We’ve reached a big part of the minor league calendar, as this past week marked the debuts of eight members of the Yankees’ 2026 draft class in A-ball, which also coincided with a number of position player promotions. While the prep bats and all pitchers will likely be held back until 2027, it’s a great time to get to see these newbies in action.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

Record: 24-13 (61-50), 0.5 GA in the International League East after a 2-4 week against the Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)

Run differential: +43 (+46)

Coming up: Away @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)

The RailRiders’ eight-game winning streak unceremoniously ended with a dominant week by Rochester, slowing the momentum of a team that has been one of the best in Triple-A for several weeks. Scranton lost four consecutive games by a total of 29 runs from Wednesday to Saturday before rallying back from a late deficit to salvage the series finale on Sunday.

Deadline reinforcements by the Yankees have a trickle-down effect on the Triple-A team, which has seen its roster utterly decimated by injuries, promotions, and opt-outs over the course of the season. With the recent demotions of Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, and Max Schuemann, however, they have as much offensive talent as you could ask for. All three came up big this week, with the former two both homering and the latter putting up two three-hit games. The recent signings of Christian Bethancourt (who has been red hot since joining the org) and veteran Mitch Garver only bolster it:

Both of the games they won were tossed by the same man, as Brendan Beck got the bookend starts on Tuesday and Sunday and seemed to be the only RailRiders pitcher to slow down that Rochester offense, striking out a career-high 12 on Tuesday. None of the veterans held up in the other three starts, while Elmer Rodríguez’s recent stretch of strong starts came to a screeching halt with five walks in four choppy innings. We also saw Carlos Rodón get back on the mound on Saturday, but he was ineffective in 2.2 innings.

Overall, it was a nightmare week for the bullpen, with the exception of a strong week by Bradley Hanner, who’s probably the next man up in the Scranton Shuffle outside of Angel Chivilli, who also looked good in his one outing. Eric Reyzelman, Chris Kean, and Zach Messinger all struggled.

Players of Note:

Jasson Domínguez: .309/.388/.496, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 10 SB, 130 wRC+
Marco Luciano: .288/.378/.475, 9 HR, 30 RBI, 22 XBH, 123 wRC+
Oswaldo Cabrera: .296/.353/.436, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 26 XBH, 104 wRC+
Brendan Beck: 9-2, 2.66 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 19.7 K-BB% (115 IP)
Elmer Rodríguez: 7-3, 2.85 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 11.7 K-BB% (85.1 IP)

Double-A Somerset Patriots

Record: 18-21 (55-53), 5 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 2-4 week against the Akron RubberDucks (Guardians)

Run differential: -14 (+22)

Coming up: Home vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)

It was a mess of a week for Somerset, who won back-to-back one-run games on Wednesday and Thursday before getting blasted in every other game, including a 14-run bludgeoning on Tuesday. For a team who’s shown such great highs, their lows are going to likely keep them out of the postseason.

The offense got a major boost this week with the promotion of resurgent 21-year-old prospect Roderick Arias, who’s been one of the best hitters in the system since the start of June. His first week in Double-A went well, as he went 9-for-25 with five RBI and three extra-base hits. His reduced strikeout rate has also been a major development. It was a good week for Josh Moylan (7-for-22, HR, 5 RBI, 4 XBH), Coby Morales, and DJ Gladney, who only missed a week with his prior injury.

Things didn’t go well for the starting rotation this week. Cade Smith got the bookend starts and struggled with command, allowing nine runs in nine innings. Chase Hampton’s (3 IP, 5 R) struggles continued, Ben Hess (4.2 IP, 6 R) had a rare blowup start, and Rory Fox’s (5.2 IP, 5 R) second Double-A start wasn’t one to remember. The one constant remains Xavier Rivas, who’s quickly pushing to be one of the best pitching prospects in the organization, tossing a quality start with six strikeouts.

