Jun 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers mascot Rangers Captain high fives before the start of the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Morning, all!
The Ranger have used an off day to tweak their rotation to maximize the number of starts for their hottest hand, Cal Quantrill
Both Josh Jung and Nathan Eovaldi are nearing returns from the IL in time to participate in the Rangers’ last, desperate push for a playoff spot.
Evan Grant has whipped up a recipe to get the Rangers into the playoffs but the number one ingredient is ““stop sucking on the road.”
Skip Schumaker sent a message to the team leaders Tuesday, telling them they only have one chance at 2026.
The message must have landed as the Rangers opened their series against Seattle yesterday with a 10-5 win.
And finally, here’s a baseball joke about chorale that Adam wanted me to share.
Erling Haaland has claimed Pablo Rosario “grabbed my bottom” during Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Porto on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the 92nd minute, with Haaland having scored City’s goals. The forward and midfielder grappled, went to ground and were booked after being separated.
“I was really keen on a hat-trick and it seemed like he was very eager to stop me from getting it,” Haaland told Norway’s TV 2. “It was a little interesting, that – you’ll be seeing a picture where he’s grabbing my bottom. It’ll be interesting to see that picture.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers get the chance to tee off on Cincinnati Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder tonight, and the Over for that contest headlines our MLB expert picks on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
A trio of moneyline predictions round out our MLB picks for the slate, with action kicking off this afternoon and rolling all the way to the wee hours of the night.
Probabilities courtesy of Polymarket. For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Trade on MLB at Polymarket!
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $20 trading bonus after you deposit $10 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/polymarketlogo.png" alt="Polymarket" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
*Eligible locations only
Josh Inglis' expert pick: A's moneyline
Price: 37¢ at Polymarket
Do the Toronto Blue Jays deserve to be a bigger favorite today than yesterday, going from Jose Soriano to a bullpen day?
This offense still can't pull away from bad pitching, and now it has to get on a plane and head home to open a circled series against the Orioles.
Braydon Fisher gets the start but will go one or two frames before likely handing the ball to Michael Lorenzen, Brendon Little, and/or Paul Sewald. There is no good Toronto arm to piggyback and eat big innings.
The Athletics are going with the same approach, but at least I'm getting 13 percentage points better than a 50% probability with them against the Jays. I don't see this as a 63/37 game when both teams will be using a ton of arms and the Jays are in a tough schedule spot.
This isn't much different than the Dylan Cease start price. I see this as 60/40, at best, for Toronto.
The Atlanta Braves are trading as 54% favorites on Polymarket in their matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays, and I see an edge because I price Atlanta closer to 57%.
Two things I particularly like about this matchup for the Braves will help neutralize Tampa Bay's speed and running game.
First, Reynaldo Lopez isn't afraid to challenge hitters with velocity at the top of the zone, making it more difficult for the Rays' slap hitters to put the ball on the ground and beat out plays at first base. Second, Sean Murphy has a quick transfer and an elite pop time, limiting Tampa Bay's running game once the Rays get runners on base.
Texas ranks fourth in wOBA against lefties for the season, and also sits eighth in the overall metric and sixth in xwOBA over the past two weeks while averaging 5.6 runs per game.
With the Mariners ranking last in wOBA against lefties, 24th in the overall metric, and 23rd in xwOBA over the past two weeks, I recommend the Texas moneyline up to 44%.
Rhett Lowder has been obliterated on the road, where he owns a 6.79 ERA. He's backed by a struggling bullpen that has a 6.23 ERA over the past two weeks.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a tougher assignment, but Cincinnati’s lineup is red-hot, ranking first in OPS over the past week and should make him work.
With the Reds capable of contributing and Los Angeles positioned to do serious damage, expect the teams to combine for at least nine runs.
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.
The Toronto Blue Jays go for another important win against the Athletics this afternoon, and Sutter Health Park gives their lineup one of the best hitting environments in baseball.
Toronto is a -180 favorite, with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. ET. Both clubs are using openers, but the Blue Jays have the deeper pitching setup and enter in much better form.
Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Athletics predictions and MLB picks for this Wednesday, Sept. 9 matchup.
Blue Jays vs A’s predictions
Blue Jays vs A’s best bet: Blue Jays -1.5 (-115)
The Toronto Blue Jays enter Wednesday 7-3 over their last 10 games, scoring 52 runs while batting .277 with a .347 OBP. Five of those seven wins came by multiple runs, and I like Toronto to create that separation again against baseball’s worst pitching staff.
