Good morning everyone! We’ve got much to report on as we get this Wednesday underway, so let’s get to it.
In Mariners news…
In case you missed it, Shane Lantz at Baseball America spoke to Mariners farm director Justin Toole about the organization’s excitement for what Jonny Farmelo can do with a healthy season. ($)
After years of speculation, Luis Robert, Jr. has finally been dealt — sent to the Mets in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuña and righty Truman Pauley.
MLB owners are reportedly furious with the Dodgers’ signing of Kyle Tucker and plan to make a huge push for a salary cap next winter. Evan Drellich at The Athletic has the latest. ($)
Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic explained why the looming danger of a lockout doesn’t seem to be changing how teams are operating this winter. ($)
The Phillies are not taking Bo Bichette’s signing with the Mets well, with team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski calling it a “gut punch.”
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong and young Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams formed a tight bond in a very modern way — through social media.
The Milwaukee Bucks try to start another of those pesky winning streaks tonight in Fiserv against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As we’ve all been patiently waiting for, it’s NBA Rivals Week, so who better for the Bucks to lock horns with than the Pacers, Celtics, Heat, Suns Thunder! Of course, this extremely bitter rivalry was born out of these teams competing on the highest stage last season in the NBA Finals*. The Bucks reigned supreme, steamrolling the Thunder and cementing their place in league history as one of the few teams to win the trophy!
*NBA Cup
Where We’re At
Well, Milwaukee did win on MLK Day against Atlanta, but it was anything but convincing—as most of their wins are these days. The Bucks squandered a 23-point lead in the second half, needing big threes from AJ Green and Bobby Portis to get them over the line against a struggling Hawks team. Moreover, Atlanta did them a solid by going 1/22 from three (yes, one for twenty-two)—the worst three-point shooting half in NBA history! Prior to that game, Milwaukee got rinsed by Minnesota (down Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert) and San Antonio. So yeah, the Bucks still have a lot of work to do to.
On the other hand, the Thunder—despite having long-term injuries to key players—just keep on keeping on, winning seven of eight. They did go through a rocky patch before that, dropping games to the Hornets and Suns, but have course-corrected since. Over the last eight games, they own the NBA’s fifth-best net rating, but rank atop the league for the season at large. Put simply, this team remains a wagon, and tonight will be a tough one for Milwaukee to win. That said, OKC are beatable on the right night, which Miami showed on Saturday in a 122-120 upset. Godspeed, Bucks.
Injury Report
For the Bucks, Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique) and Myles Turner (ankle) are both questionable. Taurean Prince (neck) is out.
For the Thunder, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, and Jalen Williams (the wing) are all out. Jaylin Williams (the big) is questionable.
Player To Watch
I’m going with Pete Nance, who, after dominating the G League with the Herd, got his first shot at real minutes with the Bucks against the Hawks, and did not disappoint. Nance made a major impact with five points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 15 minutes; the big man was +13 for the game. I’m looking at what his role develops into going forward. Does he become a regular in the rotation, or was that game more of a flash in the pan?
How To Watch
8:30 p.m. CST on ESPN and FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin.
While some level of frustration about 2025 remains, the Kansas City Royals are poised to secure back-to-back-to-back winning seasons immediately after tying the franchise record for most losses in a year. That comeback is impressive, especially considering how the Royals accomplished it.
Yes, the Royals signed some free agents to do so, but they’ve largely limited their spending and their long-term financial outlook is very good. Yes, they’ve made some efficient trades, improving at the margins and making use of some team depth to attempt to shore up areas of weaknesses. And yes, they’ve watched a couple young players blossom–chief among them the wunderkind Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals are still searching for a difference maker or two, though. Unfortunately, their payroll (which has increased by a respectable $14 million per Cot’s Baseball Contracts) is probably maxed out. And more unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that the Royals are going to swing the big trade that they’re looking for, at least per Ken Rosenthal:
The Kansas City Royals are increasingly unlikely to land either of the two hitters they pursued in trades: the St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan and Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran.Barring further moves, the Royals expect to rely heavily on offseason acquisitions Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas in their outfield, as well as rookie Jac Caglianone and holdover Kyle Isbel.
You can quibble on whether Donovan or Durran are worth the assets that would have taken to acquire them. But both are only 29, under control for multiple seasons, and would be huge improvements over what the Royals have right now. They would make the team better right now and in the future.
Even so, there were other deals that could have been out there that the Royals should have been able to work out. There has been just one problem: the Royals don’t have a good enough farm system to leverage.
The last time the Royals wanted to take the next step, they had that farm system. That was in 2012, after a frustrating season that ended in a 72-90 record. Nevertheless, the Royals moved aggressively to better the club, leveraging top prospects Wil Myers and Jake Odorizzi in a trade to acquire pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis. They improved by 14 games in 2013, narrowly missing the playoffs starting a three-year run as the best team in the American League.
