Sports Picks Archive — Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Game picks

GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Mets· -136

Under the dome at Tropicana Field, Freddy Peralta faces the club that traded him a month ago while Tampa Bay tries to answer a 3-2 loss in the opener. The storyline belongs to Peralta, but the wager comes down to the direction of the two starters and what waits behind them. Peralta’s latest start was six scoreless innings on two hits with no walks, lowering his last-three ERA to 3.57. That performance followed documented adjustments to his release point, extension and changeup usage. Manaea enters from the opposite direction: 14 earned runs in 18 innings over his last three starts, with his whiff rate sitting at 15% in each of the last two. Right-handed hitters have produced an .846 OPS against him, and Tampa Bay counters with six right-handed bats plus a switch-hitter. Yandy Díaz, Ryan Vilade and Junior Caminero each own an OPS of at least .830 against left-handed pitching. The bullpen strengthens Tampa Bay’s side. The Rays’ active relievers carry a 2.36 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, with a 2.48 ERA over the last ten days. The Mets’ active group sits at a 3.16 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, with a 3.62 ERA over that same recent window. That gives Tampa Bay the better path once the game moves beyond the starters. I’m staying with the moneyline rather than laying 1.5 runs. Tampa Bay has only a .680 OPS against lefties, while New York starts five left-handed hitters against a pitcher who has allowed them a .790 OPS. The pitcher-friendly park also leaves room for another tight game. Those risks argue against demanding margin, but Peralta’s supported improvement, Manaea’s recent trouble against a tailored lineup and Tampa Bay’s bullpen advantage make the Rays the side to win.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Reds· -136

Great American Ball Park gets a clear, 94°F September evening, with San Diego trying to carry Monday’s 5-0 response into Game 2 and Cincinnati trying to answer. Randy Vásquez has allowed four earned runs across his last 17.0 innings and owns a 3.44 road ERA; Nick Lodolo has allowed 10 earned runs across his last 12.1 innings and carries a 5.24 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. San Diego is starting eight right-handed hitters against Lodolo, who has allowed righties a .273 average, .842 OPS and 13 home runs. Cincinnati has a legitimate counter with three left-handed hitters and three switch-hitters against Vásquez, whose opponents have a .836 OPS from the left side, so I want the moneyline rather than requiring the Padres to cover -1.5. The decisive separation is behind the starters: San Diego’s active bullpen has a 2.37 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, compared with Cincinnati’s 4.07 and 1.30, while their respective ERAs over the last 10 days are 2.04 and 6.68. Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon also did not pitch Monday. