USA- 2000: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs pose for a 2000 photo. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2000 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s August, free agency is all but done, the schedule has been released, and therefore we are in the official doldrums of the NBA offseason. At Pounding the Rock, we often like to find fun projects or series to do to pass the time. We’ve especially enjoyed bracket-style tournaments over the years that have included Manu Ginobili’s best plays, the Spurs’ best playoff plays, and last year, we held a 1-on-1 tournament pitting the top 32 Spurs of all time against each other. (That would be an interesting revisit in a few years when I’m sure some current players will have entered or risen up the rankings a bit.)
This summer, the Spurs returned to the upper echelon of the NBA with a Finals run that officially returned them to that NBA villain role we all enjoyed back in their championship days. With that in mind, we decided a fun project would be to return the favor by pitting people who have been villains to the Spurs over the years up against each other in a bracket-style tournament. Readers will vote for the biggest villain in a poll, and the winner of each match-up will advance to the next round, with the eventual winner crowned as the biggest Spurs villain of all time.
There will be four categories that will consist of eight entries each for a total of 32:
Spurs Killers — players who have specifically given the Spurs the most trouble over the years and/or made devasting shots or plays that will haunt our minds for all eternity.
Former Spurs — players who once played for the Spurs but became villains either because of betrayal, trash talk, they hate on the Spurs, etc.
Dirty Players — players who committed dirty plays against the Spurs, injured (or attempted to injure) a player, altered a playoff match-up, etc., and we will never forgive them.
Spurs Haters — a more open category that can include players as well as coaches, owners, etc. from outside the organization who openly and publicly trashed the Spurs for whatever reason.
We have our own ideas but would also like your input before setting up the bracket. Give us some of your thoughts for each category and include why you have that person. Some may be extremely obvious, but there also may be ones that you specifically remember that many others may not, so include them all. Put your ideas in the comments below, and the most liked or frequently suggested may get used in the final bracket! Hopefully this will be another fun series while we wait for Training Camp to get here at the end of September.
In one of the 2025 offseason’s biggest surprises, the Anaheim Ducks parted ways with then-head coach Greg Cronin after just two seasons on the job and improving by 21 points in the NHL standings between years one and two.
Less than one month later, the Ducks hired the second-winningest head coach in NHL history, Joel Quenneville, with a mandate to qualify for the 2026 playoffs. With Quenneville inserted behind the bench, the Ducks achieved their goal, improving from 80 points in 2024-25 to 92 in 2025-26 and finishing third in the Pacific Division.
Anaheim won their opening round of the playoffs against the defending Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers in six games but were defeated in the second round by the eventual Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights, again in six games.
After finishing among the final eight teams in the NHL playoffs, the Ducks are expected to build off their performance and continue their evolution into sustainable Cup contenders. With several of their young players having solidified themselves as NHL stars and foundational pieces, coupled with veteran experience on the roster, the Ducks’ contending window could be considered presently open.
The Ducks were unable to make many significant moves to improve the roster in the 2026 offseason due to sudden, unexpected salary cap constraints and parting with several key roster pieces such as Mason McTavish, Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger.
Quenneville (67) will have his work cut out for him in the upcoming 2026-27 season to build on his club’s efforts from a year ago and return to the playoffs while continuing to develop the Ducks’ core and secondary young pieces.
An interesting wrinkle to Quenneville’s short tenure thus far in Anaheim is the fact that he’s now on an expiring contract, per reporting from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
To Anaheim, Quenneville brought with him a resume that included 1768 games as an NHL head coach, 969 wins, three Stanley Cup rings, and (to some) a stained reputation due to his role in the scandal surrounding the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.
He’ll be 68 years old when the 2026-27 season starts. The upcoming season will be his 27th as an NHL head coach, he’s now the second head coach in history to eclipse the 1000-win mark, and his reputation seems to have rebounded as much as it possibly could have. The questions now become: how much longer does he want to coach? And what more does he have to prove?
Quenneville brought the Ducks back to the playoffs on the backs of a young core that includes Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Jackson LaCombe, and Lukas Dostal, and in theory, they’ll only continue to grow and improve. However, expectations of truly competing for a Stanley Cup seem multiple years down the road, beyond the length of Quenneville’s current contract, at least.
It’s clear Quenneville’s passion for the sport and coaching remains. To the Ducks locker room and bench, he’s brought an even-keeled demeanor throughout the highs and lows of an 82 (soon to be 84) game schedule, but he also outwardly displays fiery emotions behind the bench, “going to bat” for his players and pressing proper buttons when needed.
For the most part, he’s done well to nurture and guide his most talented young roster players, coaching them through and eventually erasing predictable mistakes while allowing them to grow and flourish on their own without fear of elongated time on the bench or healthy scratches. That area of his coaching prowess will continue to be ever-important in the upcoming season, where the Ducks will rely on an even greater influx of youth on the roster in prominent roles.
Quenneville has a lot left to give the Ducks organization and roster as their head coach, and with another successful season, it can be expected that a contract extension would be on the horizon. However, at the start of the 2026-27 season, he’ll be the second-oldest in the NHL, three years younger than Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he’d be 69 years old at the start of his potential new contract. The Anaheim job seems to be his as long as he wants it, especially if he repeats or improves on the successes of a year ago.
The Ducks are in a position of luxury, as despite the ever-circulating NHL head coaching carousel, they maintained the services of their offense/power play assistant coach and one of the most sought-after candidates for the past two summers: Jay Woodcroft.
In less than three seasons as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, Woodcroft was let go after posting a 79-41-13 record and three NHL playoff series wins. With two seasons in the Ducks organization and a deep familiarity with the roster, Woodcroft seems the heir apparent if Quenneville were to call it a career or exit for greener pastures following the upcoming season.
