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As the clock ran out on the MLB trade deadline, the Rays made one final move by sending C Hunter Feduccia and minor league RP Jacob Kmatz to the Dodgers for Triple-A OF Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money. The Rays have been linked to several popular IFA guys in the 2027 class (including an 80-grade name right-handed pitcher Mussumbay Navarro) so that bonus pool money will be valuable, but Suwinski immediately becomes one of the more intriguing outfielders in the organization and is not to be overlooked.

Suwinski is a left-handed hitting outfielder with nearly 400 games of MLB experience with the Pirates from 2022-2025. He was DFA’d by the Pirates before being claimed by the Dodgers in February of this year. He went to work with the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate to work on his swing without sacrificing power — and he succeeded.

Suwinski’s swing change has two main components: a shorter bat bath with less barrel movement and a flatter bat angle. First, we’ll look at the swing length. He has reduced the amount his hands needed to travel to get his bat on the ball. Suwinski previously employed a bit of a hitch and barrel tip that added length and power to his swing, but at times his swing was too long and it resulted in a lot of whiff. This is evident in his 72.8% contact rate in the majors and 69.0% in AAA prior to the 2026 season. Suwinski’s shorter swing this season has allowed him to maintain a much more playable 79.6% contact rate. While all of that nearly 11% increase is unlikely to translate to major-league pitching, most of it should given the underlying mechanical adjustments that have allowed him to get to this point. This isn’t a hot streak or luck; it’s meaningful adjustments that allow him to handle advanced pitching.

Next, well look at his bat angle. Suwinski tweaked it to be less vertical and more “flat.” This change further supports his ability to make more contact. A steeper bat angle does produce more loft so Suwinski could be susceptible to ground balls, but so far this hasn’t been an issue. The images below are both on pitches that were low in the zone, so we can see how drastic the difference is in his bat angle when he begins his swing as he plants his front foot.

The result is a more balanced ability to handle different pitch types. To compare apples to apples, we’ll look at just the difference in his AAA data between 2022-2025 and the 2026 season so far:

Of course the sample size is different, but the exact numbers here are less important than the trends. Suwinski seems to have meaningfully improved his ability to handle secondaries without losing his ability to punish velocity.

On the defensive side, Suwinski is a fine defender in a corner outfield spot. Both his arm and speed are roughly average. The Rays are one of the better teams at improving outfielder jumps, so I am interested to see if they could improve his defense. Although that point is secondary as his bat is what could get him in a lineup everyday against righties.

Suwinski appears to be a nice depth option for the Rays with a few more years of team control. Left-handed outfield depth is relatively thin with both Fraley and Melton battling injuries most of the year, so the team rightfully saw some risk with the major league outfield depth. Suwinski doesn’t need a 40-man spot at the moment, and will not become a free agent until 2030. His adjustments have helped him find a new level of his game, and now he just needs an opportunity. That could come in 2026, but may be more likely in 2027.

Today marks John Olerud’s 58th birthday.

John Olerud, born in Seattle, Washington, followed his father’s path—his father also named John—who played catcher for Washington State University and reached Triple-A in professional baseball. Olerud Jr. was picked by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 1989 draft out of Washington State, where he stood out as both a pitcher and a fielder, amassing a 26-4 record on the mound. Unusually, he started his pro career directly in the majors, only appearing in minor league games in 2005 while recovering form after joining the Boston Red Sox.

Olerud gained recognition for wearing his batting helmet while playing first base—a precaution after a health scare in early 1989, when he collapsed following a workout due to spinal column bleeding. A month later, he had surgery to remove a brain hemorrhage, leading him to wear the helmet in the field for extra protection.

After signing with the Blue Jays in late August, Olerud joined the major league roster as a September call-up, appearing in several games as a defensive replacement. In 1990, he made the team out of spring training, platooning at designated hitter while Fred McGriff played first base. Facing mostly right-handed pitchers, Olerud hit .265/.364/.430 in 111 games and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. That offseason, the Jays traded McGriff and Tony Fernandez for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, clearing the way for Olerud to become the starting first baseman.

In 1991, Olerud began the season in a platoon with Pat Tabler and later Ed Sprague. He posted a solid .256/.353/.438 line with 17 home runs. Bill James oncecompared him to a young Rusty Staub, though Olerud would go on to surpass that comparison. He played infive games during the ALCS loss to theTwins, collecting three hits in 19 at-bats.

In 1992, as the Blue Jays won their first World Series, Olerud became a full-time player, starting against both right- and left-handed pitchers. He played through a broken nose suffered during batting practice, yet improved at the plate, hitting .284/.375/.450. Olerud shined in the ALCS win over Oakland, batting .348 with a home run, and hit .308 in the World Series victory over Atlanta—though he appeared in only four of six games as Cito Gaston shifted Carter to first base when the designated hitter was unavailable.

Olerud’s breakout year was 1993, when he hit .363/.473/.599 with 24 home runs, 54 doubles, 200 hits, 114 walks, 109 runs, and 107 RBIs. He was batting over .400 as late as August 2. He led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS (1.072), runs created (161), doubles, and intentional walks (33). That year, he was an All-Star, won the Hutch Award for competitive spirit, and finished third in MVP voting behind Frank Thomas and teammate Paul Molitor—though many believed Olerud deserved the honor. He also had a 26-game hitting streak and became just the 20th player in MLB history to record both 200 hits and 100 walks in a season. It remains one of the greatest single seasons by a Blue Jay.

Olerud remained productive in the postseason, hitting .348 with four walks in the ALCS win over the White Sox. Although he batted just .235 in the World Series win against Philadelphia, he contributed a home run and four walks. By age 24, Olerud already owned two World Series rings—a remarkable start to his career.

The next few seasons were disrupted by the lockout and strike, and the Blue Jays struggled to recreate their earlier success. Although Olerud didn’t replicate his 1993 numbers, he consistently posted an on-base percentage above .390 each year. He might have thrived as a leadoff hitter, but speed was considered essential for that spot at the time. In 1996, his final year with Toronto, Olerud hit .274/.383/.472 with 18 home runs in 125 games, as Cito Gaston increasingly favored Joe Carter at first base and Carlos Delgado emerged as a key player.

