Seattle Mariners 2026 Draft Preview

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 13: Major League Baseball commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr. announces Kade Anderson as the third overall pick, by the Seattle Mariners, in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft at Coca-Cola Roxy on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2026 MLB draft cycle is officially under way!

When: July 11 – July 13

Where: Philadelphia, PA

TV/Streaming: MLB Network

Top Mariners Selections: 24, 65, 101

After nearly running the draft lottery table and selecting top pitching prospect Kade Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2025 iteration of the MLB draft, the Mariners find themselves with a far more tame collection of draft capital this season. Armed with nothing but the standard slate of draft picks (the M’s had to part with their Comp B pick in the Brendan Donovan trade), the M’s are toward the bottom of the pack in overall spending power, coming in at 24th overall. 

The last time the Mariners found themselves in this draft capital position, they opted to swing big on their first two selections, taking RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje for a full-slot amount in the first round and RHP Ryan Sloan for a well above-slot value in the second. This, naturally, tanked the rest of their draft pool and forced them to get more conservative with their subsequent picks, but they still managed to pick up some relief talent in Hunter Cranton, Charlie Beilenson, Brock Moore, and Christian Little in the later rounds. It’s far from a blueprint, but they’ve tended to take their shots early and look for value in the back half of the draft where they can find it.

This is a strong crop of talent this 2026 cycle. With what’s considered one of the better groups of players this decade, the M’s will have little trouble landing a top talent in the back half of the first round. They’ve leaned on college pitching and high school position players heavily in the past, and fortunately for them, the pocket they draft in should have several different options that fit that prototype. We’re still a few months out from decision days, but with the bulk of the college season completed and high school baseball wrapping up shortly, we have a pretty good idea as to where players will stand come draft day. There’s usually one player every year that vaults their way up during postseason play, but on large, we’re pretty close to dialed in.

We’ll be breaking down players that we feel could be good targets for the Mariners weekly, factoring in team fit, historical trends, and industry rankings as much as possible. Maybe the M’s buck their trend and select a high school arm with their first pick, for example, but because there’s little indication we have (right now) that that’s reasonable, it’s not something we’ll be looking all that much into. It’s impossible to know exactly what they’ll do, but our aim is to provide as best of a guess as we can with the context we have to work with.

Sound off in the comments on any particular players you’d like to see covered these coming months!

2026 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 42

Win 10, lose three, win 10, lose three. Win 10 again? Unlikely. But one of the more curious 26 game stretches we’ve ever seen has just concluded. What will be next? We can’t know. But the schedule doesn’t ease up. This Braves team is no joke. Coming off of a down season, experts were divided as to if they would bounce back. But bounce back they have. Having won a series in Los Angeles from the Dodgers over the weekend and now beating the Cubs, this team is showing that their hot start is no fluke.

That isn’t to say the Cubs are just screwed for the next two days. But, there will be no easy wins in this series. The White Sox after that are a less elite team, but a team that has at least reached pesky or annoying this year. And a team that takes a little extra joy any time they can stick it to the Cubs. And they aren’t the only team that feels like that. The Brewers teams that the Cubs play after the White Sox can also be described that same way. At this point, rumors of their demise seem to have been premature. Color me 100 percent not surprised by that one.

I’ve been trying to think of a rational way to talk about the start that the Cubs have had. We have a blind spot at baseball fans. I thought of an example. On May 1, Ildemaro Vargas had four hits in four at bats against the Cub. At the end of the day, he had a .404/.429/.702 line. With 100 percent certainty, all of us looked at that and said this is totally unsustainable. Even if Vargas had maybe made some tweaks during this, his age 34 season, he just wasn’t going to go from a .671 OPS to a 1.131 OPS.

But what if Shohei Ohtani had that exact same start? He’s a four-time MVP (and one time runner up). Over the last three seasons, he has an OPS of 1.037. In this, his age 31 season, we’d think it would be unlikely for him to take another step forward. But we wouldn’t dismiss it would we?

The analogy breaks a little. I don’t think the Cubs are either Vargas or Ohtani in this story. They fall somewhere in between. But, this is where the blind spot is for sports fans. When an ordinary player goes ballistic, we recognize it as a hot streak. But when a superstar goes ballistic, we at least pause and and wonder if they unlocked some more ability. So what does this insane streak of games for the Cubs portend for the future? This is a team that went ballistic, right? Not a team that unlocked some more potential?

I don’t necessarily think that the streaks mean nothing. Let’s say I thought that the team was going to win 90 games before the season started. I don’t necessarily think the team will go 63-57 (.525) the rest of the way to finish at 90 wins. My impression is that the team should likely play at a 90-win pace for the remainder of the season. That would get them to 93 or 94 wins. I’d probably then make that the center of my prediction range for this team. So maybe call that 91 to 96 wins. And then I’d be likely to believe they were most likely to finish in the top of that range. 94-96 wins.

That is my untested hypothesis. Call it a 95-win team. What about you? On a night where they lost their third straight, on a night when the offense was missing in action for a third straight day, can you find your way to the kind of optimism that leads to a 95-win season? Even with the three straight losses, this team is on a 104 win pace. So my projection has them going 68-52 (.566) the rest of the way. Weigh in with your thoughts of how the rest of this goes.

Not a lot to say specifically about this game. The offense did little with starter Grant Holmes and basically nothing with the bullpen. Colin Rea couldn’t hold the Braves offense down long enough. Not a lot more to say.

