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Top NBA homecoming games for the 2026-27 season

Top NBA homecoming games for the 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The 2026-27 NBA season will see some familiar faces in some new places.

Several superstars left cities where they won championships, while other notable players got a change of scenery this summer.

With those moves will come some highly anticipated homecoming games. Those players will return to their old stomping grounds as a visitor, with many expecting a warm welcome from their former fans.

Here’s a look at some of the must-watch homecoming games for the upcoming NBA season.

LeBron James: 76ers vs. Lakers, Dec. 25

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer spent eight years in Los Angeles, marking his longest continuous stint with a team. Now 41 years old, LeBron James made his “last decision” to leave LA and go to Philadelphia in his pursuit of a fifth NBA championship.

James and the Sixers will head to Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day to battle Luka Doncic and the Lakers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Heat vs. Bucks, Jan. 28

After 13 seasons, two MVPs and a 2021 championship in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo is taking his talents to South Beach after a blockbuster trade between the Bucks and Heat.

Antetokounmpo will return to Milwaukee as a visitor for the time on Jan. 28 (and again on March 12). Conversely, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis will make their Miami homecoming on Nov. 18.

Jaylen Brown: 76ers vs. Celtics, Jan. 21

The Boston Celtics dealt 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the rival Sixers in an offseason stunner, bringing back Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Brown spent 10 seasons in Boston, and he will make several trips back in 2026-27. The Sixers will visit the Celtics on Jan. 21 and March 7, along with a preseason game on Oct. 10.

On the other side, George and the Celtics will head to Philadelphia for matchups on Nov. 10 and Feb. 7, as well as a preseason contest on Oct. 16.

LaMelo Ball: Timberwolves vs. Hornets, Feb. 15

LaMelo Ball was also on the move this summer, as the Charlotte Hornets traded the former No. 3 draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had spent his first six NBA seasons in Charlotte after entering the league at just 19 years old.

Ball and the Wolves will head to Charlotte for a Feb. 15 matchup against the Hornets as part of NBC and Peacock’s Presidents’ Day quadruple-header.

Ja Morant: Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies, Feb. 6

The Ja Morant era in Memphis came to an unceremonious close in June when he was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

The former NBA Rookie of the Year, who spent his first seven professional seasons with the Grizzlies, will return to Memphis on Feb. 6 and again two days later on Feb. 8.

Kawhi Leonard: Raptors vs. Clippers, Nov. 2

There are two potential homecoming options for Kawhi Leonard.

The two-time Finals MVP is in limbo as the NBA keeps the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors’ trade on hold amid an investigation into whether he received a multi-million endorsement deal with sustainability services company Aspiration in an alleged effort to circumvent league salary cap rules.

Should the trade go through, Leonard would visit the Clippers as a member of the Raptors on Nov. 2. If for any reason the trade is not permitted and Leonard stays in LA, he would visit his former home of Toronto with the Clippers on Jan. 1.

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Top NBA homecoming games for the 2026-27 season

Top NBA homecoming games for the 2026-27 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The 2026-27 NBA season will see some familiar faces in some new places.

Several superstars left cities where they won championships, while other notable players got a change of scenery this summer.

With those moves will come some highly anticipated homecoming games. Those players will return to their old stomping grounds as a visitor, with many expecting a warm welcome from their former fans.

Here’s a look at some of the must-watch homecoming games for the upcoming NBA season.

LeBron James: 76ers vs. Lakers, Dec. 25

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer spent eight years in Los Angeles, marking his longest continuous stint with a team. Now 41 years old, LeBron James made his “last decision” to leave LA and go to Philadelphia in his pursuit of a fifth NBA championship.

James and the Sixers will head to Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day to battle Luka Doncic and the Lakers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: Heat vs. Bucks, Jan. 28

After 13 seasons, two MVPs and a 2021 championship in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo is taking his talents to South Beach after a blockbuster trade between the Bucks and Heat.

Antetokounmpo will return to Milwaukee as a visitor for the time on Jan. 28 (and again on March 12). Conversely, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis will make their Miami homecoming on Nov. 18.

Jaylen Brown: 76ers vs. Celtics, Jan. 21

The Boston Celtics dealt 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown to the rival Sixers in an offseason stunner, bringing back Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

Brown spent 10 seasons in Boston, and he will make several trips back in 2026-27. The Sixers will visit the Celtics on Jan. 21 and March 7, along with a preseason game on Oct. 10.

On the other side, George and the Celtics will head to Philadelphia for matchups on Nov. 10 and Feb. 7, as well as a preseason contest on Oct. 16.

LaMelo Ball: Timberwolves vs. Hornets, Feb. 15

LaMelo Ball was also on the move this summer, as the Charlotte Hornets traded the former No. 3 draft pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He had spent his first six NBA seasons in Charlotte after entering the league at just 19 years old.

Ball and the Wolves will head to Charlotte for a Feb. 15 matchup against the Hornets as part of NBC and Peacock’s Presidents’ Day quadruple-header.

Ja Morant: Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies, Feb. 6

The Ja Morant era in Memphis came to an unceremonious close in June when he was shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.

The former NBA Rookie of the Year, who spent his first seven professional seasons with the Grizzlies, will return to Memphis on Feb. 6 and again two days later on Feb. 8.

Kawhi Leonard: Raptors vs. Clippers, Nov. 2

There are two potential homecoming options for Kawhi Leonard.