You either had it or you didn’t this week in the bullpen. Michael Arias, Matt Keating, and Harrison Cohen certainly didn’t have it, but Kevin Stevens, Geoffrey Gilbert, and Hayden Merda did, with the latter tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Players of Note:

Jace Avina: .258/.364/.507, 19 HR, 56 RBI, 45 XBH, 25.2 K%, 133 wRC+
DJ Gladney: .267/.325/.503, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB, 118 wRC+
Coby Morales: .271/.356/.489, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 17 SB, 126 wRC+
Xavier Rivas: 6-4, 3.65 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 22.2 K-BB% (81.1 IP)
Ben Hess: 3-4, 4.45 ERA, 4,69 FIP, 1.45 WHIP, 13.7 K-BB% (56.2 IP)

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades

Record: 21-21 (51-55), 4 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 4-2 week against the Greenville Drive (Red Sox)

Run differential: +28 (+37)

Coming up: Home vs. Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)

The only full-season affiliate with a winning week, the Renegades rode some fresh faces to a strong offensive week, averaging 8.5 runs per game on the week. In the series finale on Sunday, they secured a series win with a 15-12 marathon victory in 12 innings that saw four combined home runs in extras. Fun!

The offense got an infusion of talent with the promotions of Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek and UDFA backstop David McCann, with the latter mashing three homers this week in what’s been a great debut season. The incumbents were also a big part of things, as Eric Genther (7-for-18, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 3 XBH) and Core Jackson (7-for-19, 6 BB, 3 XBH) had great weeks. We also saw a 2026 draft class sighting, as UDFA Maika Niu (5-for-12, HR, 7 RBI) and 20th-rounder Dean Toigo (5-for-14, 3 RBI, 2 XBH) made their pro debuts at the level, getting big hits. It was also an unbelievable week on the basepaths, as they went 31-for-31 on stolen bases as a team.

On the pitching end, it was up and down. Franyer Herrera had one of his worst outings of the year and Allen Facundo struggled with command despite nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings, but they got solid starts out of Bryce Cunningham (5 IP, 3 R), Sean Paul Liñan (4 IP, 1 R), and Luis Serna (5 IP, 0 R), while welcoming back 2025 fourth-rounder Pico Kohn back from a multi-month absence. He didn’t finish the third inning as he continues to build up, but it’s a good sign for a guy who the team needs to break out in 2027.

Players of Note:

Eric Genther: .274/.408/.433, 11 HR, 56 RBI, 29 XBH, 126 wRC+
Core Jackson: .252/.358/.464, 12 HR, 47 RBI, 29 SB, 118 wRC+
Jackson Lovich (A/A+): .284/.354/.490, 18 HR, 69 RBI, 29 SB, 118 wRC+
Luis Serna: 5-5, 4.44 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 18.7 K-BB% (93.1 IP)
Bryce Cunningham: 2-7, 4.48 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 8.7 K-BB% (68.1 IP)

Single-A Tampa Tarpons

Record: 27-14 (59-42), 3.5 GA in the Florida State League West after a 3-3 week against the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies)

Run differential: +52 (+75)

Coming up: Away @ Dunedin Blue Jays (Blue Jays)

Tampa still has not lost a series since mid-June, with that streak narrowly surviving against Clearwater after being swept in a Friday doubleheader before winning back-to-back games over the weekend to secure the split and keep them firmly in a playoff spot with a few weeks to go.

A large part of the offense that got them here has moved on to Hudson Valley, so in their place, they have the rookie ball call-ups that came up last week and six 2026 draftees, including fourth-rounder Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II and fifth-rounder Bear Harrison. The former flashed some extremely impressive exit velocities, while the latter had a few big hits. 11th-rounder Anthony Potestio (4-for-9, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB) performed best, Luis Puello had a clutch two-homer game late in the week, and Yostin Pena kept producing until a potential injury on Saturday; hold your breath.

In the rotation this week, nobody except J.T. Etheridge (0.2 IP, 3 R) left with anything to complain about. Sabier Marte (3.2 IP, 3 R) lagged behind, but everyone else looked good, even recent call-up Edinzo Marquez, who allowed one run in four innings after a spectacular return to the level last week. Tyler Boudreau (5.2 IP, 3 R) finished an out shy of a quality start, and Wyatt Parliament allowed just one run in five innings, but the star of the show was the six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts for Justin West in the best start of his brief professional career.

A few FCL call-ups made their Single-A debuts this week, with the best of the bunch being Rafael Arias’ 2.1 scoreless innings. The real storyline, though, was the return of converted catcher Antonio Gomez. Once considered one of the best defensive backstop prospects in recent memory, he’s since converted to a fireball reliever, throwing a truly alien fastball at 100 mph and 18 inches of induced vertical break. The 24-year-old might have an MLB career path after all.

