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Red Sox vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

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Don't look now, but the Toronto Blue Jays have won four straight series, and I'm backing them to cover in my Red Sox vs. Blue Jays prediction.

The Blue Jays host the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre tonight as large +140 underdogs at Bet99, but have historically hit Sonny Gray hard. 

Let’s get right into my MLB picks for Monday, Aug. 10, and fatten that wallet to kick off the week.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays predictions

Red Sox vs Blue Jays best bet: Blue Jays +1.5 (-130)

If you’re looking to play the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, Bet99 has the best price on the run line at -130. While the offense has come to life lately, scoring 25 runs across the last five games, it’s what they’ve done against Sonny Gray that has me confident we’ll start the week off with some cash in our pockets.

Across 138 plate appearances with Gray on the bump (a sample size we can get behind), the Blue Jays own a .306 xBA and a .472 xSLG — pretty good if you ask me.

This season, it hasn’t been much better for the Red Sox ace, either. In two starts against Toronto, the right-hander has allowed 16 hits and eight earned runs over 12 innings. This matchup couldn’t be any better for the Jays — they could win this one outright.

I’d play the run line up to -140 tonight.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox may have a Jameson Taillon problem, too. The big righty has limited this Red Sox offense to a .265 xwOBA over 60 at-bats while striking them out at a 24% clip. 

Red Sox vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is slowly turning his season around and has been putting together productive at-bats over the last few weeks.

Coming off a series in which he went 3-for-9 with a homer, expect him to cash our first leg.

Elsewhere, runs should come in bunches for a team that has dominated Gray this season, and while I have confidence in Taillon tonight, keeping the Red Sox bats at bay is a difficult task — especially with a bullpen that’s taxed after back-to-back extra-inning games.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays SGP 

  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 hits+runs+RBI
  • Blue Jays +1.5
  • Over 8.5 runs

Covers Alberta: Sports betting is now live!

Regulated Alberta sports betting has officially launched, allowing sportsbooks to operate under provincial oversight.

You can sign up and join BET99 — one of the best Alberta betting apps — now to get in on the Blue Jays action!

Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/82/bet99.svg" alt="BET99" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"

Red Sox vs Blue Jays home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+675)

Does Vladdy do it against the Red Sox?

With just over a month left in the season, he’s yet to hit a long ball at the Rogers Centre, but tonight could be the night, and at +675, I’m taking that price every day.

Guerrero has one career homer against Gray in 13 at-bats, with his average exit velocity near 92 MPH. Gray has coughed up a long ball in three of his last six starts, and in a hitter-friendly park like Rogers Centre, I’ll give Vladdy the benefit of the doubt.

Red Sox vs Blue Jays odds

  • Moneyline: Boston (-160) | Toronto (+140)
  • Run line: Boston -1.5 (+105) | Toronto +1.5 (-130)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays trend

Over the last five games when the Blue Jays are underdogs, the Over is hitting at a perfect 5-0 clip. The Over has also hit in three straight for the Blue Jays and in three of Boston's last four games. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Red Sox vs Blue Jays and game info

LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
DateMonday, August 10, 2026
First pitch7:07 p.m. ET
TVNESN, Sportsnet
Red Sox starting pitcherSonny Gray
(14-2, 2.78 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcherJameson Taillon 
(2-6, 5.96 ERA)

Red Sox vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Red Sox vs Blue Jays weather

The Blue Jays play in a dome at the Rogers Centre, so the weather will have little to no impact on game conditions tonight.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Are Manchester United returning to relevance under Michael Carrick? | Jonathan Wilson

In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teams

Manchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.

There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.

This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here.

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Apple Takes a VR Swing at MLB, Starting With Yankees vs. Red Sox

Nearly 10 years after MLB’s first virtual-reality broadcast deal, baseball is returning to the VR diamond.

Apple announced Monday that four of its remaining games will be broadcast in the company’s immersive format in Apple Vision Pro headsets, starting with a Yankees vs. Red Sox matchup on Aug. 28. 

Apple will use 3D video captured in 8k with a 180-degree field of view, similar to the immersive broadcasts of Lakers games this NBA season. The broadcasts will have their own announcer teams and specialized microphones in the ballpark designed to deliver spatially aware sound. 

All games will also be available in 2D via Apple TV. The announced schedule includes the Pirates vs. Angels (Sept. 4), Giants vs. Padres (Sept. 11) and Dodgers vs. Giants (Sept. 18) games. 

Apple’s seven-year MLB deal, signed in 2022, has created a testing ground for both sides as baseball learns the pros and cons of moving some games behind a streaming paywall while the tech giant pairs exclusive rights with its existing platforms and capabilities.

Last year, for instance, Apple integrated iPhone 17 Pro devices as cameras during MLB broadcasts. An MLS match was then shot entirely on iPhones (with the help of additional professional-level gear) this spring.

Sitting courtside—or behind home plate—has long been a selling point for virtual reality devices. MLB’s VR foray dates back to a 2017 deal with Intel for a VR Game of the Week series on Samsung Gear headwear.

However, VR sports broadcasts remain relatively rare today. Producing an additional broadcast incurs significant expense, with only a slice of the audience able to view the streams. Apple has not released sales numbers for its $3,700 Vision Pro line, but it’s fair to say that flat screens remain more common. Traditional TV has also spent decades perfecting itself as a sports delivery medium, with fans building their lives around living room sets and handheld devices.

Still, sports experiences can get people to try VR headsets (or get them to pick up their old one), where they might find additional uses for work and play. MLB fans will get their latest chance to see just how far the tech has progressed starting later this month.

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The Sixers should be in no rush to fill their last open roster spot

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 6: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on April 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Love;Ben Simmons | Getty Images

The race to fill the Sixers’ last standard roster spot has already begun.

On Friday, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Kevin Love’s agent had already “been in touch” with the Sixers after LeBron James decided to sign with them. Love “has interest in pairing with James to pursue a championship,” according to McMenamin, who noted that he and James “have remained close since teaming up for four seasons with the Cavaliers.”

Philadelphia native Markieff Morris, who won a championship with LeBron on the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20, also made his case for that spot.

