Cubs call up INF Pedro Ramírez; Matt Shaw to IL

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 03: Pedro Ramirez #75 of the Chicago Cubs bats during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Italy at Sloan Park on March 03, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cubs today announced that one of their top prospects, 2B/3B Pedro Ramírez, has been promoted to Chicago to make his major-league debut. In a corresponding move, infielder Matt Shaw has been placed in the injured list with lower back tightness.

The Cubs signed Ramírez in January of 2021 out of Venezuela for a $75,00 bonus. He signed at the same time and place as fellow Venezuelan Moisés Ballesteros. Since then, Ramírez has been working his way up the minor leagues with a steady, contact-oriented bat, plus speed and an good glove at second and third base. This year, in Triple-A Iowa, he’s started to hit for power with a career-high nine home runs already. In 43 games in Iowa, Ramírez hit .312/.395/.547 with the nine home runs, 19 stolen bases and 40 RBI. This development saw him showing up on several Top 100 prospect lists for the first time.

Ironically. Ramírez hasn’t played since Sunday because of an illness. One assumes he feels better now.

Shaw goes on the IL with back tightness after hitting .242/.291/.400 and playing a lot more than many of us thought after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman in the offseason.

Ramírez is not in the starting lineup today, but he is at Wrigley Field and ready to play.

Astros vs. Cubs Game Thread: Game 52, 5/22/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 15: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros gestures as he leaves the game in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on May 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (20-31) and Chicago Cubs (29-21) will begin their 3-game series this afternoon at Wrigley Field.

RHP Spencer Arrighetti (5-1, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros as he takes on RHP Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.97 ERA).

Houston Area Connection: Both of today’s starters grew up in the Greater Houston area. Arrighetti is a 2018 graduate of Cinco Ranch High School (Katy, TX) while Taillon is a 2010 graduate of The Woodlands High School (Woodlands, TX).

SPENCER’S GIFTS: Since making his season debut on April 15, RHP Spencer Arrighetti has been one of the top starters in the Majors. For the season, he is 5-1 in just 6 starts with a 1.50 ERA (6ER/36IP) and a miniscule .176 opp. avg….

Since April 15, he is T-1st in the AL in wins.

Model of Consistency: Arrighetti has allowed 1 ER or less in 5 of his 6 starts and 2 ER or less in all 6 starts.

Last Start: Arrighetti took a no-hitter into the 8th inning in his last start on May 15 vs. TEX, which ended in a 2-0 win (7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R).

VS. THE CUBBIES: The Astros took 2 of 3 vs. the Cubs in the only series between the two clubs last season (June 27-29 at Daikin Park).

The Astros last visit to Wrigley Field was a 3-game series in April of 2024 (3-gm sweep by CHC). The Astros are 7-5 in their last 4 series vs. the Cubs (since 2019).

All-Time: The Astros are 385-338 all-time vs. the Cubbies. Their 385 wins vs. them are their 2nd-most vs. any opponent (404-455 vs. CIN).

First Game Ever: The very first official game of the Houston franchise was vs. the Cubs on April 10, 1962, when the Colt .45s defeated the Cubs, 11-2, at Colt Stadium, behind a CG win by LHP Bobby Shantz.

IN THE DAYTIME: Today is the 2nd of 4 consecutive scheduled day games for the Astros. Wednesday’s series finale at MIN had a 12:40 p.m. start and all 3 games this weekend at Wrigley Field will begin at 1:20 p.m.

The last time that the Astros have played 4 consecutive day games was April 2-6 of last season (source: Elias).

ROADIES: Today is the 3rd game (1-2 thus far) of a 10-game, 3-city road trip for HOU. HOU went 1-2 at MIN on the 1st stop of the trip.

After this series in CHC, they travel back to Texas for a 4-game series vs. the Rangers at Globe Life Field (Mon.-Thurs).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros have been one of the AL’s top hitting teams on the road in 2026.

Entering today’s game, HOU leads the AL in road batting avg. (.267) and OBP (.336) while ranking 2nd in SLG (.412) and OPS (.749).

RARE VISIT TO WRIGLEY: The current series marks just the 2nd visit to Wrigley Field for the Astros since 2013. The 2013 season is when the Astros were moved to the American League.

ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Alimber Santa (#72) from Triple A Sugar Land.

The Astros optioned RHP Jayden Murray to Triple A Sugar Land following Wednesday’s game.

RHP Cody Bolton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A Sugar Land yesterday.

THERE IS A SANTA: RHP Alimber Santa has been outstanding for Triple A Sugar Land this season. In his 18 relief appearances, Santa is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA (3ER/19IP), allowing just 10 hits in his 19.0 innings of work for a .159 opp. avg. He had not allowed a run in his last 6 app. (5.2 IP).

PEN PALS: As a group, the Astros bullpen has had decent run of success recently.

Since May 8, they have a combined ERA of 3.48 (16ER/41.1IP).

Individually, several relievers are currently pitching well:

RHP Bryan Abreu: 0.00 ERA in last 6 outings (6 IP, 0 R).

RHP AJ Blubaugh: 2.18 ERA in last 8 outings (12.1 IP, 3 ER).

LHP Bryan King: 1.74 ERA in last 9 outings (10.1 IP, 2 ER)

LHP Steven Okert: 1.29 ERA in last 7 outings (7.0 IP, 1 ER) and has 7 K’s in his last 3.1 IP (3 app).

BRYAN’S SONG: After a slow start to his season, RHP Bryan Abreu has not allowed a run in his last 6 outings, covering 6.0 IP (3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO).

In his last 8 appearances, Abreu has posted a 1.12 ERA (1ER/8.0IP) with 9 K’s.

THE BIG OH: LHP Steven Okert punched out all 3 batters that he faced last night, giving him 7 K’s in his last 3.1 IP (3 app.). He has not allowed a run in his last 5 app. (5.1 IP).

AIR YORDAN: Yordan Alvarez is batting .309 with 11 doubles, 15 HR, 31 RBI and a 1.017 OPS (.412 OBP/.605 SLG).

In the AL, he ranks first in total bases (112), 2nd in OPS and SLG, 3rd in OBP, T-4th in HR and 5th in batting avg.

EE-SOCK: Wednesday night’s HR for Isaac Paredes was #97 in his career. He needs 3 more HR to become the 4th MLB player born in Mexico to reach 100 career HR.

ON THE LEADER BOARD: As a club, the Astros currently rank T-2nd in the AL in hits (422), 3rd in batting avg. (.246) and SLG (.404) and 5th in OPS (.725).

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker has been one of the top hitting 1st basemen in the AL this season, ranking among all AL leaders in several offensive categories. He is 2nd on the club in HR (11) and T-1st in RBI (31).

Among the AL leaders, Walker ranks T-8th in RBI (31), T-10th in HR (11), 9th in total bases (90) and 11th in SLG (.489).

APPLE TV: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney will call the action for today’s Apple TV. telecast.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2021 – RHP Lance McCullers Jr. strikes out four batters in the 1st inning in a start against the Rangers in Arlington. He fans Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis García, Joey Gallo and Khris Davis consecutively in the frame, with Gallo reaching safely on a wild pitch.

McCullers becomes the fifth Astros pitcher since the year 2000 to record four strikeouts in an inning and the first since RHP Ken Giles did so in 2016.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, May 22, 1:20 p.m. CT

Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

TV: Apple TV

Streaming: Apple TV

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Where to watch Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche Game 2 NHL playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel for Friday, May 22

The Colorado Avalanche will try to even their Western Conference finals series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2. The Golden Knights won the opener 4-2. The Colorado Avalanche are favored with a -201 moneyline compared to the Vegas Golden Knights' +166. The over/under for this matchup is set at 6.5 goals.

  • Date: Friday, May 22

  • Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

  • Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

  • TV Channels: ESPN, Spor, CBC, TVAS

  • Live Stream:ESPN+ | Follow on Yahoo Sports

  • Spread: Colorado Avalanche -1.5

  • Moneyline: Colorado Avalanche -201 (64.0%) / Vegas Golden Knights +166 (36.0%)

  • Over/Under: 6.5

DRaysBay Mailbag

United States Postal Service mail cart with letter carrier satchels positioned against a stone-tiled wall, Presidio Heights, San Francisco, California, April 30, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) | Gado via Getty Images

I decided to field some questions on X (Twitter) about the Rays and respond to them in a mailbag format article. This edition covers the improvements the Rays have made this season, the decisions facing the Rays in this year’s draft, and what the trade deadline could look like for the team.

Jack McGovern (@jackmcgovern14): Outside of contact rates, pitch usage trends, and the power of friendship, what is the thing that has stood out to you as the biggest difference maker between the 2025 and 2026 Rays?

