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Yankees vs. White Sox prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for July 29

The Yankees (61-46) look to make it three straight over the White Sox (55-51) tonight at Rate Field following last night’s 3-2 win.

 

Last night was a tightly contested pitching duel that saw the Yankees build an early lead and then survive a late White Sox rally. New York scored all three of its runs in the second inning against White Sox starter Anthony Kay. The rally began when Jasson Domínguez singled and Trent Grisham followed with a hit. Anthony Volpe then drilled an RBI double to deep center field, scoring Domínguez. Two batters later, Max Schuemann delivered the biggest hit of the game, a two-run double that plated both Grisham and Volpe for a 3-0 Yankees lead. The story for most of the evening, though, was Gerrit Cole, who looked dominant in his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Cole worked six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking two. Chicago struggled to generate offense until the ninth inning. Yankees closer David Bednar entered looking for his 22nd save, but Braden Montgomery singled and Chase Meidroth followed with a dramatic two-run homer to left field, trimming the deficit to 3-2. Bednar regrouped, however, striking out former Yankee Everson Pereira to end the game and secure the save.

 

The Yankees have now won five of their last six games and are within 1½ games of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East, while the White Sox remain atop the AL Central despite dropping four of their last five.

 

It seemed like the Sox were facing the ace of the Yankees’ staff last night but tonight Chicago must face New York's current ace, Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2-07 ERA). His most recent start came on July 24 against the Phillies. He threw 7.1 shutout innings allowing just three hits while striking out 12. The White Sox will send Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49 ERA) to the bump. The right-hander has had a breakthrough season but has been inconsistent of late allowing 12 earned runs over his last 18 innings.

 

Lets dive further into tonight’s game 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: Yankees vs. White Sox

 

  • Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Prime Video, CSN, WCIU-TV

 

 

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

 

 

The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. White Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-144), Chicago White Sox (+119)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+119), White Sox +1.5 (-144)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

 

Probable Starting Pitchers – Yankees vs. White Sox for July 29

  • White Sox: Davis Martin
    Season Totals: 111.0 IP, 9-5, 3.49 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 100K, 33 BB
  • Yankees: Cam Schlittler
    Season Totals: 130.1 IP, 10-6, 2.07 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 157K, 25 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. White Sox

  • Trent Grisham picked up a hit last night to snap an 0-15 skid
  • Paul Goldschmidt saw his modest 4-game hitting streak snapped last night
  • Jasson Dominguez is 4-8 in this series and has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 games (10-36)
  • Colson Montgomery is 0-3 with 2 Ks in his career against Cam Schlittler
  • Sam Antonacci is 0-5 in this series
  • Munetaka Murakami has struck out 3 times in 9 trips to the plate this series

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: Yankees vs. White Sox

  • The White Sox are 62-43 on the Run Line this season
  • The Yankees are 51-55 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 59 times in Chicago’s 105 games this season (59-44-2)
  • The OVER has cashed 45 times in New York’s 106 games this season (45-57-4)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. White Sox

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 Yankees and the White Sox:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.5

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Clay Holmes' next outing TBD amid trade deadline uncertainty

It seems that Mets right-hander Clay Holmes is ready to return to the majors after missing more than two months due to a broken fibula, but his next step is up in the air.

Holmes, who tossed 59 pitches over 4.0 scoreless innings for Low-A St. Lucie on Tuesday night, will throw a bullpen session on Thursday. He would be lined up to pitch in his next game on Sunday, which is the day before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Will he?

"We'll continue to evaluate that as we get closer to the deadline," interim manager Andy Green said before the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Braves at Citi Field. "Obviously, anybody can count out and figure out what five days is from now, and it's Sunday before the deadline. So acknowledge that there's a decision to be made around that.

"We'll partner with him in making that decision. We'll have to wait until he gets past his bullpen, regardless, to make a declaration of what's next. So I think we've got a few days here to kind of let things play out."

