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The players’ protest of Pride Night reminded me of country musician Morgan Wallen walking off of the Saturday Night Live set and posting to social media “Get me to God’s country.” It was such an odd protest, but it did the task of 1) informing me of Morgan Wallen’s existence (and I don’t claim that I’m too cool for school in that regard, I just haven’t heard anything new in a long time for lots of reasons) and 2) reminding me of the awkward — yet effective — social protests that evangelicals love to do. But why am I thinking of Morgan Wallen at a time like this?

Oh yeah, he and Tony Vitello are good friends.

… But, like, SNL invited you on the show, Morgan. What are you complaining about? And your social media post was “Get me to God’s country” overlayed on an image of your private plane. I’m at a loss… oh, right. It’s not supposed to make sense beyond conveying disapproval and being vaguely disruptive. I guess waiting until the very end of the show is the least disruptive disruption you could do to make sure you keep getting invited to these mainstream things, but the shot at New York? Oh, right. That’s for “your base” (he also sells t-shirts with that phrase). Successful people of faith have decided to lead by taking shots at the institutions which have propped them up. Fair enough, I guess. And, it makes sense. If some people of faith take issue with “lifestyles,” then regions of land seems like an emotionally consistent extension.

Okay, not only are Vitello and Wallen friends, one of Wallen’s songs is called “‘98 Braves” — okay, now we’re back on track. This is a series preview about the San Francisco Giants traveling to Atlanta for a three-game series. That song’s about a great team coming up short anyway. From 106-56 to losing to the Padres in the NLCS. (Stares in 1993 Giants). Atlanta’s coming off a 2025 which fell far short of expectations in a much more dramatic way in that they went 76-86. But with a championship in recent memory and a well-managed organization, the fandom certainly thought a run like the 90s teams was in progress.

Well, maybe it is. Last year seems to have been merely an anomaly. Sort of like 2013 was for the championship era Giants. Atlanta’s lineup is excellent, led by Drake Baldwin (158 wRC+), who’s sort of their Bryce Eldridge (sarcasm). Matt Olson continues to be outstanding (team leading 20 HR along with a 143 wRC+), Michael Harris is having a season on par with his sublime 2022 season (when he was 21) where he had a 137 wRC+ (it’s currently 134), Ozzie Albies is having his best season since 2023 (113 wRC+), Ronald Acuna has stopped being a slugger but he’s still a tough out (.373 OBP, 14.8 BB%), and, a trio of former Giants are buttressing all of this talent with solid performances..

Mauricio Dubon (1.5 fWAR) is sort of a dude on this team. Last week, he got this glowing writeup in The Athletic where he sounds a whole lot more confident than he did in his younger days with the team:

“It’s funny because sometimes ‘Oh lefty-righty matchup,’ I think that’s a bunch of bulls—,” Dubón said. “I hit everybody, and (Braves manager Walt Weiss) knows that. For him to give me the trust and go out there and perform, it’s good when the manager has your back.”

Mike Yastrzemski got off to a disastrous start (.200/.258/.252 through May 9th), but has taken off over the past month (.290/.421/.516 since).

Dominic Smith (106 wRC+) is their DH but rather famously, he hit a walk-off grand slam in his first game.

So, keep an eye on those guys.

Meanwhile, the headline is pretty dramatic. A sweep at the hands of these Atlantans is not a foregone conclusion. The Giants took 2 out of 3 last year in a down year, but also 2 out of 3 in 2024. Sure, the Braves have won the series in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, but it’s not like the Giants were good in 2024 and 2025. They’re even worse now. Does that mean they have the Braves right where they want them?

Who: San Francisco Giants (29-43) at Atlanta Braves (46-25)
Where: Truist Park | Cobb County, Georgia
When: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4:15pm PT
National broadcasts: None

Projected starters
Tuesday: Adrian Houser (RHP 2-6, 5.54 ERA) vs. Grant Holmes (RHP 4-2, 4.05 ERA)
Wednesday: Robbie Ray (LHP 4-6, 4.42 ERA) vs. JR Ritchie (RHP 1-1, 3.82 ERA)
Thursday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-7, 4.24 ERA) vs. Martin Perez (LHP 5-3, 2.90 ERA)

Players to watch

Atlanta

Raisel Iglesias & Robert Suarez: Atlanta is paying market price for two closers and the Giants had probably no shot at signing either this past offseason (in case you were wondering what other closers Buster Posey could’ve thought of instead of Edwin Diaz), but keep your eye on their dominance. They’ve allowed a combined 6 runs (5 earned) in 53.2 innings with 53 strikeouts and 10 walks.

