Go Rays!
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
- New, improved notifications system!
Game Thread: Cy Seymour
St. Louis Cardinals Joshua Baez Make Historic Debut with 3 Homers to Beat Cubs
I hope that St. Louis Cardinals fans will one day look back at this game as the start of a historic career. Not trying to be overdramatic, but Saturday’s Cardinals game vs the Cubs was the Major League debut of Joshua Baez and his impact was immediate. On the mound, it was the Cardinals Michael McGreevy doing battle with the Cubs Matthew Boyd, but it was Baez who would steal the show as he did something no player has ever done.
The St. Louis Cardinals came out of the gate fast in the top of the 1st inning as JJ Wetherholt drew a leadoff walk. Iván Herrera was then hit in the back foot by a pitch and Jordan Walker grounded into a fielder’s choice avoiding the double play and giving St. Louis runners at first and third with just one out. Alec Burleson drilled a ball up the middle which resulted in a force out at second, but he beat the throw at first which proved to be key for two reasons. First, it allowed JJ Wetherholt to score the first run to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead and it kept the St. Louis 1st going. That brought us the first Major League at-bat from Joshua Baez. How would he respond to the pressure of his first plate appearance in The Show? Answer – he absolutely destroyed a 93 mph four-seam fastball from Matthew Boyd and sent it into the stratosphere 449 feet over the centerfield wall for a 2-run home run making it 3-0 Cardinals. Hello world. Meet Joshua Baez!
After that truly electric debut moment from Joshua Baez, the Chicago Cubs jumped right back into the game with an unintended assist by the Cardinals defense. With two outs in the bottom of the second, Nico Hoerner hit a ground ball that Blaze Jordan simply missed at third base. That would end up being a costly error as Ramirez followed that with a double and then Michael Conforto lifted a sky high fly ball to right field that somehow ended up in the stands for a game-tying 3-run home run. Don’t get too excited, Cub fans. That tied game would only last until the next Joshua Baez at-bat.
In the top of the 4th inning, Joshua Baez led off and quickly fell into an 0-2 count. He would eventually work the count full when he waited on a 77 mph Matthew Boyd changeup and blasted it 382 feet into the left field stands. Ridiculous (in the best possible way)! 4-3 Cardinals!
Think about the following fact. Never in Major League history has a player ever hit a home run in his first three at-bats. Never. No one. EVER. Until today. After Alec Burleson walked in the top of the 6th inning, Joshua Baez strolled to the plate and did something that no one has ever done. Not Hank Aaron. Not Aaron Judge. Not Mark McGwire. Not Barry Bonds. No one has hit three home runs in their first three Major League at-bats except Joshua Baez who hit an 83 mph slider 368 feet into the right field stands for a 2-run homer. HISTORY and a 6-3 Cardinals lead!
It almost seemed like an afterthought after the historic Baez homer, but Blaze Jordan hit a big blast of his own 408 feet into the left field bleachers to give the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that many of us who make up Cardinals nation were so overwhelmed with emotions that it was hard to pay attention to details of the baseball game that was continuing as we all tried to soak in what we had witnessed. This was literally the kind of day where you will remember where you were when it happened. What I (and others) nearly overlooked was Michael McGreevy pitched a great game throwing 6 complete innings giving up no earned runs (we can blame those on Cardinals defensive errors) while striking out 6 and walking only 1. It was a quality start that was really more than that when you consider he threw it at Wrigley Field.
For Saturday’s game to be truly satisfying for Cardinals fans, the bullpen would have to hold the lead. Justin Bruihl entered the fray in the bottom of the 7th inning. He pitched an uneventful inning thanks to a well-turned double play by Winn/Wetherholt and a very weak flyout by Pete Crow-Armstrong.
I was telling my wife as the top of the 8th inning started that anyone batting in front of Joshua Baez would get better pitches to hit. That happened just as the words left my mouth as Cubs relief pitcher Rea threw a 95 mph four-seam fastball right down the middle of the plate to Alec Burleson who sent it flying 403 feet into the left-centerfield bleachers upping the Cardinals lead to 8-3. Something special happened in the fourth Joshua Baez at-bat even though this one did not leave the park. After he lined out to left field, the entire stadium gave Baez a standing ovation as he left the field. Imagine that. A St. Louis Cardinal getting a standing ovation from Cubs fans. That phrase “how can you not be romantic about baseball?” comes true again.
Ryne Stanek would run into trouble in the bottom of the 8th inning. He gave up a leadoff double to Suzuki to start it and then mishandled a dribbler from Michael Busch to give the Cubs runners at first and third with no outs. He gladly gave up a run on a double play turned again by Wetherholt and Winn to make it 8-4 Cardinals and that’s fortunately the only run Chicago would get.
After the Cardinals failed to add to their lead in the top of the 9th, it was up to Riley O’Brien to wrap up a historic baseball game with a St. Louis victory. He did so without drama which now allows all of us Cardinals fans to think about what we witnessed Saturday.
Where were you when Joshua Baez hit 3 home runs in his first 3 Major League at-bats? I’ll never forget. Will you?
