Meet the Mets

Sean Manaea had his best start of the season, keeping the Braves mostly at bay over six solid innings, but the Mets still fell to Atlanta 3-1 to even up the series, as the bats went silent.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic

Bo Bichette’s big night on Friday night gives the Mets maybe a little reason to hope, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Per Anthony DiComo, the Spiderman mask behind the Mets’ new home run celebration was a gift to Juan Soto from a fan that Carson Benge suggested the Mets start using in their celebrations.

Both the Mets and Braves let their accomplished franchise first baseman walk. But it has only worked out for one of those teams, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

In the aftermath of the worst start as a Met on Thursday, Freddy Peralta said yesterday that he identified a mechanical adjustment that could help him fix things for today’s outing in the Mets’ series finale against the Braves.

Around the National League East

The morning after his early exit on Friday night, the Braves placed Spencer Strider on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.

The Nationals routed the Mariners 8-3, as C.J. Abrams had another big night at the plate for Washington.

The Marlins lost a close one to the Pirates 3-2, as Anthony Bender hit Spencer Horwitz with a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth to plate the go-ahead run. Miami rallied in the ninth, but could not manage to pull this one out.

A five-run sixth inning propelled the Phillies to a 9-8 victory over the Brewers, as they held on to win despite a late-inning comeback effort from Milwaukee.

Around Major League Baseball

McCovey Chronicles called out the bigoted and tone deaf display some Giants pitchers chose to partake in during the team’s Pride Night.

Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton experienced a setback in his recovery from a left calf strain and could undergo additional imaging.

Injury woes continue for the Yankees, as they placed Trent Grisham on the 10-day injured list yesterday with a right hamstring strain.

Speaking of which, Aaron Judge’s injury leaves the AL MVP race wide open.

Guardians third baseman José Ramírez suffered a fractured left hamate bone on Saturday, in the Guardians’ 3-1 win over the Tigers.

In that same game, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal took the loss in his return from surgery to remove a loose body in his elbow. He pitched well, but was done no favors by his defense nor given much run support.

MLB.com runs down seven potential landing spots for Skubal if he is dealt at the deadline.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto narrowly missed out on both a perfect game and a no-hitter in the Dodgers’ 7-1 win over the White Sox.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

In a new episode of Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World Series, Brian Salvatore and Chris McShane discuss the one step forward, two steps back nature of the 2026 season for the Mets.

This Date in Mets History

Duke Snider hit his 400th career home run at the Polo Grounds on this date in 1963.

The 2026 MLB amateur draft is now less than a month away. After all the preseason chatter and rise and fall of hot draft prospects, we are finally getting down to the point where draft board start to firm up. At the same time, this is when the gamesmanship really picks up, with teams hiding their interest in certain players and talking up others, all while trying to feel out signing prices for their favorite overslot bonus candidates.

MLB Pipeline’s most recent mock draft still has the Tigers selecting Georgia prep standout Trevor Condon with the 22nd overall pick. The outfielder clearly fits the Tigers established preference for left-handed hitting prep players who can play up the middle and have good contact skills. The only time the Tigers have deviated from this with first round and competetitive balance A round picks was when they selected Bryce Rainer in 2024 in the first round. Rainer checks all the boxes except the high contact hitter requirement, but his developing 70 grade power and huge arm strength made him well worth the pick despite the higher risk profile.

Condon has double plus speed and should stick in center field and plays with an aggressive style both in the outfield and on the bases. He reminds me of Max Clark, playing with a lot of intensity and flair, without quite the high-end contact ability the Tigers’ current top prospect possesses. Baseball America likes the Cincinnati Reds to take Condon with the 18th overall pick, so we’ll have to see if the Tigers even get a crack at him.

Pipeline mentions alternatives like prep 3B Bo Lowrance out of Greenville, South Carolina, or Mississippi prep 3B/C Cole Prosek. Of those two, Prosek seems the more likely choice, especially if the Tigers believe he can stick as a catcher. Finally, prep switch-hitting shortstop Aiden Ruiz is also mentioned, and frankly if Condon is gone, an underslot deal for Ruiz might be most likely. Ruiz makes a lot of contact and has the skills to stick as a plus defensive shortstop, though he’s probably going to top out a little short of average power.

Baseball America, expecting Condon to be gone already, projects the Tigers to take Ruiz at 22nd overall. They also mention Prosek, and fellow prep left-handed hitters Connor Comeau and London Thome as alternatives.

Comeau is a 6’4” shortstop with a pretty good hit tool despite his lanky, long-limbed frame, who is committed to Texas A&M. He lacks speed, and may be better suited at third base. The hit tool is appealing, and he should have at least average power.

Thome, son of Jim, is also a left-handed hitting shortstop. The bat is more of selling point here as he has good recognition and bat-to-ball skills already. He also has a little more power potential than Comeau due to his demonstrated ability to pull a lot of balls in the air, though he’s probably even more likely to move to third base.

Another interesting wild card in the mix is Stanford commit Tyler Spangler. The northern California prep shortstop played for Concord De La Salle. He has an advanced eye and makes a lot of quality contact, and his 6’3” frame has plenty of room to add muscle and get to eventual plus power. That would alleviate concerns if he loses some quickness and has to move to third base. His swing could probably use a little work, as he has a little of Bryce Rainer’s tendency toward bottom hand dominance, lagging the barrel a little excessively.

Spangler barely played this season due to a back injury, and he’s expected to be tough to sign if he doesn’t go pretty early in the draft, as Stanford can throw some real NIL money at him. There are some who think Spangler is still one of the top prospects in this draft, however, and he does fit the Tigers type both as a player, and in terms of being a bit more of a risk/reward play due to the injury and lack of exposure this spring.

Of course, the Scott Harris front office, led in the draft by assistant GM Rob Metzler and amateur scouting director Mark Connor, have avoided pitchers in the first round, but it’s not impossible that this could change. Their strategy of concentrating much of their bonus pool beyond the top round into prep pitching talent has been a failure so far, and the upper levels of the Tigers’ system are decidedly lacking in pitching talent. Perhaps they’ll change gears, but more likely they’ll continue their pivot toward JUCO and college arms beyond the first round, taking RHP Malachi Witherspoon in the second round last year, while continuing to snipe prep pitchers a little later on.

Red Sox 6, Rangers 3

• And the “get back to .500” curse strikes again.
• A nice start from Jacob deGrom goes for naught. Six innings, five Ks, no walks. Just six hits allowed, but four of them came in the third inning, when the Red Sox strung together four singles to get two runs in.
• The person I really feel bad for is Cole Winn.
• Brought into a tie game, who strikes out two batters, and allows two very weak rollers down the third base line that end up going for infield singles.
• He is then lifted for Robby Ahlstrom, who walks Andruw Monasterio to load the bases, then leaves a 1-2 curveball up too high in the zone, allowing Ceddanne Rafaela to send it into left field for a two run single.
• Peyton Gray gave up a two run homer in the eighth just to rub some salt in the wound.
• The offense had plenty of opportunities, but repeatedly failed to cash in, ultimately stranding 10 runners in the game.
• Having the bases loaded and not doing enough with the opportunity was a recurring theme.
• The Rangers loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth, on singles by Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran, followed by a Jake Burger walk.
• They actually got a run in that inning, to tie the game, on a Michael Helman sac fly.
• But just one.
• Bases loaded and one out in the fifth ended with failure, as Duran and Burger struck out to end the inning.
• Jake Burger did homer later in the game, but no one was on, of course, because that’s how this game went.
• And to top it off, Michael Helman is headed to the injured list due to “multiple fractures” in his right hand, suffered when he was hit by a pitch.
• Those of you who wanted Alejandro Osuna in the majors? You’re getting your wish…
• Jacob deGrom touched 99.6 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.7 mph. Cole Winn hit 96.8 mph with his fastball. Robby Ahlstrom maxed out at 96.7 mph with his fastball. Peyton Gray’s fastball topped out at 93.7 mph.
• Jake Burger’s homer was 107.3 mph. Elias Diaz had a 105.1 mph single. Wyatt Langford had a 102.3 mph single. Justin Foscue had a 101.2 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran had a 100.2 mph single.
• Okay, let’s avoid the sweep and get back home.