Players of Note:

Luis Puello: .288/.377/.514, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 13 XBH, 131 wRC+
Yostin Pena (DSL/A): .275/.385/.425, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 34 SB, 117 wRC+
Hans Montero: .243/.371/.436, 11 HR, 49 RBI, 34 XBH, 31 SB, 115 wRC+
Tyler Boudreau: 6-2, 3.38 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.08 WHIP, 18.3 K-BB% (85.1 IP)
Justin West: 7-3, 4.96 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.42 WHIP, 17.0 K-BB% (85.1 IP)

FCL Yankees

Record: 29-29, 7.5 GB in the FCL North

Run differential: +2

Season over.

Players of Note:

Wilberson De Pena: .358/.411/.677, 16 HR, 65 RBI, 37 XBH, 22 SB, 152 wRC+
Jose Castro: .328/.488/.552, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 29 SB, 158 wRC+
Richard Matic: .283/.394/.439, 22 XBH, 28 RBI, 14 SB, 108 wRC+
Dexters Peralta: .229/.352/.505, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 20 XBH, 100 wRC+
Edinzo Marquez: 28.2 IP, 2.20 ERA, 4.79 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 16.1 K-BB%

DSL Yankees & Bombers

DSL Yankees:
Record: 29-19, 3 GB in DSL East after a 4-1 week
Run differential: +124

DSL Bombers:
Record: 21-27, 11.5 GB in DSL Southeast after a 1-3 week
Run differential: +8

The DSL Yankees have the second-best run differential in the 60-team league, yet are currently 14th in winning percentage. Makes sense. They had a great week, headlined by truly ridiculous offensive performances by Juan Torres (12-for-21, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB, 1 2B) and Isaias Castillo, who is now one of five players in DSL history to hit 14+ home runs in a season. Torres, with seven games left, is now fifth all-time in RBIs by a DSL player. After several years of really struggling to find genuine talent in the D.R. complex, the Yankees are hitting home runs in 2026.

Players of Note:

Isaias Castillo: .302/.421/.643, 14 HR, 44 RBI, 32 XBH, 24 SB, 138 wRC+
Juan Torres: .382/.464/.651, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 25 XBH, 20 SB, 161 wRC+
Poly Ojeda: .337/.492/.571, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 12 XBH, 163 wRC+ (90 PA)
Fredy Penuelas: 44 IP, 1.84 ERA, 3.84 FIP, 1.07 WHIP, 20.1 K-BB%
Cesar Acosta: 46.2 IP, 3.47 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 21.1 K-BB%

Prospect of the Week: Brendan Beck

Weekly Stats: 1-0, 10.2 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 20 K
Season Stats: 9-2, 2.66 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 1.04 WHIP, 19.7 K-BB% (115 IP)

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Royals fans and fans across the country.

Earlier this week, John Sherman sat down for a recorded interview with Josh Vernier of 96.5 FM The Fan. During the course of the interview, Sherman provided something of a state of the union address for the team. Royals Rundown covered it extensively in their latest podcast, but the aspect I want to focus on today is his assertion that J.J. Picollo’s assertion that the team intends to compete next year is accurate.

I was heartened by the fact that Sherman seemed to acknowledge the amount of work the team needs to do in order to achieve that goal. He noted that they only have three healthy starting pitchers under contract, that the bullpen needs a complete overhaul, and the lineup probably needs an addition or two. However, he also seemed to take for granted that the team would be healthier and that the younger players would continue to get better.

He also indicated that the team believes they can improve the bullpen without spending a lot of money. It’s true that very good relievers can often be had at low cost and that even the expensive relievers can have bad years. Check out the Dodgers’ attempts to fortify their own bullpen last year with Tanner Scott and this year with Edwin Díaz. And finding five or more (definitely more) relievers in a single offseason is a big task. To say nothing of making the other changes. The Mets tried to do a similarly-sized overhaul of their own team in the past offseason, and they’re one of the few teams nearly as bad as the Royals this year.

Still, Sherman said the team knew it would have to spend some serious money, especially in the rotation. Does that mean they’ll be in the running for Tarik Skubal or Casey Mize? Only time will tell. Either way, are you feeling better after hearing him speak?