This time around, they just don’t have anybody who can anchor a trade. Since 2020, Royals first round draft picks have lost huge portions of their trade value (Asa Lacy, Frank Mozzicato, Gavin Cross, Blake Mitchell), haven’t played an inning yet of pro ball (Sean Gamble, Josh Hammond), or made it to to the big leagues and have flopped hard (Jac Caglianone). Meanwhile, key high-upside draft picks in the second or third round have also lost significant value after their draft (Blake Wolters, Ben Kudrna, Hiro Wyatt).
Before anybody claims that I’m being unfair here, I don’t at all blame Gamble or Hammond–a pair of high schoolers drafted seven months ago–for anything. Caglianone, as we all know, could be a monster as soon as this season. And the Royals should receive plenty of credit for selecting Carter Jensen and Noah Cameron in the 2021 MLB draft and developing them into players who had excellent debut seasons this year.
Caveats and successes aside, the reason why the Royals couldn’t make an impact trade this year is that they simply couldn’t without trading established big league talent. If the Royals had a better farm system, I think we would have seen a big trade. They don’t, and we didn’t. Farm system rankings are somewhat overrated in and of themselves—the point is to win MLB games, not win MiLB talent arguments—but when push comes to shove, having talent to trade is how teams can take leaps forward.
The people have spoken and the first pitcher is off the board as Braylon Doughty is our No. 6 Cleveland Guardians prospect. Doughty won by just three votes with 35.5% of the vote, beating out Cooper Ingle (33.1%) and Khal Stephen (13.8%). He is making his CTC prospect rankings debut.
Doughty was Cleveland’s first round competitive balance pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Chaparral High School in Temecula, California, signing with Cleveland for a $2,569,200 bonus.
He made his pro debut skipping straight to full-season Single-A Lynchburg to begin 2025 and it was an impressive showing. Doughty made 22 starts, topping out with a season-long 5.2 innings pitched Aug. 1 when he struck out seven and allowed one run without a walk.
Limiting walks was Doughty’s specialty in 2025. He had two walks or fewer in all but one of his starts. Overall on the season, he struck out 99 batters while walking just 23 in 85.1 innings pitched. On the season, he had a 3.48 ERA and an even better 2.84 FIP.
Unfortunately, Doughty didn’t get an opportunity to participate in Lynchburg’s run to a Single-A championship in the Carolina League because he was tabled with right shoulder inflammation on Aug. 23 right before the end of the season. From everything I’ve read, the move was precautionary and he didn’t need any additional surgery or anything.
Doughty has high spin on his breaking pitches, with a slider and curveball that both grade as plus and the potential to have a great changeup as well. Despite just turning 20 years old, he’s already drawing comparisons to another spectacular Cleveland pitcher — Shane Bieber. That’s some high praise. Let’s hope he can prove scouts right as he continues to develop in 2026 where he’ll almost certainly begin the season at High-A Lake County.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number five in the Guardians’ loaded farm system! Your options are below:
Was lined up to make his MLB debut in 2025, but multiple injuries prevented the switch-hitter from getting his opportunity and it’s possible he could be passed up completely.
Impressed at the complex league, then hit the ground running in a late season promotion to Single-A before running out of steam late in his age-17 season. Loaded with potential.
Chourio was lining up to be Cleveland’s top prospect after a sensational 2024, but he was slowed in 2025 by a nagging shoulder injury and had a very average season. He’s looking to bounce back in 2026.
Cleveland’s first round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6 LaViolette instantly becomes one of the top power hitting prospects in the system. Strikeouts and contact have been an issue, however.
One of Cleveland’s most impressive hitters in its minor league system during his stint at High-A Lake County as a 20-year-old. Rosario has a unique combination of speed and power, but will need to overcome his strikeouts.
Morning everyone and welcome to Wednesday! Don’t you love a short week?
Yesterday morning we got a report indicating that future Hall of Fame third baseman Nolan Arenado rejected a trade to the Athletics just prior to getting flipped to Arizona instead. Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the A’s and Cardinals had come to terms on a trade involving him coming to Sacramento, but the 34-year-old decided to reject that in favor of returning to the NL West, where he spent the first eight years of his career with the Rockies.
That’s a bit of a slap in the face to the A’s, even if they are currently playing in a minor league stadium. Arenado has two years left on his deal though, and with no guarantee he would be there at third base when the A’s open in Las Vegas there was a strong chance he would only be playing in Sacramento had he accepted a deal to the Athletics. In that sense it’s his loss because the team is on the rise with young cornerstones Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, both of whom would likely have benefitted from having him in the dugout with them.