The Hockey News ranked Quenneville as the NHL’s fifth-best current head coach, and the work he’s done to overhaul the systems, on-ice philosophy, and off-ice philosophy in Anaheim cannot be understated. His current contract is yet another layer to yet another all-important transition season for the Anaheim Ducks franchise in 2026-27.
The Colorado Rockies have had a miserable time against teams over .500, posting an abysmal 23-50 record.
The Los Angeles Dodgers predictably flexed their muscles in the series opener, and my Dodgers vs. Rockies predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 18 are banking on more of the same tonight.
Who will win Dodgers vs Rockies today: Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
He is one of the worst pitchers in baseball, ranking in the fourth percentile in Pitcher Run Value. Feltner is in dreadful form, posting a 6.05 xFIP and 1.7 K-BB% over the last month.
He neither misses bats nor limits power, which will make it difficult to get outs against a patient Dodgers lineup.
Eric Lauer has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all but one start with L.A., and that’s all he’ll need to do.
Play to -135.
COVERS INTEL: The Dodgers lead the majors in OPS, and should have a field day against Feltner and his eighth percentile barrel rate.
Dodgers vs Rockies Over/Under pick: Over 11.5 (-115)
The Dodgers haven’t been themselves of late, but they still rank in the 99th percentile with a .426 xSLG against righties.
They’re set up to score in abundance against Feltner, who owns a seventh percentile ranking in xSLG and will have nowhere to hide at Coors.
Favorable hitting weather is expected, with a projected 25% boost to home runs. Feltner owns a 6.69 ERA over eight starts when there’s been a boost of 20% or more.
Lauer has struggled with the long ball (2.01 HR/9), and the Colorado Rockies rank third in home OPS.
Play to -122.
Dodgers vs Rockies home run prediction: Kyle Tucker (+475)
He's been much more productive on the road, and there’s no better environment to hit than Coors Field.
Tucker has left the park in 19% of his away games vs. starting pitchers who rank in the 30th percentile or worse vs. lefties, and Feltner sits in the 16th percentile.
Tucker has hit for the most power against the fastball, Feltner’s most-used pitch, and Tucker hit a 362-foot flyout just yesterday.
I’d play Tucker down to +450.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 82-74, -8.85 units
Over/Under bets: 83-67-6, +5.98 units
Dodgers vs Rockies weather
The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid 80s, which should help the ball carry even further for hitters. Boost to the offenses.
Dodgers vs Rockies odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -190 | Rockies +160
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-125) | Rockies +1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 11.5 (-115) | Under 11.5 (-105)
Dodgers vs Rockies trend
Colorado has hit the Over in 14 of its last 23 (+3.80 units, 15% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Rockies.
How to watch Dodgers vs Rockies and game info
Location
Coors Field, Denver, CO
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
First pitch
8:40 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, Rockies.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Eric Lauer (7-6, 4.67 ERA)
Rockies starting pitcher
Ryan Feltner (5-6, 5.59 ERA)
Dodgers vs Rockies 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.
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 02: Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey (16) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run during the third inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians on August 2, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Giants and Guardians made an early season trade – now they play a late-season series with the trade pieces likely playing a prominent role for each of these disappointing teams.
The Giants are 51-73 with a -67 run differential, 20th in team wRC+ with 97, 26th in baserunning runs above average at -4.9, 18th in Defense at -20.9, 19th in starting pitcher ERA 4.37 (4.09 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA 4.38 (4.32 FIP).
The Guardians are 60-65 with a -32 run differential, 24th in team wRC+ with 94, ninth in baserunning runs above average at 5.2, eighth in Defense at -4.8, 10th in starting pitcher ERA at 3.77 (3.99 FIP), and 12th in bullpen ERA 3.97 (3.90 FIP).
The Giants are pretty bad at just about everything. If ever there is a time for the season to turn around, it should be now.
Matchups: Tuesday, 6:40PM ET: Whisenhunt, LHP 6.11 ERA (5.40 FIP) vs. Griffin, LHP 3.25 ERA (4.23 FIP) Wednesday, 6:40PM ET: TBD (Houser, RHP 4.28/4.67 FIP or Tugboat Wilkinson, LHP) vs. Messick, LHP 2.59 ERA (3.23 FIP) Thursday, 1:10PM ET: Roupp, RHP 4.31 ERA (3.62 FIP) vs. Williams, RHP 3.74 ERA (3.59 FIP)
The Giants are led by Bryce Eldridge 117 wRC+, Rafael Devers 117 wRC+, Casey Schmitt 114 wRC+, Jung Hoo Lee 111 wRC+, and Victor Beritoco 109 wRC+.
The Guardians are led by Nathaniel Lowe 128 wRC+, Chase DeLauter 127 wRC+ (please, be back), Angel Genao 126 wRC+, Austin Hedges 105 wRC+, Steven Kwan 104 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 103 wRC+ and Travis Bazzana 102 wRC+.
The Dodgers (75-51) delivered a 11-5 win over the Rockies (50-75) at Coors Field on Monday night. Los Angeles extended their record to 8-3 against Colorado this season and 6-1 over the past seven.
Colorado is coming off series wins over San Francisco and Arizona. The offense was still hot enough to put up five runs against Los Angeles, but on the month, the Rockies are hitting .262 (5th) and 18 home runs (13th). The pitching woes have continued though. Colorado is 29th in ERA (5.62) this month and OBA (.283).