Holmes holds a $12 million player option for next season that he is all but certain to decline, making him a near lock to be traded ahead of the deadline if he and the Mets don't agree to a contract extension.

SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes recently reported that there was mutual interest in an extension, but Holmes said last week that there hadn't been much progress toward one.

It is of course possible that the Mets trade Holmes and re-sign him after the season, which would allow them to have their cake and eat it too. 

With most MLB teams still in contention, there are only a handful of true sellers, which could be advantageous for a Mets team that is expected to trade Holmes, Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, and perhaps others -- including setup man Luke Weaver, who is under contract through 2027.

As far as Holmes, he is drawing significant interest, including from the Yankees and Phillies. 

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Latest reactions from LeBron James to Philadelphia: Draymond Green talks decision, LeBron met with Cavs

It's nearly a week later, other NBA business is going down, yet all anyone around the league — executives, players, fans — seems to talk about is LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers. Here are the latest reactions and fallout from the decision

Draymond Green talks LeBron’s reasoning

Not many people met with LeBron during his decision-making process, he kept the circle tight, but Draymond Green was one of the exceptions. On his Draymond Green Show podcast, he talked about what he believed was behind LeBron's decision.

"You look at Golden State, and I ultimately don't think Bron was ever able to get over the history, and I understand it, I get it. What we all ultimately always knew was like, that's the hurdle to get over. I don't think it's the team, the organization, anything else. I think it's the history. We live in a day and age where everybody who doesn't have anything to say has something to say. And so, he's gonna get crushed if he comes to the Warriors, 'Ahh man, you went to team up with Steph, you had to go to them.' I think ultimately that weighed in on the decision a lot. That played a big role in the Warriors not landing LeBron."

LeBron's haters were going to criticize any decision he made, and he understood that, which is why what others thought likely played no role in his choice. The history with the Warriors thing, that is real, something ESPN’s Anthony Slater talked about on NBA Today (that and the fact the Warriors, even with LeBron, would not be contenders).

"I had a source tell me they think LeBron would have been more interested in playing with Steph Curry elsewhere, away from the Warriors, than actually going to the Warriors, just because of the history. And they think that's part of the reason they were never ultimately considered."

Which is why the idea that if the Warriors had traded for Anthony Davis things would have been different doesn't fly. If the Warriors had been told by Rich Paul or LeBron that landing Davis guaranteed he was coming to the Bay Area the Warriors would have approached a Davis trade differently (and far more aggressively), but that was never the message given the Golden State front office.

In the wake of LeBron's decision, Green has re-signed with the Warriors, as expected.

LeBron talked to Cavaliers ownership

While the public story was that Rich Paul was the sole intermediary between LeBron and the front offices and ownership of the teams he was considering, that was not totally true. ESPN's Shams Charania had previously reported that LeBron met with Cavaliers ownership, and on his Game Over podcast, LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that.

The Cavaliers made their pitch and ultimately it was just not enough, but LeBron did meet with them.

How the 76ers found out

The Philadelphia 76ers didn't find out they had won the LeBron sweepstakes until just before the announcement went public — and they found out via a text from Rich Paul, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Paul's group text reached a contingent of 76ers stakeholders all at once, including team governor Josh Harris; co-owner David Blitzer; Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers; executive vice president of basketball operations Jameer Nelson; and two-time All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey.

"Congrats," the text read. "Sixers it is."

76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey found out in a separate text, he was back in his native Ohio with family at the time.

He walked upstairs to tell his wife, Amy, first. "I'm like, 'Babe, we just got LeBron,'" Gansey told ESPN. "She's like, 'What?!' I'll never forget that. And just seeing Rich's texts and being like, 'Oh my gosh, here we go.'"

Here we go indeed.

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Macklin Celebrini gets record-setting $94 million contract from Sharks

Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks.
Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks.

Sharks star Macklin Celebrini has signed a massive new contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

The new deal is a five-year, $94 million contract that has a record $18.8 million average annual value, surpassing the $18 million AAV Leo Carlsson got on his five-year, $90 million deal when the Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer sheet earlier this month.

