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Parlays and same-game parlays in particular are more popular than ever among sports bettors, and with so many baseball games to wager on every single day in a season that stretches from March to October, the MLB and parlays are a perfect pairing.

Combining multiple baseball bets together means a bigger profit, but with that comes a bigger risk. If you are new to baseball betting and making MLB picks, we help you learn how to wager on baseball parlays the smart way. 

What is a baseball parlay bet?

A baseball parlay bet ties two or more wagers together and places one single stake for an increased payout. The more bets added to the parlay, the larger the potential profit. However, all the selections (called legs) included in the parlay must be correct for the overall parlay to win. Even if three of the four bets included in the parlay win and one loses, the entire parlay is a loss.

Parlays promise larger payouts due to the high risk involved. The more bets added to the baseball parlay, the greater the risk. Because of all those variables, parlays have a much lower win probability than single baseball bets.

While they are a fun way to wager, they are not a sustainable long-term betting strategy due to their high risk/low probability.

Baseball same-game parlays

Baseball same-game parlays have become increasingly popular recently, with sportsbooks offering parlays on odds markets from a single game. 

The example below is a three-leg, same-game parlay from a matchup between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. The parlay includes a bet on the Yankees moneyline (to win outright) at +120 odds, a bet on the Under 7.5 runs at -110 odds, and a player prop on Kevin Gausman to record Over 17.5 outs at -145 odds.

Tying all three bets together in a baseball same-game parlay increases the odds to +610. A $100 stake on this parlay would payout $710 ($610 in winnings + $100 original stake). All three bets must be correct for the parlay to win.

Baseball multi-game parlays

Baseball multi-game parlays are the most common method of wagering on parlays, tying together bets from different MLB games.

The example below is a two-game baseball parlay, including a bet on the Yankees moneyline at +120 and the Los Angeles Dodgers moneyline at -135.

By themselves as single bets, these bets would return $220 and $174, respectively, on $100 stakes ($394 total return on $200 in stakes), but the result of one does not impact the other (one could lose and the other could win and pay out). 

As a multi-game baseball parlay, however, combining the two bets into one parlay generates odds of +282, and a single $100 stake can return $382 ($282 in winnings + $100 original stake).

MLB parlay betting tips

Baseball parlay betting is a great way to break up a long season and also capitalize on what you see as your best bets for that day’s games. Here are some MLB parlay betting tips to follow all season long: 

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.

The 2026 Major League Baseball season will reportedly begin tomorrow, March 25th, when the San Francisco Giants take on the New York Yankees in the hallowed grounds of the Bronx. (We all know the season doesn’t really begin until the next day when the Cincinnati Reds play host to the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park, but we’ll let that slide for the time being.)

That means we’re about to engage upon six-plus months of some serious baseball, and we’re going to see plenty of remarkable things along the way. Some will be predictable – Jose Ramirez, per usual – and some will come completely out of nowhere. There will be amazing plays, incredible streaks, and plenty of dumbness for all to enjoy.

With the looming 162 game grind in mind, here are Five Dumb Predictions for the 2026 MLB season.

Shohei Ohtani wins the NL Cy Young Award

It’s going to happen, right?

The greatest baseball talent the world has ever seen has done pretty much every single thing ever already, and the rewards for such prowess have stacked up, too. He’s been a Rookie of the Year. He’s been named MVP four times (including in both leagues). He’s been an All Star five times, a World Series winner twice, the NLCS MVP. He’s led the league in homers (twice), triples once, arby-eyes once, and even swiped 59 bags in a single season (while only being thrown out four times).

He’s done it all offensively, enough to make his 16.1 career bWAR from the mound seem almost an afterthought. Perhaps that’s because so much of what he’s done offensively came as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, something that sounds as ridiculous as it is. All he’s done on the mound lately is pitch to an absurd 6.89 K/BB, 2.87 ERA, and 1.90 FIP in 47.0 IP in 2025 after not pitching at all in 2024, but you don’t have to go too far back to see his 4th place finish in the 2022 AL Cy Young Award, either.

I think the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is going to look around and realize that his club needs him this year, more than ever, as their ace, and in typical Ohtani fashion I think he rises to that occasion. Yeah, he’s still going to hit the crap out of the ball, but maybe he just won’t run and slide so much. On the bump, though, I see a return to a more full season of work, and topping 150 IP with scintillating peripherals will win him the award that will truly cement his legacy as the greatest overall player of all time.

Ronald Acuña wins his 2nd NL MVP

Acuña’s 2023 win of the award came as he led all of Major League Baseball in hits (217), steals (73), OBP (.416), and total bases (383), the superstar ripping off an absurd .337/.416/.596 line in 159 games. He swatted 41 homers to fabricate the 40/70 club, but a torn ACL set him back significantly the very next year.

In 2025, we saw the Acuña at the plate we’re accustomed to seeing, as he hit .290/.417/.518 when healthy, though he didn’t stay perfectly healthy all year (and barely ran when he did). In 2026, though, I think we get the full package back once again, and that’s going to be electric enough for him to claim this award for the second time.

It may seem like he’s been around forever already, but he just turned 28 years old in December. He’s almost two weeks younger than Spencer Steer, for reference. Yeah, there’s an infinite amount left in his tank, and he’s going to show it again in 2026.

Wyatt Langford leads the AL in dingers

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford is going to finish the 2026 season with more dingers than anyone else in the American League. Not Aaron Judge, not Cal Raleigh, Wyatt Langford – the 24 year old with 38 career homers under his belt.

