The Coppa Italia Totem is displayed during the Coppa Italia 2026/27 match between AC Monza and US Avellino 1912 at Stadio Brianteo in Monza, Italy, on August 14, 2026. (Photo by Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hickory starter Mason McConnaughey allowed two runs in two innings, striking out one and walking one. Aneudis Mejia allowed a homer in 0.2 IP. Geury Rodriguez struck out two in 3.1 shutout innings.
Josh Springer doubled. Yolfran Castillo was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Jay McQueen had a pair of hits. Dewar Tovar homered. Kaden Carpenter had a hit and a walk. Marco Argudin and Paulino Santana each had a hit.
For Frisco, Josh Trentadue allowed three runs in 2.1 IP, allowing a homer, walking two and striking out four. Eric Loomis allowed five runs, includinga pair of homers, in 0.2 IP, walking one and striking out one. Bryan Magdaleno walked one in 1.1 scoreless innings.
Round Rock starter David Davalillo had his best start of the season, needing just 76 pitches to face the minimum through six innings with 7 Ks, allowing just one hit, which was erased on a double play. Ryan Lobus allowed a run in an inning of work, walking one and striking out one. Wilian Bormie struck out one and walked one in a shutout inning.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 09, 2026 in New York City. The Braves defeated the Yankees 2-1. in ten innings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves got all they needed from the pitching staff Friday, but couldn’t do anything on offense. Today’s game features a pitching matchup between Eduardo Rodriguez and Grant Holmes.
Rodriguez has a massive gulf between his 2.70 ERA and his 4.41 xFIP. I trust the xFIP more than the ERA to tell us how good he actually has been, but that is an impressively large gap through 143.1 innings. His strikeouts have cratered to a tiny 6.34 K/9, but he remains a serviceable MLB starter. His five-pitch arsenal of four-seamer, changeup, cutter, curveball, and sinker all look fairly average in terms of movement, with sub-average extension. That said, he has been locating those pitches well in the spots you would want for each pitch. The Braves’ offense would do well to hit a couple homers off of him, taking advantage of the high contact rate.
Meanwhile, Grant Holmes is coming off of two productive outings of 6.0 innings each. The team would obviously love to see that depth again, but I think that is unlikely to come with another 2 strikeout performance like last time, Grant will need to miss a few more bats to be reasonably expected to be that productive again. That slider continues to be an absolute weapon for him and we’ll have to hope it can vex the Diamondbacks during this tough stretch of games for Atlanta.
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
JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Joshua Baez #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a photo during the St. Louis Cardinals photo day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s game 2 of the weekend series as the St. Louis Cardinals battle the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Cardinals will give the ball to Michael McGreevy while the Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd. It’s also the Major League debut for Joshua Baez. First pitch is set for 1:20pm central time with the game broadcast available through Cardinals.tv.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Ricky Tiedemann #33 of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for a portrait during photo day at the Toronto Blue Jays Player Development Complex on February 20, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I thought the Jays and I had an understanding, I would play tennis on Saturday mornings and they wouldn’t make any news while I play.
Anyway:
Vladimir Guerrero has been put on the 7-day concussion IL. Concussions are terrible things. My youngest son got play playing rugby and it ended his rugby playing. He had a rough time of it. I hope Vlad is only out those seven days.
Paul Sewald has been activated for today’s game.
Lazaro Estrada was optioned to Buffalo, but then DFAed.
Rickety Tiedmann has been recalled from Buffalo. He’ll be in the pen. He was #5 on our prospect list. He’s missed most of this season because of injuries.
Chase Lee was optioned.
Daz Cameron was added to the 40-man roster and called up to the Jays. Daz signed with us as a free agent back in July. He’s played for Detroit, Oakland and Milwaukee. In 160 MLB games, he has a .200/.258/.326 line with 15 steals (0 times caught) and 11 home runs. In 23 games in Buffalo, he hit .367/.462/.582 with 10 steals and 3 home runs. He plays all three outfield spot. He’s mostly played center field, but has played left and right. Some pure speed will be nice (if he gets on base).