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs Sunday. Hunter Dobbins is the starter for the Cardinals. He’ll go up against Edward Cabrera who will start for the Cubs. First pitch is scheduled for 2:15pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via ESPN/ABC.
Dodgers on Deck: Sunday, August 16 vs. Brewers
The Dodgers finish off their National League showdown series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Tarik Skubal is on the mound, making his third start for the Dodgers and looking for his first win for his new team.
Rookie right-hander Logan Henderson has started 11 times this season, interrupted only by seven weeks on the injured list with a low back strain. But Henderson in those 11 starts has yet to allow more than three runs, and has only allowed three runs twice, with a 2.88 ERA in 56 1/3 innings with 69 strikeouts and 11 walks.
Among major league pitchers with at least 10 starts this season, Tarik Skubal’s 7.11 strikeout per walk is tops, with Henderson third at 6.27. In second place is Jacob Misiorowski (6.80), Saturday’s starting pitcher for Milwaukee.
Sunday game info
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Brewers
- Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
- Start time: 1:10 p.m.
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Bright Side Sitdown: Amar’e Stoudemire reached Springfield by always being ready to adapt
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The day before Amar’e Stoudemire was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Bright Side sat down with the five-time All-NBA selection and the six-time All-Star for a conversation about his time with the Suns, playing for Mike D’Antoni and what he’s feeling before his big day.
(The following answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.)
You’re about to get inducted into the Hall of Fame. What are you feeling right now?
Amar’e Stoudemire: Tomorrow, I’m gonna feel probably even more ecstatic, right? I’m soaking in the moment. I’m really cherishing the time. I’m walking slowly. I’m enjoying my family. I’m watching their faces, see all the other Hall of Famers that are here, and just really soaking in the moments and really taking my time with that.
When did you realize you were gonna be a Hall of Famer?
AS: Well, you always try to reach for the stars when you’re a player, right? You set goals and you try to accomplish those goals, and it’s never easy to accomplish those goals. So I always had high goals set for myself when I was a kid, and it kept me straight. You know, it kept me focused, man. And I think because of that, I was able to persevere through a lot of things and be able to make it here to the Hall of Fame, so it’s great to be here.
It’s well documented how bad the Suns wanted you. How did that help you buy into the Seven Seconds or Less offense?
AS: I spoke to Coach Mike D’Antoni today, and he was like, “Amar’e, when I first mentioned the new offense to you, you really didn’t care. Like you wasn’t upset about the change that we’re making playing you at center.” And so, I was ready to go, man. I think you know, for us, I always looked at my coaches as leaders, as leadership, and so whatever they feel is the best for the team, but I was always willing to sacrifice or make that happen. So when Coach D’Antoni mentioned we’re going to play this style of basketball, I was like, all right, cool, let’s go. I can adapt to any type of basketball game or play, and so I was ready from the start.
For more on how hard the Suns pursued Amar’e Stoudemire:
How were you able to adapt in your career?
AS: I think for me, I wanted to be a team player. Obviously, I had goals and wanted to be the best and dominate and show the world how good I am. But I also was willing to be a team player, and I think for me as a leader, you want your teammates to be leaders also. I always tell my guys all the time, ‘Hey, I know I’m the franchise guy, but we all must be leaders here’. And so, with that being said, all of us, everyone can play at a high level and play their game and have fun. And that’s how you build the camaraderie. That’s how you build a championship-caliber team. And that’s what we did in Phoenix.
Was there a moment where it felt everything clicked?
AS:In training camp, when we got Steve Nash. When Steve came back to Phoenix and we started training camp, we all were in top shape, ready to go. And from training camp, we saw something special. We saw the style of play and the speed we were playing with. I was at my athleticism peak, and we had Shawn Marion, who was a brilliant floor runner and Swiss Army knife type of player, and Nash was the pass first guy who could get the ball to whoever was hot. So we took that mentality and ran with it. And I think I was surprised by how good we were.
How was having Scott Williams around for your first few seasons help you as a young player?
AS: Scott Williams’ mentorship was brilliant for me because I was a young player. I was 19 years old, and I had a lot of veteran guys around. Scott Williams is one of my veteran guys who I always leaned on and swept with and hung out with the most. Eddie Johnson, who is still doing the color commentator stuff, but EJ was one of the guys who I also spent a lot of time with. We had a security guy by the name of Kevin Tucker, and I call all those guys my “throwbacks”. I gave them the name throwbacks because I hang out with those guys. I was too young to go out to clubs and all these type of things, so I would hang out with those guys, and those guys would always give me positive leadership and information, and that helped stem me on the right path as far as what I needed to do as a player.
How did their mentorship carry with you the rest of your career?
AS: Those guys, man, was there with me. They were holding me down. They would talk to me about certain things. I’d be frustrated about certain games. They would talk about it, and we’d discuss it, and so my throwbacks were key for me.
What did the amount of change you had to deal with growing up teach you about how to adapt quickly?
