The throwback series rekindles memories of the past, but the focus is very much on realities of the modern game
Just in case you were unaware that the forthcoming series between South Africa and New Zealand, dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR), is a “tour like no other”, the Springboks have just unveiled a jersey to prove it. “A jersey like no other” to be worn four times and then consigned to history. Meanwhile, RGR kicks off amid a looming legal battle in South Africa over the series’ commercial identity and the unauthorised use of its branding. And you thought sporting romance was dead.
Enough of the cynicism though. The series promises to be a blockbuster. It is a throwback, with New Zealand’s men facing four matches against provincial sides, starting with the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, as well as four Tests against the Springboks. The countries’ women’s sides also face each other in a one-off Test. The series has further allure in just how rare tours such as this are these days. Add in the fact that the rugby calendar is pretty much barren at the moment and a series between the two best sides on the planet is enough to quicken the pulse.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 02: Orlando Ribalta #64 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 02, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we all know, it has not exactly been a banner year for the Nats bullpen. They have spent most of the season blowing games for fun. However, there is one reliever who has really impressed me this season. Orlando Ribalta has had a breakout year for the Nats, and looks like a guy who can be a piece for years to come.
Don’t get me wrong, Ribalta has not been perfect by any means. A 3.44 ERA and 1.21 WHIP is nothing that will knock your socks off. However, it is very solid in a bullpen that desperately needs that. Ribalta has the high octane stuff and has taken big strides with his command this season.
My favorite thing about the 6’7 right hander is his poise in big moments. He is the one guy in this bullpen who has proven to be a capable fire fighter. With the bases loaded, batters are 0-10 with 5 strikeouts against the Cuban. That is a testament to his stuff but also his slow heartbeat on the mound.
Orlando Ribalta does it again. Opponents are now 0-for-10 with 5 strikeouts against him with the bases loaded.
Ribalta is one of those guys who never gets too high or two low on the mound. That really helps him in these big spots. He is not scared to compete in those moments, but he also does not get overly excited either. It is just like any other situation for him, except it feels like he locks in more.
However, his loud stuff is another big factor in his success. Ribalta has the best raw stuff in the bullpen, at least before Yovanny Cruz arrived. His fastball and sinker both sit at 97 MPH, with the 4-seamer doing a great job generating whiffs while the sinker is a soft contact pitch.
The right-hander’s most used pitch is actually his slider. Unlike many slider’s which are used as putaway pitches, Ribalta’s sets the table for his 4-seamer and devastating changeup. The changeup is my favorite pitch in Ribalta’s arsenal. Even though stuff+ models much prefer the slider, the way he sells the changeup just devastates hitters.
His changeup looks just like a fastball and moves a lot like his fastball before dying as it gets to home plate. The 10 MPH speed difference has hitters swinging at air 48.4% of the time. Honestly, it is a pitch he should be throwing more than 14.4% of the time.
Ribalta has been an arm who has intrigued me for a while. He has always had the stuff, and when he came up in April, I was very excited by him. The biggest leap he has taken has been in terms of command though. His walk rate has been cut from 14.2% to 9.3%. Ribalta’s Location+ grade has also gone from a below average mark of 94 to well above average at 106.
The Nats are desperate for answers in the bullpen. Can Orlando Ribalta be someone who steps up? We know the stuff is there https://t.co/5omWgDlhWJ
Ribalta’s new found command has made him a very effective reliever this year. His 3.44 ERA is supported by the underlying numbers, which have him in the same range. He is a well rounded pitcher who I think will only get better.
This season, Ribalta has done a great job limiting hard contact with an average exit velocity against of 84.2 MPH which is elite. He is also great at getting hitters to chase outside the zone as well. When you look at his Baseball Savant page, there are not a lot of holes to poke.
The swing and miss numbers are middling, but I think those could improve if he threw the changeup more often. He has also been getting more strikeouts lately, with 18 K’s in his last 13.2 innings. Orlando Ribalta is easily the reliever I trust the most in the Nats bullpen.