They say it is impossible not to be romantic about baseball. Chase Whitley’s story is one that gives credence to that idea. He never reached the Hall of Fame and he never etched his name among the game’s legends, but he did discover one of baseball’s greatest gifts: the opportunity to pay it forward.

Chase Coleman Whitley

Born: June 14, 1989 (Ranburne, AL)

Yankees Tenure: 2014-2015

Whitley was born and raised in Ranburne, Alabama where he graduated from Ranburne High School in 2007. A three sport star in baseball, football, and basketball, Whitley would elect to attend Southern Union State Community College to play baseball as both a pitcher and infielder for the Bisons. Southern Union State Community College competes in the NJCAA at the Division II level.

While in junior college Whitley impressed as both a pitcher and hitter. As a hitter, Whitley posted a .427 average as a freshman and .412 as a sophomore on his way to being named first team All-Conference. His performance was good enough to land an opportunity to go to Troy University for his junior season.

The Troy Trojans are a Division I university in Alabama. Whitley joined the program as it was coming off new found success and was looking to continue building into a national power. Coincidentally, Troy has finally made it to the College World Series this season for the first time this year after years of building their program. As a Trojan, Whitley continued to serve as a two-way player pitching and playing third base. In his lone season, he hit .364 with 10 home runs. On the mound, Whitley served as the closer for the Trojans. In 32 appearances Whitley put up a 3.68 ERA in 66 innings and secured seven saves.

This season was impressive enough for the Yankees to use their pick in the 15th round of the 2010 draft on Whitley. Despite showing some potential to be able to play both ways the Yankees wanted Whitley to focus on pitching. For the first time in his life, Whitley would focus on one aspect of one sport.

The Yankees staff began working with Whitley and he quickly rose through the system appearing mostly as a reliever. In the offseasons, Whitley returned home and started to work with local youths by coaching and training them. By the end of the 2012 season Whitley found himself pitching for the Yankees Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. On the doorstep of the big leagues Whitley would continue to get seasoned and refine his craft there until 2014.

Entering the 2014 season the Yankees decided to start stretching Whitley out hoping to use him as a starting pitcher in the minors. Whitley was thriving in the new role and in May of 2014 the Yankees found themselves victim to injuries in the starting rotation after ace CC Sabathia joined fellow pitchers Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda on the shelf. At 24 years old, and despite only making a handful of starts in the minors, the Yankees called Whitley up to fill a hole in the big league rotation.

On May 15, 2014, Whitley made his Major League debut against the Mets. Standing opposite him was another rookie making his own debut that night: Jacob deGrom. While deGrom would go on to become one of the greatest pitchers of his generation, Whitley got the better of the meeting, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings and collecting a hit off the future Cy Young winner in a 1-0 Yankees victory.

Whitley would appear in 24 games total in 2014 making 12 starts. His final line for his rookie season was 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA. The Yankees would end the season without making the postseason for the second straight year. With a taste of the majors in his mouth, Whitley looked to 2015 with hope of further carving out a role on the team.

The Yankees pitching staff started 2015 off healthy so Whitley found himself back in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the year. However, in late April Whitley got the call back up as the big league club again found itself facing injuries in the rotation. Whitley made four starts, posting a 1-2 record with a 4.19 ERA over 19.1 innings before the injury bug unfortunately got Whitley too. 

In mid-May Whitley was pulled from a start against the Rays with arm discomfort and a few days later would be under the knife for Tommy John surgery. This injury would ultimately end Whitley’s time in the Bronx as well. In November, while rehabbing, Whitley was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Most of Whitley’s first season with the Rays was spent rehabbing, but he did get called up in September and made a handful of appearances for the club. Healthy for the 2017 season Whitley would start the year in Triple-A before sticking with the big league club as their long-reliever. That offseason Whitley was claimed by the Atlanta Braves, his favorite childhood team. However, the storybook ending would not come to fruition as a severe staph infection in his heel would ruin his season and effectively end his career. Whitley only made one appearance for the Braves. 

Following the 2018 season with the Braves, Whitley decided to retire. His final career numbers include a 7-6 record, 4.56 ERA, with 75 appearances including 17 starts. Despite his playing days being over, the game was not finished with Whitley.