Today’s Vladless lineup. Braydon Fisher was to be the opener.
The shocking sale of the Los Angeles Lakers drew headlines for its reported $12.5 billion valuation. But it’s also notable for another reason: Assuming the sale is approved by the NBA Board of Governors, Mark Walter's tenure would rank among the shortest controlling ownership spans USA TODAY identified in the histories of current MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises.
USA TODAY reviewed ownership histories across the four major U.S. leagues and found just four completed qualifying tenures shorter than Walter's 289 days through Aug. 15. Historical ownership records — particularly from the early 20th century — can be incomplete or ambiguous, so the findings reflect the shortest qualifying tenures USA TODAY was able to identify and verify.
The shortest such spans USA TODAY uncovered were the back-to-back flips of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1980.
In February that year, Lou Mitchell bought 155,000 shares in the Cavs from Nick Mileti for an announced $1.4 million. After 31 days, Mitchell sold about 275,000 shares to Joe Zingale for an estimated $2.4 million after realizing the difficulty of running the Cavs and another business 125 miles away. Then, 22 days later in April, Ted Stepien bought those shares from Zingale for $2 million to become the franchise’s controlling owner with a 37% stake in the Cavs. Stepien remained owner until 1983.
Following that pair is John P. Harris, controlling owner of the Boston Doves — the franchise now known as the Atlanta Braves — for 35 days in late 1910.
Cox bought the club from a cash-strapped Gerald Nugent. His tenure was quite raucous and ended when commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned him from baseball for betting on the Phillies.
Walter’s current 289-day span comes next among the qualifying tenures USA TODAY identified. However, his sale is awaiting approval, which means his official ownership tenure could still extend.
Recent NBA ownership sales have varied widely in how long they took to receive league approval. Walter’s purchase of the Lakers last year, for instance, took 134 days between announcement of the sale and board approval.
Such a range means that Walter’s final tenure length could end up anywhere from roughly 315 days to 420.
Should the sale not finalize until after Oct. 4, Walter will drop below William Hepburn Russell, who bought the Boston National League franchise from Harris and owned the club for 339 days until his death in November 1911.
If the transaction does not close until after Oct. 14, Walter would further drop below Art Williams, who owned the Tampa Bay Lightning for 349 days from July 1998 to June 1999.
There are also a few ownership swaps that resulted in short tenures with a specific team.
For instance, Robert Irsay briefly held the Los Angeles Rams before swapping franchises with Carroll Rosenbloom and taking control of the Baltimore Colts in 1972. USA TODAY excluded franchise swaps because they did not represent a standalone acquisition and subsequent transfer of controlling ownership.
Methodology: USA TODAY reviewed controlling ownership tenures of current MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL franchises. Tenures were measured from the effective acquisition date of controlling ownership to the effective transfer or end of control. Franchise swaps, inherited or interim ownership, group ownership changes in which control remained with an existing owner, and ownership periods outside of the four major leagues were excluded.
The Detroit Red Wings continue their offseason of questions, as they're still without a general manager following Steve Yzerman's departure from his role exactly one month ago, while Dylan Larkin's ultimate fate with the club has yet to be decided.
In the meantime, one of the more pressing business matters to be addressed between now and the start of Training Camp on Sept. 17 is a new contract for defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who has completed his entry-level contract and remains a restricted free agent.
However, the club retains his RFA rights since they extended a qualifying offer to him earlier in the offseason.
According to the latest from Edvinsson's agent, Peter Werner, via the Swedish publication Expressen, Edvinsson and his camp are "patiently waiting" for Detroit's management situation to be resolved:
"We are waiting patiently for a new general manager, says Edvinsson's agent, Peter Werner, to Expressen."
Edvinsson, whom the Red Wings selected in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Draft, has appeared in 179 career NHL games and has tallied 19 goals and 41 assists along the way. During that span, he's also averaged 21:09 of ice time per game and owns a plus-17 rating.