Los Angeles is 2-3 over the last five games and 6-10 in August. The Dodgers got a valiant effort from Shoehi Ohtani last night as he battles Pete Crow-Armstrong for the NL MVP. Ohtani went 4-5 hitting for two home runs, four runs scored, and three RBI. Ohtani is now hitting .317 in August with five home runs, 11 runs, and 11 RBI.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Rockies
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Time: 8:40 PM EST
Site: Coors Field
City: Denver, CO
Network/Streaming: MLB 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.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Rockies
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-186), Colorado Rockies (+173)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (+105), Dodgers -1.5 (-126)
Total: 11.5
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Rockies
Monday’s pitching matchup (August 17): Eric Lauer vs Ryan Feltner
Shohei Ohtani is batting .317 in August (20/63) with five home runs and 11 RBI
Mookie Betts is hitting .250 in August (14/56)
Kyle Tucker is hitting .184 in August (9/49)
TJ Rumfield is hitting .280 in August (14/50)
Willi Castro is hitting .278 in August (15/54)
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 to know ahead of Dodgers at Rockies
Los Angeles is 52-74 ATS, ranking third-worst
Colorado is 66-59 ATS, ranking 10th-best
Los Angeles is 66-59-1 to the Under
Colorado is 61-61-3 to the Under
Los Angeles is 30-33 ATS on the road, ranking seventh-worst
Colorado is 30-30 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Rockies
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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 Tuesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Rockies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 11.5
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To the City of Brotherly Love we go! I have you covered with my Marlins vs. Phillies predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 18.
After the Phillies escaped with a 6-5 win on Monday, I believe Miami is in a great spot to bounce back this evening at Citizens Bank Park.
Who will win Marlins vs Phillies today: Marlins (+197)
The Fightin' Fish look pretty delectable this evening after coming off a 6-5 loss last night. They now draw veteran right-hander Zack Wheeler, who has looked off in his last three outings. Wheeler owns a 5.84 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and a 10.34% walk rate during that stretch. With the Miami Marlins' lineup starting to heat up again, this could be an interesting matchup.
The Marlins own a 119 wRC+, .339 wOBA, and .759 OPS in their last six games. The Philadelphia Phillies' offense has been great, but they don't boast as many hitters barreling the ball like the Marlins, which is why the latter is an intriguing pick at a near 2/1 price.
Tyler Phillips seems likely to follow opener Cade Gibson for Miami. He's been struggling, but paying more than two dollars for a team to secure a win on a random Tuesday in August doesn't move any needles.
COVERS INTEL:Owen Caissie sports a .274 ISO, 50% hard-hit rate, and a 19.4% barrel rate over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
Marlins vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+105)
With over half of the Marlins' lineup batting from the left side this evening, runs could be on the horizon. Wheeler has scuffling against left-handed hitters in his last three outings, posting a 6.75 ERA, 5.78 xERA, 6.05 xFIP, and 15.2% walk rate. Phillips has also been lagging on the road, where he owns a near 6.00 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.
Both offenses are hitting extremely well right now, so I expect plenty of runs. After 11 runs were scored last night, we should see a similar offensive explosion this evening.
Marlins vs Phillies home run prediction: Griffin Conine (+474)
It's very hard to ignore a batter who's been producing this much hard contact over his last 10 games, and Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine has been destroying baseballs. He owns a .690 slugging percentage, .345 ISO, 15.8% ground-ball rate, 58% hard-hit rate, and 21.1% barrel rate during that stretch.
Wheeler has taken a step back against left-handed hitters. The last 60 he's faced are making 44% hard contact, and barreling the ball 11% of the time with just a 22% ground-ball rate. Wheeler is also allowing a 2.08 HR/9 during that span.
Conine enters today with the highest matchup rating in this game, according to Batters-Box, where he covers 60% of Wheeler's offerings.
At +474, we're getting a great price for a hitter absolutely killing the baseball. Play this down to +450.
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
MLB Season: 410-789, -4.4 units
Home Run: 104-360, +17.2 units
Marlins vs Phillies weather
The weather in Philadelphia should be sitting in the mid-80s, with the wind barely blowing in at just 4 mph. It should be a beautiful day at the ballpark.
Marlins vs Phillies odds
Moneyline: Marlins +197 | Phillies -219
Run line: Marlins +1.5 (-112) | Phillies -1.5 (-103)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+105) | Under 8.5 (-116)
Marlins vs Phillies trend
The Miami Marlins have covered the run line in seven of their last nine games (+7.50 Units / 69% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Marlins vs. Phillies.
How to watch Marlins vs Phillies and game info
Location
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Marlins.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Marlins starting pitcher
Tyle Phillips (3-6, 3.65 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (10-4, 2.89 ERA)
Marlins vs Phillies latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 06: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after the final out of the top of the 13th inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, August 6, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Patrick Sandoval has been playing with fire baserunners all season since returning from Tommy John surgery this year, and it finally blew up on the Red Sox over the weekend. Now we’re hearing that an injury may be playing a role in his performance, even if it’s a small one. Sandoval apparently has been battling a blister on his left foot (the foot he uses to push off the rubber) for most of the year. (Jon Conahan, NESN)
If Sandoval does go on the IL — or if he’s just bumped from the rotation for underperformance — the Sox do have another experienced starter on the roster who could take his rotation spot in Brayan Bello. The problem is that Bello, for whatever reason, is thriving in his long relief role after struggling in the first inning all season long. “Does this mean Brayan can’t start anymore? That’s not the case,” Chad Tracy said. “It’s difficult to ignore how very, very effective he has been coming out of the bullpen in a bulk relief role and taking down innings. So I don’t think that we’ve closed the book on that by any means. It just feels like that’s the way to do it right now.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Bello is pitching so well in his long relief role that it’s hard not to think about what the narrative of his season would be if he was able to perform this way as a conventional starter. He has an ERA of 0.85 in over 50 relief innings, and if he were performing anywhere close to that while starting games, we’d be talking about him having a career year and thrusting himself into the Cy Young conversation. As it stands, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees seems to have that award locked up, though Sonny Gray is currently projected to finish fifth. (Jason Foster, MLB.com)
Sonny Gray is rightly heralded as one of the best offseason acquisitions any big league team has made this year. But, so far, the Red Sox trade deadline acquisitions aren’t faring nearly as well. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
Bello isn’t the only Red Sox veteran who went missing from this team for most of the middle of the season, of course. Trevor Story has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery, after struggling through the first weeks of the season. But he now hopes to return as early as Friday. It’s fair to ask whether he still should get the nod at shortstop given his poor performance before hitting the IL, but Chad Tracy says the goal is for him to be the everyday shortstop again. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
If he does make it back to the big leagues this week, Story won’t be the first one to make the trip East from Worcester. Reliever Wyatt Olds made the drive yesterday, after being called up to make his MLB debut in place of Raymond Burgos. But before he headed to Boston, he got pranked by the Woo Sox coaching staff. (Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald)
We may be in the dog days of summer, but there is a full slate of baseball waiting for us, so it can't be all bad!