Even when he does give up runs, a lot of the time it seems like he is getting unlucky. I remember an outing against the Blue Jays where Ribalta gave up the lead thanks to 3 bloop hits. Sure he blew it, but it is tough to blame him too much.
And the Blue Jays take a 2-1 lead in the 7th on 3 singles off Orlando Ribalta with exit velocities of 71.6 mph, 71.4 mph and 58.2 mph.
Moving forward I think Ribalta can be a solid high leverage arm. He is probably not a closer, or even an 8th inning guy. However, I like the 28 year old as a 7th inning guy who can put out fires in big spots. The Nats have traded promising relievers with control the past couple off-seasons, but they need to learn their lesson here. Ribalta needs to stick around for a while.
He is not exactly Mason Miller, but Ribalta is a steady presence at the back of the bullpen. That is exactly what the Nats need entering 2027. In a bullpen that does not have many keepers, they found one in Orlando Ribalta.
A shorter slate isn't short on value picks, and today's MLB expert picks are hitting a pair of moneylines, beginning in the early afternoon with the Cleveland Guardians.
Later, our MLB picks expect the Atlanta Braves to continue their hot streak against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, Aug. 6.
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Jon Metler's expert pick: Guardians moneyline
Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket
New York Mets rookie Nolan McLean has electric stuff and a 10.60 K/9 this season, but betting is about price and matchup, not talent alone, and this is a tough draw for the young right-hander.
The Cleveland Guardians are expected to load the lineup with eight left-handed bats, significantly reducing the effectiveness of McLean's biggest weapon. His hard, sweeping slider is designed to finish hitters, but it breaks into the barrel against lefties rather than away from it.
The Guardians also have one of the most disciplined approaches in baseball, consistently working deep counts and refusing to chase pitches out of the zone. That combination should drive up McLean's pitch count and increase the likelihood of an early exit.
Polymarket has Cleveland priced as a 53-cent favorite, but I make the Guardians closer to a 59-cent favorite, which is why I'm hitting the button.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNY, Guardians.TV
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Braves moneyline
Price: 58¢ (-138) at Polymarket
The Atlanta Braves are in a great spot to extend their winning streak to eight games tonight.
Martin Perez has done his best work at home, posting a 2.36 ERA in 12 starts. His last two home starts saw him allow just two combined hits and zero earned runs.
Perez should have his way with a Miami Marlins lineup that ranks 26th in OPS against left-handed pitching over the past month.
On the other side, Janson Junk owns a shaky 5.28 road ERA and was crushed for eight earned runs when he faced Atlanta in May. Atlanta has been obliterating baseballs at home, ranking first in slugging percentage over the past month.
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.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics pitches during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 26, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning A’s fans!
The Athletics began the year strong and were in first place in the AL West longer than many analysts and baseball people expected. The squad got there on the strength of their lineup and a few key early runs from their pitching. It looked like the club could hang around for the long haul, through summer at least.
Well, then June and July came around and sunk the A’s chances at meaningful September baseball, just like last year. Except while last year it was a roughly 20-game stretch that sunk the club, this year it’s been an extended run of poor luck and poor performance. The A’s are now only two games ahead of the division-rival Angels for the worst record in the American League. For the guys in the clubhouse, avoiding the cellar of the league should be the driving goal the rest of the way.
A lot of the struggles this year has to due with injuries, and the A’s have dealt with more than their fair share this season. Still, every club deals with injuries. It’s how the team responds and adapts to those that make decent teams good and solid teams great. This club has that ceiling in them thanks to the core position player group they’ve assembled, it’s about supplementing them now with some pitching, which has been clear for the past two months at this point.
That’ll obviously be the offseason goal for the front office. Whether it’s adding to a starting rotation that really only has three locked in spots (Ginn, Jump, Severino). Obviously the club has other depth pieces like Jacob Lopez, Mason Barnett, and Jack Perkins. The hope is that one or multiple of them can show they deserve a shot at starting next year but for the offseason’s sake the front office has to consider those depth pieces at best.
The club won’t be playing at the top of the free agent market for guys like Skubal, Mize, Peralta, or King. They’re much more likely to look on the trade market. But could a lower-tier arm like Robbie Ray, Brady Singer, or even old friend Sonny Gray be options the club would consider spending money for? The club needs to add at least one, probably two arms if we’re being serious. And that’s not even getting to the bullpen, which needs a complete overhaul in the worst way possible.
So which free agent starting pitchers would you like to see the team go after this offseason? Discuss below! And have a great one guys.
White Sox vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-115)
Chicago is hitting for zero power against lefties, and it has struck out at the ninth-highest rate the last month. That sets up well for Suarez and his career-best 25.7 K rate — not to mention Boston’s strikeout-heavy bullpen.
The Red Sox are admittedly in a good matchup against Castillo, but I’m not sure it will matter. I project the White Sox for less than three runs, meaning the Red Sox would have to plate seven to push this game Over.
I see a big edge on this total, and would recommend the Under to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 70-65, -9.75 units
Over/Under bets: 75-54-6, +12.24 units
White Sox vs Red Sox weather
Temperatures in the mid 80s with slight winds blowing out will provide a boost to the bats.
White Sox vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: White Sox +160 | Red Sox -190
Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-125) | Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-105) | Under 9.0 (-115)
White Sox vs Red Sox trend
Boston has hit the run line in 28 of its last 45 games (+14.00 units, 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Red Sox.
How to watch White Sox vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Thursday, August 6, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, NESN
White Sox starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (3-9, 5.06 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.15 ERA)
White Sox vs Red Sox 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.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 05: Ryan Waldschmidt #15 and Tyler Locklear #31 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate a 10-4 win against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on August 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team News
‘Couldn’t feel my legs’: Bratt outduels Mize for first MLB win in stellar outing
“It’s great,” Bratt said. “It’s a surreal feeling, to be honest. I don’t think it’s going to sink in for quite some time. But just thankful for [catcher James McCann] and thankful for everybody that’s been a part of this journey to get to this point.”
Tigers and Mariners cleared the benches after Mariners pitcher Gabe Speier plunked Gleyber Torres half an inning after Cal Raleigh was hit by a pitch pic.twitter.com/fjEuCkRnMJ
Chalk is not toxic, but digesting large amounts is still not advisable. Eating your classroom chalk is also not advised.
Plants do a lot for your room aside from making you happier.
Rooms with plants have up to 60% less airborne mold and bacteria.
A cat spends most of its life sleeping.
A cat will spend an average of 15 hours a day sleeping. Some cats can sleep longer to a total of 20 hours a day. These felines do most of their sleeping during the day as they are generally active during the night.
Polymarket has secured a partnership deal with one of the most recognized sports brands in the world, the New York Yankees.
Polymarket’s company logo will appear on signage throughout Yankee Stadium as the team’s “official prediction market partner.”
Key Takeaways
The platform was already the official prediction market partner of MLB.
The Yankees are seen by tens of millions of people via broadcast and in-person annually.
Polymarket generated $12.9 billion in notional trading volume in July.
The Yankees’ $8.2-billion valuation makes them the 10th most-valuable sports franchise in the world, according to information published by Statista in December.
Polymarket, one of the leading operators responsible for the surge in the prediction market popularity, now has a fast track to growing its audience of sports fans even further.
“We are proud to become a partner of one of the most iconic teams, not just in baseball, but in all of sports,” said Ari Borod, president of sports business development at Polymarket, in an announcement. “Yankees fans are among the most passionate in sports, and Yankee Stadium is a natural home for Polymarket, where the questions driving our markets come to life throughout the season.”
The partnership will result in Polymarket receiving exclusive marketing opportunities on the team’s LED displays throughout the stadium and rotating digital signage behind home plate “any game now.”
Borod also said that the advertising displays will be visible on team broadcasts shown on YES Network and Amazon Prime.