Run prevention has been the difference maker this season. The team ERA is nearly half a run lower than in 2025 despite similar FIP and xFIP numbers. Some of this can be attributed to being back at the pitcher-friendly confines of Tropicana Field, but a bigger piece may be the defense. The 2026 Rays are converting batted balls into outs more than any other Rays team in the last 15 years. They’re turning batted balls into outs 69.6% of the time while last year it was only 66.8%. That may not sound significant, but over a full season it projects to roughly 120-130 fewer hits allowed than in 2025. That’s nearly five more games’ worth of outs.

Houston (@HoustonBohde): How would you rank Cholowsky, Emerson, and Lackey and their fit within the Rays system?

Sad Rays Fan (@rays4403): What do you think the Rays do at 1.02 and can you break down the profiles of the favorites to be available for the Rays (Lackey and Emerson)?

I’m grouping these two together because they’re related. Roch Cholowsky is the best player available in the draft and he’s in a tier of his own. I’d be surprised if the White Sox did not pick him, and there’s no need to try to get creative with bonus pool money when you’re picking at the top and there’s a clear choice. For me, Grady Emerson is the second-best player available, and then it’s a toss-up between Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora. Teams don’t draft based on need or fit – especially in the first round. I expect the Rays to take Emerson, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Lackey or Flora at an underslot deal to land an overslot deal with their comp pick at 33.

Roch has a high upside with above average tools across the board and he plays a plus shortstop. His collegiate track record gives him a relatively high floor. This combination is what makes him a clear number one pick.

Emerson has a fairly similar profile with above average tools across the board, but the power isn’t fully present yet because he’s still a teenager. The hit tool is special though, so he has the highest floor of any high school player in this class and maybe even last year’s class. The inherent risk that comes with picking a teenager is what puts him just behind Roch.

Lackey has been on a rocket ship all year and looks comfortably in the next tier behind Roch and Emerson. He’s a solid receiver with an above average arm, and he should continue to develop into a plus defender thanks to these traits along with his athleticism. He’ll have a bit of hit tool risk, but he hedges that with a disciplined approach that allows him to get into his plus power. The difference in hit tool is what separates Lackey from Emerson for me.

Flora is a big, physical righty with a pair of plus pitches in his mid-to-upper 90s fastball with solid shape from his slot and a hard, upper 80s cut-slider he can throw to both sides of the plate. His feel for spin and emerging offspeed pitch give him a deep arsenal, and his control gives him a strong chance to remain a starter at the next level. There will always be more questions with pitchers coming out of the draft given the greater injury risk and the differences between the college, minor league, and MLB baseballs, but Flora profiles as at least a mid-rotation starter with room for more as he develops his secondary pitches.

Sean Smyth (@Sean_SmythTBR): Given their current performance, what does a realistic trade deadline look like for the Rays?

The Rays always look to thread the needle between buyers and sellers. Emptying the farm for a rental doesn’t align with their philosophy, but they do have quite a bit of shuffling to do with the relatively high number of Rule 5 eligible players this year. Not all of them will need protection, but I do expect them to consolidate some prospects for some major league talent to reinforce the roster.

They’ll likely target both rental pitchers and controllable arms beyond 2026. I don’t expect any major changes to the position player group other than maybe some depth at middle infield. I think we’ll see them package some prospects for a starting pitcher and potentially a reliever depending on how Rodriguez, Uceta, and Wilson progress in their return from injury. Much of the deadline market may depend on which teams commit to selling first; nearly one-third of the league is hovering within three games of .500.

Series Preview: Guardians at Phillies

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 18: Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis pose on the field prior to a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two MLB teams who are playing well meet at the Liberty Bell tonight. In the setting of the movie Rocky, the underdog payroll Guardians attempt to land one on the jaws of the high-profile spending Phillies.

The Guardians are 30-22 with a +23 run differential, 13th in team wRC+ at 101, eighth in baserunning runs above average at +2, 11th in Defense at -5.4, sixth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.59 (3.99 FIP), and 13th in bullpem ERA at 3.80 (3.86 FIP).

The Phillies are 25-25 with a -24 run differential, 23rd in team wRC+ at 93, sixth in baserunning runs above average at +2.9, 17th in Defense at -8.3, 22nd in starting pitcher ERA at 4.49 (3.51 FIP), and 16th in bullpen ERA at 4.04 (3.40 FIP).

The Phillies are definitely not as bad as their record or run differential indicates, but their defense is bad and their bullpen is quite shaky. As seen below, the Guardians are seeing their top two starters, so the poor performance of 3/5ths of their rotation, sadly, won’t come as much into play. Cleveland will have to win this series the hard way, if they do it.

MATCHUPS:
Game One, Friday, 6:40PM ET: Cristopher Sanchez, LHP 1.82 ERA (1.92 FIP) vs. Gavin Williams, RHP 3.67 ERA (4.17 FIP)
Game Two, Saturday, 4:05 PM ET: Zack Wheeler, RHP 1.99 ERA (2.37 FIP) vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 5.16 ERA (4.99 FIP)
Game Three, Sunday, 1:35PM ET: Andrew Painter, RHP 5.77 ERA (4.59 FIP) vs. Parker Messick, LHP 2.45 ERA (3.17 FIP).

This time, the Guardians have drawn a rough slate having to face Sanchez and Wheeler, who are among the top 10 best starters in baseball. The key will be to make them work, get them out of the game as soon as possible, and put the ball in play as often as possible against a bad Phillies’ defense. …Gonna need to score some runs to steal a couple in this series.

The Guardians are led by Travis Bazzana at 133 wRC+, Chase DeLauter at 130 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 130 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 130 wRC+, Angel Martinez 119 wRC+, David Fry 112 wRC+, Daniel Schneemann 109 wRC+ and Rhys Hoskins 105 wRC+.

The Phillies are led by Kyle Schwarber 168 wRC+, Bryce Harper 138 wRC+, and Brandon Marsh at 124 wRC+. Don’t let Schwarber beat you.

Where to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs Game 3 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Friday, May 22

The Oklahoma City Thunder face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. The teams split the first two games in Oklahoma City. Games 3 and 4 will be in San Antonio. San Antonio is favored by 1.5 points in Game 3. Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox (sprained ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor) are questionable to play.

  • Spread: San Antonio Spurs -1.5

  • Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -129 (54.0%) / Oklahoma City Thunder +108 (46.0%)

  • Over/Under: 218.5

Game 1:Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)
Game 2:Thunder 122, Spurs 113
Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Friday May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Sunday May 24, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Thursday May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* if necessary

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Second Line Center

The Anaheim Ducks are a week removed from an improbable run to the Western Conference semifinals, where they lost their second-round series to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. 

They achieved the goal they set out to achieve in the Spring of 2025: to make the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. The road was a long and winding roller coaster, and at the finish line, the outlook of the organization moving forward may have been altered slightly. 

3 Ducks Prospects to Play in 2026 Memorial Cup

Anaheim Ducks Offseason Dilemma: Frank Vatrano

The Ducks enter the offseason with a projected $40.5 million in cap space. They are expected to have expensive extensions due to RFA forwards Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, along with some decisions to make involving RFAs in the subsequent tier, like Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger. 

They also have decisions to make along the periphery of their current and future roster with a slew of aging veterans who will soon see their current deals expire. 

The Ducks roster has clear holes heading into the 2026-27 season, but an unexpected one appeared down the stretch of the regular season, into the playoffs, and eventually the 2026 offseason: second-line center. 

After a long, arduous negotiation that lasted well into the team’s 2025 training camp, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek signed then RFA Mason McTavish to a six-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $7 million. 

McTavish (23) was coming off a career-high 52 points (22-30=52) in 76 games in 2024-25 and projected to be the club’s second-line center for the foreseeable future as they aimed to turn the corner on their rebuild and begin contending perennially for Stanley Cups. 

Though he missed roughly the first half of Ducks training camp, under a brand new coaching staff and having to learn a brand new system, McTavish got off to a hot start, as did his team as a whole. 

He opened his 2025-26 campaign by scoring 19 points (6-13=19) in his first 26 games before cooling off dramatically in the middle portion of the season. He was moved to the wing for the final quarter of the season and finished with seven points (3-4=7) in his final seven games, heading into the playoffs. 

“It was a unique kind of situation to start, missing a little bit of camp at the start, obviously not ideal. I thought the start of my year was actually decent, pretty good,” McTavish said during his exit interview. “It kind of went up and down throughout the second half there and in playoffs too.”