Last season, which was his second full NHL campaign, he reached a career-high in goals with nine, while coming in second overall in total ice time behind only fellow blue liner Moritz Seider.
After aggravating the injury again in late January, Edvinsson underwent surgery and began working toward a return, eventually resuming his duties on Detroit's blue line in late February.
His salary cap hit over the last three seasons has been a modest $894,167, and he's due for a considerable raise.
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 09: Ian Seymour #61 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to Rays Reacts. We asked, you voted. This time, we inquired on your confidence in the Rays starting rotation, which as a question conjures playoff considerations.
Practically, many teams skate by with just three plus starting pitchers, so personally I’m not too worried about how the rotation shakes out down the stretch. Despite losing Griffin Jax to injury — he recently got an injection in his elbow, and has resumed throwing at 120 feet — Rasmussen and Martinez are solid, Sugar Shane just pitched three clean innings in Durham on a rehab start, the Rays are settling Peralta into the Rays way, and Seymour is over-achieving expectations for a pitcher with 14 career starts at the MLB level.
I’m confident, but more importantly, how did y’all feel?
Minor concerns is fair!
Jax and McClanahan are indeed injured, Seymour was recently in the bullpen, and Peralta is new. It’s reasonable to be concerned at least a little bit.
If you are feeling confident, you are welcomed to place some responsible bets on the strength of that confidence through FanDuel, who sponsors this series.
Aug 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Eduardo Valencia (32) runs the bases after he hits a home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (60-62) vs. Chicago White Sox (63-58)
Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (7-1, 1.46 ERA) vs. LHP Anthony Kay (9-5, 3.96 ERA)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 23: Didi Gregorius #18 of the New York Yankees celebratres his eighth inning grand slam home run against the Minnesota Twins with teammates Aaron Judge #99, Gleyber Torres #25 and Giancarlo Stanton #27 at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While he’s been better of late, Trent Grisham slumped in much of the early going of the season. That became a bit more problematic than it would be as he’s spent much of this season as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter. Through Wednesday, Grisham was posting a .678 OPS while hitting first in the Yankees’ order,
The thing is, those struggles haven’t been as prevalent in pretty much any other spot in the lineup. In all other plate appearances besides the ones in the one hole, Grisham had a .854 OPS going into Thursday. This got me thinking about the randomness that often come within season splits. However, I was intrigued by the opposite of what’s happening to Grisham this year. I wanted to know what seasons Yankees’ players had where they absolutely went off while hitting in one particular spot in the batting order.
To try and figure this out, we’ll mainly be using two statistics available via Baseball Reference: tOPS+ and sOPS+. What tOPS+ does is measure how you did in a certain split compared to your overall numbers for the season. For example, a 120 tOPS+ means you were 20 percent better than in a given split than your overall numbers. Meanwhile, sOPS+ compares numbers in a certain split to the major league average. A 120 there means your numbers in that split were 20 percent better than the league average within that same split. We’re also going to put a minimum of 100 plate appearances on this to get a look at players who legitimately played there a bunch, and not just ones who had like one at-bat in a spot and happened to homer.
Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto had the highest tOPS+ in this spot with 154 in 1954, but he didn’t actually hit all that great there (sub .700 OPS), he just did better there than anywhere else in one of the final years of his career. Instead, we’ll go with Bauer, who might have not have had the typical description of a traditional leadoff hitter and put up a .776 OPS overall for the season. However, he hit 16 of his 18 homers when Casey Stengel put him first in the order.
Batting 2nd: 1920 Bob Meusel (167 tOPS+, 228 sOPS+)
When I saw Meusel was especially dominant hitting second in 1920, my initial thought that he probably got a boost from hitting directly in front of Babe Ruth. However most of the time, Ruth was fourth in the lineup with Wally Pipp batting third. Pipp was very much respected in his day, but Meusel just happened to go off whenever he was second in the order, hitting .414/.436/.739.