Big time breakout year for this guy incoming. I’m going to say he ends up with 46, and that does the trick.

Buy, buy, buy while you can!

5+ WAR season, 35+ homers for Seattle’s Randy Arozarena

Contract years are incredible catalysts in a sport that hands out quarter-billion dollar contracts like hotcakes. So, when a player who’s shown consistent ability to be among the league’s elite at multiple skills reaches one, it’s hard not to think there’s going to be an effort to align the stars into a career year.

That’s not to imply that Arozarena has done anything other than give his absolute best throughout his rock solid career to-date. It’s just an acknowledgement that players, particularly when they reach their age-31 season at the very same time, surely know when they’ve got a platform year in front of them (see: Kyle Schwarber last year).

Randy’s got a chance to jump to the top of the free agent class with a year like that in 2026, and I think he will rise to the occasion because of it. He’ll top the 27 dingers that sits as his career high to date (established just last season), and another 30+ steal season with perhaps some better defense would vault him firmly into 5+ WAR territory.

I think he does it!

The Boston Red Sox win the 2026 World Series

Reds fans are going to get the first taste of just how filthy Garrett Crochet is going to be this season when he takes the mound in GABP on Thursday for Opening Day. Boston’s resident ace is poised to show his first season in Boston – a brilliant one in 2025 after coming over from the White Sox – was just the tip of the iceberg, and I think he leads a revamped pitching staff to the upper echelon of the league.

With the bats, though, it’s Roman Anthony who takes a giant step forward in 2026, and I think the Willson Contreras addition has gone completely under the radar – he’s going to beat the crap out of the green monster all year long. It’s a lineup that’s deep and versatile, and I think it’s on the cusp of taking completely off.

Not to mention that it just seems very Red Socky for them to jump up and seize a title in a year where the Dodgers and Yankees sit atop most every projection system – that’s just their style.

After a 3-1 record last week and a series win over Kentucky, Ole Miss hopped back into the nation’s top 25 just in time for a road trip to Memphis in the midweek.

The No. 18 Rebels (19-6, 3-3 SEC) will faceoff with the Tigers (6-16, 1-2 AAC) at FedEx Park with a first pitch set for 6 p.m. CT. Ole Miss defeated Memphis a few weeks ago in Oxford in a 7-1 final.

Things did not get easier for the Tigers after that loss with the program piling up losses in non-conference and conference play this season. The Rebels meanwhile have been surging of late and need to get past the Tigers tonight to focus in on the massive in-state series with Mississippi State in Oxford this weekend.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUP

• Ole Miss: RHP Owen Kelly (1-0, 3.68 ERA)
• Memphis: LHP Logan Rushing (0-1, 7.71 ERA)

Owen Kelly will start on the mound for Ole Miss after a nice outing last week against Austin Peay where he went 2 IP with no earned runs. Kelly pitched against Memphis in the aforementioned game going 4 IP with one earned run and five strikeouts in his longest outing of the year.

Memphis will counter with lefty senior Logan Rushing whose last outing was against Eastern Illinois going 1.1 IP with no earned runs in a loss. Rushing has not had an appearance longer than two innings this season or topped 50 pitches in action.

The Rebels on paper should win this game every time, but anyone who knows this rivalry knows the Memphis squad is made up of local travel ball players who know plenty about the Ole Miss lineup and its tendencies. The 7-1 final from a few weeks back will either serve as a chip on their shoulder or a nightmare it can’t awake from when the first pitch flies at 6 p.m. tonight.

The game will be livestream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

The next step in profiling Seattle’s shot at defending their AL West throne, and a potential American League pennant bid, comes on the other side of the ball. Seattle’s pitching staff has the easiest task in the sport, in the sense that their hitters face the toughest task. T-Mobile Park, with its predictable dimensions, chilly climate, and SABR-worthy peculiarities in eye of the batting beholder, is a welcoming place for hurlers. But make no mistake, this projects as a worthy group in their own right, as Seattle is joined by only the Dodgers and Blue Jays to have both hitters and pitchers projected in the top-7 of the sport by FanGraphs wins above replacement.

Anchors (complimentary) of the 2021-2024 Seattle Mariners, in 2025 the starting rotation was at times an anchor (derogatory) to the club’s efforts. While a 3.97/4.02/4.03 ERA/FIP/xERA is no great catastrophe as a starting staff, plenty of the club’s numbers fell short of the standard set by this group. A drop of over 60 innings pitched was most damning, with all but Luis Castillo missing time with injury at one point or another among the top five arms from 2024. Bryce Miller will almost certainly open the season on the injured list, and Logan Evans is sidelined with Tommy John to chip into the depth further.

I’ll skip the panic brake pumping and slam the pedal down here, however. Seattle’s rotation is a huge strength, and is poised for a better showing than a season ago to pair with the improved lineup. Bryan Woo’s breakout was a blessing for the M’s, not only for his excellence but an astounding rate of efficiency. The buttery righty is poised to glide through bats once more in his age 26 campaign, even if he’ll likely face a bit more batted ball fortune on occasion than his lifetime .246 BABIP to this point in nearly 400 innings… right? While George Kirby sought to diversify his targets somewhat, Woo relentlessly pounded the zone at a rate surpassing his famously walk-thrifty teammate. Kirby’s biggest question mark is largely superficial: what impact does his lower arm slot have? The righty seems intent on working the edges more, forcing hitters into disadvantageous swings instead of relentlessly pounding the zone. This is a pathway to more strikeouts and, hopefully, better performance away from T-Mobile Park for Kirby in particular, but it’s likely we’ll see an uptick in free passes, albeit hopefully worth the added K’s.

