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September 1 means roster expansion in Major League Baseball. Gone are the days where teams could call up as many players as they could fit onto the roster and into the dugout and bullpen. The Orioles and every other team now gets one extra position player and one extra pitcher to create a 28-man roster for September. The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported separately on the two additions coming on Tuesday: Outfielder Heston Kjerstad and lefty pitching prospect Luis De León.

There will be additional roster movement on Tuesday. The Orioles optioned last night’s pitcher, Cade Povich, back to Triple-A Norfolk after that game was finished. They are expected to bring repeated DFA-and-back guy Albert Suárez back again. Also, waiver claim outfielder Luis Robert Jr. will likely be reporting to the team for Tuesday’s game, which will necessitate another move. I’d expect outfielder Christian Franklin to be optioned back to the minors.

I think the Orioles are looking at this as the final opportunity for Kjerstad to prove that he can do something at the major league level. If he does, maybe he’s in next year’s plans in some way. If he doesn’t, then he’s probably not. In 79 games for Norfolk this year, he’s batted .289/.337/.462 with 11 home runs. That’s fine. It’s nothing close to what he did two years ago, when he had 16 home runs and a .998 OPS in 56 games before getting called up to the Orioles. He’s 27. Whatever he is now is probably the best he will ever be again.

De León is the most exciting addition since he’s actually a prospect – #7 on the team’s most recent MLB Pipeline list and the highest-ranked on that list who has been playing at Norfolk. The 23-year-old is a hard-throwing lefty who’s been racking up lots of strikeouts while ascending the minor league levels. That includes 121 strikeouts across 99 innings between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He’s also battled command problems, to the order of 53 walks in the same amount of time.

That’s not a good K/BB ratio. De León has not exactly demonstrated that he’s adjusted to Triple-A yet either; he had a 6.50 ERA in a few starts and a few relief stints at the level. The team had moved him to the bullpen with an eye on having him reinforce the unit in September. He only has to be better than Grant Wolfram to improve the group. Your guess is as good as mine.

Robert Jr. was a waiver claim in recent days, having been dumped by the Mets. The 29-year-old Cuban was pretty good in his first four seasons on the Chicago White Sox. That took him up to 2023. A lot has happened since 2023 and Robert has hit a combined .223/.291/.377 in 268 games over those seasons. It’s not good. However, he missed a lot of this season and over the last month he has an .841 OPS.

The Orioles have made a $5 million bet – $3 million remaining in his 2026 salary plus a $2 million buyout on a 2027 option – that Robert will help them with the wild card push. That’s not chump change to lay out at this point in the season. Hopefully it turns out better than when their late-season addition was a former White Sox teammate of Robert’s, Eloy Jiménez. He only has to hit better than Franklin and play better defense than Dylan Beavers.

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The Philadelphia Phillies are short road favorites for the second tilt in their three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET, and my top Phillies vs. Diamondbacks predictions and MLB picks call for Philly to secure a second consecutive low-scoring win tonight.

Who will win Phillies vs Diamondbacks today: Phillies (55.2%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

With two of the best lefties in baseball going head-to-head, I’m anticipating a low-scoring game and runs to be at a premium tonight with Philadelphia Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo and Arizona Diamondbacks veteran Eduardo Rodriguez toeing the rubber.

As a result, I’m simplifying my handicap to back the starter with the better underlying numbers, plus the Phillies' better offensive form and superior bullpen.

Luzardo ranks second among all pitchers with at least 50 innings with a 2.30 xERA across his past 14 starts, while Rodriguez ranks 66th with a 4.10 mark during the same stretch.

Similarly, the Phillies pace the majors in xwOBA over the past 30 days, while the Diamondbacks check in 15th.

I would play this to 58%.

COVERS INTEL: The Philadelphia Phillies rank fifth in bullpen xERA and sixth in xFIP over the past 30 days, while the Arizona Diamondbacks rank 29th and 27th.

Phillies vs Diamondbacks Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (52.4%)

Even with a healthy gap in Rodriguez’s surface 2.50 ERA and underlying 4.43 xERA and 4.34 xFIP, he’s still held opponents to two runs or fewer in 12 of his past 14 starts while spinning a 2.48 ERA.

As a result, I anticipate him largely keeping the Phillies off balance deep enough into tonight’s game to help pave the way to the Under. 