On the other hand, it shouldn’t be a surprise anymore that players really don’t want to play in a minor league ballpark, even if it’s good for batters on an up-and-coming squad. The report by Rosenthal says that along with Arizona he would have approved a trade to San Diego, which has a better roster, stadium, and ownership unafraid to spend. The fact that he ended up choosing Arizona is a bit puzzling in a baseball sense because the D-Backs were a fourth-place team in a loaded NL West, and there’s not much to indicate a sudden turnaround is in order.
The Rosenthal report also says that the A’s would have actually taken on more salary in the trade than the Diamondbacks ultimately did. Arizona reportedly took on $11 million of the remaining $42 that Arenado is owed, which is a sizeable chunk for the Cardinals to eat. If the reporting is correct they had a deal with the A’s lined up where they would have gotten greater salary relief but a lesser prospect return. While both the Cardinals and A’s were ready for this to happen, Arenado just wasn’t ready to don the Green & Gold.
That wasn’t all that we learned from the report. We got word yesterday that the A’s are interested in a reunion with former Athletic Miguel Andujar, but it seems the Athletics may make a move one way or another whether it’s a reunion with Andujar or a different outside addition. Third base remains the clear and obvious spot for an upgrade on the position player side of things. The front office supposedly is happy to go with the in-house options Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz and Brett Harris, but these reports on back-to-back days indicate that could just be a negotiating tactic.
Rosenthal says A's had a deal in place for Arenado but he didn't approve. He also says, "The A’s currently intend to use Max Muncy at 3B, with Brett Harris & Darell Hernaiz also in the mix. They possibly could pursue a free agent such as Eugenio Suárez or Yoan Moncada as well." https://t.co/Mqb7mtAKF7
Two other names mentioned in the report that could be of interest to the Athletics is Eugenio Suarez and Yoan Moncada. Either would be an upgrade over the in-house options at the hot corner for the A’s, but the question is by how much depending on their contract.
Suarez is the more established of the two third basemen as the 34-year-old has 325 career home runs to his name. The power is there, but his on-base percentage and defense leave a lot to be desired. The A’s could double down on their power with him as he’s sure to hit a long of homers this year, but that might not fit with what the A’s want out of that spot. He’s not short of suitors, with his most recent team the Seattle Mariners still reportedly monitoring his market.
Moncada is another name that’s been bandied about as a potential fit for the A’s. The longtime White Sock spent last season with the division-rival Angels, his first outside of Chicago in eight years. Injuries yet again ate into Moncada’s campaign as he made it into just 84 games for the Halo’s. Granted, that’s significantly more than his final season in Chicago but any team signing the switch-hitter has to know he can’t be counted on for a full season. Maybe that’s actually attractive to the A’s, who may want to legitimately give Muncy and/or Hernaiz a chance at some point this coming season. It doesn’t hurt that Moncada was actually an above-average hitter in terms of OPS+ during his Angels stint.
Well there you have it. The A’s got left high and dry by Nolan Arenado, who instead heads to the desert to join the D-Backs. Options are dwindling for an upgrade over Muncy and Hernaiz, but we know the front office is at least trying for an upgrade, and even coming close to one. To those that thought the A’s were done adding this offseason, it’s time to recheck your calculus.
While Cal Raleigh was getting all the attention, Shea was actually better in the second half:
Just how good was Shea Langeliers in the 2nd Half of 2025? Well in Cal Raleigh’s “once in a lifetime” type of season, Langeliers outperformed him in wRC+, HRs & RBI in the 2nd Half.
In 57 games, Langeliers went .328/.367/.651 😳 He led all Catchers in fWAR at 3.3.
— Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast (@tablesetterspod) January 20, 2026
Would probably be a big upgrade over Muncy. Would he want to come here though?
If the A’s were in on Arenado, and were willing to take on a lot of salary, is there a chance they are in on Eugenio Suarez? Seems like that wouldn’t be crazy. Maybe getting pitching is too difficult and they’re just going to try to out-slug everyone.
Tough couple months for Bido. Can’t be easy bouncing around that much:
Former A's RHP Osvaldo Bido has been designated for assignment for the 4th time in the last month and a half. First by the A's, then by the Braves, then by the Rays, and now by the Marlins. He seems perpetually destined to be the 41st man on the roster.
How much would a Colby Thomas trade really bring back though?
The more I think about it, I think the A’s are floating Thomas in trade talks to get an SP, and they would sign Andujar to fill Thomas’ role if they are able to work something out. https://t.co/EbyYPgF3yE
Kelly was Colorado’s fourth round pick, 107th overall, in the 2025 draft out of UC-Irvine. The 6’5” 21-year-old righty starter signed for a $700k bonus, just about $15k under the slot value. Like many other high Rockies draftees, Kelly was a high school quarterback with some good athleticism. He was thought of highly enough in high school to be in the top 250 of MLB Pipeline and get drafted in the 20th round in 2022 by Arizona (though he didn’t sign). His standout trait is a high-RPM (3,000+) curveball, combined with low to mid-90s velocity and a decent changeup.