While 2022 was a few years after his juiced-ball peak, he was still an above-average hitter that year. He did especially well hitting third, which often came with the benefit of hitting after one of Aaron Judge, Anthony Rizzo, or Giancarlo Stanton. In 119 plate appearances there, he had a 1.050 OPS, including a third of all his walks on the year.
Batting 4th: 2018 Didi Gregorius (173 tOPS+, 187 sOPS+)
The 2018 campaign was the first one with Stanton on the team, and the Yankees often elected to hit him third with Judge in the two spot. That left Gregorius as an unconventional cleanup hitter, although you might not have known that he was if you just looked at his stats there. Hitting behind the two large boys helped Didi to a career year, as he had a .748 slugging percentage in the cleanup spot.
Batting 5th: 2023 Harrison Bader (163 tOPS+, 120 sOPS+)
With that 120 sOPS+, Bader was genuinely better hitting fifth than most other hitting there. He was also just so much better there than when he hit anywhere else. His .826 OPS in the five hole in 2023 isn’t awe-inspiring, but it’s funny how much better it is than his overall .643 with the Yankees that year, which ultimately got him waived in late August. This might be the purest form of what I was trying to find in making this lineup.
Batting 6th: 1987 Gary Ward (189 tOPS+, 159 sOPS+)
However, we have now immediately found someone that may be an even purer form. Gary Ward’s 1987 with the Yankees wasn’t especially great either, as his .675 OPS graded out to a 78 OPS+. However, hit him sixth and he turned into a legit slugger. He had 131 hits and 16 home runs in total that year, but if prorate what he did in the six hole and map out what he would’ve done over the whole season, he would’ve had 174 hits and 36 homers.
If Mapes was specifically hitting seventh in 1950, he became an absolutely on-base machine. He drew 17 walks there in 124 plate appearances, posting a .402 OBP. That’s almost as high as his slugging for the entire 1950 season: .421.
Posada’s big breakout would come in the 2000 season, as he was still a below average hitter on the whole in the 1999. However, he showed signs of what was to come in the future, specifically hitting eighth in 1999. Sixteen of his 33 extra-base hits came there, as his 1.004 OPS was nearly 300 points higher than his overall season one.
Batting 9th: 2019 Mike Tauchman (157 tOPS+, 272 sOPS+)
Mike Tauchman was one of the embodiments of the 2019 “Next Man Up” Yankees where it seemed like everyone who got playing time ended up contributing in a positive way. Acquired in a then-quiet deal with the Rockies for reliever Phillip Diehl at the end of spring training, the Sock Man’s overall season numbers that year were very good, but in the nine hole especially, he hit .356/.440/.683.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The day before Mike D’Antoni was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Bright Side sat down with the former Phoenix Suns head coach about his time with the Suns, building the iconic Seven Seconds or Less offense, and what he’s feeling before his big day.
(The following answers have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.)
Now that it’s Hall of Fame Weekend, what are you feeling?
Mike D’Antoni: It’s a great honor. I mean, I’m sure if you asked all people getting into the Hall of Fame, they would say: “Oh my gosh, this is the best.” It kind of validates all the stuff that went on all the years, and it’s a great cap off to a good career. I’m happy with the way it went. I got to be doing something I love for a long time, and it’s the best.
Who were some of the influential factors in your life to tell you to be yourself? You were an untraditional coach.
MD: Well, you know, besides being from a family that does that, and my brother who was coaching with me that had a similar philosophy, the main two guys were Jerry Colangelo and Brian Colangelo.
They put the team together, and then we’re talking about how to play and whatever, and I’m saying, you know, my gut says we should do this, but the traditional way is that. And they say, “go with your gut, do what you think’s best”. And so that’s when I decided to move Amar’e Stoudemire to the five and Shawn Marion to the four. It comes from years and years of playing, years and years of coaching, and past experiences from when I was a player, and what would feel good, and then as a coach and how it went with my team at Olympia Milano when I really started that.
How did you find people to buy into your unconventional coaching strategies?