Castillo and Gilbert have the least to alter headed into 2026. For The Rock, it’s mostly a battle against time and a workload that is an outlier in this era. No longer needed to be the ace, Castillo is a lynchpin for Seattle’s efforts all the same, as his capacity to deliver six quality innings every fifth game eases the burden on the bullpen and is a luxury few clubs can boast. Gilbert, despite a halting campaign at times a season ago, is pursuing the same goal as Kirby from the opposite end. Despite great velocity, Gilbert’s four-seam fastball is a get-ahead offering but not a strikeout one. His splitter took over the slack for the deterioration of his slider, seemingly a side effect of his injury issues in 2026. Now sporting the slider and a refreshed cutter, Gilbert’s target is the 200 inning mark he eclipsed in 2024.

The depth will receive some greater shine tomorrow, but suffice to say Emerson Hancock cannot be given much chance in the bullpen as he was late in 2025. While the Georgia righty saw some promise there in short stints, if the M’s hope to avoid the return of the likes of Luis F. Castillo, they’ll hope Hancock can fill in most ably. He is, particularly at home, a fine option in a pinch. Too much, however, and the bullpen could be strained.

That bullpen’s capacity for strain will look familiar at the season’s outset, although more hale than this time a year ago. The back five of the ‘pen introduce southpaw Jose A. Ferrer, the return in the Harry Ford deal with the Nationals whose knack for groundballs will be a test for a Mariners infield that’s not prioritized defensive prowess in its construction. Still, joined by Speier, Bazardo, Brash, and Muñoz, the M’s can boast one of the better pathways from the 6th-9th in MLB. Likely, Seattle hopes to get to bounce back and forth on days between their five most potent arms, keeping 2-3 fresh per night as often as possible. 

The presumed final three also serve that purpose in the inverse. Carlos Vargas, Casey Legumina, and Cooper Criswell all lack minor league options, hence their inclusion on this list, but only Criswell seems assured his role given his capacity for long relief and strong showing this spring.

Vargas and Legumina have been given ample opportunities in Seattle but have found mixed results, leaving hard-throwing righties Cole Wilcox and Yosver Zulueta windows to crack the club. Both hurlers, as well as the M’s bevy of 40-man relievers, have minor league options remaining, leaving them likeliest to begin the season in Triple-A Tacoma as a tiebreaker.

For Seattle to repeat as AL West champions, the pitching staff will need to improve upon a season ago. The most straightforward path is greater durability and performance from the rotation, easing the load on arms like Bazardo whose workload was, particularly by the end of the playoffs, Herculean. The M’s are positioned to be among the best in baseball on both sides of the ball. That’s what good teams do, and your Seattle Mariners are a good team.

Baseball history is full of great players. It is also full of players whose stories become intertwined with legends so large that they never quite stand on their own.

Ernie Shore just happens to be one of those players.

The former Yankee celebrates his birthday today, and while his career deserves recognition on its own, it is nearly impossible to tell his story without telling it alongside the one and only Babe Ruth. At almost every turn of Shore’s baseball life, Ruth was there.

Ernest Grady Shore
Born: March 24, 1891 (East Bend, NC)
Died: September 24, 1980 (Winston-Salem, NC)
Yankees Tenure: 1919-20

Shore’s journey to the major leagues began far from the spotlight that would eventually follow him. Born in North Carolina in 1891, he developed a country-strong frame on his family’s farm and an arm that caught the attention of professional scouts early. He graduated from Guilford College in 1914 and even returned during the offseason to serve as a math professor, but his professional path had already begun to take shape before that.

In 1912, the New York Giants brought Shore in on trial, a reminder of just how different the game looked at the time. Shore made his professional debut on June 20 as a reliever, but when the Giants attempted to option him, he refused and returned to college. He was later required to pay a fine to be reinstated before continuing his professional career.

Like many players of his era, his path back to the majors ran through the minor leagues, where he refined his command and established himself as a dependable arm rather than a headline-grabbing prospect. That reliability made him valuable. By the time he reached the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, Shore had developed into one of the more promising pitchers in high-level minor league baseball. Baltimore was one of the premier pipelines to the majors, and it just so happened that another young player was coming through that same system.

George Herman Ruth.

In 1914, both Shore and Ruth were part of the deal that sent them from a financially struggling Baltimore franchise to the Boston Red Sox. It was the first time their careers crossed, and it would not be the last. The two even roomed together early in their Boston days, until Shore reportedly requested a different roommate due to their vastly different lifestyles and habits.

In Boston, Shore quickly proved he belonged. While Ruth was still being used primarily as a pitcher, Shore emerged as one of the most reliable arms on a loaded Red Sox staff. From 1914 through 1917, he compiled a 58–33 record with a 2.12 ERA and played a key role in helping Boston capture World Series titles in 1915 and 1916. He was not flashy, but he was effective, the kind of pitcher teams relied on to win games consistently.

Ruth, meanwhile, was becoming something else entirely. Even then, the contrast was clear. Shore was steady and dependable. Ruth was becoming a phenomenon. Much like their personalities, they were two very different types of players.

That contrast reached its peak on June 23, 1917, in one of the strangest and most famous games in baseball history. Ruth started that day and immediately walked the first batter. What followed felt more like chaos than competition. After arguing the strike zone, Ruth was ejected and, in a moment that only adds to the legend, reportedly punched the umpire on his way out.

Shore entered the game in relief, despite having pitched just a few days earlier. The runner Ruth had allowed on base was caught stealing, and from that moment on, Shore was perfect. He retired the next 26 batters in order, recording 27 consecutive outs without allowing another baserunner.

For years, the game was considered a perfect game. Today, it is officially recognized as the first combined no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, credited to both Ruth and Shore, further cementing their connection in baseball history.

But that designation has always felt a little incomplete. Shore did everything a pitcher could possibly do. He faced 26 batters and retired all 26. His performance alone met every standard of perfection. The only thing separating him from a perfect game was the fact that Babe Ruth had already walked a batter.

In a single afternoon, Shore’s greatest achievement became inseparable from Ruth’s most chaotic moment. That was not a one-time occurrence. It was the pattern of his career.

Shore continued to pitch effectively for Boston, but his career was soon interrupted by military service during World War I. He missed the 1918 season, and when he returned, he was not quite the same pitcher. The timing was significant. As Shore worked his way back, Ruth was transforming into the most dominant offensive player the game had ever seen.

Once again, their paths crossed. Shore was eventually traded to the Yankees, reuniting him with Ruth in New York just as Ruth’s legend was exploding. This time, however, they were no longer peers on parallel tracks. Ruth was becoming the face of baseball. Shore was nearing the end of his career.

He appeared in parts of the 1919 and 1920 seasons with the Yankees, contributing as a veteran arm on a roster that was beginning to take shape around Ruth’s larger-than-life presence. Even in New York, their connection extended beyond the field.

One story that has followed Shore through history involves an incident during a Yankees exhibition game, when Ruth went into the stands to confront a heckler. Accounts vary, as they often do with stories involving Ruth, but the situation reportedly escalated to the point where the fan pulled a knife. Shore was among those who intervened, helping to defuse the situation and potentially prevent serious harm. For Shore, it was just another instance of helping the hot-headed Ruth out of a jam.

In a career filled with moments tied to Ruth, even that story fits. On the field, Shore once followed Ruth and delivered perfection. Off the field, he may have helped protect him.

Shore’s major league career came to an end shortly thereafter, finishing with a 65–43 record and a 2.47 ERA across seven seasons. Those numbers reflect a pitcher who was far more than a footnote. He was a key contributor to championship teams, a reliable starter, and a player capable of one of the most remarkable pitching performances the game has ever seen.

After baseball, Shore returned to North Carolina, where he lived a far different kind of life. He served as a sheriff for many years, becoming a respected figure in his community. In contrast to Ruth’s life of fame and spectacle, Shore’s post-baseball years were defined by stability, service, and a quieter form of impact.

It is a fitting contrast. Because while Babe Ruth became one of the most famous athletes in history, Ernie Shore remained something else entirely: a great pitcher whose legacy is forever intertwined with the biggest name the game has ever known.

Some players are remembered for what they did. Others are remembered for who they did it alongside. Ernie Shore will always be both.

Happy birthday, Ernie.

---

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

Outside of Edwin Díaz, the Mets’ bullpen proved to be volatile last year. While a number of factors contributed to that reality, one of David Stearns’ goals this offseason was to strengthen the relief corps. He started that process when he signed closer Devin Williams to a three-year deal, but he followed that up a few weeks later when he signed Luke Weaver—the former setup man to Williams with the Yankees—to a two-year deal. Weaver also stepped into the closer’s role on occasion last year and picked up eight saves along the way.

Unfortunately for the righty, it was a tale of two seasons in 2025. He was dominant until a hamstring injury sidelined him in June. Before the injury he had a sparkling 1.05 ERA in 25.2 innings, which was the lowest on the team. All eight of his saves came during that time period, as Williams was struggling at the time.

Once Weaver returned in late June he wasn’t the same pitcher as the beginning of the season. His ERA after his return ballooned to 5.31 in 39 innings pitched. He blew three saves in that time, whereas he had blown just one before that. All told, he went 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 2025. The Mets are hoping that they’re getting the dominant Weaver from the first half.

Should they stay healthy ,the duo of Weaver and Williams should form a formidable one to close out games. It didn;t quite work out with the Yankees since they both struggled at different times during the season, but they both have the opportunity to redeem themselves with their new organization.

With injuries and under-performance in the Mets’ bullpen last season, it was an adventure getting to Díaz to close out games. The team now has a true setup man in Weaver, which should bring better stability to that part of games this year.

The Phillies’ starting rotation was very good in 2025. They led the majors in wins above replacement and had the second lowest ERA (with the lowest FIP). They also had quality depth, as they were able to withstand injuries to Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola that caused them to miss large chunks of the season. But heading into camp this year, there were reasons to believe they wouldn’t be able to match that performance in 2026, and the rotation might actually turn out to be a weakness.

There was plenty of confidence in the top of the rotation where Cristopher Sanchez has established himself as an ace and Jesus Luzardo looks like a very capable number two, provided that he’s past his injury history. (Based on the extension the Phillies gave him, they certainly seem to think so).

After that, things started to get a little murky. Wheeler won’t be ready for the start of the season, and Ranger Suarez took a hefty payday and went to Boston. (Good for him, but I was okay with not paying him since he can’t seem to get through a full season healthy.) That left the Phillies with Nola, Andrew Painter, and Taijuan Walker in the Opening Day rotation, and there was uncertainty about all of them.