With Carter, Delgado, and Olerud all competing for playing time over two seasons, roster changes became inevitable. Delgado was young, inexpensive, and had a bright future, while Carter remained Cito Gaston’s favorite. Olerud was seen as not aggressive enough at the plate, and his stellar 1993 season had set expectations he couldn’t quite match. Despite being the youngest and arguably the best hitter and fielder of the trio, Olerud was the one the Jays decided to move.

If trading Olerud was a mistake, sending him to the Mets for pitcher Robert Person was an even bigger blunder by Gord Ash. Person went 8-13 with a 6.18 ERA in two-plus seasons with the Jays. Meanwhile, Olerud remained a terrific player for several more seasons, while Joe Carter did not. It was simply a bad trade, but Ash was a poor GM for the team.

Olerud enjoyed three great seasons with the Mets, then four and a half strong years with the Mariners. He later played half a season with the Yankees and wrapped up his career with the Red Sox in 2005. Over 17 seasons, he compiled a .295/.398/.465 batting line, 255 home runs, 1,230 RBI, and 1,275 walks (77th all-time).

Baseball Reference lists Olerud at 6’5” and 220 pounds—bigger than I remember. He had a picture-perfect left-handed swing and an excellent eye at the plate. He was strong defensively, winning three Gold Gloves as a Mariner. He probably deserved at least one Gold Glove as a Jay, but that’s how things go.

Matt noted that John hit better after leaving the Jays, even considering his one big season. This may have been because Cito insisted he become a pull hitter, even though Olerud’s real strength was hitting from foul line to foul line. Cito’s hitting philosophy worked for some players, but not for everyone.

John Olerud is married, lives in Fall City, Washington, and has a daughter. We saw him at the celebration for the World Series-winning teams in July. He looked like he could still play.

Happy birthday, John.

Today is Eric Hinske’s 49th birthday.

Eric Hinske was born in Menasha, Wisconsin. The Cubs selected him in the17th round of the 1998 draft from the University of Arkansas.

In March 2001, Hinske was traded to the A’s for Miguel Cairo. Later that year, he and Justin Miller were sent to the Jays for Billy Koch—a trade that clearly worked out in Toronto’s favor.

Eric’s rookie year in 2002 was outstanding. He racked up 99 runs, 84 RBI, 24 home runs, 77 walks, and 13 steals (caught just once)—almost all career highs and most setting team rookie records, except steals. He hit .279/.365/.481 with a 119 OPS+ and posted a 4.7 WAR per Fangraphs. His defense at third base was the main drawback, with limited range and 20 errors for a .946 fielding percentage, though Fangraphs gave him a 2.8 UZR/150. He made an early impression with a two-run single against Pedro Martinez in his first major game, and it seemed the Jays had found their third baseman for years to come.

After that season, JP Ricciardi signed Hinske to a five-year, $14.75 million deal, buying out his arbitration years—a move that seemed wise at the time. In 2003, Hinske hit just .243/.329/.437 (OPS+ 97) with 12 homers, but he tallied 45 doubles (fifth in the AL) in 124 games and stole 12 bases in 14 tries. His defense remained an issue, leading the league with 22 errors and a .930 fielding percentage. A broken bone in his hand cost him a month, which was blamed for his dip in offense—at least initially.

Hinske’s 2004 season was rough. He hit just .246/.312/.375 in 155 games (OPS+ 76), though he did have a 16-game hitting streak. The only highlight was his improved defense: just eight errors and a .978 fielding average, which led the AL. After the season, the Jays brought in Corey Koskie and Shea Hillenbrand for third base duties, moving Hinske over to first.

In 2005, Hinske improved at the plate, hitting .262/.333/.430 with 15 home runs, but made seven errors at first base. An OPS+ of 100 wasn’t enough for a first baseman or DH, so after the season, Ricciardi acquired Lyle Overbay for first and Troy Glaus for third.

At the start of 2006, Hinske platooned in right field with Alex Rios, but Rios soon won the job outright thanks to his strong play. When Rios went on the DL with a staph infection in June, Hinske filled in. Later, after Shea Hillenbrand’s departure, a spot at DH opened up for Hinske.

Hinske was enjoying his best season since his rookie year, hitting .264/.353/.513 with 12 homers in 78 games, when, on August 17, the Jays traded him to the Red Sox for cash.

Hinske developed a reputation as a good luck charm. In 2007, he earned a World Series ring with the Red Sox. The following year, he was on the losing side with the Rays, making the final out of the World Series on a strikeout—his second postseason at-bat, the first being a home run. In 2009, he won another ring with the Yankees, though he only had one plate appearance, drawing a walk. In 2010, his Braves lost in the NLDS to the Giants, but Hinske still managed two home runs in seven playoff at-bats. He remained with Atlanta through 2012, then played for the Diamondbacks in 2013.

After retiring, Hinske became a scout for the Yankees, then joined the Cubs as first base coach before becoming their hitting coach. He earned his third World Series ring with Chicago. This year, he’s serving as the assistant hitting coach for the Mets.

Happy birthday, Eric.

Today is Rick Bosetti’s 73rd birthday.

Bosetti played for the Blue Jays from 1978, the team’s second season, through 1981.

In 1978, as the Jays’ center fielder, he hit .259/.299/.347 with five home runs in 136 games. The following year, he played all 162 games, batting .260/.286/.362 with eight home runs, 13 steals, and 12 times caught stealing.

In 1980, after Toronto brought in Barry Bonnell for center field, Bosetti’s playing time dropped. He appeared in 53 games, hitting .213/.277/.324. In June 1981, he was traded to the A’s for cash. As a Blue Jay, he hit .252/.289/.348 over 376 games in four seasons.

Rick played for the Phillies and Cardinals before joining the Jays, and later appeared in 15 games over two seasons with the A’s after his time in Toronto.

Happy birthday, Rick.

It’s also Bobby Kielty’s 50th birthday.

The Jays acquired Kielty in exchange for Shannon Stewart midway through the 2003 season. He played 62 games in the outfield, hitting .233/.342/.376. After the season, Toronto traded him to the A’s for Ted Lilly.

Kielty played seven seasons in the majors, hitting .254/.348/.408 with 53 home runs in 599 games. He spent time with the Twins before joining the Jays, and later played for the A’s and Red Sox.

Happy birthday, Bobby.

Hey again, I’m Jon, and we’ve hit the seventh-inning stretch. This is a special, super-sized episode of The History of Charging the Mound, and unlike the others, it’s not about any particular mound-charging. Instead, I decided to call an intermission and take inventory of other once-hallowed baseball institutions that have faded from relevance like mound-charging has.