Three Positives:

  • Good to see Alex Bregman get into one. His homer was the only Cub hit, run and run batted in.
  • Michael Busch drew a pair of walks in four plate appearances.
  • Jacob Webb had a scoreless inning. He struck out one.

Game 42, May 12: Braves 5, Cubs 2 (27-15)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

  • Superhero: Alex Bregman (.084). 1-4, HR, RBI, R
  • Hero: Michael Busch (.071). 0-2, 2 BB
  • Sidekick: Jacob Webb (.013). IP, 3 BF, K

THREE GOATS:

  • Billy Goat: Colin Rea (-.327). 4.1 IP, 20 BF, 7 H, BB, 5 ER, K (L 4-2)
  • Goat: Dansby Swanson (-.092). 0-3
  • Kid: Michael Conforto (-.075). 0-3

WPA Play of the Game: With a runner on first and one out in the fifth inning, the game was tied when Mike Yastrzemski homered. (.230)

*Cubs Play of the Game: Alex Bregman homered with one out in the fourth inning, tying the game. (.126)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 41 Winner: Jameson Taillon (99 of 131 votes)

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

  • Michael Busch +13
  • Michael Conforto +12
  • Shōta Imanaga +10
  • Dansby Swanson -8
  • Matt Shaw -9
  • Seiya Suzuki -15

Current Win Pace: 104.14 wins

Up Next: Game two of the three-game series Wednesday night in Atlanta. Shōta Imanaga (4-2, 2.28, 47.1 IP) makes his ninth start of the year for the Cubs. He’s won his last two starts, including allowing one run over six innings to the Reds in his last start. He struck out 10 in that one. He has been better at home (1.74 vs 3.31), but his splits are pretty good everywhere. Pitching at night, he’s 2-0 with a 1.38, though it’s only 13 innings of work.

22-year-old rookie JR Ritchie (1-0, 3.63, 17.1) makes his fourth career start and appearance for the Braves. He was a compensation pick for the Braves at 35th overall in the 2022 draft. Last time out, he allowed three runs over five innings to the Mariners in Seattle. He walked six in that game while striking out two. The offense needs to get going in this one.

Get back in the win column.

Go Cubs!

Looking at the History of the 9th Pick in the modern MLB Draft

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 31: Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics celebrates a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on March 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the MLB Draft only about two months away I thought it would be good to examine the history of the players selected with the picks the Atlanta Braves have in the 2026 MLB Draft. With the Braves picking ninth overall for their first selection, I decided to start by looking at the history of the ninth pick in the draft in the modern era – or since 1987.

Every player and the team selecting them are being listed, as well as their bWAR. At the end I will run down the hit to bust rate, and what the median WAR produced is – excluding players drafted after 2020.

Note that with the WAR, a N/A indicates that the player never made it to the big leagues, while a player listed at 0.0 is for players that did appear in a big league game and just had a neutral WAR.

Picks

1987.Royals-Kevin Appier, RHP, 54.5 WAR

1988.Cubs-Ty Griffin, 2B, N/A

1989.Angels-Kyle Abbott, LHP, -1.4

1990.Dodgers-Ron Walden, LHP, N/A

1991.Orioles-Mark Smith, OF, -0.1

1992.Mets-Preston Wilson, SS, 6.4

1993.Tigers-Matt Brunson, SS, N/A

1994.Reds-CJ Nitkowski, LHP, -1.0

1995.Brewers-Geoff Jenkins, OF, 21.9

1996.Marlins-Mark Kotsay, OF, 21.4

1997.Twins-Michael Cuddyer, SS, 17.9

1998.Padres-Sean Burroughs, 3B, 5.5

1999.A’s-Barry Zito, LHP, 31.9

2000.Padres-Mark Phillips, LHP, N/A

2001.Royals-Colt Griffin, RHP, N/A

2002.Rockies-Jeff Francis, LHP, 9.6

2003.Rangers-John Danks, LHP, 20.2

2004.Rockies-Chris Nelson, SS, -2.6

2005.Mets-Mike Pelfrey, RHP, 5.7

2006.Orioles-Billy Rowell, 3B, N/A

2007.Diamondbacks-Jarrod Parker, RHP, 6.5

2008.Nationals-Aaron Crow, RHP, Did Not Sign

2009.Tigers-Jacob Turner, RHP, -2.6

2010.Padres-Karsten Whitson, RHP, Did Not Sign

2011.Cubs-Javier Baez, SS, 27.1

2012.Marlins-Andrew Heaney, LHP, 7.4

2013.Pirates-Austin Meadows, OF, 6.4

2014.Blue Jays-Jeff Hoffman, RHP, 3.8

2015.Cubs-Ian Happ, OF, 24.3

2016.Tigers-Matt Manning, RHP, 1.9

2017.Brewers-Keston Hiura, 2B, 0.9

2018.A’s-Kyler Murray, OF, Quit for football

2019.Braves-Shea Langeliers, C, 9.7

2020.Rockies-Zac Veen, OF, -0.3

2021.Angels-Sam Bachman, RHP, 0.7

2022.Royals-Gavin Cross, OF, N/A

2023.Rockies-Chase Dollander, RHP, 0.9

2024.Pirares-Konnor Griffin, SS, 0.8

2025.Reds-Steele Hall, SS, N/A

Breakdown

Total Players Drafted and Signed 1987-2019: 30 (excluding Kyler Murray who quit before playing a single minor league game)