Nola had an awful 2025, spending much of it on the Injured List, and wasn’t very good most of the time when he did pitch. Painter, in his return from Tommy John surgery had poor numbers in the minors. And Walker is Walker: While he pitched adequately in 2025, he was one of the worst pitchers in baseball the year before.

Even more troubling was the lack of depth. With the trade of Mick Abel last year, there doesn’t appear to be anyone in the minors ready to step up and pitch well if the need arises. (To be fair, at this time last year, Abel looked like a failed prospect himself.)

While we should only place so much stock in what we see during the spring, there are signs that things are breaking in the Phillies direction.

Nola came into camp with increased velocity and pitched well in the WBC. If you buy into the “even year Nola” phenomenon, then we could see Nola pitch like he did in 2024 when he received Cy Young Award votes.

The last few starts from Aaron Nola have been incredibly encouraging.

The uptick in velocity looks legit, his body's moving a bit more efficiently and truly commanding every pitch. His arm slot has changed a bit: dropped it a bit/releasing further from his body/lower rel.… pic.twitter.com/3iEAnp0xak

— Joseph Cammisa (@jmcammisa) March 17, 2026

Painter hasn’t yet looked like the future ace we were once promised, but his Spring performance has at least indicated that he can be a viable part of a good rotation this season. There are still questions about his ability to pitch deeper into games, but that’s the case for most pitchers in April these days. He likely won’t see past the fifth inning much -if at all – in the early part of the season.

Walker has looked great this spring, giving up just one run across three appearances, and an additional three scoreless innings pitching for Mexico in the WBC. Given his track record, it’s tough to expect too much from him, but he at least looks like he can once again be a serviceable starter when the team needs him.

Taijuan Walker this spring:

2/26 vs. WSH
2.0 IP | 3 H | 1 ER | 0 BB | 1 K

3/3 vs. ARI
2.1 IP | 2 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 2 K

3/8 vs. Brazil
3.1 IP | 0 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 3 K

3/15 vs. ATL
5.0 IP | 3 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 3 K pic.twitter.com/cUF5cHB9Ek

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) March 15, 2026

In perhaps the best news of the spring, Wheeler has reportedly made great progress in his return from surgery. He’s ahead of schedule and might be back in the Phillies’ rotation in May.

Things are going so well that Phillies will put Zack Wheeler on an official rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Three innings.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 23, 2026

There’s obviously a lot that could go wrong: Nola might go back to having frequent mid-inning meltdowns and giving up multiple home runs in every start. (To be fair, he gives up a fair share of home runs in his good seasons too.) Painter might be Spencer Howard 2.0 in that he can’t maintain top velocity for more than a couple of innings. Walker might not be able to overcome his lack of stuff and revert to being one of the worst pitchers in baseball. And even if he makes it back to the majors, Wheeler might never regain his form that made him one of the best pitchers in the game.

That doesn’t even get into the inevitable injuries that can – and likely will – happen. An injury to either Sanchez or Luzardo would be tough to overcome, and the thought of seeing the likes of Bryse Wilson or Alan Rangel making multiple starts is not a comforting one.

But don’t forget that there’s also a lot that can go right, and based on what we’ve seen this spring, there’s reason to believe that the Phillies will once again have one of the best rotations in baseball.

In a really sad piece of news, the Nationals announced that Josiah Gray has been placed on the 60-Day IL with a Flexor Strain. This is a crushing setback for Gray, who has missed pretty much all of the last two seasons due to Tommy John. Now, the right hander is dealing with yet another arm injury.

The Nationals have made the following roster moves:

-Selected the contract of LHP Cionel Pérez
-Placed RHP Paxton Schultz on the 15-day IL (retro to 3/22) with right elbow inflammation
-Recalled RHP Josiah Gray and placed Gray on the 60-day IL (retro to 3/22) with a right flexor…

— Nationals Communications (@NationalsComms) March 23, 2026

After being sent to Triple-A, and seemingly being healthy, the Nats dropped this bomb on us yesterday. The team’s 2023 All-Star will be back on the shelf until at least late May due to this injury. At this point, you have to worry about Gray’s future after all of these injuries. 

Before this Tommy John Surgery, Gray was relatively durable in the minors and his early big league career. He made 28 starts in 2022 and 30 in 2023. However, he has only made two starts since then. 

A Flexor Strain was actually what started all of this. That was Gray’s original diagnosis when he went down in April of 2024. However, he eventually had to go under the knife and missed the rest of that season and all of 2025. Now, he is facing a brutal full circle moment.

Hopefully, this Flexor Strain does not lead to another big surgery and is just a relatively minor set back. If you want to be optimistic, we saw Cade Cavalli have a bumpy Tommy John recovery and now he is starting on Opening Day. Hopefully, we can see that sort of come back from Gray.

It is a real bummer for Gray, who was clearly so happy to be back on the field. He said he felt healthy for most of this spring, despite his velocity not being at pre-surgery levels. Maybe that drop in velocity should have been more of a red flag, but the rest of his arsenal looked sharp. Gray also seemed confident that the velocity would eventually come back.