Something happened around 2010. That’s when mound-charges dropped off suddenly and precipitously. That’s also when players stopped posting ultra-high batting averages, hitting streaks became shorter, light-hitting ballplayers began to phase out, and pitchers would commonly get pulled from a game six or seven innings into a no-hitter. All these practices and achievements have something important in common: they do not perfectly correlate with the winning of baseball games. It seems that the turn of the 2010s was when optimization finally came for baseball.

Although it’s entirely possible that baseball is worse off for it – in at least a couple of ways in particular, I absolutely believe it is – I think the more honest framing is that baseball has entered a phase of accelerated evolution, and it is not finished evolving. Rather than worry too much about all that, though, I decided to have 45 minutes of fun slapping some numbers and charts on the wall.

If this is up your alley and you want even more, we’ve got you covered. Check out the latest feature-length episode right here: Nolan Ryan vs. Robin Ventura.

Ever since the Red Sox traded for Adley Rutschman on Monday, I’ve been fascinated by the debate over how much having a solid stick behind the plate matters. On one hand, the bat is not your primary focus at that position, and most of the league stinks offensively at catcher anyway, so even if you have a catcher with a slightly above average bat there, he’s still not a true slugger in the vast majority of cases.

But on the other hand, this also makes it the easiest position to get a leg up on everybody else, and in some cases, a huge leg up. For the 2026 Red Sox specifically — who are getting paltry production from their combination of crummy catchers — it screamed the most obvious path for improvement.

And no, I’m not just saying this now that the Sox landed Rutschman. I felt catcher should’ve been the target for the Sox even when most rumors were connecting them to a shortstop.

So in any case, I started looking back at all the World Series winners over the last several decades and what type of offensive production they got from their catching. And you know what? The results are pretty fascinating. Here’s the raw data going back for the last 50 World Series (1975 to 2025, with 1994 missing because of the strike) and each catcher measured by OPS+.

(For this exercise, I used whatever catcher got the most plate appearance for their team during that championship season and their regular season OPS+. It’s imperfect if you want details, but it gets the job done as a broad overview, and the OPS+ metric being park and league adjusted over time brings everybody onto a level playing field, which is a must in this type of comparison.)

Doing it chronologically makes it easy to find certain guys and seasons, but you can glean even more from the results when you take that same data and organize all the seasons by OPS+. Since this is where some real patterns start to emerge, let’s see what that looks like below:

A few things jump out here immediately. First off, the 2018 Red Sox are a complete anomaly. They had not one, but two completely useless bats at catcher on that roster between Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez. Together they played 89 and 80 games respectively, and posted an OPS+ of 37 and 46. In other words, if you use either guy for this exercise, you end up with the worst hitting catcher on any World Series team in the last 50 years.

Secondly, the example closest to the 2018 Red Sox almost doesn’t even count, for several reasons. First, we know Yadier Molina is better than that 53 OPS+ he posted in the 2006 regular season, and this was specifically illustrated by the fact he hit .358 with a .971 OPS in 16 games for the Cardinals during the 2006 postseason. Additionally, that 2006 Cardinals team only won 83 regular season games, so they literally only started acting like a World Series team once October started, which is also the precise moment they started getting explosive offensive production from behind the dish. So this is pretty much the exception that proves the rule.

Taking a broader view, above average offensive production from catching compared to the rest of the league tends to be a pretty serious championship building block. For reference, the average OPS+ among catchers in 2026 is 89, and if we look at the second table up there, 33 of the last 50 World Series winning catchers posted an OPS+ of 89 or higher (so we’re talking two thirds of the batch).

If I had to take a guess as to why this is the case, I’d guess it’s because the MLB postseason becomes a game of outs even more than a game of runs, and while many of the catchers on that list weren’t big boppers, they also weren’t automatic outs either, meaning the opponent found it just a little bit more difficult to collect 27 outs against them each night, and ultimately couldn’t do it without cracking over a seven game series.

However, the really fascinating data starts when you look at the names near the top of the table above. Specifically, when you hone in on the guys who posted an OPS+ above 120 during a World Series winning season. If you go from Jason Varitek’s 2004 upwards (121 OPS+ and higher), you get seven names (spanning eleven seasons). Here they are in bulleted form:

• Buster Posey
• Will Smith
• Johnny Bench
• Jorge Posada
• Yadier Molina
• Thurman Munson
• Jason Varitek

Do you know what those seven guys all have in common? They all won the World Series more than once! And in Posey, Smith and Posada’s case, it was at least three times. So when you get to this level, not only does a big bat at this position help you win one World Series, it puts you in a hell of a position to eventually go for a second bite at the apple.

So now the question becomes, where does that leave the Sox with Adley Rutschman? Rutschman’s OPS+ right now is 115, and that’s true for both his 2026 season and his career mark. So if he can come back and get just a little bit of a bump from that number and start looking like the guy he was earlier in his career, you start playing with some extremely enticing numbers. (This is undoubtedly the vision the front office saw, and why they paid such a high premium for him.)

Then again, do you know what there’s almost no track record of on that list? A catcher as good as Adley Rutschman switching teams in the middle of a season and then leading that new team to a World Series title that same year. As far as that table is concerned, the biggest thing Monday’s deadline did was ship Carlos Narvaez’s 52 OPS+ out of town (a level of futility that only the 2018 Red Sox made work).

Then there’s also the concerning fact that Rutschman’s really only had two good months by OPS+ over the last two years (although both of those were downright excellent). Here’s his OPS and OPS+ numbers by month for the last ten months he’s tallied at least 50 plate appearances dating back to the middle of the 2024 season.

• July 2024: OPS of .482 with an OPS+ of 35
• August 2024: OPS of .625 with an OPS+ of 73
• September 2024: OPS of .578 with an OPS+ of 68
• April 2025: OPS of .694 with an OPS+ of 98
• May 2025: OPS of .561 with an OPS+ of 57
• June 2025: OPS of .890 with an OPS+ of 147
• August 2025: OPS of .616 with an OPS+ of 69
• April 2026: OPS of 1.067 with an OPS+ of 194
• May 2026: OPS of .636 with an OPS+ of 81
• June 2026: OPS of .717 with an OPS+ of 93

Outside of June 2025 and April 2026, that’s ugly stuff. So if the Red Sox don’t get some sort of bounce back here, they severely overpaid for Rutschman’s services. Then again, Rutschman’s been thrust into his best chance to win a World Series in years overnight, and we’ve seen situations time and time again in this sport where you put a dog in the kitchen where he can smell meat, and then all of a sudden they start to relearn old tricks.