Brady Basso will open for the Athletics, but he hasn't worked more than three innings in any appearance this season. That puts a large portion of this game on an Oakland staff that has struggled badly to keep the ball in the yard at home.
Toronto is also opening with Braydon Fisher, but John Schneider has the better bullpen situation. Fisher owns a 3.20 ERA, while José Soriano worked seven innings yesterday and Spencer Miles handled the final two. With an off-day Thursday, Schneider can be aggressive with his available relievers.
At the same -115 price as Over 9, I’d rather back the better team to win by two than rely on Oakland to do its share of the scoring.
For the SGP, I’m leaning into Toronto’s middle of the order. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk both draw a favorable start against left-hander Brady Basso and should get multiple cracks at an Athletics staff that's struggled badly at home.
Guerrero is batting .283 with a .383 OBP against lefties this season, while Kirk has been even better from a contact standpoint at .308. Basso has allowed right-handed hitters to bat .305 against him with a 5.40 ERA in those matchups.
Both total base props also benefit from Sutter Health Park, which has played as the most hitter-friendly stadium in baseball this season. If Vlad and Kirk are both piling up bases in the heart of the order, it naturally supports the final leg of the parlay, a Toronto win.
Blue Jays vs A’s SGP
Blue Jays -1.5
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total baes
Alejandro Kirk Over 1.5 total bases
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;"
Blue Jays vs A’s home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+300)
Kazuma Okamoto is the shortest home run price on the board, and this is a spot where I’m willing to pay for the best power bat. Okamoto hit his 30th home run of the season Tuesday and appears locked into one of his power surges.
He also draws an excellent opening matchup against Basso, who's allowed all three of his home runs this season to right-handed hitters. Basso leans heavily on his four-seam fastball, throwing it roughly 44% of the time, and that plays directly into Okamoto’s strength. He owns a .562 slugging percentage against four-seamerswith a 52.6% hard-hit rate against the pitch.
The park only strengthens the case. Sutter Health Park carries a 129 home run factor, and Oakland has allowed nearly two homers per home game this season. I’d rather back Toronto’s best power threat in an ideal environment than chase a longer number on a weaker home run profile.
2026 Transparency Record
Best bets: 16-15, +0.63 units
SGPs: 3-29, -4.31 units
HR picks: 4-27, -1.88 units
Blue Jays vs A’s odds
Moneyline: Toronto -180 | Athletics +155
Run line: Toronto -1.5 (-115) | Athletics +1.5 (-105)
Over/Under: Over 9 (-115) | Under 9 (-115)
Blue Jays vs A’s trend
The Blue Jays are 7-3 over their last 10 games and have scored 52 runs over that stretch, while Oakland’s pitching staff owns a 6.33 ERA at Sutter Health Park. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. A’s.
How to watch Blue Jays vs A’s and game info
Location
Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, CA
Date
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026
First pitch
3:05 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Braydon Fisher (3-4, 3.20 ERA)
A’s starting pitcher
Brady Basso (1-2, 4.32 ERA)
Blue Jays vs A’s latest injuries
Blue Jays vs A’s 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.
San Diego, CA - September 8: The San Diego Padres host the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on September 8, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.
The baseball season is often referred to as a marathon and not a sprint, but the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks appear to be in a sprint to the finish, which will likely decide who gets the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
The Padres have played 145 games, but the final 17 games will be some of the most important games played this season. San Diego has won two of the first three games against the Washington Nationals and have a chance to sweep the series this afternoon. This opportunity comes after the Padres took two of three in from the New York Yankees to start the current home stand.
The Diamondbacks have had similar success and have won the first two games of their current series against the Kansas City Royals. Both of the wins have come in extra innings and like the Padres, Arizona will have a chance to sweep the series this evening and will have the benefit of knowing the outcome of the San Diego game. Arizona also won the series against the Houston Astros 2-1 leading into the Kansas City series.
The Padres and Diamondbacks have put some distance between the other contenders in the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, so unless both teams completely collapse the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies will occupy the top two Wild Card spots and San Diego or Arizona will take the third and final Wild Card spot. The two teams are scheduled to meet in the final series of the season at Petco Park on Sept. 25-27. That series has the potential to be a pre-postseason playoff series, but both teams have time before then to create separation from one another.
The Padres will go on the road after today with three against the San Francisco Giants and four against the Colorado Rockies. San Diego returns home for a three-game set against Miami then goes up to Los Angeles for three against the Dodgers before coming home to host Arizona. The Diamondbacks have three home series with games against the Texas Rangers, Miami Marlins and New York Yankees. Arizona then plays at Colorado for three before playing San Diego in the season finale.
