s spent the majority of the year in Triple-A with the Aviators where he’s hit .296/.405/.414 with six home runs. Considering he’ll be 31 next year he’s mostly a depth piece at this point but maybe he can play his way into the backup infielder mix next year with a big showing down the stretch.
On the pitching side of things the A’s are swapping out one right-hander with another. Recent acquisition Taylor Rashi is heading back down to the minor leagues while prospect Kade Morris gets his second call up to the big leagues. Rashi only made it into one game for the A’s, pitching two innings and allowing one run against the Royals. He’ll head back to Triple-A and look to work his way back up for another crack in the big leagues. Morris meanwhile gets another chance at the majors. His first stint way back in June did not yield positive results and he’s only just returning from his own IL stint, but the A’s don’t have much to lose getting another look at a well-regarded prospect like Morris. Expect to see him out of the bullpen sometime in Houston, where he made his big league debut but got pummeled by the Astros for nine runs.
And the obvious of course: Nick Kurtz’s season is officially over with him being placed on the 60-day IL. The news was previously announced but this makes things official. We’ll see him next Spring.
Saku Koivu has made his mark on the Montreal Canadiens’ history, but he hasn’t done enough to see his number 11 go up to the rafters. Still, he did enough for TPS Turku in Finland for the SM-Liiga team to announce that it will retire his number on October 24.
Koivu was playing for TPS Turku when the Canadiens drafted him in 1993. In his first season with the Finnish side, he put up only 10 points in 47 games, but his progression in year two was spectacular. In the 1993-94 campaign, fresh off being drafted, he put up 53 points in 47 games before making another formidable jump in his final year with 74 points in 45 games.
He made the jump to the NHL at the start of the 1995-96 season and immediately made an impact with the Canadiens, putting up 45 points in 82 games in his rookie season. When the NHL lost a season to a lockout in 2004-05, Koivu headed back home and skated in 20 games for TP Turku, scoring 16 points.
In 13 seasons with the Habs, Koivu put up a total of 641 points in 792 games before joining the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent in the 2009 offseason. That summer, then Montreal GM Bob Gainey decided to give the Habs a facelift ahead of their centennial year, bringing in Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, and Brian Gionta, to name a few.
More than the points he put up, though, Koivu will always be remembered in Montreal for his courage in the face of adversity. Six years into his NHL career, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and after winning that battle, he returned to the ice on April 9, 2002 and was given an ovation for the ages by the Canadiens faithful.
You can see Koivu learn about his number retirement in a TPS Turku social media post, and even if you don’t speak Finnish, it’s easy to see how much the decision meant to the former Canadiens captain. The former Hab may have more good news in the future if son Aatos Koivu, who was drafted 70th overall by the Canadiens at the 2024 draft, makes the NHL.
Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks.
Today’s segment will take a look at the former Canucks that are expected to play in the AHL’s Western Conference during the 2026–27 season.
As it stands, 20 ex-Canucks are projected to be playing in the AHL for the 2026–27 season. The Central and Pacific Divisions are each expected to have four ex-Canucks in them.
Sheldon Dries: Skated in 74 games for Vancouver from 2021–22 to 2022–23 but played the bulk of his time with Abbotsford. Set a new franchise-high in goals scored for Abbotsford with 65. Signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2024 and has remained a part of the Red Wings organization since.
Kyle Burroughs: Signed with Vancouver in 2021 and played in 42 games through his first year with the Canucks. Skated in 48 games with Vancouver in 2022–23, signing with the San Jose Sharks in free-agency the season after. Signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars for the 2026–27 season.
Ashton Sautner: First joined the Canucks organization via the Utica Comets in 2015–16. Made his NHL debut for Vancouver on March 25, 2018, and skated in a grand total of 23 NHL games for the Canucks throughout his tenure. Departed from the organization via free agency in 2022, signing a deal with the Winnipeg Jets.
Derrick Pouliot: Traded to the Canucks from the Pittsburgh Penguins in October of 2017. Skated in 133 games with the Canucks through 2017 to 2019 before departing in free-agency, signing with the St. Louis Blues. Acquired by the Chicago Blackhawks via trade with the New York Rangers.