So to bottom line all this, the stakes are extremely high. The Sox are in pretty uncharted territory trying to win with Rutschman as an in-season pickup, but history suggests there’s a pretty strong link between a good hitting catcher, and a good shot at a championship (maybe even multiple championships). So which guy did the Sox get? It will be fascinating to find out in the months ahead.

The San Francisco Giants were on the clock to improve their roster or create future spending flexibility before the MLB trade deadline on Monday, Aug. 3.

They did both.

San Francisco (48-66 entering Wednesday, Aug. 5) spent deadline season reshaping a roster that failed to meet expectations, moving veterans in exchange for younger talent and future upside.

Whether those moves ultimately pay off will depend on the development of the prospects acquired in those deals.

Here's a grade for every trade the Giants made before the deadline, along with an overall team grade of C+.

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The Boston Red Sox are modest -127 favorites over the Chicago White Sox today when Sonny Gray and Sean Burke go toe-to-toe at Fenway Park.

My White Sox vs. Red Sox predictions expect the chickens to come home to roost for fly-ball-prone hurler Burke, as Boston not only wins outright but also covers the run line in our MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Who will win White Sox vs Red Sox today: Red Sox -1.5 (+158)

Normally, I like to start with a breakdown of the pitching matchup, and while both Sean Burke and Sonny Gray have excelled this season, I'm keying in on the offenses a bit, specifically the Boston Red Sox.

Over the last 30 days, the Red Sox rank fifth in MLB in wRC+ at 116 (league average is 100), which has been a massive contributing factor toward their hot streak bringing them back from the brink of death in the AL race.

Caleb Durbin has rebounded from his poor start, hitting .321/.418/.464 in that span, while Andruw Monasterio has been even better (.359/.440/.656). The power stroke has been handled by Wilyer Abreu, who has countered his poor .204 batting average in the last month by blasting a team-leading nine home runs.

But it's Willson Contreras who has emerged as the real heart of this team and the lineup's potential, boasting a 177 wRC+ while hitting .296/.465/.519 with eight long balls in his last 106 plate appearances. 

With favorable weather conditions (more on that below, in the Over/Under section), I like Boston's offense to push the Red Sox to another statement win, especially since the Chicago White Sox have gone in the opposite direction, owning baseball's fifth-worst wRC+ (84) in the last 30 days.

I'd play Boston -1.5 to +130.

COVERS INTEL: Contreras is a heat-seeking missile for barrels. Despite being 34, his bat speed remains in the 96th percentile, while both his barrel rate and expected slugging percentage are in the 92nd. Swing hard, hit hard is the name of his game. 

White Sox vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+110)

On paper, this is a solid pitching matchup between Burke and Gray, but there's good reason to target the Over.

Fenway Park will experience fairly humid conditions tonight with wind blowing to left-center field. While Gray keeps the ball on the ground fairly well, Burke is an extreme fly-ball pitcher, with a 36.4% ground-ball rate (18th percentile). Despite that, he's kept the ball in the ballpark at a much better clip relative to 2025.

But even if the ball doesn't sail over the fence, the Green Monster will be in play, making Burke's night a tricky one at best.

And for as strong as Gray has been in his debut season in Beantown, he's been knocked around a bit of late, surrendering nine earned runs on 17 hits in 12 innings over his last two starts.

So even though the White Sox haven't been mashing of late, Munetaka Murakami & Co. can do enough damage in these conditions to help clear the Over. 

I'd play down to +100. 

White Sox vs Red Sox weather

As mentioned, the wind is blowing right at the Green Monster, which may not bode well for the pitchers in Boston tonight. There's no rain in the forecast, and it will be between 76 and 82 degrees, so warm but not insanely humid.

White Sox vs Red Sox odds

• Moneyline: White Sox +122 | Red Sox -127
• Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-170) | Red Sox -1.5 (+163)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+104) | Under 8.5 (-108)

White Sox vs Red Sox trend

The Boston Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 24 of their last 35 games (+18.20 Units / 43% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Red Sox.

How to watch White Sox vs Red Sox and game info

White Sox vs Red Sox latest injuries

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

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country.

The Cincinnati Reds sat idle for almost the entire run-up to the August 3rd trade deadline. As the final hour neared, though, they managed to make a few moves at the periphery of their roster to keep the day from being a total shutout.

To Cleveland went 1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe, with 19 year old pitcher Alejandro Rivera coming back to Cincinnati as the return. Rivera is still incredibly far off in terms of a big league opportunity, but he boasts a wealth of talent – not bad considering Lowe came into camp on a minor league deal to begin the year.

Shortly afterwards, the Reds announced they’d picked up $250,000 of international bonus pool money from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for veteran lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson.

Eugenio Suarez did not get moved, nor did starter Brady Singer. The Reds held on to those pending free agents as well as the likes of Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke, too. They even held on to catcher Tyler Stephenson despite the mid-season trade market for catchers being as active as I can remember.

On the whole, this trade deadline may end up much more about who they did not deal rather than who got shipped out, especially if they find a way to keep playing the game as well as they have over the last three weeks.

So, give us your grade on the Reds deadline! Let us know how you think they came out of this all.

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A day filled with baseball is the perfect day, and I have MLB moneyline predictions for every game on today's slate. 

Let's dive right into my latest MLB picks for Wednesday, Aug. 5.

MLB moneyline picks for August 5

Matchup	Pick
Blue Jays vs Astros	-174
Dodgers vs Cubs	+113
Giants vs Rangers	+160
Rays vs Rockies	-153
Angels vs Orioles	+113
Athletics vs Reds	+135
Nationals vs Phillies	+170
Mets vs Guardians	-100
Cardinals vs Yankees	+144
White Sox vs Red Sox	+122
Marlins vs Braves	+117
Twins vs Royals	-113
Pirates vs Brewers	-122
Padres vs Diamondbacks	-115
Tigers vs Mariners	+141

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of August 5.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for August 5

Blue Jays vs Astros: Astros (-174)

Astros win probability: 64%

Jameson Taillon, the gift that keeps on giving. Welcome to the Blue Jays, my friend. Now I get to fade you.