Total WAR: 279.1

Average WAR: 9.3

Five Best Players: Kevin Appier (1X All Star, ERA Title), Barry Zito (Cy Young, 3X All Star), Javier Baez (3X All Star), Ian Happ (1X All Star, 4X Gold Glove), Geoff Jenkins (1X All Star)

Total 20+ WAR: 7

Total 10+ WAR: 8 (Though Shea Langeliers could make it 9 any day)

Total Who Failed to Reach MLB: 6 (Excluding Karsten Whitson and Kyler Murray as they never played for the organizations who drafted them)

Thoughts

The ninth pick in the MLB Draft has not been a historically strong spot, despite being a high pick. If you look at the top players drafted within the nearly 40 years of the modern draft format, Ian Happ makes the list of the five best players taken – and nothing against Happ, but he is more of a solid starter than an impact guy.

However things could change in the next few years based on the results of the past few drafts. 2024 pick Konnor Griffin could become one of the best players in the game pretty quickly. Shea Langeliers just recently established himself as one of the top hitting catchers in the league, and Happ is still quite productive in his age-31 season.

History isn’t on the Braves side with the ninth pick to find an impact player, but as the recent Griffin pick has shown – any pick could help to change that narrative. Even if the Braves don’t land a true impact player, 16 of the 30 players picked pre-2020 had solid big league careers – so they have better than even money odds at finding a player like that. In the crapshoot that is the MLB Draft, knowing that’s a floor is still something.

Red Sox Minor Lines: A tough offensive night on the farm

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 12, 2026: Kristian Campbell #28 of the Boston Red Sox runs out a single during the second inning of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Lee Health Sports Complex on March 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Worcester: L, 2-7 (BOX SCORE)

As has often been the case due to the fact that so many of their Opening Day rotation members are now pitching in Boston, the WooSox ran into some early trouble and it didn’t get any better as the night went on. Raymond Burgos gave up three early runs (though just one earned) to the Bison (Blue Jays AAA) and, though he steadied with three solid innings to finish his five frames, it didn’t get any better in relief. Meanwhile, the WooSox bats were pretty quiet throughout Tuesday’s contest, as the team managed just four hits, just one of those being an extra-base hit. It is also funny that Vinny Capra, one of MLB’s worst hitters in his time with the White Sox and Brewers, is raking in Triple-A, with an OPS over 1.000. I don’t believe this would translate in Boston and still believe Capra’s purpose as an MLB veteran and someone who is solid defensively is to mentor the guys in Triple-A, but the success is worth noting.

Portland: L, 6-7 (BOX SCORE)

In a contest that did not finish until after 10:30, the Red Sox fans in attendance in Hartford, CT against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA) were subjected to being walked off despite everything going Portland’s way to start. Hayden Mullins had yet another passable start, striking out eight. He did give up three runs in his five innings, but that’s ok because the Sea Dogs scored four in the first inning alone including two home runs from Johanfran Garcia and Marvin Alcantara. Unfortunately, though, Portland couldn’t slam the door, as they gave up two runs in the eighth and the eventual walk off home run in the ninth. And, ho hum, another two hits for Franklin Arias.

Greenville: L, 1-5 (BOX SCORE)

Greenville has still only won once in the month of May. That continued Tuesday against the Hot Rods (Rays High-A) as Kyson Witherspoon, who’s really been struggling since being drafted in the first round last year, had another tough start, giving up four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out just one. He didn’t make it out of the fifth, and he didn’t get the run support the team needed, either, as the Drive were sat down on strikes 11 times and had just one extra-base hit.

Salem: : L, 0-4 (BOX SCORE)

You know it’s going to be a tough day at the office when you have as many hits (3) as defensive errors. It’s also tough to win a baseball game when you don’t score any runs, no matter how good your pitching performs. Salem could not back up a pitching staff that allowed just two hits on Tuesday, as the Nationals took until the sixth to get on the board but held the RidgeYaks off all night. Not only were the RidgeYaks held off the board, they were also held off the basepaths; just two members of the lineup reached base at all, and the team did not get a ball four the entire night.

Have a productive Wednesday.

Mariners vs Astros Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Seattle Mariners won the first two games of the series, outscoring the Houston Astros 13-3 in aggregate.

My Mariners vs. Astros predictions see the road team picking up its third consecutive win tonight.

Let's take a closer look at my MLB picks for May 13.

Who will win Mariners vs Astros today: Seattle Mariners (-125)

The Houston Astros are struggling mightily to score runs without several key bats in their lineup. That's even more problematic with Lance McCullers Jr. on the mound.

He has allowed at least three earned runs in six of seven starts this season, and lasted more than five innings just once over his last six.

Excluding Bottom-10 teams in batting average vs. right-handed pitching, McCullers Jr. has allowed three or more runs in all five games, and an average of 4.8.

The Seattle Mariners are well-positioned to score, and they shouldn't need many runs to win against this Houston offense.

Covers COVERS INTEL:Lance McCullers Jr. ranks in the 10th percentile in hard-hit rate allowed.

Mariners vs Astros Over/Under pick: Under 9 (+100)

The Astros have scored three runs or fewer in eight of their last nine games. Worse yet, they have plated just four runs over the last four. Four!

It's not going to get any easier for them against Bryce Miller, who performed well in his rehab starts, and a Mariners bullpen that sits fourth in ERA and eighth in xFIP this season.