AS: I grew up in poverty and I had to grow up fast. Had to raise my little brother. I had to do a lot of things far as maturity wise, and so I was able to somewhat figure that part out pretty quickly. I had the goals in mind of being an NBA player, and I also had my faith in God that was always very close to my heart. So with those tangibles that I had within me, allowed me to somewhat grow up fast with a sense of character, with positive character traits, and that helped me propel myself and get ready for the NBA.
Whose a player in the NBA right now that reminds you of yourself in how you needed to make many changes early in your career?
AS: I don’t see it. I mean, for me, I was a high school player who had a fearless attitude and I was just dominant from the start. And so, a lot of players are dominant, and I respect all the guys who are in the NBA because it’s not easy to get there. But I don’t really see that type of player, my style of play, in the league right now. I’m sure some guys have come along and fill that role, but I haven’t seen it yet.
No matter the industry, what is one piece of advice you give to people about the best ways to embrace something new, to be a team player?
The best advice I can give someone is to learn. Whatever it is you get yourself involved in, it’ll take time to be a student and learn, study, read, rehearse, review, and then once you’re ready for that, then you step into that role, ready to go, right? So that’s the most important thing: is being able to study about whatever craft or field you get into.
You can watch the full interview here:
Kyle Tucker sits amid Dodger Stadium slump
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are facing Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski, who has been the best pitcher in baseball this season, the toughest right-hander in the game who throws 105 mph. But in the corner outfielders the Dodgers on Saturday are starting a pair of right-handed hitters Teoscar Hernández and Alex Call.
Hernández has slumped so badly that manager Dave Roberts said this week he would probably sit him more against right-handers. Call barely plays at all, so any start he gets his news. Left-handed batter Kyle Tucker is not in the lineup, not necessarily for matchup reasons, but for the simple reason that he hasn’t hit a lick at Dodger Stadium this season.
Tucker is hitting a execrable .192/.270/.276 with a 62 wRC+ at home this season. His batted ball numbers at Dodger Stadium are a little better — .241 expected batting average and .329 expected slugging percentage — but still bad.
“For Kyle, being at home right now, I see the frustration,” Roberts said. “I felt for him to kind of use today as a work day, then he’ll be back in there tomorrow, and he’ll play all three in Denver.”
Saturday is day nine of 13 game days in a row for the Dodgers, and every regular position player has been rested at least once during this stretch already, save for center fielder Andy Pages. Tucker already didn’t start on Monday at home, though he walked as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and scored on Max Muncy’s three-run double.
Tucker only has five hits in his last 50 at-bats at Dodger Stadium, a 16-game stretch dating back to July 7. His last extra-base hit was on July 10, with 48 plate appearances since. His last RBI came on July 8, 51 PA ago. And Tucker hasn’t homered at home since a two-run shot off Nick Martinez of the Tampa Bay Rays on June 16, exactly 100 plate appearances ago.
When the Dodgers are on the road, Tucker is hitting .275/.371/.469 with a 131 wRC+, right in line with Tucker’s overall career line of .268/.355/.489 with a 133 wRC+, the very player they signed to a whopping four-year, $240 million contract in February, setting a record for highest average annual value for competitive balance tax purposes ($57.2 million).
“I don’t think he even realized it until recently when people brought it to light. But the fact is the split are stark, home and road,” Roberts said. “I don’t think we have a reason behind it. I wouldn’t say he’s fixated on it, but certainly he’s conscious of it.”
Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (75-48) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (74-49)
The Brewers and Dodgers are two teams with struggling offenses who have had to fight for every run they’ve earned through the first two games of this four-game series. The teams have split the first two, with a combined score of 7-6 in favor of the Dodgers. Things won’t get easier for the Dodgers’ offense, at least, as today the Brewers send Jacob Misiorowski to the mound to face the high-powered Los Angeles lineup. The Dodgers counter with an All-Star of their own, Justin Wrobelski, who is having a bit of a breakout season in his third season in the big leagues.
Before we get to the pitching matchup, we’ve got a roster move to report, as the Brewers continue to struggle to find a last guy on the bench. After less than a week, the Jihwan Bae era in Milwaukee as over, as the Brewers have acquired the recently-DFAd Jonathan Ornelas from the Athletics for cash. Ornelas, 26, is a right-handed hitting infielder who was a third-round pick of the Rangers way back in 2018. He first appeared in a major-league game in 2023, but has only had sporadic action since then—he has just 71 plate appearances scattered over 38 games in four major-league seasons. This year, Ornelas went 2-for-12 in six games with the Athletics, though he spent most of the season in the Yankees’ system, where he hit a solid .299/.362/.480 in 75 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Back to the pitching matchup! Misiorowski is looking to bounce back off of a couple of starts that, while not remotely bad, weren’t as good as he surely would have liked. Miz pitched well on August 2nd against the Angels but his offense failed him, as the Brewers lost 3-0 in a game in which the young ace went seven innings, allowed two runs, and struck out ten. Last time against the Twins, Miz went six, struck out nine, and allowed three runs to the Twins, but the Brewers were able to win that game in ten innings. This will be Misiorowski’s first career start against the Dodgers, though he did of course throw five innings in game three of last year’s NLCS when he followed opener Aaron Ashby. In that game, Miz struck out nine and allowed only one earned run (and one further run of the unearned variety), but the Brewers could only score once.