There is a chance for one team to make a move in the remaining series before they meet at Petco Park, but they seem to be mirroring one another to this point. The Gaslamp Ball Reacts Survey this week asks respondents if they think the final series between the Padres and Diamondbacks will decide the postseason fate of the Friars.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Anthony Huezo #47 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (71-67) lost 7-4 (BOX SCORE)
Weiss started for Sugar Land and went 3.1 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 7. Sugar Land got on the board in the 7th inning on a fielder’s choice and Price sac fly. The Comets responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to extend their lead. Cole connected on a 2 run home run in the 8th but that was it from the offense as Sugar Land fell 7-4.
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (60-73) won 6-4 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the second inning on a Nunez 3 run home run. They got another run in the 5th on a Huezo RBI double. Dombroski got the start and went 3.1 innings allowing 2 runs. He was relieved by Guedez who allowed 2 runs over 2.1 innings as Midland tied it up. In the 8th inning, the Hooks took the lead on a Call 2 run single. Marrero and Perez tossed scoreless outings in relief as they closed out the 6-4 win.
Jose Guedez, RHP: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Andrew Marrero, RHP: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, o ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A+: Asheville Tourists (43-87) SEASON OVER
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-0) won 4-2 (BOX SCORE)
Fraide started for the Woodpeckers and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense got on the board in the third inning on a Durnin RBI single. In the 7th, the Woodpeckers scored 2 runs on a Galloway single to take the lead. Piasecki added a sac fly in the 8th for some insurance. The bullpen was great tossing 5 scoreless innings as they closed out the 4-2 win in game one of the series.
Note: The Woodpeckers hold a 1-0 lead in the playoff series.
Aaron Judge returned to the Yankees’ lineup last night and although he went hitless in three trips to the plate, New York (82-62) rolled to a 5-3 win last night in their series opener against the Colorado Rockies (55-89). Cam Schlittler was brilliant again. The Cy Young favorite allowed three hits and one run while striking out ten over seven innings to earn his 13th win of the season. The win guaranteed the Yankees will enjoy their 34th straight winning season. In the moment, it also kept the Yankees within four games of the first place Rays in the AL East and ten games clear in the race for a Wild Card spot in the postseason.
Tuesday's opener was actually a tightly contested game for seven innings before New York broke through late. The Yankees grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cody Bellinger scored following a defensive miscue by Colorado. The Rockies answered in the third inning when Adael Amador launched a solo home run to center field, tying the game at 1-1. New York regained the lead in the fifth. Facing his former team, Ryan McMahon delivered a go-ahead RBI double that scored George Lombard Jr. and put the Yankees ahead 2-1. The game remained close until the eighth inning when reserve outfielder Heliot Ramos, who had entered after Aaron Judge exited as planned in his return from the injured list, crushed a three-run homer to center field that proved necessary because Colorado made things interesting in the ninth. Hunter Goodman launched a two-run homer for the Rockies in the ninth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Yankees closer David Bednar recorded the final out for his 32nd save.
Tomoyuki Sugano (12-8, 5.19 ERA) gets the start for the Rockies today. The veteran right-hander has managed 12 wins, but his best has been no better than OK and he has rarely been at his best. His ERA is 8.25 ERA over his last five starts. He has produced only two quality starts during that stretch and has allowed 1.85 home runs per nine innings this season. Will Warren (9-6, 4.16 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the Yankees. Unlike Sugano, Warren has been solid all season. The righthander has quietly been a dependable member of the Yankees’ rotation. Averaging nearly nine strikeouts per nine innings, he owns a solid 4.03 ERA over his last five starts.