Mar 14, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kyle Burroughs (44) blocks a shot as Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston (53) watches in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Riley Stillman: Sent to Vancouver via trade for Jason Dickinson in 2022. Played in 32 games for the Canucks during the 2022–23 season before quickly being traded to the Buffalo Sabres. Skated with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Wolves, and Edmonton Oilers before ending up in Bakersfield.
Lane Pederson: Acquired via trade with the Hurricanes in 2022–23. Split time with Vancouver and Abbotsford, skating in 11 and 18 games respectively, putting up an impressive 24 points in his time with the AHL Canucks. Claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets in January of 2023. Signed with the Los Angeles Kings during the 2026 free-agency period.
Christian Wolanin: Signed with the Canucks in 2022 and put together a career-high AHL season shortly after with 55 points in 49 games with Abbotsford. Played in 16 games with Vancouver in 2022–23 and spent the rest of his time with the organization in the AHL. Won the Calder Cup in 2025 before heading to the Providence Bruins. Signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche in 2026.
Jayson Megna: Joined Vancouver via free-agency in 2016, playing in 59 games with the Canucks through the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons. Signed with the Capitals in 2018 before heading to Colorado for four seasons. Spent time with the Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins organizations before returning to the Eagles in 2024–25 and being named captain.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Hockey News
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 19: Andrés Chaparro #87 of the Washington Nationals looks on after hitting a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field on August 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals wrapped up a frustrating series in Texas with a 2-0 loss Thursday night, managing just one hit against Jacob deGrom and three Rangers relievers. DeGrom struck out 10 over six innings and recorded his 2,000th career strikeout, while Brady House collected the Nats’ only hit. Andrew Alvarez allowed one run over five innings, but the Nationals could not generate any offense without James Wood and CJ Abrams, who missed the game with a sprained ankle. Washington dropped two of three against Texas, was shut out in both losses, and has now lost five of its last six games to fall to 61-68.
The Nationals will continue their road trip with a three-game series against the 64-64 Miami Marlins, who return home after being swept by the Phillies. Miami had won three consecutive series against the Angels, Pirates, and Reds before its momentum stalled in Philadelphia, where the Marlins scored just one run in Wednesday’s 4-1 finale. Javier Sanoja provided the lone highlight with three hits and a solo home run, while Sandy Alcantara allowed three runs over six innings. The Marlins are 38-25 at home this season and have won five of their six meetings against the Nats.
Game One – Friday, 7:10 PM ET
WSH: RHP Brad Lord (5-2, 4.04 ERA) MIA: RHP Ryan Gusto (0-3, 4.70 ERA)
Lord struggled in his most recent appearance against the Mets, allowing two runs and walking four while recording just two outs. Gusto allowed four runs, two earned, and struck out six over 4⅔ innings against the Reds in his last start.
Irvin allowed four runs and struck out six over six innings against the Mets on Sunday. Pérez delivered six scoreless innings against Cincinnati in his last outing and enters Saturday with a 15-inning scoreless streak.
Game Three – Sunday, 1:40 PM ET
WSH: LHP Jackson Kent (0-1, 9.39 ERA) MIA: RHP Janson Junk (6-8, 4.37 ERA)
Kent allowed five runs on eight hits over 3⅔ innings against the Rangers on Tuesday, striking out three and walking three. Junk surrendered two runs over five innings against the Phillies on Monday and has posted a 3.21 ERA across three August starts.
SPRINGFIELD,MA - AUGUST 15: Joey Crawford and Mike D'Antoni talk during the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on August 15, 2026 at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
First we must start with the image. All the best photos of NBA Hall of Fame coach Mike D’antoni feature him with a mustache. I would call this a Mike D’Antoni Mustache Mandate. With that out of the way, we can discuss these results.
Mike D’Antoni has defeated Rick Adelman by a fairly wide margin. I wouldn’t call it a D’Antoni voter mandate, but it’s close to one. I think this is a fair result for two reasons.
One, the Houston Rockets best ever season in terms of wins, 65, came under MDA’s coaching. Adelman’s best season only saw the Rockets notch 55 wins. That’s good for a tie (with D’Antoni) for 4th highest regular season wins by the Rockets (57 is 2nd under Rudy T, 56th is 3rd, under Kevin McHale). A ten win margin is pretty significant, but you might look to post season performance as your standard. Again, MDA wins, with his teams reaching the NBA Western Conference Finals in a series most of us (and MDA in a recent interview) remember painfully. If you are going by titles, well, it’s Rudy T and no one else.