Wrobleski, who turned 26 last month and is left-handed, is having a solid season: in 20 games (19 starts) and 120 1/3 innings, he’s got a 3.44 ERA and an 11-4 record. He isn’t striknig out a ton of batters this season (7.0 per nine innings), but he’s not walking them, either (2.0/9). That said, he does sport a FIP that’s quite a bit higher than his ERA (4.13) and his Statcast page has a lot of blue, so the Brewers will hope there’s some regression there. Wrobleski primarily uses a four-seamer/slider combination, though he’s got a bunch of other pitches that he’ll mix in occasionally.
Brice Turang remains out of the Brewers’ lineup, though Curt Hogg mentioned that he’ll do some work on the field today and is optimistic he won’t have to go on the IL. (That decision would likely come tomorrow, as they can only backdate an IL stint three days, and Turang has already missed three games.) Ornelas, the new guy, gets a start today—why not try anything to wake the offense up?—and will start at second base, giving Hamilton the evening off against the lefty. There are further shakeups to the batting order: Luis Lara, who is playing center field, moves up to the two-hole, while Andrew Vaughn (again at third base) bats third, Jake Bauers (in right field) hits fourth, and Gary Sánchez (first base) hits fifth. The lineup is rounded out by Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Joey Ortiz (at shortstop), and Ornelas.
First pitch is at 6:15 p.m., and recall that this game is being nationally televised on Fox rather than on Brewers TV. As always, it’ll be on the Brewers Radio Network as well.
Padres outslug Guardians 7-5, eye series clincher tonight
Saturday’s contest brings another edition of the San Diego Padres “pitching chaos,” as Wandy Peralta will be the opener for this evening’s game. Randy Vasquez will be the bulk pitcher and go against Cleveland Guardians Joey Cantillo. It is a very intriguing matchup, as both young pitchers have shown promise on the mound this season.
The Padres will take the diamond riding a six-game winning streak. After losing the home series opener to the Houston Astros, the Friars responded with a blistering offensive attack that led to a 5-1 homestand.
The bats have carried the team through the starting rotation’s dry spell, masking the starters’ inability to record outs. The lineup is hitting a robust .324 since August 8, with Jackson Merrill, Luis Rengifo, and Fernando Tatis Jr. being the hottest hitters of the group.
Merrill has carried the offense with a .344 batting average and .615 slugging percentage to begin August. Rengifo has been the perfect addition to the roster. He posted a .321 batting average with three home runs during the six-game winning streak. Tatis Jr. has smacked four home runs over the last 10 games.
Taking the mound: Wandy Peralta (SD) vs Joey Cantillo (CLEV)
Arguably, Vasquez (8-6, 4.16 ERA) has been the Friars’ best pitcher since the All-Star break. He has found his groove and consistently shut down opposing lineups. Slowly, the right-hander has built his confidence with each positive outing.
Vasquez has posted a 2.37 ERA since July, and over his last five starts, he has allowed five earned runs in 19.0 innings pitched. For the 2026 season, the four-year vet has posted a 1.37 WHIP.
However, Vasquez is vulnerable to pitching to contact, but it has not affected him in recent appearances. But he has recorded four strikeouts over his last 15.2 innings pitched and holds a 66: 31 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
The Guardians will send out Cantillo (8-7, 3.91 ERA) to even the series at a game apiece. But the team’s front office has concerns with his command of late. He has regressed a bit, pitching to a 5.74 ERA over his last 18.2 IP.
Cantillo throws hard, as he recorded 132 strikeouts in 25 starts. But the left-hander is having trouble throwing his fastball and changeup consistently for strikes.
It has not allowed him to pitch deep into starts, as opponents are hitting .263 off Cantillo. If the young pitcher can get his control in order, Cantillo’s repertoire should gain him more swing-and-misses in games.
The Padres lineup must be patient and drive up his pitch count, which forces Guardians manager Stephen Vogt to use his bullpen early for the second straight night.
Today’s Lineups
White Sox take another key series in 4-3 win over Detroit
Despite struggling to find any manner of consistency since the All-Star break, the White Sox are winning the games that matter. Today’s slim, 4-3 win over the Tigers makes for their 64th on the season, and the fourth straight series won or split against an AL Central opponent. Chicago’s destiny is in its own hands in the Central, and to this point they’re doing their best to make sure they stay in control.
Tigers starter Troy Melton was all over the place this afternoon. His command hasn’t always been sharp despite elite results as of late, and today the batted-ball gods swung the other way on him. The Sox posted seven hits through the first two innings, and Melton finished with a final line of nine hits and three earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings, handily his shortest outing of his season.