The Astros are unlikely to score more than two or three runs, which means the Mariners would have to put forth a ceiling performance to push this game Over the number.

Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 17-6, +8.53 units
  • Over/Under bets: 9-13-1, -5.11 units

Mariners vs Astros odds

  • Moneyline: Mariners -125 | Astros +105
  • Run line: Mariners -1.5 (+125) | Astros +1.5 (-145)
  • Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-115) | Under 9.0 (-105)

Mariners vs Astros trend

The Seattle Mariners have hit the game total Under in 13 of the last 21 away games (+5.5 units, 24% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.

How to watch Mariners vs Astros and game info

LocationDaikin Park, Houston, TX
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch8:10 p.m. ET
TVMariners.TV, Space City Home Network
Mariners starting pitcherBryce Miller
(4-6, 5.68 ERA) 2025 stats
Astros starting pitcherLance McCullers Jr.
(2-3, 7.41 ERA)

Mariners vs Astros latest injuries

Mariners vs Astros weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Pistons or Cavaliers: Who do Knicks match up best with in Eastern Conference Finals?

As the Knicks patiently await their foe for the Eastern Conference Finals, the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers continue to battle in the second round. Who should New York be rooting for?

When you’re a true contender, you don’t worry about specific matchups as much as overall preparedness for whatever may face you in a postseason run. But both potential rivals offer a unique set of challenges and advantages, so it’s worth exploring to see which might be the better matchup for the Knicks... 

Pistons

The good news for the Knicks is they beat this very team, almost down to the player, last season in the first round. It wasn’t an easy series, with a combined winning margin of eight points that took six games and a slew of clutch playmaking to advance. 

The Pistons haven’t changed much save for a few new complementary pieces and Isaiah Stewart being available. They’re still coming with the rough-and-tumble, grind you down and beat you up style, and are largely reliant on Cade Cunningham's stardom to generate enough offense.

The Knicks have changed, though, coming in with a deeper team of more trustworthy options, and an offense that’s been scorching through the playoffs. New York had an offensive rating of 111 against Detroit last season, and have been converting at 124.8 this postseason, albeit against lower-level defenses.

They’ll have to keep up that level of output to really separate from Detroit. Transition will be their easiest point of attack, so they should continually push the pace like they have been, especially off misses.

In the halfcourt, expect more Karl-Anthony Towns initiation, especially with the stingy Ausar Thompson blanketing Jalen Brunsonand the likelihood of Jalen Duren guarding him on the perimeter -- spacing out their lead shot-blocker. The split actions the Knicks abused the Hawks and 76ers with won’t create as many easy chances against a sharper, more physical defense like Detroit’s, so they’ll have to be ready on their second and third actions.

Defensively, things are simpler. Ignore Thompson when he’s on the court, and don’t let Cunningham get going.

Last year it was OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges who worked to slow Cunningham down, to mixed success. Expect those two to take on the assignment once again.

New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) controls the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Cavaliers

The Cavs are another former playoff foe of the Knicks, this time dating way back to 2023. They’ve since flipped Darius Garland for James Harden, one last all-in play.

New York has some huge advantages in this potential matchup.

Cleveland has no clear answer for Brunson, is routinely dominated on the interior by the Knicks bigs, and had a massive midseason trade mess with some of their cohesion.

Harden and Donovan Mitchell will be sought out and picked on relentlessly by Brunson, who will otherwise primarily be defended by Dean Wade or Jalen Tyson. They don’t have great options other than throwing aggressive coverages to get the ball out of his hands, but he and his teammates will be prepared to take advantage -- especially when a rotation comes down to one of those star guards again.

Cleveland has been one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the postseason, though they are making it up with extra possessions on the other end. Expect New York to lean on their big lineups, including Towns and Mitchell Robinson more in this matchup to really dominate the glass.

The Cavs will test the Knicks with their raw talent offensively. If Mitchell and/or Harden are just going off, there’s not much you can do about it. They’ll also be actively hunting Brunson, who needs to keep up his level of defensive intensity.

Mitchell and Harden are also high-level playmakers, so just throwing traps and hedges their way won’t be the easy solution. Towns will have to keep playing the best drop coverage of his life, and be ready to switch onto these guys if he has to.

The Cavaliers' bench is also solid, leaving New York without a clear advantage there. This would likely shape up to be a big Brunson-or-bust series.

Verdict

Does the devil you know beat the devil you don’t? Or is banking on another postseason flameout from Cleveland's star guards burdened with that reputation the hope?

Ultimately, if the Knicks want to win a championship, they’ll have to be ready for whichever team meets them next round.

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen is a mess

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 09: A Cincinnati Reds mascot stands on the field beofre the game between the Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on September 09, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Visitors to Great American Ball Park on Tuesday night were greeted with a barrage of baseballs in the stands. Unfortunately, none of them were socked by the Cincinnati Reds. Instead, the Reds themselves offered up six homers to the visiting Washington Nationals in a 10-4 drubbing that once again served as a reminder to just how disheveled the current state of the pitching staff truly is.

Starter Brady Singer was on the hook for a trio of those homers, all of which came after he took a hard comebacker off his foot/ankle. He only yielded 3 of the 10 total runs on the night, though, as the latter 7 all came with Reds relievers on the mound.

That’s been the tale of the last few weeks, unfortunately – a beleaguered bullpen tasked with picking up lots of innings after short starts that simply can’t keep runners of the bases, or runs from crossing home plate.

