For the Vegas Golden Knights, Nicolas Hague is a player from the past.
For Nashville, however, he is still a significant part of the future.
The former Golden Knights defenseman is expected to be fully healthy when the Nashville Predators open training camp, giving Hague a clean slate heading into the second season of the four-year, $22 million contract he signed with Nashville after being traded by Vegas.
Predators general manager Chris MacFarland told reporters Tuesday that he expects the team to have everyone healthy when camp begins, which includes Hague.
That is notable after an injury-plagued first season in Nashville for the 27-year-old defenseman. Hague was limited to 15 points in 62 games during the 2025-26 campaign and missed time on three separate occasions, including the final six games of the season because of an upper-body injury.
Hague's departure from Vegas was one of the more significant salary-cap moves of the Golden Knights' 2025 offseason. Vegas traded the 2017 second-round pick to Nashville on June 30, 2025, receiving defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons in return. Hague subsequently signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Predators, carrying a $5.5 million annual cap hit.
Now, more than a year removed from his Vegas tenure, Hague is preparing for another season in Nashville — and one that could go a long way toward determining whether the Predators ultimately get the player they believed they were paying for.
Hague spent his first six NHL seasons with the Golden Knights, appearing in 364 regular-season games and becoming part of the team's Stanley Cup-winning defense in 2023.
But his first year after leaving Vegas did not go according to plan.
And with training camp approaching, Nashville will be hoping a healthy Hague can look much more like the defenseman Vegas believed in when it selected him 34th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
It must have been my birthday yesterday, as I hit the double dinger and cashed +5.68 units. However, I'm not blinded by the lights. My eyes are set on the home run and the MLB player props board today, and I want more.
The Orioles might have the best chance at homers today vs. Tomoyuki Sugano at Coors Field, and Mickey Gasper's hot bat meets Bryce Miller's cold arm.
These are my favorite MLBhome run props for Wednesday, Sept. 2.
MLB home run props for today
For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Player to hit a HR
Chance
Gunnar Henderson
19%
Mickey Gasper
13%
Home run prediction: Gunnar Henderson (19%)
I want any piece of the middle of the Baltimore Orioles order at 3.8x or better against Tomoyuki Sugano, and that brings me to Gunnar Henderson. Sugano has the 15th-worst HR/9 in baseball this season, and his xERA is 1.72 points higher than his actual 5.23 ERA. He gets just 32% ground balls and has allowed five or more runs in three straight starts. He has been a home run target all season long.
Henderson might not be Baltimore's hottest bat, but at this price, I'll take a 22-HR hitter who ranks third in slugging over the last two weeks and costs nearly double Pete Alonso's price.
Coors Field is the second-best HR park today, per BallPark Pal. Winds are blowing out to left field, and 90-degree temperatures should help the ball fly. If Sugano doesn't get it done, the Rockies bullpen can, with its No. 26 xFIP and No. 28 xERA on the season.
Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, MASN
Home run prediction: Mickey Gasper (13%)
This is the best bat over the last two weeks vs. a pitcher who was demoted to the bullpen, owns a 7.18 ERA since the break, and is starting because of injuries.
Mickey Gasper is slugging 1.077 over his last 11 games with five dingers over those last 14 days. His damage is coming vs. right-handed pitching, with 100% of his dingers coming vs. them. Since being called up, he is slashing .394/.565/1.121, which is ridiculous. Today's matchup should be circled for Mickey and all bettors.
Bryce Miller was demoted to the pen but didn't throw a pitch there because of other injuries. He threw a season-high 104 pitches in his last outing on August 23 and has given up a home run in all but one of his last 12 starts, with multi-HR games in 33% of those. Miller has been one of the worst starters in baseball per ERA in the second half of the season.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
With training camp just around the corner, the Ottawa Senators face an uncomfortable position.
In two weeks, the September 15th deadline arrives. After which organizations will no longer be able to offer players contracts with eight-year terms.
For the Senators, they are looking down the barrel of a season in which Drake Batherson and Artem Zub are slated to hit unrestricted free agency at its conclusion.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether the Sept. 15 deadline (final day to sign players to the max eight-year term) will really be that problematic for Drake Batherson's camp.
Considering how one of the central themes of the offseason was how the influx of cap space vaulted NHL player salaries into a stratosphere previously never seen, the sobering realization for many organizations was that the cost to sign a particular player has likely outgrown whatever salary projections were forecasted as little as three to six months ago.
What compounds the expense for the Senators is that the organization has no players on the parent roster or in its pipeline who can reasonably be expected to replace Batherson's or Zub's contributions anytime soon.
As much as the organization has rolled the dice on some higher-upside skilled talent at the draft, it will be years before players like Jonas Lagerberg-Hoen or Jaxon Cover arrive at the parent level. Let alone produce at a level that approaches what Batherson has consistently provided the Senators with.