And Ben Simmons, who is “eyeing a comeback to basketball” after taking last season off, according to ESPN’s Olgun Uluc, also floated a return to Philly as a possibility earlier this offseason, albeit prior to the LeBron and Jaylen Brown acquisitions. According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s Andscape, “a coach who worked out Simmons recently said he has regained his athleticism” after chronic back injuries left him looking like a shell of his former All-Star self.

Even if the Sixers wanted to sign Love, Morris, Simmons or another established NBA veteran to fill their final open roster spot this offseason, they couldn’t do so without making another move first. They’re hard-capped at the $209.0 million first apron, and they already have nearly $207.2 million in salary on their books, which leaves them only $1.8 million below the hard cap. A veteran-minimum contract for anyone with two or more years of NBA experience comes with a cap hit of $2.4 million.

Once the regular season begins, though, minimum contracts will begin to prorate downward daily by roughly $14,000. By early December, the Sixers should have enough space under the hard cap to fill that final roster spot with a fresh min deal.

They should be in no rush to fill it, though. They need to spend the first few months of the season figuring out how their new-look roster meshes and identifying their weak points before looking to make any other moves.

Ring-chasers will come flocking

During his introductory press conference last week, Brown was quick to praise the work that new team president Mike Gansey and the Sixers front office did this offseason. However, he noted that talent alone won’t be enough to get the Sixers to snap their 43-year championship drought.

“Obviously, on paper, we’re excellent,” Brown said. “We have a lot of talent compared to other teams in the league. But I’ve been around a long time, long enough to know that just what you have on paper don’t really mean nothing. It can, if you put the work in. But it also, if you allow distractions, if you allow the media to get into your locker room, if you allow certain things and personalities don’t work, it can be a detriment. So, I’m aware that it could go either way.”

Gansey isn’t shying away from that, either.

“We’ve gotta get to camp,” he said during a recent appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic’s Midday With Marks. “We haven’t even had a practice or played a game. So we’ve gotta see if this thing works, obviously. I like the pieces and the talent we have, but we’ve gotta get to a practice first to see how this works.”

On paper—and in NBA2K—the Sixers look like a superteam in the making. That’s easy to say in August, though. Reality will hit them at some point throughout the grind of the 82-game regular season.

First, the Sixers need to figure out how their new-look starting five meshes and which combinations of players work best together. They made significant upgrades this offseason, but they still lost four of their top eight players in terms of minutes per game from last year (Kelly Oubre Jr., Paul George, Quentin Grimes and Andre Drummond). Head coach Nick Nurse will have his work cut out for him, especially early in the season.

As the season progresses, the Sixers will get a better sense of their remaining weak spots and how they might be able to patch those up. For now, it’s all a hypothetical exercise.

Injuries could also force their hand. If Joel Embiid goes down with a long-term injury, are Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti enough to hold down the fort? Can they get away with playing Dominick Barlow at the 5 occasionally? If not, they might have to prioritize filling that final open roster spot with another big man.

Once the Sixers identify their biggest weaknesses, they can set about filling them. But since they’re under the first apron and cannot go over it this season, they also have a potential advantage over other potential title contenders.

Teams above the first apron can’t sign players on the buyout market if they were previously earning more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Teams below the first apron face no such restriction. It’s unclear who might get bought out after this year’s trade deadline—no, that is not likely to include Jrue Holiday—but one look at the list of potential 2027 free agents could provide some hints.

If the Sacramento Kings don’t find a taker for Zach LaVine by the trade deadline, he seems like a virtual lock to get bought out. Might the Milwaukee Bucks do the same with Kyle Kuzma and/or Caris LeVert? Could Klay Thompson shake loose from the Dallas Mavericks? Would any of them be upgrades over Love, Morris, Simmons or another free agent who’s currently on the market?

The Sixers don’t have to decide that right now. As long as their season isn’t off the rails by February, they figure to be a highly sought-after destination for ring-chasers. In fact, it wouldn’t be shocking if they looked to open another roster spot to create space for two midseason additions.

So, while veterans may already be lining up to throw their hat in the ring for the Sixers’ final open roster spot, the hard cap will prevent them from making a move for now. Once mid-February rolls around and the dust begins to settle from the trade deadline, that’s when the Sixers will likely look to fill out their final open roster spot.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac and salary-cap information via RealGM.

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Rome Emperors roster shows impact of prospect promotions

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Alex Lodise #74 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Roughly six weeks after getting a first-hand look a the talent the Atlanta Braves had playing at their High-A affiliate Rome Emperors, I took another trip to Rome on August 8, 2026, to see how the squad looked after the Braves organization promoted most of the high-end talent from Rome to Double-A Columbus and brought up some notable prospects from Low-A Augusta to Rome.

First, the players who were no longer in Rome. Top organizational prospects shortstop Tate Southisene, shortstop/infielder John Gil, outfielder Eric Hartman and pitcher Cam Caminiti have all moved up a level. Amongst the talent brought up to replace them are shortstop Alex Lodise, center fielder Luis Guanipa, outfielder Conor Essenburg and pitchers Ethan Bagwell and Briggs McKenzie.

Before a quick player evaluation, as for the game itself, it was an odd pitchers dual between some early-game sprinkles with the game 2-1 going into the ninth inning. Odd because Rome’s starter Cade Kuelher no-hit the Greensboro Grasshoppers for 4.2 innings, but walked seven and struck out only one. Grasshoppers starter Jose Mena went six innings, but also struck out only one batter while walking two and scattering four hits. Both teams used multi-inning relievers to cover the final frames.

The Emperors blew the lead in the top of the ninth allowing the Grasshoppers to tie things up but Rome made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Rome’s Cody Miller singled to center field but the ball got by Edward Florentino – one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ system – allowing Miller to get to third. After a short fly-out that wasn’t deep enough to score the runner, the Grasshoppers then intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases with one out.

Rome outfielder Logan Braunschweig hit a hard grounder to third that took a good play by the just-inserted-into-the-game Carlos Caro to snag throw home to force Miller at the plate. That brought up Guanipa who laced a line-drive to left-center field where Florentino atoned for he’s prior misplay with a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

Rome again loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th after holding Greensboro in check, with the Grasshoppers again opted to load the bases with back-to-back free passes after Guanipa took third on a wild pitch after starting the inning as the ghost runner. But Miller hit into a double-play to end the rally.