Finally, both teams have also trended to the Under. The Phillies have hit the Under in 30 of their last 50 away games (+10.45 Units / 19% ROI), while the Diamondbacks have gone Under the number in 27 of their last 50 games at home (+5.05 Units / 9% ROI).

Phillies vs Diamondbacks home run prediction: Alec Bohm (10%)

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm sports a solid .184 ISO against lefties this season, and he’s put up a 1.750 OPS against Rodriguez across a small sample.

So, considering Rodriguez allowed a healthy .195 ISO to right-handed hitters over the previous two seasons, there’s regression ahead of this year’s .146 mark, which lands Bohm in flier territory to cash in and go yard tonight.

Phillies vs Diamondbacks weather

The retractable roof at Chase Field will be closed for tonight's game.

Phillies vs Diamondbacks odds

• Moneyline: Phillies 58.3% | Diamondbacks 45.5%
• Run line: Phillies -1.5 (44.4%) | Diamondbacks +1.5 (60%)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (52.4%) | Under 7.5 (52.4%)

Phillies vs Diamondbacks trend

The Philadelphia Phillies have won 14 of their last 16 games (+11.75 Units / 45% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Diamondbacks.

How to watch Phillies vs Diamondbacks and game info

Phillies vs Diamondbacks latest injuries

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Fun fact: there are only 25 regular-season games left in 2026. Accordingly, we can finally start writing the obituary for the campaign. Note that I did not say “title defense,” as, barring a statistically improbable series of events, the Los Angeles Dodgers will make the 2026 tournament.

How many? Eight or more, at bare minimum.

I may have criticisms about the work of Dr. Brent Walker, PhD, Major League Mental Skills Coach for the Dodgers, but I am 99.99% sure no one will have to refer him to the American Hypnotical Association, even if Kyle Tucker somehow starts acting like a chicken.

Finally calling it for 2026: I was wrong…*

I can finally call it, barring tragedy that might arise from my tempting fate: I was (likely) wrong. I have good company. In the grand scheme of things, the Dodgers managed to do something that no one could have predicted for the 2026 regular season: make just about everybody wrong.

Most, if not all, prognosticators picked this year’s version of the team to win at least 100 games. I infamously didn’t, while predicting 92 regular-season wins.

This team could go 116-46 and romp to 11-0 in the postseason as the top seed. But that outcome would require both everything going right and the naysayers being right about the competitive balance of the sport. When this team coasted last year, it was rough to watch – until October. Assuming good health, I expect more of the same…

[Emphasis added.]

Everyone and their mother predicted the 2025 Dodgers to win at least 100 games. I sure did.

But I came to a sobering conclusion last year while watching the Dodgers sleepwalk their way through Pittsburgh and Baltimore. While witnessing a collection of offensive firepower on paper that would be out of place anywhere but in fever dreams and MLB: The Show (with the budget turned off), I was watching the literal personification of “less than the sum of its parts,” as the team shuffled from disinterested game to disinterested game in some of the most beautiful ballparks in the world.

It should be a crime against baseball to play that badly in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. To be fair, the home team often commits that sin more often than not. Back then, I realized that if the Dodgers could not be bothered to take care of business against lesser opponents (even the working overtime part), then I would react accordingly.

Yes, the Dodgers prevailed in 2025, and there are different years and different teams. I was there. It was neat. Looking ahead to 2026, I realized that it’s largely the same cake mix as last year, just a year older.

Surely, some extra frosting can compensate, right? Surely, the Dodgers’ cake mix wouldn’t have gone stale yet?

Something stands out when you closely watch the Dodgers this year. They look slower. They look duller. They don’t take the extra base. They don’t prevent the extra base. They don’t run very much. They have turned the fewest double plays in baseball. They have hit into the most double plays in baseball, which is odd for a team that generally does not hit the ball on the ground.

Generally, other teams have an edge that this team once had. It’s not as if the Dodgers stood pat last winter, resting on their laurels.

Yes, Michael Conforto was swapped out for Kyle Tucker (and lo, what an absolute disaster that swap has been, which is a topic for a later day). Yes, Tanner Scott was swapped out for Edwin Diaz only to be swapped back (and lo, no one is crowing about that decision and its aftermath, which is also a topic for a later day).

At the start of play on September 1, the Dodgers sit at 82-55 after 137 games.