The 28-year-old winger finished second on the team in goals (33) and points (71). Both numbers represented career highs for Batherson, with the 2025-26 campaign marking the eighth consecutive season in which he improved his points total. Natural Stat Trick’s production rate data showed that Batherson enjoyed career highs in all-strength goals (1.44) and points (3.11) per 60.
Coincidentally, the 2025-26 season represented the first time in Batherson’s career that his most common linemate was Tim Stützle.
The expectation is that Batherson will have the opportunity to play on Stützle’s line. If he does, he should have no problem approaching or potentially even surpassing last year’s totals. Understandably, there should be concern that Batherson’s shooting percentage (19.8) was markedly higher than his career norm (13.8), but like other offensive players experiencing similar spikes, they can overcome a dip in shooting percentage simply by shooting more often.
Assuming that the newly acquired William Eklund will get the first opportunity to be the left winger on the Senators’ top line, he and Stützle represent a puck-carrying and playmaking duo that should theoretically put a lot of pressure on the opposition’s blue liners. If they can draw coverage and force the opposition to collapse, Batherson can hopefully exploit soft coverage and finish more plays.
If he can, there is no reason to believe that Batherson will not be in line for a contract commensurate with recent deals signed by the likes of Adrian Kempe and Alex Tuch. Although both players have multiple 30-goal campaigns under their belts to Batherson’s one, the combination of a light free agent class,
Batherson’s age and similar production levels puts him in the driver’s seat.
The 29-year-old Kempe is entering the first year of an eight-year contract carrying a $10.625 million average annual value. Tuch inked an eight-year pact of his own as part of a sign-and-trade with Washington. The 30-year-old’s contract carries a $10.5 million cap hit.
Coming off one of the most team-friendly deals in this organization’s history, it is difficult to believe that Batherson could not get that market value now. Barring some devastating injury, the player has all the leverage. Even then, Batherson’s been the model of good health, having played in 82 games in three of the last four seasons. Last season he played in 79 games.
Defensively, Batherson has never been a particularly staunch performer, which raises concerns if the offence declines as part of an age-related decline.
Even then, do those concerns outweigh the fact that the organization knows the player? They know how Batherson fits on and off the ice and the dynamic he has with his teammates.
The only real leverage the Senators have is the ability to offer an eight-year term and Batherson's familiarity with the organization. He knows the players, the staff and the city, and if he’s comfortable, it works in their favour.
Artem Zub’s situation is slightly different.
Zub has established himself as one of the best defensive defencemen in the NHL over his six seasons in the NHL. The right-shot defender, who turns 31 in October, is not the prototypical defender who imposes himself on opponents.
The Russian relies on hockey IQ, excellent gap control and deft stickwork to disrupt passing lanes.
According to Evolving-Hockey’s ‘Total Defence’ metric, which combines a player’s defensive contributions at five-on-five and while shorthanded, only three defencemen have accumulated more defensive value than Zub since he entered the league: Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, and Jonas Brodin.
Together with Jake Sanderson, their pairing has become one of the league's best top pairings. In 896 minutes together at five-on-five, the Senators generated 55.19 percent of the shots (CF%), 57.51 percent of the shots on goal (SF%), 59.23 percent of the total goals (GF%), and 56.83 percent of the expected goals (xGF%) per Evolving-Hockey.
Their chemistry and performance together helped lead Zub to his best offensive season. His 30 points represented a five-point improvement over his previous high, set during the 2023-24 season. It also helped that Zub played in more than 80 games for just the second time in his career.
With almost all of Zub’s value being tied to his defensive chops, it makes him a relatively unique defender. One of the best contractual comps may be the aforementioned Lindell. The Dallas defender signed a five-year contract in 2024 that carries an average annual value of $5.25 million.
Lindell still produces a ton of defensive value while providing a similar level of offence to Zub. Lindell signed this deal at the age Zub is now, but admittedly, it occurred before this recent market boom. Considering how highly sought-after right-shot defencemen are and the strength of Zub’s defensive metrics, there would be no shortage of suitors if he were available.
Having played more than 70 games only twice in his career, Zub has historically struggled to remain healthy throughout his career, so it’s possible the Senators could use that as leverage in negotiations. That said, like Batherson, there isn't another player on the parent roster or farm who can do what he does against tough competition.
As the lone proven veteran blue liner on the Senators’ right side, he is unique. Jordan Spence will play consistent top-four minutes for the first time in his career this season while Nikolas Matinpalo and Carter Yakemchuk have fewer than 100 combined games of NHL experience.
It remains to be seen whether the organization can get contracts done with these players. There is still time to do so, but it remains to be seen whether the organization would be comfortable carrying two impending UFAs without extensions in hand.
If rumours are true and Drake Batherson has recently bought a house in the rural west end, that would be encouraging. Especially since the Senators are not in a position to afford losing either player.
It puts a ton of pressure on general manager Steve Staios to get to work ahead of that September 15th deadline.