Rome gave up the lead in the top of the 11th and couldn’t must anything in the bottom of the inning to lose 3-2.

Here’s some quick impressions on the prospects in action

Alex Lodise

The second round pick by the Braves out of Florida State University in the 2025 draft, Lodise had been putting together solid season in Augusta with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases with the Green Jackets prior to his promotion. Batting third, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in Rome’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. At the plate, he looked fluid, making solid contract and showing patience in the box. Offensively, he looked like Rome’s best offensive player on this night.

With the organizational depth a shortstop one level above him, Lodise, 22, playing at High-A looked like one level too low for him on this night. Could he be a big league regular? Maybe, if the power he’s showing follows him as he progresses up levels in the system. If he can stick at short stop – even in a back-up role – he will probably carve out a roll in Atlanta or elsewhere by 2028 or 2029.

Conor Essenburg

Another 2025 draft pick, Essenburg was selected in the fifth round out of high school. Still only 19, Essenburg’s promotion to Rome marks the third affiliate he’s played for this season. Offensively, he didn’t flash the skill that saw him hit 14 home runs in 59 games with Augusta on Saturday night, but what he did do was show off his arm on defense.

In the top of the eighth inning, with Rome nursing a one-run lead, Essenburg chased what appeared to be a sure-fire double into the right field corner and unleash a laser to second base to get the runner.

At the plate, he drew a walk and scored, but otherwise was quite with a strikeout in four other at bats.

He is still a few years away, but could be a option for Atlanta at the end of this decade.

Luis Guanipa

The 20 year-old former international free agent signee, Guanipa went 0-for-5 batting lead-off for Rome. He was unremarkable at the plate but made several strong plays in the outfield including an absolutely amazing home-run-robbing catch in dead center field off the bat of Yordany De Los Santos with two runners on in the top of the ninth.

If nothing else, the defense plays. Guanipa, 20, was having a strong season with Augusta with 37 stolen bases and 11 home runs while carrying an .817 OPS. He’s struggle early in Rome, but the speed and defense might earn him a big league bench spot in a few years and maybe more if the power continues to develop.

Rest in Rome

Second baseman Dixon Williams, the 136th overall pick in last year’s draft, stole a base – his 25th – and walked twice but there may not be enough hit tool there to get him to the big leagues. There’s a lot of swing-and-miss but there is some power, with 14 home runs this year.

First baseman Mason Guerra, a 14th round pick in 2024, reminds me a little bit of a right-handed hitting version of former big league first baseman Casey Kotchman who spent parts of two seasons with Atlanta. Guerra is fluid at first base, defensively, and takes his walks as shown by his OBP sitting 100 points higher than his average. He is interesting in the sense that he isn’t a top prospect, but he is solid enough to continue to progress as a hitter in a system without a premium first base prospect. He’ll be 24 later this month, so he is old for the level, but in two in-person viewings, he’s impressed not because of any one loud skill, but as a solid player who is at least a good organizational guy.

On the mound, Kuehler is trying to coming back into form after missing 2025 due to injury and didn’t have the most impressive outing. He worked around traffic through his seven-walk outing and managed only three whiffs in striking out a single batter. Kuehler was the 70th overall pick by the Braves in 2023, but until this season, had only appeared in 14 game since being drafted.

Mathieu Curtis struck out three after allowing an inherited runner to score, allowing a hit to the first batter after replacing Keuhler. Curtis was the 14th round pick by the Braves out of Virginia Tech last year and is worth keeping an eye on as a future bullpen option. He has good control and a solid strikeout rate.

In the other dugout

Several players stood out for the Grasshoppers. Unfortunately, Seth Hernandez – MLB Pipeline’s 6th best prospect in the sport – didn’t pitch, but Florentino (28th overall according to Pipeline) did play. As noted above, he made up for a defense misplay with an incredible catch, he was fluid at the plate and had the look of a top prospect.

First baseman Jared Jones – who was born in Marietta – had a couple of hits but was on the receiving end of Essenburg’s cannon to second. He showed a loud hit tool and is worth keeping an eye on to see if he’s able to progress despite not being in Pittburgh’s Top 30 (per Pipeline). Catcher Camden Janik and second baseman Dylan Palmer both had two hits and one the Pirates top organizational prospects, shortstop Wyatt Sanford, was the DH and walked twice while batting lead off.

The most impressive player to appear for Greensboro was Tony Blanco, Jr., who pinch-hit in the ninth. He is a massive, massive man at 6’7” who has tremendous power. The single he hit to center field was the loudest, most impressive contact for either team. He was pinch-run for by Caro who scored the game-tying run a couple of batters later.

Blanco, Jr. – whose late father had a cup of coffee in the big leagues – is 21 but has only played in 172 games in in five minor league seasons due to injuries. He’s a DH waiting to happen as a pure-power bat if he can stay healthy.

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Astros Prospect Report: August 9th

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Anthony Huezo #47 of the Houston Astros bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (59-54) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Pecko got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs, though all 3 score din the first inning. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 4 runs on an Alexander solo home run, Shewmake RBI double, Delgado groundout and Dezenzo RBI triple. They got another run in the 5th inning on a Biggio solo home run. The pen struggled a bit down the stretch allowing 5 runs and the offense was unable to score again as Sugar Land fell 8-5.

Note: Biggio has a .852 OPS this season.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (51-57) lost 6-2 (BOX SCORE)

The offense got on the board first picking up a run on a Call sac fly in the 2nd inning. Hicks got the start for the Hooks and went 4.1 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, while striking out 5. Torres struggled in relief allowing 3 runs as the Drillers extended their lead. The offense got one back in the 8th on a balk but that was it as the Hooks fell 6-2.

Note: Bush has a .785 OPS this season.

A+: Asheville Tourists (36-70) 

Game One – won 8-4 (BOX SCORE)

This was a completion of the game that started Friday. Thomas connected on a leadoff home run to put Asheville on the board. Potter started and went one inning before the game was suspended. The game restarted Saturday and Batista drove in a run on a single in the 2nd. The offense got 3 more runs in the 4th on an error and Walker 2 run single. Perez pitched in relief and went 1.1 innings allowing 3 runs before the game was suspended again. Smith “started” on Sunday in this game and tossed 3.2 scoreless innings. The offense got 3 runs in the 6th on a Batista 2 run home run and Thomas groundout. The pen allowed one run but held on for the 8-4 win.