The two-time Finals MVP is in limbo as the NBA keeps the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors’ trade on hold amid an investigation into whether he received a multi-million endorsement deal with sustainability services company Aspiration in an alleged effort to circumvent league salary cap rules.

Should the trade go through, Leonard would visit the Clippers as a member of the Raptors on Nov. 2. If for any reason the trade is not permitted and Leonard stays in LA, he would visit his former home of Toronto with the Clippers on Jan. 1.

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Xhekaj And Bolduc Candidates To Sign-And-Trade Deals?

Montreal Gazette writer Stu Cowan sent shockwaves in Montreal Canadiens land earlier this week when he penned an article in which he mentioned that the fact that Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc weren’t signed led him to believe they could be part of sign-and-trade deals before September 16.

Cowan caught some flak on social media for writing that, because it’s not something fans want to hear, especially not about Xhekaj, whose gritty style and underdog story have elevated him to the level of fan favourite. Unfortunately for both Xhekaj and the fans, he may have more value to the Canadiens as a trade chip. Not because he couldn’t be useful to them on the ice- they need some toughness- but as things stand, they do not play him regularly, and he hardly played in the playoffs. The gritty blueliner is more useful to the team as a trade chip than he is as a seventh defenseman who doesn’t get to see the ice much.

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Cowan writing that he could be part of a sign-and-trade deal makes perfect sense. Even though Xhekaj loves Montreal and everything about it and the team, at 25 years old, he needs to do what’s right for him as a player and not as a teammate. Brendan Gallagher didn’t say anything during the season about seeing his ice time melt like snow in the sun, and when he was a healthy scratch in the playoffs, but when the season ended, he said it was pretty obvious he would be moving on. Hockey players want to play, and it’s just normal. Xhekaj is a hockey player, and he wants to play too. Obviously, he’s not in Gallagher’s situation, but it’s a good parallel to understand why he hasn’t signed yet.

Of course, it’s easier to trade a player once he’s signed to a contract and the buyer knows they have the player under control for a set number of years. If the Canadiens do go out and get a right-shot defenseman to play with Lane Hutson, Xhekaj’s odds of having a spot in the lineup would get even slimmer and even if they don’t, as things stand, there isn’t much room for him. Especially not with Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher looking to make the jump to the NHL. Ideally, though, if Montreal were to trade Xhekaj, it would be outside of the Eastern Conference; that’s not a player you’d want to face too often, especially if he becomes an NHL regular once given a proper opportunity.

As for Bolduc, it’s easy to see what Cowan means when he says he too could be a candidate for a sign-and-trade deal. As I wrote earlier this off-season, I don’t see Kent Hughes gambling on Bolduc and giving him an eight-year contract without having had a chance to thoroughly evaluate him. However, another team may have a different approach and be willing to do that. If Montreal wants to land a top-six player, the Habs will likely have to part with players who have proven they could be an asset in the NHL. I believed Oliver Kapanen could be a candidate to be sacrificed in that way, but if the Canadiens were to deal for a power-forward type of player, it could make sense for their trading partner to be looking for a forward who has some grit.

To maximize Bolduc’s value, it would only be logical to allow the trading partner to negotiate a deal with him, much like the New York islanders allowed the Canadiens to negotiate with Noah Dobson last season before the trade was made. Given the fact that they gave Logan Mailloux to acquire Bolduc, though, the Habs are unlikely to move on from him that soon unless they are getting someone really good in return.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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The Lakers’ new owner is an admitted longtime Clippers fan

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: Bob Iger (R) and Steve Ballmer attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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 Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In an ideal world, your favorite team would be owned by a lifelong fan who can keep the team competitive.

But those types of fairytales don’t exist in reality. The best you can hope for is that your owner hasn’t gone on a podcast to talk about how he couldn’t root for your team because of past rivalries and instead chose to root for your inter-city foes.

If that feels oddly specific, it’s by design. Back in 2021, then-podcaster JJ Redick hosted then-Executive Chairman of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, who reportedly agreed to buy the Lakers alongside Josh Kushner on Wednesday, on his “The Old Man & the Three” podcast where they discussed the origin of him becoming a Clippers fan.

Does this actually matter? Not really. There are probably not many, if any, owners who were actually a fan of the team. It’s just that Iger publicly came out as a fan of another team.

That being said, if you want to spin it into a positive, it’s clear that Iger is a fan of the game. If he was rooting for the Knicks when the Lakers were a legitimate rival, then he’s been a fan for decades. Similarly, if you’re buying season tickets to the Clippers when they have Corey Maggette and Cuttino Mobley, then you have to really like the sport.

Further to that point, in the statement released by Iger and Kushner, they acknowledged the importance of the Lakers to Los Angeles.

“As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

Again, none of this really matters. If you actually care about this, you need to re-evaluate some things.

What matters now is investing in the Lakers moving forward to ensure they remain ahead of the Clippers and everyone else in the league.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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Printable Celtics schedule 2026-27: Dates, times, opponents for every game

Printable Celtics schedule 2026-27: Dates, times, opponents for every game originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season was officially released Thursday.

The 82-game slate begins Tuesday, Oct. 20 when the Celtics play the Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET. Three days later, the Celtics host the defending champion New York Knicks in their home opener at TD Garden.

Other notable dates include Jaylen Brown’s return to Boston with the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 21, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ only trip to TD Garden on Feb. 2.