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 21: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Adam Serwinowski (73) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox in a Spring Breakout Game on March 21, 2026, at Camelback Ranch at Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tightly contested games across the board, including disappointing defensive efforts from both the Loons and Tower Buzzers, stood out on the first day of September.
Player of the day
It’s not every day you see a pitcher covering eight innings in the minor leagues; it’s not every day you see that anywhere, and Adam Serwinowski accomplished that feat in a close win for Tulsa at home over Wichita, helping this dominant Drillers team to go 31 games over .500 and secure their most wins ever (79).
Shortly after setting a career high in innings pitched as a professional, Serwinowski momentarily put behind what has been a disappointing campaign with an ERA north of 5.00 to toss an outstanding start. Serwinowski allowed just two runs in eight innings, dominating in a game in which the Drillers needed no less than that, narrowly beating out the Wind Surge.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Neither starting pitcher was on his game, with Christian Romero and David Davalillo both allowing four runs, but the Comets’ bullpen was as dominant as you’d want by covering 5.2 frames and conceding just a single hit in a 7-4 win. Involved in that great effort from the bullpen, Kris Bubic impressed in his first appearance on a rehab assignment, punching out two.
Matt Gorski and Ryan Fitzgerald hit solo shots in the second and ninth, respectively, but what really made the day for the Comets was a five-run fifth with contributions from all over the order—it included a Fitzgerald then game-tying two-run double, while the go-ahead hit came from Hyeseong Kim, also an RBI double.
Much like Eric Lauer in the majors, Adam Seriwnowski also allowed a pair of solo shots, but the similarities in these two outings end there, as Seriwnowski otherwise dominated the Wind Surge across eight two-run innings. Serwinowski had been more dominant in a pair of seven-inning outings, but by length, this was his best performance. Serwinowski allowed the Drillers to come from behind and win this game while recording only four hits to score their three runs.
Offensively, Logan Wagner was the big factor for Tulsa, first putting them on the scoreboard with a solo shot in the second and then securing the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.
Responsible for scoring one of Tulsa’s runs, Kole Wagner didn’t record a hit but caused a lot of problems by drawing three walks in the game.
High-A Great Lakes
When you commit as many errors as you score runs, the chances of winning are rather slim, as it was on display in a Loons 4-3 loss against the Captains. Mairo Martinus, who has had such a nice start to his Great Lakes career, encountered some problems on the field, committing two of those three errors, and in the end, the only earned run allowed by the Loons staff came against the losing pitcher of record, Robby Porco.
Ninth-hole hitter Victor Rodriguez, who came into this game with one home run this season in over 250 at-bats, was responsible for two of the Loons’ three runs, hitting a two-run bomb in the seventh. For a brief moment, that gave the Loons the lead before handing it right back by allowing runs in the seventh and ninth.
Class-A Ontario
Much like the Loons, the Tower Buzzers also didn’t play clean defense and surrendered a late lead en route to a loss, beaten 8 to 6 by the Quakes, who scored all of their runs from the sixth inning onwards. This bullpen collapse, which included three separate blown saves from Camden Wimbish, Accibias Morales, and Devin Bell, meant that Jack O’Connor left his start empty-handed despite tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Relying almost exclusively on the long ball to make something happen, the Tower Buzzers scored four of their six runs via homers, including a Caleb Johnson two-run bomb and solo shots from Joendry Vargas and Jose Gonzalez. Meanwhile, Bryan Gonzalez Garcia and Easton Shelton struggled heavily, with 3 strikeouts each.
Transactions
Outfielders Kyeler Thompson and Jose Gonzalez were assigned to Ontario. The Comets were assigned Alek Thomas as Alex Freeland received a call-up to the bigs, and lastly, Kris Bubic began a rehab assignment with the Comets.
Tuesday’s scores
Round Rock 4, Oklahoma City 7
Tulsa 3, Wichita 2
Lake County 4, Great Lakes 3
Ontario 6, Rancho Cucamonga 8
Wednesday’s schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Wyatt Crowell) vs. Wichita (Chris Vallimont)
3:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Will Gagnon) at Lake County (Joey Oakie)
4:45 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Round Rock (Winston Santos)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Trey Gregory-Alford)
The Boston Red Sox (75-64) wrap up their series against the Seattle Mariners (65-74) this afternoon at Fenway Park. Seattle knotted the series at a game apiece with a 9-6 win last night. The Mariners jumped on Jedixson Paez early scoring once in the first on a Dominic Canzone blast and five times in the second including Randy Arozarena’s 22nd home run of the seasonand the Sox never truly recovered. Lazaro Montes made a splash in his big league debut with a couple hits including his first home run to add to the party for Seattle. Boston attempted a comeback late, but it was snuffed out in time to preserve the win for Seattle. The win snapped the Mariners’ five-game losing streak and pulled them to within five game of the first-place Astros in the AL West.