Mid-season 2025 Rank: HM
High Ballot: 17
Mode Ballot: 17, 21, 22, 28
Future Value: 35+, starting pitcher depth
Contract Status: 2025 Fourth Round, UC-Irvine, Rule 5 Eligible After 2028, three options remaining
MLB ETA: 2029
The first couple years of college didn’t go well for Kelly, who threw only 20 1/3 innings with poor results while battling a back injury. In his draft year, Kelly started the season in the bullpen for UC-Irvine before moving back to the rotation in mid-March. In his second start, he outdueled eventual 2025 #2 overall pick Tyler Bremner en route to a season total of 66 2/3 innings with a 3.78 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 rate, and 4.3 BB/9 rate. Kelly didn’t pitch in an official game in the Rockies’ system after signing.
Here’s a look at Kelly after his sophomore campaign in 2024:
Kelly’s fastball sits around 92-93 mph and he can crank it up to 96 at times. But his best pitch has always been his curve, especially when he can land it for strikes. It’s a nasty 11-to-5 breaker thrown in the upper 70s that routinely registers over 3,000 rpm and flashes plus. He has a low-80s changeup that can be effective as well.
While Kelly’s strike-throwing has been inconsistent, scouts saw better quality strikes with the move to the rotation. He should get every opportunity to start, with the knowledge that the fastball-curve combination could tick up if he had to move back to the ‘pen.
UC Irvine right-hander Riley Kelly (4) moved from the Anteaters’ bullpen to the rotation this year and blossomed, making 12 starts along with five relief appearances and lowering his ERA by a run and a half. He’s up to 96 but he sits more 91-93, generating a ton of whiffs on his 82-85-mph straight change, although his 11/5 curveball looks like it should be his best pitch. He has 45 control right now, but if that gets to 50, he’s a starter.
If Kelly can command that hammer, generate a bit more velocity on the fastball, and stick in the rotation, he becomes an interesting starter prospect. Pending that evidence, I ranked Kelly as a 35+ FV player with some upside and put him 26th on my list. Kelly will start 2026 at High-A Spokane or Low-A Fresno, probably the latter.
The final review of the 2025 season will be looking at each position in the Astros farm system. Next up is the outfield position.
BEST OF THE BUNCH
Alonzo Tredwell
Tredwell was the Astros 2nd round pick back in the 2023 draft and he had a breakout season this year. The right-hander pitched across three different levels and posted a 3.69 ERA with 122 strikeouts over 100 innings. This included a dominant 40 strikeouts over 22.2 innings in Double-A to end the season.
Mayer, a 16th round pick in last year’s draft and looks to be another diamond for the Astros. The right-hander started in Single-A and struck out 30 over 17.2 innings earning a promotion to High-A. In Asheville he posted a 2.85 ERA with 45 K in 41 innings. He finished the season in Double-A striking out 37 over 29 innings. He was the Astros minor league pitcher of the year.
Ullola started the season well and then hit a rough patch but turned it around late. In his first full season in Triple-A, Ullola posted a 3.88 ERA with 131 strikeouts over 113.2 innings. He also allowed just 75 hits, good for a .186 batting average against. When he cuts down on the walks, he is dominant.
Pecko had some injuries early in the year but after getting healthy, the 2024 minor league pitcher of the year got back to his normal self. He had a 4.40 ERA in Double-A but that included a 1.75 ERA over his final six outings in Double-A. He got a promotion to Triple-A where he finished with a 3.09 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35 innings. He should be in Houston in 2026.
After a tough season in 2024 for Dombroski, he turned things around this year. The left-hander posted a 3.61 ERA with 116 strikeouts over 112.1 innings. He allowed just 91 hits in Double-A good for a 7.3 H/9, down from 11.1 H/9 last year. He made two starts in Triple-A too and should start there next season.
Ogando pitched the full season for the Woodpeckers and had some ups and downs. The 21-year-old had a 4.07 ERA overall, but had some really good months posting a 3.24 ERA in April and a 3.18 ERA in June. Overall he finished with 113 strikeouts in 94.2 innings, though he did walk 69.
Cruz is an undersized right-hander who put together a solid season in 2025. He started the year in Fayetteville and had a 3.75 ERA with 84 strikeouts over 84 innings. He earned a promotion to High-A where he had a 5.12 ERA, though he also had 20 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. Overall he had a 4.01 ERA.
Fleury has been on the radar as a possible top prospect for a couple of seasons now. He started out the season on fire posting a 0.82 ERA with 25 K in 22 innings in April. He missed some time in May but came back in June and was eventually promoted to Triple-A where he had a 6.95 ERA over 45.1 innings.