Two, I’d pick MDA because he utterly changed how NBA basketball is played. Rick Adelman was an excellent coach, with a deep well of NBA stratagems in his bag. So excellent he, too, is in the NBA Hall of Fame. His motion offense could be a wonder when it was working well, and it was a good offense for getting more out of limited players.
MDA did something else. He broke the NBA paradigm of fixed positions, and inside, post dominant, play. Even if Mike D’Antoni didn’t win an NBA teams that bear his imprint (particularly the Warriors with MDA disciple Steve Kerr) have wib quite a few. The “No Jump Shooting, Small Ball, Team Can Win A Title” mantra is long dead. I’ve always thought of MDA as the basketball equivalent of Earl Weaver.
Earl Weaver was a Baltimore Orioles manager long ago when the Baltimore Orioles fairly regularly won World Series. Weaver essentially intuited almost all of the basic, original, conclusions of the baseball analytics movement. (Bunts waste outs, getting on base, with power in the lineup, is key, etc). We know he did this because he wrote a book about it
MDA did much the same. Early shot clock offense is generally more successful. Higher pace leads to more points. Three is more than two, and there’s no law that says you can’t shoot a lot of threes. The offensive advantages of a lot of smaller players on the court are quite often superior to the other advantages provided by bigger players. You don’t necessarily need the center under the basket, or need a center at all. Pulling a center away from the basket, on offense, provides more space to attack the paint. Pulling defenses away from the paint doesn’t necessarily make long range shooting harder, but it does make defending the paint harder. Scoring is best either at the rim, from three point range, or at the free throw line.
You can see all of these ideas start to bloom with his Seven Seconds or Less Phoenix Suns (perhaps the team most beloved of all time by neutral fans, unless it’s the Showtime Lakers). The ideas bore fruit with the Houston Rockets, and James Harden, a player who could push MDA theories to what seemed at the time, extremes. (Those vaunted offenses would only count as middling at best today. That’s how much the MDA Way has taken over the NBA.)
Some of these ideas have been countered, as all innovations in competitive endeavors are countered, but that doesn’t mean they were wrong.
So to me, Adelman was excellent as a coach, but Mike D’Antoni was a visionary, and that’s a fair result.
The first-place Tampa Bay Rays (76-51) open a crucial AL East series in Baltimore against the Orioles (61-67) tonight. With just five wins in their last ten games, the Rays have seen the Yankees cut into their lead in the division while the Orioles have dropped a full two games behind the Twins in the chase for the final Wild Card spot as the result of being swept by those same Yankees earlier this week.
The Rays dropped two of three earlier this week against the Blue Jays. The usually stingy Tampa pitching staff allowed 21 runs over the three games. As mentioned earlier, the Orioles are also looking to bounce back this weekend. The Yankees’ hurlers held the O’s to five runs in the series. These teams met last weekend in St. Petersburg with the Orioles taking three of the four games.
Freddy Peralta (5-10, 5.27 ERA) takes the ball for Tampa Bay tonight. After a brutal first start with the Rays (7 Earned Runs over 3.2 Innings), Peralta has been solid allowing three runs over six innings against the Athletics on August 10 followed by a stingy but short effort against these Orioles last Sunday in which he surrendered two runs over 4.2 innings. Trevor Rogers (8-8, 4.15 ERA) gets the start for Baltimore. He was on the winning end last Sunday against the Rays allowing just two runs over six innings. In 16 innings this month the southpaw has allowed six earned runs. Since June 1, Rogers has started 13 games and allowed more than two runs just twice – four earned runs July 29 at Detroit and three earned runs June 9 against the Mariners.