McTavish scored four points (1-3=4) in the Ducks’ first-round series win against the Oilers, but was scratched for Games 2 and 3 in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished the playoff run with six points (1-5=6) in ten games, only averaging 12:25 TOI per game, a sizable decrease from his season average of 15:19 and his career average of 15:51.

“I’m happy with the way I handled it,” McTavish said on those healthy scratches. “Obviously, you never plan on getting scratched, and it sucks. I think you just got to kind of put your head down and keep working and go about it in a positive way.”

Alan Poizner-Imagn Images
Alan Poizner-Imagn Images

Reflective of every team he’s played on (he’s played for three different head coaches in his four-year NHL career), McTavish has struggled mightily on the defensive side of the puck, specifically deep in his own end. 

He’s added the necessary size, puck skill, and motor to become a puck battle winner in the tight areas of the ice. However, that skill has been exclusive to protecting and winning pucks back in the offensive end, as he lacks the skating ability and/or defensive fundamentals to evade defenders in neutral ice, eliminate time and space, stay with assignments, or strip attackers of possession.

“Round out my defensive game,” McTavish said on what he needs to improve on over the summer. “I think that’s probably the big thing. I think it kind of got better towards the end. I think just foot speed, too. I think maybe come in a little lighter.”

Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville and the system he’s implemented in Anaheim requires his centers to be true, goal line to goal line, 200-foot centers. McTavish’s lack of straight-line speed, explosion, and deft edges has greatly limited his development as an NHL center through the first 304 games of his NHL career, and was glaring under Quenneville’s play style and system.

Due to his scratches in the playoffs, McTavish’s future in Anaheim has come into question for the second summer in a row. If intentions are for him to re-establish himself as the Ducks’ 2C of the present and future, significant strides (pun intended) need to be taken to adjust the mechanics of every aspect of his skating capabilities.

If the Ducks are questioning his fit down the middle for their club, he could become a useful winger due to his heavy shot, forechecking ability, and board battle skills. The club could also move on from the former third-overall pick and trade him to fill a hole in their lineup, as he appears to have maintained value across the league.

Mikael Granlund provided the Ducks with some quality minutes, filling in as their second-line center in the latter months of the season and playoffs. However, he isn’t getting faster, taller, or younger, so if they run into a deep team down the middle, as they did against Vegas in the playoffs, they’ll likely be at a disadvantage.

Roger McQueen (10th overall in 2025) will see his ELC kick in for the 2025-26 season, giving the Ducks a potential long-term option for their now-perceived need for a second-line center. At just 20 years old and with the team’s contending window suddenly open, the Ducks may view that option as a bit too daunting for him to handle to begin his professional career.

The expectation for the Ducks moving forward is that they take yet another step toward contending consistently for Stanley Cups. They have some internal options, but if they’re to achieve that goal, they’ll need to address a new need down the middle, behind franchise center Leo Carlsson.

Revisiting the Ducks Acquisition of John Carlson

Lack of Adjustments Proved Costly for Ducks against Golden Knights

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek Finalist for General Manager of the Year

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Stash Troy Melton, believe in Carson Benge, and more

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Spencer Steer - 1B/OF, CIN (38% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, PAST SUCCESS)

Another week with Spencer Steer on this list, but perhaps for the last time. Steer appeared in Eric’s article on hitters to target thanks to their Process+ scores, and over the last month, he ranks 15th in all of baseball in Process+, so we know the decisions behind his performance have been tremendous. We’ve seen Steer be a useful fantasy contributor before, and we like having any member of the Reds lineup who is getting regular playing time. Over his last 25 games, Steer is hitting .316/.381/.453 with three home runs, 17 runs scored, 12 RBI, and three steals. The offense around him has not been producing, so the counting stats are not where we'd like them to be, but they're manageable, and he has an 11% barrel rate over that time, so he's looking pretty good at the plate. A deeper league multi-position option would be Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (3% rostered).Over the same stretch of time as Steer, Clemends is hitting .292/.378/.486 in 22 games with two home runs, 12 runs scored, nine RBI, and one steal. That's with a solid 17/6 K/BB ratio and a 12.5% barrel rate. He's become the starting first baseman for the Twins and is even getting some playing time versus lefties.

Dylan Crews - OF, WAS (37% rostered)

(FORMER TOP PROSPECT, APPROACH CHANGE)

I know, you've had it with Dylan Crews. He's never been good in the big leagues. I've heard all the criticisms. I also recorded a video this week exploring the changes he’s made in the minors and why they could lead to a breakthrough for him at the big league level.

Gavin Sheets - 1B/OF, SD (35% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

We know that Gavin Sheets has a tendency to be a streaky player, and while that can make him hard to roster all season long in shallower formats, it does mean we need to pay attention when he's hitting the ball well. Over his last 20 games, he's hitting .294/.438/.667 with six home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, and two steals. He's also walking more often than he's striking out and has a 12.5% barrel rate over that stretch. Who knows how long this will last, but it's worth an add in most formats right now. Same goes for Luke Raley - 1B/OF, SEA (26% rostered), who is another player unlikely to keep up his current pace. Raley is tied for 25th in baseball with 10 home runs, despite having just 136 plate appearances, which is about 50-60 below most of the other players inside the top 20 in home runs. He ranks 3rd among hitters with at least 130 plate appearances in HR/FB at 34.5%. His career average is 19.2%, so that's a pretty sizable gap. That being said, Raley’s bat speed is at 75.4 mph this season, which is up from 73.8 mph last year. He also has a slightly steeper swing, which has led to a 14.4-degree launch angle. That’s a significant escalation from his 9.8-degree mark last year. It has led to a significantly higher swinging strike rate and lower contact rate, but Raley is barreling the ball 22.4% of the time and has a 55.3% hard-hit rate, both of which are top ten for hitters with at least 130 plate appearances. However, his 23.7% swinging strike rate and 64.8% zone contact rate are the worst among hitters on the same list. All of which is to say, the power is very real, but the contact issues are a major concern and are likely to catch up to him eventually. Use him while he's crushing the ball like this, but don't expect it to last.

Ezequiel Duran- 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, TEX (35% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, BATTING ORDER BUMP)

Duran is already more than halfway to his total plate appearances from last season. Injuries for the Rangers have thrust him into a (pretty much) every-day role in Texas, and he has delivered for them. Over the last 20 games, he has the highest wRC+ on the team by a sizable margin and is hitting .315/.370/.562 with three home runs, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored. This is more about playing the hot streak here, but if you need a multi-position guy to fill in gaps in your roster in a deeper format, he'll do the trick. His teammate Justin Foscus - 1B/2B, TEX (1% rostered) is also emerging as a deep-league option. In 12 games since being recalled from the minors, Foscue is hitting .324/.351/.588 with two home runs and six RBI. He's squaring the ball up more than we've seen from him in the past, with a slightly steeper barrel at contact, which is leading to strong quality of contact. He has always had better than league-average zone contact and swinging strike rates, so if he can maintain this improvement in contact quality while being the starting second baseman while Corey Seager is out, that's going to be worth adding in deeper leagues.

Carson Benge - OF, NYM (32% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, HOT STREAK)

Benge's roster rate has jumped from 15% last week up to 32% this week, so people are finally starting to buy into his recent success, but more should jump on board. Benge is another hitter who appeared in Eric's Process+ article. Sometimes prospects just need a little bit of time to figure things out. Carson Benge got off to a slow start to his MLB career, but over his last 30 games, he's hitting .318/.360/.430 with two home runs, 20 runs scored, 14 RBI, and three steals. He also has a 19/6 K/BB ratio over that span and a 45.5% hard-hit rate, so we like that he's not striking out much and is making hard contact. He's not going to hit for big-time power, but he already has eight steals this season, and the Mets have moved him into the lead-off spot, which is going to be great for his counting stats. He needs to be added in far more places. Benge's teammate Brett Baty - 1B/2B/3B/OF, NYM (10% rostered) is also starting to heat up. In his last 15 games, Baty is slashing .314/.386/.490 with two home runs, seven runs scored, and nine RBI. That comes with a nearly 49% hard-hit rate. We saw this last year when Baty struggled out of the gates and then really turned it on in the second half of the season. He was a favorite of mine heading into the season, so I'm buying back in now.