Here’s just a sample of where the Reds bullpen ranks in Major League Baseball relative to its 29 other peers:

ERA: 4.70 (25th out of 30)

FIP: 5.04 (29th)

xERA: 5.36 (30th, with 29th at 4.78)

xFIP: 4.93 (29th)

WHIP: 1.57 (28th)

SIERA: 4.51 (29th)

BB/9: 5.92 (30th)

HR/9: 1.22 (t-28th)

vFA: 93.0 mph (27th)

Oppo%: 20.5% (29th)

GB%: 36.7% (28th, or 3rd lowest)

FB%: 42.3% (28th, or 3rd highest)

Barrel%: 11.1% (30th)

Launch Angle (LA): 16.8 degrees (3rd highest)

**************************************************************************

The top few metrics show you the ends here. As you work your way down the list of places where the Reds bullpen ranks last, or close to it, you stumble face first into the means to the ends.

The Reds are walking more batters than anyone else, while also allowing opponents to barrel balls more than anyone else. The balls that are hit are hit with one of the highest launch angles in the game – good for the batter, bad for the Reds. The Reds are also extremely fly-ball prone (while playing in the worst possible ball park for that to be a trait), and opposing batters are turning on them more (read: pulling the ball) than almost any club in the sport.

Cincinnati’s also throwing it up there slower than their collective bullpen has for most of the last handful of years, even when they sported soft-tossing Brent Suter down there.

Some of this would be fine if, say, they were sporting an elite K/9. Serving up the occasional dinger is OK if there’s nobody on base and you’re fanning just about everyone else. However, the bullpen sports just a 9.07 K/9 (12th overall) that’s too middling to make up for the copious walks and frequency of having balls squared up against them, too.

The frustrating part is that you can’t even simply pin this on their closer being hurt, nor can you bank on this improving drastically the moment he’s inserted back into the mix. Emilio Pagan was a big, big part in all of this (though far from the only one), and the in-house replacements don’t necessarily figure to be instant improvements if given the chance, either.

So, how the Reds go about fixing this remains to be seen. For now, all we know is that how it’s been simply can’t keep being status quo if this club has any expectations of October baseball.

Minor League Recap: Kahlil Watson and Ralphy Velazquez both go yard

Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Columbus Clippers 5, St. Paul Saints 10

Clippers fall to 20-20

Kahlil Watson’s hot streak continued, as he went 2-for-5 with a home run and a double. He has straight up been obliterating baseballs lately.

Angel Genao also continues to rake at Triple-A, going 2-for-4 with a double.

Starting pitcher Ryan Webb got absolutely annihilated, allowing eight runs on six hits with three walks and a strikeout in just 0.2 innings.

Tommy Mace came in with 2.1 innings of scoreless long relief, but the damage had been done. Jack Leftwtch also had 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Akron RubberDucks 6, Chesapeake Baysox 3

RubberDucks improve to 18-16

Ralphy Velazquez did it again, this time blasting an opposite field home run off a tough left-handed pitcher to the deep end of Akron’s park. Velazquez went 2-for-5, raising his batting average to .312 and OPS to .935. He doesn’t have much left to prove at Double-A.

Also having a strong game was Nick Mitchell, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double. Jake Fox also impressed by going 2-for-4 with a double. He’s batting .328 while repeating at Akron and appears to have figured the level out finally.

Wuilfredo Antunez reached base twice, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk.

Starting pitcher Cam Favors was rock solid, allowing one run on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 5.0 innings.

A rehabbing Shawn Armstrong allowed one run on one hit and one walk in his lone inning of work while striking out a pair.

Lake County Captains 9, Dayton Dragons 3

Captains improve to 16-17

Lake County’s offense did a great job of showing its patience, scoring nine runs on nine hits with eight walks.

Dean Curley had a strong game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.

Aaron Walton also had himself a day, going 2-f0r-3 with a home run, a stolen base and two walks.

Esteban Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk while Bennett Thompson walked twice and Tommy Hawke went 2-for-5.

Starting pitcher Jogly Garcia allowed three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 4.2 innings.

Melkis Hernandez was sensational in long relief, tossing 4.0 shutout innings with five strikeouts and a walk on two hits to earn the win.

Hill City Howlers 4, Wilson Warbirds 2

Howlers improve to 19-15

Dauri Fernandez was a terror on the basepaths Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a walk and three steals, raising his season total to 17.

Robert Arias also stole a base after walking (his 16th). Jose Pirela went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two steals while catcher Ty Howard got in on the action, getting hit by a whopping three pitches and stealing a base.

Jhorvic Abreas went 3-for-4 from the bottom of the batting order.

Starting pitcher Aiden Major allowed two runs on two hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 innings.

Zane Petty followed with his best outing of the season, tossing 4.0 scoreless frames of one-hit ball with three strikeouts and one walk. Luke Fernandez finished off the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to earn his second save.

ACL Guardians 5, ACL Mariners 7

Guardians fall to 5-3

A rehabbing Gabriel Rodriguez looks like he’s about ready to return action. Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double and two walks on Tuesday.

Catcher Gustavo Baptiste had a great game, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Angel Abreu went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base and Reiner Herrera walked twice and stole two bases.