The particular boogeyman for Melton was his breaking balls, which kept leaking out over the plate against a lefty-heavy Sox lineup. It resulted in a boatload of pulled hits through the right side, with a couple of extra-base hits coming from lefties sitting back on a breaking ball and shooting it the other way. No single Sox hitter stood out as a star, but eight of the nine hitters in the starting lineup recorded a hit, with Randal Grichuk providing two more off the bench, as well as the game-winning run in inning number seven. RBIs were spread between Colson Montgomery (2), Braden Montgomery and Andrew Benintendi.
Melton’s batterymate Eduardo Valencia, meanwhile, had quite a mixed bag of a game. He had a second straight multi-hit effort and launched his sixth home run in just 18 games, but he also cost his team both of their ABS challenge before the conclusion of the fifth inning. Sox catcher Jake Rogers was successful on the team’s only contestation of the day.
Back-to-back doubles to start the fifth looked like it might have been the beginning of the end for Kay, who also had far from his best control today. He threw a lot of pitches that both caught way too much of the zone and many that were way too far away from it. Still, when he missed, he tended to miss low in the zone or below it. Somewhat remarkably, he allowed seven batted balls of at least 95 mph, but none of them managed to break 98. So when Dillon Dingler lined into a tag-up double play to end the back-to-back doubles threat, it allowed Kay to bear down and work into the sixth inning, keeping the Sox bullpen relatively fresh for another day.
This brutal stretch of nearly three weeks without an off-day will in great part depend on how well the bullpen can endure what’s sure to be a lot of strain, and today, they pulled through. Jordan Hicks threw a fantastic 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief after taking over for Kay in the sixth. Two innings later, Grant Taylor looked excellent for the second day in a row, lowering his season ERA to 2.11. To cap off an impeccable day of relief, Bryan Hudson threw an all-too-rare, easy 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his fifth save of the year.
The Sox had multiple opportunities to extend or take the lead, leaving runners on third base in both the fifth and seventh innings, and leaving eight men on base in total. Nonetheless, that stellar job from the bullpen secured them the win in a lockdown manner that they’ve struggled to get on a consistent basis all season.
The win brings the White Sox to 64-58 on the year and, more importantly, extends their lead in the AL Central to a season-high 4 1/2 games at the moment. They’ll go for the series sweep tomorrow, putting the ball in the hands of Sean Burke, who certainly hopes that his hot stretch will last a little longer than Melton’s. That’ll be followed up on Monday with Luis Castillo’s third turn through the rotation on his new team, hoping that he can open a huge series at Wrigley Field looking more like his second start with the South Siders than his first. First pitch tomorrow is set for 12:40 p.m. CT, and we’ll see you there!.
MVP
The Bullpen (Jordan Hicks, Grant Taylor, Bryan Hudson): 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 SO
Runners-Up
Randal Grichuk: 2-for-2, 2B, R
Andrew Benintendi: 2-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Cold Cat
Jake Rogers: 0-for-4, 2 K, GIDP
Runners-Up
Chase Meidroth: 1-for-4
Brenton Doyle: 3 pitches, 1 CS
Lane Thomas starts in left, Mauricio Dubon mans short against the lefty Rodriguez
The Braves are stacking right-handed bats with a lefty starter on the mound for Arizona. While Ha-Seong Kim is still mysteriously present on the bench without being used for…anything, Dubon does replace Jarvis in the more advantageous platoon situation.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks lineup can be found below, featuring Lars Nootbar at leadoff.
Game Info
Game Time: Saturday, August 15, 7:15 PM ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Watch: FOX
Radio/Audio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
MLB Home Run Props & Predictions Today: Best HR Picks & Parlay for August 15
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
Three big-time sluggers highlight my MLB player props home run analysis for tonight's action.
Pete Alonso starts things off, with Kyle Schwarber joining him in elite company.
Plus, I'll tell you why Jac Caglianone's bat will stay hot in my MLB picks and home run props for Saturday, Aug. 15.
- UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
MLB home run props for today
| Player to hit a HR | Odds |
|---|---|
 Pete Alonso | +365 |
 Kyle Schwarber | +307 |
 Jac Caglianone | +226 |
| 💲Today's HR parlay | +10572 |
Home run prediction: Pete Alonso (+365)
Pete Alonso is tearing the cover off the baseball lately. The veteran has smacked three bombs over the last week, and he has a mind-boggling .435 ISO during his last six games. Alonso cannot be stopped, and his underlying numbers are also insane.
Alonso has a 73.7% hard-hit rate and 26.3% barrel rate during that span. He'll face Tampa Bay Rays lefty Ian Seymour tonight, who has allowed a 45.5% hard-hit rate in the last month and a 13.6% barrel rate.
I'm also loving the profile for Alonso against a Rays bullpen with an FIP over five lately while they've allowed 2.10 HR/9 in their last 25.2 frames.
Play this pick down to +300.
- Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Rays.TV, MASN
Home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (+307)
How can we ignore the home run leader? Kyle Schwarber leads the big leagues with 37 bombs, and he has cracked four in his last six games while posting an ISO over .600. The hard-hit rate is otherworldly, and the barrel rate is just as ridiculous, sitting at 37.5% over the last week.