Additionally, Polymarket will hold exclusive fan experiences, including an outfield catch for children, Kids Run the Bases, and lineup card delivery. It will also give away Ford Field MVP Club tickets and single-game tickets in luxury suites.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Gaining audience and access
Polymarket became the exclusive prediction market partner of MLB in March. Its deal with the Yankees is the first that it signed with a team in the time since.
“We are excited to begin a relationship with Polymarket – Major League Baseball's prediction market partner,” said Michael Tusiani, New York Yankees senior vice presidentvof partnerships. “Through signage and fan experience opportunities, we look forward to elevating Polymarket's brand awareness both at Yankee Stadium and across our fan base.”
Polymarket had opportunities to partner with other MLB teams before ultimately settling on the Yankees, who draw nearly 3.5 million people to their games annually, per ESPN’s MLB attendance report.
Including broadcast viewers, the Pinstripers regularly reach tens of millions of people every year.
Polymarket now possesses a growing list of relationships in the world of sports. After also recently teaming up with the German and Mexican soccer leagues Bundesliga and Liga MX, the company’s prediction platforms are partnered with:
MLB
MLS
Leagues Cup
NHL
UFC
Bundesliga
Liga MX
LaLiga
Serie A
ATP Tour
New York Yankees
S.S. Lazio
Polymarket valued at $20 billion
Prediction market news broke earlier this week that Polymarket is seeking $1 billion in funding at a $20-billion valuation – 33.3% more than it was valued at during an April round of fundraising.
That builds on a report that Kalshi, Polymarket, and Polymarket US generated a combined notional trading volume of $50.6 billion during July. Polymarket’s global and American platforms contributed $12.9 billion of that, with its American hub growing 54% to $5 billion.
However, the overall figure was down 7.9% from a $14 billion total in June, a rare decline for a booming prediction market industry.
The Seattle Mariners are -130 favorites to take the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers.
With a red-hot offense set to take on a struggling pitcher, my Tigers vs. Mariners predictions are backing the underdogs to come out on top in a relatively high-scoring affair.
Let's take a closer look at my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 6.
Who will win Tigers vs Mariners today: Tigers moneyline (+110)
Tigers vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 8.0 (-105)
Miller is allowing a lot of good contact, and he can’t keep the ball on the ground. Only Kohl Drake posted a higher FB% over the past 30 days among today’s projected starters.
The Tigers are hammering baseballs, ranking Top 8 in both FB% and HR/FB% over the same time frame. If Miller can't decrease his FB%, Detroit’s power will show up.
While Valdez’s elite ground-ball rate will make it hard for Seattle to hit for power, the Mariners do rank 13th in average and 12th in wOBA vs. lefties in the last 30 days.
Play the Over to -117.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 70-65, -9.75 units
Over/Under bets: 75-54-6, +12.24 units
Tigers vs Mariners weather
Temperatures are expected to flirt with 80 while winds blow east. Small boost to the bats.
Tigers vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Tigers +110 | Mariners -130
Run line: Tigers +1.5 (-190) | Mariners -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 8.0 (+100) | Under 8.0 (-120)
Tigers vs Mariners trend
Detroit has won 17 of the last 25 road games (+9.05 units, 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Mariners.
How to watch Tigers vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Thursday, August 6, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
Detroit SportsNet, Mariners.TV
Tigers starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (6-7, 4.41 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Bryce Miller (4-5, 2.80 ERA)
Tigers vs Mariners 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.
The Utah Mammoth’s decision to part ways with Maksymilian Szuber this summer opened the door for the young defenseman to find a new opportunity in Montreal.
That opportunity became official Monday, with the Canadiens announcing that they had reached an agreement with Szuber on a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season.
According to PuckPedia, the deal carries an $850,000 NHL cap hit. Szuber will earn $135,000 at the AHL level and is guaranteed at least $175,000 regardless of where he spends the season.
For Utah, the signing puts a bow on the next chapter for a defenseman who spent the past three seasons within the organization after originally joining the franchise when it was still based in Arizona.
The 23-year-old Szuber was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, going 163rd overall. The 6-foot-3, left-shot defenseman developed in Germany with EHC Munich before making the jump to North America in 2023.