Zack Gelof - 2B/3B/OF, ATH (23% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POTENTIAL APPROACH CHANGE)

Gelof has been a bit cold this week, but he has still hit .243/.291/.456 in 34 games since being called up, with six home runs and six steals. We may remember the version of Gelof that went 14/14 with a .267 average in 69 games in his rookie season in 2023, but that version is still likely fictitious. However, Gelof has made some changes to his contact profile that should prevent him from being as bad as he was the last two seasons. His swing rate and chase rate are both down this season, and his zone contact rate is up almost 10%. It's still below average, and his Contact Value grade in Pitcher List's Process+ stat is 94 (100 is average), so we know there are still some contact issues, but he's making far better swing decisions to help alleviate that. He ranks 45th in baseball in Process+ since coming up, which makes sense because we're seeing his swinging strike rate fall from 20.4% to 12%. The Athletics also play the entire week at home next week, so it's time to fire up all their hitters. Another option at the same positions could be Richie Palacios - 2B/OF, TB (1% rostered), who now seems like the regular starter at second base against right-handed pitchers with Ben Williamson hurt. It's unclear how long this will last, but Palacios is hitting .268/.384/.341 in 99 plate appearances this season with seven steals. He doesn't hit the ball overly hard, and the Rays have him hitting the ball the other way more than he ever has, but if he's going to post an on-base percentage like that and then run when he gets on, that's going to have some value. The Rays are also scheduled to see only one left-handed pitcher next week, which would mean five starts for Palacios.

Jake Burger - 1B, TEX (17% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

Much like Baty, Jake Burger is another player we were high on coming into the season who started hot, then went on a super prolonged cold streak, and now seems to be turning it around. In 16 games since the start of May, Burger is hitting .305/.369/.559 with four home runs, nine runs scored, 14 RBI, and an 11/6 K/BB ratio. He also has a 52.1% hard-hit rate over that span, so he may have fully shaken off the doldrums. The Rockies aren't at home, so TJ Rumfield - 1B, COL (13% rostered) is less exciting, but he's still been really solid all season and ranks 25th in baseball in Process+ over the last month. During that span, he's also hitting .295/.386/.443 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a 15/10 K/BB ratio. He doesn't have Burger's power, but the contact rates are much better, and Rumfield feels like a better bet for a higher batting average.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (16% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POWER/SPEED UPSIDE)

The A's called up Bolte last week, and with the recent Denzel Clarke hamstring injury, Bolte's spot on the big league roster feels a bit more secure. Their 5th-ranked prospect had been on a tear at Triple-A, batting .348 with a 1.076 OPS, 12 home runs, seven doubles, three triples, 28 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 37 games. That came with a manageable 39/17 K/BB ratio, which is important because Bolte has hand contact concerns in the past. He had just a 69 percent contact rate overall last year, but that’s up over 75 percent this year. There will still be some swing and miss in his game, but his teammate Nick Kurtz had just a 70 percent contact rate in the minors in 2025, and that worked when he got called up. Bolte has hit .269/.333/.308 in eight MLB games with two RBI and three steals. He does have a 15.7% swinging strike rate and 81.6% zone contact rate over that span, so those contact concerns are still lingering, but his upside is high enough that we should give him more time to see how he adjusts.

Ryan Waldschmidt - OF, ARI (15% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

Waldschmidt is another top outfield prospect called up recently who has a bit of a safer floor than Bolte due to his swing decisions. In 13 games, he's hitting .300/.378/.400 with four doubles, seven runs scored, six RBI, three steals, and a 12/5 K/BB ratio. He has enough raw power to flirt with a 20-homer pace from this point on and the speed to steal double-digit bases as well. He doesn't swing a lot, with just a 40% swing rate so far in his MLB games; however, he also doesn't chase outside of the zone or swing and miss much, so that's going to be really helpful and also make him a strong asset in OBP and OPS leagues.

Keibert Ruiz - C, WAS (15% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Did you lose Drake Baldwin or Ryan Jeffers to injury this week? If so, perhaps Keibert Ruiz can be an option for you. Over his last 15 games, Ruiz is hitting .314/.321/.647 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He's splitting time with Drew Millas and will also sit against lefties, so it's not an ideal playing time situation, but Ruiz is lifting the ball a bit more, leading to more barrels and also pulling the ball more often. He's always made an elite level of contact, but he's swinging less now and seems to be more intentional about offering at pitches he can drive. We like that. Maybe Mickey Gasper - C, BOS (1% rostered) is an option in two-catcher formats. He's been DHing a lot for Boston, and while that seems strange, he's also hitting .344/.364/.406 in his 33 plate appearances since being called up. That comes with a 54% hard-hit rate and an elite 96% zone contact rate. This isn't likely to last, but it's working right now and in two-catcher formats, that's sometimes all that matters.

Sam Antonacci - 2B/3B/OF, CWS (15% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, SPEED UPSIDE - MAYBE)

After a slow start, Antonnaci is hitting .316/.396/.405 in his last 25 games with 15 runs scored, six RBI, and four steals. He doesn't have much power and has just a 39.7% hard-hit rate over that span, but he's trying to lift the ball and drive it into the gaps, which we like. He has also started to play against lefties, which the White Sox weren't letting him do early on. He stole almost 50 bases last season, so we always figured the speed would come and be paired with an elite contact profile. That, combined with his multi-position eligibility, makes him a solid add. The results haven't been there for Vaughn Grissom - 2B, LAA (1% rostered), but the contact quality has been good. He has also ranked 23rd in baseball in Process+ over the last month. In that span, he has a 50% hard-hit rate and just an 11% strikeout rate. He's making lots of contact, and he's making hard contact, so the hits have to start falling. Right?

Jake McCarthy - OF, COL (6% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Over his last 25 games, McCarthy is hitting .338/.368/.549 with two home runs, 11 runs scored, 15 RBI, and four steals. He's not hitting anything hard. I mean, he has a 16% hard-hit rate over that span, but he's making consistent contact and running when he gets on base. He has nine steals in 40 games this season and has also started every game this week, even against the left-handed starters. If you need batting average and speed, McCarthy is a great add. Isaac Collins - OF, KC (2% rostered) is another deep league outfield target. On the season, he has a 10% barrel rate, a 43% hard-hit rate, a 42% pull rate, a 45.6% fly ball rate, and a 23.3% Pull Air%. All of this is the profile of a player who is hitting the ball hard and getting it in the air to the pull side. He also has a 73.3 mph bat speed, which is above-average bat speed. He also doesn’t chase out of the zone and has a 9.2% swinging strike rate. He simply needs to be a bit more aggressive. A 20% called strike rate is not great, and he’s swinging at pitches in the heart of the zone just 63% of the time, down from 76% last year.

Nolan Gorman - 2B/3B, STL (5% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Gorman was featured in Eric’s article this week on players who should see more power production in the future. Also, over the last calendar month, Gorman ranks 22nd in baseball in Process+. He has an 89 Contact Value grade (100 is average), so it's not as if he magically started to make more contact, but his swing decisions have gotten better, and his power has never been questioned. He has a 48% hard-hit rate, a 9.6% barrel rate, a 51% pull rate, and a nearly 30% Pull Air Rate. Yet, his HR/FB rate is basically league average. That profile with a 72.7 mph bat speed and 112 max exit velocity should lead to above-average home runs. Gorman has also flattened his swing this year and started swinging more often in the zone. That hasn’t changed his contact profile much, but a hitter like Gorman who swings and misses a lot probably needs more bites at the apple, so I’m happy to see him being more aggressive in the zone. Could he be a .230 hitter with 25 home runs? Another power option could be Coby Maro - 1B/3B, BAL (2% rostered). It’s a small sample size, but in the last 11 games, Mayo is hitting .265/.359/.471 with two home runs and six RBI. On the season, he has a 46% hard-hit rate, 8.4% barrel rate, and 31.3% Pull Air rate with a 116.5 mph max exit velocity that tops anybody on this list. His bat speed is elite; he’s actually making contact in the zone 5% more often than last year, and his swinging strike rate is 12.4%, which is fine for somebody with his power. Maybe this was just about adjusting an approach that he’s starting to do in recent weeks? Just keep an eye on his playing time with Jackson Holliday back.

Austin Martin - 2B/OF, MIN (5% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Martin has almost the exact opposite profile of Gorman, but is another MIF option now that he has settled into an everyday role with Matt Wallner now in Triple-A. He's started the last four games for the Twins, and only one of those was against a left-handed pitcher, which had been his role early in the season. There's nothing meaningfully different about Martin from previous seasons in terms of his swing or quality of contact. His swing is a bit less steep, so he's making more contact; however, he also has a very passive approach with just a 35% swing rate overall. Martin has speed; he's stolen seven bases in 44 games this season, so his patient, contact-first approach could lead to a good batting average and stolen base production, if that's what you're looking for. We really do wish Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (1% rostered) was playing more. He has a 47% hard-hit rate, a 9% barrel rate, 21% Pull Air Rate, and a 72.8 mph bat speed. He looks to pull the ball often and gets it in the air 43% of the time. We haven’t seen elite exit velocities from him so far, but he has just a 6.7% swinging strike rate and an 88.4% zone contact rate for his career. A player who can hit the ball with that kind of quality and also make consistent contact deserves more playing time to see if it can be for real.