Nezuh had a monster first year in the system in 2024 but struggled some in Double-A in 2025. He finished the season strong though posting a 1.67 ERA over his final six games. He would end up finishing the season with a 4.34 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 76.2 innings between Double-A and a couple outings in the FCL.
Pitching is always tricky. As it stands, the Astros will be leaning on Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, Mike Burrows, Cristian Javier and newly acquired Tatsuya Imai. The Astros have some strong arms in Ullola, Pecko and Mayer. Then some other strong options like Tredwell, Forcucci (hasn’t pitched yet) and Dombroski. As we have seen in previous years, we know the Astros will need well more than five starters so plenty of chances for these prospects to shine in 2026.
Police said Odom’s black SUV had an “overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle,” and that the two-time NBA champ confessed to smoking marijuana earlier in the day.
Odom, 46, was arrested for DUI after failing a series of field sobriety tests, and received two traffic violations for driving more than 41+ miles per hour over the limit and improper lane change/failure to maintain lane.
Lamar Odom was recently arrested for a DUI. Anthony J. Causi/New York Post
Police said that Odom claimed at first that he “does not smoke marijuana,” and that his passenger was smoking a “little bit” of weed.
The report added that Odom was “driving like he was in ‘Back To The Future,'” the 1980s sci-fi movie.
Odom, who won back-to-back titles with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2009 and 2010 during his 14-season career, also forgot to put the car in park when police asked him to get out of the vehicle, and it started to move before he hit the brake.
Police said in the report that Odom failed his field sobriety tests for a number of reasons, stating he swayed, lost balance, started too soon, failed to touch the tip of his nose on six attempts and stopped mid-way through, among other things.
The report also states that police asked Odom if he ever had a traumatic brain injury.
Odom laughed and said that he “had 12 strokes and six heart attacks and that he was poisoned at a brothel in Pahrump,” per the report.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, right, talks with forward Lamar Odom after Odom fouled out against the Chicago Bulls during the second half of their game in Los Angeles on November 18, 2008. AP
Odom, who is open about his history of drug and alcohol abuse, was referring to the October 2015 incident when he was found unconscious inside the Nevada brothel Love Ranch following an overdose.
The incident resulted in Odom falling into a coma for three days, and he previously said he suffered 12 strokes, six heart attacks and damage to his kidney and liver.
He nearly died three months after his divorce from Khloé Kardashian was finalized.
Odom was arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles in 2013 and retired a year later.
Goals will be at a premium at the Scotiabank Saddledome with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames hitting the ice on Wednesday, January 21.
My top Penguins vs. Flames predictions and NHL picks are calling for a low-scoring bout with Calgary eking out the victory tonight.
Penguins vs Flames prediction
Penguins vs Flames best bet: Under 5.5 (+110)
Both the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins have been tidy defensively out of the holiday break, respectively ranking first and third in penalty-kill percentage.
Calgary has allowed the seventh-fewest goals per game (2.67), and Pittsburgh has been even better with just 2.17 against per game to rank second in the league.
The Flames have also allowed the second-fewest goals per home game this season (2.35), and No. 1 Dustin Wolf has shown off with a .924 save percentage and 2.16 GAA across his 19 starts in Cowtown. He posted equally impressive .921 and 2.33 home marks last season, too.
Penguins vs Flames same-game parlay
The Flames' strong defensive numbers have paved the way to go 13-7-3 on home ice, and they’ve also driven possession with a 51.8 Corsi For percentage and posted the fourth-highest team save percentage at 5-on-5.
Pittsburgh is missing No. 1 defenseman Erik Karlsson (lower body), too.
Turning to the final leg of this same-game parlay, Calgary forward Yegor Sharangovich has been putting more pucks on net recently and has recorded two or more shots in seven of his past 10 games for 23 total on 46 attempts.
The Calgary Flames have covered the puck line in 16 of their last 20 games at home (+18.35 Units / 57% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs. Flames.
How to watch Penguins vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Puck drop
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet Pittsburgh, Sportsnet West
Penguins vs Flames 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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
The red-hot Detroit Pistons will be looking to extend their win streak to four games tonight as they visit the last-place New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Cade Cunningham’s assist total is extremely high, but my Pistons vs. Pelicans predictions are eyeing him to pick apart a poor New Orleans defense.
Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, January 21.
Pistons vs Pelicans prediction
Pistons vs Pelicans best bet: Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists (+102)
While the Detroit Pistons are a well-oiled machine, Cade Cunningham is undoubtedly the focal point of this team, leading the way with 25.7 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game. The former first overall pick is an incredible playmaker, and he ranks second in the Association in dimes.
No matter the opponent, Cunningham finds a way to facilitate the rock at a high level. The guard has cashed the Over in assists in four of his last six outings, and he just had 14 dimes on Monday against the Boston Celtics.