Note: Potter has a 2.08 ERA this season.

Game Two – won 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Howard started game two for Asheville and went 4.2 innings allowing one hit and one run while striking out 7. The Asheville offense got on the board in the 6th inning scoring 4 runs on a Frey RBI single, Huezo RBI single and Moss 2 run single. In the bottom of the 7th, Wells allowed 3 runs as the Dash tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 8th, Asheville picked up 4 runs on a wild pitch, run on a fielder’s choice, Huezo RBI double and Moss RBI single. Frias allowed one run but was able to close the door as Asheville won 8-5.

Note: Frey is hitting .276 in High-A.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (53-52) POSTPONED

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

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Rangers Reacts Results: The Trade Deadline

The most recent Rangers Reacts Survey asked folks to grade the Texas Rangers’ trade deadline.

You will be shocked — shocked!!! — to learn that people weren’t happy:

Almost half of you — 47% — gave the Rangers a failing grade for their trade deadline work, and honestly, I’m surprised its that low.

Another 26% gave the Rangers a D, while 20% gave the Rangers a C.

I am guessing the 3% who gave the team an A and the 4% who gave the team a B either really like Chase Silseth or really don’t like Josh Smith.

The voting on the national questions was also pretty lopsided as it relates to who won the trade deadline:

Consistent with this vote, Tarik Skubal, who the Dodgers acquired from the Detroit Tigers for Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith, was picked as the player traded at the deadline who will make the biggest impact this year, getting over half the vote.

This has been brought to you by FanDuel.

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2025-26 Spurs Player Reviews: Julian Champagnie

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 13: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a three point basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Julian Champagnie

2025-26 stats: 82 games, 27.6 MPG, 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 38.1 3FG%, 6.2 3PA

Contract Status: 3 years, $45 million remaining (no options)

Age: 25

Julian Champagnie has overcome the odds and contributed at a high level throughout his career with the San Antonio Spurs. He was a diamond-in-the-rough success story, signing a full deal after being picked up off waivers and becoming a consistent starter in 2023. Then, just a year later in 2024, he was relegated to a bench role that carried over into the 2025-26 season. This year was the season Champagnie firmly earned his way into San Antonio’s starting five for a contending team.

Champagnie has been a consistent fill-in starter during his career with the Spurs. When De’Aaron Fox went down with an injury early in the season, Champagnie was there. When Devin Vassell got hurt in December, Champagnie filled in. Only this time, the Spurs figured something out. Champagnie’s shooting made it much harder for opposing teams to have their center guard a smaller player, leaving a wing to guard Victor Wembanyama. When Vassell returned from injury, the Spurs doubled down on this approach, starting Champagnie at the four to maximize their spacing around Wembanyama. The starting five of Fox, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama, and Stephon Castle became one of the Spurs’ most potent offensive lineups (125.4 net rating).

It was more than just Champagnie knocking down shots that made this work. He had to guard bigger players and rebound for the lineup to succeed. Champagnie’s rebound rate jumped from 8.8 last season to 11.2 this year, as he became a tough rebounder, particularly on the offensive glass. That helped the Spurs compete on the interior while they reaped the benefits of their newfound spacing. Champagnie was San Antonio’s best three-point shooter, hitting 195 three-pointers this year, the most threes in one season in Spurs’ history.

That shooting carried over into the playoffs, where Champagnie hit 39.6% of his threes. He hit a lot of big ones, too, including 6 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not only did Champagnie shoot the ball well in the playoffs, but he showed a greater willingness to attack closeouts and get to the paint, as teams started to run him off the three-point line. He held his own defensively against some tough wings in the postseason. However, he was exposed in the Finals, as the Knicks intentionally tried to get him switched onto Jalen Brunson late in games.

It’s hard to find many Spurs who were at their best in the Finals, so Champagnie shouldn’t get docked too much for failing to guard Brunson (pretty much everyone failed to guard him this postseason). Overall, Champagnie was one of the Spurs’ most consistent performers in both the regular season and playoffs. Not only did he play in literally every game, but he played well in most of them. San Antonio can always count on him to hit threes, bring a lot of energy on the glass, and hold his own defensively. He more than earned his starting spot this season, and should be in position to keep it next year.

Looking ahead

Champagnie’s stellar season earned him a 3-year, $45M contract extension with the Spurs. But just as he locked himself in for the future, San Antonio also signed his competition. They acquired Tobias Harris on a similar 2-year, $30M deal, giving the team a do-it-all scoring forward who has a bit more size and strength than Champagnie, something San Antonio needed desperately in the postseason. He has a legitimate shot to start for San Antonio next year. But should he automatically get the nod over Champagnie?

The Spurs were an NBA Finals-level team with Champagnie in the starting lineup. Removing him for Harris to start the 2026-27 season feels like a classic case of it not being broke… and trying to fix it. Champagnie doesn’t have the offensive bag that Harris has and is a much different defensive player, but his movement shooting works really well with San Antonio’s guards’ and Wembanyama’s game. If the Spurs are playing a team with a bigger, bruising forward, they can go with Harris to close the game. If they need the shooting, Champagnie can close. Ultimately, the added flexibility is good, but it does create questions about which player is starting more games.

Bringing Harris off the bench would also give the Spurs another versatile offensive weapon to improve a second unit that struggled to score at times last year. With Dylan Harper, Harris, and Keldon Johnson, the Spurs would have one of the NBA’s best benches. If Champagnie goes to the bench, he’d more easily fit into bench lineups that are already fairly forward-heavy, with Johnson and Carter Bryant expected to play meaningful minutes at the 3 and four. He’d also provide some needed shooting alongside Harper-led lineups.

Champagnie will be a key part of the Spurs’ rotation regardless of whether he starts. He’ll continue to give them consistent deep shooting. Improving his shooting on the move, perimeter defense, and ability to attack a closeout will take his game to the next level. After everything Champagnie has shown in his four seasons, it’s not unreasonable to think he will do just that.

Top performance

December 31 vs. New York Knicks: 36 points, 6 rebounds, 11-17 3PFG

It was hard to pick between Champagnie’s hot shooting in Game 7 of the WCF or this explosion from the regular season. Hitting 11 threes in a game is incredibly difficult, especially against the eventual NBA champs. This may not have been the pinnacle of the Spurs’ season, but it was certainly Champagnie’s most impressive game.