Celebrini, 20, was eligible to sign an extension since he is entering the final year of his entry-level contract with the Sharks and it will kick in at the start of the 202-28 season. 

Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the Sharks. Getty Images

“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”

The 2024 No. 1 overall pick has developed into a star for San Jose, setting a franchise record during the 2025-26 season with 115 points and he recorded the second most goals in Sharks history with 45. 

Celebrini had also been a finalist for the Ted Lindsey Award for most outstanding player, which is voted on by the NHL Players Association. 

Leo Carlsson had set a record with an $18 million AAV when the Ducks matched the Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet. NHLI via Getty Images

“In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.

“As we continue our goal of building a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, we want to thank Macklin and his representatives for a respectful negotiation process, and acknowledge the flexibility they have provided to the team in how we allocate future dollars towards the team being constructed around Macklin.”

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BREAKING: Sharks Sign Macklin Celebrini to a 5-Year Contract Extension, Making Him the Highest Paid Player in the NHL

San Jose Sharks General Manager Mike Grier has now gotten his biggest piece of business done, as the team announced on Wednesday morning that they have signed Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in the league. 

Celebrini’s new contract carries an average annual value of $18.8 million, $800k more than the deal Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson signed earlier this summer. 

"In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Grier said in the press release for the move. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.”

Celebrini has already broken a number of records during his time with the Sharks and we’ve only seen him scratch the surface of his career. He also finished fourth in the NHL in points last season with 115, setting the Sharks franchise record for points in a season. 

“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in the press release. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.” 

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Blues' Justin Carbonneau To Attend 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase

The 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase, which will be held in a different location this year, will feature St. Louis Blues top prospect Justin Carbonneau.

The Rookie Showcase is now being hosted at the Blackhawks Ice Center in Chicago, Ill, kicked off on Tuesday, and will run through Thursday.

The event had been held in Washington for the last four years but has now moved to Chicago for the very first time.

The Rookie Showcase is largely a promotional event, where rookies don their clubs' jerseys as they pose for trading cards and other collectable merchandise. Many autographed items, specifically pucks, are gathered during this event. 

Additionally, the rookies will have their faces scanned for the EA Sports NHL video game.

Carbonneau, a 19-year-old right winger, is preparing for his first season of professional hockey. The 19th overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft scored 51 goals and 80 points in 60 games last season for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL.

St. Louis Blues 2025 First-Round Pick Justin Carbonneau Wants To Crash The NHL Party; Can He?St. Louis Blues 2025 First-Round Pick Justin Carbonneau Wants To Crash The NHL Party; Can He?Forward, who scored 128 goals past three seasons at junior level including 51 last season, is a longshot to make Blues out of camp but will do his darndest to try, disrupt what is already a crowded group up front

He did receive some AHL experience, skating in three playoff games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Carbonneau is likely to start the season in the AHL, but he does have his sights set on making the opening night roster. He'll be required to outperform several other Blues players, but with his power forward abilities, Carbonneau has the tools to do so. 

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2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Ian Happ is the Superhero vs. the Cardinals

Hi there!

As you know, Thomas Smith is away on vacation.

To keep this feature going, I’m going to post simply the WPA numbers and plays of the game, and a poll so you can vote on your choice for Player of the Game. Thomas will update the Rizzo Award standings when he returns.

Game 107, July 28: Cubs 10, Cardinals 2 (61-46)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Ian Happ (.176). 2-4, BB, 2 RBI
  • Hero: Colin Rea (.094). 6 IP, R, 2 K
  • Sidekick: Seiya Suzuki (.086). 3-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.019). 0-4, SF, RBI
  • Goat/Kid: James Triantos/Justin Dean (.000). Triantos 0-1, Dean 1-1.

PCA was the only Cub with negative WPA in this game.

WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ’s two-run double in the first inning (.153)

Cardinals Play of the Game: Masyn Winn’s single in the fourth that loaded the bases (.022).