The Nationals have placed Josiah Gray on the 60-day IL with a right flexor strain. Gray, who hasn’t pitched since April 2024, was healthy this spring and optimistic after being optioned to AAA last week. This has to be a crushing blow to him.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) March 23, 2026

The hope is that Gray can come off the IL after the initial 60 days, but even if he does, the road back to the big leagues will be long. He was going to start the year in AAA anyway, but now he will need even more reps in the minors after the injury setback. 

At this point, you have to wonder if we will ever see that 2023 version of Gray ever again. He is going to miss basically two and a half years at this point. Between the wear and tear on the arm and the rust, it will be a tough road back for the righty. Gray seems like a high character guy, so I have faith that he will put the work in.

However, this news makes that Max Scherzer/Trea Turner trade look even worse. In hindsight, that move set the Nats back at least five years. They traded two franchise cornerstones for Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Between the injuries to Gray and that unfortunate extension to Ruiz, that deal is aging like milk.

This trade really set the Nats back years https://t.co/zyFaTJWtO5

— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) March 23, 2026

Even if the Dodgers did not win a championship with those two, they easily won that deal. Scherzer was fantastic for them down the stretch and Turner played some of the best ball of his career in LA. That trade kicked off the Nats rebuild, and immediately put things on the wrong foot.

You can pin some of that on injuries to Gray and Ruiz, but they also just were not as good as they were expected to be. Both seem like high character guys, but the production just has not been there. Maybe, the Nats should have been more honest with themselves and went for higher upside guys who may have been further from the big leagues. Instead, they tried to get big league ready players with hopes of a quick retool.

Now, the Nats have to rebuild the rebuild. This trade is one of the biggest reasons why that is happening, along with poor drafting. I am gutted for Gray, but there is some symbolism in this move. Hopefully, Josiah Gray can bounce back and become a cog in the middle of the Nats rotation again.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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We’re just two days from Opening Day of the 2026 regular season. The Cubs will face the Nationals at Wrigley Field.

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has done another makeover of the team over the winter, with Kyle Tucker departing and Alex Bregman arriving being the biggest change.

But Hoyer also acquired a potential top starter, Edward Cabrera, in trade. And despite the departure of key 2025 relievers like Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller, Hoyer has acquired four relievers in free agency who all have had success in the past: Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb and Hunter Harvey.

In the past, Hoyer’s had good luck putting together bullpens, so I think that should work out pretty well.

In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, I’d like you to give Hoyer a grade. Honestly, I think this offseason rates an “A,” and I’ve never been a big fan of Hoyer. But he’s put together a win-now type of team that should be able to build on last year’s 92-win club and should be the favorite to win the NL Central.

Cast your vote below and we’ll have the results later this week.

The outfield was a problem for the Orioles last year. Early-season injuries to Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill meant that the team rarely had their “first string” options all available at the same time. This did allow Ramón Laureano to break out and become a valuable trade chip, but the rest of the replacements struggled to find any consistency.

Orioles President of Baseball Operations Mike Elias made the outfield a priority this offseason. He dealt Grayson Rodriguez, and his four years of team control, to the Angels in exchange for veteran slugger Taylor Ward, a player that the GM had apparently been coveting for years. Ward is only expected to be in Baltimore for one year since he hits free agency after the season, but he should provide added power and durability to a lineup that could use both.

Leody Taveras was the other offseason addition. His spot on the roster is not locked in though. He would be the fifth outfielder on the squad, a luxury that many teams don’t utilize. His argument to make the Opening Day team would include his versatility, ability to play centerfield, speed on the bases, and a switch-hitting bat to complement Colton Cowser’s lefty stick.

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Dylan Beavers

Beavers enters the year with a little bit of a Rookie of the Year buzz. He posted a .934 OPS in Triple-A Norfolk last year, and then had an intriguing 35-game cup of coffee with the Orioles at the end of the year in which he had a .375 on-base percentage. Those performances gave his prospect status a big boost, placing him onto several “Top 100” lists for the first time in his career.

What the rookie’s exact role will be on the team is tough to pin down. He has experience at all three outfield spots, but fits best in the corners. How often will he start ahead of O’Neill and Ward? It’s unclear. At a minimum, he should enter most games at some point to serve as a defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Colton Cowser

The 2025 season was a nightmare for Cowser. He broke his thumb in the first week of the year, forcing him to miss two months. Shortly after returning in June, he fractured his ribs. In what was supposed to be a breakout season for Cowser, he struggled to stay on the field and underperformed (.196/.269/.385) when he was healthy.

It seemed possible going into the offseason that the Orioles would pursue a center field upgrade, pushing Cowser to fight for playing time in the corners. Instead, they added Ward and made Cowser their de facto starting center fielder. It’s a big role in a crucial campaign.

Tyler O’Neill

The Orioles need more out of O’Neill in 2026 than they got in his debut season. Last year, he only played in 54 games, hit nine home runs, and posted a .684 OPS. That’s not good value for the $16.5 million he is earning per season.

O’Neill is making too much money to simply be a platoon bat, but the Orioles could look to protect him a bit more in the season ahead. That could mean getting subbed out in the late innings or seeing more regular time at DH. Beavers is going to deserve regular playing time as well, so some sort of partnership with O’Neill makes sense.

Taylor Ward

The addition of Ward came out of, well, left field. Rodriguez was a player that Orioles fans had grown attached to and still believed in quite a bit. Ward, playing his baseball on the west coast, was a relative unknown that is also due to hit free agency soon. It didn’t seem to make much sense at first blush.