Dubon: He’s hitting .308/.357/.564 here in June with 3 homers and a stolen base. He has a 7% walk rate and 14% strikeout rate over this same stretch (43 PA), too.

Yaz & Dom Smith: Yaz is hitting just .138 over his last 11 games while Dom Smith is hitting .121. Do the Giants know them well enough to keep their bad times rolling or did all that familiarity disappear with the coaching staff turnover?

Giants

Bryce Eldridge: I’d very much like to see what he could do in Truist Park and against the two worst starters in Atlanta’s rotation. Grant Holmes is sporting a 5.26 FIP thanks to a 1.8 HR/9 and JR Ritchie has a 5.15 FIP in part because of a 1.2 HR/9 but mainly a 5.3 BB/9. The Giants might lose every game 9-3, but if all three games feature a 3-run dinger from the rookie, that’d be great.

Robbie Ray: His trade value is quite low, but a solid start against a great team could help salvage some of it.

Rafael Devers: I wrote this scathing piece about how he probably wasn’t going to be much better than a league average hitter (he’s at 95 wRC+ right now) and I would like to eat some crow on this because I’d hate for the only time that happens this season to be because Luis Arraez became an All-Star second baseman in part because of his defense. For the same reasons that Eldridge might thrive, Devers should, too.

Tony Vitello watch

You know, I should mention that Atlanta’s manager is a first timer, too, only he’s former Oakland Athletic Walt Weiss, who has been a longtime major league coach. He sort of backed into the job by default after Brian Snitker announced his retirement, but, you know what? He’s here and thriving.

Prediction time

Morgan Wallen will show up.

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It was finally a profitable week with home runs, and I need that momentum to carry over into today.

I'm hitting some big-name MLB player props that, despite their short HR prices, are still showing expected value. 

Juan Soto's projections are off the charts and make him worth a home run bet at his current price. Nick Kurtz has been the best home run hitter in baseball over the last 30 days and still has some meat on the bone at his current odds to go deep.

Plus, I've found a home run prop for bargain hunters in Zack Gelof.

These are my favorite home run bets for Tuesday, June 16.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Juan Soto	+222
Nick Kurtz	+232
Zack Gelof	+517
💲Today's HR parlay	+4620

Home run pick: Juan Soto (+222)

It's not often bettors get +EV on a +222 home run prop, but THE BAT is projecting 0.43 home runs from Juan Soto today, which is a massive number and leads all hitters on the slate by a substantial margin.

Great American Ball Park is going to help any hitter, but Soto also gets a plus matchup against right-hander Brady Singer, who owns the seventh-worst HR/FB rate among MLB starters over the last 30 days. He's also struggling to miss bats at home, posting just a 4.9 K/9 on his own mound.

Soto has been scorching the ball lately, ranking 14th in Blast Contact% over the last 30 days. Only Nick Kurtz has hit more home runs (10) than Soto over that stretch. This is a buy to +180.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Reds.TV, SNY

Home run pick: Nick Kurtz (+232)

I'm staying with the chalk in Sacramento, but even at +232, Nick Kurtz is still showing value per the projections at Covers. Kurtz projects as the second-most likely hitter to go deep today and carries a fair price below +200.

Kurtz leads all hitters with 10 home runs over the last 30 days and owns the fourth-best slugging percentage over that stretch. He's benefited from plenty of home games, and during the Athletics' current nine-game homestand, he has gone deep six times in just 35 plate appearances.

It's the best hitting environment on the slate today, with 85-degree temperatures and double-digit winds blowing out to center field. He'll face Mitch Keller and a Pittsburgh bullpen that owns the fourth-worst ERA in baseball over the last two weeks.

Kurtz has also already taken Keller deep once in just two career at-bats against the Pittsburgh starter.

It's not a long price, but today's theme is elite bats that are still showing expected value.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSCA, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Home run pick: Zack Gelof (+517)

Zack Gelof might not be the first name that comes up when talking about the power in the Athletics lineup, but he is slugging .600 over his last 13 games with three home runs and a 164 wRC+. He is also +517 to go deep today in arguably the best home run environment on the board.