Edwin Arroyo - SS, CIN (5% rostered)

(PROSPECT STASH)

Sometimes you need to get ahead of prospect promotions before they happen. I think the next impactful hitter to be called up could be Arroyo. It may seem like Edwin Arroyo has been around a while because he was a major part of the Luis Castillo trade four years ago, but Arroyo is just 22 years old. He's hitting .348 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, and eight steals in Triple-A this season to go along with a 1.025 OPS. With Eugenio Suarez (oblique) on his way back, there may not be any space for Arroyo, but he deserves a shot. Another possible stash would be Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (0% rostered). The 24-year-old is now hitting .344/.425/.592 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 45 Triple-A games. The power is intriguing, and a clear improvement from his 15 home runs in 128 games last year. He does have a 13 percent swinging strike rate and 72.6 percent contact rate overall; however, both of those were improvements on what he did last year. The bigger news is that Morales has been playing more first base lately, and the Nationals don’t have a clear first baseman at the MLB level.

Pedro Ramirez - 2B/3B, CHC (2% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL UP)

Ramirez is just a player we're watching this weekend. The top 100 prospect was called up on Friday to replace Matt Shaw, but that just means he's likely to fill a utility role. Still, he was hitting .312/.395/.547 with nine home runs, 19 steals, and 40 RBI in 43 games at Triple-A this season. He has five-category upside, so just keep an eye on how much he plays this weekend.

Michael Conforto - OF, CHC (1% rostered)

(SHORT-TERM OPTION, STRONG SIDE PLATOON)

This is another pick-up that's not a long-term one, but Conforto has been starting against right-handed pitching and hitting in the middle third of the order. Since May 1st, he's batting .345/.441/.793 with three home runs and six RBI in 34 plate appearances. He has a 73% hard-hit rate over that span and some strong bat speed numbers. The Cubs play seven games next week, and only one of those is scheduled to be against a left-handed pitcher, so that could mean six starts for Conforto this week.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Bryce Miller - SP, SEA (39% rostered)

I honestly didn't expect Miller's roster rate to be this low, but please go and add him right this very second. He has looked outstanding in his two starts back off the IL, allowing two runs on nine hits in 11 innings while striking out 10 and walking two. Even though he is now piggybacking with Luis Castillo, he threw 5 2/3 innings in his last outing, so the Mariners are going to let him pitch deep enough into games to pick up wins.

Jared Jones - SP, PIT (37% rostered)

We had Jones listed last week, so we'll reiterate that now is the time to stash him. He will likely make one more rehab start this Saturday and then join the Pirates' rotation at the end of the month.I recorded a video on him this week.

Rico Garcia - RP, BAL (37% rostered)

Garcia has only one ave in the last two weeks because the Orioles aren't winning tons of games, but he remains a really solid relief pitcher. The issue is that they are also using him in high-leverage situations, so he's not just going to be saved for the ninth inning. Still, he's a good add for saves over the next two weeks or so until Ryan Helsley returns. Hogan Harris - RP, ATH (9% rostered) is another option. He has three of the A's last four saves, and while he likely is just the left-handed part of a committe, the A's are a solid team, and that has afforded him some save chances lately.

Jacob Latz - SP/RP, TEX (33% rostered)

Since April 14th, Latz has recorded the only saves for Texas. He's also blown two, but he's allowed only six hits and two walks in his last 13.1 innings while striking out 11 and recording five saves over that time. There haven't been many save chances of late, and he's still a left-handed former starter who throws 94 mph. That's not really the profile of a lockdown closer. We're happy to add him, but not assuming this is a rest of the season type of thing.

Zebby Matthews - SP, MIN (26% rostered)

Listen, I don't know how this is really working. I've talked about it with Nick Pollock on the "On the Corner" podcast, and James and I discussed it on our Q&A. Zebby's fastball has gained some vertical movement, which is great and a clear step in the right direction, but all of his secondaries are slower and didn't add more movement. He changed his curveball shape, but it had just a 6% swinging strike rate in his last outing. Maybe it's just command? He's locating better now. I dunno. You can add him and see if he keeps this up, but this doesn't feel sustainable.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (28% rostered)

Last week,I broke down Jax’s full arsenal in my streaming starting pitcher column and then suggested you add him now while he was still taking time for everything to click, but man, did he look good against Baltimore this week. He allowed one run on three hits in five innings while striking out six and posting a near 18% SwStr%. I think he has the pitch mix to work as a starter, and I would for sure be adding him over Ben Brown, who is also trying to make the transition to the rotation.

Bryan Abreu - RP, HOU (24% rostered)

Abreu has had the last two save chances for the Astros and has a 1.13 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over his last eight innings. However, his last save opportunity still included a hit batter and a wild pitch, so it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. Josh Hader needs a few more rehab appearances, which might be another two weeks in the minors before he's activated. That gives Abreu a bit of a window to snag a few more saves. If you're looking for saves, Clayton Beeter - RP, WAS (5% rostered) was also activated off the IL on Thursday. The Nationals will likely still use multiple pitchers at the end of games, but Beeter was pitching fairly well before the injury. He may split save opportunities with Richard Lovelady - RP, WAS (1% rostered), who has pitched well in Beeter's absence.

Connor Prielipp - SP, MIN (19% rostered)

We're just going to keep saying that Prielipp should be rostered in far more places. He has now gone deeper than five innings in a start and has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any of his appearances. The Twins have also said they are going to try not to overwork him, so they may give him extra days of rest here and there, but he won't be skipped in the rotation, which is a positive. He has a solid enough fastball, a decent changeup, and a wicked slider. There's a lot to like here.

Steven Matz - SP, TB (19% rostered)

Matz returned this week from elbow inflammation, and while it wasn't his best start, he allowed just one run on three hits in four innings. He was up to 67 pitches in this one, which means he should be back to around 80 pitches in his next start. He gets a decent two-start week against the Orioles and Angels next week, so he's a priority add this weekend. Another two-start option could be Anthony Kay - SP, CWS (3% rostered), who has been solid over his last three starts, posting a 1.65 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. He gets a Twins team that ranks top 10 in wRC+ against lefties, and then a middle-of-the-pack Tigers offense. Neither team slugs particularly well against lefties, so perhaps Kay can avoid enough damage to be worth a look in deeper formats.

Christian Scott - SP, NYM (14% rostered)

Christian Scott is another pitcher whose arsenalI broke down in last week’s streaming starting pitcher arsenal. He didn't deliver like we wanted against the Nationals because he does have some issues with left-handed hitters, but the overall profile here is solid, and he looks like a good streamer in 12-team leagues and a solid add in deeper formats.

Grant Taylor - RP, CWS (11% rostered)

Everybody wants Taylor to be the White Sox's closer, but I don't think that's going to happen. He's simply too valuable for them in a high-leverage, "fire man" role. That being said, he has a 1.78 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on the season in 25.1 innings with 38 strikeouts and five walks. That has also come with one win and one save. He's a good reliever to have on your roster.

Walbert Urena - SP, LAA (11% rostered)

We've had Urena on here a few times, but he's emerging as a solid streaming option this year. His power changeup (at 90 mph) is a really good pitch, and he uses it to both righties and lefties. His last start also showcased plus command of an 87 mph sweeper that missed plenty of bats to righties. He's going to need that sweeper because his fastball is just empty velocity, and will only be successful if he can get ahead with his other pitches and then try to get hitters to chase outside of the zone with elevated four-seamers. He did that on Monday, and he succeeds when he can follow that plan, but it will be dependent on his sweeper command.

Andre Pallante - SP, STL (8% rostered)

This is not an add for this week; I need to make that clear right away, but if you have the space for a bench stash, I like some of the changes Pallante is making, and his schedule cleans up a bit after next week. His fastball is up a tick in velocity and has also added three inches of vertical movement. That's really good, and I think that's going to make him a solid streaming option. But I'm not starting him in Cincinnati this weekend or against the Cubs next week.

Troy Melton - SP, DET (6% rostered)

Like Jared Jones, Melton is a great add right now. He could return to the Tigers' rotation on Sunday or might even return on Tuesday, which would set up a two-start week for him.I recorded a video this week about why I like Melton, so make sure you check that out. Another stash option would be River Ryan - SP, LAD (12% rostered), who continues to look good in Triple-A, throwing five shutout innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, allowing two hits, no walks, and striking out seven. The Dodgers will give Eric Lauer a start on Monday, but Ryan could push for a rotation spot if that Lauer start doesn’t go well.