For my original prediction about the regular season to be correct, something terrible (and unlikely) would have to happen, requiring a comedic 10-15 finish, which would bode poorly for the postseason tournament at the bare minimum.

I would not be that concerned about that doomsday scenario. There are other doomsday scenarios involving Kalshi and federal investigations that are far more concerning, which are also topics for another day.

*Unless “The Price is Right” Rules are in place

[Author’s Note: Closest to the mark, without going over – if you somehow are unfamiliar.]

Why am I unconcerned about this scenario? Because the Dodgers would have to play against the type for the first time all year. I will give the 2026 Dodgers a measure of credit: last year’s model played down to weaker competition with hysterical results, saving their best games for their best opponents.

This year’s model has been the polar opposite to an almost absurd degree. As of the start of play on September 1, 2026, the Dodgers are an eye-popping 49-19 against opponents with a record below .500, which is almost a 72.5% win rate.

72% of 25 is 18, which would get the Dodgers to 100 regular-season wins, making Stacie Wheeler the person who would come closest to the actual mark (99 wins) without going over.

Teams are supposed to beat their sub-500 opponents. This year’s division leaders follow that script with one glaring exception.

• AL West: Houston Astros – 44-54
• AL Central: Chicago White Sox – 47-30
• AL East: Tampa Bay Rays – 50-31
• NL West: Dodgers – 49-19
• NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers – 48-31
• NL East: Atlanta Braves – 45-32

How far the American League has fallen, and the likely train wreck that the 3 (Astros) vs. 6 (who cares, but either Cleveland / Baltimore / Texas / Toronto / Minnesota for those keeping track) Wild Card matchup will be, will serve as an indictment of this playoff format. Especially when Houston somehow waltzes into the ALCS with a puncher’s chance for another Fall Classic berth.

Have the Dodgers grown indolent, fattening up their record against underachieving teams? Probably. But before explaining why next time, let us observe an eye-popping statistic for context.

As for the Dodgers, I’m getting 2023-vibes in the worst possible way, and half expecting Bobby Miller or Lance Lynn to walk back through the door because this current team is a living embodiment of the following meme about punching down as the 2023 team reached 100 regular-season wins, aided in no small part by bullying the hapless San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.

Drawn and quartered

Over the past few years, the Dodgers have been beasts at home and have brought out their best game against the best opponents, but that has not been the case in 2026. The team just completed another ho-hum summer, which piqued my curiosity. How are the other division leaders handling their over .500 opponents?

The short answer is “better than the Dodgers,” with one notable exception.

• AL West: Houston Astros – 25-14
• AL Central: Chicago White Sox – 25-34
• AL East: Tampa Bay Rays – 32-23
• NL West: Dodgers – 33-36
• NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers – 37-21
• NL East: Atlanta Braves – 37-23

Having a performance issue in common with the White Sox in 2026 is likely a sign that presages some sort of baseball disaster. The kicker is that the recent slump against decent teams started without much warning.

After besting the Yankees and Phillies to start the second half, the Dodgers faced the toughest part of their schedule, with games against plausible or possibly playoff opponents starting at the end of July against the Boston Red Sox at home and continuing on throughout most of August with series against the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves.

To say that the Dodgers failed this test would be a gross understatement.

The Dodgers won single games against the Brewers and Diamondbacks and lost every other game to go 2-14 during this stretch. Dave Roberts was unconcerned when learning about this fact for the first time:

“Honestly, I’m not too concerned about it. I know we’ve got a good ball club. Baseball is one of those things where how you’re playing, who you’re playing, and how they’re playing at a point in time,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Thursday in Atlanta. “I didn’t know that statistic, but I’ll still take our team against any of those winning teams. I think it just comes down to us, we’ve just got to play good, winning baseball.”

[Emphasis added.]

First, while I am familiar with the expression, no more gambling talk, please. Second, if the 2025 Brewers taught us anything, it is that regular-season success does not automatically translate to October success. But it’s not as if last year’s team rolled over again and again to teams it might actually face with likely consequences.

The Dodgers now have to climb uphill for the top seed and are locked in a dogfight to secure the other first-round bye after surrendering both tiebreakers to Milwaukee and Atlanta through the recent patch of hideous play.

Last year, the Dodgers faced the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Round with barely an inconvenience. I am dubious that the Padres or Diamondbacks will pose as little of a threat in a hypothetical Wild Card Round.