Up next: Game 3 of this four-game set, with Matthew Boyd facing Dustin May. Boyd’s been really good over his last six starts since returning from his knee injury. The Cubs have a good chance of taking the series.

As Thomas would say: Keep stacking wins.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Gary Thomasson

Women Sportswriter Anna Bond of Channel 7 NY interview a very shy and modest New York Yankees player Gary Thomasson. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images Archives/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s birthday belongs to a little-known Yankee, Gary Thomasson. If the name does not ring a bell, it is likely because Thomasson only spent half a season in the Bronx. That season just happened to be 1978, when the Yankees were busy erasing a 14.5-game deficit, surviving the one-game playoff against Boston, and winning another World Series over the Dodgers. Compared to all that, the arrival of a solid role player barely made the headlines, but the man got to depart with a championship ring to his name.

Gary Leah Thomasson
Born: July 29, 1951 (San Diego, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 1978

Thomasson’s journey began on the West Coast, where he was born in sunny San Diego in 1951. While he was still a toddler, his family moved north to Oceanside, California, where he attended Oceanside High School. Following graduation, the San Francisco Giants selected Thomasson in the seventh round of the 1969 MLB Draft.

It only took a few years for the right-handed hitter to reach the major leagues. In 1972, the Giants promoted Thomasson, and he appeared in 10 games as a 21-year-old. His first taste of the majors resulted in nine hits in 27 at-bats. That brief audition, along with a strong spring training the following year, earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster for 1973.

During his first full season, Thomasson played all three outfield positions and first base for the Giants. It was a solid rookie campaign. In 112 games, he slashed .285/.345/.413 and earned a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

Over the next four seasons, Thomasson continued to move around the diamond, playing all three outfield spots and first base. None of those years were particularly flashy, but he consistently produced positive value. In 1977, Thomasson enjoyed the best season of his career, setting career highs with 17 home runs, a .809 OPS, and 2.8 WAR.

The Giants capitalized on that breakout by including Thomasson in a blockbuster trade across the bay to the Athletics before the 1978 season. The deal sent Gary Alexander, Dave Heaverlo, Phil Huffman, John Henry Johnson, Alan Wirth, Mario Guerrero, Thomasson, and $300,000 to Oakland in exchange for former MVP pitcher Vida Blue. Thomasson appeared in just 47 games for the A’s before being traded again.

On June 15, 1978, the Yankees acquired Thomasson from Oakland for Dell Alston, Mickey Klutts, and $50,000. It marked the first time in his professional career that he played for an organization outside of California. Fortunately, he did have one familiar face waiting in New York, as fellow Oceanside High School alumnus Chris Chambliss was already starring at first base for the Bombers.

Thomasson appeared in 54 games for the Yankees, once again playing all three outfield positions. In 130 plate appearances, the lefty batter slashed .276/.346/.405 with a 114 OPS+ and three home runs—all oddly within a three-day span in early July—while providing quality depth for a club furiously chasing down another championship after being left for dead in the first half.

The Yankees defeated the Royals in the ALCS before earning revenge against the Dodgers in the World Series to capture the franchise’s 22nd championship. Thomasson appeared in three World Series games, going 1-for-4 at the plate, and earned the only championship ring of his career. He was in left field when Goose Gossage recorded the final out, a popup to captain Thurman Munson.

View Link

During the offseason, the Yankees sent Thomasson back to California in a trade with the Dodgers for Brad Gulden. After two seasons in Los Angeles, the Dodgers sold his contract to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

To lure Thomasson overseas, the Yomiuri Giants signed him to what was said to be the richest contract in Nippon Professional Baseball history at the time, reportedly three years and $1.2 million. Unfortunately, the investment did not pay off. Thomasson struggled at the plate, nearly setting the single-season strikeout record before eventually losing his starting job.