**Read below to see how dominant Aaron Judge has been against Tomoyuki Sugano.
Lets 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 and How to Watch: Rockies vs. Yankees
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Time: 7:05PM EST
Site: Yankee Stadium
City: New York, NY
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Rockies.TV, YES
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
The Latest Odds: Rockies vs. Yankees – September 9
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Colorado Rockies (+208), New York Yankees (-258)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (-102), Yankees -1.5 (-118)
Total: 9.0 runs
Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Rockies vs. Yankees for September 9
Yankees: Will Warren Season Totals: 136.1 IP, 9-6, 4.16 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 133K, 47 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Rockies vs. Yankees
Aaron Judge is 7-9 including 3 HRs in his career against Tomoyuki Sugano
Cody Bellinger is 3-6 in his career against Sugano
Tomoyuki Sugano has allowed 25 earned runs over his last 29 Innings
Jake McCarthy is 4-8 in his career against Max Fried
Max Fried has allowed 1 or fewer runs in each of his last 5 starts
Ben Rice is 9-23 (.391) in September
Austin Wells is hitless in his last 4 games and is 3-16 (.188) in September
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: Rockies vs. Yankees
The Rockies are 77-67 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 71-73 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 69 times in games involving the Rockies this season (69-72-3)
The OVER has cashed 62 times in games involving the Yankees this season (62-77-5)
Expert picks & predictions: Rockies vs. Yankees for September 9
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 tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Yankees:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 9.0.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
While the addition of the 30-year-old might not be a season-altering move for Sacramento, Warriors forward Draymond Green believes the signing could play a significant role in helping the Kings’ first-round 2026 NBA Draft selection Darius Acuff Jr.
“When I look at this signing, I think this is great for Darius Acuff,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “You have a Ben Simmons who’s eager to make it right, he’s going to give you the game. And he’s going to work his ass off. I think this is great for Darius Acuff. Let’s face it, Ben Simmons is Ben Simmons.
“This will take some of the pressure off Darius Acuff. If Ben Simmons isn’t playing well, people are going to want to point to Ben Simmons and say, ‘Hey, he’s not playing well,’ and if he is playing well, people are going to point to Ben Simmons and say, ‘Yo, look, he’s back.’ And so, I think this ultimately takes a lot of pressure off Darius Auff going into a Sacramento Kings situation that is not as great as one would like.”
The Kings finished the 2025-26 NBA season 22-60, but went 8-10 the final 18 games of the campaign to push themselves out of a top-five lottery spot.
Sacramento selected Acuff with the No. 7 selection in the draft. With Russell Westbrook retiring, the Kings likely will slot Acuff into the starting point guard role and give him the keys to proverbial castle.
”I think this is a good move for Darius Auff that will allow some of the pressure to come off of Acuff and allow him to grow like rookies need to grow,” Green continued. “This is not the most ideal situation for a rookie to be in. Obviously, you got the ball alot. That could be good or bad, right? But, you know, this is a good move and I don’t think people will value this move enough.”
Simmons was the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year and played on three straight All-Star teams from 2018-2021 while with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2016 No. 1 overall pick also is a two-time All-Defensive selection and, in addition to helping Acuff’s growth, could help a Sacramento team that has struggled on that side of the court for several seasons.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Zach Ehrhard #4 of the Oklahoma City Comets bats during the second inning against the Sacramento River Cats at Sutter Health Park on July 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The playoffs started for the Loons and Tower Buzzers with very different results, while some usual suspects led the way for wins by the Comets and Drillers.
Player of the Day
Other players might have had more impactful games, but efficiently producing at a high level, Zach Ehrhard gets our vote as Player of the Day. The twenty-three-year-old outfielder reached base safely in all of his four plate appearances, responsible for four of his team’s 11 hits.
After climbing through three different levels last season, Ehrhard showed enough to begin 2026 in Triple-A. It was a decision the Dodgers organization would not come to regret, with their outfield prospect joining the 20-20 club with his latest home run, not to mention scoring a whopping 107 runs in just 128 games.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Zach Ehrhard may not be the flashiest of highly touted Dodger outfield prospects, but his production in Triple-A speaks for itself, helping pave the way for Oklahoma City to beat Sugar Land 7-4.
James Tibbs III didn’t have as flashy a game as Ehrhard but reached twice on a single and a walk, with the only other Comets home run besides Ehrhard’s coming from Ryan Fitzgerald. All four of the Space Cowboys came against the Comets’ bullpen as veteran starter Cole Irvin navigated through five scoreless innings.
While Ben Casparius continues to struggle in the minors, responsible for two of these four runs, the veteran Jake Cousins earned a hold with this third scoreless appearance in September, having only recently returned from injury.
Double-A Tulsa
Big innings over scattered runs led to the Drillers’ win over the Naturals by a score of 7 to 5 despite getting outhit 10 to 6. Success rate on the basepaths played a big role in setting up this scenario, seeing as though the Drillers were successful in each of their four attempts—including Josue De Paula’s 31st stolen base of the season. On the flip side, the Naturals were caught in two of three attempts, all of them off Tulsa’s starter Adam Serwinowski.