Cunningham is up against a poor New Orleans Pelicans perimeter defense that is allowing over nine assists per night to point guards, and they’re considered an easy matchup for the position. Also, NOLA is giving up 28.9 dimes per contest overall, which is second-worst in the NBA.
He’ll cook tonight as a passer.
Pistons vs Pelicans same-game parlay
Jalen Duren is a physical specimen down low, and he’s proving to be an irreplaceable piece to the Pistons on both ends of the floor. On the boards, Duren is a monster, and he’s averaging 10.7 rebounds per contest.
While Duren has only cashed the Over once in his last four appearances, he’s up against a Pelicans team that is giving up over 15 boards per night to centers. Duren will take advantage and have a big game on the glass.
Trey Murphy is one of the lone bright spots for the Pels. He’s averaging a career-best 22.2 points, and the University of Virginia product is cooking in January.
This month, Murphy is averaging 29.1 PPG. He’s hit the Over in points in eight straight contests, and during that span, Murphy had three 30+ performances, and also a 42-point eruption.
Pistons vs Pelicans SGP
Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Robinson on a roll
Duncan Robinson is on fire from deep right now, cashing the Over in made triples in five consecutive games.
Pistons vs Pelicans SGP
Cade Cunningham Over 10.5 assists
Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
Trey Murphy Over 20.5 points
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 threes
Pistons vs Pelicans odds
Spread: Pistons -9.5 | Pelicans +9.5
Moneyline: Pistons -420 | Pelicans +330
Over/Under: Over 234.5 | Under 234.5
Pistons vs Pelicans betting trend to know
The Pistons have hit the Moneyline in 31 of their last 40 games (+16.70 Units / 16% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Pelicans.
How to watch Pistons vs Pelicans
Location
Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Detroit, GCSEN
Pistons vs Pelicans latest injuries
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.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
We looked at Astros hitter projections a couple of weeks ago and the natural follow up would be pitchers. However, I specifically waited on them because some projection systems had not released their projections yet. There are still some (like ZIPS) that are not universally available yet. However, there are now enough to get a good idea of what the industry as a whole thinks about the Astros rotation this year.
I should note a couple of things first. The main thing is that projection systems seem to do better with rate statistics like ERA, WHIP, K/9, and BB/9. They don’t do as well with innings, wins, strikeouts, and total walks. So, we are only looking at ERA today. It should also be noted (like we did with hitters) that it is Joe Espada’s job to marshal his resources to maximum advantage. That means choosing who gets to start, how often they start, and how deep into games he allows them to pitch. That will have more of an impact on counting numbers than ERA.
The second thing we should keep in mind is that projection systems are based primarily on batted ball statistics and ERA predictors like FIP, xERA, and SIERA. Those all based their numbers of the type of contact (and amount) a pitcher allows and usually they assume league average fielding and league average luck factors. Statistics like batting average on balls in play (BABIP) and left on base percent (LOB%) vary from year to year even with the same pitcher. Pitchers can control some of that by inducing weaker contact, more groundballs, or more pop flies, but there is a lot a ton of variance there as well. Astros pitchers seem to outpace the projections on a routine basis. Of course, we can look at that in the lab at another time as well.
Current Candidates
Steamer
ATC
The Bat
OOPSY
B-ref
Aggregate
Hunter Brown
3.63
3.56
3.59
3.34
3.36
3.50
Mike Burrows
4.22
4.16
4.33
4.00
4.01
4.14
Tatsuya Imai
4.37
4.22
——
4.40
——
4.33
Ryan Weiss
4.31
4.38
4.40
4.35
——
4.36
Nate Pearson
4.32
4.54
4.75
4.00
4.85
4.49
Spencer Arighetti
4.55
4.64
4.83
4.34
4.45
4.56
Lance McCullers
4.38
4.59
4.61
4.45
5.11
4.63
Jason Alexander
4.30
4.51
5.14
4.71
4.45
4.62
Cristian Javier
4.96
4.81
4.84
4.80
4.28
4.74
You don’t have to be a math whiz to figure out the positives and negatives from the table above. I count nine starting pitchers there. Obviously, the max rotation the Astros will go with will be six. So, three of these guys will either be in the bullpen or in the minors. I should note that every projection system had Nate Pearson slated for the bullpen. He is on this list because the Astros have publicly said that he will be a candidate for the rotation coming out.
Once you get past Brown, you could put a blindfold on any of us and ask us to point at a name and we will come out with a similar pitcher in projected quality. Some of these are reasonable surprises. I think most observers are more hopeful that Javier and Imai will pitch better than their projections. I think most fans would be elated if McCullers managed to get close to this projection this year.
The rest are about what we would expect. The clear weakness is a lack of a number two pitcher. Framber Valdez routinely came in with ERAs of 3.50 or lower. He faded down the stretch last year and still came in under a four ERA. So, the math nerds at those various sites are telling us the Astros have not filled that particular role. That brings us to elephant in the room.