Schwarber will face a homer-prone starter tonight in Minnesota Twins lefty Connor Prielipp, who has allowed 2.61 HR/9 across his previous two appearances. Schwarber has also handled southpaws well enough this season, going deep 12 times against left-handed pitching.
He owns a 56.3% fly-ball rate over the last week.
Play this pick down to +200.
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Twins.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Home run prediction: Jac Caglianone (+226)
Jac Caglianone is one of the most feared power hitters in baseball right now. The Kansas City Royals slugger has gone deep four times in his last six games, including two of his last four. Caglianone’s ISO over the last week sits at a ridiculous .583.
He also owns a 57.1% hard-hit rate and 23.8% barrel rate during that span. Caglianone will face left-hander Reid Detmers tonight, who has given up 1.80 HR/9 across his previous two outings. Caglianone has not had a ton of success against lefties, but his recent power profile is impossible to ignore.
The Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen is also allowing plenty of hard contact lately, giving the Royals slugger another path to leave the yard late.
Play this pick down to +200.
- Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Royals.TV, ABTV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
- HR picks: 17-86, -6.54 units
Best home run combo for August 15
| Pete Alonso | Trade Now +10572 |
| Kyle Schwarber | |
| Jac Caglianone |
Want more baseball parlays? Check out our MLB parlay picks page!
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.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Miami Marlins – Brady Singer vs. Ryan Gusto
Brady Singer’s rock solid run of form has run out of gas a bit of late. It’s enough to wonder if the entire spotlight of him being an obvious trade piece as the August 3rd trade deadline came, and went, and him still being on the Cincinnati Reds took a bit out of him.
Over his last four starts, he’s fired 23.0 IP and allowed 13 ER (5.09 ERA). His 3.25 FIP, though, suggests that maybe he’s been a bit unlucky even though his 18/9 K/BB in that span is mediocre by most (including his) standards.
Singer will look to get back on track on Saturday evening in Great American Ball Park when he toes the rubber to start the second game of the series against the Miami Marlins. He’ll fire the game’s first pitch at 6:40 PM ET, whereas the Fish will send out righty Ryan Gusto to start.
Gusto, to his credit, fired 6.0 IP of 1 ER ball against the mighty Atlanta Braves 11 days ago, his best outing as a member of the starting rotation after having been bumped to long relief for a stint in July bookending the All Star break. On the whole, he has pitched to a 4.78 ERA (3.90 FIP) in 49.0 IP across 15 games so far this season, and since he has only thrown more than 80 pitches once since June 21st, odds are we’ll be seeing a lot of the Miami bullpen in this one.
(Unless, of course, the Cincinnati bats go as cold as they often have this year.)
The Spurs have a lot of wings. How will they play them all?
If there is one thing the NBA has taught teams over and over again, it is the importance of depth. Injuries happen (knock on wood). So it’s best to have a solid 10 to 12 players you can trust to varying degrees.
The San Antonio Spurs come into the 2025-26 season with a boatload of depth. They are bringing back every meaningful rotation player from their NBA Finals run last season, while adding veteran forward Tobias Harris and rookies Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance (whenever he is healthy enough to play) to provide needed front-court depth. They should also be getting more from second-year players like Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper, the latter of whom could be on the brink of stardom.
One position where the Spurs are particularly loaded is on the wings. San Antonio brings back starting sharpshooters Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson, veteran Harrison Barnes, and Bryant, while adding Harris. That’s six players who are all nearly certain to factor into the rotation in some shape or form. How Mitch Johnson decides to manage their minutes becomes one of the most interesting questions coming into the season.
Exactly how each player factors in will probably be largely matchup-dependent, and based on how the team performs to start the season. But it’s the middle of August, and it’s fun to speculate… so let’s do it!
Potential starters
Devin Vassell
Vassell should be a lock to start alongside De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Victor Wembanyama. He provides something the starting lineup desperately needs: a wing shooter who can also put the ball on the floor and create his own shot. In many ways, he is the connective tissue that makes San Antonio’s semi-positionless starting lineup sing. His defense steadily improved as the season went on, particularly in the postseason. The Spurs were +6.4 better in net rating with Vassell on the court than when he was off of it. He was second on the team in minutes per game, playing 30.5 a night. All signs point to Vassell continuing to play a prominent role for the team next year.
Julian Champagnie
San Antonio extended Champagnie this offseason, signing him to a 3-year, $45M contract. It’s somewhat of a bargain for a starting floor-spacing wing on a Finals team. Champagnie shot 38.1% from deep last season, giving the Spurs the shooting injection they needed alongside Wembanyama at the four. The problem was that Champagnie is not a natural forward. That led to some awkward defensive matchups in the playoffs that burned the Spurs, particularly against the Knicks.
Champagnie is not well suited to bang inside with bigger wings and forwards. He’s much better at playing on the wings, where he can get into passing lanes and force turnovers off the ball. That defensive liability didn’t hurt the Spurs much in the regular season, so it’s hard to see San Antonio overreacting by making such a big adjustment to the starting lineup at the start of the season. Of course, diversity of talent is important here, too. The same five players don’t need to start, nor finish every game. If the Spurs play a team with a big and strong frontcourt, Champagnie could come off the bench for Harris to give the Spurs more size to match up.