Starting pitcher Alejandro Rivera impressed, striking out eight batters and walking zero while allowing two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings. The Guardians seemed well on their way to winning until reliever Diovel Mariano allowed five runs without getting an out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

A.J. Ewing had himself quite the major league debut

A.J. Ewing celebrates in a home white Mets uniform

With the way the Mets’ season has gone, you can forgive folks for not being exactly sure what to make of A.J. Ewing’s call-up. After all, Ewing had played just 12 games at Triple-A before getting promoted. And while he moved up three levels last season, starting the year in Single-A and ending the year in Double-A Binghamton, there have been plenty of examples of players called up far too early or for whom the transition to the majors never quite clicked.

While one game is never exactly a portent for a career, it is hard to image someone looking more comfortable, confident, or like he was exactly where he belongs than Ewing did in his first game at Citi Field.

Ewing went 1-for-2 with three walks, a triple, a stolen base, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. His one out was a long fly ball to the warning track. He looked comfortable in center field, and he didn’t look remotely phased at any point in the game.

Not taking anything away from Carson Benge’s home run on Opening Day or Nolan McLean’s eight-strikeout performance against the Mariners, but something about Ewing’s debut felt different than those. Part of it is that last night’s game was the first time this team has looked like a formidable team in weeks, but there’s more to this than what the other guys on the roster did.

Ewing took some very close pitches with men on base for walks last night, pitches that many of his teammates probably wouldn’t be able to lay off. He had a Soto-like calm when watching a borderline pitch into the catcher’s glove, where he knew that the pitch might be close but it was going to go his way.

Then there was the confidence with which he stole second base in the sixth inning. After diving back in after Burch Smith threw over, Ewing took a walking lead before absolutely sprinting to second, losing his helmet in the process, but beating the throw comfortably.

But his first big league hit is really where Ewing showed just how much he belongs here. A stand-up triple is rare, but a stand-up triple on a ball that touched the infield dirt is something I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before, but especially not by a kid in his fourth career plate appearance.

Pick your factoid of choice: the first Met to reach base four times in his first game since Kaz Matsui in 2004, the youngest starting outfielder (21 days and 276 days old) since Fernando Martinez in 2009 (at 20 years and 228 days old), the only player since at least 1900 to walk three or more times in his MLB debut with a triple or multiple RBI, one of four players in the last 25 years to have one game with a triple, stolen base, and two walks younger than 22 (alongside James Wood, Ronald Acuña Jr, and Francisco Lindor), and the first ever Met to hit a triple in his MLB debut.

No matter how you slice it, Ewing’s debut was a memorable night for the Mets. Here’s to many, many more memorable nights.

Astros Prospect Report: May 12th

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 19: Will Bush #56 and Jason Schiavone #55 of the Houston Astros pose for a photo in the dugout prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-21) won 8-6 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Nelson solo home run. They scored another run in the third on a double play. Alexander got the start and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs. In the 5th, Strahm connected on a 2 run home run. The offense continued to add runs getting 3 runs in the 6th on a Winkler RBI single and Strahm 2 run single. Alexander would add a solo home run in the 7th inning. Maldonado allowed a few runs in relief but Santa tossed 1.2 scoreless innings as he closed out the 8-6 win.

Note: Santa has a 1.53 ERA this season.


AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (15-19) lost 2-0 (BOX SCORE)

Nezuh started for the Hooks and pitched well tossing 5 scoreless innings while striking out 3 batters. Hader made a rehab appearance and struck out one over a scoreless inning. Perez struggled in relief allowing 2 runs as the Sod Poodles took the lead. The Hooks offense was quiet on the night collecting just four hits as they were shutout in the 2-0 loss.

Note: Nezuh has a 3.86 ERA this season.


A+: Asheville Tourists (8-26) lost 13-11 (BOX SCORE)

Rodriguez got the start but struggled allowing 9 runs over 2.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Call 2 run home run. They got 2 more runs in the 3rd on a Nunez 2 run double. Ogando allowed 4 runs in relief as the Spartanburgers took a 13-4 lead. The offense got one back in the 6th on a Walker RBI single. In the 9th, the offense rallied for 6 runs on a Thomas RBI single. Schiavone 2 run double and Brutcher 3 run home run but that was it as Asheville fell 13-11.

Note: Thomas is hitting .302 this season.


A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (13-21) lost 7-2 (BOX SCORE

Beck got the start for the Woodpeckers and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4.2 innings while striking out 7 batters. The offense took the lead in the 7th scoring 2 runs on a Wakefield sac fly and Flores RBI single. Verdugo relieved Beck but struggled allowing 5 runs over 2.1 innings. Cassedy allowed a run in the 9th and the offense was scoreless the rest of the way as they fell 7-2.

Note: Beck has 26 K in 20.2 innings this season.


Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 8:05 CT

CC: Bryce Mayer – 11:05 CT

AV: Yeriel Santos – 10:05 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

Giants completely change celebration after thrusting backlash

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Giants outfielders bow after their win over the Dodgers on May 12, 2026, Image 2 shows The Giants' celebration on Monday night went viral
Giants celebration change

LOS ANGELES — A day after the Giants made waves with an explicit celebration, their outfielders couldn’t have rung in a second straight win over the Dodgers in more of an opposite fashion.

Out with the hip thrusts, in with the bows.

“I like that,” manager Tony Vitello said after the 6-2 win Tuesday. “I like that, for sure.”

The skipper had his eyes elsewhere after the final out, but when informed of the respectful gesture that took the place of the barely-safe-for-work one from the previous night he provided his stamp of approval.