Final Score: A-

Up next: Stephon Castle

Previous Reviews

Jordan McLaughlin

Carter Bryant

Luke Kornet

Dylan Harper

Keldon Johnson

Harrison Barnes

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Orioles vs. Twins prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets on August 10

Two clubs battling in all likelihood for the same playoff berth open a three-game series tonight when the Baltimore Orioles (57-61) visit the Minnesota Twins (58-61).

 

The Twins enter the night four games behind the White Sox in the AL Central, while the Orioles sit 14.5 behind the Rays in the AL East. More realistic are their aspirations for the final Wild Card spot. Minnesota is 1.5 games behind the Rangers with Baltimore one half game in back of the Twins.

Baltimore missed an opportunity to gain ground on that final Wild Card spot over the weekend while in Arlington. The Orioles lost back-to-back 2-1 contests on Friday and Saturday before erupting yesterday for a 10-5 win. Pete Alonso was the star of the afternoon, launching two home runs and driving in four runs. Colton Cowser and Tyler O'Neill also homered as Baltimore snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided a sweep.

 

Minnesota endured an equally frustrating weekend in Milwaukee, dropping two of three to the NL Central-leading Brewers. After winning Friday's opener 8-6, the Twins lost consecutive one-run games, falling 4-3 on Saturday and 4-3 in 10 innings yesterday. Sunday's loss was particularly painful. Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens homered to help Minnesota erase an early deficit and tie the game at 3-3, but the Twins were just 1-11 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon.

 

Baltimore is expected to hand the ball tonight to left-hander Trevor Rogers (7-7, 4.20 ERA).
Rogers' latest outing was one of his sharpest of the year, as he worked 6.0 innings, allowed two earned runs, struck out nine, and did not walk a batter. Over his last three starts, Rogers has allowed just eight earned runs across 19 innings. Minnesota is expected to counter with former O’s hurler Dean Kremer (1-4, 5.93 ERA), who has struggled overall since the Twins traded for him. That said, his last start was solid as he threw 5.0 innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out two and walking two. That effort followed previous starts of four and six innings in which he allowed eight and six earned runs, respectively.

 

Lets dive further into tonight’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.

 

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

Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Twins

  • Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, MASN, Twins.TV

 

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: Orioles vs. Twins

The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-111), Minnesota Twins (+103)
  • Spread: Orioles -1.5 (+144), Twins +1.5 (-175)
  • Total: 8.5 runs

Probable Starting Pitchers – Orioles vs. Twins for August 10

  • Orioles: Trevor Rogers
    Season Totals: 115.2 IP, 7-7, 4.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 98K, 32 BB
  • Twins: Dean Kremer
    Season Totals: 41.0 IP, 1-4, 5.93 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 40K, 13 BB

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

 

  • Josh Bell is 6-15 in his career against Trevor Rogers
  • Bell is 10-27 in August
  • Carlos Narvaez is 2-2 with a walk in his career against Dean Kremer
  • Kody Clemens was 2-13 over the weekend at Milwaukee
  • Royce Lewis was 4-14 at Milwaukee
  • Pete Alonso was 3-3 yesterday including 2 HRs
  • Gunnar Henderson is 2-22 in August
  • Leody Taveras was 4-13 over the weekend at Texas

 

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: Orioles vs. Twins

 

  • The O’s are 61-57 on the Run Line this season
  • The Twins are 64-55 on the Run Line this season
  • The OVER has cashed 59 times in Baltimore’s 118 games this season (59-55-4)
  • The OVER has cashed 62 times in Minnesota’s 119 games this season (62-49-8)

 

Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Twins

 

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 tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Twins:

 

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Orioles on the Run Line.
  • Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5

 

 

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Honoring the legend Don Nelson

LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Don Nelson of the Golden State Warriors cracks a smile during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on October 12, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 124-117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Former Dallas Mavericks head coach and NBA legend, Don Nelson, sadly passed away on Sunday August 9, 2026. As would be expected, an outpouring of tributes has made their way to social media, and we’ve curated a few of them here.

In what really amounts to only a small snippet of comments from those who knew him well, we learn so much about how he positively impacted the lives and careers of so many people and franchises. If you find yourself scrolling X or any other social media site of your liking, search “Don Nelson” and experience a bittersweet read from names both familiar and surprising. In the meantime, we’ve gone about selecting a few from various aspects of Nellie’s near half-century involved in the game of basketball.

The league and teams

The NBA

As both a player and a coach, Nelson spent decades of his life involved with the NBA. He currently sits in the number two slot for most winningest coaches (second only to Gregg Popovich) and was awarded NBA Coach of the Year three times (1983, 1985, 1992) and took home the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (2025). During his 14-year NBA playing career of which he spent the final 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics, he won five championships. The landscape and history of the NBA would look quite different without him.

The Dallas Mavericks

Nelson was steering the ship when Dallas finally pulled out of a decade-long doldrum to become one of the winningest franchises in sports during the 2000’s. He was an innovator, or maybe a mad scientist depending on whom you asked, that proved to be well ahead of his time. Nelson basically invented the point forward position – a forward who could handle the ball, shoot and orchestrate an offense – which in some part surely contributed to the positionless basketball we see nightly in the modern era. He and his son Donnie are responsible for bringing Dirk Nowtizki into the fold, forever changing the course of the Dallas Mavericks.

The Iowa Hawkeyes

Nelson played four years of college ball with the Buckeyes, however his stats register for only the final three (freshmen were not allowed to play varsity at the time). In those three seasons, he averaged 21.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

The Boston Celtics

The Celtics were where Nelson spent the majority of his career and where he found his most playing success, by far. From 1965 to 1976, he called Boston home. He complimented legends like Bill Russell and John Havlicek and ended his career with a fistful of championship rings (1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976). In game seven of the NBA Finals in 1969, with the Celtics leading the Los Angeles Lakers 103-102, Nelson hit a shot clock-beating jump shot to give Boston a cushion en route to a road win. His number 19 hangs in the rafters with other Boston greats such as Russell, Havlicek, Larry Bird, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kevin McHale and others.