Now, several months and a full spring training removed from the move, things are starting to click. Ward has been a well above-average hitter for five years now and has experience hitting towards the top of a batting order. A nice showing down in Sarasota (.894 OPS) doesn’t hurt either. Meanwhile, Rodriguez is opening the season on the IL for the Angels, citing “dead arm” and further diminished velocities for the decision. There is still plenty of time for this deal to go sideways, but right now it is looking much more logical for the Orioles.

Depth

Whether or not any other dedicated outfielders make the Opening Day squad will depend on how the front office and manager Craig Albernaz feel about the rest of their bench. The roster math right now is tight, depending on if they go forward with 12 or 13 pitchers out of the gate. Unless there is an unreported injury or a potential trade in the next two days, they will probably not be able to carry all of the bench players that have been discussed throughout the spring. Bryan Ramos, who is exclusively an infielder, would seem to be the odd man out despite his strong showing this spring.

Taveras did not have a great spring. He finished with a .205/.226/.304 batting line. But at this point in his career, his value is not in his bat. It’s more about being a late-game upgrade on defense or the bases. Is that worth his $2 million salary? Or could the team get just as much value out of a combination of Beavers, Blaze Alexander, and the eventual call-up of Enrique Bradfield Jr.?

Alexander, acquired from the Diamondbacks right before spring training, is making the team and is likely to see plenty of time at second base as Jackson Holliday rehabs his broke hamate bone. But the O’s used him in center field some this spring, and the Diamondbacks gave him time there last season. Using him as the backup in center would save a roster spot.

It’s a similar consideration for Jeremiah Jackson in the corners. The 25-year-old had a really good camp (.847 OPS), which comes on the heels of an impressive post-trade deadline showing with the big league team last summer (.775 OPS, five home runs). They could use his bat off the bench. Most of his professional work has come on the infield, but he played 34 games in right field last year.

Bradfield is being treated like a player that the Orioles plan to count on rather soon. As of this writing, he is still on the team’s roster and took part in both of their exhibition games against the Nationals this week. With the glove and on the bases, he is ready for the big leagues. But his bat needs some work. He OPS’ed just .512 in 15 games at Triple-A last year, and went 1-for-12 this spring. That doesn’t sound like a player that will make an Opening Day roster, but a strong showing in Triple-A to begin the season could earn him a ticket to Baltimore sometime in the first half of the year.

Heston Kjerstad began the spring on fire, but cooled off in the second half of March. Now he is dealing with hamstring tightness. All of this combines to leave him off of the Opening Day roster and likely to get his first action of the year at Triple-A Norfolk. But if he proves he has shaken the health issues from a season ago, he should get another shot in Baltimore at some point in the year, especially if the offense needs an influx of power.

Reed Trimble was a somewhat surprising addition to the 40-man roster this winter. The 25-year-old has been a legitimate prospect ever since the Orioles selected him 65th overall back in 2021, but his development has been rather slow. That said, he was Rule 5 draft-eligible in December, so it seems the Orioles were worried enough about losing him that they didn’t want to risk it. He hit .257/.352/.503 in Double-A last year, and then spent a month in Triple-A. His ceiling is probably that of a toolsy reserve that can provide solid defense at all three outfield spots. He will need to prove himself in Norfolk first.

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The Orioles do not project to be elite at any one outfield position in 2026. But at a minimum they should be serviceable across the board. FanGraphs gives the following projections by position:

• LF: 2.8 fWAR, sixth-best in MLB
• CF: 3.0 fWAR, 13th in MLB
• RF: 2.4 fWAR, 11th in MLB

That would represent significant improvement in left (0.8 fWAR in 2025) and center (1.2 fWAR in 2024), while it would be about the same production in right (2.5 fWAR in 2025) from a season ago. The Orioles would take that. Ultimately, this team is going to go as far as their infielders, led by Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso, can take them. But they need the outfield to show a certain level of competency and health that they didn’t in 2025.

Diamondbacks News

National League Wild Card landscape: What teams do the Diamondbacks have to compete with? by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The National League has a clear favorite, three rebuilding clubs and a large swath of teams that range from young and promising to perennial contender, which should create a competitive atmosphere.

On Fangraphs, the Los Angeles Dodgers are projected to lead the NL with 96 wins, but there are 10 teams between 77 and 88 wins where a few breaks can cluster the group together.

One Last-Minute Move the Diamondbacks Could Still Make Before Opening Day by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

There don’t tend to be many legitimately good free agent left-handed relievers just floating out there, unsigned. A move to acquire one would likely either require a trade or taking a flyer on a potential under-the-radar arm. 

One option that is available, as much as D-backs fans might groan at it: former Diamondback Andrew Chafin was recently let go by the Minnesota Twins. 

Chafin pitched to an elite 2.41 ERA in 42 games for the Twins and Nationals in 2025. He posted a 3.51 ERA in 62 games in 2024, one year following his departure from Arizona.

Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster becomes clear, and there are no left-handed relievers by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

“We feel very comfortable with some reverse split guys that can go out there and attack left-hand hitters,” Lovullo said. “The reason for this decision, and this is what I told Brandyn, is that our main pillar is filling up the strike zone. I felt like that was a little inconsistent. … He’s going to be in our bullpen in no time. So that’s the reason.”

Morillo and Ginkel were two arms Lovullo pointed to who could go after lefties, and Hoffmann had reverse splits in the minor leagues, as well.