Jung Hoo Lee and Heliot Ramos converged with Drew Gilbert in center field, where the players dropped their gloves, placed their hands on their hearts and bent at the waist before joining the high-five line.

The change came after a team meeting where, among other topics, there was some disapproval expressed over what occurred on the same real estate the previous night.

Harrison Bader, Gilbert and Lee locked arms in a group hug and hip-thrusted five times, though the former two looked to be more enthusiastic about it than the latter, who eventually attempted to wiggle away.

“There was a meeting today,” Vitello said. “But that was a side note. It was a fun meeting. … We just need everybody on board [and to] kind of trust the overall process and approach we’re trying to take.”

Giants outfielders bow after their win over the Dodgers on May 12, 2026. Jomboy/X

Their original celebration went viral overnight, and by the time the team returned to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, they were doing their best to divert attention toward their play on the field.

Before the game, Bader declined to comment on what took place the previous night and Gilbert said they planned to switch things up.

It didn’t take long for them to get another chance, with some apparent influence from Lee, whose Korean culture uses the gesture as a greeting and a sign of respect.

Vitello, in fact, has taken to bowing toward Lee, for which he expressed appreciation to The California Post.

If Monday’s act left Lee feeling uncomfortable, he didn’t show any indication the following night. He was about as animated as ever upon reaching second base after doubling home two runs in the seventh.

With Ramos hyping him up from a few steps in front of the dugout, Lee yelled and used an uppercut to punch the air with his right arm.

The Giants’ celebration Monday night went viral. NBC San Francisco/X

“The one thing about Jung Hoo … each day you’re around him, you realize how competitive he is,” Vitello said. “Maybe he doesn’t verbalize it as much and he’s not the quickest guy to slam his helmet or anything, but he is ultra competitive. … It’s fun to see that emotion.”

Yankees vs. Orioles prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 13

The Yankees (27-16) and the Orioles (19-24) wrap up their three-game series at Camden Yards this afternoon. The threat of rain has pushed the start time to 1:05P Eastern, so let’s dive in quickly.

 

New York snapped their four-game losing streak last night with a 6-2 win. It has been a rare occurrence when the Yankees have not relied on Ben Rice or Aaron Judge to carry the offense but last night was one such night. Paul Goldshmidt homered on the first pitch of the game and Trent Grisham hit a three-run shot in the third to spark the offense. Will Warren allowed just two runs over 5.2 innings to earn his fifth win in six decisions this season. Samuel Basallo and Tyler O’Neill drove in the O’s runs.

 

The Yankees send Max Fried to the bump today. The ace has been special most days this season allowing three or fewer runs in seven of his nine starts. He will be opposed by Kyle Bradish of the Orioles. Bradish has only allowed more than three runs in one of his eight starts, but he has only lasted beyond the fifth inning in three of the eight.

Lets dive into tonight’s matchup 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.

 

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Amazon Prime Video, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Orioles

The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: New York Yankees (-194), Baltimore Orioles (+159)
  • Spread: Yankees -1.5 (-115), Orioles +1.5 (-105)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Orioles

Pitching matchup for May 13:

  • Yankees: Max Fried
    Season Totals: 58.2 IP, 4-2, 2.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 48K, 18 BB
  • Orioles: Kyle Bradish
    Season Totals: 41.0 IP, 1-5, 4.83 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 45K, 22 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Orioles

  • Gunnar Henderson is 0-8 in this series and 8-48 (.167) in May
  • Pete Alonso snapped an 0-11 string with a hit last night
  • Aaron Judge has hit safely in 3 games (4-10) with 1 HR
  • After opening the month of May with 9 hits in his first 22 ABs, Ryan McMahon is 1 for his last 15.
  • Austin Wells is 4-30 (.133) in May

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Orioles

  • The Yankees are 13-10 on the road this season
  • The O’s are 11-12 at home this season
  • The Yankees are 24-19 on the Run Line this season
  • The Orioles are 19-24 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 26 times in Orioles’ games this season (26-17)
  • The OVER has cashed 18 times for the Yankees this season (18-24)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Orioles

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

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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 today’s game between the Yankees and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Run Line
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play of the Game Total BUT is recommending a play on the Yankees Team Total OVER 4.5.

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Snake Bytes 5/13: Spoilt Milk

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 12: Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks leaves the game during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 12, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Diamondbacks News

Streak of Dominant Starts Ends with Gallen Loss to Rangers
Zac Gallen surrendered seven runs, all earned, in only 4 1/3 innings. On the other side, Mackenzie Gore pitched the longest outing of his career, eight innings of dominant one-run ball.

Diamondbacks Trade Alek Thomas to Dodgers
The Dodgers take on all of Thomas’ $1.45 million contract and also send back minor league outfielder Jose Requena

Why Arizona Made Move to Trade Thomas to Dodgers
It should come as no surprise that the answer comes down to money.

Diamondbacks Upcoming Schedule Provides Massive Opportunity
After going 20-20 over the course of the season’s first 40 games, the Diamondbacks are now entering a 37-game stretch that might well define the remainder of the season. During the stretch, the Snakes only have seven games against teams with a winning record.

Other Baseball News

Guide to MLB’s Looming Labor Battle: CBA, Salary Cap and More
The next round of MLB labor negotiations officially began Tuesday with the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association exchanging opening presentations more than six months before the December 1 expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement.