Click the link below or scan the QR code for a printable version of the Celtics’ 2026-27 schedule:

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The full Sixers schedule for 2026-27 season is here

The full Sixers schedule for 2026-27 season is here  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ schedule for LeBron James’ first year in Philadelphia is here. 

Following a wild Sixers offseason that featured the acquisitions of James and Jaylen Brown in Mike Gansey’s first summer as the team’s president of basketball operations, the NBA released its complete schedule Thursday. (Every team has 80 games on the calendar and the details for No. 81 and 82 will be announced in December after the NBA Cup group stage.)

The Sixers will begin their season by visiting the defending champion Knicks on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET. Other dates to circle include the home opener vs. the Cavaliers on Oct. 22 and a Christmas visit to the Lakers. The team’s schedule is below: 

It’s safe to assume Xfinity Mobile Arena will be full and very loud in support of a Sixers team with championship ambitions. After being swept by the Knicks last postseason, the Sixers are aiming to advance past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season.

“As someone that’s competed against Philadelphia for a large amount of time, one thing I can say is the fan base here is incredible,” Brown said last week at his introductory press conference. “They really get behind the guys. It’s one of the harder-playing arenas to be in with the intensity level, the engagement. The fans, you can tell that they love the city and the team here.” 

According to the NBA, training camps for teams not traveling overseas in the preseason will open on Sept. 29. The Sixers have three known games so far on their preseason schedule, two of which are against the Celtics: 

  • Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET: Sixers at Nets
  • Oct. 10, 8 p.m. ET: Sixers at Celtics 
  • Oct. 16, 7 p.m. ET: Sixers vs. Celtics 
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Celtics schedule analysis: Uptick in back-to-backs, a brutal November

Celtics schedule analysis: Uptick in back-to-backs, a brutal November originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics 2026-27 schedule is live.

With our annual apology to Larry Bird, who famously dismissed the annual schedule hype by noting, “41 home, 41 road; looks good to me,” let’s break out our highlighters and identify some marquee matchups, some trends, and anything else that jumps out about this year’s slate. 

Long wait for Jaylen Brown’s return

More than half of Boston’s 2026-27 season will be in the rearview mirror before Jaylen Brown makes his much-anticipated regular-season return to TD Garden.

The Sixers don’t make their first regular-season visit to Boston until Jan. 21, the 44th game of the season for the Celtics. Philadelphia will be in town for a preseason game in October, but we’d be surprised if Brown plays that night, maybe dragging out the drama for his first real game here. 

You won’t have to wait as long for the first Celtics-Sixers regular-season showdown. That is set for Nov. 10, Boston’s 11th game of the season.

Philadelphia returns to TD Garden on Sunday, March 7 for a national TV matinee.

No wait for first game

The NBA is shaking up its opening day schedule with the Celtics and Pistons — the two top teams in the Eastern Conference standings last season —kicking off the entire 2026-27 season with a Tuesday matinee (3 p.m. on NBC).

While it’s unique for the NBA, it gives us baseball opening day vibes. The Celtics and Pistons start a slate that will also feature 1) The Knicks getting their championship rings before jousting with Brown and the new-look Sixers and 2) A rematch of the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and Spurs. 

The Celtics play their home opener on Friday night with a visit from the defending champion Knicks, which will also serve as Mitchell Robinson’s first game against his former team.

Uptick in back-to-backs, and a brutal November

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and forward Jayson TatumPaul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Jayson Tatum is poised for a fantastic 2026-27 season.

The Celtics are scheduled to play 16 back-to-backs this season, the team’s highest number in the past decade. There are six sets of back-to-back games before the end of November alone, increasing the degree of difficulty as Boston launches into the new campaign.

November is daunting for both travel and rest. Boston plays 16 games in 30 days. Twelve of those games are on the road, with five back-to-backs in that span.

The second night of back-to-back games in that run: at Houston (after playing in Orlando), at Toronto (after playing in Philadelphia), vs. Orlando (after hosting Maine native Cooper Flagg and Dallas), at Golden State (after playing in Sacramento), and at Dallas (after playing in San Antonio). 

From a challenging opening week to the November travel blitz, it’s a daunting 21-game stretch to start the new season (though the degree of difficulty levels off a bit after opening week when Boston plays a series of home games). 

The Celtics have never used the absence of rest days as an excuse during the Joe Mazzulla era, and a young, deep bench has helped them on those nights in the past. But those games will challenge Boston given the high profile nature of many Night 1s, and the travel for Night 2s.

Boston played 13 back-to-back games last season and has averaged just north of that number over the past four seasons. This is the most back-to-back games in a season since playing 17 in 2016-17. 

Extra motivation for the Cup?

2026 NBA Cup scheduleBrian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
NBA Cup games feature cool court designs.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has repeatedly noted that Boston’s North Star is adding championship banners. But his team might have a little extra motivation for this year’s in-season NBA Cup.

The 2026 Cup championship game will be held at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse on December 11. Stevens compiled a 166-49 record as head coach of Butler from 2007-2013, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national title games in 2010 and 2011.

While Stevens would likely downplay the overall significance of the Cup, we can’t help but imagine he’d feel a bit nostalgic watching his current team play inside a gym he holds in such high regard. And Boston could certainly make a bold early statement by being competitive in those games. 

The Celtics are slotted in Eastern Conference Group C of Cup play and will compete in four group-play games: 

  • Friday, Oct. 30 vs. Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 6 at Hornets, 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 24 at Wizards, 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 27 vs. Hawks, 8 p.m.