Today's MLB expert picks offer a trio of moneyline predictions, including the underdog Miami Marlins as an upset special over Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies.
It's part of our full set of MLB picks on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Blue Jays moneyline
Price: 45¢ (+122) at Polymarket
The Toronto Blue Jays finally had a day off yesterday after a stretch of 17 straight games. Over that stretch, Toronto posted the best team ERA in baseball and went 11-6 straight up against some of MLB's best teams.
THE BAT has the Jays as a 56-cent favorite, but they’re trading at just 45 cents, making this the best +EV play on the board today, according to the projection.
The Jays also have a rested bullpen, while the Tampa Bay Rays could be down two arms, including closer Bryan Baker, who threw 21 pitches yesterday and has pitched in two of the last three days. Their best lefty, Cam Booser, is also unavailable.
Even with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the shelf, Toronto can still win this game on pitching alone.
Nick Martinez is coming off a 101-pitch complete game, his season high, which could affect his efficiency today. Jose Soriano has also looked good since coming over from the Halos.
Wheeler will make it difficult to string together big innings, so Miami needs to find creative ways to manufacture runs. That means working counts, driving up Wheeler's pitch count, forcing an early move to the bullpen, creating pressure on the basepaths, and using contact plays and hit-and-runs.
The good news is that none of this is outside Miami's offensive identity.
The Marlins don't need to rely on big swings or home runs to score. They can manufacture runs in a variety of ways, which is exactly the approach you want against a pitcher like Wheeler.
The Marlins are trading at 33 cents on Polymarket, but I price them closer to 37 cents, which gives us enough of an edge to hit the button.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
How to watch: Marlins.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Dustin Saracini's expert pick: Padres vs. Mets Under 8.5
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket
We're running with a large sample size of success with Robbie Ray and the hot hand in Zac Thornton tonight.
This New York Mets lineup has 82 at-bats against Ray and owns just a .204 xBA while striking out 30% of the time.
What sold me here is their astronomical 37% whiff rate against the San Diego Padres' prized deadline acquisition — look for him to end New York's four-game winning streak, too.
Thornton has been dealing lately, allowing just three earned runs across his last 11 innings. While the Mets' No. 8 prospect pitches to contact, he's allowed a low 4.5% hard-contact rate this season, which will be enough to suppress the Padres' bats.
With two well-rested bullpens, I'm expecting this game to cruise Under the total.
I'd play this to 55 cents at Polymarket.
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: Padres.TV, SNY
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Brewers moneyline
Price: 60¢ (-150) at Polymarket
The Milwaukee Brewers have a major pitching edge tonight as they return home following a seven-game road trip.
Kyle Harrison has been lights out in Milwaukee, posting a 1.38 ERA across 10 home starts. He’s backed by a bullpen in good form, ranking third in ERA over the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, Bryce Miller has allowed nine earned runs across two August starts and hasn’t been the same pitcher on the road, where his ERA is more than double his mark at home.
The Seattle Mariners’ bullpen has also been a disgrace lately, posting an MLB-worst 7.17 ERA over the past two weeks. Milwaukee is one of MLB's top home teams, going 12-4 at American Family Field since the All-Star break.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Chicago Cubs (-170) are coming off a thrilling extra-innings victory, and they're in a good spot to grab another win tonight against the Chicago White Sox.
They have Kevin Gausman on the mound going up against a steady stream of relievers, making the home team an attractive buy with my White Sox vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Who will win White Sox vs Cubs today: Chicago Cubs (-170)
Kevin Gausman has pitched better than the results indicate over the past month.
He’s held opponents to a 31.1% hard-hit rate — third-lowest among today’s projected starters — and has a 0.68 HR/9, but hasn’t kept runs off the board in part due to an unsustainably high .364 BABIP and a low 61.8% strand rate.
He’s in a good spot to rebound against the Chicago White Sox. They’ve hit .233 against righties in August while striking out 27.4% of the time.
The Chicago Cubs should give him plenty of support against a bullpen sitting 22nd with a 4.70 xFIP this month.
Play to -180.
COVERS INTEL: The Cubs rank second in homers and third in HR/FB at home over the last month.
White Sox vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-126)
The White Sox have gotten five innings out of their starter just once over the past five games, putting a lot of strain on their relievers.
That’s far from ideal heading into a designated bullpen game where nine innings are needed from a group in poor form.
The Cubs rank third in wOBA and first in ISO in August, and are certainly capable of making life difficult on this bullpen.