Oddly enough, Thomasson’s struggles created a legacy that had nothing to do with baseball. Japanese artist Genpei Akasegawa coined the term “Hyperart Thomasson,” using the outfielder’s name to describe architectural objects that are maintained despite serving no practical purpose, such as a staircase leading to a brick wall. The phrase remains part of Japanese culture to this day.

Thomasson may not have left much of a mark on Yankees history, but he certainly left one on Japanese culture. Not many players can say that!

Happy 75th birthday, Gary!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Macklin Celebrini gets 5-year, $94M extension from the Sharks in the NHL's richest deal ever

San Jose Sharks v Chicago Blackhawks

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 15: Macklin Celebrini #71 of the San Jose Sharks looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on April 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension Wednesday that will make him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Celebrini had one year remaining on his three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract before signing the deal that keeps him locked up with the Sharks through the 2031-32 season.

The $18.8 million average annual value of the deal that Celebrini reached with general manager Mike Grier and owner Hasso Plattner is the richest in NHL history, topping the $18 million a year Leo Carlsson got when Anaheim matched a five-year offer sheet from Philadelphia.

“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”

Celebrini, who turned 20 in June, has established himself as one of the game’s top young stars since being picked first overall by San Jose in 2024.

Celebrini had 45 goals and 70 assists last season, with his 115 points breaking Joe Thornton’s franchise record of 114 set in 2006-07 and trailing Wayne Gretzky (137 in 1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (120 in 2006-07) for the most in a season for a player before turning 20.

He also was the leading goal scorer in the Olympics, with five goals to help Canada win the silver medal.

“In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the international stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Grier said. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.”

Despite Celebrini’s exploits, the Sharks still missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. They improved by 34 points for the 10th best single-season jump in the last 30 years but landed four points out of the playoffs.

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MLB Expert Picks & Baseball Predictions July 29

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We've got another busy day of baseball as we hit the dog days of summer just ahead of the trade deadline.

Our MLB expert picks are eyeing two high-scoring clashes, including the Battle of Ohio between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds and the nightcap in Hollywood with the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. We're also targeting a pair of moneylines in the early-evening slate.

Let's dive in with our full MLB picks for Wednesday, July 29.

  • UPDATE: Added Over 8.5 for tonight's Guardians vs. Reds game.

MLB expert picks for today

PickOdds
Josh Inglis Josh Inglis: SEA/LAD o9.5-104
Jon Metler Jon Metler: NYY ML-133
Joe Osborne Joe Osborne: TB ML-133
Jason Wilson Jason Wilson: CLE/CIN o8.5-117

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Mariners vs Dodgers Over 9.5

Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket

THE BAT makes this total one of the biggest edges on the board, projecting 11.88 runs with a fair price around -150.

The Seattle Mariners burned both their closer and primary setup man in last night's 7-6 win, a game that featured 23 hits and eight home runs at Dodger Stadium.

The Los Angeles Dodgers aren't in much better shape, with only a handful of trustworthy right-handed bullpen options (Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart, and Edgardo Henriquez) behind lefty starter Eric Lauer, who projects for around a 90-pitch leash.

The conditions also favor offense. It's expected to be around 80 degrees with the wind blowing out. Shohei Ohtani may finally be breaking out of his post-break slump, and Seattle is a perfect 5-0 to the Over on its current road trip.

I'll take the best +EV total on the board with Lauer on the mound and Seattle missing its top bullpen arms.

  • Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Mariners.TV/SportsNet LA

Jon Metler's expert pick: Yankees moneyline

Price: 57¢ (-133) at Polymarket

Cam Schlittler isn't just one of the favorites to win the American League Cy Young Award — he's the favorite.

The Chicago White Sox's projected lineup is expected to feature seven left-handed hitters, many of whom are young and will be seeing Schlittler for the first time. That's a matchup I want to target.

Schlittler excels at elevating his four-seam fastball on the inner half against lefties, consistently tying hitters up and preventing them from extending their hands. It's a major reason his four-seam fastball has a +15 run value.