Cakewalk for the win

Oddly enough, where the 2023 team was caught off guard by the Diamondbacks, this year’s team could earn themselves a bye by continuing to bully lesser teams in September.

As Eric Stephen recently pointed out, the Dodgers only have games against one team with a winning record as of the start of play on September 1: the 72-65 San Diego Padres for the final home series of the year. Ironically enough, the Padres have gone 1-5 since the introductory press conference with their new owners.

It’s not indicative of anything; I just find the factoid amusing.

The St. Louis Cardinals could rise to .500 if they beat the Dodgers in games 1 and 2 of their upcoming series. The Miami Marlins are currently at .500 and may remain there or improve over the next week.

As of July 1, the Dodgers have gone a tepid 25-25, and now have 25 games remaining. The primary culprit of this year’s swoon: a lukewarm offense that was designed on paper to have the muscle of a six-figure supercar with the actual output of a Honda Accord with a sputtering transmission.

August in Chicago generally kicks off with Lollapalooza, a music festival in Grant Park that takes over the city for a few days each summer. This year the Cubs decided to close out August with Home Run Palooza at Wrigley Field, capping off a historic month that saw them grab the National League record for home runs in a month as they hit a franchise high nine home runs against the Brewers at Wrigley Field on Monday night [VIDEO].

There were back-to-back jacks, Alex Bregman had a three-home run night. And as soon as the Brewers had a chance to put a position player in the game Andrew Vaughn was on the mound, hitting Miguel Amaya with a pitch Statcast categorized as a knuckleball and mixing in an eephus for good measure. In fact, three of the Cubs’ nine long balls came off the Brewers first baseman which has me wondering, are home run records really what they used to be?

Cubs fans have seen a movie like this before, and not all that long ago. On July 1 they welcomed the Padres to Wrigley with an eight-run barrage that tied the previous franchise record they’d set just a year earlier. And yes, the Cubs hit a number of their homers to open July against a Padres position player [VIDEO].

No shade to Dansby Swanson or Alex Bregman, who went to the plate swinging with three-home run games on the line in the July and August affairs. That competitive fire whether they were facing a major league starting pitcher or a backup 1B/C in Vaughn or Rodolfo Durán is the stance you want from players setting the tone in the Cubs clubhouse everyday. When contract negotiations come up, no one cares whether your 20th home run was off a pitcher or a position player. The Cubs poured it on and posted scores against the Padres and Brewers that would have made the Chicago Bears proud, and I didn’t realize it until last night but this meme was made for the Cubs setting a franchise home run record:

But it does seem worth reflecting on the fact that the Cubs repeated assault on their franchise home run mark coincides with an increase in mangers opting for position players throwing batting practice rather than burning their bullpen in a blowout. They originally tied the seven home runs in a game mark on August 1, 2023 against the Cincinnati Reds and, you guessed it, the last two home runs came off backup catcher Luke Maile [VIDEO].

I get it. Managers are reticent to use their bullpen pitchers in a pointless effort. But it does seem worth reflecting on the fact that home runs feel a bit more special when they are being hit off a guy who isn’t throwing batting practice. Last year Jay Jaffe of FanGraphs took a look at the rise in position players pitching, which really peaked in 2022 but has been back on the rise:

From 2016 to ’18, the rate of PPP appearances more than doubled, and it continued to rise, with a localized peak during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. That peak happened as Major League Baseball and the Players Association agreed to waive a couple of rules that had been introduced in February, one that limited teams to carrying 13 pitchers on their 26-man rosters and another that limited them to using position players to pitch only in extra innings, or in games where the score margin is more than six runs. Somewhere between MLB’s announcement of the rule and the publication of that year’s official rulebook, the language was revised to include score margins “equal to or more than” six runs. The waiver continued through 2021 and into the start of the ’22 season, which was delayed due to the owners’ lockout. Teams were allowed to carry 28 players through May 1, after which rosters were reduced to 26; at that point the six-or-more-runs requirement finally went into effect, but not until May 30 were teams limited to 13 pitchers on the 26-player roster.