De Paula didn’t record a hit or drive anyone in but reached successfully on a couple of walks and was the only Tulsa player to score multiple runs. Speaking of walks, Jake Gelof secured a team-high three of them, driving in a pair to take him to 96 RBI this season. Patient and also relying on evident poor command from the Naturals, the Drillers earned a dozen walks in this win on the road.
High-A Great Lakes
As far as complete displays of dominance, it doesn’t get much better than what the Loons did against the Dragons to open their Division Series matchup, shutting out the visiting club in a 6-0 win.
Three batters into the bottom of the first, the Loons already led by three thanks to homers from Eduardo Quintero and Emil Morales. Mairo Martinus brought some production to the bottom of the order with a second-inning solo shot, and by the end of two, the Loons had scored five of their six runs.
Starter Tyler Gough and the Loons bullpen shut out the Dragons by not allowing a single extra-base hit. The pitching staff as a whole managed to elevate its game any time the opposition threatened a rally, as opportunities were plentiful, conceding nine singles and another five walks.
Class-A Ontario
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Does anyone remember an outstanding comeback effort if it is ultimately unsuccessful? That’s the question we ask as the Tower Buzzers scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth, only to fall one short in a loss to the Storm, opening up their Division Series.
Unfortunately, what made Ontario’s life significantly harder was the struggles of Jholbran Harder, no pun intended, in the top of that ninth inning. The Tower Buzzers’ reliever allowed a three-run shot and four runs overall to put the game nearly out of reach.
After Joendry Vargas hit a solo shot to make it 10-9 with two outs in the ninth, there were probably no options you wanted more at the plate than Easton Shelton. Shelton had reached in three of his first four plate appearances—including a home run, his 37th of the season. However, the power-hitting first baseman was called out on strikes. This comeback effort that ended with Shelton began with Caleb Johnson hitting his second homer of the game, production out of nowhere from this shortstop who recently began his time at Class-A with Ontario, still short of 100 at-bats.
Transactions
The Drillers activated right-handed pitcher Christian Ruebeck from the IL and transferred lefty Wyatt Crowell to the Development List.
Tuesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 7, Sugar Land 4
NW Arkansas 5, Tulsa 7
Great Lakes 6, Dayton 0
Ontario 9, Lake Elsinore 10
Wednesday’s schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) vs. Sugar Land (Jason Alexander)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Aidan Foeller) at NW Arkansas (TBD)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 4: Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals takes off for second base against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium on September 4, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Reed Hoffmann/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wins Above Replacement is a statistic that aims to give proper value to every part of what a baseball player does, be it defensively, at the plate, and on the basepaths. It even gives extra credit for players who are playing demanding positions. Bobby Witt Jr., meanwhile, is a shortstop who runs the bases like his hair is on fire, is a great hitter, and also just happens to be one of the best defensive players in the entire league.
As you might expect, Witt has accumulated a lot of WAR in his five seasons in the big leagues. Per Fangraphs’ version of the stat, Witt has 33.2 WAR. That total ranks fourth overall since 2021, with Witt only behind future Hall of Famers Shohei Ohtani (51.2 WAR), 15.7 Aaron Judge (44.6), and Juan Soto (33.3). That total is also, obviously, first among all Royals players during that time.
In fact, even though he’s only played five years, Witt has been the most valuable Royal if you move the bar further in the past. Since 2016, he ranks first, with second place being Whit Merrifield’s 17.3 WAR. Since 2006, Witt still ranks first, eclipsing the entire Royals careers of Alex Gordon (31.5 WAR) and Lorenzo Cain (20.9). Witt’s five years in Kansas City have also been more productive than the entire Royals careers of Zack Greinke (26.8), Carlos Beltran (24.9), Mike Sweeney (20.2), David DeJesus (19.7), Danny Duffy (16.3), and more.
You have to go all the way back to 1983 to find a player who has accumulated more WAR in that time than Witt’s five seasons with the franchise. That player, predictably, is George Brett, who accumulated 33.9 WAR from 1983 until he retired in 1993.
Why am I saying this? I’m saying this because I recognize that Witt is great. Everybody does. And yet, when I look at his 2026 and, heck, his 2025 campaign, I’m…disappointed, somehow.
This year, especially, it seems that Witt has not been himself. Witt hit a minimum of six triples a year every single one of his first four seasons; this year, he has one. Witt has never hit fewer than 20 home runs; this year, he’s at 17, with the lowest isolated slugging percentage of his career. His batting average has dropped significantly in two consecutive seasons.