He ultimately became a dependable presence for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, appearing in exactly 200 regular-season games over three seasons. During that span, Szuber produced 25 goals and 62 assists for 87 points while accumulating 162 penalty minutes.
His NHL experience, however, remained limited to a single appearance with Arizona during the 2023-24 season.
Szuber showed enough promise to remain part of the organization’s defensive depth, but the Mammoth’s blue-line picture became increasingly crowded. The emergence of prospects such as Dmitri Simashev and Maveric Lamoureux eventually pushed Szuber further down the organizational depth chart.
That ultimately contributed to his departure from Utah.
The Mammoth traded Szuber to the Montreal Canadiens in June, receiving the rights to forward Joshua Roy in return. Roy, 22, became the centerpiece of the deal from Utah’s perspective as the organization continued reshaping its prospect pool.
Now, Szuber gets a fresh opportunity with Montreal.
The Canadiens are coming off a season in which they advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Final, and their blue-line competition figures to be intense heading into training camp. Szuber will have to fight for an opportunity at the NHL level, but his size, left-handed shot and experience in the AHL give him a legitimate foundation to build upon.
His new contract also gives him some financial security while providing Montreal with a low-cost option capable of providing organizational depth.
For Utah, meanwhile, Szuber’s signing is another reminder of how quickly the Mammoth’s roster and prospect landscape continues to evolve. A player who spent three years developing within the organization is now moving on, while the asset acquired in his departure gives Utah another young piece to evaluate moving forward.
To keep this feature going, I’m going to post simply the WPA numbers and plays of the game, and a poll so you can vote on your choice for Player of the Game. Thomas will update the Rizzo Award standings when he returns.
Game 115, Aug. 4: Cubs 7, Dodgers 6
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.317). 3-5, 2 HR, 2B, 4 RBI
Hero: Shōta Imanaga (.130). 5 IP, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Sidekick: Dansby Swanson (.104). 1-4, 2B
Nico Hoerner’s three-hit day was next at .028.
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Caleb Thielbar (-.065). 0.1 IP, 4 R
Goat: Ryan Zeferjahn (-.059). 0.2 IP, HR
Kid: Ian Happ (-.056). 0-4, 2 K
WPA Play of the Game: PCA’s two-run homer in the fourth (.132).
Dodgers Play of the Game: Shohei Ohtani’s two-run homer in the eighth (.113).
Up next: The Cubs wrap up the homestand with a makeup game against the Blue Jays. David Peterson will go for the Cubs and Dylan Cease starts for Toronto.
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Carlos Vargas (54) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning friends, and happy Thursday!
Tempers flared last night as benches cleared in a 4-2 Mariners victory after both squads traded hit-by-pitches.
Importantly, it was also a comeback outing for Bryan Woo who tossed seven shutout innings. Is this the moment he finally reverts to ace form?
Aaron Judge, who has been out since late May with a stress fracture in his rib, was cleared for “light activity” and says he is confident he will be back this season.
EASTLAKE, OHIO - MAY 06, 2026: Charles Davalan #6 of the Great Lakes Loons bats during the fourth inning against the Lake County Captains at Classic Auto Group Park on May 06, 2026 in Eastlake, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With two teams scoring 12 or more, and the other two scoring three or fewer runs, it was a day of extremes across the Dodgers minor-league affiliates.
Player of the day
Setting the tone as the leadoff batter, Charles Davalan provided a three-hit performance in a 13-run effort for the Loons on the road. Outstanding offensively as of late, in particular, Davalan has recorded multiple hits in 11 of his last 12 appearances.
Coming around to score three times, Davalan also benefited from the success of those behind him, with five of the Loons’ first six hitters recording multiple hits. Elected player of the month for his success in July, Davalan is intent on not slowing down in August.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
In Bobby Miller’s return, the talented right-handed pitcher punched out three and allowed a solo shot as the Comets thrashed the Bees in a win with a 10-run gap between the two teams. All nine starting hitters for the Comets reached base safely and scored a run—Zach Ehrhard and Alex Fitzgerald led the team with three RBI each.