Young left-handed hitters often struggle to handle that combination of velocity and location, undercutting the pitch and producing harmless fly balls instead of hard contact.

The Yankees are trading as a 57-cent favorite on Polymarket, but I make them closer to 61 cents. That edge is enough for me to hit the button.

  • Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Amazon Prime Video, CHSN

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rays moneyline

Price: 57¢ (-133) at Polymarket

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a great spot to take care of business at home, where they've racked up an MLB-best 38 wins this season.

Like a lot of us, Texas Rangers lefty MacKenzie Gore gets hammered when he travels, posting a 6.02 ERA on the road and surrendering five earned runs in each of his away starts this month. 

That's a concern against a Tampa Bay lineup that consistently does its best work at Tropicana Field.

Even if Gore keeps it close early, he's backed by a bullpen that ranks 27th in ERA in July.

On the other side, it's a bullpen day for the Rays, but that's not a bad thing! Tampa Bay's bullpen ranks among the league's best in both ERA and FIP this month, making a reliever carousel far less concerning than it sounds.

  • Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: RSN, Rays.TV

Jason Wilson's expert pick: Guardians vs Reds Over 8.5

Price: 54¢ (-117) at Polymarket

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Brady Singer has been one of baseball's worst starters. His 0.6 WAR at FanGraphs is tied for seventh-worst among starting pitchers with at least 100 innings under their belts this season. It's easy to see why.

Singer's 4.53 ERA is bad, but his expected ERA (5.02) suggests things should be even worse. He's averaging 91.3 mph on his fastball (eighth percentile), and it's getting hammered. Even a lineup as inconsistent as the Cleveland Guardians can make him pay, especially with Jose Ramirez healthy and Chase DeLauter slashing .310/.371/.517 with four home runs and six doubles since the start of July.

The Reds bullpen is also unreliable, owning a 4.53 ERA as a unit with the league's worst walk rate (12.8%) among relief corps. So if Singer limits the damage, which is a dubious scenario, the bullpen hasn't exactly held things together.

But Joey Cantillo will serve up his own share of problems for Cleveland, especially when the likes of Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz step in against him. They've combined for 14 home runs off left-handed pitchers, and Elly is slashing .326/.398/.663 in the split while Stewart is at .284/.387/.526.

Finally, Great American Ballpark is seeing some of the best hitting conditions on the slate, according to BallparkPal, making Singer and Cantillo's night even less positive. For them, anyway. It suits our purposes just fine.

  • Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
  • How to watch: Guardians.TV, Reds.TV

More MLB best bets for today

PickOdds
NYY ML-145
Read analysis in our Yankees vs. White Sox predictions
LAD -1.5+120
Read analysis in our Mariners vs. Dodgers predictions
ATL ML-121
Read analysis in our Braves vs. Mets Game 1 predictions

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64 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #64

There have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however. 

Trey Fix-Wolansky - 2019-25

Many people thought, despite being drafted so late in the draft and his diminutive size —5-foot-7, 180 pounds —he would turn out to be a really good winger in the NHL. So far, he’s yet to be able to show his talent at the NHL level.

Fix-Wolansky played three seasons in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings. In those three seasons, he played 206 games, scored 93 goals, and had 245 points. His production improved year after year, so many thought he could translate that into the pros.

He made his full-season pro debut during the 2019-20 season for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He would play in 43 games, score 12 goals, and end with 26 points. The following season, he suffered a leg injury that required surgery, limiting him to only nine games. But even in those limited games, he would have nine points.

In the 2021-22 season, Fix-Wolansky played in 53 games and had 33 points, but more importantly, on February 8th, 2022, he would make his NHL debut. Fix-Wolansky would score in his debut against the Washington Capitals, taking a pass and sneaking the puck by Phoenix Copley. He finished playing in six games for Columbus that season, netting two points. He had five shots in those six games and had an average time on ice of around six minutes. 