And yet, when you look at his career averages, he is right on the money:
2026: .283/.360/.451, 124 wRC+, 3.02 steals per 10 games, 1.35 home runs per 10 games
Career: .289/.343/.495, 128 wRC+, 2.47 steals per 10 games, 1.62 home runs per 10 games
This year is a little bit of a different mix; for the first time, Witt is walking over 10% of the time. He’s stealing bases at the second-highest clip of his career. He’s not hitting for much power, but he’s getting on base more, and so his overall offensive production is essentially what he’s done, in aggregate, over his whole career.
I think Witt’s monster 2024 season has warped everyone’s perceptions of what he is and what he can be. He posted a 170 wRC+, and we all thought that he could be an offensive powerhouse moving forward. But two years later, that is looking more and more like an outlier. I’m not going to say it was a fluke, because he earned it.
However, Witt’s 2024 was indeed an outlier. Really, Witt is more Francisco Lindor than Mookie Betts or Mike Trout: a consistently very good hitter and excellent shortstop. What Witt is not is a game-changing offensive force. He simply doesn’t hit for enough power, and I don’t think he will ever adjust his game to hunt for home runs.
Witt could prove us all wrong and put together another monster season. That would be fun. And, again, Witt is an incredible baseball player and Royals fans should thank the stars every time they see him. It’s just that we will walk down the road of disappointment if we’re hoping that he’ll be that game-breaking offensive force again. He is great as he is, and we’ll have to accept that rather than hunger for more.
Rory McIlroy believes traditional tours will soon have “decisions to make” as a player exodus from LIV Golf edges closer. LIV filing for bankruptcy in the United States on Tuesday means its deals with several high-profile golfers will soon be invalid, leaving them free to negotiate a route back to the PGA and DP World Tours.
When asked whether remaining with LIV in its planned, far-less lucrative form would hold appeal, McIlroy was characteristically candid. “I’m not in their shoes but LIV at the start looked a lot more attractive than what LIV 2.0 might be from a financial standpoint,” said the Masters champion.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Will Dion #76 of the Washington Nationals reacts after giving up a tree-run home run to Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Nationals did it! They made history last night and “accomplished” something no MLB team has ever done. Of course, I am referring to the 2026 Nationals setting the all time blown save record when they blew their 38th save late last night. This is a truly embarrassing feat that should stick with everyone involved for years to come.
The Nationals have blown 38 saves this season, setting the MLB single-season record.pic.twitter.com/KWcNTz84Bn
From ownership to the front office to the coaching staff to the pitchers themselves, they all played a role in setting the worst kind of history. This bullpen has been an embarrassment all season long and now the record books show that. Entering this season, the plan was to build a bullpen on the margins and find enough hidden gems to have a mildly competent group.
As we know, that plan failed absolutely miserably. Teams like the Rays have shown this sort of plan can work. However, this front office is not the Rays front office. They have not shown a real ability to evaluate pitching yet, and it cost them dearly this season.
Don’t get me wrong, this front office has done some good things, especially on the offensive side of things. They have completely revitalized the offense. However, there has been more bad than good on the pitching side of things.
One example I keep going back to is a simple waiver opportunity they could have taken advantage of but did not. Bryan Hudson hit the waiver wire twice this offseason, but the Nats did not pull the trigger on the lefty. It might sound nit-picky to talk about one waiver claim they did not make. However, even at the time, it was something I wanted to happen.
While Paul Toboni was picking up just about anyone with a pulse on the wire, there was one name he did not pick up. On paper, Bryan Hudson would be a perfect fit. This regime has shown a love for low slot lefties with funk and that is exactly who Hudson is. He also had a 1.73 ERA in 62.1 innings in 2024 before a rough 2025.
This offseason he was on waivers twice. Toboni did not pull the trigger either time. For the season, Hudson has a 2.95 ERA in 61 innings in a variety of roles. He has 7 saves and has opened 8 times. This is the exact profile this front office was looking for and they missed their solution hiding in plain sight.
If you are going to build a bullpen the way Toboni wanted to build it, you cannot miss on the Bryan Hudson’s of the world. However, a big reason that Toboni even had to build a bullpen like this is due to ownership. Over the past 5 years or so, ownership has not given this team a shot.
Under Ted Lerner, this team consistently ran top 10 payrolls. Now, it has become a bare bones operation. For this franchise to get back to where it needs to be, the Lerner’s either need to spend money or give the team to someone who will. Hopefully this inglorious record is a wakeup call that spending is needed, particularly in the bullpen.