Potential additions
When we start talking additions we are looking at free agents and trades. There is quite literally an infinite possibility when it comes to trades, but the free agents are dwindling. There are two names coming to the forefront on both counts due to rumors circling Isaac Paredes and a potential reunion with a former Astros legend.
Steamer
ATC
The Bat
OOPSY
B-Ref
Aggregate
Brayan Bello
4.39
4.32
4.38
4.32
3.85
4.25
Justin Verlander
4.44
4.47
4.64
4.32
4.28
4.43
Obviously, Bello is part of a rumored return for Paredes. It would likely be either Bello, Jarren Duran, or Wilyer Abreu. We could get into those specifics at another time, but a part of the calculus on Bello is that he came up with a 3.35 ERA last season in Boston. Those aforementioned ERA projectors all came in considerably higher than that. So, this is one of those push and pull situations where we can fall on one side or the other.
On the one hand, he does not projected to be any better in quality than the other Astro hurlers. One of the reasons why you make a trade is that it allows you to improve your team in some area. That can be through a player for player swap or financial considerations that allow you to spend elsewhere. Bello would not save you money and based on the numbers above it would not remarkably improve your prospects.
However, Brown is the only pitcher above that hurled more than 100 innings last season at the big league level. Arighetti’s elbow is being held together by chewing gum and bailing wire. We don’t know what Imai’s workload will be and Javier barely came back from TJ surgery last season. When we throw in McCullers’ frequent ailments we can see that durability does have value. The deciding factor will likely be whether the scientists in the pitching lab think they can unlock something in Bello. We won’t know that until a deal is made.
As far as Verlander is concerned, there are two primary positives and one negative. The negative is the same as Bello. His numbers do not present a considerable bump over what is there. However, he would be another arm that would give the Astros a track record of innings. Adding both pitchers would be impractical, so it would be one or the other depending on what happens with a theoretical Paredes deal.
The main advantage Verlander brings is leadership and public relations. He probably doesn’t increase your winning odds materially through his pure numbers, but his impact on the clubhouse would be a factor and he would be a revenue generator for the franchise. They would need to move around some money to make that work, so it is an open question as to whether that is getting the best bang for your buck. Of course, that is also another topic for another day.
New York had been after Robert since last season's trade deadline, when Chicago's asking price was exorbitant.
The cost wasn't high this time around, with the Mets securing two years of control of Robert in exchange for Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley.
The offense is something you can dream on. Robert has had two consecutive down seasons, but he showed serious flashes last summer when he slashed .297/.350/.468 in 140 plate appearances over 35 games from July 11 to Aug. 26 -- when his season ended due to a hamstring injury.
With the 28-year-old Robert now in tow, the Mets' starting offense could be complete.
Is it possible they go wild and sign Bellinger next? Sure.
Starting pitcher Framber Valdez pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Before New York landed Bo Bichette, they were considering a host of moves, including a signing of Framber Valdez.
Like Bichette, Valdez is attached to a qualifying offer, meaning the Mets will face additional draft pick penalties if they sign him. Despite that, they are open to it, Will Sammon of The Athletic reported a few days ago.
How that might change after dedicating at least $22 million to Robert remains to be seen.
But signing Valdez would be the cleanest and easiest way to add a needed top-of-the-rotation starter to the staff.
Valdez, 32, could theoretically be had on a three-or four-year deal for around $30 million annually.
The above type of contract would theoretically be in the wheelhouse of Stearns, who generally prefers to not go long on contracts for pitchers over 30.
Valdez has been a workhorse over the last four seasons, posting a 3.21 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 767.2 innings.
After leading the American League in innings pitched in 2022 (201.1 IP), Valdez hasn't really slowed down. He fired 198.0 innings in 2023, 176.1 innings in 2024, and 192.0 innings this past season.
If not Valdez, there's the trade market, where Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta is still perhaps the top option.
Sep 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts after striking out Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (not pictured) with the bases loaded in the fourth inning at American Family Field. / Benny Sieu - Imagn Images
Peralta, who is a year away from free agency but reportedly open to signing an extension, could possibly be acquired for one of the Mets' young starting pitchers (of the non-Nolan McLean variety) and one more impact prospect.
Is that a price New York would be willing to pay?
If so, will the Brewers prefer what the Mets would offer to what they might be able to pry from the interested Dodgers, who are collecting star players like Joey Chestnut eats hot dogs?
As unlikely as it might be with the Tigers aiming to contend in 2026, the Mets should also be on the phone with Detroit about pending free agent Tarik Skubal.
Because of how New York's offseason has unfolded, with them having yet to part with any of their top prospects, they could be in unique position to acquire Skubal if he can be had.
It would take a relative ton.