Whitley returned home to Alabama where he now serves as the head coach at Ranburne High School. A local legend who once left town chasing a professional dream, Whitley now spends his days helping the next generation of players build their own foundation in the sport. He may not have finished his career the way he envisioned, but few endings are more fitting than returning home and passing the game on to those who love it as much as he once did and still does.

Happy birthday Chase!

Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani stole the show on Saturday as the Dodgers bounced back with a 7-2 victory after suffering a heavy defeat to the Chicago White Sox the day prior.

Ohtani hit his third home run in as many games to begin Saturday’s contest, while Yamamoto produced his magnum opus on the mound this year, flirting with a perfect game and carrying a no-hitter into the ninth. While Tristan Peters ruined Yamamoto’s no-hit bid with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Yamamoto felt satisfied knowing he was able to pitch that late into the game while providing the bullpen with some much-needed rest, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

“I do feel a little bit regrettable, because I went into the ninth inning and I was not able to achieve a no-hitter,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I didn’t complete the ninth inning, the no-hitter. But how I was pitching, I was pretty satisfied.”

Ohtani not only started the game with his 14th home run of the season, but he also walked three times as he continues to be one of the game’s best hitters over the last month. It’s an encouraging sign that Ohtani was able to play throughout the full duration of the game considering Ohtani was out on Friday due to left knee inflammation concerns, per Chen.

“I felt good waking up in the morning. I feel good now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “So I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to stay healthy, and should be good to go tomorrow as well.”

With the All-Star game just one month away, there will be some questions as to who will start on the mound for the National League squad. Both Ohtani and Yamamoto are destined to become All-Stars again this season, and Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times notes that it’ll be a toss-up as to which Dodger will start on the mound for the National League team.

New York is already in a celebratory mood after winning their first NBA title since 1973, but let’s talk about the fate of the New York Mets, as the Atlanta Braves look to close this series with a win.

Bryce Elder’s last outing resulted in six solid innings pitched, allowing two hits, two earned runs and getting four strikeouts. In the last few games in the series, the Mets found ways to get on the board, so the key will be to strike early and hold them off for as long as possible, in hopes that the Braves’ offense can carry their weight.

The Braves’ rotation is trying to hold it together, though injuries amount to more pressure on the starters to overperform. The skillset is undeniable; it’s a matter of execution and starting strong that’ll set them apart and lead to making their presence known in Citi Field.

Freddy Peralta is no walk in the park either. Don’t judge him by his last few starts. Currently holding a 4.04 ERA to Elder’s 2.66, Peralta is going through one of those rough patches, but in an interview with the New York Post, he explained that he’s started to realize that his fundamentals were lacking as of late; however, he’s confident that he’s going to identify the issue and turn things around.

The question is, will he figure it out in today’s matchup and put a stop to the Braves’ offense?

It’s all happening this afternoon in Citi Field. New York is already celebrating one win; will the Braves give them another, or close out dominantly, as they’ve continued to do throughout the season?

Tune in at 1:40 p.m. EDT to find out. Until then, come back to visit us when we discuss the solidified lineups.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 14, 1:40 p.m. EDT

Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY

TV: BravesVision, Gray TV

Streaming: MLBTV

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Today’s Reflections

Two wonderful things today — no seemingly endless trade talk (just a little break), and the “Giant” win over San Francisco Friday on the backs of both pitching and hitting.

I was a little excited about Javier Assad getting a full start to see if he could continue to build on the success of his big relief appearance. But as the first pitch was approaching, I was getting nervous because Assad hasn’t had a good history of putting up back-to-back stellar performances. That concern was quickly put to rest as he posted an outing of six innings, three hits and zero runs while striking out five. The three hits allowed included an infield single with an additional pair of singles that led to nowhere. Of his 85 pitches, 53 were for strikes. He just totally slammed the door on the Giants, giving the Cubs’ hitters a shot (something rare over the last month).