Back on Christmas Day, home for the holiday season

After a one-year absence from the NBA’s marquee Christmas Day calendar, Boston is back on the holiday stage. The Celtics will host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat at 2:30 p.m. as part of the league’s five-game slate.

Boston, of course, had a very public flirtation with acquiring Antetokounmpo this offseason. The two teams will play three times, with the other two meetings slated for the tail end of the season.

The Celtics enjoy their longest homestand of the season with seven consecutive games at TD Garden spanning from December 14-28. A season-long six-game road trip follows immediately after with stops in Chicago, Utah, Portland, Phoenix, and Los Angeles (two games, vs. Lakers and Clippers) over an 11-day span into the new calendar year.

Super Bowl appetizer is back

Drake MayeMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Patriots lost Super Bowl 60 to the Seahawks.

The Celtics hosted a home game on Super Bowl Sunday every season from 2009 until 2020, posting a sizzling 9-2 mark during that stretch. It basically coincided with the prime of Tom Brady’s tenure in New England, including five Super Bowl appearances for the Patriots.

Maybe a new streak is starting for the Drake Maye era.

The Celtics, after being off on the NFL’s big day in 2020 and 2025, and traveling for road games in 2021 and 2024, hosted the Knicks last season as an appetizer for the Patriots’ most recent Super Bowl appearance. 

The Celtics host the Raptors at 1 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday (February 14) this year.

This will be the 44th game that Boston has played on a Super Bowl Sunday, posting a 29-14 (.674) record in that span. The Celtics are 7-2 on days when the Patriots also play in the Super Bowl (while the Patriots are 5-4 in those games).

Another grueling February, road heavy at finish line

If the Celtics survive the early gauntlet, its next-biggest challenge might come in the run up to the All-Star break.

From Feb. 2-18, the Celtics play: at Lakers, at Charlotte, at Atlanta, at Philadelphia, vs. Denver, vs. Golden State (on the second night of a back-to-back), vs. Minnesota, vs. Toronto, at Oklahoma City, and at Memphis (on the second night of a back-to-back). 

Boston also plays seven of its final nine games of the regular season away from home, which might matter if there’s some jockeying for position in a beefed-up Eastern Conference.

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Red Sox vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Max Scherzer gets the nod today, and I'm riding with him in my Red Sox vs. Blue Jays predictions.

The Toronto Blue Jays have narrowed the gap to just 1.5 games for the final Wild Card spot and are coming into this one as +135 underdogs against the Boston Red Sox at BET99. It's time to ride the wave and back the Blue Jays to finish the four-game sweep at the Rogers Centre.

Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 13, and cash a same-game parlay, shall we?

Red Sox vs Blue Jays predictions

Red Sox vs Blue Jays best bet: Blue Jays +1.5 (-130)

Max Scherzer has a history of showing up in big games (look no further than last year's Game 7 of the World Series), and has actually been pretty serviceable for the Toronto Blue Jays of late after struggling out of the gate.

The veteran has allowed just three earned runs across his last 11 1/3 innings, and the stage might be the brightest of the season tonight as Toronto looks to sweep Boston and continue its ascent in the Wild Card standings. 

He's looked good in this specific matchup, too, limiting Willson Contreras, Adley Rutschman, and Jaren Duran to a .165 xBA or worse across 25 combined at-bats. The Jays have won 10 of their last 14 games, and the offense has scored five or more runs in five of their last six. Sign me up.

I'd price this closer to -145, so I'm taking this type of value and running with it.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Looking for damage against the Red Sox? Andres Gimenez has had Payton Tolle's number so far in the pitcher's young career. The shortstop is 3-for-4 with a double and a homer against him, sporting a .458 xBA and 1.070 xSLG. He could be your unsung hero tonight.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

The Blue Jays will make this one close, and Scherzer has a good history against these Red Sox, limiting them to a .268 xwOBA across 45 plate appearances — that'll play.

George Springer gets the tap on the shoulder offensively: his splits are slightly better against lefties, he's cashed this play in two straight games he's started in, and he's rocking an .820 OPS following the All-Star break. After a day off last night, let's see him locked in today.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays SGP

  • Blue Jays +1.5 
  • Max Scherzer Under 2.5 earned runs
  • George Springer Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI

Covers Alberta: Sports betting is now live!

Regulated Alberta sports betting has officially launched, allowing sportsbooks to operate under provincial oversight.

You can sign up and join BET99 — one of the best Alberta betting apps — now to get in on the Blue Jays action!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/82/bet99.svg" alt="BET99" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

Red Sox vs Blue Jays home run pick: Andres Gimenez (+1100)

Why not take a shot at this price? As mentioned above, Gimenez has Tolle's number so far and could absolutely be the hero the Blue Jays need tonight. He has a higher OPS at home and post-All-Star break, and owns the team's highest xSLG in this specific matchup. Fire up a long-shot home run pick at no more than .2u, and let's see the defense-first shortstop hit his ninth homer of the year.

Dustin Saracini's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Best bets: 2-1, +1.95 units
  • SGPs: 0-3, -0.6 units
  • HR picks: 0-3, -0.6 units

Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds

  • Moneyline: Boston (-155) | Toronto (+135)
  • Run line: Boston -1.5 (+110) | Toronto +1.5 (-130)
  • Over/Under: Over 8 (-110) | Under 8 (-110)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays trend

Looking for a total play? The Under is 6-0 in the Blue Jays' last six games during Game 4 of a series. With this pitching matchup, it might not hurt to buy up the defense. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Red Sox vs Blue Jays and game info

LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
DateThursday, Aug. 13, 2026
First pitch3:07 p.m. ET
TVNESN, SN
Red Sox starting pitcherPayton Tolle
(7-6, 3.20 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcherMax Scherzer
(1-4, 7.25 ERA)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Red Sox vs Blue Jays weather

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.