This Week in Mets Quotes: Mets are the talk of town after Subway Series win

New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) reacts during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field.

Your 2026 New York Knicks: I mean Mets

“Every team is going to deal with adversity. We have got to keep going.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

…this week the Mets won the Subway Series but lost Clay Holmes to injury…

“It’s really sad what happened to [Clay Holmes]. It’s part of the game. We’re going to support him. We’re going to be right there for him in any kind of way that he needs us, but it just sucks.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]

…but in happier news Luke Weaver pulled off a Houdini act when he /slowing turning my head to check the Knicks score/…  

“I’m not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain’t scared of nobody.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…/shakes head/…umm…yeah Luke Weaver came in a bases loaded jam /pumps fist in the air reacting to a OG Anunoby dunk/…

“It’s a cool moment. That’s why you play the game.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…uh, where was I, oh yeah Luke Anunoby didn’t give up a run, OH COME ON THAT WASN’T A FOUL, and his teammates were like happy for him or whatever…

“Unicorn stuff .” -Juan Soto [MLB]

“[On Luke Weaver] That was sick. That was fun.” -Mark Vientos [MLB]

“That’s what great players do. Clutch stuff in a big spot. Obviously, we’re chasing some wins right now, and he’s built for that stage. [Weaver’s] got a lot of poise and control and swag, I would say. So yeah, he was ready for that moment.” -Brooks Raley [MLB]

…Brunson’s got to get it going…umm, sorry, Mendoza also was happy for Weaver and I think this was a typo where he actually said ‘unhittable’ but who knows with the way things have been going for Carlos Mendoza these days…

“Weaver was hittable there.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

…but, anyways, the Knicks, sorry the Mets went 4-3 for the week…

“A lot going on, man. I’m tired.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…and, it’s looking bleak because the Mets are down by 22 with 8:19 in the 4th quarter…

“They were ultra aggressive, especially the first time through. You look at pretty much every batter there, they were hacking first pitch. They were looking hard, whether it was the sinker, the cutter, 1-0, they were aggressive. Balls found holes. They attacked him.” -Carlos Mendoza [Mets]

…I mean it’s maybe time to put in the bench…

“It’s always good when you show some fight back.” -Carson Benge [Mets]

…take the loss but at least you can rest the starters…

“There’s a couple of things I was feeling, but I was a little quick [in the first inning]. I just tried to kind of settle in, slow myself down and get in my motion and then continue to try to get ahead with the first pitch and go from there.” -David Peterson [New York Post]

…hey, that’s a couple buckets…

“They made some pretty good swings on some decent pitches. Obviously I didn’t have the best stuff, but that’s no excuse for not going out and competing better than I did.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

…man, they’re kind of on a run…

“We know that we’ve got to start playing better — period. It’s been rough. It’s been … yeah. But that’s in the past. Now, all we can control is every game, every series — the mentality of winning series. We did that this homestand, and we’ve got to continue to do it.” -Carlos Mendoza [Mets]

…this is getting a little crazy…

“He hit it pretty hard. I went back and just missed it. It hit the palm of my hand. I should have had it.” -Nick Morabito [MLB]

…no WAY, NO WAY MY TEAMS DON’T DO THIS…

“Basically, it all came down to where I was starting my hands. That was the stem of the problem.” -Devin Williams [The Athletic]

…YES, LET’S GO KNICKS, I LOVE NEW YORK CITY, NUMBAH ONE CITY IN DA WORLD!

To drop the Knicks bit, here are two great articles that prove, in the words of Sarah Langs, Baseball Is The Best.

“[In a year full of incomprehensible pain, Joe Raccuia said that watching Ewing makes him feel a little better.] It helps” -Joe Raccuia who was A.J. Ewing signing scout while working for the Mets [The Athletic]

“It was go and be a dad and support a young man in Zach or take care of my health. The doctors at Shirley Ryan assured me that my health was in good hands and that they felt as though I could do it. So it really made my decision very easy. To be honest, as a dad, I’m not going to miss this.” -Paul Thorton on attending his son’s big league debut [New York Post]

Holding Court: Mariners at Royals Series Preview

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 13: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 and Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate with teammates after scoring runs during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on May 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the sweep at the hands of the Padres last weekend, the Mariners managed to get things back on track a bit with a series win over the White Sox. Seattle hasn’t won back-to-back series since going 5-1 on their road trip at the end of April. They’ve been mired in an unfortunate rut, unable to gain any momentum in the standings. Thankfully, they haven’t fallen too far back in the AL West race; on May 1 they were a game behind the A’s and they’ve only dropped a game and a half since then. Now, they’ll get an opportunity for a measure of revenge against the team that swept them at the start of the month.

GameTimeMariners StarterRoyals StarterMariners Win%Royals Win%
Game 1Friday, May 21 | 4:40 pmRHP Logan GilbertLHP Noah Cameron53.8%46.2%
Game 2Saturday, May 22 | 1:10 pmRHP George KirbyRHP Stephen Kolek53.1%46.9%
Game 3Sunday, May 23 | 11:10 amRHP Bryan WooRHP Seth Lugo54.8%45.2%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewRoyalsMarinersEdge
Batting (wRC+)94 (12th in AL)105 (5th in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)5 (4th)-14 (15th)Royals
Starting Pitching (FIP-)99 (10th)96 (7th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)113 (13th)89 (3rd)Mariners

Since sweeping the Mariners to start the month of May, the Royals have taken a nose dive in the standings. They’ve gone 5-11 since that series in Seattle and are now battling with the Tigers at the bottom of the AL Central standings. The offensive production has been particularly brutal; during this 16 game slump, they’ve scored just 3.4 runs per game and the last time they scored more than four runs in a single game was back on May 13. For a team that had designs on challenging for a division title or a Wild Card berth, they’ve been quickly pushed onto the fringe of the AL playoff picture.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Maikel Garcia3BR21314.1%8.9%0.12594
Bobby Witt Jr.SSR22217.1%10.4%0.183134
Vinnie Pasquantino1BL20120.4%10.4%0.13168
Salvador PerezCR20120.9%4.5%0.15769
Carter JensenDHL16330.1%11.7%0.170102
Jac CaglianoneRFL16030.0%7.5%0.178108
Isaac CollinsLFR16126.7%12.4%0.10487
Michael Massey2BL9720.6%3.1%0.18569
Kyle IsbelCFL13723.4%5.1%0.138103

During the month of May, the Royals have had exactly two batters with a wRC+ above league average. Bobby Witt Jr. has essentially been trying to carry the entire team on his back; his 160 wRC+ is among the league leaders this month and his 3.3 fWAR on the season leads all of baseball. The other hitter who has been contributing has been Jac Caglianone. He’s managed to get his strikeout rate under control which has helped him run a 113 wRC+ this month. Unfortunately, ugly performances from guys like Maikel Garica (62 wRC+ in May), Vinnie Pasquantino (72), and Salvador Perez (92) have been the big reason why Kansas City has struggled to score runs consistently this month.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Noah Cameron41.219.3%7.5%8.5%29.9%5.403.95
Logan Gilbert56.224.7%5.2%16.4%37.3%4.454.42
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam30.4%35.9%92.38894870.386
Cutter18.7%25.6%89.488118980.396
Changeup25.8%5.8%82.096971140.291
Curveball16.8%10.3%81.510381480.260
Slider8.3%22.4%85.298

Noah Cameron enjoyed a solid debut season last year with an ERA a hair below three and a FIP a hair above four. He wound up earning fourth place in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. A college draftee back in 2021, he quickly moved through Kansas City’s farm system as a polished, low-risk starter. He’s got an excellent changeup that has standout fade for someone with such a high arm slot. His fastball gets pretty good ride thanks to his arm angle, and his two breaking balls are pretty vertically oriented. He can command his entire repertoire fairly well which helps the average-ish raw stuff play up a bit.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Stephen Kolek1717.4%5.8%21.4%50.0%4.244.87
George Kirby62.220.7%6.4%10.5%55.2%3.453.56

Once upon a time, Stephen Kolek was a Mariners farm hand who was plucked away by the Padres in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. He had a decent debut season as a long reliever in San Diego’s bullpen in 2024 and then made the jump back to the rotation last year. He was traded to the Royals at the trade deadline and made five solid starts for Kansas City down the stretch. He was pushed out off the big league roster this spring but the injury to Cole Ragans has allowed him to make a couple of spot starts while the Royals’ ace is on the mend. Kolek doesn’t get many swings and misses. Instead, he relies on generating weak groundball contact with a sinker, changeup, and sweeper that dive off the table. When those batted balls are finding gloves, he can be effective enough to work through a lineup a couple of times. 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Seth Lugo58.220.7%8.5%3.0%36.3%3.682.89
Bryan Woo5923.6%5.2%7.1%31.1%3.513.28
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam15.0%20.1%91.689761130.366
Sinker27.7%20.8%91.4801001080.399
Cutter15.4%16.8%89.982101870.397
Changeup2.0%12.7%84.869
Curveball14.6%20.0%76.0102531120.217
Slider18.2%7.4%84.288
Sweeper12.3%8.9%78.088
Slurve7.1%2.1%77.2102

From a previous series preview: 

Seth Lugo throws the kitchen sink and the bathtub too for good measure. I have eight pitches listed in the table above, but I combined what Statcast calls his curveball and a “slow curve” into one line. And really, his sweeper-slurve is actually one pitch that he varies the speed and shape of based on the situation. That deep repertoire has served him well since making the transition to the starting rotation in 2023. He struggled with his normally excellent command last year, leading to a bunch of additional walks and home runs, but has seemed to have gotten over those issues to start this year. Despite mediocre raw stuff and advancing age, he’s been able to keep batters off balance because they often have no idea what pitch is coming next.