Given the expanded rosters, just seven position players pitched between Opening Day and May 1, 2022, but once rosters were trimmed from 28 to 26, even with the six-or-more-runs rule, the floodgates opened, with 124 more PPP appearances through the rest of the season. The record-high seasonal rate of 0.82% of relief appearances made by position players was more than double what it had been in 2018 and more than five times what it had been in ’16. The rules were revised for 2023, limiting PPP appearances in the ninth inning or earlier to those where a team trailed by eight or more runs, or, for the ninth, leading by 10 or more runs; even then, the rate of PPP appearances was higher than it had been in any year prior to 2022.

Position players are playing more in blowouts, but they aren’t necessarily causing the homerun barrage in some of those blowouts. MLB published a list of the teams who have hit nine or more home runs in a game in big league history. Yes, three out of five of those games occurred since 2025, however, the only team that faced a position player during one of those games was last night’s Cubs team. It’s just as likely that these games are more frequent simply due to teams selecting for home runs as they make roster decisions.

Regardless of the cause, the Cubs made history last night. And if you’re one of the people who’s worried these feats are cheapened when they occur against a first baseman with a 45 MPH knuckleball, at least we’ll always have last year’s game on the Fourth of July that set the franchise record at eight. Those fireworks came against the St. Louis Cardinals and three bona fide pitchers in Miles Mikolas, John King and Matt Svanson [VIDEO].

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

Note: All records and stats are for games played as of Monday morning.

First Place: Chicago White Sox (72-64)

Top Position Player: Miguel Vargas (4.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Sean Burke (2.7 fWAR)

This time last month, the baseball world was wondering if the summer fun happening on Chicago’s South Side would eventually be too good to last. The answer as we wrap up the dog days and start to turn the season over to fall is the good times are rolling. The young White Sox team still sits in first place with the same three-game lead they had entering the month. 

The White Sox have a trio of sluggers who are leading the charge. Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, and Colson Montgomery all end the month on the cusp of 30 home runs. Former Savannah Banana Tristan Peters is playing great—posting a .811 OPS and a .280 average on the season—and was on a recent heater with homers in five consecutive games. As wild as it is to say this, even Randal Gruchuk is even getting in on the fun in the Windy City slashing .341/.341/.659 across 44 at-bats this past month.

While the offense has been humming, the pitching staff is a different story. The team ranks 17th in ERA and 16th in strikeouts. Burke has been solid but had his toughest month of the season in August and Luis Castillo has struggled since coming over from Seattle at the Trade Deadline. The bullpen has been pretty solid and one bright spot is rookie Hagen Smith. The rookie out of Arkansas was the fifth overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he made his debut out of the ’pen on the 9th. Since then Smith has worked 11 innings and only given up a single earned run. Other relievers Sean Newcomb and Grant Taylor make this team one to watch in a short series as they have the bats and pen to give people fits.

Second Place: Cleveland Guardians (69-68)

Top Position Player: Brayan Rocchio (2.9 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Parker Messick (4.1 fWAR)

Cleveland has done what they do: pitch well and hang around. Sitting a few games back but ever-lurking the Guardians end August sitting right around .500 and needing to make up a few games to take the division while also clinging to the last Wild Card slot in the American League. 

As has been the case all season and most of recent memory, the Guardians are struggling to score runs. The team ranks 28th in runs, 26th in batting average, and 30th in slugging. Chase DeLauter is the only hitter currently supporting an OPS above .800 and the team does not have a single hitter with more than 13 home runs on the season. Just to top it off, the team is also near the bottom in challenging balls and strikes as well. Sticking around .500 with this offense is something that is hard to fully understand or know how to appreciate. 

The reason the Guardians are .500 is their pitching. Highlighted by Messick, the lefty has a 2.46 ERA and 11-8 record. To further highlight how bad the offense is, on 8 separate occasions this year the team has lost a game with Messick giving up 2 or less runs. Gavin Williams leads the team with 204 strikeouts and 12 wins. In what can only be called luck the Guardians have only had to hand the ball to seven different starting pitchers this season. Messick, Williams, Tanner Bibee, and Joey Cantillo should all clear 30 starts. The pitching staff looks primed to give the city that rocks another run at the postseason. 

Third Place: Minnesota Twins (65-72)

Top Position Player: Byron Buxton (2.6 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Joe Ryan (2.6 fWAR)

They say it’s not over until it’s over; it’s about over for the Twins. After not selling the Twins appeared to be attempting to make a run this year. However, since the deadline the team has struggled and cemented themselves in the middle of the central and slipping behind several slightly more average teams than themselves in the Wild Card standings. 