The Milwaukee Bucks

Nelson started his coaching career as an assistant with the Bucks in 1976. 18 games later, he took over as head coach and held that position for the next 11 seasons. In nine of those seasons, he led the Bucks into postseason play, making the team a perennial powerhouse with seven 50-win seasons in that stretch.

The Golden State Warriors

Nelson’s first stint with the Warriors lasted seven seasons. His run-and-gun style of innovative basketball was on full display during the Run TMC era (TMC stood for Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin and was a play on the popular hip-hop trio Run DMC, mixing flashy on-court play with pop culture outside of the sport). He then finished his coaching career with four more seasons on the Warriors’ sideline, the final of which coincided with Steph Curry’s rookie year.

The players

Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki is the adopted son of Dallas, leading the Mavericks to their greatest heights in 2011. Nowitzki has often credited Nelson with seeing something in him that no one else saw – a theme that recurs frequently with many players that called Nelson coach. If it weren’t for Nelson and his son Donnie, it’s nearly impossible to think of how different the Mavericks franchise would be without their insistence on getting Nowitzki on that fateful draft night in 1998.

Steve Nash

Nash was part of a Big Three in Dallas right as that concept was gaining popularity in a big way. Along with Nowitzki and Michael Finley, Nash helped turn the franchise around under Nelson’s unconventional wisdom. Like Nowitzki, Nash is keen to point out that Nelson saw things in him, and brought things out of him, that no other coach was likely to.

Michael Finley

Completing the trifecta, Finley shares a similar sentiment as his running mates Nowitzki and Nash. Finley was the star of the team when Nelson took over and largely held that moniker until he passed the baton to Nowitzki. Under Nelson, the trio took down the Utah Jazz in a first round, best-of-five Playoff series after trailing 2-0. Finley dropped a game-high 33 points in the deciding game of the Mavericks return to the Playoffs for the first time since 1990, kicking off a 12-year Playoff streak.

Memento mori

Nelson left an indelible mark, not only on the league, but on the sport as a whole and on many of the games’ greats (and surely those who may not be on an all-time list as well). For half a century and more than half his life, he was involved with basketball at the highest level. He is a big reason the game expanded globally and his innovations are felt to this day. If your fandom began just prior to, or during, the Nellie era, you likely revere him as the mad scientist who made the Mavericks fun again. The crazy uncle who innovated right before your eyes. The hardcore hippie who truly cared about the game and the players who played it.

Memento mori is a Latin phrase serving as a reminder of one’s own mortality. I have no idea if Don Nelson knew the meaning, but it seems evident he was aware of the concept given how he made the very most of his 86 years. He spent decades around the game of basketball accumulating accolades, all while impacting the lives of so many. Quoting Michael Finley:

“Thank you, Coach, for believing in me and for the impact you had on my career and my life.”

That part about life really says it all. Not only did Nelson help players develop their game, he helped them in the broader sense, like only the best of the best coaches do. Echoing Finley, I too want to thank coach Nelson for the hilarious one-liners, for punting balls into the stands, for “clown basketball,” for introducing us all to the Pismo Beach Panthers and of course for helping to usher in a new world order for the Dallas Mavericks, all while mentoring and nurturing players along their own lengthy journeys in the NBA sphere and life in general.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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

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The Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals are battling in the National League Wild Card race ahead of their three-game series at Busch Stadium beginning Monday, Aug. 10.

While Philadelphia is a short road favorite (-113), my top Phillies vs. Cardinals predictions and MLB picks are calling for the Cards to pull off the victory in a high-scoring game tonight.

Who will win Phillies vs Cardinals today: Cardinals (+105)

Favorable hitting conditions and a soft pitching matchup are the perfect recipe for statistical correction at the dish for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Despite ranking seventh in hard-hit percentage and third in both squared-up contact and blast-contact rates across the past 30 days, the Cards sit 23rd in BABIP.

So, with Philadelphia Phillies righty Andrew Painter bringing a 5.13 xERA and allowing the ninth-highest wOBA to opposing hitters among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season, I’m backing St. Louis at home.

Of course, Philadelphia also ranks 29th in wOBA on the highway this season.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Phillies and Cardinals rank sixth and seventh in xwOBA, respectively, over the past 30 days, paving the way to a high-scoring game at Busch Stadium tonight.

Phillies vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: 8.5 (-126)

This Over is my favorite bet for this game because Cardinals righty Hunter Dobbins has only made five starts this season, and the Phillies are third in xwOBA with an average of 4.72 runs per game since the All-Star Break.

Simply put, Dobbins sporting a career 4.07 xFIP with a minuscule 19.1 strikeout percentage while allowing a healthy 37.4% squared-up contact rate across 101 1/3 innings shouldn’t instill a lot of confidence.

Phillies vs Cardinals home run prediction: Alec Burleson (+521)

Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson has hit 16 of his 19 homers against right-handed pitchers while sporting a monster .240 ISO and .414 wOBA. Returning to the favorable pitching matchup, in addition to the highlighted Painter shortcomings, 1.8 HR/9 is the 13th-highest mark among pitchers with at least 70 innings pitched.

Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 43-18, +27.58 units
  • Over/Under bets: 17-16, -0.15 units

Phillies vs Cardinals weather

Stifling mid-90s temperatures will thin the air density and significantly boost ball carry for hitters at Busch Stadium tonight. Additionally, seven to eight mph winds blowing out to left field further favor the hitting conditions Monday evening.

Phillies vs Cardinals odds

  • Moneyline: Phillies -115 | Cardinals +105
  • Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+140) | Cardinals +1.5 (-165)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-130) | Under 8.5 (+110)

Phillies vs Cardinals trend

The St. Louis Cardinals have won five of their last seven games (+3.90 Units / 44% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Phillies vs Cardinals and game info

LocationBusch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
DateMonday, August 10, 2026
First pitch7:45 p.m. ET
TVFS1
Phillies starting pitcherAndrew Painter
(1-8, 6.48 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcherHunter Dobbins
(2-2, 3.60 ERA)

Phillies vs Cardinals latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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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.

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Who should be the backup catcher once Adley Rutschman arrives?