Boston is sending left-hander Patrick Sandoval (1-3, 4.20 ERA) to the bump today. In his most recent start against the Yankees on August 28, Sandoval turned in one of his better outings of the year. He worked 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits. Boston lost that game 1-0 and have now lost three of Sandoval’s last four starts. Seattle counters with Bryce Miller (4-8, 4.12 ERA). The righthander’s most recent start came against the Cubs on August 23. He lasted just 4.1 innings and allowed six earned runs. For those who are history fans, Millerfaced the Red Sox on June 19 and allowed one run on just three hits over five innings.
Bottom line: The Red Sox pitching staff needs to be better. The Sox have allowed 42 runs over the last FOUR games. Sure, their spot in the playoffs is all but locked up but to make a run in October they need more from their hurlers. Meanwhile, Seattle can wait no longer to push for the playoffs. They are five back in the West and 5.5 back in the Wild Card with 23 games to play. Their schedule is favorable, but the clock is ticking.
Lets dive further into today’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Mariners vs. Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Time: 4:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Mariners.TV, NESN
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The Latest Odds: Mariners vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Seattle Mariners (+114), Boston Red Sox (-137)
Probable Starting Pitchers – Mariners vs. Red Sox for September 2
Red Sox: Patrick Sandoval Season Totals: 45.0 IP, 1-3, 4.20 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 48K, 22 BB
Mariners: Bryce Miller Season Totals: 94.0 IP, 4-8, 4.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 92K, 25 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Mariners vs. Red Sox
Jarren Duran is 2-11 (.182) in his career against Bryce Miller
Bryce Miller faced the Sox on 6/19 allowing 1 run on 3 hits over 5 innings
Bryce Miller has struck out 5+ hitters in 3 of his last 4 starts
Julio Rodriguez is 4-11 including 2 HRs in his career against Patrick Sandoval
Randy Arozarena and Josh Naylor have also homered against Sandoval in their respective careers
Cal Raleigh has 8 RBIs in his last 8GP
Mickey Gasper has homered in his last 2GP and is 3-9 over his last 3GP
Trevor Story is 6-12 in 3GP since returning from the disabled list
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Mariners vs. Red Sox
The Mariners are 53-86 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 67-72 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 71 times in Seattle’s 139 games this season (71-61-7)
The OVER has cashed 66 times in Boston’s 139 games this season (66-69-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Mariners vs. Red Sox for September 2
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5
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After winning seven straight games, to include sweeping the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves have lost two games in a row to subpar opponents. With the Phillies on their tale, the Braves need to win games that they are supposed to win to keep the lead, and the game today against the Nationals is one of those games.
Grant Holmes will be taking the mound to face the Nationals for the third time this season. In his first outing in late May he pitched 5.0 innings and surrendered two earned runs on six hits and recorded a season high ten strikeouts on two walks. His second outing, which took place at the end of July, went 4.2 innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits to include three HRs. He only had four strikeouts in that game.
Holmes should be watching out for Jorbit Vivas and Dylan Crews who both have a HR against him in six at-bats. Daylen Lile has two HRs in four at-bats, so it will be interesting if this because a nemesis scenario as time goes on.
For the season, Holmes has been a reliable arm for the Braves having amassed 128.2 innings of 3.71 ERA ball. If he could get to 6.0 innings today, the bullpen would sure appreciate it.
Brad Lord will be pitching for the Nationals and the players on the Braves roster have mixed against him. Ozzie Albies has a .929 OPS in nine at-bats, Ronald Acuña has a HR and 1.125 OPS in eight at-bats, Drake Baldwin has a .777 OPS in nine at-bats, and Michael Harris has a HR and 1.000 OPS in nine at-bats. However, Matt Olson leads the team with eleven at-bats against him but only has a .182 OPS. Yes, OPS, not batting average, and no other player with at least four at-bats against Lord has an OPS above .600.
Lord has arguably been one of the bright spots for the Nationals pitching this season with an ERA of 3.75 in 69.2 innings. His underlying metrics show that he has been a bit on the fortunate side with a low strikeout rate of 21.5 percent, a high walk rate of 9.4 percent, and an expected ERA (xERA) of 4.12.
Lord has already faced the Braves twice this season. His first outing was in April where he pitched 2.2 innings in relief. He gave up a run on two hits. His second outing was in late May where he came in on long relief where he pitched 3.0 innings and struck out three and gave up zero runs.
Of his thirty-three appearances, only four have been starts, and they have all been in the opener capacity, so the odds heavily favor that happening again today.
Even with injuries it was very apparent last night that the Nationals are still a formidable force on offense. The Braves need to get to Lord early and force him to stay as an opener style performance to get to the weak Nationals bullpen.
This is clearly not a “must win” game, but the Braves really need to win this one with the Phillies being one of the hottest teams in MLB right now playing against a struggling Diamondbacks squad.