TFW's breakout season in the AHL would be the 2022-23 season. He would score 29 goals and total 71 points in 61 games. He set career highs in goals, assists, points, games played, and power-play goals. Fix-Wolansky played in nine games for the CBJ, scoring only one goal. He did average almost 13 minutes a game, however.

Fix-Wolansky had two very good seasons in 23-24 and 24-25. In each season, he finished with 26 goals and 60 points. Despite having an unreal career for Cleveland over the last seven years, Fix-Wolansky never got an extended chance to prove he could be an everyday NHL player and was not tendered a contract in 2025. He went on to sign a deal with the New York Rangers. He would never play for the Rangers, but played 72 games for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 31 goals and totaling 55 points.

He is signed with the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks for next season. 

TFW is generally considered the greatest player in Monsters' history. He leads the Monsters franchise with 112 goals, 147 assists, and 259 points. His goals, assists, and points records are fairly safe, but Owen Sillinger and Luca Del Bel Belluz are within 120 points of him. 

Tyler Motte - 2017

Tyler Motte was the first player to wear #64 for the Blue Jackets, although it wasn't for very long. 

Motte was traded to Columbus by Chicago with Artemi Panarin and the NY Islanders' 6th-round pick (previously acquired; Columbus selected Jonathan Davidsson) in the 2017 NHL Draft for Brandon Saad, Anton Forsberg, and Columbus' 5th-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, June 23, 2017.

Motte would go on to play in 31 games for the Blue Jackets, scoring 3 goals and 5 points, while averaging 9:56 per game of ice time. 

Later that season, Motte was traded to Vancouver by Columbus with Jussi Jokinen for Thomas Vanek on February 26, 2018.

The St. Clair, Michigan native went on to play four more seasons in Vancouver. After playing with the Detroit Red Wings in 24-25, He played in the AHL for Charlotte in 25-26. Motte currently sits without a contract after playing nine NHL seasons. 

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Josh Hart fires back at Draymond Green after $100 million dig at Knicks, Jalen Brunson

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Josh Hart speaking at Fanatics Fest, Image 2 shows Draymond Green gives his take on Jalen Brunson's financial sacrifice in 2024 for the Knicks, Image 3 shows Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks pose for a photo after they throw out the first pitch of the game before the start of the first inning against the against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Josh Hart is encouraging Draymond Green to worry about his own financial spreadsheet.

In a recent episode of the “Club 520 Podcast” the Warriors forward commented on what he believed was a poor decision by Jalen Brunson for taking less to sign an extension with the Knicks in 2024, saying the team “can afford it” — and also referenced Hart’s bottom line.

“It’s the New York Knicks, bro. They can afford it. You ain’t gotta take no discount,” Green said.

“My situation is different because Steph (Curry) making 270 (million), Klay (Thompson) making 180. Alright, something gotta give,” Green said. “Cool, I could take less. But he the top guy! By the way, let Josh Hart or somebody else take less. They in my role, let one of them take less, but guess what? Steph Curry ain’t taking a penny less and neither did Klay Thompson. If this gonna work, somebody do. Well guess what I ain’t really expecting them to take less. I don’t know what he doing, but I’m happy for him.”

The questioning of Brunson’s sacrifice and mentioning that Hart should have been the one to take less didn’t sit right with the Knicks’ wing.

“We got to normalize grown men not counting other peoples pockets,” he wrote on X in a quote tweet of a video of Green’s comments.

Josh Hart at Fanatics Fest BACKGRID

Brunson’s pay cut — in which he did not sign a max extension but can recoup most of the money he left on the table in a future extension — allowed the Knicks to build up a competitive group and depth around him, which eventually led to the’s franchise first title since 1973 this past season.

Yet, Green, who recently signed a $27.7 million deal with the Warriors, argued that could have happened regardless.

He pointed to Warriors star Curry and ex-Golden State sharpshooter Thompson playing under max contracts while still winning four NBA titles between 2015-22.

Draymond Green gives his take on Jalen Brunson’s financial sacrifice in 2024 for the Knicks. X @cptdankkk

From a financial perspective, Brunson’s decision was surprising at the time.