While the White Sox haven’t hit for average, they do have power that should play well at Wrigley with winds blowing out.
Take to -135.
White Sox vs Cubs home run prediction: Munetaka Murakami (+245)
There are no secrets when facing Gausman. You’re going to see a ton of fastballs, and you’re going to see a ton of splitters.
Munetaka Murakami hasn’t faced many splitters this season, but he has absolutely destroyed the fastball against right-handed pitching.
He owns a ridiculous 27.5% barrel rate, 62.5% hard-hit rate, and .436 ISO. He is likely to sit on the fastball, and it only takes one good swing to do damage – especially with the predicted 15% home run boost with help from the wind at Wrigley.
Back to +230.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 82-74, -8.85 units
Over/Under bets: 83-67-6, +5.98 units
White Sox vs Cubs weather
The forecast calls for mid-70s temperatures with up to 10 mph winds blowing out. While there could be some rain, the bats will see a boost.
White Sox vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: White Sox +145 | Cubs -170
Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-135) | Cubs -1.5 (+115)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-105) | Under 9.5 (-115)
White Sox vs Cubs trend
The Cubs have won 33 of their last 50 games (+11.65 units, 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Cubs.
How to watch White Sox vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, Ill.
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
White Sox starting pitcher
Bryan Hudson (3-4, 3.14 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (6-11, 4.53 ERA)
White Sox vs Cubs latest injuries
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 1: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics walks off the mound in the top of the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park on August 1, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans!
The club can’t seem to get things right, even against a fellow bottom dweller like the Kansas City Royals. At 49-76 the team is tied with the Angels for the worst record in the sport. We need a win tonight or else we could be all alone at the bottom by the end of the day.
The A’s will be hoping that right-hander Jack Perkins can play stopper and help get the A’s their 50th win. That could be a tall task however, considering the massive struggles Perk has seen this year.
It’s easy to forget but the 26-year-old was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the system just last year. A former 5th round pick, the right-hander looked solid in a 12-game, four-start cup of coffee for his big league debut last year. There weren’t huge expectations for him this season, but there was an expectation he’d be able to hold himself.
That hasn’t really been the case. There have definitely been flashes of brilliance that make us see what he could become but consistency has eluded him in his brief time as a major leaguer. Perhaps some of that has to do with the fact that he began the year in the bullpen before being promoted to the starting rotation. Some pitchers make that transition look easy but those guys are the exception and not the rule. It’s much more common to see guys such as Perkins go through some struggles during their first extended look in the big leagues.
Struggles are putting it mildly for Perkins though. In the 11 starts since being slotted into the starting five the righty has an abysmal 8.17 ERA. Things aren’t exactly trending in the right direction either: he’s gotten shelled in his three August starts, allowing at least five runs in each appearance. That’s a streak that needs to stop tonight.
Many of Perkins’ underlying numbers don’t look as bad as that ERA does, but they’re still not great numbers overall. A lot of this can be chalked up to rookie growing pains. Some can be attributed to the mid-season role switch. Some blame on the ballpark. Some blame on the defense. There’s plenty of blame to go around for his tough season, but most of it has to be on the pitcher himself.
That’s not to say we should consider him a failed pitcher already. The thing we have to begin thinking about now though is what kind of role will he thrive best in? Is that going to be in the rotation, where he’s been among the worst in the sport this year? Or as a longman out of the bullpen who goes in short two, three inning bursts? The club will almost certainly add some starting pitching depth this offseason and push him down the depth chart, but the team would do well to pick a role for Perkins moving forward and sticking with it. What role should Perkins have on the next playoff contending A’s squad?
We don’t know who will be opposing Perkins tonight in Kansas City to stay tuned. First pitch is at 4:40. See you all then, and have a great Tuesday!
A’s injury updates: – Tyler Soderstrom will consult with hip specialists to determine best course of action. – Denzel Clarke begins a rehab assignment in Las Vegas tomorrow. – Springs will return to the rotation this week. – JKG has started light, non-impact activities.
Widely reported Wilson needs shoulder surgery in the offseason and is also battling knee tendinitis. #athletics are going to lose 100+ games, so why not shut him down, get the surgery done and give him six extra weeks for his knee to stop barking? 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/IbzbzYZhqF
The Baltimore Orioles (61-64) return home tonight after a ten-game road trip and welcome the New York Yankees (69-55) to Camden Yards for the opener of a three-game series. The Yankees sit comfortably in a playoff position. They own the top Wild Card spot sitting 8.5 games ahead of the Orioles who are currently tied for the final Wild Card spot with Texas and Detroit.
The Yankees are coming off a challenging weekend series in Toronto. The Blue Jays took the first two games of the set before New York salvaged the finale on Sunday. After opening the door for the Jays in the ninth to tie the game with what seemed to be a crucial error, Ben Rice made up for the miscue with a two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 4-3 victory.
Baltimore, meanwhile, spent the weekend in St. Petersburg taking on the AL East-leading Rays. The Orioles came out aggressively, winning the first three games of the four-game set. They dropped the series finale yesterday, 7-6, despite Pete Alonso hitting his 28th home run of the season. After a rough start to his tenure in Baltimore – he hit just .175 in April – the Polar Bear has put up strong numbers for the Orioles (.267 average, 28 HRs, 81 RBIs).