Perhaps two of the Mets' top pitching prospects, one of their best hitting prospects, and more. That's the cost it takes to acquire the best pitcher in baseball in his prime.
No matter which direction the Mets go when it comes to the addition to the top of their rotation, adding that desired pitcher feels inevitable.
It will likely be the finishing piece to an offseason that started out with uncomfortable upheaval, but seems destined to end right where Stearns thought it would -- with the Mets set up to be a 90-plus win team and legitimate World Series contender.
Bud Black and Wil Myers returned to the San Diego Padres organization last week and each will serve a role in helping the Padres reach the ultimate goal of winning a World Series. Black will serve in a front office role and Myers will serve in a coaching role at the lower levels of the organization. The unique perspective Black and Myers have from their own careers in MLB is part of what allows them to also have a unique perspective of the Padres according to AJ Cassavell of Padres.com. Black and Myers have been in San Diego for some of the down times, and the hope is that both will be back for the ultimate high.
Padres News:
Randy Vasquez has been the center of attention in many of the Padres pitching rotation projections throughout the offseason. Some fans think he can be a key figure in the rotation, while others think he should remain a back of the rotation pitcher at best. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at what the 2026 season could look like for the right-hander.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says the Padres are still looking to make additions to their roster. Some of the free agents he lists as possible targets are pitchers Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez or Justin Verlander. Rosenthal also stated the Padres are one of the many teams talking to the Milwaukee Brewers about trading for ace pitcher Freddy Peralta.
The last big-name position player Cody Bellinger may be nearing a decision about where he will play in the 2026 season. That will likely not be in New York as a member of the Mets after the team traded for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox late Tuesday night.
Evan Drellich of The Athletic is reporting the owners are “raging” at the free agent deal Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and added that the owners will “100 percent” push for a salary cap. Drellich added that the Dodgers and Mets might be the only teams that would oppose a cap.
Thunder vs Bucks best bet: Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds (-110)
Chet Holmgren’s role in the Oklahoma City Thunder frontcourt has been amplified since losing fellow big man Isaiah Hartenstein to a calf strain in late December. The most notable change in Chet’s output has come on the glass.
Before the heftier Hartenstein went down, Holmgren was grabbing 7.9 rebounds per game on an average of 14.3 rebounding chances. In the 11 games without Hartenstein, Holmgren’s pulling down 10 boards on 17.6 rebounding chances a night.
In fact, Chet has been making a conscious effort to be bigger on the boards over the past two weeks.
After recording only six rebounds in a shocking loss to the Hornets on January 5, the 7-foot Gonzaga product noted the dip in rebounding without Hartenstein and pointed the finger at himself for not picking up the slack. Holmgren had this to say:
I just got to look in the mirror and be better in that area.
Since that game, Chet has recorded double figures in rebounds in four of his last six outings, and he has an excellent opportunity to add another 10+ boards vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks enter Wednesday with the second-lowest rebound rate in the NBA (47.6%), watching foes collect 54.7 rebounds per game (11th most). Milwaukee could also be down standout center Myles Turner and reserve Kevin Porter Jr. (who combine for more than 10 rebounds an outing).
Holmgren’s projections sit between 8.5 and 10 rebounds, with the majority of models pointing to another 10+ rebounds. My number comes out to 10.5 boards, which should have the Over 9.5 priced around -130.
Thunder vs Bucks same-game parlay
Milwaukee is offensively challenged at the best of times, without the help of the NBA’s stingiest defense.
Ryan Rollins sees a significant split in scoring at home, averaging four more points on 50% shooting.
Thunder vs Bucks SGP
Thunder -9.5
Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thunder Struck Bucks
The Bucks are one of the best Under bets in the NBA, and they're now facing OKC's top defense.
Thunder vs Bucks SGP
Thunder -9.5
Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
Ryan Rollins Over 13.5 points
Under 227
Thunder vs Bucks odds
Spread: Thunder -9.5 | Bucks +9.5
Moneyline: Thunder -400 | Bucks +320
Over/Under: Over 227 | Under 227
Thunder vs Bucks betting trend to know
Milwaukee is 4-10 SU and ATS vs. Western Conference opponents this season, including 1-5 SU and ATS at home in non-conference clashes. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Bucks.
How to watch Thunder vs Bucks
Location
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Tip-off
9:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Thunder vs Bucks latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Good morning! The Baseball Hall of Fame will have two new members in a few months, as Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were officially elected yesterday. The two Red Sox legends on the ballot, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez, failed to hit the 75% vote threshold.
Pedroia, though, is only in his second year on the ballot and saw his vote percentage jump from 11.9 to 20.7, which bodes well for his campaign going forward. But Manny Ramirez, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, is off the ballot after 10 years, receiving just 38.8% of the votes.
Talk about what you want, remind yourself of just how great Manny was, and be good to one another.