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.

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The Phillies visit the Field of Dreams ahead of the stretch run

DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 12: A general view of the Welcome to MLB at Field of Dreams sign during the media batting practice at Field of Dreams movie site on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After a four-year hiatus, MLB returns to “baseball heaven,” and they’re bringing the Phillies with them.

For the first time since 2022, a Major League baseball game will be played at the site where the hit 1988 movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed, Dyersville, Illinois.

This will be the third iteration of the Field of Dreams game. The first, in 2021, featured a dramatic walk-off win by the Chicago White Sox over the New York Yankees, 9-8.

The following season, the Chicago Cubs edged the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2. That year, Ken Griffey Jr. and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., re-enacted the iconic scene at the end of the movie in which Kevin Costner’s character ***SPOILER ALERT RIGHT HERE*** played catch with the ghost of his deceased father.

The Phils have been featured prominently in some of the sport’s biggest tentpole events of late, including the London Series against the Mets in 2024 and, of course, this year’s All Star Game festivities at Citizens Bank Park. Tonight’s game in Iowa is yet another, although it will test an exhausted team coming off a brutal series in miserably hot and humid St. Louis where the Phillies lost two of three and fell out of the NL’s third wild card spot.

Perhaps a little corn field magic is what the Phillies need right now.

The game returns after the owners of the land and facilities spent millions of dollars revamping the setup to accommodate staging a Major League Baseball game. Previously, pop-up stadiums had to be created on the fly, an unsustainable situation if the league planned to return on a yearly basis. Now, a complex of multiple stadiums has been created, while also maintaining the original field that made the location famous.

Tonight’s game will have a much different feel to it than normal. The current, more intimate setup, holds a maximum of 8,000 spectators. And there will be one additional quirk. The stadium is not set up to facilitate the new ABS challenge system, meaning teams will not be able to challenge balls and strikes, which is fine when you consider J.T. Realmuto is among the most infrequent challengers in the Majors and baseball has been played this way for about 150 years prior to this season.

The Phillies and Twins will emerge from the cornfields tonight wearing throwback uniforms from 1938.

First pitch is slated for 7:30pm ET and will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix, although there is a chance the game could be impacted by rain. The forecast calls for potential thunderstorms in the area this evening. MLB announced if the game is rained out, it will be played the following evening, on Friday night.

The Phils are scheduled to leave Iowa for the final two games of their series with the Twins in Minneapolis this weekend, but inclement weather could throw those plans into a tizzy.

The worst case scenario would be starting a game and burning pitchers only for it to be postponed and played the following evening, robbing the Phils of a much-needed day off and further stretching an already depleted bullpen.

Still, even in the rain, tonight’s Field of Dreams game should provide some breathtaking views and pangs of nostalgia for Phils fans watching.

On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, I talked a bit about the Field of Dreams game as well as the Phillies’ miserable week in St. Louis, Bryce Harper’s knee, Zack Wheeler concerns and much more!

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Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman somehow avoids serious injury in frightening fall into visitors’ dugout

LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman apparently avoided serious injury when the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first baseman took a frightening tumble down the stairs and into the visitors’ dugout while trying to catch a foul popup in the eighth inning.

Freeman isn’t sure whether he’ll play when the Dodgers begin an important four-game series with the MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers, but he’s grateful his freefall to the dugout floor wasn’t worse.

“I didn’t hit my head, so that was the key part there,” Freeman said. “I am sore. Kneecaps are sore. Shoulder is sore. Hand sore. Wrist sore. I mean, I fell. (But) I’m in good spirits.”

Freeman stayed in the game and finished the top of the eighth, but Tommy Edman pinch hit for him in the bottom of the inning before Los Angeles closed out a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, its fourth in five games.

The right side of Freeman’s body took the punishment, but the 2024 World Series MVP apparently didn’t break any bones. He’ll wait to see how he feels in the morning before he decides whether to play when the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers welcome Milwaukee in a rematch of last year’s National League Championship Series.

Freeman said he simply miscalculated the location of the dugout railing while he tracked Isaac Collins’ foul pop.

“I went to lean, like I was going to lean against the rail to catch the ball — and obviously there was no rail,” Freeman said with a smile.

Freeman, who turns 37 in one month, said he was fortunate to fall all the way into the dugout, missing the top flight of stairs entirely. That’s because when he landed, his head stuck out into the open space above the second flight of stairs that goes down into the visitors’ clubhouse instead of banging on the ground.

“Luckily, I was tall, so I missed everything else,” the 6-foot-4 Freeman cracked.

This wasn’t Freeman’s first fielding misadventure: He said he fell into the seats in Arizona roughly a decade ago while he was with the Atlanta Braves.

The Orange County native and childhood Angels fan also said he still remembers the infamous 1999 opening-day dugout fall by Mo Vaughn, who got hurt on the first play of his first game with the Halos.

The Royals rushed to Freeman’s side after the fall, urging him to stay on the ground. Freeman decided to get up anyway, and the Dodgers’ training staff rushed across the field to check on him.