Lets dive further into tonight’s game 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.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Rays vs. Orioles
Date: Friday, August 21, 2026
Time: 7:15PM EST
Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
City: Baltimore, MD
Network/Streaming: Apple TV
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
The Latest Odds: Rays vs. Orioles
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Tampa Bay Rays (+111), Baltimore Orioles (-119)
Spread: Tampa Bay Rays +1.5 (-198), Baltimore Orioles -1.5 (+162)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers – Orioles vs. Rays for August 21
Yandy Diaz is 7-13 in his career against Trevor Rogers
Ryan Vilade is 4-4 including 1 HR against Rogers
Junior Caminero is 3-10 against Rogers
Colton Cowser is 2-5 including 1 HR against Freddy Peralta in his career
Tyler O’Neill is 4-16 against Rogers but has struck out 7 times in those 16 ABs
Trevor Rogers has struck out at least 6 opposing hitters in 5 of his last 6 starts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Rays vs. Orioles
The O’s are 66-62 on the Run Line this season
The Rays are 71-56 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 64 times in Baltimore’s 128 games this season (64-60-4)
The OVER has cashed 58 times in Tampa’s 127 games this season (58-64-5)
Expert picks & predictions: Rays vs. Orioles
Rotoworld Bet 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 today’s game between the Orioles and the Rays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Redlegs walks through corn stalks onto the original field of the movie "Field of Dreams," Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, at the MLB Field of Dreams stadium in Dyersville, Iowa. Mlb Field Of Dreams Game Cincinnati Reds At Chicago Cubs Aug 11 0084 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Diamondbacks are coming off a disappointing series where they dropped two out of three to the Red Sox, but did get a solid, extra innings win in the finale. Absolutely nothing else of any importance happened.
The Reds have faded from the conversation. After being semi-close by for a while, they have fallen to last place in the NL Central 18 games behind the Brewers, and seven games behind the Padres for the NL Wild Card. They’re 4-6 in their last ten and just kind of coasting.
Game 1 — 8/21, 6:40 PM: Eduardo Rodriguez (4.4 bWAR, 12-4, 2.71 ERA/155 ERA+, 1.21 WHIP) vs. Nick Lodolo (1.3 bWAR, 3-2, 4.52 ERA/95 ERA+, 1.42 WHIP)
After a (potentially very significant) hiccup against the Padres, normal service has resumed for Eduardo Rodriguez. He threw seven innings of two run ball against the Dodgers, recording a season high nine strikeouts, and then another six inning, two run performance against the Braves. He’s done well in a lot of statistics, but I think one that says a lot is the team’s 19-6 record in games that he starts. At the end of the day, winning baseball games is the goal, and Rodriguez has given the team a chance to do that in basically every start he’s had this season.
Lodolo missed a month due to a blister, and he has made two starts since coming back. His first start was rough, giving up four runs in four innings, but his second start was a good bounce back, holding the Marlins scoreless for five innings in his most recent start. This will be his second time facing the Diamondbacks this season, after he pitched 5.1 innings against them on June 12th, holding them two two runs on five hits and one walk.
Game 2 — 8/22, 5:10 PM: Michael Soroka (2.5 bWAR, 8-3, 2.93 ERA/143 ERA+, 1.10 WHIP) vs. TBD
There is always the concern that an extended lay off due to injury can cause rust to build up on a pitcher, but the 51 days between starts doesn’t seem to have been much of a hinderance for Soroka. That first start back was a little short, only 4.1 innings, but he held the Rockies scoreless and struck out four. The three walks weren’t great, but he worked around them. Next time out, he faced a much tougher level of opponent and held the Braves to just two runs in 5.2 innings. It wasn’t enough, but he did keep the team in the game. The bullpen just let it get away from them.
Game 3 — 8/23, 1:15 PM: Mitch Bratt (0.3 bWAR, 1-2, 4.17 ERA/101 ERA+, 1.47 WHIP) vs. Andrew Abbott (2.3 bWAR, 6-8, 4.07 ERA/105 ERA+, 1.40 WHIP)
Bratt is being basically the perfect definition of a #5 starter. He’s not going to be an all-star, and he’s going to have bad starts. His last time out against the Red Sox was one of those. He was only able to manage three innings and gave up three runs in them. He also gave up three walks, something he has struggled with. In his last five starts he has given up a whopping sixteen. If there is one thing he needs to reel in, it’s that. Other than that, if he can just keep up what he’s doing overall, he’s going to be just fine.
Abbott has been pretty consistent since the start of July. You’re going to get five or so innings out of him. He’s going to give up three runs, a handful of walks, and 4-6 strikeouts. That sums up approximately 75% of his games over the last month and a half. If it’s not that, it tends to err on the side of a worse performance, but there were a couple better ones. That said, I’d expect to see something pretty close to that hypothetical line I drew up.