This roadtrip has loomed large since last year, when the schedule first came out. Regardless of how the standings would look, we knew a nine-game slate against the Yankees, Astros and Brewers would be brutal. A year and change later, it’s still scary, but the silver lining of the 50th Flop is that it’s deadened much of the terror. I won’t speak for everyone, but this weekend I personally released my remaining hope (and subsequent frustrations) like a small coterie of bedraggled, mostly flightless pigeons. As a friend pointed out yesterday, going 3-6 on this trip would feel like a big win. We’ve written plenty on this site about the power and beauty of holding hope and expectations, but at this point, with what this team has shown, it’s freeing to look at each remaining game as simply a day with baseball. 

I don’t know, dude. They’re the Yankees, what more do you want me to say? They’ve won a lot of baseball games. Not as many as they have in the past, and definitely not as many as the Rays, which has to annoy them, but mostly is just messing up the Wild Card race. 

I look forward to the 2044 court case, when Aaron Judge sues Ben Rice for siphoning his health this season. With Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton all shelved with various maladies, the Yankees focused on bringing in some potent bats at the trade deadline. They added Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos and called up their top prospect George Lombard Jr. García is in the midst of a huge power breakout this year and Lombard should be the shortstop of the future after Anthony Volpe flamed out.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

• Stuff+ scores for Mariners starters

From a previous series preview:

The new man in the starting rotation, Ryan Weathers is a product of the Marlins pitching development pipeline. He’s struggled with a bunch of different injuries over the last few years but none of them have required surgery. His raw stuff leveled up during spring training last year, adding a tick of velocity to his entire repertoire and adding a ton of movement to his changeup and sweeper. We didn’t get to see that revamped arsenal in action for very long before a lat strain derailed his season. His raw stuff was even more impressive this spring; his fastball was regularly touching 99 mph, which would make him one of the hardest throwing left-handed pitchers in all of baseball. His two secondary pitches are fantastic at generating whiffs and he’s confident enough with his changeup to use it against both righties and lefties. There’s a lot of unfulfilled promise with Weathers — he’s yet to prove that he can stay healthy and that all this raw stuff can produce outs regularly — but he’ll get an opportunity to prove it all with the Yankees this year.

Weathers has had a bit of an up-and-down season for the Yankees, but he’s stayed healthy and has posted back-to-back scoreless outings. In his first start of the season way back in April, he held the Mariners to just a single run in 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Thanks to the injury to Gerrit Cole last spring, Will Warren earned a spot in the Yankees rotation out of the gate last year and posted a solid first full season in the big leagues. His 4.44 ERA was a bit higher than his 4.07 FIP, but his peripherals gave him a solid foundation to build off of. This year, he’s taken a small step forward. His ERA and FIP are still a little out of sync, but he’s cut his walk rate by nearly two points while maintaining his excellent strikeout rate. His low arm slot gives his pitches plenty of horizontal movement and his four-seam adds a generous amount of ride for his arm angle. He’s got a pretty good sweeper to pair with his fastball, but it can get hit around a bit, especially by left-handed batters.

From a previous series preview:

After signing a massive eight-year free agent deal with the Yankees in December 2024, Max Fried posted one of the best seasons of his career in New York. His velocity was up two ticks and he rejiggered his pitch mix to emphasize his cutter against right-handed batters. With two fantastic breaking balls, a solid changeup, and three different fastball looks, he’s got a weapon for any situation. If he needs a swing and miss, he’ll turn to one of the best curveballs in baseball. If he needs a groundball out, he’ll go to his sinker or changeup. That deep repertoire paired with excellent command makes him one of the toughest pitchers to face in the AL.

A bone bruise on his throwing elbow interrupted Max Fried’s season in May. He missed a month and a half of the season but recently returned from the IL at the end of July. He’s leaned pretty heavily on his cutter this year and it’s been one of the most effective pitches in the majors. Back in April, he held the Mariners scoreless across seven innings, allowing just three hits while striking out six.

The Big Picture:

Don’t look at this. That’s not healthy. Maybe leave this alone for a little bit. We can check back before they go to Houston, maybe.

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Blake Snell makes his long-awaited return tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit as a heavy -257 moneyline favorite against the visiting Kansas City Royals. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium. 

With Michael Wacha struggling, my Royals vs Dodgers predictions expect LA to take the second game of this series.

Read more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 11. 

Who will win Royals vs Dodgers tonight: Dodgers -1.5 (-121)

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha enters tonight’s start in poor form. He carries a 4.31 xERA across his last four starts while allowing a 40% hard-hit rate during that span.