The pitchers for tonight’s game will be Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.30 ERA) and Shane Baz (4-12, 4.00 ERA). Rodón is set to make his first major league start since June 28 after a stint on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. His return comes at a crucial time for a Yankees club that just yesterday placed Max Fried on the injured list with a bone bruise. Rodón looked sharp in his final rehab outing, striking out seven over 4⅓ scoreless innings at Double-A Somerset. Would not be surprising to hear the veteran is on a limited pitch count tonight. As mentioned. the Orioles counter with Shane Baz, who has been a mainstay in Baltimore’s rotation throughout the season. Baz has been an innings eater, but the O’s have lost nine of his last ten starts. While he has been better than that record would indicate, he was shelled in his last outing. The Twins scored five times over just three innings last Wednesday against Baz.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Orioles
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Time: 6:35PM EST
Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
City: Baltimore, MD
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, MASN
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The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Orioles – August 18
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-112), Baltimore Orioles (+104)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+143), Orioles +1.5 (-174)
Total: 8.5 runs
Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Yankees vs. Orioles for August 18
Yankees: Carlos Rodon Season Totals: 46.1 IP, 4-2, 3.30 ERA, 1.25WHIP, 52K, 26 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Orioles
Trent Grisham was 2-11 against the Blue Jays this past weekend
Ben Rice is 5-49 (.102) in August including 2 HRs
After starting August 0-18, Jackson Holliday is 11-38
Pete Alonso is 1-5 in his career against Will Warren but the 1 hit was a HR
Alonso is riding an 9-game hitting streak (18-34 including 4 HRs)
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is 5-9 including 1 HR in his career against Shane Baz
Austin Wells is 3-6 including 1 HR against Baz
Jose Caballero and Trent Grisham have also each gone yard against Baz
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. Orioles
The Orioles are 66-59 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 58-66 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 64 times in games involving Baltimore this season (64-57-4)
The OVER has cashed 52 times in games involving the Yankees this season (52-68-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Orioles for August 18
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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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 Orioles and the Yankees:
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 8.5.
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The Toronto Blue Jays will be well-rested going into Game 1 of their series with the Tampa Bay Rays after a day off, so I'm rocking with the road 'dogs as part of my Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions.
With Jose Soriano on the mound and a rested bullpen behind him, plus the Blue Jays owning strong numbers against Rays starter Nick Martinez, I'm seeing a slight edge we can take advantage of.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 18, and cash a same-game parlay, shall we?
Blue Jays vs Rays predictions
Blue Jays vs Rays best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (+115)
When I say this could be the best spot to bet the Toronto Blue Jays during this three-game set in Tampa, I come with support.
On the other side is Jose Soriano, who's limiting the Rays to a .245 xBA, including shutting down their star Yandy Diaz over 14 at-bats (.212 xBA).
It helps that the Rays have a taxed bullpen, too, using a combined five arms last night after Shane McClanahan got the early hook.
Coming into this game losers of three of their last four after a tough series against the Baltimore Orioles, expect the Jays to come out swinging.
I'd play this to +105.
COVERS INTEL: It could be the George Springer show against Martinez. The veteran is 8-for-19 with two homers with a .401 xBA against the right-hander.
Blue Jays vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)
The Jays are winners of six straight series, and the Rays' pitching has been getting absolutely pummeled, surrendering 26 runs across their last four games.
Martinez is a sinker-ball pitcher, throwing it 30% of the time. It's a pitch Ernie Clement owns a .368 average against, playing right into our hands. Look for the Jays, and Clement, to get to the Rays' right-hander early and take advantage of an extremely tired bullpen.
We're playing it safer in the same-game parlay and rocking with the Blue Jays on the run line, giving us multiple opportunities to cash today.
Blue Jays vs Rays SGP
Blue Jays +1.5
Blue Jays team total Over 3.5 runs
Ernie Clement H/R/RBI
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Blue Jays vs Rays home run pick: Ernie Clement (+1200)
Outside of Springer, Clement has the strongest numbers against Martinez, owning a .689 xSLG with a homer against the righty across seven at-bats. I'm staying off Springer for the most part today due to the sore shoulder he's playing through, which could suppress his power.
Clement came off the bench and played in Game 2 against the Yankees (going 2-for-2) and is in a prime spot to hit his first homer since Aug. 5 against a contact pitcher. Lock him in as a long-shot play.
2026 Transparency Record
Best bets: 3-4, +0.61 units
SGPs: 0-6, -1.4 units
HR picks: 0-6, -1.4 units
Blue Jays vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Toronto (+115) | Tampa Bay (-135)
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-190) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Rays trend
The Over is 5-0 in Blue Jays' last five games as a road underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Rays.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Date
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet, Rays.TV
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (9-6, 3.16 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Nick Martinez (12-3, 2.74 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Rays latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Rays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are playing a rare crosstown series that actually matters this week at Wrigley Field. The White Sox are MLB’s biggest surprise this season, entering the week in first place in the AL Central with a 5.5 game lead over three other teams. The Cubs are the NL’s top wildcard team at the moment, and are hoping to chase down the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title by the end of the regular season.
Tensions were high in the first game of the series, and not just on the field. The Cubs beat the White Sox, 7-5, thanks to a dramatic 10th inning walkoff homer from possible MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. The two teams traded the lead back and forth all night, with the Sox striking first on a three-run blast by Randal Grichuk, the Cubs forging ahead on a throwing error by Miguel Vargas, and then the Sox coming back on an eighth inning pinch hit home run from Andrew Benintendi.
It felt like a playoff game in mid-August, but unfortunately some fans couldn’t control themselves. There was a large brawl in the middle of the Wrigley bleachers during the game between fans. These were adults involved, but their actions were childish. Watch the video of the fight below.
PCA commented on the fight after the game, saying “you have people in the stands competing, too.”
“The fights the stands are unfortunate, but you got people in the stands competing too” 😂😂😂
All jokes aside, anyone fighting over sports is an absolute loser, but this means something to the city. The overwhelming majority are great fans, both sides. What a rivalry. pic.twitter.com/f62p99KonW
When the Cubs and Sox played on the South Side earlier this season, Crow-Armstrong fired back with a vulgar response to a young woman in a Sox hat who was talking trash to him. Back in my day, the fighting between the Cubs and Sox happened on the field during the 2006 brawl after AJ Pierzynski trucked Michael Barrett at home plate.