Nationals blow an MLB-record 38th save this season. Beyond untenable. The Lerners, no matter what system baseball comes up with next, have to give the front office the green light to spend significantly this offseason to fix this bullpen, for real.
Adrian Morejon, David Bednar and Raisel Iglesias will be the top 3 relievers on the market this offseason. Given this franchise’s recent track record, I doubt any will be Nationals. However, if this organization wanted to be serious, one of them would be wearing the Curly W.
We just cannot go another season without proven high leverage options at the back of the bullpen. Orlando Ribalta can be part of the solution, but they need bigger guns behind them. This bullpen has been so bad, it has negatively affected development.
Honestly, if you do not laugh about this, you will cry. It has truly become comical to see this team even defend multi-run leads. When they get back home, maybe they could take out the rubber and give it to the Hall Of Fame.
History has been made! The 2026 Washington Nationals hold the record for most blown saves in a season. pic.twitter.com/7cmSkSiavf
While most of these relievers are obviously not up to the job, it is tough to place too much blame on them. Whenever you see quotes from these guys, they are obviously gutted. They are not trying to blow these saves, they are just not up to the task. Jared Simpson clearly did not have it in his first back to back and it cost this team. Clayton Beeter has not had it for months, yet this is all we have got right now.
Mass changes will need to come this offseason. It would probably be unfair to make Simon Mathews a one and done, but some tweaks need to be made to the staff around him. There just needs to be a different voice after the bullpen has failed this miserably.
This was a fun season, but between the deadline sell off and the bullpen woes, things got ugly in a hurry. It sure feels like the momentum heading into next season is gone. Maybe this team can just flip the switch after an offseason, but they need some help.
The 2026 Nationals will be known for their high flying offense, but even moreso, their record setting bullpen. They set the all time record for blowing games. That is a stat that should make everyone in the building shiver. Cheers to 38 blown saves!
Tyler Herro is in the middle of a custody battle in court with ex-girlfriend Katya Henry, TMZ reported Tuesday, after the couple split up this month.
The two share a daughter, Zya, born in 2021 and a son, Harlem, born in 2023.
Before dismissing his case all together, Herro, who claimed he had been voluntarily paying Henry since she gave birth, asked the court for a parenting schedule. The former All-Star also asked the court to determine how much he should be giving in child support.
In her own filing, Henry has asked for primary custody as she claimed she has been the primary caregiver and has been making most of the decisions surrounding the children.
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and his girlfriend, Katya Henry, pose for a photo during the 15th Annual Miami Heat Charitable Gala at Kaseya Center on Feb. 8, 2025, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
Additionally, she “intentionally omitted” information about Herro’s “historical conduct” out of repect for the Milwaukee player as Henry insisted to the court that “safeguards and parameters should be implemented on a temporary and permanent basis in order to ensure the safety and well-being” of the two children.
The case remains ongoing.
Henry, a fitness model and founder of VelAura, connected with Herro on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
A year later, the former couple welcomed their daughter before breakup rumors hit the fan in 2022.
Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat and Katya Elise Henry pose for a photo on the red carpet prior to the 14th Annual Miami HEAT Gala at Kaseya Center on Jan. 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida. Getty Images
During that time, Henry posted on social media alleging Herro’s cheating.
“If you cheat on someone willing to do anything for you, you cheated yourself out of loyalty,” she wrote before deleting it, per Yahoo.
The Bucks also sent Bobby Portis in exchange for Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis along with unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, the No. 13 pick in the 2026 draft, and a 2033 second-round pick and a pick swap in 2030.
Herro was in Paris when he heard the news he was being shipped off to his hometown team.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro goes up for a shot as New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet defends during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on Monday, March 17, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Back to the motherf–king crib, dog. Y’all did lost your motherf–king mind,” he said as a warning to the Heat on his YouTube channel.
The 26-year-old guard went to Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. where he earned a four-star ranking and finished his career with over 2,000 points. He was also named the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year.
He went on to play at Kentucky under John Calipari before he was chosen at 13th overall by the Heat in 2019.
Last season, Herro averaged 20.5 points on 48 percent percent shooting.
The Philadelphia Phillies are home favorites over the Houston Astros ahead of the 6:40 p.m. ET first pitch at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, Sept. 9.
My top Astros vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks are calling for Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sanchez to lead the way to a convincing win in the City of Brotherly Love tonight.