Paul Skenes Once Again Flirts with No-Hitter
It really is just a matter of time right now.

Teruaki Sato Looks MLB-Bound in Superstar Form
Teruaki Sato has forged himself quite the resume, even forcing his way into a stacked WBC lineup for Japan – the only non-MLB player to hit in the top-six for the baseball powerhouse.

Common sense says that things like this should be reviewable, even if not explicitly provided for in the manual.

PWHL expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton next season

The PWHL is officially expanding to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ont., for the 2026-27 season, the league announced Wednesday.

The Las Vegas franchise, which The Athleticreported on Tuesday, will play its home games at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. The rink has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey and boasts one of the best atmospheres in the NHL. Hamilton will play at TD Coliseum, which recently underwent a $300 million renovation.

Vegas and Hamilton follow Detroit as part of the PWHL’s second wave of expansion, which could include a fourth franchise. The three new teams will join the league’s eight current markets in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Boston, Minnesota, New York and Seattle.

The PWHL hosted a successful neutral-site game in Hamilton in January, with 16,012 fans at TD Coliseum — the third-largest “Takeover Tour” crowd of the season. There is a school of thought that a team in Hamilton could siphon support from the league’s Toronto franchise, which plays just 40 miles from TD Coliseum. However, according to the league’s press release, over 70 percent of Hamilton’s “Takeover Tour” ticket buyers purchased their first-time PWHL game ticket, “underscoring the league’s opportunity to reach a distinct audience,” even with two other teams located in Ontario.

There’s a chance Hamilton could draw some Toronto Sceptres fans from the Greater Toronto Area, but the city is also within commuting distance from southern Ontario cities such as St. Catharines, Kitchener, Waterloo and London.

“The response we saw during our Takeover Tour game at TD Coliseum made it clear that fans in the region are ready to rally around a team of their own,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations.

Hamilton’s expansion effort was made in partnership with Oak View Group, which operates TD Coliseum, and the city of Hamilton. The league will continue to operate under its single-entity ownership model, where Mark Walter — the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and his wife, Kimbra, own the PWHL and all of its teams.

Expanding to Las Vegas is somewhat of a departure from the norm for the PWHL, which launched its first three expansion teams in markets that were part of the “Takeover Tour.” Still, according to Amy Scheer, the league’s executive vice president of business operations, “Las Vegas is ready to welcome and champion a PWHL team of its own.”

Las Vegas has rapidly become a hub for major professional sports. According to the PWHL’s press release, since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season in 2017, youth hockey participation in Nevada has surged, particularly among girls and women, by 600 percent.

“From the staggering growth of youth hockey participation to the passionate support for the Golden Knights and Aces,” said Scheer, “the Las Vegas community has enthusiastically embraced both hockey and women’s sports.”

The PWHL’s expansion to Vegas also widens the league’s footprint to the American Southwest. According to the release, the city’s accessibility, hospitality infrastructure and world-class facilities make Vegas a “strong long-term fit for the PWHL.” The Golden Knights and MGM Resorts International, which is a part owner of T-Mobile Arena, supported the league’s expansion efforts to Vegas.

“The arrival of the PWHL in Vegas is a milestone for women’s hockey and our entire community,” said John Penhollow, the Vegas Golden Knights president of business operations. “We’re proud of how far youth hockey has come locally, and even more excited about the path forward and opportunities ahead for future generations.”

As part of Wednesday’s announcement, the league revealed each team’s official colors and said team names and logos will be announced at a later date. Hamilton’s team colors will be gold, maroon and cream; Vegas will wear green and gold.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Toronto Sceptres, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Seattle Torrent, Boston Fleet, Sports Business, Women's Hockey, NHL, women's sports

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Maple Leafs fire coach Craig Berube after two seasons

The Toronto Maple Leafs brought Craig Berube in as coach in 2024 because of his championship pedigree.

But he was fired after his second season in Toronto with the Maple Leafs missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

"Craig is a tremendous coach and an even better person," new GM John Chayka said in a statement. "This decision is more reflective of an organizational shift and an opportunity for a fresh start than it is an evaluation of Craig. We are grateful for his leadership, professionalism and commitment to the Maple Leafs organization and wish Craig and his family nothing but the best moving forward."

The May 13 move follows the March 30 firing of general manager Brad Treliving and gives whoever's hired a clean slate at coach.

Berube, who won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, got the Maple Leafs to the second round last season before losing to the Panthers in a Game 7 rout at home.

This season was always going to be tough because they lost free agent Mitch Marner in a sign and trade. But the Maple Leafs hovered around .500 before getting to eight games over in mid-January.

The Leafs had eight consecutive losses coming out of the Olympic break. After a 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators in which the Leafs were badly outshot on Feb. 28, Berube pointed to his heart and to his head and said of the players, "They've got to bring the heart and the competitiveness that's needed."

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube looks on from the bench during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Arena.

The Maple Leafs were sellers ahead of the March 6 trade deadline. Scott Laughton was moved to the Los Angeles Kings, and Bobby McMann went to the Seattle Kraken. Nicolas Roy was moved to the Colorado Avalanche a day earlier.

Captain Auston Matthews was limited to 60 games, including having his season end on a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim's Radko Gudas.

But the team's biggest problem was defensive play as the Maple Leafs gave up the second most goals in the league.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Craig Berube fired as Maple Leafs coach after not making playoffs