MD: The players adapt easily because most of the time when you spread the floor, and you run and you give them confidence, then their talents come out. I always try to coach where I didn’t put a ceiling on the players. I trusted them; they knew I trusted them. I didn’t second-guess them. At my level, at the NBA level, you can do that because you have great players that, if they’re not selfish, then they will do what’s right for the team. And I was just blessed with having so many players that put the team first. And it’s easy also to put the team first when your stats are strong because everybody wants to earn money, and you got to earn money by having stats in a career year.
You went for volume?
MD: Yeah, we went where everybody can eat. Instead of that guy posting up this guy all the time, or going to a specific spot with the ball every time, we let everybody feed, and boy, they just bought in and went with it.
How did Amar’e Stoudemire adapt to your offense, and how did your relationship early in his career help when Steve Nash came back and the Seven Seconds or Less offense began?
MD: I think it helped. It didn’t hurt. Amar’e was just a raw talent. I could convince the players when I talked to them, and that’s like two hours a day, and we’re going to play a certain way.
But then they go home and they got to listen to their family members, their uncle who knows better than anybody, and the barber who tells them you can’t play that way that it’s going to kill you, or you listen to talk radio or old talking heads, the old players that play a certain way, and so I knew that doubt would creep in, and we just got really lucky that we went 31-4 right off the bat in the 2004-2005 season. Then the players were buying more in, and we’re up 20 at every time at halftime. So they’re buying in, and then it was easy.
When people say that the Seven Seconds or Less offense changed the NBA, what does that mean to Mike D’Antoni, the person?
MD: It’s obviously a little exaggerated. I think we influenced it. Basketball is always evolving, so it was going to happen. Then Steve Kerr and Steph Curry and those guys took it and validated what we tried to do in Phoenix. They’re playing the way that we played because we did it kind of without analytics, and we didn’t have that knowledge yet, and so now they do it with analytics telling them that’s the way to go, and so it’s obviously satisfying.
I’m more of a fan now and guess what? It’s fun to watch, it’s fun to see people’s talents, and so it is very satisfying. I’m very proud of the fact, and happy to have players and management that bought in, and we went with it.
Do you see any budding Mike D’Antoni-style coaches in the NBA?
They’ll do it better. Coaches keep getting better, and I don’t follow that close. I obviously follow guys like Kenny Atkinson, who was with me in New York. But everybody has their style and their demeanor, and it works all kinds of different ways. There’s not one way to play, and you got to do what’s best for your personnel, and that could be all kinds of different venues. And when that happens, you’re a good coach. Whether it’s my style or somebody else’s style, it doesn’t matter.
James announced the launch of his YouTube channel, which centers around golf. The 41-year-old and his crew will play rounds at some of the greatest courses in the world, dine at local restaurants and more throughout each episode.
LeBron James announced he would be signing with the 76ers near the end of July. Getty Images for Fanatics
The first of which is an hour and a half long. It centers around his European golf trip with teammates from the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their NBA championship. The former teammates played at Castle Stuart Golf Links at Cabot Highlands.
James shared the news on social media.
You all loved the 2016 reunion trip so much I thought I'd give ya'll a little more. Welcome to my YouTube channel! My life on and around the course. Let’s go!!! https://t.co/JKA9egPBEi
“You all loved the 2016 reunion trip so much I thought I’d give ya’ll a little more. Welcome to my YouTube channel! My life on and around the course. Let’s go!!!” James wrote in a post on X.
James’ reunion with his Cavaliers teammates was at the forefront of the NBA summer, given the four-time NBA champion’s impending free agency decision. Soon after the trip, the veteran informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not be returning for the upcoming season, officially ending his eight-year tenure with the organization.
James leaving the Lakers kickstarted the month-long free agency sweepstakes, which included the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Cavaliers.
Half of the first episode of LeBron James’ new golf YouTube channel centers around a European golf trip.