The Cubs moved to 20 games over .500 with the win at 73-53. The Sox were the worst team in baseball history two years ago (41-121), but they now sit at 65-59 after Monday following thanks to a remarkable turnaround this season.
Cubs vs. White Sox is fun again, but some drunk, dumb fans threaten to ruin it for everyone else around them. These are adults, and they need to start acting like it.
Connor Hellebuyck has fallen one spot in the NHL Network’s annual ranking of the league’s top goaltenders.
But by the time the Winnipeg Jets open training camp in less than a month, where he ranks might be considerably less important than where he physically is.
Whether he will remain the Jets' No. 1 backstop much longer is the million-dollar question.
NHL Network unveiled its annual list of the league's top goaltenders this week, with Tampa Bay Lightning star Andrei Vasilevskiy overtaking Hellebuyck for the No. 1 position.
Photo by Charles LeClair/USA Today
Hellebuyck, who topped the list one year ago, fell just one spot to second, ahead of Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin and Jeremy Swayman.
On its own, the change isn't particularly surprising.
Hellebuyck endured one of the most difficult statistical seasons of his NHL career in 2025-26, going 23-23-11 with a 2.86 goals-against average and career-worst .895 save percentage.
Vasilevskiy, meanwhile, captured his second Vezina Trophy after going 39-15-4 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .912 save percentage for Tampa Bay.
But Hellebuyck's placement at No. 2 is another reminder of the enormous question hanging over Winnipeg with training camp now less than a month away.
The Jets have one of the two best goaltenders in the NHL, according to NHL Network. They just don't know whether he'll be there when camp opens.
Hellebuyck's future has remained uncertain since Winnipeg's disappointing 2025-26 season came to an end.
The 33-year-old made no secret of his frustration following a year in which the Jets missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, just one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff later acknowledged publicly that the Jets were willing to listen to trade offers for their longtime starter, although he stopped short of saying Hellebuyck had formally requested a trade.
The situation has gone relatively quiet since the NHL Draft and opening of free agency, but that shouldn't necessarily be mistaken for a resolution.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman recently reported that there has been little movement on the Hellebuyck front of late, while maintaining his belief that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner will eventually be traded.
There also remains an expectation around the situation that Hellebuyck may not be present when the Jets gather for training camp next month.
That would turn what has largely been an offseason storyline into an immediate problem for Winnipeg.
The Jets have already provided themselves with some insurance in goal.
Winnipeg signed Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $7.5-million contract on July 1, giving the club an experienced NHL starter should Hellebuyck ultimately be moved. A move that Skinner surely wouldn't sign up for if he anticipated serving solely as Hellebuyck's backup (15-20 games a season maximum) for the next two years.
Oh, and Skinner also shares an agent with Hellebuyck and former Jets backup Eric Comrie. So he clearly has some inside info on the situation.
Cheveldayoff has maintained that Hellebuyck's uncertain future was not the reason for Skinner's addition and, technically, there is nothing forcing Winnipeg into making a deal.
Hellebuyck has five years remaining on the seven-year, $59.5-million contract he signed with the Jets in October 2023.
That contractual control gives Winnipeg considerably more leverage than it had during the last round of Hellebuyck trade speculation three summers ago, when he was approaching unrestricted free agency.
But there is a difference between having contractual control and having certainty.
The Jets are coming off a 35-35-12 season in which they finished seventh in the Central Division. They have made changes around the edges of the roster this summer and have repeatedly maintained that the goal remains to win.
Doing so becomes considerably more difficult without Hellebuyck.
Even following the worst statistical season of his career, NHL Network still considers him the second-best goaltender in the sport. One year earlier, Hellebuyck captured both the Hart and Vezina trophies after a remarkable 2024-25 campaign.
Across his back-to-back Vezina-winning seasons, Hellebuyck went 84-31-7 with a 2.19 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
That is not a player Winnipeg can simply subtract and expect to replace. It also justifies why Cheveldayoff can afford to remain patient.
If the Jets ultimately move their franchise goaltender, the return will need to help reshape a roster that still intends to compete. Winnipeg has long sought additional help among its top-six forwards, and a Hellebuyck trade represents its most significant opportunity to acquire an impact player (preferably a centreman) without entering a full-scale rebuild.
The difficulty is finding a team with the need, cap flexibility and assets required to make such a massive deal work.
For now, Hellebuyck remains a Winnipeg Jet. On paper, anyway.
NHL Network's latest ranking confirms that his standing among the game's elite hasn't disappeared after one down season.
Whether the No. 2 goaltender in hockey actually takes the ice with the Jets when training camp opens is another matter entirely.
But for those keeping score back home, Hellebuyck has been wearing his Winnipeg Jets branded practice gear while skating during the offseason back home in Michigan. And to no surprise his Lake of the Woods Sports Headquarters outdoors gear.
Does it mean anything substantial? No. But it doesn't scream, "I'm ditching this place forever," either.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 14: Jackson Merrill #3 and Xander Bogaerts #2 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after Bogaerts hit a two-run homer during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 14, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres completed a six-game home stand with a sweep of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and winning two of three from the AL West-leading Houston Astros. After an off day on the road in Cleveland, the Padres took on the fourth-place Guardians of the AL Central.
With the team still deploying their “pitching chaos” approach for one of those games, the Friars took two of three with new starter Casey Mize throwing a shutout for six innings in the final game of the series.