The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Athletics26-240.520-4L-L-W-W-W
Rangers24-250.4901.5+13L-W-L-W-W
Mariners24-270.4712.5+11L-L-W-L-W
Astros20-310.3926.5-56W-L-L-W-L
Angels17-340.3339.5-69L-W-L-L-L

The Athletics managed to take three of four from the Angels this week, winning a pair of extra-innings contests on Wednesday and Thursday to secure the series win. The A’s head to San Diego this weekend to face the Padres. The Rangers managed to keep pace with the Mariners by winning their series in Colorado and have another easy opponent on the docket, the Angels. The Astros haven’t broken out of their doldrums yet, losing a series to the Twins earlier this week; they’ll head to Chicago to face the Cubs this weekend.

Nationals Head to Atlanta Looking To Finally Clear .500 Mark

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals watches his a three-run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Nationals Park on May 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the bats rolling and one of their better starters in Cade Cavalli on the mound, the Nats had a prime opportunity to take 3 out of 4 from the Mets and clear the .500 mark the deepest into a season they have since 2021. Unfortunately, the Mets arms shut down the Nats lineup, allowing just 1 run on a groundout in the 5th inning, and the Nats stranded the tying run on third base in the 9th inning to lose 2-1 and drop back down to one game under .500.

To clear the .500 mark this weekend, the Nationals will have to do it against a Braves club that is going scorched earth to its opponents right now, with their 35-16 record and +104 run differential both being the best in baseball. After a few years of underperforming and missing the playoffs despite a strong ballclub, the Braves have found their identity again in 2026, a team with a strong pitching staff and a deadly lineup. Led by Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna, the Braves have 7 hitters in their lineup with an above-average wRC+, resulting in a team 117 wRC+, second best in baseball.

On the pitching side, Chris Sale has gotten healthy and been a force for the Braves at the top of their rotation, with a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts in 2026. Thanks to a rebound season by Bryce Elder and a rebirth year by 35-year-old Martin Perez, the Braves’ starting pitching has gotten the job done, and their bullpen has been lockdown, leading to their 3.09 team ERA being the best in baseball.

Game One – Friday 7:15 PM EST

WSH: LHP Richard Lovelady (2-2, 2.61 ERA)

ATL: RHP Bryce Elder (4-2, 2.01 ERA)

The Nats will roll with an opener before sending Miles Mikolas out for the bulk work in tonight’s game against the Braves. Lovelady picked up a save Tuesday night against the Mets and now will open up a ballgame three days later.

Elder had a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts in 2023, but after a 6.52 ERA in 2024 and a 5.30 ERA in 2025, it looked like his career as a starter was on the ropes. He’s been proving the doubters wrong so far in 2026, with a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts, but the scrappy Nats lineup will look to inflate that ERA tonight.

Game Two – Saturday 4:10 PM EST

WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.79 ERA)

ATL: RHP Grant Holmes (3-1, 3.80 ERA)

Irvin looked good on paper in his last start against the Mets, striking out 6 batters and only walking 1, but he allowed 6 hits and didn’t generate many quick outs, resulting in him going just 4 innings and allowing 2 runs. The Nats would take that stat line tonight from Irvin against a deep and dangerous Braves lineup.

Holmes had his best start of the season last time out against the Red Sox, throwing 6 scoreless innings and earning the victory. He doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, meaning there’s opportunity for the bottom half of the Nats lineup to grind out at-bats and the top half to do the heavy lifting.

Game Three – Sunday 4:10 PM EST

WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02 ERA)

ATL: LHP Martin Perez (2-2, 2.85 ERA)

After a pristine start to the season, things have come unraveled for Griffin in his last 2 starts, allowing 14 runs over 9.1 combined innings. The ERA has ballooned over 4, in part to him being kept in the Reds game to try and save the bullpen, and he will look to get that back under the 4 mark against the Braves on Sunday.

Perez has done it all for the Braves in 2026, whether that be opening ballgames by throwing an inning or two, or actually starting games and pitching rather well when he does. He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings to the Marlins last time out, so the Nats will be looking to get to him in a similar way on Sunday.

Opposition research: Rhys Hoskins

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There was a moment this past offseason when it seemed like the Phillies were considering a reunion with Rhys Hoskins. There was really nothing to the rumors, and it basically seemed to come about because WIP reporter Devan Kaney conflated two different discussions to make it seem like the Phillies were seriously thinking about signing Hoskins.

With the Phillies facing Hoskins’ Guardians team this weekend, and with the Phillies struggling against lefthanded pitching, it’s worth wondering if the Phillies made a mistake in not pursuing their old friend.

Of course, the biggest obstacle to having Hoskins on the Phillies remains: Hoskins can only play first base (and poorly at that) or designated hitter, and the Phillies’ best two offensive players are ensconced at those positions. Any talk about moving either Hoskins or Kyle Schwarber to the outfield should be immediately dismissed. You can get away with that for about seven innings once a week, but it is unfeasible on a regular basis, especially with a centerfielder going through growing pains on defense.

As for Bryce Harper moving to the outfield…he still doesn’t seem especially excited by the prospect. He might have felt some remorse over that decision if Hoskins would have been the team’s answer against lefty pitching, but based on Hoskins’ performance this season, that wouldn’t have been the case.

Hoskins’ stat line is interesting. He is batting .192 (that’s bad) but has an on-base percentage of .353 (that’s good). His overall OPS is respectable, but he’s hit just four home runs, and his slugging percentage is .375, continuing a steady career long decline (also bad). Basically, Hoskins has been elite at taking walks and not much else.

He’s also been very bad against lefthanded pitching, with a .132/.275/.360 slash line. Say what you will about Adolis Garcia, but at least his numbers against opposite-handed pitching are respectable and he plays good defense.

The Phillies’ offseason moves aren’t looking spectacularly successful at the moment, but some of the moves they didn’t make (just wait until they play the Mets) have proven to be wise.

Trivia

Last week’s answer: Before last weekend, the Phillies’ franchise leader for home runs at PNC Park was Jimmy Rollins with five. However, thanks to his two home runs last Friday, Kyle Schwarber is now the leader with six.

This week’s question: Aside from Citizens Bank Park and Milwaukee’s American Family Field, what stadium has Rhys Hoskins hit the most home runs in?

Non-Phillies thought

I’m probably going to see The Mandalorian and Grogu this weekend, but I can’t help but think this movie is coming out about four years later than it should have. It pretty much should have been a two season show, and season two ended over five years ago. Since then, they had to mostly walk back season two’s finale because they didn’t think anyone was going to watch the show without “Baby Yoda.”

The more I think about it, the more I think the season two finale was so well received is because what people really want from Star Wars is more content with Luke, Leia, Han, and company. Recast those roles and give us some adventures immediately after Return of the Jedi before they become the sad sacks we saw in the sequel trilogy. (Or heck, go ahead and retcon those movies!)

You can take my opinions on Star Wars with a grain of salt though. I thought the much-praised Andor was sporadically great but was mostly a slog to get through. And I mostly enjoyed the lesser regarded The Acolyte.

Remembering some guys

The Guardians have a couple of former Phillies in their system who fall into the “that guy is still around?” category.

Connor Brogdon spent five years with the Phillies and always seemed like he was on the cusp of becoming a dominant reliever but could never quite get there. He went from a dominating performance in the 2022 World Series to a guy who was almost guaranteed to walk a couple of batters in every appearance the following season.

It seems that a change of scenery was not all that Brogdon needed. The Phillies traded him to the Dodgers at the start of the 2024 season, but his performance got worse post trade. After another bad season with the Angels in 2025, he signed with the Guardians in the offseason, but struggled to the point where they designated him for assignment.