Beyond basketball, James has taken an interest in golf and it appears the new hobby has spurned a new business venture for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Jesus Luzardo has quietly pitched like an ace all season, and he headlines the Philadelphia Phillies in a favorable matchup with the Minnesota Twins tonight.
Philadelphia sits as a -131 favorite, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET at Target Field.
That pitching edge shapes my Phillies vs. Twins predictions, which back Philadelphia on the moneyline, lean Under the total, and target a Phillies slugger to go deep.
Who will win Phillies vs Twins today: Phillies moneyline (-131)
Jesus Luzardo gives the Philadelphia Phillies the clearest advantage in this matchup, and the price is reasonable enough to back the Phillies straight up.
Luzardo has been excellent lately, going 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA over his last 10 starts while allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his last six.
The Minnesota Twins counter with rookie Connor Prielipp and his 4.79 ERA. He has real swing-and-miss stuff, but Philadelphia should generate more against him than the Twins manage against Luzardo, especially with Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper anchoring the middle of the order.
I’d rather take the Phillies straight-up than lay the run line, and Luzardo’s form and clear edge over Prielipp make Philadelphia the side I trust.
At -131, I’m comfortable paying the moneyline price. I’d play Philadelphia to -145.
COVERS INTEL: Luzardo’s peripherals are even better than his strong 3.32 ERA, with a 2.85 xERA and a 2.82 FIP.
Phillies vs Twins Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-116)
Luzardo is pitching well enough to lean toward a lower-scoring game and take the Under at 8.5.
The Phillies left-hander struck out 12 over seven innings in his most recent start and carries an excellent 22.3% K-BB rate for the season. His strikeout-and-control profile will make it hard for Minnesota to post crooked numbers.
Prielipp is less trustworthy, but Philadelphia has produced just a .690 OPS over its last 10 games against left-handed starters, giving the rookie a path to keeping the Phillies from breaking the game open early.
I’d rather bet on Luzardo controlling his side of the scoring. If Prielipp gives the Twins five competitive innings, this profiles closer to a 5-3 or 4-3 final than a shootout.
I’d play the Under to -120.
Phillies vs Twins home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (+307)
Schwarber has been one of baseball’s premier power hitters all season, and the left-on-left matchup with Prielipp is far more appealing than it looks.
Schwarber has homered four times over his last 10 games, including a two-homer game against Minnesota on Thursday, He's crushed lefties this year, hitting .283 with 12 home runs in 190 plate appearances.
Prielipp’s four-seam fastball is the clear angle. Opponents slug .561 against it, the pitch carries a -6 Statcast run value, and it makes up nearly 29% of his arsenal. Schwarber, meanwhile, owns a .558 SLG and a +10 run value against four-seamers with a massive 63.5% hard-hit rate.
I’d play this to +275 for a quarter-unit.
Ethan Diamandas 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 0-2, -2.00 units
Over/Under bets: 1-1, +0.05 units
Phillies vs Twins weather
Target Field is an open-air ballpark, so the wind is the swing factor for scoring on a mid-August night in Minneapolis. Air blowing out toward right-center would add carry for the Kyle Schwarber home run bet, so the forecast is worth a final look before first pitch.
Phillies vs Twins odds
Moneyline: Phillies -137 | Twins +124
Run line: Phillies -1.5 | Twins +1.5
Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Phillies vs Twins trend
The Phillies are 8-0 in Luzardo's last eight road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Twins.
How to watch Phillies vs Twins and game info
Location
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
Date
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, Twins.TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (10-5, 3.32 ERA)
Twins starting pitcher
Connor Prielipp (3-5, 4.79 ERA)
Phillies vs Twins 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.
Miguel Vargas received a papal blessing after two home runs in Detroit last night. | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This is a story about how the Detroit Tigers, after concretely selling at the deadline by trading their top available pitcher as well as several other pieces, go on a massive, improbable heater to grab the division title on the last day of the season.