Overall, the Padres took seven of nine games at home and on the road, and improved their season record to 67-58, good for second place in the NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Arizona Diamondbacks have dropped out of the Wild Card standings, with the Padres tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second spot in the Wild Card race.
With 37 games remaining, the Padres are fighting tooth and nail for a playoff slot. The road trip continues with three games in New York against the Mets, then the team comes home for three games against the Minnesota Twins and three games versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. That six-game home stand is bracketed by days off both at the beginning and the end of the two series.
Joe Musgrove update
The possibility of no longer needing the TBD designation as their starting pitcher seems imminent for the Padres. Righty Joe Musgrove has completed his third rehab start and has reached 70 pitches in the latest of those three games.
In his last start on Friday with Triple-A El Paso, Musgrove allowed five runs and nine hits, maxing out his velocity on his fastball at 97 mph. He hung between 93-95 mph through his 4.2 innings pitched and was able to throw all his pitches, reportedly feeling good afterward.
There should be one more minor league appearance, probably on Wednesday, and then he could be available to start against Pittsburgh during the home stand.
The offense is booming
The turnaround by the Padres offense has been impressive and is badly needed. President of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, got the pitching help the team needed at the trade deadline because the offense began a surge that promised to give them a shot at a playoff spot.
With the acquisition of Casey Mize and Robbie Ray, the pressure is on the offense to continue their success, which allows pitchers to be aggressive with their pitches. Getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes has led to better outcomes for the Padres’ starting staff.
There has also been a power surge from this team. Over August, the Friars have slugged 21 homers, tied for third in MLB. Their slugging percentage in August is .430, ninth in baseball. For the better part of May, through June and into July, they had the worst offense in MLB.
This chart, taken from Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter from Aug. 17, shows how the offense has turned the corner. The key now is to be consistent with this turnaround.
Pitching on the way up
The Padres pitchers had a 3.98 ERA in June, a 4.77 ERA in July, and have a 3.69 ERA in August. The starters have six quality starts over their past 12 games, while they only averaged one every six games before August.
Newly acquired starter Robbie Ray has had an underwhelming start with the Padres. With the San Francisco Giants, Ray pitched 122.2 innings with a 3.08 ERA. In his two starts as a Padre, Ray has nine innings pitched and a 6.00 ERA. Assuming a return to form for the rest of the season, the Padres will have another quality pitcher to help fill out their rotation as they sprint to a playoff spot.
The team has a 17-5 record since July 24, which is the best record in MLB over that period. Improved pitching, as well as a more potent offense, makes them one of the teams to beat for the rest of the season.
Manny Machado doesn’t have to carry them anymore
For the last several years, it was repeated every season that the Padres go as Manny Machado goes. The reality was that they couldn’t win unless Manny was playing well and basically carrying the team in stretches through the season.
That is not the case this year. As we all know, Machado has struggled for much of the season. He has maintained his power stroke, hitting 23 home runs with 70 RBI, both tops on the team. But his .211 batting average is the lowest of his career and the worst of all the regular starting position players.
Luis Rengifo, signed by the Padres on June 29 after being released by the Brewers, leads the team in average with a .323/.411/.473 line. He is being outslugged by Ty France, who sits at a .516 slugging percentage. Catcher Luis Campusano leads all Padres with a .925 OPS.
Of the qualified players (those with enough at-bats to statistically qualify), Fernando Tatis Jr. has a .778 OPS with Jackson Merrill sitting at .711.
It is a good thing that the leadership on this team is now spread out amongst three or four offensive stars and not just a burden for Machado to carry. They are a better team as a result.
Jackson Merrill gets paid
The Padres played the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Michael King started the game and went six innings, getting the win in the 7-5 contest. He leads the team with nine quality starts of their 22 total.
Just as noteworthy was the milestone reached by center fielder Jackson Merrill. His contract, which was signed in 2025 and began this season, rewards him for his successes on the field. He gets a raise with every 500 plate appearances he achieves in a season. His first time up on Friday was his 500th appearance this year and the escalator adds $1 million to five different years of his contract. The nine-year, $135 million guarantee gets pushed to $140 million. There is a total of $30 million available in escalators over the length of the contract and tied to his performance.
There is also an escalator for MVP votes that would turn his team option for 2035 into a player option.
Roster and injury updates
The Padres signed outfielder Austin Hays to a major league contract on Aug. 9. Hays was released by the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 7.
Reliever Jason Adam has begun playing catch. His shoulder strain is healed enough that he can throw without pain. Now he has to increase his effort and get to a mound before any timeline can be set. According to reporting from San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, the team hopes for a mid-September return.
Nick Pivetta is still throwing bullpens but there is no timeline for his next step. Per the report in Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter, Pivetta is throwing every two days and has increased his intensity this past week.
The team has not provided any update on pitcher Lucas Giolito. The last report was he was building up his strength and fixing some issues with his mechanics.
Neither Miguel Andujar (broken wrist) nor Samad Taylor (oblique strain) appear close to rejoining the team. Andujar is out of his splint and beginning some activity, but there is no timeline for his return. Taylor was sent to Arizona to work in the bridge league over a week ago, and there has been no update on his progress or if he will begin a minor league rehab stint.
The Padres signed RHP Brent Honeywell, 31, to a minor league contract. Honeywell pitched for the Padres for 36 games in 2023. He will be assigned to El Paso. Honeywell has not pitched since 2024, when he won a World Series ring by pitching 34 innings for the Dodgers.
RHP David Morgan completed his rehab assignment and was optioned to El Paso.
RHP Germán Márquez cleared waivers and was released by the Padres.
COVERS INTEL: The Dodgers lead the majors in OPS, and should have a field day against Feltner and 