That's a big difference compared to teammates like Nick Kurtz, who is priced shorter than +200 in some spots.

The launching pad that is Sutter Health Park is helping everyone these days, and the 85-degree temperatures are the hottest on the slate. Gelof is hitting 40% of his balls to center field, where the double-digit winds are providing a boost today, and more than 50% of his batted balls are getting in the air.

This home run has a fair price of around +420, per the projections at Covers. From the starting pitcher to the bullpen, form, price, and hitting environment, there is a lot to like about Gelof today.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSCA, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Today’s HR parlay

Juan Soto	Bet Now +4620
Nick Kurtz
Zack Gelof

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

On June 15, the Pittsburgh Pirates got blown out to the Athletics 11-2 on the road. The pitching struggled in that game with Jared Jones allowing eight hits and five runs. Carmen Moldozinski also struggled, allowing seven hits and six runs.

The big loss now drops the Pirates to 36-37 on the season which marks the first time they have been below .500 since March 31 when they lost to the New York Mets. The Bucs have now also lost eight of their past 10 games. 

The Bucs have been on an absolute free fall since June going 4-9. A big reason because of that has been the pitching which has really struggled of late. Paul Skenes is having a shaky year to his standards. Some of his starts he looks like the Cy young pitcher we know, but there are other starts where he looks off his game. 

Mitch Keller has an ERA of 5.14 and has allowed at least five earned runs in the last three starts. Bubba Chandler has also struggled of late for the Bucs with just a 2-7 record and a 4.76 ERA.

The offense has also been struggling, especially in the last four games. The Pirates haven’t scored more than three runs in the last four games, which resulted in a three-game sweep to the Miami Marlins. 

The Pirates were in a wild card spot exactly a week ago, but they now find themselves two games out of the wild card. The team is also now in fourth place in the NL Central, being 5.5 games behind the Cardinals for second place and two games behind the Chicago Cubs for third place. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the division by 4.5 games with a 43-26 record. 

The Pirates started off so hot to start the season, but it is safe to say that they have been wildly disappointing in the last couple of weeks. The Buccos need to play better and gain some momentum before the All-Star break, but if they can’t do that, then the playoff drought will continue in Pittsburgh. 

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The Cincinnati Reds will try to make it two in a row at home tonight as they host the New York Mets at the Great American Ball Park.

Both pitchers are having rough years, but there’s more reason for hope with Kodai Senga, which is why I’m taking New York to win in my Mets vs. Reds predictions.

Keep reading to see why I like the Mets, and get the rest of my free MLB picks for Tuesday, June 16.

Who will win Mets vs Reds today: Mets moneyline (-124)

While both pitchers have struggled this season, I can envision New York Mets starter Kodai Senga having a strong outing.

Senga gets whiffs on 29% of swings, a necessary tool against a Cincinnati Reds lineup that barrels up balls 10.3% of the time, the second-best rate in the majors.

Reds starter Brady Singer has an xERA of 5.80, and is striking out just 16.7% of batters. He isn’t fooling anyone, getting batters to chase only 27.6% of the time.

Analytically, Singer has been among the worst starters in the majors this season.

I’m taking the Mets to win at -130 or better.

COVERS INTEL: Singer is allowing batters to barrel up his pitches a troubling 11.8% of the time, which won’t work against a New York lineup that has a top-10 barrel rate of 9.1%.

Mets vs Reds Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-104)

Even in a disappointing season, Senga’s forkball does present a unique challenge, and the Reds have yet to face the pitch — which Senga throws 23% of the time — this season. Senga looked strong in his final minor league start, allowing just one run and one hit in six innings.

The Mets have struggled with Singer’s arsenal, hitting the sinker/slider combo that makes up 79% of his pitches for line drives just 20% of the time off righties.

These teams are well below league average in run production, and I’m happy to take the Under at 9 runs or more.

Mets vs Reds odds

• Moneyline: Mets -124 | Reds +106
• Run line: Mets -1.5 | Reds +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5

Mets vs Reds trend

The Reds are 0-7 straight up in Singer’s last seven starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Reds.

How to watch Mets vs Reds and game info

Mets vs Reds latest injuries

Mets vs Reds weather

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

70 out of 162 games down, and it’s safe to say the 2026 Atlanta Braves (46-24) have been a much-needed balm after the last few years of underperformance. The injury bug and occasional offensive outages are still lingering, but the divisional cushion and current position atop MLB make it hard to complain. 