Taillon owns a 5.92 ERA and 1.35 WHIP this season, and now he draws one of the hottest lineups in baseball. I don't expect this outing to go very smoothly.

On the other side, Hunter Brown has been sharp over his last three starts, posting a 3.12 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.

Dodgers vs Cubs: Dodgers (+113)

Dodgers win probability: 47%

I think we can all agree seeing the Dodgers get swept in back-to-back series would be marvelous. But when was the last time we were able to grab the Dodgers at plus money?

If the offense can force Shota Imanaga out early to get to that horrible bullpen, I think they can come out on top. 

Plus, I will gladly take the Monstars of L.A. at plus money to avoid their sixth straight loss.

Giants vs Rangers: Giants (+160)

Giants win probability: 38%

I'm not paying -163 for a Rangers lineup that's gone cold over the last week.

On top of that, this could be Cody Bradford's first start since September 2024. That's enough for me to side with the underdog here.

Rays vs Rockies: Rays (-153)

Rays win probability: 60%

It'll be interesting to see how the Rockies respond after last night's blown lead, but I don't see them bouncing back with Tomoyuki Sugano on the mound.

The veteran right-hander owns a solid 2.95 ERA over his last three starts, but his underlying metrics tell a different story. He carries a 6.69 expected ERA during that stretch.

On the other side, All-Star righty Nick Martinez gets the ball for Tampa Bay. He's been outstanding on the road this season, posting a 2.01 ERA away from home.

Both offenses have been heating up, but only one of these starters is worth trusting.

Angels vs Orioles: Angels (+115)

Angels win probability: 46%

Two lifeless offenses, both sporting a sub-60 wRC+ over their last six games. Who do you take?

When in doubt, take the dog.

Luckily for us, Reid Detmers gets the ball for the Angels tonight, and he's been on a tear, posting a 1.65 ERA and 0.80 WHIP over his last three starts.

On the other side, Trevor Rogers has turned things around after a shaky first half, but I still think Detmers is the better arm in this matchup.

Athletics vs Reds: Athletics (+133)

Athletics win probability: 43%

When country singer Rhett Lowder is on the bump, I want to fade the daylights out of him. Especially when he's carrying an 8.10 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over his last three starts.

Meanwhile, Jacob Lopez has been dealing, posting a 1.84 ERA and 1.23 WHIP during that same span. Plus, he has held a 27% strikeout rate across his last five starts, and the Reds have a 29.5% strikeout rate over their last 12 games. 

Nationals vs Phillies: Nationals (+170)

Nationals win probability: 37%

I'm not paying -174 to back Andrew Painter, who owns a 9.00 ERA, 5.54 xERA, and 1.69 WHIP over his last three starts.

On the other side, Jake Irvin has been the better pitcher lately, posting a 3.69 xERA and 0.86 WHIP over his last three outings.

The Phillies' offense has been solid over its last six games, but the Nationals are always capable of erupting at any moment.

Don't lay the juice. Take the dog.

Mets vs Guardians: Mets (+100)

Mets win probability: 50%

Christian Scott has been far too good over his last five starts for me to even consider backing Tanner Bibee.

The Mets right-hander owns a 2.59 ERA, 2.28 xERA, and 1.07 WHIP during that span. Bibee has been solid himself, but he still carries a 4.20 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over his last five outings.

Neither offense has been playing well lately, but the Mets have been generating far more hard contact than the Guardians, which makes me believe they're due to break out.

Across their last 21 games, New York owns a 41.4% hard-hit rate.

Cardinals vs Yankees: Cardinals (+144)

Cardinals win probability: 41%

Will Warren being a -147 favorite is wild to me.

The Yankees RHP owns a 6.05 ERA, 5.70 xERA, and 1.50 WHIP over his last five outings. During that stretch, he's also allowed nearly a 57% hard hit rate to opposing hitters.

The Cardinals counter with Andre Pallante, who owns a 2.66 road ERA this season while limiting hard contact.

St. Louis has also been swinging the bat much better than New York over the last week, and at +144, I have to back the Cardinals against Warren.

White Sox vs Red Sox: White Sox (+122)

White Sox win probability: 45%

My Sonny Gray AL Cy Young ticket has officially been shredded, and I want no part of backing the Red Sox after they hung 14 runs on the board last night.

Instead, I'll be backing Sean Burke and the Chicago White Sox. Chicago's offense has cooled off a bit, but I expect Boston to come back down to earth after last night's explosion.

Burke has been absolutely nails over his last five outings, posting a 1.14 ERA, 2.20 xERA, and 0.76 WHIP.

Marlins vs Braves: Marlins (+117)

Marlins win probability: 46%

I think this is a fantastic spot for the Marlins with Eury Pérez on the mound tonight. Over his last five starts, he's posted a 1.69 ERA and 0.84 WHIP.

Miami's offense is also starting to turn the corner, cutting down on the strikeouts while posting a walk rate of nearly 9% over its last six games.

On the other side, Bryce Elder owns a 5.50 xERA over his last five starts, and I think he gets exposed tonight. He's also allowed a 50% hard-hit rate over his last three outings.

Twins vs Royals: Royals (-113)

Royals win probability: 48%

Welcome to the Twins, Mr. Dean Kremer. Now we fade you in your debut.

The newly acquired right-hander has been horrendous lately, posting a 10.29 ERA and 1.93 WHIP. On the other side, southpaw Noah Cameron has taken a step forward, recording a 3.15 ERA, 2.91 xERA, and 0.95 WHIP over his last three starts.

Kansas City's offense has also been swinging the bat well over its last six games, while the Twins have gone ice cold, posting an 82 wRC+, .287 wOBA, and .651 OPS.

Pirates vs Brewers: Brewers (-122)

Brewers win probability: 55%

When was the last time Paul Skenes got run support? 

Give me the Brew Crew here! Especially with Kyle Harrison's underlying metrics saying he should be a lot better than he has been. In his last five starts, the left-hander has a 3.75 ERA, but a 2.16 xERA and 0.88 WHIP. 

Neither offense has been impressive, but the Brewers are easily the far more complete team, and at -122, I will be happy to pay the juice.

Padres vs Diamondbacks: Padres (-115)

Padres win probability: 54%

At the time of this writeup, the Padres have yet to announce a starting pitcher. That doesn't concern me when the Diamondbacks are sending Mitch Bratt to the mound.