Take a deep breath: That’s the story of the 2024 Detroit Tigers. That team was still led by and impending two-time Cy Young winner. The two best hitters from that squad — Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter — are currently injured. The back half of their rotation now includes prospect Jackson Jobe (who’s allowed six runs in 8 2/3 innings so far in his return from Tommy John surgery), and Drew Anderson (who had a 4.24 ERA in 39 appearances out of the bullpen before being shifted to the rotation). While Chicago’s inconsistent play since the All-Star break has been concerning, the Tigers are not the AL Central team I’m worried about.
A large part of Detroit’s recent run has been Troy Melton, who has a 1.86 ERA in 13 starts and hasn’t given up a run over 20 innings in the last three of them. But with just 69 strikeouts and a league-average ground ball rate, good for a solid but unspectacular 3.63 FIP, we’re at the point where the other shoe can drop at any moment. See: Davis Martin.
The Sox have a chance to start turning the tables today. Opposite Melton, they’ll roll with Anthony Kay, who is himself working at a probably-unsustainable 3.36 ERA since the start of May. His battery mate is recently-claimed catcher Jake Rogers, making his debut for the team after Edgar Quero was optioned to Charlotte this morning. Rogers hit 21 home runs in 2023 but has just a 70 OPS+ since then, and unfortunately, he’s been a concretely subpar defensive catcher this year despite grading out mostly positively in the past. This will be Rogers’ fourth organization in three weeks, as he was traded from Detroit to Baltimore in July before being sent to Boston in the Adley Rustchman deal several days later. The Sox claimed Rogers this week after he was designated for assignment by the Red Sox. Andrew Benintendi also works his way back into the lineup for a second straight game after appearing as a pinch hitter in three of his previous four appearances.
Tigers outfielder Ben Malgeri and catcher Eduardo Valencia are making their 25th and 18th appearances in the big leagues, respectively. Old friend Corey Julks makes his second appearance for the Tigers after 72 for the White Sox in 2024-25.
Melton comes at hitters with an arsenal led by glove-side spin, attacking the inner part of the plate with four-seamers, cutters, and sliders. The outcome of this game may depend on whether the Sox hitters who thrive primarily by turning on inner-half pitches — Benintendi, Colson Montgomery, and Peters, with other lefties Murakami and Braden Montgomery working more to all fields — can make the righthander pay for any mistakes he may make in that vicinity
It’s another matinee matchup this weekend, with first pitch at 12:10 p.m. CT from Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Standard broadcasts will be available on CHSN (TV) and ESPN 1000 AM (radio). We’ll see you there!
Millwall start with 2-0 win over 10-man Bristol City
Will Lankshear scored a second-half double on his debut as Middlesbrough fought back to kick off their Championship campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory, ending promoted Lincoln’s remarkable nine-month unbeaten run.
The Imps – playing their first second-tier match in 65 years – made a strong start and opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Adam Reach. But the former Tottenham forward Lankshear marked his first league appearance since his move to the Riverside by equalising just after the hour and then stabbing in a stoppage-time winner.
UNITED STATES - APRIL 27: Baseball: Houston Astros Phil Garner (R) and Alan Ashby (L) victorious with Nolan Ryan after breaking Walter Johnson record for all-time strikeouts during game vs Montreal Expos, Montreal, CAN 4/27/1983 (Photo by Jerry Wachter/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (SetNumber: X28391)
Former Astros catcher and broadcaster Alan Ashby and former player and manager Phil Garner are set to be inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame tonight at Daikin Park, prior to the 6:10 p.m. game vs. the Seattle Mariners.
Ashby and Garner were elected by the Astros Hall of Fame committee, which consists of former Astros players, current front office staff, current media members and Houston-area baseball historians. Notably, Garner was aware of his election prior to his passing in April of this year. Members of the Garner family will be at tonight’s ceremony.
The official ceremony for the two new inductees will be held on the field tonight at Daikin Park, beginning at 5:35 p.m. Each inductee receives an Astros Hall of Fame sports coat, a customized Hall of Fame plaque and a display case in the Hall of Fame alley.