Minnesota got stuck in neutral in August at the plate. Byron Buxton went down and missed most of the month due to injury. Kody Clemens’ hot streak from July dried up over August. The team tried to get something going calling up prospects Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper here at the end of the month but it might not be enough to get the needle moving back in their favor. 

While the hitting has been a let down one Twins pitcher had a month to remember. Zebby Matthews went 5–0 in August, with a tidy 2.90 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 31 innings. He capped off the month by carrying a perfect game into the 6th inning during a career-high 8.1 innings against the White Sox.

Fourth Place: Detroit Tigers (63-73)

Top Position Player: Dillon Dingler (5.0 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Casey Mize (3.0 fWAR) — traded to San Diego

Oh Detroit, the true definition of a bad, good baseball team. Despite having a +65 run differential the Tigers sit 10 games under .500 entering the final month of the season. The Tigers waved the white flag at the deadline and have been treading water trying to make it to the end of the season.

Detroit has the best run differential in the division at +65. The offense has been truly slightly below average. When you cruise up and down the stat lines it is easy to see that trend sprinkled throughout. Gleyber Torres and Kevin McGonigle were the team’s two best hitters in August who had a relative sample size. 

Pitching in Detroit was really fun for a few weeks after the Trade Deadline as Troy Melton allowed a single run in 13 innings of work, Framber Valdez allowed just two runs in 14 innings, and Jackson Jobe threw five shutout innings in his season debut. However, since the deadline shock to the system, the staff has largely come back down to earth. 

Last Place: Kansas City Royals (62-76)

Top Position Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (6.5 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Noah Cameron (2.7 fWAR)

The only thing keeping the Tigers from rock bottom is the Royals. After coming into the season with playoff aspirations, Kansas City has suffered through a long hot summer. However, in true KC fashion the team has not quit on the season. The team had their first winning month in August going 16-11. 

Jac Caglianone hit six home runs and posted an OPS of 1.155 in August. Witt came back from injury and has continued being Bobby Witt. For a team that does not have a lot to play for the performances from the young Royals shows you why the team was so optimistic coming into the season.

On the bump Michael Wacha has been the top arm for the Royals. Over the month he went 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA. Those brought his season numbers to 8-8 with a 3.32 ERA. In what quickly became a lost season you have to give it to the Royals for not packing it in and continuing to try and figure it out over the long season. 

It was appropriate Sammy Sosa paid a visit to Wrigley Field Aug. 30 for a Chicago Cubs anniversary event. After all, he's the only man in baseball history to ever hit 20 home runs in a month, achieved in that unforgettable, chemically-fueled summer of 1998.

Soon after, this edition of the Chicago Cubs ensured they'd make a similar kind of home run history.

The Cubs capped off the most power-packed month in their history - and second-most in baseball history - by slugging a team-record nine home runs Monday, Aug. 31 against the Milwaukee Brewers, led by Alex Bregman's career best-tying three home runs. Five of the home runs came off starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, who was forced to wear much of the indignity with the Brewers in a stretch of 16 games with no off days.

The final three home runs were yielded by position player Andrew Vaughn, who sopped up two innings yet yielded Bregman's final blast as well as home runs by Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto.

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The Baltimore Orioles continue their playoff push against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. ET, and my top Orioles vs. Rockies predictions and MLB picks call for a high-scoring game. 

Who will win Orioles vs Rockies today: Rockies moneyline (44%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

After throwing only 54 innings in 2025, Kyle Bradish appears to be hitting a wall as we head into the homestretch of the regular season.

Since the All-Star break, Bradish has struggled with a 5.95 xERA, 4.21 FIP, and 1.60 WHIP. He’s missing fewer bats and allowing more in-zone contact — a lot of which has been quality contact in the air.

The Baltimore Orioles have been struggling at the plate, too. They ranked 18th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching in August.

Despite a poor overall record in 2026, the Colorado Rockies are a somewhat respectable 27-39 SU in their home ballpark. I see value on them being able to out-hit the visiting Orioles to 45%.

COVERS INTEL: Colorado's bullpen was dead-last by xFIP in August.

Orioles vs Rockies Over/Under pick: Over 11.5 (48%)

Though Baltimore’s offense has struggled in recent weeks against right-handed pitching, they should still be able to do some damage against Gabriel Hughes.