Michael Busch took care of the majority of the Cubs’ scoring with a three-run home run into McCovey Cove. Seiya Suzuki had a pair of doubles, and PCA (double), Alex Bregman (double) and Dansby Swanson each had a solid hit in the game. Luckily that was good enough because the Cubs went down 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth, and four starters went hitless. But let’s hope that the success of the five above will spread through the line-up like wildfire.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

We want to get back to seeing these kind of headlines almost daily — this is a good start:

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): Michael Busch becomes just 5th Chicago Cub to hit HR into McCovey Cove in 5-1 win over San Francisco Giants. “Michael Busch’s eighth home run of the season — a three-run shot into McCovey Cove in the fifth inning Friday night — helped the Chicago Cubs to a 5-1 win over the San Francisco Giants.”

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): From ‘heroic’ relief to quality start, Assad continues to be clutch for Cubs. “Javy keeps telling you, ‘I’ll be ready when I get my opportunity,’” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s what it takes.”

• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Splish, splash, Michael Busch homer takes bath as Cubs top Giants for first back-to-back wins since late May. “Busch splashed a homer down in McCovey Cove, and Javier Assad threw six scoreless innings as the Cubs won consecutive games for the first time since the end of last month.”
• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/12/26): Cubs 5, Giants 1 – Assad Outstanding in W. “The Cubs got a terrific starting pitching performance and a big home run to roll to victory.”

A lot of good news among the (understandably) cautious talk:

• Sean Sears (Chicago Cubs On SI): 2 Cubs Players Who Are Finally Giving the Offense Some Hope. “Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki have shaken off the rust and look to stay hot out West.”
• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Michael Busch is becoming exactly what the Cubs need right now. “The Cubs first baseman has transformed from an early-season disappointment into one of the club’s most reliable hitters.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Shh … Seiya Suzuki Is Showing Signs of Life. “(Suzuki’s) quietly put together a nine-game hitting streak featuring two doubles, three homers, an above-average walk rate, and a manageable 24.2% strikeout rate.”
• Field Level Media (Deadspin): Cubs’ Ben Brown surrounded by All-Star talk as he prepares to face Giants. “A pitcher making an improbable run for a National League All-Star berth will go up against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night for the second time in eight days.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): With Ben Brown starting to look like a potential ace, the Cubs are being extra cautious. “Within this unpredictable season of extremes, the Cubs are watching Brown put it all together at a time when the rest of their rotation is falling apart.”
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): What’s gone wrong for the Cubs — and if they can fix it. “Chicago’s bats went quiet and injuries finally took their toll on the pitching staff and, suddenly, the Cubs had traded in their division lead for a spot in the basement.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): 3 highs and lows from the Chicago Cubs’ monthlong struggles, including Pete Crow-Armstrong getting locked in. “During this challenging stretch in which the Chicago Cubs have lost 22 of 30 games after winning 20 of 23, they have seen highs and lows.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Long overdue Cubs prospect update could quickly change narrative plaguing 2025 draft pick. “In an update from the Cubs’ spring training complex in Arizona, it seems that Ethan Conrad has resumed baseball activity.”

• Brandon Glick (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ handling of Kevin Alcantara provides harsh reality for his future. “Kevin Alcántara’s rapidly devolving situation with the Chicago Cubs represents an old-fashioned catch-22.”

Food For Thought:

Big Joe Williams (c. 1903-1982) epitomized the life and times of the rambunctious, roving bluesman, traveling from coast to coast and around the world playing rugged, rhythmic blues on his nine-string guitar at juke joints, house parties, and concerts. Mentor to blues legends Muddy Waters and Honeyboy Edwards, Williams was born near Crawford, Mississippi, where he also spent his final years. His song “Baby Please Don’t Go” has been recorded by many blues and rock bands.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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We have 15 MLB games on the card, and betting on underdogs is a must. 

Today's card features several of these plus-money predictions, and we've scoured the MLB odds and have found quite a few dogs that could hunt for us today. 

Read on for a fun day of MLB predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, June 14.