Las Vegas is already counting down to another season of Golden Knights hockey.
Single-game tickets for the 2026-27 regular season went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 1, giving fans their first opportunity to lock in individual games at T-Mobile Arena as the Golden Knights prepare to open Season X.
Vegas will begin its 10th season on Tuesday, Sept. 29, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at 7:30 p.m. PT. The opening-night matchup will officially usher in a season that brings a significant change to the NHL schedule, with every club playing 84 regular-season games for the first time.
For the Golden Knights, that means 42 games at T-Mobile Arena.
And there will be plenty of notable dates for fans to circle.
Vegas will have two five-game homestands during the season, one in November and another in March. The most intriguing home date could come Dec. 21, when the Carolina Hurricanes return to Las Vegas for a rematch of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
Single-game tickets are available through the Golden Knights, while the organization is also introducing Flex Plans for Season X. Fans can select six or more home games that fit their schedules while paying less than they would through individual single-game purchases.
But tickets are not the only new wrinkle coming to T-Mobile Arena.
The Golden Knights also unveiled the first wave of giveaways for Season X, with a notable change to how fans will receive them. Beginning this season, each giveaway will be limited to the first 10,000 fans through the doors, making an early arrival increasingly important on giveaway nights.
The first giveaway will come Sept. 24 against the Utah Mammoth, when fans can receive a 2026-27 schedule magnet.
Opening Knight against Chicago will feature the Season X official patch, while the Oct. 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Kings will include a commemorative puck.
Other giveaways throughout the season include a Vegas Born hat, a Misfits to Champions key chain, a player bobblehead and a viewfinder on Fan Appreciation Knight.
Season X is coming up quick.
But with tickets now available, the countdown in Las Vegas has officially begun.
The Boston Red Sox are home favorites as they wrap up a three-game clash with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Fenway Park.
My Mariners vs. Red Sox predictions expect the home team to capitalize on Bryce Miller's mound struggles to earn a win on Wednesday, Sept. 2, with first pitch slated for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Who will win Mariners vs Red Sox today: Red Sox moneyline (56.5%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
The Seattle Mariners rank 29th in xwOBA with just 3.6 runs per game over the past 30 days, and starter Bryce Miller’s underlying numbers skyrocket away from pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
So, with the Boston Red Sox ranking second in wOBA, fourth in ISO and seventh in xwOBA while averaging 5.4 runs per game over the past 30 days, I’m happy to back them to 57.4% this afternoon.
COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox rank second in bullpen xERA and third in xFIP while pitching the third-most innings in the second half.
Mariners vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (51.2%)
While there’s no sugarcoating Boston starter Patrick Sandoval’s 5.32 xERA and 4.59 xFIP across his past seven starts, he’s still allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of those outings.
Additionally, I’m anticipating statistical correction to his .356 BABIP, the ninth-highest mark among all starters with at least 30 innings pitched during the stretch.
Mariners vs Red Sox home run prediction: Wilyer Abreu (16.9%)
Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu has a single homer across his past 16 games, and he's a ripe candidate to kick the skid tonight. Abreu has posted a high-end .213 ISO against right-handed pitchers, and Miller has a .236 ISO vs. left-handed hitters on the road.
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 48-21, +29.38 units
Over/Under bets: 22-19, +1.74 units
Mariners vs Red Sox weather
The weather forecast calls for comfortable temperatures hovering around 72 degrees with a crosswind in the 11-mph range. The elements will have little impact at Fenway Park this afternoon.
Mariners vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Mariners 46.5% | Red Sox 57.4%
Run line: Mariners +1.5 (63%) | Red Sox -1.5 (40.8%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (52.4%) | Under 8.5 (52.4%)
Mariners vs Red Sox trend
The Boston Red Sox have won 34 of their last 50 games (+12.85 Units / 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Mariners vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, NESN
Mariners starting pitcher
Bryce Miller (4-8, 4.12 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Patrick Sandoval (1-3, 4.20 ERA)
Mariners vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jun 5, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Balitimore Orioles right fielder Heston Kjerstad (13) takes a swing during an at-bat against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Orioles have not overwhelmed teams with their offensive firepower, but the team keeps finding ways to win games. Pete Alonso has generated some AL MVP chatter, and Coby Mayo looks like Barry Bonds against lefties, but the majority of the lineup has provided inconsistent production this season.
So how does a team filled with streaky hitters maximize its chances to win games? It turns to the hot hand at the right time.
The Orioles entered last night’s game in Colorado leading all of baseball with 34 RBIs by pinch hitters. Craig Albernaz, along with the big brains in the front office, have routinely put the right player into the right position at the right time. Guys like Leody Taveras, Colton Cowser, Dylan Beavers and Tyler O’Neill do not boast above average stat lines, but they have all made the most of their opportunities when grabbing a bat late in games.