Hughes’ last five turns through the Colorado rotation have resulted in a 5.13 xERA, 6.08 FIP, and 1.71 WHIP. He doesn’t consistently work ahead in counts, nor does he miss many bats. That’s not a recipe for success at the big-league level.

Both starting pitchers have allowed a lot of runs since the All-Star break. Neither arm barn is in great shape, either. There is value on the Over up to 49%.

Orioles vs Rockies home run prediction: Willi Castro (14%)

During the last 30 days, Bradish owns a ghastly 7.70 xERA across the platoon. He’s allowed an 8% barrel rate and 46% hard-hit rate in that span.

Willi Castro has been producing a lot of quality contact in the air recently, with a 9.3% barrel rate and 48.8% hard-hit rate against right-handed pitching since August 1.

He’s a great value pick to leave the yard this evening.

Orioles vs Rockies weather

Weather shouldn’t have a tremendous impact on tonight’s game at Coors Field. The forecast has the temperature around 80 degrees with minimal wind around first pitch.

Orioles vs Rockies odds

• Moneyline: Orioles 58% | Rockies 42%
• Run line: Orioles +1.5 | Rockies -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 10.5 | Under 10.5

Orioles vs Rockies trend

The Rockies have covered the run line in five of their last seven games (+2.25 Units / 23% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Rockies.

How to watch Orioles vs Rockies and game info

Orioles vs Rockies latest injuries

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I'm coming off a 1-2 SU day yesterday, but life has been good on the strikeout and pitcher MLB player props this summer. It's September, the call-ups are coming, the leashes are all over the place, and that's giving us a lot of edges and angles to sort through.

I'm targeting both starters in that Phillies vs. Diamondbacks game, as each starter could easily hit a triple-digit pitch count, while Eric Lauer's move to the bullpen and then back to the rotation could hurt his leash.

These are my favorite MLB picks for Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Best MLB strikeout props and starting pitcher picks today

Player	Pick	Odds
Jesus Luzardo	Over 6.5 strikeouts	+125
Eduardo Rodriguez	Over 4.5 strikeouts	+120
Eric Lauer	Under 15.5 outs	-105

Strikeout prop: Jesus Luzardo Over 6.5 strikeouts (+125)

I'll get square to open things up here with Jesus Luzardo, a pitcher well above a K per inning, to go deep and rack up seven or more punchouts at plus money today.

The form is elite, as he's hit this in 90% of his last 10 starts dating back to July 4. His leash is also massive, as he's thrown 100+ pitches in six of his last seven starts and gone beyond 18 outs in all but one of those games.

The workload might concern some, but not me today. He's eating innings of late, the Phillies are in a divisional race, and the Philadelphia bullpen is overworked coming into tonight's matchup.

Philly burned five arms last night, and it's possible four are unavailable. It's Luzardo and his 100-pitch leash to the rescue.

If he goes six frames, it will be tough not to get seven punchouts, especially with his dominant road splits. He owns a 1.79 ERA and 11.6 K/9 away from home, and a big reason why Dustin Saracini is also backing the Under.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: DBACKS.TV, NBCSP

Strikeout prop: Eduardo Rodriguez Over 4.5 strikeouts (+120)

This should be the best pitching matchup on the slate today, and Eduardo Rodriguez is going to have his leash extended if he's pitching well — with the Diamondbacks sitting a half-game out of the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

He's coming off a 105-pitch outing, although even that wasn't his longest leash in August, when he reached 115 pitches.

He struck out nine Cubs in that start, and over his five Aug. starts, he averaged more than 100 pitches per game and a K per inning. The Phillies are a lefty-heavy lineup and an average offense against southpaws.

The projection on E-Rod is +EV even on a 93-pitch leash, but he hasn't thrown fewer than that since his first start after the All-Star break.

Rodriguez is also a key reason why Jon Melter is backing the Diamondbacks tonight.

Anything at plus money is a good bet here.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: DBACKS.TV, NBCSP

Pitcher out prop: Eric Lauer Under 15.5 outs (-105)

Eric Lauer was just sent to the bullpen, where he threw six outs on 51 pitches. However, because of a Roki Sasaki injury, he'll join the rotation and get the start today, but I'm not expecting that leash to be long at all.