MLB moneyline picks for June 14

Matchup	Pick
Marlins vs Pirates	+133
Padres vs Orioles	-117
Mariners vs Nationals	+127
Yankees vs Blue Jays	-127
Diamondbacks vs Reds	-104
Braves vs Mets	-100
Tigers vs Guardians	+113
Astros vs Royals	+117
Dodgers vs White Sox	+170
Phillies vs Brewers	-108
Cardinals vs Twins	+104
Rockies vs Athletics	-170
Cubs vs Giants	+122
Rays vs Angels	-100
Rangers vs Red Sox	+108

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-14.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 14

Marlins vs Pirates: Miami Marlins (+133)

Marlins win probability: 42.9%

Pittsburgh’s 126 wRC+ looks strong, but their bullpen is an absolute disaster right now, leaking a 4.56 SIERA and an awful 14.5% walk rate. Miami’s steady 3.74 relief SIERA completely outclasses them late. Take the high price on the Marlins to steal it late against that leaky pen.

Padres vs Orioles: Baltimore Orioles (-117)

Orioles win probability: 53.9%

San Diego's bats are completely frozen, posting an anemic 80 wRC+ and a low .259 BABIP. Meanwhile, Baltimore maintains a sturdy .442 slugging percentage. Combine that with the Orioles' superior 3.44 bullpen SIERA, and this low -117 price on the home favorite becomes an absolute steal.

Mariners vs Nationals: Nationals (+127)

Nationals win probability: 44.1%

Seattle has a decent 117 wRC+, but their bullpen is leaking oil at 4.46 SIERA over the last two weeks. Washington's relievers have struggled, but getting a +127 home price against a shaky away pen is pure value. Trust the Nationals to scrape out a close win.

Yankees vs Blue Jays: New York Yankees (-127)

Yankees win probability: 56%

Toronto's 114 wRC+ edges New York's 100, but Patrick Corbin starting for the Blue Jays changes everything. The Yankees' elite 11.4% walk rate will break him early. Plus, New York holds a significant late-inning advantage with a 3.31 bullpen SIERA compared to Toronto's 3.62.

Diamondbacks vs Reds: Cincinnati Reds (-104)

Reds win probability: 51%

Arizona is hitting a miserable 58 wRC+ with a dead-last .296 slugging percentage. Both teams possess shaky relievers with over a 4.45 SIERA, but Andrew Abbott should completely mute this ice-cold offense early. The market is drastically overvaluing the slumping Diamondbacks at a pick'em price.

Braves vs Mets: New York Mets (-100)

Mets win probability: 50%

Both teams feature cold offenses, but Freddy Peralta provides a major strikeout ceiling over Bryce Elder. Late in relief, the Mets hold a sharp edge with a 3.11 bullpen SIERA and tiny 5.2% walk rate compared to Atlanta's 3.36 SIERA. Take the Mets at pick'em odds.

Tigers vs Guardians: Detroit Tigers (+113)

Tigers win probability: 46.9%

Detroit is absolutely crushing the baseball with a rolling .504 slugging percentage and 124 wRC+. Cleveland's bats have completely tanked to an 86 wRC+ with a heavy 24.8% strikeout rate. With both bullpens stable under a 3.77 SIERA, the Tigers are a premium live dog.

Astros vs Royals: Houston Astros (+117)

Astros win probability: 46.1%

Houston's high-ceiling offense faces Stephen Kolek on Sunday. The defining factor here is the massive late-inning pitching gap: the Astros present an elite 3.16 bullpen SIERA and a heavy 29.4% K-rate, while the Royals' relief unit sits at a mediocre 4.03 SIERA. Take the road dog.

Dodgers vs White Sox: Chicago White Sox (+170)

White Sox win probability: 37%

The White Sox are shockingly hitting well, boasting a rolling 127 wRC+ and a strong .466 slugging percentage. Chicago's bullpen has also outperformed the Dodgers lately, holding a stable 3.81 SIERA against LA's 3.56 collapse. Erick Fedde keeps this tight. Take the massive +170 home price.

Phillies vs Brewers: Milwaukee Brewers (-108)

Brewers win probability: 51.9%

Philadelphia hitters are completely lost, striking out at a massive 28.7% clip over the last two weeks. Milwaukee's offense is surging with a 142 wRC+ and a .377 wOBA. Kyle Harrison handles this slumping lineup easily, backed by a strong 3.54 home bullpen SIERA.