The late-inning magic led to Baltimore beat writer Jake Rill proclaiming that a pinch-hitting resurgence was fueling Baltimore’s playoff push. The story featured quotes from Albernaz discussing the mindset of players on the bench. He pointed out the work that players do to stay ready and shared that the team educates hitters on which pitchers they could face in late-game situations.
Rill’s story ran before O’Neill hit the injured list with a rotator cuff strain, but pinch-hitting remains a significant part of Baltimore’s strategy. In fact, Albernaz just picked up two more options to break a game open late.
The Orioles claimed former All Star Luis Robert Jr. to help out down the stretch. Robert Jr. fills a need as a right-handed outfielder with some pop at the dish. Robert Jr. can play all three outfield positions. He’s healthy, and he posted a 128 wRC+ over 75 at bats in August.
Baltimore doesn’t need Robert Jr. to match his 130 OPS+ from 2023, but they committed $5 million because they believe he can make an impact in September. He’s a career .285/.359/.497 hitter against lefties, and he represents a clear offensive improvement over recently acquired rookie Christian Franklin. The Orioles placed Franklin on the 10-day injured list when they activated Robert Jr.
Cowser was the top story in baseball yesterday after his walk-off robbery, but he entered last night’s game slashing .159/.255/.227 against southpaws. The Orioles have turned to Taveras against lefties, but his .203/.274/.244 falls well below Robert Jr. In a way, the move addressed one of Baltimore’s greatest weaknesses on the offensive side of the ball
But Robert Jr. wasn’t the only heavy hitter to join the club yesterday. The Orioles also recalled Heston Kjerstad to serve as a power bat off the bench. The Arkansas product may receive an occasional start in the corner outfield, but he won’t be used as a defensive replacement anytime soon. Baltimore added the former first-round pick to make an impact at the dish. And now, with Pete Alonso in need of extra at bats as the DH, Kjerstad could be limited to pinch-hit opportunities late in games.
With rosters expanding to 28, the Orioles continue to carry three catchers. Carlos Narváez has yet to inspire much confidence at the plate, so look for Baltimore to deploy the bench bats if/when Narváez finds himself in a late-inning situation. Christian Encarnacion Strand remains an intriguing option to deliver a clutch hit, and Basallo could grab a bat on days that Narváez gets the start.
Despite Baltimore’s success, pinch hitting is not the easiest task. It’s difficult for players to remain engaged and not overthink during their only opportunity of the evening. Robert Jr. is a veteran that has played in two big cities, but Kjerstad has less than 300 plate appearances under his belt. The 27-year-old has faced plenty of adversity during his time in professional baseball, and he must feel some extra pressure to perform now that he’s back in the big leagues.
The coaching staff will do its best to keep Kjerstad in the right frame of mind. At a minimum, it pays to have options at this point in the season. Albernaz has made a habit of maximizing his options in the second half, and the Orioles will need to keep riding the hot hand if they hope to make the playoffs.
Sep 1, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It got a little weird at times, but the Yankees had control for the vast majority of last night’s game in Anaheim, a welcome return to normalcy after an ugly 10-1 blowout loss on Monday. Homers by Spencer Jones and Jazz Chisholm Jr. got them off on the right foot, and while stranded baserunners and a shaky sixth from Gerrit Cole allowed the Angels to stay in the ballgame, the Bombers pulled away late with some key insurance runs. They thus regained the game they lost on Boston yesterday (they’re now four games ahead of the Red Sox), and remained 4.5 back of Tampa Bay.
Here’s what else was going on around the American League on Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay Rays (83-55) 6, New York Mets (62-77) 2
The Mets might have scored a surprising victory at the Trop on Monday, but for those who have been exposed to more than their fair share of the Mets over the years, the Tuesday night showdown against old friend Freddy Peralta went exactly as expected. The one-time Brewers ace was traded from Queens a month ago when that experiment went sour, and given the opportunity, he of course spun six innings of three-hit ball while fanning seven, getting burned on a Francisco Lindor leadoff homer but really nothing else.
Meanwhile, the Rays got to Sean Manaea via the ol’ “death by a thousand paper cuts” approach. They sprayed 11 hits on him in 5.2 innings, getting their first couple runs on RBI knocks from Junior Caminero and Ryan Vilade before breaking it open a bit with three in the sixth. Nick Fortes doubled down the left-field line to plate Chandler Simpson, Fortes scored on a sacrifice fly, and Yandy Díaz swatted a 396-foot homer to make it a 5-1 game.
Despite the deficit, the Mets did have a chance to get back into this game. Garrett Cleavinger walked the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, bringing Mark Vientos to the plate as the tying run. Kevin Cash called upon Tyler Wells, who got Vientos to foul out before walking Lindor to bring home one of the runners. The moment was there for Juan Soto … and he popped up.
Alas. The Mets never got another man on base, the Rays tacked on an insurance run, and that was that.