The lefty wasn't getting the longest of leashes to begin with, and now he's not as stretched out after that 51-pitch outing. Over his last 11 starts, his median pitch count was 89, and after yesterday's day off, the Dodgers' bullpen is loaded and rested. It has thrown just 34 pitches since Sunday.

The projections have him at 78 pitches and 14 outs, making a fair price well below -125.

• Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SportsNet LA, Cardinals.TV

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Rams owner Stan Kroenke has agreed to buy the Angels, adding Major League Baseball to a portfolio that spans six leagues and two continents.

It also marks the end of Arte Moreno’s turbulent ownership of the Angels, with news of the transaction triggering shock followed by celebration among beleaguered Angels fans whose team owns pro baseball’s longest playoff drought.

The deal runs through Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, Kroenke’s holding company, which also owns the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, the Colorado Rapids of MLS and Arsenal of the Premier League.

The price of the purchase was not announced, but a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Times the team is being sold for an MLB-record $4 billion valuation. It exceeds the $3.9 billion sale of the San Diego Padres.

Read more:Stan Kroenke: Championship owner; Taylor Swift, Beyoncé host

Forbes had valued the Angels at $2.8 billion in March. The sale is subject to regulatory review and Major League Baseball approval, with the expectation it will close in the first quarter of 2027.

Companies tied to Kroenke also own the Rams and built SoFi Stadium and the 300-acre Hollywood Park development around it in Inglewood, a project that has grown into a sports and entertainment hub for Los Angeles County and is set to host events during the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

The Angels deal pushes that footprint south, into Orange County’s market of more than 3 million people, with its own economy, corporate base and tourism draw apart from Los Angeles proper. Pairing the two teams gives KSE a year-round presence on the Southern California sports calendar.

“The Angels are a storied franchise anchored in a great market,” Kroenke said in a statement. “We look forward to an exciting future with the Angels organization.”

Kroenke, 79, has shown interest in buying a Southern California baseball team before. More than a decade ago, he was a backup bidder when the Dodgers were sold.

Read more:Shaikin: As Angels fans urge Arte Moreno to sell the team, the least he can do is try to win

“The Angels organization is pleased to announce this transaction with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment,” departing Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “The Moreno Family has been honored to steward the Angels for 23 years and we believe with KSE’s experience and success they are the best next owner for the franchise. The Angels Organization looks forward to continuing its commitment to the fans, our employees, the players and our business partners.”

Moreno, 80, was Major League Baseball’s first Latino owner.

His ownership of the Angels, which began on the heels of the franchise’s only World Series championship in 2002, started with the most successful decade in club history, one that featured five American League West titles and two AL Championship Series appearances from 2004-2009.

But that was followed by a dreadful decade in which the team — despite employing a pair of generational talents in two-way star Shohei Ohtani and three-time AL most valuable player Mike Trout — failed to win a playoff game and endured losing seasons from 2016 to 2026.

Read more:Plaschke: Memo to Arte Moreno: Sell your fallen Angels

Moreno announced in August 2022 that he would explore the process of selling the franchise, only to pull the plug on any potential deal five months later, when he announced he would retain ownership of a team.

In 2023, Moreno granted an interview to Sports Illustrated, in which he explained his decision to put the Angels up for sale, then take them off the market.

“If I’m going to stay,” Moreno said he told his wife, “I have to make a decision that we have to do better. We’re just not doing well enough.”

In 2024 and 2025, the Angels finished in last place, extending baseball’s longest playoff drought to 11 seasons. In 2026, they’re in last place again and fans have chanted during games for months, calling on Moreno to sell the team.

Read more:Bob Iger, Joshua Kushner to buy Lakers from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion valuation

The Angels transaction comes at a busy time in the Southern California sports ownership landscape.

Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner agreed to purchase the majority stake of the Lakers from Mark Walter for a record $12.5 billion valuation.

Jeanie Buss is contesting her five siblings’ effort to sell their minority stake in the Lakers, a move that would effectively fire her as the team’s governor.

Walter’s businesses are the subject of multiple investigations and he’s working to pay down debt carried by two Delaware insurance companies. While TWG Global and Dodgers president Stan Kasten have insisted the team is not for sale, Walter has been open about selling his take in Chelsea and there are questions whether he may need to sell other teams to pay off loans. Walter’s other local team is the WNBA’s Sparks, which is building a promising new practice facility in El Segundo but has missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons.

Staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.