Bratt owns a 5.23 ERA and 1.84 WHIP this season, while Arizona's offense has gone cold, producing minimal hard contact and a .679 OPS over its last six games.

Meanwhile, San Diego has posted a 113 wRC+, .328 wOBA, and a 41.8% hard hit rate over the last week.

At just -115, I'll happily fade another Diamondbacks starter.

Tigers vs Mariners: Tigers (+141)

Tigers win probability: 42%

It's Tigers or nothing for me. This team is way too hot to fade right now, and at +141 against Bryan Woo, who's been struggling, give me the dog.

For those unaware, the Tigers have posted a 147 wRC+, .379 wOBA, and .875 OPS over their last 12 games. On the mound, Ty Madden has been on a tear this season, recording a 2.40 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

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

While Mets right-hander Kodai Senga's upside as a starting pitcher remains tantalizing, it is difficult to envision a scenario where New York enters the 2027 season with him seriously in the mix for a spot in the rotation -- not with New York needing more certainty in a season where they'll look to break their two-year streak of the rotation wrecking their hopes. 

Following his tremendous rookie campaign in 2023 (2.98 ERA, 10.9 strikeouts per nine) and strong performance in 2025 before his hamstring injury (3.02 ERA, 10.4 strikeouts per nine), the last calendar year of Senga the starter has been a disaster.

After returning from his injury last season, Senga had a 5.90 ERA (5.76 FIP) in 39.2 innings over nine starts. Those struggles led to him accepting an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse in September to work things out, but Senga never got to a point where he was comfortable returning to the majors. 

This season, things took a bad turn in early April. Following two solid starts to begin the year, Senga became close to unpitchable. Over his first seven starts, he compiled a 10.08 ERA (7.47 FIP) while completing five innings just twice. 

Since June 28, Senga has worked almost exclusively in relief (he made one emergency start on July 31 in place of the soon-to-be-traded Freddy Peralta), with the Mets trying to determine his specific bullpen role. On Tuesday night against the Guardians in Cleveland, that role came into focus. 

With the bullpen mostly gutted after the trades of Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazoban, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter, the Mets now have what they say is a clear runway to use Senga as a high-leverage option.

"I want to see him as a leverage reliever," interim manager Andy Green said before Tuesday's game. "See him in a one-inning burst. We talked about it, the construction of our 'pen did not allow it when we had Minter and Brazo, and Weaver and Raley. It does now. We’re aware with his traditional workload as well, I don’t expect him to pitch three out of four at this time. I do think that his right arm has 100 mph and a nasty forkball. That profile plays for a late-inning reliever."

Along with Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and -- to a lesser extent -- Sean Manaea (who has turned things around lately), the Mets will likely enter next season with a handful of high-paid players whose roles and future on the team could be up in the air. Senga will be entering the final season of his contract, owed $15 million.

While the future doesn't appear rosy for Polanco (injury issues, an OPS+ of 9) or Semien (.614 OPS as his offensive production continues to trend down), there's reason to believe Senga can excel in a late-inning relief role, which could make him an asset for 2027.

A potential deciding factor when it comes to if this will work is whether Senga -- who is meticulous when it comes to his routines and mechanics -- can adjust to a role where he is thrust into action at a moment's notice and asked to pitch more than he ever has in his career. But if he buys in and can make the adjustment, there's reason for hope. 

In the only sample we have so far, which was on Tuesday night, Senga performed well while relying mainly on the two-pitch mix Green mentioned.

Of the 18 pitches Senga threw in his scoreless ninth inning to close out New York's victory (one walk was the only blemish), 13 were four-seam fastballs and two were forkballs. Senga also mixed in two cutters and one sinker.

Senga's fastball velocity also ticked up.

His four-seamer, which has averaged 96.2 mph this season, averaged 97.3 mph on Tuesday and topped out at 98.8 mph.

While Senga's four-seamer -- his most-used offering -- hasn't played up this season, with opposing hitters slugging .569 against it, the pitch was a major weapon for him during his rookie season and can still be a weapon.

In 2023, Senga's four-seamer graded out among the best pitches in baseball -- in the 98th percentile, via Baseball Savant. That season, it averaged 95.7 mph, right around where it's averaged this season. So it stands to reason that if Senga can again harness his four-seamer, he'll be in strong shape.

As far as Senga's forkball, it remains one of the most dastardly pitches in baseball.

The fork has been Senga's second-most used pitch this year (he's thrown it 24.2 percent of the time), with opposing batters hitting just .109 with a .152 slugging percentage and zero home runs against it. And the xSLG against the offering (.163) hammers home that the success of the fork is no fluke.

Meanwhile, Senga's other pitches have not fared well. Batters are slugging .917 against his sweeper, .900 against his slider, and .800 against his sinker. So again, Senga relying mainly on the four-seamer and fork makes all the sense in the world.

As Senga continues his transition from starter to bulk reliever to high-leverage reliever, one of the most important things to follow is how the four-seamer plays -- and whether he can maintain his velocity and remain effective as he works on shorter rest.

I wrote on Monday that the Mets' bullpen for 2027 is Devin Williams and seven shrug emojis. If Senga can blossom in his new role, though, the number of shrug emojis could be down to six.

Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the Trade Deadline behind us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.

First Place: Atlanta Braves (68-45)

Top Position Player: Matt Olson (3.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Chris Sale (3.9 fWAR)

The Braves have continued to be the big dog in the NL East throughout 2026 following an out-of-character losing year last season. They are one of the best teams in baseball, but they’re not perfect. After going 40-20 through the first two and a half months of the season, their June was suboptimal, going 9-14 before bouncing back in July, where they currently sit at 16-11. Now, post-trade deadline, they made some moves to help the depth on their major league roster, but it still felt like a bit of a disappointment. They added right-hander Tyler Mahle for their starting rotation, outfielder Lane Thomas, and left-handed reliever Brent Suter, but will that be enough to win it all down the stretch?

The good news is position players like Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Drake Baldwin, and Ronald Acuña Jr. (who continues to have injury issues but is back in the lineup as of now), along with another dominant season from Chris Sale, have put them in a great position moving forward. Olson has been the backbone of the group, now playing in his 895th consecutive game—setting a new Atlanta record and tying Stan Musial for eighth all-time—while slashing .266/.342/.541 with 31 home runs and holding a 137 wRC+ at age 32. He has been a model of consistency that the group desperately needed.