Wacha now faces a Los Angeles Dodgers offense that has a 105 wRC+ at home this season.

As for Blake Snell, he’ll be on a pitch count after a prolonged absence, and the Royals own a very average 96 wRC+ against left-handers. LA’s bullpen should be involved earlier tonight, but that is manageable with the relief corps recording a 2.97 xERA over the last week.

I’ll play this pick up to -140.

COVERS INTEL: Kansas City’s bullpen issues are not just a recent blip. The Royals own a 5.25 FIP on the season and a nearly identical 5.21 FIP over the last week, giving the Dodgers a massive edge later in the evening.

Royals vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)

Wacha is shaky lately, and Snell’s pitch count should create an earlier bullpen game for Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers bullpen has posted a 4.64 FIP over the last week while allowing 1.27 HR/9.

Kansas City’s bullpen is an even bigger concern, sporting a 5.21 FIP and 1.44 HR/9 in that same span.

I’ll play this pick down to -110.

Royals vs Dodgers home run prediction: Kyle Tucker (+344)

2026 has been a difficult year for Kyle Tucker, but he’s swinging it with authority right now. The slugger owns a .400 ISO over his last six games, smacking two home runs during that span.

Tucker is consistently getting the ball in the air, boasting a 52.6% fly-ball rate over the last week. That matters against Wacha and the Royals bullpen. Wacha owns a 48.6% fly-ball rate over the last month, and he’s surrendered 1.09 HR/9.

KC’s relief corps has given up 1.77 HR/9 over the last two weeks while allowing 40.7% of its contact in the air. Whether it comes against Wacha or a reliever, Tucker has a clear path to connect on No. 12 tonight.

Playable to +300. 

Royals vs Dodgers weather

Weather at Dodger Stadium looks clean tonight, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures falling from 78°F to around 73°F later in the game.

Winds are moderate early, around 9 mph before easing closer to 6 mph, and rain chances sit at just 1%. Overall, conditions look neutral with no delay concern.

Royals vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Royals +245 | Dodgers -257
• Run line: Royals +1.5 (+113) | Dodgers -1.5 (-121)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-103) | Under 8.5 (-117)

Royals vs Dodgers trend

The Over is 4-0-1 in the Royals' last five games as an underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Royals vs Dodgers and game info

Royals vs Dodgers latest injuries

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.

I was told last night that the Jays couldn’t appeal because they left the field. Of course, since I was watching the game and they weren’t, I asked if a team had ever stayed on the field after the umpires called the inning over. What would happen if a team just stayed on the field? I’m sure there is a rule against it.

And people talked about ‘Playing under protest’. But that doesn’t exist anymore:

As of the 2021 season, Rule 7.04 in the Official Baseball Rules was amended to read:

“Protesting a game shall never be permitted, regardless of whether such complaint is based on judgment decisions by the umpire or an allegation that an umpire misapplied these rules or otherwise rendered a decision in violation of these rules.”

But baseball has to change a rule. If a run can be given 10 minutes after an inning has ended, a team should be allowed to appeal at the same time. It can’t be a one-way street.

Of course, I don’t know that it isn’t that way. I don’t know that the umpires didn’t get that rule wrong. They didn’t call New York again to ask, ‘Can the Jays appeal?’

But I believe that either a run shouldn’t be allowed to be given after the teams leave the field, or an appeal should be allowed after the teams leave the field. It seems like playground justice to me. If one side can do something, the other should be allowed to as well.

I’d suggest a rule that, once the players leave the field, no changes can be made to the scoreboard. I’m pretty convinced that, if the play had been the one where the Blue Jays got a run ten minutes after the inning ended, we would never have gotten that run. The umpires would decide it wasn’t fair that the Red Sox weren’t allowed to appeal the player not tagging up, and let them. Actually, I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have gotten that fair. The Umpires wouldn’t have phoned New York to see if they could wake up the one person who understands all the rules of the game.

I was also told, “The Jays should have thrown to third.” Well, maybe, but then players are trying to get the third out, and they will take it any way they can. If there was more going on than them getting the third out, the umpires should have said something before sending the players off the field.

And, people said in the thread that John Schneider should have got himself kicked out. I understand the point, but I’m sure he was just incredulous that this happened and tried to process it all. I can’t imagine trying to figure out what they were saying. And, of course, yelling and screaming wouldn’t change anything and only get him thrown out.