The Astros Hall of Fame was established in 2019 and resides in Hall of Fame Alley on the main concourse of Daikin Park in left-center field. The Class of 2026 will join the 28 members previously inducted.
THE 2026 ASTROS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
ALAN ASHBY (1979-89 as Player; 1998-2006 & 2013-16 as Broadcaster)
During his 11 seasons in an Astros uniform (1979-89), Alan Ashby was a mainstay behind the plate for the Houston Astros. The switch-hitting Ashby still currently ranks first or second in franchise history in several key categories for catchers, including games, home runs, RBI, hits and runs scored. Ashby was also solid defensively while guiding one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors during the 1980s.
After no postseason appearances in the first 18 years of the franchise (1962-79), the Astros made the playoffs three times (1980-81, 1986) in a seven-year span, with Ashby being a key figure in that time frame. One of his most memorable highlights came in the postseason of 1981 when he hit a walkoff home run vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It was the first postseason home run ever by an Astros player. Ashby also hit a game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 1986 National League Championship Series vs. Mets southpaw Sid Fernandez, making him the first player in NL history to hit game-winning home runs in the postseason from both sides of the plate.
Ashby also holds the distinction of being the first player in Astros history to homer from each side of the plate in the same game, which he did on Sept. 27, 1982 at San Diego.
Ashby also had some great moments in his career while behind the plate, including tying an NL record by catching three no-hitters. In 1981, Ashby caught Nolan Ryan’s record-setting, fifth career no-hitter, which is a record that still stands. In 1986, he was behind the plate for Mike Scott’s no-hitter vs. the Giants, which clinched the NL West title for the Astros.
Ashby was acquired by the Astros as part of a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 27, 1978. Prior to joining the Astros, he spent four seasons with Cleveland (1973-76) and two seasons with Toronto (1977-78).
Following his playing career, Ashby spent 13 seasons as an Astros broadcaster, calling games on both radio and television. From 1998-2006, he was the Astros color commentator on radio, working alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton. From 2013-16, he called Astros games on television, handling both color and play-by-play duties alongside Astros Hall of Famer Bill Brown and former player Geoff Blum. Ashby also spent five seasons broadcasting Toronto Blue Jays games on TV and radio (2007-12).
Ashby was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, and was named starting catcher on the Astros 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 2012.
PHIL GARNER (1981-87 as Player; 2004-07 as Manager)
Phil Garner, who was affectionately known as “Scrap Iron”, had a significant impact on the Astros franchise as both a player and manager.
As a player, Garner spent seven seasons in an Astros uniform (1981-87), appearing in 753 games, mostly at third base and second base. When he was acquired by the Astros from the Pirates during the 1981 season, he brought postseason experience and veteran leadership to the team. In 1979, Garner shined for the World Champion Pirates team, hitting a combined .472 in 10 postseason games to play a key role in Pittsburgh’s title run.
During his playing career in Houston, the Astros enjoyed success, appearing in the postseason twice (1981, 1986) while contending in other seasons. In 1986, the Astros won a club-record 96 games en route to the NL West Division crown.
As a manager for the Astros, Garner displayed a great ability to rally his team through adversity, which led to historic postseason runs. When he was named Astros manager at the All-Star Break in 2004, the Astros were just 44-44. However, the Astros would post a 48-26 record in their final 74 games to earn a Wild Card berth. The Astros would next earn the first postseason series victory in franchise history when they defeated the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. The Astros would end up one win shy of reaching the World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in what was a thrilling NLCS.
In 2005, the Astros struggled out of the gate, going just 15-30 in their first 45 games. However, Garner was able to rally his club once again, this time leading them to a 74-43 finish to earn another Wild Card Berth, marking the largest turnaround in NL history. In the postseason, the Astros defeated the Braves in the NLDS and the Cardinals in the NLCS to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
During his tenure as Astros manager (2004-07), Garner led the Astros to a 277-224 (.524) record in the regular season, while winning three postseason series and 13 postseason games overall.
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