While they still have some flaws, and Braves fans weren’t happy with losing out on a more bona fide starting pitcher—there had briefly been Tarik Skubal rumors and Jacob deGrom reportedly quashed the possibility of a trade from Texas on deadline day—the squad is back to looking like one that had the best record in baseball early in the season and should contend for a World Series.

Second Place: Philadelphia Phillies (61-53)

Top Position Player: Kyle Schwarber (2.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Cristopher Sánchez (4.6 fWAR)

After Atlanta, the picture of the NL East comes into clearer focus, starting with the Philadelphia Phillies. They are a game up in the NL’s second Wild Card position. To give them a better chance at upping their position in the standings, front office heads Dave Dombrowski and Preston Mattingly acquired Luis Arráez from the San Francisco Giants, along with a couple of other bullpen reinforcements. Still, there weren’t any larger moves made despite comments from Bryce Harper saying, “I think we need some help.

Like the Braves, some speculated a move for the starting rotation, given that Aaron Nola has been a shell of himself, currently sporting a 5.55 ERA and a 3-9 record. Outside of him and the ever-shuffling No. 5 spot, the rotation has been very solid, with three pitchers over a 3.0 fWAR, including Cy Young contender Cristopher Sánchez, who is sporting a 4.6 fWAR.

The lineup has been led by Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott, and Harper, who have all registered over 2.0 fWAR, with Schwarber and Harper leading the way in home runs with 33 and 24. But if the Phillies really want a crack at succeeding in the postseason, it’s going to take a lot more from position players such as Trea Turner, Brandon Marsh, J.T. Realmuto, and especially Alec Bohm, to make an impact. The addition of Arraez certainly helps the lineup (though it’s an odd fit on defense, with Harper moving back to right field in the shuffle), but it’s going to take much more from within to keep the Phillies in contention.

Third Place: Miami Marlins (58-56)

Top Position Player: Otto Lopez (4.6 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Sandy Alcantara (2.7 fWAR)

The Marlins are just behind the Phillies in the NL East , and they’re two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot in the National League playoff race after a loss to the Braves last night. At the deadline howver, they moved catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays, starting pitcher Braxton Garrett to the Chicago Cubs, and reliever Lake Bachar to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Miami has been an interesting team this year, with players who have been some of the best not just in the NL but in all of MLB. Otto Lopez sits alone in fifth in fWAR, and familiar ace Sandy Alcantara sits in a tie for 19th in pitching fWAR. However, their road record that is their undoing this season. They have a 34-23 record at loanDepot Park, but when they walk out of a visitors clubhouse, they often walk back into that same clubhouse with a loss, sporting a 24-33 road record thus far.

It hasn’t been a bad season for the Marlins in the slightest, as they’re trying to improve their record from the previous season once more — staying above .500 would do just that. They have plenty of pieces that can continue to help build the franchise, and they at least resisted dealing Lopez, Alcantara, or Xavier Edwards. For right now, though, it’s about chasing that Wild Card spot and continuing to play solid baseball and win the games they need to.

Fourth Place: Washington Nationals (55-59)

Top Position Player: James Wood (4.2 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Cade Cavalli (2.5 fWAR)

The Nationals are a team that has seen breakout seasons from those they were counting on, but they still aren’t fully there yet. Sitting 5.5 games back of the last NL Wild Card spot, it would take a miracle for them to reach the postseason. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have any bright spots. James Wood and CJ Abrams are having excellent seasons. However, due to long-shot playoff odds, they still decided to send away players, including ace Foster Griffin to Cleveland and masher Luis García Jr. to the Yankees for a quartet of pitchers. The latter made his impact early on in a pinstriped uniform.

The Nationals even have some decent looks in the starting rotation, with Cade Cavalli doing yeoman’s work and leading the entire major leagues in starts. Still, there needs to be serious reinforcements on that side of the coin to make Washington even a Wild Card contender. As of now, they have somewhat of a formula, but with a deadline where the new leader of the front office, Paul Toboni, sold more than he bought, it still feels as if there’s a long rest-of-the-season and future for the franchise.

Last Place: New York Mets (47-66)

Top Position Player: Juan Soto (2.8 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Nolan McLean (2.6 fWAR)

The Mets have been extremely disappointing this season, and that still feels like an understatement. They traded away eight players at the deadline, including former Yankees Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver to the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively, and received 12 different prospect across their several deals. They also traded away their big offseason addition on the mound, Freddy Peralta, to the Tampa Bay Rays (his ugly 2026 only continued last night at Coors Field). After an 83-79 record last year and a run to Game 6 of the NLCS in 2024, it has been one heck of a downswing.

The two players who lead the team in fWAR are really the only two bright spots. Soto has been himself, hitting to the tune of a 159 wRC+ with an OBP over the .400 mark once again. But he’s on the IL right now and doesn’t have much help anyway, and neither does the young hurler Nolan McLean, who at 24 years old has pitched to an excellent 3.29 ERA through 22 starts and 125.2 innings pitched. Francisco Lindor has been underwhelming and hurt, and everyone else has been either mediocre or bad as well. The same goes for the pitching staff. There’s at least some hope for youngsters A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge in the outfield, if you want to find it.

The 2026 season has been a complete wash due to injuries and downright poor performance throughout the Mets organization. For the team’s front office and fans, their minds are already on 2027 and beyond.

As we’ve written aboutextensively over the past few days, the Mariners didn’t make splashy moves this trade deadline, but they did make moves to address their biggest weaknesses in the bullpen and right-handed hitting outfield, even if those returns might not move the needle for fans. Both Seranthony Dominguez, the reliever acquired in the Luis Castillo trade, and Taylor Ward, acquired in the Alex Hoppe trade, are in the midst of down seasons. Nick has dug into why Seranthony Dominguez might be a candidate to rebound in Seattle, a piece I strongly recommend you take a look at if you haven’t yet (almost as strongly as I’d recommend not looking at what he did in his Mariners debut). Today I’d like to do the same for Taylor Ward (with the similar caveat about not looking at his first game as a Mariner).