The Spurs were undeniably better when Champagnie was on the floor last season. Their net rating was +8.5 better with Champagnie on the court than on the bench. That’s a big reason why Champagnie averaged 27.6 minutes per game last season. That’s right around where he should be this year – in the 25-27-minute range, either starting or being the first wing off the bench.
Tobias Harris
The high-profile offseason addition throws a real wrench into San Antonio’s rotation. Harris hasn’t come off the bench in a decade (the 2016-17 season). He brings a lot of skills that the Spurs need: another shooter who can also create his own shot, while holding his own defensively, particularly on the interior. His ability to create out of the post will give San Antonio another wrinkle in their offense to allow Wembanyama to roam in the dunker spot or space the floor from three. He’ll also be able to space off the ball in pick-and-roll action and attack a rotating defense on skip passes to the corner. His skill will allow the Spurs to diversify their offense in a meaningful way, which should help their efficiency tremendously.
Harris is not the same level of shooter as Champagnie. He knocked down 36.8% of his threes last year, and only 29.2% in the playoffs. The kinds of threes he will get are different, too, mostly feeding off kickouts and pick-and-pop opportunities, whereas Champagnie can knock down shots off movement in screening actions. Defensively, he is a bit more stout, giving San Antonio a desperately needed big body.
Again, if anything, Harris just gives the Spurs more diversity in their skill sets. Who starts and finishes is probably going to be matchup-dependent and riding the hot hand. It wouldn’t be surprising if Harris ended up playing more minutes than Champagnie this season if San Antonio goes with a veteran presence late in games. Harris is likely to be a major factor in the rotation whether he starts or not, and should play around 25 minutes per game.
Bench rotation
Keldon Johnson
Johnson is the hardest player to fit into the wing rotation, which is ironic given he had arguably the best season of his career last year. Johnson was exposed in the playoffs as teams overplayed his hard-driving offensive style of play and were able to keep him off the offensive glass. Johnson didn’t do enough defensively to warrant a ton of playing time, as he played just 17.9 minutes in the postseason.
But Johnson was the Sixth Man of the Year and has a claim to a prominent role this season. Harper is probably set to be San Antonio’s sixth man this season, with either Harris or Champagnie becoming the 7th man. Add in Luke Kornet as the backup center playing about 20 minutes a game, and the minutes for Johnson dwindle fast.
Johnson played 23.3 minutes per game last season. That’s probably going to drop this season to somewhere closer to 20, with Harris and Champagnie digging into his minutes, and Bryant nipping at his heels. Johnson settling into an energy role off the bench, helping push the pace in transition and playing hard on the boards, would be a nice niche for him to continue providing value in a reduced role.
Carter Bryant
Bryant should be set to take a big step forward in year two. After cutting his teeth fighting to be in the rotation last season, he should be in line for a consistent role this year. Bryant is arguably the team’s second-best perimeter defender behind Castle. That’s not the type of player that averages around 11 minutes a game, like Bryant did last year.
In his second season, Bryant should take over Barnes’ role as the backup forward this season, with the potential to earn more minutes if the season goes well. The biggest thing for Bryant’s development is to play with more confidence and composure. Too many times last season, Bryant would miss a read or be late to help – normal mistakes for a young player. But his combination of defensive versatility, athleticism, and shooting potential makes him a must-play this season, just to see what he can do.
Harrison Barnes
Barnes, unfortunately, is likely to be on the outside looking in of the rotation. After signing a 1-year $8M contract, Barnes seems more likely to act as a depth piece and veteran locker room leader this year. His role decreased more and more as the year went on last season, and he only played about 9 minutes a game in the postseason.
Barnes is a nice shooter who can put the ball on the deck a bit if the Spurs need more offense when players sit. He’s the exact kind of depth competing teams need. He won’t play every night, but when he does, he won’t make a negative impact.
Penguins New Forward Ready For Breakout Year
The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Among the Penguins' newcomers is Hendrix Lapierre, as the Penguins acquired him from the Washington Capitals in exchange for 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
The Penguins trading for Lapierre comes after he posted four goals and 16 points in 74 games with the Capitals in 2025-26. Overall, it was a quiet year from the 2020 first-round pick, but there is reason to believe that he can turn things around in Pittsburgh.
In fact, at just 24 years old, the possibility of Lapierre breaking out and hitting a new level with the Penguins should not be ruled out.
A change of scenery can sometimes benefit a player, and that could end up being the case with Lapierre. With the Penguins being a retooling team that is focused on the future, it is likely that they are going to give the young forward plenty of chances to succeed.
Lapierre has also shown in the past that he has the potential to provide decent secondary offensive production. During the 2023-24 season with the Capitals, he recorded eight goal, 14 assists, and 22 points in 51 games. If he can tap into his offensive potential more with the Penguins, he could end up being a very solid addition to their group.