Because of Miller’s short outing, the Comets turned to Landon Knack for length, with the young right-hander providing 5.1 innings, also allowing just one run. Between the two of them, Knack and Miller allowed no free passes.
Committing nearly as many errors (3) as they had hits (4), the Drillers lost 5-2 to the Hooks with Logan Wagner hitting a solo shot in his first game in Double-A. This Wagner home run was only one of two extra-base hits for the visiting Drillers.
Welcome to Double-A, Logan Wagner 💥
In his Double-A debut, he wastes no time launching his first homer as a Driller! pic.twitter.com/qURBD0G4at
Only a day after he recorded three free passes, Josue De Paula had a more trying performance, striking out three times, although he was responsible for scoring one of the Drillers’ two runs.
After reaching 100 innings on the year by covering 5.1 frames in this game against the Hooks, Adam Serwinowski suffered his third loss in his last four starts, allowing three runs.
High-A Great Lakes
Leadoff hitter Charles Davalan is closing in on a .300 average with a three-for-six performance to lead a magnificent offensive effort as the Loons put 13 past the Dragons in a win on the road. Davalan, alongside Emil Morales, hit multi-run home runs.
You can’t get to a number quite as high as 13 without contributions from several different names, and near the bottom of the order, it was Jaron Elkins standing out. The center fielder recorded four RBI on a pair of hits. Lastly, Hyun-Seok Jang’s dominant outing is worthy of praise, striking out 10 in 5.1 innings.
Single-A Ontario
For eight innings, the Tower Buzzers held the Storm to zero runs, and while Jholbran Herder nearly cost them the game in the ninth, he stranded a pair to take the 3-2 win. This outstanding pitching performance from the Tower Buzzers staff included four scoreless innings out of the bullpen from Javier Bartolazzi.
The Tower Buzzers double play combination provided the scoring, with shortstop Joendry Vargas hitting a two-run triple in the first and a few innings later, second baseman Kellon Lindsey delivering a solo shot.
Transactions
The Tower Buzzers activated right-handed pitcher Cam Leiter off the injured list. Right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller began a rehab assignment with the Comets.
Wednesday’s scores
Salt Lake 2, Oklahoma City 12
Corpus Christi 5, Tulsa 2
Dayton 5, Great Lakes 13
Lake Elsinore 2, Ontario 3
Thursday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jacob Frost) at Dayton (Stharlin Torres)
4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Zach Root) at Corpus Christi (Brett Gillis)
5:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) at Salt Lake (TBD)
6:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Lake Elsinore (Lan-Hong Su)
MESA, AZ - MARCH 3: Bob Nightengale of the USA today stands in the dugout prior to the game between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants at Hohokam Stadium on March 3, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In baseball circles, his reputation proceeds him. Bob Nightengale has been covering America’s Past Time for USA Today since before Isaac Parades was even born. We ask Bob three questions for the loyal followers exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: Do you feel the Astros did “enough ” at the deadline? Was there a move you would’ve liked them to make?
A: I would have loved to see the Astros get another starting pitcher, but the asking price was exorbitant, as we saw. We’ll see if they can survive the final two months without another veteran starter. I do love the fact they obtained Daulton Varsho. He’s having a down year, but he’s an outstanding center fielder and is considered an ultimate gamer. He’ll fit in great in the Astros’ clubhouse with his fiery personality.
Q: Who challenges the Astros the rest of the way in the west if you had to choose one? Seattle or Texas?
A: I still think Seattle is the team you have to watch. Their starting rotation is nothing short of phenomenal. They just can’t seem to hit. If they ever put it together offensively, they’ll be awfully dangerous.
Q: Finally, Yordan. If he continues this blistering pace the final two months, where would rank that in terms of individual performances the past quarter century?
A: Alvarez is producing the greatest single season since future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Cabrera was the last Triple Crown winner, hitting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBI. Now, Alvarez could be joining the exclusive club. If Alvarez simply stays healthy and produces anything like he has the past four months, he will be the unanimous MVP winner.