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 9: Catcher Jake Rogers #46 of the Boston Red Sox throws out Jonah Heim #15 of the Athletics on a ground ball in front of the plate during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on August 9, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the Red Sox acquired Adley Rutschman, the conversation immediately went to what he means for the offense, what it costs to get him, and whether this is the move that puts Boston over the top. There have been quite a few pieces on here doing a great job laying that out, from Tim Crowley’s playoff lineup theories, to Matt Gross’ fantastic analysis about Adley on the field and how it makes Craig Breslow look off the field. All fair. But buried underneath that discussion is a quieter question that’s going to matter a lot come October: who backs him up?

Carlos Narváez is gone—he went to Baltimore in the Rutschman trade. That leaves two names: Connor Wong, who’s been behind the plate for the Sox all season, and Jake Rogers, who landed here about a week ago and hasn’t stopped hitting since. This isn’t a clear-cut answer. Let’s go through it.

The Case for Connor Wong

Let’s start with the bat. Through 181 plate appearances, Wong is hitting .245/.333/.368 with a .701 OPS. That’s not a star line, but for a backup catcher it’s more than serviceable. He’s got 10 doubles. He gets on base at a .333 clip. When a backup catcher is getting 2-3 starts a week, you want a guy who can actually contribute offensively—and Wong can, sometimes.

The defensive numbers also favor him in ways that might surprise you. Wong’s catcher ERA this season is 3.24. That’s the ERA posted by Red Sox pitchers when Wong is behind the plate. For context, Rogers’ catcher ERA with his previous clubs is 3.52. Is that difference real or is it just the impact of Wong starting more games with a better pitching staff vs. Rogers—who has been with two very weirdly constructed and somewhat struggling staffs in Detroit and Baltimore? That’s for us to try and suss out.

View Link

The blocking numbers back it up, partially. Wong has allowed 10 wild pitches this season; Rogers has allowed 16. With a rotation built around guys with wipeout stuff—both elite fastballs and hard moving breaking balls landing in the dirt regularly—keeping the ball in front of you matters. One passed ball and a runner moving to third in an ALDS game can end your night.

And then there’s the familiarity argument, which is real even if it’s hard to quantify. Wong has multiple seasons learning how Crochet attacks lineups, how Tolle sequences his strikeout pitches, how every arm in that bullpen works. Rogers just got here. In October, when the margins shrink and every at-bat feels like a chess match, the catcher who knows the staff has an edge.

The Case for Jake Rogers

The arm. Full stop.

Rogers has thrown out 24.3% of base stealers this season. Wong is at 17.1%. That’s not a small gap—that’s the difference between a guy who neutralizes the running game and a guy opponents can exploit freely. When you have a guy with one of the best pop-time arms in baseball in Rutschman—who already showed out catching a runner stealing in his rehab assignment in Worcester—downgrading your arm at any given point is a real concern. In the regular season, stolen bases are one thing. In a playoff series, where managers are hunting every edge and one run can make all the difference, a catcher who lets the opponent run with impunity becomes a liability. Opposing base stealers are going to test whoever is behind the plate. The question is who’s going to make them pay for it.

Rogers also comes into this with a perfect fielding percentage on the season—1.000 in 39 games behind the plate. Zero errors. Zero throwing errors. Wong has two errors—both throwing errors. Again, not disqualifying, but in the context of a tight series where every mistake gets magnified, it’s worth noting.

And then there’s what he’s done since arriving in Boston, which has been genuinely hard to ignore. In his first three games as a Red Sox, Rogers is 3-for-6 with 2 RBI. He walked with the bases loaded in the August 6 marathon to drive in a run without even swinging. He went 2-for-3 with a walk while handling Payton Tolle’s 14-strikeout masterpiece on the 7th. He got a hit in yesterday’s loss. For a guy who just walked into a new clubhouse mid-pennant race, he hasn’t blinked once.

View Link

That small-sample line at .500 isn’t going to hold, and everyone knows it. But the .183 season average isn’t the whole story either—Rogers’ BABIP is .232, which is well below normal and suggests some bad luck is baked into that number. His contact quality and walk rate (16 BB in 125 PA) suggest a more functional hitter than the batting average alone implies. And if he keeps playing anything close to how he’s played since arriving, the offensive gap between him and Wong starts to close fast.

So Which Is It?

There’s no clean answer here, which is exactly why the conversation is worth having.

If you weigh the full season and trust the staff familiarity angle, Wong is your guy. The catcher ERA, the blocking, the OBP, the two months of organizational knowledge—it all points in his direction. You don’t bench a .333 on-base guy for a .290 guy because of a good first week.

If you weight the arm and the October context, Rogers makes a compelling case. A 7-point difference in caught stealing percentage sounds modest until it’s the seventh inning of a one-run game in an ALDS and someone just took second on a ball in the dirt. In a short series, the catcher who can shut down the running game has real value that doesn’t show up in OPS.

The honest answer is that Chad Tracy is going to have a real decision to make when Rutschman comes back. Wong has earned his roster spot all season, whether by default or by committee with Narváez. Rogers has earned a serious look in a single week. Both deserve to be in this conversation.

Let’s watch how Rogers plays over the next two weeks. That’s probably how this gets decided.

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Zach Werenski Comes In High On NHL Networks 'Top 20 Defensemen Right Now' Rankings

The Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski is really good and has been for years. Sadly, it took years for the rest of the league to take notice, though. In the last two seasons, Werenski has shown that he is arguably the top defenseman, as shown by the Norris Trophy he earned last season. 

NHL Network recently released its "Top 20 Defensemen Right Now" list, and to no one's surprise, Zach Werenski is very high on the list.

Werenski comes in at #3 on the list, with only Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes ahead of him. 

Per the NHL Network article:

"Werenski was voted the Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman in the League last season, after he led the Blue Jackets and was second among NHL defensemen, with 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. That was one off of the NHL career-best 82 points he had in 2024-25, making him the ninth defenseman in NHL history to have consecutive 80-point seasons. His 59 assists matched the single-season Blue Jackets record, set by Artemi Panarin in 2018-19 and equaled by Werenski in 2024-25, and his 22 goals were one off the mark for a Blue Jackets defenseman, which he had set with 23 goals in 2024-25. The 29-year-old had a plus-9 even-strength goal differential while finishing third in the NHL with an average even-strength ice time of 22:21. Werenski also helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He had six points (one goal, five assists) in six games, including the primary assist on Jack Hughes' overtime goal in the 2-1 win against Team Canada in the championship game."  