Who will win Astros vs Phillies today: Phillies -1.5 (41.3%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Sanchez also probably has a splash of statistical correction coming to his unsustainably high .346 BABIP across his past 10 starts, considering he’s held opponents to a minuscule 2.4 barrel percentage.
Astros vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (55.2%)
I’m anticipating a low-scoring game tonight at Citizens Bank Park. Brown’s been solid down the stretch, and Sanchez has pitched at an elite level all season.
Additionally, both bullpens have shown off in the second half, with Houston ranking ninth in xERA and sixth in xFIP, while Philly respectively checks in 11th and 10th.
Finally, Philadelphia's recent strong offensive numbers also stand beside the Phillies ranking 16th in wOBA against right-handed pitchers for the campaign.
This Under is the play up to 58.2%.
Astros vs Phillies home run prediction: Bryce Harper (17.4%)
Phillies star Bryce Harper has hit 23 of his 27 homers against righties, and his .300 ISO against right-handed pitchers is the third-highest mark among qualified hitters.
Plus, Brown has surrendered a healthy 45.7% hard-hit rate to left-handed hitters across his past 11 starts, and it’s been 11 games since Harper’s last long fly.
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 55-28, +29.26 units
Over/Under bets: 28-26, +0.62 units
Astros vs Phillies market trends
Here is how the money is coming in on tonight's Astros vs. Phillies matchup from trusted traders at Polymarket.
Astros vs Phillies weather
The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, warm game-time temperatures around 84°F dropping into the mid-70s, and a breezy 10-11 mph southwest wind blowing out toward right field at Citizens Bank Park tonight.
Astros vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Astros 41.7% | Phillies 61.5%
Run line: Astros +1.5 (59.2%) | Phillies -1.5 (44.4%)
Over/Under: Over 8 (52.5%) | Under 8 (52.5%)
Astros vs Phillies trend
The Phillies have covered the run line in 14 of their last 23 games for +6.45 units and a 25% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Phillies.
How to watch Astros vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
SCHP, NBCS-Philadelphia
Astros starting pitcher
Hunter Brown (5-3, 3.31ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Cristopher Sanchez (16-5, 2.58 ERA)
Astros vs Phillies latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Texas ranks fourth in wOBA against lefties for the season, and the Rangers also sit eighth in the overall metric and sixth in xwOBA over the past two weeks while averaging 5.6 runs per game.
Anderson has also underwhelmed at the highest level with a 5.14 xFIP, negative pitch values on both his fastball and changeup, and an unintimidating 24.1% called-plus-swinging strike percentage.
With the Mariners ranking last in wOBA against lefties, plus 24th in the overall metric and 23rd in xwOBA over the past two weeks, I recommend the Texas moneyline up to 43.5%.
COVERS INTEL:The Texas Rangers have a 21st-ranked BABIP over the past two weeks despite ranking second in barrel percentage and fifth in hard-hit rate, so there’s potential statistical correction ahead of their already strong offensive numbers.
Rangers vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (54.1%)
The Mariners are also set up to do damage at the dish, even if their highlighted numbers don’t jump off the page.
Texas lefty Cody Bradford was originally scheduled to pitch the series opener yesterday, but he had his start pushed back, and it’s also been a struggle across his six 2026 starts.
Bradford sports a 5.48 xERA and 5.16 xFIP while allowing opposing hitters to tee off to the tune of a high-end .380 wOBA and 18.0% blast-contact rate.
I’d recommend this Over 7.5 at 55.6%.
Rangers vs Mariners home run prediction: Justin Foscue (14.3%)
So, with Foscue also sporting a high-end 1.087 OPS during an active 13-for-37 run at the dish, he’s an excellent target to leave the yard this afternoon.
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 55-28, +29.26 units
Over/Under bets: 28-26, +0.62 units
Rangers vs Mariners weather
The forecast calls for mostly cloudy early skies giving way to pleasant afternoon sunbreaks, peak daytime temperatures reaching 73 F, and a consistent 6 to 7 mph northern breeze blowing at T-Mobile Park this afternoon.
Rangers vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Rangers 43.5% | Mariners 60%
Run line: Rangers +1.5 (60%) | Mariners -1.5 (43.5%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (52.5%) | Under 8.5 (52.5%)
Rangers vs Mariners trend
The Seattle Mariners have only won 17 of their last 45 games (-16.95 Units / -30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Mariners.
How to watch Rangers vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, Mariners.TV
Rangers starting pitcher
Cody Bradford (0-4, 4.45 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Kade Anderson (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
Rangers vs Mariners latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: Oakland’s pitchers own a 