Jerry Dipoto, at least, is certainly happy to have acquired Ward:

“We feel like with Taylor Ward, we got at least—if not the best right-hand bat that moved at this deadline, certainly on the short list of the best right-hand bats,” said Dipoto, pointing to Ward’s solid performance for over six years in the league, elite on-base skills, and the way he fits the team. “Obviously, an everyday player who can handle both, but he’s particularly good against lefties.” (Ward has historically crushed lefties, with a 130 wRC+)

Mariners fans are familiar with Ward as a Los Angeles Angel, where he was famously the last first-round pick of Jerry Dipoto’s GM tenure before Dipoto skipped town for Seattle. But don’t let the first-round pedigree fool you: Ward, who was college teammates with Aaron Judge at Fresno State, is a lifelong grinder. Barely inside MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 when the Angels took him at 26 with an underslot deal, Ward was seen as a surprising selection by many in the industry, projecting him as a potential backup catcher, a defense-first prospect with a cannon for an arm, although he drew praise for his (Dipoto catnip alert) advanced plate discipline and approach. He spent his summers in both the prestigious Cape Cod League and the less-prestigious Alaska Baseball League, an experience he calls “one of the coolest things I’ve done,” describing waking up at 1 AM to go work out at the field.

Unsatisfied with his performance in High-A in the 2016-17 seasons, which was acceptable but not exemplary, Ward linked up with an old teammate from Fresno State, Trent Woodward, a minor-leaguer with the Astros, who told Ward about all these newfangled hitting metrics the Astros were using like attack angle and bat path ellipses, as well as technology like TrackMan, BlastMotion, and K-Vests. Ward, an eager student, dove into swing mechanics, refining his swing and roaring into the 2018 season and the upper minors, posting a 161 wRC+ for the season but failing to appear on any Top 100 lists.

A move to right field, where his cannon arm could continue to play without the mental load of catching, allowed Ward to focus solely on offense, and by 2022 he was an established regular for the Angels. While he continued to take his walks, he also became a little more willing to swing, trading a modest uptick in his strikeout rate – still below league average – for more power. Outside of 2023, when he missed time with a gruesome facial fracture after crashing into the away scoreboard at the broken-down haunted ride attraction currently known as Daikin Park, Ward has hit 20+ homers every season until running into another haunted house, this time righty-power-killing Oriole Park, where just one (1) of his seven (7) home runs this year has been hit.

Ward countered that suck on his right-handed power by dialing his selectivity at the plate up even further, testing the bounds of how close to a near-equal K/BB rate an everyday player can run. He leads the AL in walks, with 87, and is doing it while striking out about 20% of the time. He’s made himself into a valuable player, an OBP king, but at the cost of sacrificing his power.

But while he’s not been pulling the ball in the air for power, Ward has been spraying the ball around more. On the left, his historic heat map; on the right, 2026. His flyball rate has dropped while his line drive rate has increased and he’s hitting the ball up the middle more than ever. In order to do this, he’s flattened out his swing a ton, going from a 9° attack angle, just under the MLB average of 10°, to a 6° attack angle.

All of that sounds like something that would be in harmony with the Mariners’ current hitting coaches, who preach a similar up-the-middle approach.

“I think getting into a different ballpark situation, or back to the (AL) West where you know he’s in familiar environments [could help],” said Dipoto. “I don’t know that there’s a tougher place for a right-hand power hitter to go hit right now than Baltimore since they made their stadium change in left field, but I’ll give Taylor a ton of credit. He took what was already a skill and turned it into an elite skill, and he found a way to contribute on an equal level to what he was doing in Anaheim in a very different way. And I’ll take either one of those guys. I’ll take the 36 homer guy or the 380 on base guy. They’re they’re both good to me.

Going from Oriole Park to T-Mobile might not be the boon Dipoto is painting it as here – Oriole Park ranks right at the middle of the pack for right-handed power hitters for homers, fifth best for xwOBAcon, while T-Mobile is in the bottom third of the league for righty homers, 26th for xwOBAcon – but the good news is Ward doesn’t need to be his lift-and-separate self of yore on this roster. Despite what we know about how much T-Mobile doesn’t reward hitters for good quality contact, contact is contact, and the Mariners have enough power on their roster – in the forms of Dom Canzone, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodríguez, and the version of Cal Raleigh that hasn’t been conked over the head by a very large flowerpot, plus the sneaky power source that is Cole Young – that all Ward needs to do is get on base, something the 2026 Mariners have treated like they’ve been told they need to solve the Yang-Mills theory gap first before they can set foot upon pillow, and wait to get driven in by one of the boppers.

For his part, Ward says he likes the experience of hitting at T-Mobile, even as he saw limited success here as a visitor.

“I think one big thing is, I’m just happy not to have to face this staff anymore,” Ward joked. “Definitely top-tier in baseball.

But yeah, I like it here. I like playing outfield here. I like the batter’s eye, as well, I like the dark feel that it has here. Definitely looking forward to playing here.”

Ward also said he’s aware he’s in a down year for power, something he’s hoping to re-establish with his new team, as he’s looking forward to getting into conversations with the Mariners hitting staff.

“Just continuing to learn the league and how they pitch me,” said Ward, who said the thing he wants fans to know about him is that he’s a hard worker. “I do my own homework and game planning against them, so hopefully I’ll be able to come in and tap in to some power I’ve been missing, but also keep the walks going, keep the on-base going. But it’s been interesting year for sure. Hoping I can fill in some gaps as we get close to the end here.”

That’s not all Ward is hoping for: the long-time Angel has never been to the playoffs, and is hoping for his first shot at post-season play with the Mariners.

“That would be huge. Obviously, I haven’t been to the playoffs in my career, and that’s one thing I want to do. That’s what every player wants to do, win a world championship. So that’s my goal.”

Dipoto said the plan with Ward is to give him time to re-familiarize him with playing right field, since he hasn’t played it regularly in a couple of seasons, so the team will give him some time to practice getting accustomed to the angles in T-Mobile Park while giving him DH days, but the eventual plan is for him to play the majority of right field, while Canzone, who is comfortable with DHing and less comfortable with his nagging hamstrings, will eventually be the primary DH.

For Dipoto, he’s finally gotten his man after years of trying.

“We have tried to acquire Taylor Ward for years, but you know, at his original location, it was an impossibility.”

“I laughingly said to him yesterday, just as I always thought, my second conversation with Taylor Ward was going to be welcoming him as a 32-year-old corner outfielder, because the last time I talked to him, he was a 21-year-old prospective catcher.

“It’s cool to have a full circle deal,” laughed Ward. “I’m just really excited about it.”