Around the League

Best mound visit of Baumler’s life – finding out he’s a Major Leaguer by Dave Sessions [MLB]

Baumler induced groundouts from the first two batters he faced, Starling Marte and Jonathan India, before Schumacher suddenly sprung from the dugout steps and went out to the mound for a chat. The Rangers’ infielders converged and Schumaker broke the good news to Baumler – to a visit then filled with laughs and smiles.

Baumler did not allow a run in 9 1/3 innings over eight Cactus League appearances for the Rangers this spring, striking out 10 and walking two. At three levels in Baltimore’s farm system last season, Baumler ​​posted a combined 2.04 ERA in 39 2/3 innings.

MLB Opening Day 2026: A guide to the offseason chaos by Jorge Castillo, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Jesse Rogers, David Schoenfield [ESPN]

Opening week of the 2026 MLB season has arrived — after an offseason when chaos reigned supreme.

Not long after their historic late-season collapse, the New York Mets started an offseason overhaul that continued throughout the winter. Fresh off their 2025 World Series appearance, the Toronto Blue Jays added an ace to their rotation, the Baltimore Orioles brought in a slugging bat to anchor their lineup, and the Chicago Cubs finally made the big-name free agent signing their fans had been craving.

But in the end, it was the two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers who sent shock waves through the sport by signing the offseason’s No. 1 free agent to a record deal.

2026 Positional Power Rankings: Bullpen (No. 16-30) by Michael Rosen [FanGraphs]

28. Diamondbacks

With A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez both on the shelf for the foreseeable future, Kevin Ginkel — who, to be clear, posted a 7.36 ERA in 2025 while battling intermittent shoulder issues — started the offseason in the pole position to handle much of the team’s high-leverage work. Then his fastball was down two ticks this spring, and he got lit up, so that might’ve been the end of high-leverage Gink.

At least Paul Sewald is back in town. He appears to have added a cutterish pitch to his two-pitch arsenal, and his velocity has actually been up a bit in his brief spring action. Given the trend lines of these two, I’d pick Sewald to emerge as the preferred early-season closer option, but there are a few guys who are perhaps primed to seize the title as they gain a bit more big league experience.

JJ Wetherholt To Make Cardinals’ Opening Day Roster by Darragh McDonald [MLB Trade Rumors]

The news on Wetherholt is notable but not surprising. It has seemed all winter long as though the Cards had planned for him to get a shot in the big leagues. They cleared out their roster this winter by trading guys like Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan. Those trade were partly for cost savings but also to open some playing time for younger players as the Cards are rebuilding and need to assess their young guys in a major league environment.

Wetherholt was one of the main guys who needed some room. The seventh overall pick of the 2024 draft, he climbed to the cusp of the majors last year. He split his time between Double-A and Triple-A, making 496 plate appearances in total. His 14.5% walk rate was excellent and almost as high as his 14.7% strikeout rate. He produced a combined .306/.421/.510 batting line, which translated to a 154 wRC+. He stole 23 bases on the year. His defense at shortstop was considered good enough for him to stay there as a big leaguer but he also played some second and third base.

As the 2026 season drew closer and the annual top 100 lists came out, Wetherholt was in the top 10 of most of them. But at the beginning of the season, the Cards had a fairly crowded infield. Masyn Winn is one of the best defensive shortstops on the majors and is controlled for another four seasons. They had Arenado at third. Donovan could bounce around the diamond but played second base more than any other spot.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates Sent Down Konnor Griffin by Michael McDermott [Mike’s Hardball Blueprint]

In the Prospect Promotion Incentive era, it’s tempting for the Pirates to play their top prospect. A first-place Rookie of the Year finish in 2026, or becoming an MVP finalist by 2028, would have netted Pittsburgh a first-round pick. Considering the Dodgers and Mets are spending like there’s no tomorrow, it would easily be a Top 30 selection.

However, we also have to remember that even with the potential reward of a first-rounder, the six-plus years of control are more valuable. The draft pick is merely a bonus if the timing lines up right for an elite prospect.

Happy Tuesday! The Mariners concluded this year’s Spring Training with a 3-10 loss to the San Diego Padres, but a solid outing from starter Luis Castillo was one of the game’s highlights. Castillo pitched five innings and only gave up one run on four hits with five strikeouts. 

We are just two sleeps away from 2026 Opening Day, and first pitch can’t come any sooner. The Mariners will be faced with a number of difficult roster decisions before then, however, including J.P. Crawford’s position at shortstop and Bryce Miller’s rotation spot. With both players battling injuries and a little uncertainty with their status, who do you think will occupy those positions on the Mariners’ Opening Day roster?

In Mariners news…

• Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times details how the baseball journeys of Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh have led them to the success they are seeing today.
• Bryce Miller has been progressing quickly through his recovery from oblique inflammation and believes his next step is to pitch a live bullpen session on Friday.

Around the league…

• Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago Cubs are finalizing a long-term contract extension.
• Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider will begin the season on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain.
• Veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen has made the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster in his 18th MLB season.
• RHP John Brebbia has been released from his minor league deal by the Colorado Rockies and will now become a free agent.
• The Athletics have traded infield prospect Cooper Bowman to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for righty pitching prospect Gerlin Rosario.
• Washington Nationals RHP Josiah Gray has been diagnosed with a flexor strain and been placed on the 60-day IL.
• Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Gavin Lux will begin the season on the 10-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement.
• Mike Petriello at MLB.com breaks down the ABS data from this year’s Spring Training and how it compares to Triple-A data from the 2025 season.