Yordan Alvarez has played at an MVP level all season. Now healthy, Josh Hader and Jeremy Peña have performed like All-Stars, while Hunter Brown appears to be rounding into form.
Those four are the Astros’ best players, and losing any one of them would be a major blow to the team’s postseason hopes. But it will take more than those four for Houston to maintain its lead in the American League West. These three players could go a long way toward determining the Astros’ fate:
Cristian Javier Javier followed up his five-scoreless-inning relief appearance last week in Anaheim with a quality start Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs over six innings. His velocity was up, he threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 24 hitters, held Toronto to an 86.1 mph average exit velocity and generated a 42% chase rate.
The Astros did not add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, so they are counting on Peter Lambert to sustain his surprising season while Javier, Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski regain their form after lengthy injury layoffs.
Javier is the most accomplished of the group, but even after allowing three runs over his last 11 innings, he will take the mound next with a 6.59 ERA. He showed flashes of his old self after returning from Tommy John surgery last season, but a shoulder strain has derailed much of his 2026 campaign.
Isaac Paredes Paredes’ .249/.346/.413 slash line is right around his career mark, but the Astros need more if he’s going to bat directly behind Yordan Alvarez, whose 81 walks are the second most in the league. Alvarez has also been intentionally walked 23 times this season; no one else has more than nine.
With Alvarez and Jeremy Peña batting ahead of him, Paredes is going to come to the plate with runners on base more often than not. That has been the case in 20 of his last 30 plate appearances. In those situations, Paredes is 1-for-16 with three walks and a hit by pitch.
Mired in an 0-for-16 slump, Paredes popped out in his only at-bat Wednesday after Joe Espada said he wanted to give him “a mental break.” Unexpected production from the bottom of the lineup has helped offset Paredes’ recent slide, but the Astros will need him producing at a much higher level when he returns to the starting lineup Friday in San Diego. Otherwise, opponents will have little reason to pitch to Alvarez.
Bryan Abreu
Abreu tossed a 1-2-3 inning against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, extending his scoreless streak to 10 appearances. He now owns a 1.27 ERA over his last 22 outings after posting a 7.91 ERA through his first 22.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Abreu. With Josh Hader on the IL, he opened the year as the Astros’ closer before quickly being banished to mop-up duty. He has since reclaimed his role as Houston’s top right-handed reliever.
He entered the season with a career 32.7% strikeout rate and a 10.8% walk rate. His velocity has started to climb, and while his chase rate remains near the bottom of the league, it has gradually improved.
First 22 appearances
Last 22 appearances
ERA
7.91
1.26
K rate
25.5%
35.4%
BB rate
23.5%
7.6%
Abreu’s dreadful start was a major reason the Astros found themselves 11 games under .500 through their first 51 games, but it may have an unexpected benefit.
Wednesday marked his 44th appearance in the Astros’ 116th game of the season. At the same point in 2025, he had already pitched in 52 games. Through 116 games in 2024, he had made 58 appearances, and in 2023, he had made 54.
He should be one of the freshest late-inning relievers in the American League heading into the stretch run.
After being run out of town five years ago, Ben Simmons posted on social media that he’s currently lacing up The King’s boots.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft had such a bad time in Philadelphia that he had to be sent out in a trade and was even kicked out of practice at one point, but is now posting pictures of LeBron James basketball sneakers after the all-time great signed with his former team.
Simmons had a phenomenal start to his career in Philadelphia, averaging at least 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game in each of his first three seasons while also being named first-team All-Defense twice in that span.
Ben Simmons is flirting with the 76ers ore blatantly than ever. NBAE via Getty Images
However, in year four, he had a nightmare playoff series against the Heat that apparently caused serious harm to his career.
Simmons, 30, forced a trade out of Philadelphia and had a bizarre mental block that ended with him often passing on open layups when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden.
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid are now teammates. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Another potential destination if he did return to the NBA would be in Miami.
“Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami,” Simmons said. “I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organization, I like the culture.”
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