“I think that we really dodged a bullet,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “Very scary visually. For right now, he’s in good spirits, which I think is a good sign. Just kind of total body soreness.”

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Phillies vs Twins Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 13

Philadelphia (64-58) and Minnesota (60-62) meet each other for the first time this season when the two gather for The Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. The game is being threatened by rain, but shapes up for an interesting matchup to kick off a three-game series.

The Phillies have dropped two consecutive games to the Cardinals as Philadelphia only scored one combined run. Philadelphia is hitting .210 in the last six games (23rd) with 23 runs scored (T-15th). The Phillies have four homers in that span (T-25th), but is top five in stolen bases (7). The Phillies are tied with the Diamondbacks for the final NL Wild Card spot after the Padres passed both teams.

Minnesota is hot offensively over the past week. The Twins are hitting .282 (5th) in the last six games with the third-most runs (32), plus top 10 ranks in OBP, OPS, and SLG. However, in August, Minnesota's pitching ranks 20th in ERA (4.53), 24th in WHIP (1.43) and OBA (.258). Minnesota has allowed at least four runs in six-straight games entering this matchup.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Twins

  • Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
  • Time: 7:30 PM EST
  • Site: Field of Dreams
  • City: Dyersville, Iowa
  • Network/Streaming: Netflix 

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

Odds for the Phillies at the Twins

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Philadelphia Phillies (-103), Minnesota Twins (-104)
  • Spread: Phillies -1.5 (+151), Twins +1.5 (-184)
  • Total: 8.5

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Twins 

  • Thursday's pitching matchup (August 13): Aaron Nola vs Taj Bradley  
  • Phillies: Aaron Nola

2026 stats: 125.0 IP, 3-9, 5.47 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 129 K, 43 BB

  • Twins: Taj Bradley  

2026 Stats: 131.2 IP, 9-4, 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 148 K, 55 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • Josh Bell is hitting .375 in August (15/40) with three home runs
  • Brooks Lee is hitting .282 in August (11/39)
  • Royce Lewis is hitting .413 in August (19/46) with nine RBI
  • Kyle Schwarber is hitting .225 in August (9/40) with two home runs
  • Bryce Harper is hitting .270 in August (10/37) with three home runs
  • Trae Turner is hitting .239 in August (11/46) with four RBI

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

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

  • Philadelphia is 47-75 ATS, ranking second-worst
  • Minnesota is 66-56 ATS, ranking seventh-best
  • Philadelphia is 61-53-8 to the Under, ranking eighth-best
  • Minnesota is 64-50-8 to the Over, ranking fourth-best
  • Philadelphia is 23-37 ATS on the road, ranking second-worst
  • Minnesota is 31-29 ATS at home

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

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 Thursday's game between the Phillies and the Twins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phillies at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.5

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

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Cubs’ Alex Bregman continues second-half surge with first career 3-homer game

WASHINGTON — Alex Bregman wasn’t worried even as he grinded through an unremarkable first half in his opening months with the Chicago Cubs. He validated that attitude.

Bregman hit three homers in a game or the first time in Chicago’s 12-6 rout of the Washington Nationals, continuing a torrid stretch in recent weeks.

The 32-year-old, who signed a five-year, $175 million deal in January, is hitting .388 (26 for 67) with six homers and 17 RBIs in 16 games since July 27, and he has the most hits in the majors in that span. He’s homered four times in the first two games of the series at Washington, and six of his 16 homers this season have come against the Nationals.

“Feel like the last month or so has been a step in the right direction, but really the last two days have been a real step in the right direction,” said Bregman, whose seven RBIs were also a career high.

The Cubs only scored in three innings, but Bregman was a significant part of each rally.

After walking in his first two plate appearances, Bregman lofted a sweeper from Jake Bird into the visitors’ bullpen in left for a three-run blast to cap a four-run fifth.

In his next trip, he pulled a two-run shot to left off Yovanny Cruz as the final blow in a five-run sixth that made it 9-4.

In the eighth, Bregman homered in his third consecutive at-bat, sending a fastball from Trevor Williams into the Cubs bullpen to drive in Seiya Suzuki.

“We watched it in spring, with what he’s capable of doing, and you’ve seen it his whole career,” said shortstop Dansby Swanson, who also homered in the eighth. “He’s a special player when he’s going right.”

It was Bregman’s ninth career multi-homer game and his second against Washington this season. He also is the second Cub to hit three homers in a game, joining Swanson’s effort against San Diego on July 1.

Bregman has nine homers in 26 games since July 11 after hitting seven in his first 92 games as a Cub.

“I think that’s why this is a good team,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We have a different guy who can do that any day, maybe. Dansby’s done it. Pete (Crow-Armstrong)’s certainly done it. Ian (Happ)’s done it. Seiya’s done it. It’s pretty cool and that’s a great game. He definitely drove the bus today.”

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Three veterans who have had the Washington Nationals number this season

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 11: Alex Bregman #3 of the Chicago Cubs rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After Alex Bregman’s three home run game, I thought about how many veteran players have given the Nats issues this year. Obviously the likes of Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto have had big moments, but they are some of the best players in the league. I am going to take a look at three guys having otherwise mediocre seasons who have owned the Nats.

The first player we will talk about is the aforementioned Bregman. Despite being a star for most of his career, Bregman really has not put up superstar numbers in his first season in Chicago. He is hitting .256 with 16 homers and a .759 OPS. This is not bad, but pretty underwhelming for a guy like Bregman. 