The rest of the top-5 is Rasmus Dahlin and Miro Heiskanen.

There is some uncertainty surrounding Werenski with the drama that took place this summer, and many wonder if it will affect his performance next season as a member of the CBJ. Werenski is a pro, so don't expect him to just glide along next season waiting for a trade to happen. 

Expect more stellar play from Zach Werenski. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.

Let us know what you think below.

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MLB Player Props & Best Bets for Today, August 10

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A fresh week is in front of us as we look to back a pair of players and fade a pitcher on today's MLB slate.

Here are my three favorite MLB player props for Monday, Aug. 10.

Best MLB player props today

Player PickOdds
Blue Jays Jameson TaillonOver 2.5 earned runs-113
Red Sox Sonny GrayUnder 2.5 earned runs-166
Mets Francisco AlvarezOver 0.5 hits+runs+RBI-168

Jameson Taillon Over 2.5 earned runs (-113)

I find it hard to pass up backing the Boston Red Sox here when they are this hot, especially when this matchup only adds fuel to the flame. Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon has posted a 7.78 ERA, 6.65 xERA and 1.73 WHIP while allowing a 45% hard-hit rate and 16.13% barrel rate over his last five starts.

On top of Taillon's recent struggles, he owns the worst pitcher rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset from today's slate. Taillon also carries poor matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and hard contact, while drawing four elite-rated Red Sox bats and another with a strong rating.

If you have been living under a rock for the last month and a half, the Red Sox have been on fire, posting a 120 wRC+, .348 wOBA and .790 OPS over their last 21 games.

I find it tough to pass up backing the Red Sox here. I would take this prop down to -120, or see if the Red Sox first five team total is available at a better price.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Sonny Gray Under 2.5 earned runs (-166)

Sticking with that game, Sonny Gray is in another great spot to add to his 2026 resume, as he draws one of the most lifeless offenses in baseball. The Blue Jays own a 79 wRC+, .282 wOBA, and .106 ISO while producing just a 4% barrel rate over their last 21 games.

Not to mention, Toronto has zero hitters with an elite or strong rating on Batters-Box's current-season dataset, while Gray owns the second-highest pitcher rating. Gray also sports strong matchup ratings in wOBA, ISO, and ground-ball rate.

Using the default setting that goes back the last three seasons, Gray has some strong trends. In 22 strong ratings, the right-hander has stayed Under this prop 63.64% of the time with fewer than two earned runs 59% of the time. On top of that, he has allowed fewer than six hits 68.18% of the time and fewer than five 54.55% of the time.

The price is juicy but reasonable, given how underwhelming the Blue Jays have been this season. I would take this down to -170 at the most, or pivot to his Under 5.5 hits if the price gets too out of hand.

  • Time: 7:07 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: Sportsnet, NESN

Francisco Alvarez Over 0.5 hits+runs+RBI (-168)

If you are not in the juice-paying business, take New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez to get a hit at roughly -135, or look toward his alt 1.5 HRR prop. Regardless, getting this prop at that price is a steal given the number of ways Alvarez can cash it.

Alvarez has an elite rating on Batters-Box while covering over 90% of Bryce Elder's pitch mix. Through 35 elite ratings over the last three seasons, the 24-year-old has gone over this prop 57.14% of the time. He has also gone over this prop in six of his last 10 elite ratings.

The young catcher has been tearing apart right-handed pitching. Over the last 60 right-handers he has faced, Alvarez owns a .306 BA, .433 OBP, .612 SLG, and .306 ISO, while generating a 47% hard-hit rate and 23.5% barrel rate.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves starter has allowed a 47% hard-hit rate, 12.1% barrel rate, and 2.25 HR/9 with a 5.32 xERA against the last 60 right-handed hitters he has faced. Those hitters own a .317 xBA, .554 xSLG, and .371 xwOBA.

I would take this prop down to -170 at the most, or pivot Alvarez to get a hit or go Over 1.5 HRR.

  • Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Where to watch: BravesVsn, SNY
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
  • Prop picks: 373-738, -21.8 units

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Pritchard: Celtics ‘have to prove it' after disappointing playoff finish

Pritchard: Celtics ‘have to prove it' after disappointing playoff finish originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Last year, even though the Celtics knew they were going to be without Jayson Tatum for most of the upcoming season, guard Payton Pritchard remained optimistic that his team was still going to be good.

Now a year later, the Celtics certainly know they won’t have Jaylen Brown anymore. Unsurprisingly, Pritchard’s outlook for the coming season remains the same.

“I feel the same way. I feel like we have another year that we have to prove it,” Pritchard told Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast. “I thought regular season we did a great job last year. … But obviously in the playoffs, we didn’t have the playoff run we wanted, let a 3-1 lead slip, which, you know, [ate] away at at a lot of us this summer. So, added extra motivation going into the summer to attack it and come back better and just try to improve.”

Speaking at his youth summer camp in Walpole, Pritchard was also asked about what Celtics life will be like without his longtime teammate.

“I mean, it’s the NBA at the end of the day. It’s part of the business. Things change,” Pritchard said. “You lose close friendships, brotherhoods. We won the championship together, and I’m very grateful for the relationship I’ve had with JB, because he kind of took me under his wing, pushed me, made me better. And he’s just a phenomenal player, so he’ll be missed mightily. But at the same time, you have to turn the page and get ready for this next year and have a great year and go to war.”

Pritchard, who’s expecting a baby girl with his wife, joked that he’s now entered an “adulting” stage of his life. With that in mind — and with Pritchard now being the second-longest-tenured Celtics player behind Tatum — the 28-year-old was asked if he’s focused on signing an extension with Boston now that he’s eligible.

“No, I don’t really think about it. It’s just not something I’m really looking at,” Pritchard answered. “I have two years on my contract and it’s just, there’s no rush on it. We’ll talk, obviously, but we have a whole next year to talk about an extension. For me, it’s like, just focus on getting better and becoming the bestbasketball player I can possibly be.“

Also in this episode:

  • What Pritchard hopes to learn from new teammate Mike Conley
  • How Pritchard’s golf struggles differ from shooting slumps
  • Expectations for Paul George and Mitchell Robinson