The first round of All-Star voting hasn’t even concluded yet (braves.com/vote, btw) and we’ve already had some incredible moments to look back on. Including, but not limited to:

• THE Big Dom Smith Moment to date, his walkoff grand slam on opening weekend
• Walt Weiss on the West Coast with the form tackle heard ‘round the world
• Three (3) separate instances of Michael Harris II pinch-hit heroics
• Ronald Acuña Jr.’s second HR of the season sailing over the Green Monster for a grand slam
• Matt Olson’s first walk-off as a Brave

I went with a family member to their first Braves game since they moved from Turner Field to Truist Park recently and got to hear some of their favorite game moments and experiences in the old ballpark. I, in turn, got to share some of the homers I’ve been lucky enough to see with my own eyes (Ronald’s 40th to make it 40/40, his first pitch back from injury last year, etc). 

We asked the good people of Battery Power for some of their in-person highlights and favorite moments, and the Feed delivered some gems. 

Nothing like October baseball

Cheers for Chipper

Not wins, but special all the same

Literal history

In the immortal words of dril: “the crack of the bat. the scent of a verdant field. The excitement of the crowd. These are the things that piss base ball fans off the most”

Funny and somewhat true, we also love all those things (and miss them dearly from fall to February). In what non-baseball enjoyers call a “grind”, we see heroes and villains rise and fall, witness feats of athleticism previously unseen, and partake in a pastime rich with history and memory. Thanks for sharing yours with us, Braves Country – we hope there’s many more exciting ones to come for Atlanta this year and beyond.

To get back to .500, the Royals would have to win about 58 percent of their remaining games. The current list of teams playing at or above that rate includes the Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Brewers, and Rays. Last season, only four teams finished the year above that level. Can the Royals be a top-five team over the next 90 games? I think the answer is an emphatic no. With injuries to multiple position players, as well as members of the rotation and bullpen, there is no reason to believe this season is going to get back on track. That means it is time to plan for the future, and there are several things that need to happen to salvage something from 2026.

Decide where these players belong

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone are the two biggest names in this group. I like Matthew’s post on Vinnie, and I think I would go even further. Moving Jac back to first base immediately after Pasquantino went down says to me that the organization does not see him as the right fielder for the next half-decade. He has some range issues and is a large human being, so despite his arm, I think Cags should be viewed as the first baseman of the next contending Royals team. It may be that the Royals see it that way, too. That leads to some not-so-fun discussions about how to handle the fan-favorite cryptid who has been at first base for most of this season.

Next for me are Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and Luinder Avila. Do any – or all – of these guys need to end up in the bullpen? I do not know when, or if, Ragans and Bubic will return, but if they do, it might be time to consider their fragility a reason to take them out of the rotation. They know more than I do about each player’s health prospects, but their histories at this point make a reduced workload at least worth considering if it helps keep them on the field and maximize their value.

Avila is a different story. He is still not established, and I think he will eventually end up in the bullpen. For now, though, they have the luxury of using him as a starter for the rest of this season to see if he can figure it out. Let him start until he proves he can’t. Two of his last three trips out there showed some promise, though there are still walk-rate issues. Yesterday certainly pointed to some problems.

John Rave, Kameron Misner, and anyone else in the high minors whom the team thinks deserves a shot need to get one. Lane Thomas and Starling Marte need to spend as much time on the bench as possible. Even if they build some trade value, bench bats do not bring back blue-chip prospects. Rave deserves one more shot. Misner is probably a fourth outfielder at best, but they might as well make sure. Matthew Lugo? Peyton Wilson? Now is the time to give them an audition if there is any chance they could turn into solutions.

Trade deadline prioritization

Trading needs to be about maximizing the return this year, in my opinion, not maximizing the return with regard to 2027. I know they want to compete next year, and the Bobby Witt Jr. clock is ticking. However, the best prospects in the farm system are all in A-ball. Justin Lamkin may be a significant part of the 2027 team, so there might be some help on the way, but not much. The goal should be to restock the farm system at all levels, not just target players on the cusp of reaching the majors.

The Royals have players other teams will want in Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Bubic if healthy, Daniel Lynch IV, John Schreiber, and perhaps a few others. None of those players is likely to bring back a Top 100 prospect, so targeting lower-level players with higher risk and higher ceilings makes more sense this season.