Other Games
Boston Red Sox (75-64) 6, Seattle Mariners (65-74) 9: Amid an 8-15 tailspin that may have finally put the nail in the coffin for their 2026 season, the Mariners began September on a better note. They’re gonna need more than a few Hail Marys to save themselves, but they at least had the decency to snap their skid against Boston rather than waiting until they left town. The M’s treated September call-up Jedixson Paez like a minor leaguer in his Red Sox debut, blasting him for eight runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings, with Dominic Canzone and the red-hot Randy Arozarena both going yard. Paez’s fellow rookie Lazaro Montes broke into the bigs in style with an RBI single off Paez in the third for his first career hit; he later took Wyatt Olds deep to check off his first career homer as well.
Bryan Woo tossed six solid innings with one earned run allowed, but because the 2026 Mariners are the 2026 Mariners, not even wins with nine runs scored come easy. Seattle led 9-1 entering the sixth, when Boston plated an unearned run with the help of an error by third baseman Brock Rodden. Eli White hit a two-run double a couple innings later and Yankees legend Jahmai Jones clobbered a two-run shot to make it a 9-6 ballgame in the ninth. So Seattle brought in Andrés Muñoz to slam the door, and he did the job for the final two outs.
Chicago White Sox (73-65) 5, Houston Astros (70-69) 1: The White Sox held serve on their three-game lead over the Guardians in AL Central by punching back after the Astros took the Monday opener. Ronel Blanco was effective in four scoreless innings for Houston, but 88 pitches forced him from the game early. The door was open for the Pale Hose to do damage against Kai-Wei Teng and Tatsuya Imai, and they obliged, with both Colson Montgomery and Randal Grichuk delivering two-run doubles. Sean Burke delivered 5.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball to lead the way for the White Sox on the mound.
AL Wild Card Rock Fight
Texas Rangers (69-70) 8, The Athletics (53-86) 5: Houston’s loss allowed the under-.500 Rangers to trim the Astros’ AL West lead back down to one game. Texas has been fortunate to draw the hapless A’s this week at home, and they’ve done what they’ve needed to do. The 8-5 final score belies the fact that Texas led this 8-1 through six thanks in great part in a 4-for-5, five-RBI night from Brandon Nimmo, and three of the A’s runs were scored off former Nationals righty Trevor Williams, who was only signed that day.
Baltimore Orioles (69-70) 2, Colorado Rockies (52-86) 4: It took the O’s just over four months to finally get back to .500 on Monday night with a miraculous catch by Colton Cowser to clinch it. Now they’re right back under after stumbling at Coors. A Jackson Holliday homer in his dad’s old stomping grounds tied it up at 2-2 in the seventh, but Baby Bomber alum T.J. Rumfield struck the decisive blow on a two-run homer after the stretch. The O’s had been just a half-game behind Cleveland for the Wild Card, but now they’re a game and a half back.
Cleveland Guardians (70-68) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (68-71) 1: The Jays entered a three-game set in Cleveland hoping to cut into the Guardians’ lead for the last Wild Card spot and instead took a step back (to 2.5 games behind). Gavin Williams dominated the opener, fanning 13 and allowing just two hits and an unearned run across seven brilliant innings. Patrick Bailey, Angel Genao, and Angel Martínez each hit two-run homers for the Guardians as they turned a 1-0 deficit in the fifth into a 6-1 final.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 29: Elvis Alvarado #37 of the Athletics pitches against the Baltimore Orioles in the top of the ninth inning of a major league baseball game at Sutter Health Park on August 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday everybody.
Yesterday, the Athletics kicked off their September slate by dropping their fifth straight game and second straight against the Texas Rangers. While the Rangers are vying for postseason baseball, the A’s are on a collision course toward 100-plus losses for the third time in manager Mark Kotsay’s tenure. Given the number of injured players and league worst pitching staff, it seems a matter of when not if the team crosses that benchmark.
Since John Fisher assumed full ownership control of the Athletics in 2016, the club has often overachieved, winning games and making three postseason appearances despite his limited investment in the team.
Before the A’s played last night, the announcement regarding the Los Angeles Angels changing ownership sent shockwaves throughout the sport. It is a particularity bitter pill to swallow for A’s fans, as Fisher will have one less competitor for the worst owner in the league award.
There remains a possibility that Fisher will follow in Arte Moreno’s footsteps and sell the team for a massive amount of money a few years after they get settled in Las Vegas. Until then, fans of the Green and Gold must hope that he increases his investments to keep A’s competitive amidst a changing league.
The new general manager and his staff should receive full authority to upend how this organization operates, from upgrading its player development infrastructure, bolstering its major-league pitching staff and ultimately guiding this historic franchise back to the playoffs.
In the meantime, there are 22 A’s games left before what is expected to be a long, lockout-impacted offseason. Injury-prone outfielder Denzel Clarke seeks to make an impression over the next few weeks, while the team’s young pitchers, including Gage Jump, J.T. Ginn and Elvis Alvarado, aim to end their seasons on a positive note.