Conclusion
I won’t insult your intelligence by saying this is a must win series. They all are from here on out until the magic or tragic number says 0. On paper the Diamondbacks should have a pretty good shot. The pitching matchups are strongly in their favor, especially. But the off-field clouds hang low, and it remains to be seen if Lovullo will be able to keep them at bay and keep the team on the field focused. I don’t envy him at all on this one, but if he can pull it off, I don’t think anyone will argue he deserves at least another season on the top step of the dug out.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: CEO and Owner Mark Walter of the Los Angeles Dodgers waves to the crowd during the 2025 Back-to-Back World Champions Ring Ceremony prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the 2026 MLB season has unfolded, everyone involved, front offices, players, and fans, has approached this season with a sense of urgency.
The reason? Most observers aren’t sure there will be a season in 2027.
There will be a work stoppage following the completion of the World Series once the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires, most likely through an owner’s lockout of the players that will last for months. Spring training will be affected and the likelihood that games will be missed next year is very real.
Owners want a salary cap. The MLB Player’s Union is dead set against it.
It is the Kashmir issue of MLB’s labor battle. It is the Taiwan. It is the Jerusalem. It is seemingly the one topic on which there can be no compromise.
Owners point to a vast disparity in payroll for the teams at the top to the ones at the bottom. According to Fangraphs, the projected payroll for baseball’s top-spending team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, is $407 million, with a luxury tax payroll of $417 million. The Mets’ $359 million payroll is next, followed by the Yankees’ $310 million and the Phillies’ $290 million.
The Dodgers’ payroll alone is more than the combined payrolls of the Marlins, Guardians, Rays and White Sox. The payrolls of the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees ($1.07 billion) is more than the four teams already mentioned, plus the A’s, Cardinals, Nationals, Pirates, Twins and Rockies ($967 million).
Not only that, but roughly $1.05 billion in deferred salary will be paid to eight players between 2028-46 (ESPN). The Dodgers have stretched the limits on how much a franchise can spend on its players, but all of it is allowed within the rules of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Baseball is pointing to the Dodgers and their wild spending as the problem and the dire need for new rules to be instituted in the next CBA to squelch it.
All of which makes the developments this week regarding the business practices of Dodgers owner Mark Walter very interesting.
Dual investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York are seeking to determine the details of financial dealings of Walter and two insurance companies he owns — Delaware Life Insurance Company and its affiliate Clear Spring Life and Annuity.
Regulatory filings released on Tuesday show Walter’s insurance companies shuffled billions of dollars in investments to businesses owned by Walter and other business partners. The filings also show a loan tied to the Dodgers has been almost entirely paid off.
Insurance companies like Delaware Life collect insurance premiums from ordinary people like you and me. Those premiums add up, and are then invested by the insurance company owners, like Walter, into other companies. Federal guidelines stipulate how much of an insurance company’s profits can be invested into other companies owned by the same person, in this case, Mark Walter. The allegations indicate Walter invested far more of those insurance company profits into other businesses he owns than is allowed, and that he mis-identified those loans/payments as being to outside entities.
It’s unclear how much of this, if any, is wrapped up in the Dodgers, and thus far, no charges have been brought against Walter. There is also no proof that the Dodgers’ sky-high payroll and hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred contracts is because Walters has funded his team’s payroll or TV cable deal with money from his insurance companies. The investigations will undoubtedly uncover where Walter’s profits went and how they were utilized.
But much of MLB’s incessant push for a salary cap is based on the notion that the Dodgers’ ability to outspend teams at the bottom of the income pool is unfair. That has been a winning argument in terms of public opinion. In March, The Athletic conducted a survey asking whether respondents were in favor of a salary cap system with a cap and floor. Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) said “yes.” Only a quarter (27%) said no.
That same survey found 67% said their fandom would be “significantly” (20%) or “somewhat” (47%) impacted by a potential lockout or strike, but one-third (33%) said they would be impacted “not at all.”
The argument that the Dodgers are destroying baseball is resonating with the fanbase, so from a public relations perspective, even the suggestion that the Dodgers’ payroll is what is due to shady or potentially illegal self-dealing undercuts MLB’s dire plea for help.