Kolby Allard wasn’t a Phillie for very long. At the end of the 2024 season, when the team was desperately trying to find a competent arm for their fifth starter spot, they cycled through a bunch of guys, hoping one would stick. Allard was actually one of the better performers, and considering he had a 5.00 ERA that says a lot about the other guys they used.

Allard latched on with the Guardians as a reliever in 2025 and put together a decent season as a middle reliever. But the success didn’t carry over into 2026, and like Brogdon, he was demoted to the minors.

Additional thought about the series

The Guardians don’t have a lot of household names on their roster, but they’re winning games. At 29-22, they’re in first place of the AL Central. It’s somewhat surprising considering that their biggest star, Jose Ramirez is having a down season by his standards.

What the Guardians do have is a group of young players doing well. Travis Bazzana, Brayan Rocchio, Angel Martinez, and Chase DeLauter are all in their early to mid-twenties and are having breakout seasons.

As a Phillies fan, it seems like a foreign concept to have the team’s developmental system produce players who can step in and contribute on the major league level, but apparently it can indeed lead to winning baseball. Maybe the Phillies should try it?

Thunder vs Spurs Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 3

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With the Western Conference Finals tied at 1-1 apiece, the series shifts to the Alamo City as the San Antonio Spurs look to regain the upper hand on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Our Thunder vs. Spurs predictions for Game 3 include no shortage of NBA player prop projections, and we have you covered for the best NBA picks on Friday, May 22.

Thunder vs Spurs computer picks for Game 3

Thunder ThunderSpurs Spurs
Gilgeous-Alexander u7.5 assists
+102
Harper o11.5 points
-109
Holmgren o13.5 points
-112
Champagnie u2.5 threes
-105
Mitchell u14.5 points
-115
Castle u7.5 assists
+110

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Thunder Game 3 computer picks

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (+102)

Projection: 6.24 assists

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has failed to clear this line in seven of his last 10 games, and given the Oklahoma City Thunder's sixth-slowest pace, expect that to continue in Game 3.

OKC also ranks as the second-worst team in offensive rebounding on the road, so Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs should limit SGA's facilitating tonight.

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Chet Holmgren Over 13.5 points (-112)

Projection: 16.02 points

Chet Holmgren has cashed this prop in seven of his last 10, and our computer projects a 18.77% EV advantage ahead of tip-off.

The Thunder have averaged 119.6 points per game away from the Paycom Center this season, and Holmgren should continue to be one of the main beneficiaries tonight.

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Ajay Mitchell Under 14.5 points (-115)

Projection: 12.98 points

Ajay Mitchell has accumulated just 14 points through the first two games of this series, attempting only 13 shots in the process.

The OKC guard has finished below this number in six of his last 10 contests, and an elite San Antonio Spurs defense (third in defensive rating) is set to keep it that way.

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Spurs Game 3 computer picks

Dylan Harper Over 11.5 points (-109)

Projection: 12.57 points

Dylan Harper has really stepped it up in the postseason, averaging 16.4 ppg over his last five matches.

The rookie should continue to light it up against a Thunder defense that allows starting point guards to attempt the most threes per contest.

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Julian Champagnie Under 2.5 threes (-120)

Projection: 2.28 threes

Julian Champagnie has missed the cut on 2.5 threes in five of his last 10 games.

Shooting just 4-for-18 from 3-point range in the Western Conference Finals, look for the third-year Spur to take a backseat offensively tonight.

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Stephen Castle Under 7.5 assists (+110)

Projection: 6.84 assists

Stephen Castle’s assist totals have dipped from 7.4 per game in the regular season to 6.6 in the postseason.

At plus money, it’s worth a look for the Spurs guard, who has cleared this prop in just four of his last 10 contests.

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How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 3

LocationFrost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
DateFriday, May 22, 2026
Tip-off8:30 p.m. ET
TVNBC

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Guardians vs Phillies Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians roll into town on a six-game win streak, but Cristopher Sanchez and the revived Philadelphia Phillies are waiting for them.

Philadelphia has won six of its last seven series to get back to .500, and my Guardians vs. Phillies predictions back the hosts when they take on Cleveland starter Gavin Williams, who’s had some wobbly moments this season.

Get the lowdown on this matchup with my free MLB picks for Friday, May 22.

Who will win Guardians vs Phillies today: Phillies (-175)

For the Philadelphia Phillies, the gloom is long gone. They’re now 16-6 since Don Mattingly took over, and I’m trusting ace Cristopher Sanchez to bring the heat in tonight’s contest.

Sanchez enters with a 1.82 ERA, and the Phillies have won each of his past four starts. In fact, the lefty hasn’t given up a run this month — and he’s only allowed more than two earned runs once this year.

Meanwhile, Gavin Williams has posted a 5.12 ERA in his last five outings, and Alec Bohm and Trea Turner are a combined 6-for-9 against the Cleveland Guardians righty.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Cristopher Sanchez has logged a 29.9% strikeout rate through 10 starts this season — on pace for a career high — and he’s racked up 30 Ks across his three outings so far in May.

Guardians vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (-105)

Sanchez’s red-hot form has dragged down the O/U line, but I’m still taking the Under, which is 8-2 in the Phillies’ last 10 games.

Three of Sanchez’s past four outings have delivered six total runs or fewer, and both these teams rank in the bottom third of the majors in batting average.

Though Williams is still searching for his best stuff, he only allowed two runs in six innings against Cincinnati last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Guardians’ winning run hasn’t really been fueled by offense. They’ve scored three runs or fewer in six of their last nine contests.

Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-7, -5.30 units
  • Over/Under bets: 8-2, +5.16 units

Guardians vs Phillies odds

  • Moneyline: Guardians +145 | Phillies -175
  • Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-150) | Phillies -1.5 (+125)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-1115) | Under 6.5 (-105)

Guardians vs Phillies trend

The Under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings between these teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Phillies.

How to watch Guardians vs Phillies and game info

LocationCitizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
DateFriday, May 22, 2026
First pitch6:40 p.m. ET
TVGuardians.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Guardians starting pitcherGavin Williams
(6-3, 3.67 ERA)
Phillies starting pitcherCristopher Sanchez
(5-2, 1.82 ERA)

Guardians vs Phillies latest injuries

Guardians vs Phillies weather

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Astros vs Cubs Prediction, Picks & Best Bets for Today's MLB Game

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Memorial Day weekend begins with Friday afternoon baseball at Wrigley Field, as the Chicago Cubs look to snap a mini-skid against the visiting Houston Astros.

My Astros vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for May 22 expect the North Siders to fly the winning flag at The Friendly Confines in Game 1.

Don't miss first pitch at 2:20 p.m. ET on Apple TV.

Who will win Astros vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (-140)

Opposing hitters sport a well-below-average .300 wOBA to pave the way to Chicago Cubs vet Jameson Taillon spinning a tidy 3.28 ERA across an equally tidy 250 innings at Wrigley Field since signing with the franchise in 2023.

I give the North Siders a sizable edge on both sides of the dish following a day off with Houston Astros righty Spencer Arrighetti headed to the bump.

Arrighetti sports a career 5.15 ERA on the highway and faces a lineup sporting the third-lowest BABIP over the past three weeks, after all.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Cubs have scored just 2.8 runs per game during their active 2-9 skid after averaging 5.5 per to start the year.

Astros vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+110)

Let’s take advantage of a low total at Wrigley. The wind is forecasted to be blowing in, but not truly gusting, and the Cubs and Astros rank ninth and 10th in wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Arrighetti’s struggles have been highlighted, and Taillon just allowed five homers and a 41.9% squared-up contact rate in his most recent start.

While a few more fly balls might not leave the yard, these offenses can patch together enough runs to push this total Over the number Friday afternoon.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 21-12, +11.68 units
  • Over/Under bets: 12-9, +2.37 units

Astros vs Cubs odds

  • Moneyline: Houston +120 | Chicago -140
  • Run line: Houston +1.5 (-185) | Chicago -1.5 (+155)
  • Over/Under: Over 7 (-115) | Under 7 (-105)

Astros vs Cubs trend

The Cubs have won in 15 of their last 18 games at home (+11.30 Units / 43% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Cubs.

How to watch Astros vs Cubs and game info

LocationWrigley Field, Chicago, IL
DateFriday, May 22, 2026
First pitch2:20 p.m. ET
TVApple TV
Astros starting pitcherSpencer Arrighetti
(5-1, 1.50 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcherJameson Taillon
(2-3, 4.97 ERA)

Astros vs Cubs latest injuries

Astros vs Cubs weather

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