These numbers would be even more unimpressive if he did not play the Nats. Six of Bregman’s 16 homers have come against Washington. Last night he put the Cubs on his back, hitting three homers in a game for the first time in his career.

It has always felt like Bregman does well whenever he plays the Nats, especially in DC. He is one of those players I feel like Ted Lerner would have gone after if he were still owning the Nats. Bregman would have been a great veteran in this clubhouse and a good mentor for players such as Wood and Abrams. However, he is now in Chicago and owns the Nats whenever he plays us.

Bregman is far from the only player 30 or older to own the Nats this year though. Perhaps the most obvious example of this is Derek Hill, who has broken our hearts multiple times this year. Hill was a Nat at one point, but made zero impact on the team.

Honestly, I thought Hill would be out of baseball by now. Thanks to his speed, defense and improving offensive ability, the center fielder has stuck around. For the season, he is hitting .233 with a .708 OPS, 9 homers and has 0.8 WAR. That is a nice season for a journeyman like him.

However, a lot of that production has come against the Nats. He is hitting .368 against us in 19 at bats, and honestly that is lower than I thought. The 30 year old has 3 homers against the Nats, with two of them being complete backbreakers.

Back in June, he took Brad Lord deep in the 9th inning of a wild game that the Phillies ended up winning. It was just a total gut punch to get beat by Hill of all people. When the two teams squared off again in August, Hill hit a go-ahead grand slam off of Tom Cosgrove to extend the Nats misery.

When the Nats get beat by the likes of Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber, it is easy to shrug it off because those guys are elite players. This year it has been Derek Hill who has been killing this team. It is both very annoying and shows the struggles of the Nats pitching staff.

There have honestly been plenty of instances where the Nats do a solid job shutting down the best player on teams, but let other guys destroy them. That happened against Yordan Alvarez when we played Houston. It also is happening this week against the Cubs. Outside of one homer, PCA has been fairly quiet, but Bregman and Seiya Suzuki are feasting.

The last player on the list is also a veteran who is not his team’s best hitter. Like Bregman, Matt Chapman is having an underwhelming season by his standards. He was only hitting .235 with 7 homers and a .692 OPS before going down with season ending surgery.

However, he went 14 for 26 with 2 homers and 8 RBI against the Nats. The 33 year old was just hitting rockets all over the field whenever he played against the Nats. He played a big role in that horrible Nats meltdown, hitting two homers in that game to get the Giants back in it. Chapman also had the game winning hit in a 12 inning game. Despite the rough season, he has been a thorn in the Nats side. 

It feels like players like Chapman and Bregman are the ones who really have owned the Nats this year. Simon Mathews and Sean Doolittle have come up with solid game plans for the stars, but the lack of pitching talent really shows up against these guys. You cannot spend as much time preparing for the sidekicks, and those guys have punished the Nats.

Throughout this season, experienced teams and players have had the Nats number. Alex Bregman, Derek Hill and Matt Chapman are just three examples of that. Hopefully the Nats learn from this season and continue to improve, especially on the mound. However, there will always be guys who are Nats killers, and these are a few of them.

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Today in White Sox History: August 13

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - CIRCA 1984: Roy Smalley #12 of the New York Yankees bats against the Baltimore Orioles during an Major League Baseball spring training game circa 1984 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Smalley played for the Yankees from 1982-84.
On this day 42 years ago, the White Sox shipped away a future Cy Young winner for 47 games of Roy Smalley. | (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

1906
The White Sox ended their first and greatest homestand with a 0-0 tie against New York. While the Highlanders were held to three singles by Doc White, the White Sox somehow failed to score in spite of six hits and three New York errors. The homestand ended a record 15-1-1. (Two subsequent White Sox homestands finished 15-1.)

This game was also the only blemish on the 19 consecutive victories the White Sox ran off, setting the all-time modern (1901-on) MLB mark. The record, still recognized in spite of a tie in Game 12, was broken 10 years later by the New York Giants but remains tied for the fifth-longest in modern baseball and tied for eighth overall in major league baseball.

1933
The White Sox lost in 17 innings, 6-5, against Detroit. The loss is notable in that it remains tied for the 15th-longest game in White Sox history. However, it also saw the end of eight consecutive hits and 10 consecutive trips on base for journeyman second baseman Hal Rhyne.

Rhyne’s streak had started two games earlier, when he replaced Jackie Hayes and singled twice in two at-bats while finishing out a 2-0 win over the Tigers. The next game, Rhyne went 4-for-4 with four singles in an 11-2 win over the Tigers. In this third game, Rhyne singled in the second and fourth innings before finally failing to get a hit — however, in the sixth, his fielder’s choice grounder still got him safely on base. In the eighth, Rhyne got on base again, with a bunt single. Only in leading off the 10th inning of this third game did Rhyne finally fail to get on base, by tapping back out to the pitcher; Rhyne in fact would not get a hit at all in extras, making the final out of the game, ending the 17th.

A combination of his sparse play and those uncanny, eight straight hits saw Rhyne’s batting average raise 110 points over the three games, from .265 to .375 (in fact, in-game during this 17-inning marathon, Rhyne’s batting average got as high as .405).

The second sacker would play in just 15 more games after this one for the White Sox, and those would also be his final 15 MLB games; Rhyne was dealt to the San Francisco Seals of the International League after the 1933 season and would never see the majors again. However, he would play in the minors until 1940, when he was 41 years old.