If Brunson had waited until the following summer for free agency, he could have signed a five-year deal worth about $270 million.

Yet, he agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension.

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the New York Knicks pose for a photo after they throw out the first pitch of the game before the start of the first inning against the against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The money left on the table enabled the Knicks to make deals for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges that fit within the salary cap, and those two helped the Knicks beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals.

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Giants put Casey Schmitt on 10-day injured list with torn meniscus in left knee

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt was placed on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Schmitt, the Giants’ breakout star this season, was injured while trying to stop after taking a sharp turn around first base during a 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Initial tests were inconclusive, but Schmitt underwent an MRI that revealed the extent of the injury. No timetable has been set for his return.

“Hasn’t been dictated yet,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “He’s back there doing what he can. Still in the early stages of knowing exactly what will happen, but obviously he’s going to miss a good chunk of time.”

The 27-year-old Schmitt has been one of San Francisco’s best players this season while filling several positions in the infield and outfield. He is batting .271 with a .784 OPS and has already set career highs for homers (21), RBIs (55), runs (47) and hits (105).

In a corresponding move, infielder Osleivis Basabe was called up from Triple-A Sacramento.

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AJ Smith-Shawver is the Braves’ 27th man in Mets doubleheader

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 09: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves prior to the Friday evening MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves on May 9, 2025 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s a nice enough day for baseball, even in New York City. So why not have a doubleheader, no?

The Braves returned RHP AJ Smith-Shawver from his rehabilitation assignment, reinstated him from the injured list, and appointed him as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader. AJ makes his first start since May 29th in Philadelphia. The Big Arm Smith-Shawver has had five rehab starts over 17 2/3 innings already. It’s not clear how many innings or pitches that he can provide today, or if Grant Holmes will throw multiple innings afterward. I know that it is expected to be mostly cloudy and 77 degrees at first pitch. So it appears that this game will be completed.

Making AJ the 27th man suggests that he will be optioned to Gwinnett after this game. His innings will be limited this season, but no one knows exactly what that means. It probably depends on his progress post-surgery. Let’s see AJ and the Braves get through today and then we can worry about it afterward.

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Diamondbacks News

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Brandon Pfaadt (32) of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 28, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Diamondbacks Avoid Crushing Defeat with 12th Inning Win
Brandon Pfaadt gutted out seven innings of shutout ball and left the game with a 6-0 lead. If one blinked at that point, they would never have known it as the game was suddenly 7-7 going into extra innings.

Diamondbacks Escape with Win and More Paul Sewald Concerns
At least he is stumbling before the trade deadline, giving the front office time to evaluate their options for a potential replacement.

Is Paul Sewald on Closer Hot Seat?
After last night’s outing and combined with other issues creeping in since the break, the answer is a firm yes. Although, there’s a strong argument to be made he has been on that hot seat since he arrived in the desert.

Diamondbacks Fans React to Paul Sewald Meltdown
Paul Sewald has already greatly exceeded expectations this season. Nonetheless, as a closer, his recent run of form is anything but acceptable and the cosmos is making sure everyone knows about it.

Red Sox Rebuked Arizona’s Enquiries
The deal the Red Sox made with the Nationals is exactly the sort Mike Hazen was looking to make with the Red Sox. The problem for Arizona is that they didn’t have the trade chips necessary to even start the conversation. Sadly, this could become a common theme at the upcoming deadline.

Other Baseball News

Top 50 Deadline Trade Candidates
Doubling down on the notion that the Diamondbacks will have difficulty finding suitable trade partners, they have no player listed in the top-50 or in the other players to watch, which has representatives from 23 other clubs.

12 Teams Desperate to Make a Deadline Move
If enough of these moves happen, Arizona might find the market more friendly for them as well.

Shane Bieber Walks Six in Two-Thirds of an Inning
As the trade deadline looms near, Shane Bieber just dropped the worst outing of his career.