Cardinals vs Twins: St. Louis Cardinals (+104)

Cardinals win probability: 49%

St. Louis holds a clear offensive edge with a 118 wRC+ compared to Minnesota's 111. Crucially, the Cardinals feature a highly reliable 3.38 bullpen SIERA that completely outclasses the Twins' messy 4.51 relief metrics. Grab the plus-money road value on the better bullpen.

Rockies vs Athletics: Athletics (-170)

Athletics win probability: 63%

The Athletics are absolutely hammering the ball right now, leading the entire slate with a massive .517 slugging percentage and a 129 wRC+. Their bullpen is equally elite, tossing a slate-best 2.89 SIERA. Jeffrey Springs handles Colorado's poor road offense. The high favorite price is completely justified.

Cubs vs Giants: Chicago Cubs (+122)

Cubs win probability: 45%

San Francisco's bats are red-hot, but their relief pitching is in a catastrophic freefall, posting a slate-worst 5.25 SIERA. Chicago's stable 3.85 SIERA for the bullpen gives the visitors a massive late-game edge. Back the live road underdog to exploit a leaky pen and cash a nice ticket.

Rays vs Angels: Los Angeles Angels (-100)

Angels win probability: 50%

Tampa Bay patiently walks but completely lacks raw power with an anemic .113 ISO. The real edge comes late on the mound: the Angels' bullpen boasts a superior 3.88 SIERA, easily outclassing Tampa's shaky 4.34 mark. Take the Angels at home to cleanly secure the tight win.

Rangers vs Red Sox: Texas Rangers ML (+108)

Rangers win probability: 48.1%

Texas is hitting steadily with a 108 wRC+, while Boston has dropped to a cold 96 wRC+ and a weak 5.9% walk rate. Both bullpens are stable under a 3.55 SIERA, meaning Nathan Eovaldi at plus-money against an undisciplined lineup represents fantastic, calculated closing value.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Left-handed pitcher Sean Sullivan (No. 8 PuRP) made his MLB debut on Friday against the Athletics, and it was memorable for a couple of reasons.

First, the Rockies and A’s are playing in Las Vegas right now in the home of the Triple-A Aviators. Sullivan last pitched here on May 19, where he allowed seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits with two homers and four strikeouts. Second, he was pulled in the third inning after experiencing illness, which he had been dealing with all day.

“He was sick as a dog. He was throwing up in the bullpen before the game,” manager Warren Schaeffer said in his postgame press conference.

“He grinded for us today in his big league debut. I don’t know how much of that he’s going to remember. He was sick as a dog out there, and you can tell he was choking back the vomit the whole time out there, coming in between innings and throwing up. But after that third inning, he looked like death, so that was about all he had. But he did great for us. You don’t want to be sick on (your) debut, but he did a great job (putting up) three zeroes for us.”

“Obviously I wanted to stay out there a little bit longer,” Sullivan said immediately after the game. “I tried to give it everything I had, but I was obviously under the weather a little bit, and the heat wasn’t helping too much. But it’s a huge milestone for me — one of my lifetime goals — so I’m happy I was able to accomplish it.”

And despite Schaeffer joking that Sullivan might not remember it because of how ill he was, Sullivan disagreed slightly with his manager.

“It was definitely a little bit of a blur, just everything leading up to it,” Sullivan said immediately after the game, “but I tried to take it all in as much as I could. This is definitely one of those special days, so (you) try to take it in, but at the end of the day, (you) just go out there and compete.”

The day after, though, he was all smiles.

“(My biggest takeaway from last night is) just knowing that I belong here,” he said Saturday morning. “I’m confident in my abilities. Even though I didn’t feel my best out there, I was still able to put up a couple of zeroes.”

He said he treated it as a normal start, but “there was definitely some extra emotion and nerves in there.

“But I just tried to treat it as the same — same routine, same warm-ups, all that kind of stuff.”

However, he plans to “hydrate more” next time he pitches.

All jokes aside, getting the call was a moment Sullivan will never forget.

“I found out right after the game on Wednesday, and luckily my parents were in town so I was able to tell them right away,” he said. “It was a pretty cool moment.”