We often say that the great thing about baseball is that you can watch for 50 years and yet each game can show you something you’ve never seen before. Sometimes that isn’t a great thing about baseball.

But the good guys won anyway, which makes it all worthwhile.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar southpaw Tarik Skubal made his Dodger Stadium debut on Monday night after being traded from the Detroit Tigers before this year’s deadline.

Skubal’s home debut for Los Angeles didn’t go as planned. The two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner conceded three earned runs in five innings pitched, getting a no-decision in what ended up as a Dodgers 6-5 win.

Dodgers fans were treated to a wholesome moment before the game, when Skubal was greeted by his wife, Jessica, and their two sons (Kasen and Klay) along the right field line before the game began.

It was cool to see Skubal share this family moment shortly before his first home start as a member of the Dodgers. Especially because this pregame routine looks a lot different than it did with he was in Detroit.

When Skubal was still pitching for the Tigers, his pregame family routine included Jessica and their sons greeting Skubal in Detroit’s actual bullpen. This was because Comerica Park’s architecture made it so he could stand right at the bullpen gate, which was positioned at field level in the outfield stands.

Dodger Stadium’s architecture doesn’t allow for this. The Dodgers’ bullpen is isolated, where fans can’t walk up to a field-level gate like they could at Comerica Park.

Therefore, Skubal’s pregame family routine takes place in a different location: along the Dodgers’ right field line as opposed to in the Tigers’ bullpen. That allowed fans in the stands who showed up early a front-row seat to the warm embrace on an emotional night for the superstar pitcher.

Then again, pitchers are superstitious, routine-oriented creatures. Perhaps this change to Skubal’s pregame routine isn’t ideal, or at least something else he must adapt to with his new team.

Ultimately, the most important thing is that Skubal sees his family before pitching, regardless of where in the stadium it happens.

And the Dodgers got the dub.

Three members of Congress sent a letter on Monday to Major League Baseball and the players union requesting that they tighten policies so an incident last month involving Bryce Harper, FanDuel and an admitted gambling addict cannot reoccur.

Harper, an All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies, said on Instagram that he created a troublesome, personalized 21-second video on behalf of FanDuel. But he would not have done so had he known the online sportsbook allegedly intended to use it to entice VIP customer Terry Thompson to continue gambling.

The incident triggered the three-page letter signed by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Valerie Foushee that demands an end to the policies that enabled “this type of predatory promotion.”

The letter states that although Harper said he was unaware of the true purpose of the video, the incident “raises broader concerns that players are not prohibited from such endorsements and highlights a systemic failure rooted in the deep enmeshment between leagues, teams, and sports books.

“In fact, MLB rules currently allow players to enter endorsement deals with sportsbooks so long as they do not encourage betting on baseball. Partnerships that do not violate this rule can even use personalized content from players to drive vulnerable fans into debt and addiction.”

Read more:Bryce Harper's beef with FanDuel could end up in court, legal experts say

The letter suggests that MLB and the players union must confront this “failure” during collective bargaining negotiations that began in May and likely will continue through the expiration of the current agreement Dec. 1.

The letter posed the following five questions and requested that MLB and the players union provide answers by Aug. 24.

1. As MLB and MLBPA renegotiate their collective bargaining agreement, what is your current position on allowing MLB players to seek endorsements and partnerships from sportsbooks? Note: The MLBPA has publicly announced their intention to seek greater freedom for players to have relationships with gambling companies.

2. How will MLB and the MLBPA guarantee that fan safety and well-being take precedence over revenue from gambling partnerships?

3. Do you believe MLB and MLBPA policies on sportsbook endorsements and partnerships are adequate to prevent engagement with predatory VIP programs?

4. Will the MLB and MLBPA undertake any player education to ensure that players understand the risks their participation in sportsbook promotions poses to fans?

5. Will the MLB and MLBPA prohibit players from participating in personalized marketing campaigns by sportsbooks as part of VIP or tier programs?

Read more:Super Bowl host California bans sports betting, but prediction markets found a loophole

Harper said he received a request on Cameo in November 2024 to read a message provided by FanDuel VIP host Bryttanni Morgan for a personal “holiday video for Terry.”

“Hey, Terry? What’s up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special,” Harper says in the video.