1943
White Sox shortstop Luke Appling collected his 2,000th hit. It came against the Red Sox, helping the White Sox to a 3-2 win. The hit drove in a run in the first inning, off of Cecil “Tex” Hughson, as Wally Moses scored.

1948
In front of an overstuffed Comiskey Park brimming with 51,013 fans, Negro League legend and newly-christened Cleveland hurler Satchel Paige spun a masterpiece, 5-0, over the White Sox. It was Paige’s second career MLB start and just his 12th game pitched overall. The White Sox managed just five singles off of Paige. The whitewash moved Cleveland 28 games ahead of Chicago in the American League, with the South Siders falling to 36-70 in what still stands as the third-worst season in team history.

1954
White Sox pitcher Jack Harshman, who is tied for the franchise mark for most strikeouts in a game, notched another milestone. On this date against the Tigers, Harshman pitched all 16 innings in a 1-0 win at Comiskey Park.

The Sox finally plated a run in the last of the 16th, on a triple by Minnie Miñoso scoring Nellie Fox.

Harshman allowed nine hits and seven walks, facing a total of 65 hitters. Incredibly, Detroit’s Al Aber also went the distance in the contest! Harshman’s effort ties him for the sixth-longest pitching appearance in White Sox history.

The franchise mark is held by Ted Lyons who threw 21 innings in a game in 1929.

1967
All season long the White Sox battled the big boys — the Tigers, Twins and Red Sox — in the greatest pennant race in American League history. But for the White Sox, this game marked the beginning of the end of the dream.

The Sox lost a controversial game to the Twins, 3-2, when Tommie Agee doubled to center to lead off the ninth inning but was called out at third on a close play when he tried to stretch it into a triple. The Sox dropped out of first place for the first time in two months, as the Twins swept them in the series and moved atop the American League standings.

Afterwards, manager Eddie Stanky kept Vice President Hubert Humphrey waiting outside the Sox locker room, along with reporters. Stankylater said, ”What do I need Humphrey for? Can he hit?”

1984
The White Sox were having a terrible year on the field, but on this day they ensured a bad one off the field as well, sending left-handed reliever Kevin Hickey and minor-leaguer Doug Drabek to the New York Mets to complete a July deal for Roy Smalley. Two years from now Drabek would commence a stellar starting career that would end with him compiling 27.6 WAR and earning the 1990 Cy Young, making this a horrendous what-if deal.

Smalley played 47 games for the 1984 White Sox, and only 28 more from this day forward, earning -0.1 WAR.

1996
Robin Ventura clubbed his team-record ninth grand slam, leading the White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the Yankees. It came in the fifth inning off of David Weathers, and erased a 4-1 New York lead.

2002
White Sox infielder José Valentín homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. It was the fifth time in White Sox history this feat had occurred. Valentín did it in Texas off of Rangers hurlers Dennys Reyes and Todd Van Poppel, and the shot off of Reyes was a grand slam.

Valentín drove in six runs in the 12-3 win, with the home runs being his only two hits. He first did this two-homer trick in 2000, and would do it a third time in 2003!

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Rangers vs Angels Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for August 13

Los Angeles (47-74) is going for the sweep over Texas (60-61) after winning 3-2 and 5-2 over the last two days. Mike Trout recorded three hits in Wednesday's win and George Klassen earned his first MLB win.

Texas is 1.5 games back of Houston for the AL West lead and sit in the final AL Wild Card spot. There are five teams within 2.0 games of Texas for the final playoff spot. In August, Texas is hitting .220 (22nd) with the eighth-fewest runs scored (39) over 11 games.

Los Angeles has one sweep this season and coincidentally enough, it came against Texas (May 22-24). The Angels' longest winning streak on the year is four games. In August, the Angels have the second-fewest runs scored (27) and second-worst batting average (.197) over 11 games.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Angels

  • Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026
  • Time: 10:10 PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium 
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

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

Odds for the Rangers at the Angels

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Texas Rangers (-148), Los Angeles Angels (+138)
  • Spread: Rangers -1.5 (+109), Angels +1.5 (-131)
  • Total: 7.5

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Angels 

  • Thursday's pitching matchup (August 13): Walbert Urena vs Jacob deGrom  
  • Rangers: Jacob deGrom 

2026 stats: 118.2 IP, 8-7, 3.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 144 K, 30 BB

  • Angels: Walbert Urena  

2026 Stats: 101.2 IP, 7-8, 2.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 97 K, 55 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • Mike Trout is hitting .231 in August (9/39) with 16 strikeouts
  • Zach Neto is hitting .149 in August (7/47) with 18 strikeouts
  • Vaughn Grissom is hitting .162 in August (6/37) with nine strikeouts
  • Jake Burger is hitting .200 in August (7/35) with zero home runs
  • Corey Seager is hitting .263 in August (10/38) with one home run
  • Joc Pederson is hitting .231 in August (6/26) with two home runs

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Angels

  • Texas is 56-65 ATS, ranking sixth-worst
  • Los Angeles is 59-62 ATS
  • Texas is 61-54-6 to the Over, ranking seventh-best
  • Los Angeles is 69-51-1 to the Under, ranking second-best
  • Texas is 26-36 ATS on the road, ranking third-worst
  • Los Angeles is 32-29 ATS at home

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Angels

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 Thursday's game between the Rangers and the Angels:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Angels on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)