“The economics of baseball aren’t broken,” one could argue, “One of the owners was doing illegal, stuff!” will be the new mantra.
To be clear, there is no indication that Mark Walter did anything illegal or unethical with regards to his ownership of the Dodgers. The investigations are ongoing. But strictly from a public relations perspective, even the allegations are damaging because the success or failure of work stoppages in sports is oftentimes driven by fan support or opposition.
One other potential domino is whether Walter will sell the team he bought out of bankruptcy in 2012. He’s already sold his controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers and the Premiere League’s Chelsea franchise to raise money to pay off debts, and there is speculation the Dodgers could be next.
Could MLB really engage in a call for a salary cap and potentially blow up the economics of the game when the very franchise they’ve centered their arguments around is in the process of being sold?
The Athletic reported this week that Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said the sale of the Lakers is “not related to the Dodgers and changes are not coming to the MLB organization.” Of course, things can change.
Even with the investigations looking into the Dodgers’ finances, a labor stoppage is still likely. The owners will still want a cap in the next CBA and the players will be dead set against it. But the argument MLB has been using to make their point has weakened considerably.
The Chicago Blackhawks are coming into the 2026-27 season with mixed expectations. They made some significant additions to their roster through their farm system, trades, and free agency. They are also depending on the development of many young players who already have NHL experience.
Will it be enough to make them a playoff team? That remains to be seen. If they do end up in the dance, it is likely to be helped by players unexpectedly exceeding expectations.
There are plenty of players on the roster with pressure to be one of those players. If they don’t, their trajectory going into future years will trend down. Of all the rostered Blackhawks, these four are facing the most pressure:
Artyom Levshunov
The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot of faith in Artyom Levshunov. They selected him with the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. With that comes a lot of pressure, especially when you look at some of the names selected after him.
Levshunov isn’t unlike other first- or second-year defensemen to come before him. There is a lot of skill, especially in terms of skating and overall strength, but there have been issues in the decision-making area of his game.
It is one thing to have all of the talent that earned Levshunov that second overall pick; it is another to use those skills to become a winning player. He is still working on the latter. It isn’t like Levshunov will have no future if 2026-27 isn’t a great year, but there is pressure on him to show improvement.
There are a lot of young players in the organization, or even in future drafts, who will pass him up on the depth chart if he doesn’t take steps in his development.
Bowen Byram
Bowen Byram is coming to the Chicago Blackhawks with a chance to be their number one defenseman. This comes after years of playing in the shadow of elite players like Cale Makar and Rasmus Dahlin.
Now, he has the pressure of being a team's top option in all situations. He should have no problem getting his points on the power play, but impacting the game at even strength from a defensive perspective will be part of his responsibilities as well.
Byram has one year left on his deal that will carry a cap hit of $6.25 million. After that, it jumps to $12.5 million, which is currently slated to be the highest AAV for a defenseman in the league. Others will pass it soon, but it doesn't take away from the financial commitment that the Blackhawks have to him.
With big contracts come expectations to live up to them. The Hawks don't need him to be Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar, but they need him to be a winning player who leads what should eventually be a great young defense.
Teuvo Teravainen
Teuvo Teravainen saw a drop in production last season. Part of that was less ice time as a result of more talent being inserted into the top six, but he mostly didn't play up to par.
His ice time is not going to increase, and he's not getting any younger, but he can be much better in a supporting offensive role.
With one year left on his contract with the Blackhawks, he must have a good year if he wants his next contract (with the Hawks or someone else) to be more lucrative with good length.
Arvid Soderblom
Arvid Soderblom has one year left on his contract. It also lines up with Drew Commesso's deal going from a two-way deal to a one-way deal. If he wants to maintain his spot with the Blackhawks beyond 2026-27, he must take a step.
Even if he does take a step, Spencer Knight is the long-term starter, so they may let him walk if they want Commesso in the NHL.
With that, Soderblom wants to come off a good year so he can use that to get himself another job in 2027-28 with another team. Most of the league is often looking for backup goalies, and sometimes a string of luck can land one of them a starting position. The pressure is on Soderblom to be good for his future's sake.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
COVERS INTEL: San Diego is 8-3 in its last 11 home games against American League opponents, while Minnesota is 13-26 against National League opponents this year.