“They were super excited,” he continued. “They didn’t expect it — I didn’t expect it either — so it was a great surprise for all of us, and I was happy to celebrate.”

And they made the trip to Las Vegas to witness his first big league moment, alongside some other important folks.

“(Two of) my sisters were there,” he said. “My girlfriend was there, but her brother actually got married this morning (Saturday), so she flew back home. And then my best from home and his dad, so it was a great little crew out there.”

That meant they were there for his favorite moment, which came in the bottom of the first.

“I would say that first strikeout (was my favorite),” he said. “It felt pretty good to get one behind me, especially after that 12-pitch at bat. So that was definitely a plus for me.”

On Saturday morning, Sullivan was feeling much better and is looking forward to tacking his next start. But he’s mostly looking forward to “just going out there to compete.

“I think that’s my favorite thing to do,” he said. “That’s why I play the game and go out there to showcase my abilities, and put the team in a good chance to win.”

To Read: Rockpiles:

• Monday:Paul DePodesta discusses promotions and Rockies prospects (Part I) | Renee Dechert
• Tuesday:Steven Baumann finds unique ways to help Rockies prospects transition to the United States | Sam Bradfield
• Wednesday:What do the Rockies do with Adael Amador? | Skyler Timmins
• Thursday:A curious spike in Rockies injuries | Cory Cohen
• Friday:Are the Rockies breaking out of their offensive drought at home? | Joelle Milholm
• Saturday:When One Rockies Season Is Enough to Remember | James Riggenbach

To Read: News

• Rockies news:An early glimpse at Rockies 2026 attendance | Joelle Milholm
• Weekly Pebble Report:Wilder Dalis is out to prove himself in 2026 | Sam Bradfield & Evan Lang
• Rockies roster: Colorado Rockies call up top prospect Cole Carrigg | Evan Lang
• Rockies prospects:Cole Carrigg describes being called up and where he fits with the Rockies | Renee Dechert
• Rockies news:Jordan Romano isn’t chasing the past. He’s building it back with the Rockies. | Eli Whitney
• Rockies news:Paul DePodesta discusses where the Rockies are now (Part II) | Renee Dechert
• Rockies roster: Rockies to promote Sean Sullivan for Major League debut (Updated) | Cory Cohen
• Rockies roster:Rockies select contract of Eiberson Castellano, make additional roster moves | Renee Dechert

Weekly Discussion Topics

Sean Sullivan’s debut in the searing heat while sick is yet another memorable rookie debut in Rockies history. What are your favorite or most memorable debut moments? Let us know in the comments!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Good morning, baseball fans!

Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to an end today, which would normally mean that it’s time to share our favorite highlights of the week.

I even had an entire post already scheduled to publish today with fantastic highlights.

Unfortunately, I am a human being. And a human being in the LGBTQIA+ community, to boot. I know, it’s a pretty shitty time for us right now.

And on Friday night, several Giants players decided that the ONE night of the entire season that is dedicated to acknowledging the humanity and struggles of fans like me was something that they absolutely could not abide.

And because of that, they don’t get to have a highlight of the week this week.

You know what they do get? My indignant ire. And my commitment to not letting this go until they do something to combat the hatred of their players and the damage that they’ve caused.

I’ve had to let a lot of things go over the years. I didn’t have the mental bandwidth for the fight. But right now? Yeah, I’ve got time. So I’m not letting this one go. And we’ll be talking about this one for a hell of a lot longer than anyone will remember anything else the Giants may have done this week. Good? Bad? Doesn’t matter.

This is who they are now.

People in the LGBTQIA+ community are Giants fans just like any other Giants fans. We go to games. We cheer, we mourn, we bleed the same blood as anyone else. We pay the same amount of money to watch this team (most likely lose) on any given day of the week.

More importantly, we also deserve the same dignity and basic human decency as anyone else.

And until the Giants do something to rectify the damage that their players have done this weekend, they don’t get to move on because I have now made it my mission in life to not let them.

So buckle up, Giants fans. Because this is only just beginning.

What time do the bigoted Giants play today?

The bigoted Giants wrap up this weekend series against the Cubs this afternoon at 12:10 p.m. PT.