Thompson sued FanDuel, Morgan, DraftKings and the NFL in March, alleging that the sportsbooks caused him to lose about $1.6 million while betting an estimated $18.5 million over a four-year period.

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper said. “The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”

Read more:‘Bonkers’ bribery case raises questions about why NBA star Terry Rozier would allegedly risk millions by participating

The lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Public Health Advocacy Institute on behalf of Thompson and fellow gambler Christopher Sage alleges that FanDuel and DraftKings intentionally fostered addiction by providing enticements such as Super Bowl tickets, hotel accommodations and access to athletes and celebrities.

FanDuel issued a statement after the Harper video came to light in an investigative story published July 9 in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“We are committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers,” the statement said. “Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives.”

FanDuel and DraftKings, the leading sportsbooks since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that states could legalize sports betting, have developed lucrative partnerships with leagues in all major sports. The 2022 MLB collective bargaining agreement opened the door for players to do promotional work for sportsbooks.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Three congressmen have commanded MLB and its Players Association (MLBPA) to outlaw promotional partnerships with betting companies after Bryce Harper unknowingly recorded a video sent to a gambling addict.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Rep. Valeria Foushee (D-NC) wrote the letter sent to the league and the MLBPA.

Key Takeaways

• Harper claimed that he never would have recorded the video had he known the reason it was requested.
  
  
• The MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement will expire after Dec.1.
  
  
• Lawmakers want to know MLB and MLBPA’s attitudes toward various betting partnership questions before the new CBA is signed.

It was reported in July that Harper, a nine-time All-Star and two-time MVP, recorded a Cameo video that FanDuel sent to an individual suffering from a gambling addiction. The bettor later filed a lawsuit against the sportsbook, claiming that it preyed on his diagnosable condition. 

Harper released a statement that said he did not know and did not consent to the video being used to promote FanDuel’s betting platform, per NBC Philadelphia.

“We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion,” the congressmen wrote in their letter.

The letter went on to detail the lawmakers’ concerns that MLB rules allowed players to share personalized content that would “drive vulnerable fans into debt and addiction.”

MLB signed its first betting partnership with MGM Resorts International on Nov. 27, 2018. It maintains deals with BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Hard Rock Bet, and also has a prediction market deal with Polymarket. 

“This is a failure that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association must confront directly, especially as both are in the midst of renegotiating their collective bargaining agreement (CBA),” the letter stated.

New CBA holds the answers

MLB’s CBA is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, 2026. While key issues include the salary cap, revenue splits, and free agency eligibility, there is also a debate over the rights given to players for promotional purposes.

The current structure allows players to secure promotional opportunities with betting companies, so long as the promotions don’t use their name, uniform number, image or likeness. Discussions are still ongoing, but the MLBPA is hoping to remove these restrictions from the next CBA, according to sources familiar with the discussions cited by ESPN.

Lawmakers Blumenthal, Tonko and Foushee are hoping to gain a better understanding of MLB and MLBPA’s position on sportsbook endorsement deals, along with the answer to four other questions that were included in their letter.

• As MLB and MLBPA renegotiate their collective bargaining agreement, what is your current position on allowing MLB players to seek endorsements and partnerships from sportsbooks? Note: The MLBPA has publicly announced their intention to seek greater freedom for players to have relationships with gambling companies.
• How will MLB and the MLBPA guarantee that fan safety and well-being take precedence over revenue from gambling partnerships?
• Do you believe MLB and MLBPA policies on sportsbook endorsements and partnerships are adequate to prevent engagement with predatory VIP programs?
• Will the MLB and MLBPA undertake any player education to ensure that players understand the risks their participation in sportsbook promotions poses to fans?
• Will the MLB and MLBPA prohibit players from participating in personalized marketing campaigns by sportsbooks as part of VIP or tier programs?

The letter asked for a response no later than Aug. 24.

Harper denies knowledge of video’s purpose

Harper claimed that the video used by FanDuel was requested on the video-sharing website Cameo. He claimed that a user named “Bryttanni” asked for a "holiday video for Terry” in November 2024, and that FanDuel later added its logo and used it in a gambling promotion without his knowledge or approval. 

“Had I known FanDuel’s true intent, I would not have made the video,” Harper wrote in a statement released on his Instagram on July 13.

“The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged ‘partnership’ between Cameo and FanDuel.”

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