Which players are you looking forward to watching over the season’s final stretch? What keeps you coming back despite how this season has unfolded? Also, what qualities should the team look for in its search for a new President of Baseball Operations?
This will be a great opportunity for these two A’s minor league prospects to test their skills as they move one step closer to making their big-league debuts.
Further proof of why the A’s should have made more of an effort to retain Sean Newcomb in free agency this past offseason. It also shows just how impactful Nick Kurtz is to this team.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Ethan Salas #14 of the National League Futures team during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning everyone!
The Mariners bats came to life yesterday as rookie outfielder Lazaro Montes had a debut to remember in a 9-6 M’s victory over the Red Sox. The two squads are set to square off again today with first pitch at 1:10pm PT.
In Mariners news…
The Mariners are coming off their worst month by run differential in nearly 50 years. Ryan Blake tried to make sense of it all.
Rays slugger Junior Caminero is having a great season — but he’s also grounding into double plays at record pace. Daniel R. Epstein at Baseball Prospectus wonders if he has a shot to make history on that front too. ($)
Did you know the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t had Fangraphs playoff odds greater than 1% in September since 2016? Luke at Bucco Ball yearns for a team that is worth watching late in the season.
The strange season for Ketel Marte simply won’t end.
Unbelievably, a Ketel Marte home run ball just hit a member of the grounds crew who was working on the bullpen mound. Marte paused his BP to run out and check on him. pic.twitter.com/sEmYBAC44d
The Los Angeles Clippers were fined $30 million and star player Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty by the NBA on Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rules.
The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly year-long investigation.
Owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended for one year, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank has been suspended without pay for six months and president of business operations Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year, all for their involvement.
The Los Angeles Clippers were fined $30 million and star player Kawhi Leonard was hit with a $700,000 penalty by the NBA on Wednesday for violating salary cap circumvention rule, the league officially announced after ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news.
The NBA announced today that the LA Clippers and Kawhi Leonard have been penalized for violating the salary cap circumvention rules contained in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Basketball Players Association.
The league came down hard on the organization after a nearly year-long investigation. The Clippers had said multiple times that they had done nothing wrong and expected to be exonerated.
Los Angeles maintained that stance after the league’s announcement.
“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” the team said in a statement. “What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner (Adam) Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure it’s fairness and accuracy.”
The Clippers said they will “now fight just as hard to demonstrate our innocence. We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”
The NBA opened the investigation in September 2025 into whether a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC — a company that filed for bankruptcy last year — broke league rules, following a report by podcast journalist Pablo Torre. Earlier this year, Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors and lenders of at least $248 million.
“I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family,” Leonard said in a statement issued through his new agent, Harrison Gaines.
The NBA said Leonard, through his former business manager and uncle Dennis Robertson, “violated the circumvention rules by pressuring the Clippers to assist him in obtaining off-court income opportunities, successfully obtaining those opportunities, and failing to reimburse payments by the Clippers for personal expenses.”
“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” Leonard said in his statement.
The league said Ballmer was suspended for “knowingly seeking to help Mr. Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities,” among other issues.
Leonard’s trade to the Toronto Raptors has been on hold pending the outcome of the investigation. The Raptors had said they still want Leonard, and he apparently is just as eager to return to the team where he won an NBA title in 2019, when he was Finals MVP.
“As I return to Toronto, I am focused on what I can control, closing this chapter, and moving forward with a clean slate,” Leonard said in his statement.
Guerin's update didn't provide anything new, but he confirmed that Gustavsson is undergoing physical therapy and remains on his initial timeline, with no setbacks at this point.
"He's still going through physical therapy," said Guerin. "He won't be ready for training camp, but we'll see how far into the season it is. I wouldn't expect him in the first couple weeks but we'll see how quickly he's progressing."
Guerin was then asked whether the hip injury could have hampered his play following his return from the Olympics, to which he replied that the injury had been affecting him for much longer than that.
"He played through a lot of discomfort with that, and I give him a lot of credit; he kind of bit his lip on it," Guerin continued. "Maybe he shouldn't have, but he was playing through quite a bit."
The 28-year-old finished the campaign with a .904 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average in 50 games last year, but he lost the crease down the stretch to Jesper Wallstedt, who also started all but one playoff game through the first two rounds.
Rumors surrounded both Gustavsson and Wallstedt through different parts of the 2025-26 season, but the Wild ultimately felt they were better off with both, or they didn't find a deal that made sense for them.
Gustavsson's injury likely hampered the Wild's ability to gauge the market for trades this off-season as they looked for center help. Nonetheless, Gustavsson now enters the first season of a five-year, $6.8 million AAV contract as he forms arguably the best goaltending duo in the NHL with Wallstedt.
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Gunnar Henderson
Mickey Gasper
COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox rank second in bullpen 