Accountability established

Last season started horribly and was partially salvaged. This season started horribly and has completely flown off the rails. Someone is to blame. They cannot run this entire management team back. This type of evaluation should be happening all the time anyway, but in this case, I do not think you can sell fans on the idea that everyone is doing a great job and should be retained. Some people need to be fired—or reassigned, if the organization still values them.

Alec Zumwalt is the only one who, for me, 100 percent needs to be in a different position. He is five years into running the hitting program with very little to show for it. Bobby Witt Jr. is the only smashing success of his tenure, and I think he would have succeeded anywhere under any hitting coach. I would give Zumwalt the most credit for Maikel Garcia, who is now an everyday player, though he is not even close to last year’s level at the moment. Vinnie has gotten worse over time. Caglianone might be headed in the right direction, but Carter Jensen is not.

Then there is the laundry list of failures, including MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Drew Waters, and others. There are other coaches who might need to go as well. I know a lot of you have Matt Quatraro as the head that most needs to roll, but they need to change something, and they need to get it right.

The Royals cannot fix everything in one summer, but they can use the next three months to answer some important questions. If 2026 is going to be a lost season, the least they can do is make sure it is not a wasted one.

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It’s another loaded slate on the diamond Tuesday, June 16, and my favorite MLB same-game parlay predictions begin at the top of the docket with the Philadelphia Phillies topping the Miami Marlins.

My top MLB picks wrap up in the late window with the Athletics set to run up the score on the Pittsburgh Pirates at Sutter Health Park tonight.

Today's best MLB SGP picks

Game	SGP Odds
MIA vs PHI	+325
NYM vs CIN	+430
PIT vs ATH	+355

Marlins vs Phillies SGP: Luzardo limits Fish

Philadelphia Phillies lefty Jesus Luzardo has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his past 10 starts while posting a solid 3.34 xERA and holding opposing hitters to 29% squared-up contact rate, so I’m anticipating him limiting the Miami Marlins tonight given their middling 98 wRC+ against southpaws.

I’m also expecting Philly stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to lead the way offensively. Schwarber has teed off on righties to the tune of a .380 wOBA and .319 ISO, and Harper has been every bit as good with respective .415 and .301 marks.

This SGP is in play down to +300.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSP, MIAM

Mets vs Reds SGP: New York stings Singer

Cincinnati Reds starter Brady Singer has surrendered the second-highest blast contact rate with the seventh-highest xERA among starters with at least 50 innings this season, so I’m anticipating an improving New York Mets offense to have success at the dish tonight. 

The Mets rank eighth in baseball in xwOBA over the past two weeks, after all, and New York star Juan Soto has been automatic against righties with a .420 wOBA and .290 ISO since the beginning of the 2024 campaign.

Still, Singer has picked up five or more strikeouts in four of his past six starts with his strikeout percentage climbing to 20.9% after posting a 13.1% mark through his first seven outings, so I'd recommend this SGP down to +400.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CINR, SNY

Pirates vs Athletics SGP: Tough night for Keller

Look for the Athletics to tee off on Pittsburgh Pirates righty Mitch Keller at the Sutter Health Park launching pad. He conveniently sports the ninth-highest xERA and ninth-lowest strikeout percentage among qualified starting pitchers, and Keller has fanned four or fewer batters in five of his past seven starts.

The Athletics also pace the majors in wOBA while striking out at the fourth-lowest clip in baseball at Sutter Health, and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom has posted a rock-solid .379 wOBA and .220 ISO against righties at home the past two years and hits in the heart of the order.

This SGP is good to go down to +340, too.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSCA, SNP

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

Looking to help those in need and score free Pittsburgh Pirates tickets while you're at it? This week, you're in luck.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding their 30th annual blood drive June 16 through June 18, with additional dates to donate blood scheduled in August. Those who donate will get ticket vouchers for upcoming Pirates games.

When is the Pittsburgh Pirates 2026 blood drive?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding a blood drive several days this week, with additional dates scheduled in August. Here's when you can stop by PNC Park's press conference room to donate:

• Tuesday, June 16: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 27: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Do I need an appointment to donate at the Pittsburgh Pirates blood drive?

Walk-ins are welcome, but it's recommended to schedule an appointment to donate blood. You can register ahead of time through the Pirates' website.