Boston Celtics Daily Links 8/15/26
Globe Timberwolves to retire Kevin Garnett’s jersey after their Feb. 28 game vs. Celtics
Jaylen Brown talks Celtics exit, MIT dreams, and skydiving on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
When it comes to buying pro sports franchises, it seems no asking price is too high
CelticsBlog Banner Years: 1968, Boston is not dead
SB Nation Reacts: thanks but no thanks, Ben Simmons
CLNS Media Are the Celtics a Better Team than Last Year?
NESNDoc Rivers shares initial Celtics-Jaylen Brown trade reaction with Tommy Heinsohn 76ers story
Celtics Get Short End Of Stick In 2026-27 NBA Schedule
How to Watch Doc Rivers Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Ex-Celtics Guard Closing in on Wild NBA History After Trade News
Mass LiveHall of Fame notebook: Candace Parker joined by idol, Doc Rivers’ ‘last good coaching feat’
Doc Rivers thinks former Celtics guard belongs in Hall of Fame
Celtics legend would have hated Jaylen Brown trade, says Doc Rivers
Celtics WireCeltics history: Fab Melo dealt to Griz; Ed Stanczak, Bruno Fernando born
Reacting to the Boston Celtics schedule for the 2026-27 NBA regular season
Hardwood Houdini Oddsmakers like Celtics’ chances to win a different kind of trophy this season
Giannis Antetokounmpo drops spicy Christmas Day quote aimed directly at Celtics
Celtics have real chance to spoil major LeBron James history this season
Brad Stevens’ cost-cutting should make his efforts to win Banner 18 more appreciated
Doc Rivers breaks silence on Jaylen Brown trade, cites crucial Tommy Heinsohn rule
Celtics’ East rival gearing up for big move with Dennis Schroder trade
CLNS Media/YouTubeDoc Rivers: Jaylen Trade Would’ve Driven Tommy Heinsohn CRAZY | Hall of Fame Interview
Doc Rivers Credits Boston before NBA Hall of Fame Induction
Breaking down the Celtics season schedule | Celtics Daily
NESN/YouTube2026-27 Celtics Schedule Breakdown With Sean Grande
AudacyWhy the Celtics will still win at least 50 games
Heavy Celtics’ Recent Draft Pick Lands Major Deal After Boston’s Roster Decision
Jaylen Brown Takes Subtle Shot at Celtics Over Sixers Trade
Celtics RoundtableNew Hall of Famer Doc Rivers Has High Praise For Time with Boston Celtics
How Boston Celtics Schedule Impacts Paul George Moving Forward
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Reveals His Favorite….. Golfer?
SI .com Why It’s a Good Thing Knicks Will Face Mitchell Robinson in First Week of the Season
Ranking the Atlantic Division Power Forwards: Where Does Julius Randle Land?
Fadeaway WorldDwyane Wade And Jayson Tatum’s Fathers Think NBA Tries To Separate Players From Their Dads
10 Most Unwanted Players In NBA Trades
Clutch PointsCeltics 2026-27 NBA season predictions after schedule release
Sixers WireDoc Rivers gives thoughts on Sixers acquiring Jaylen Brown in a deal
Essentially Sports Still-Bitter Jaylen Brown Sends Chilling Message Over Celtics’ ‘Unfair’ Trade
The Sixer Sense 76ers can irk Boston fans even more by poaching another former Celtics player
Bleacher Report Jaylen Brown Says ‘We’ll Find Out’ If Celtics Made Mistake Trading Him to 76ers for Paul George
1 Player With the Most To Prove on Every NBA Team
Fan RecapJaylen Browns First Celtics Trade Reaction Says Plenty
Doc Rivers Just Reopened A Celtics Debate Fans Never Settled
Celtics Face A Huge Jaylen Brown Debate As New Core Emerges
Celtics Quietly Closed The Book On Another Recent Draft Pick
Former Celtics Guard Keeps Adding To One Of The NBAs Wildest Journeys
Celtics Fans Have Every Right To Hate This NBA Schedule
Doc Rivers Saw One Problem Celtics Fans Will Feel In Brown Trade
SportscastingJaylen Brown Calls Out Celtics’ Handling of Shock Trade
All Eyes Should Be On This Sabres Breakout Candidate
The Buffalo Sabres brought in a handful of new players this offseason. Among them is defenseman Louis Crevier, as they acquired him as part of the trade that sent Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks.
While Crevier was not the biggest name from this deal, he has the potential to be a very good addition to the Sabres' roster.
Crevier showed good promise this past season with the Blackhawks. In 78 games with the Original Six club, he set new career highs with seven goals, 18 assists, 25 points, and 124 hits. With numbers like these, he provided a nice mix of offensive production and grit to the Blackhawks' blueline.
However, when noting that this Crevier's first truly full season at the NHL level, it is fair to wonder if the 6-foot-8 defenseman can hit another new level. He entered last season with only 56 career games played over his two previous campaigns, so he is very much still in the early stages of his career. Because of this, it would not be surprising if he broke out even further next season now that he is more adjusted to the NHL level.
If Crevier can take another step forward, it would be significant for the Sabres. It will be interesting to see what kind of campaign he can put together for Buffalo from here.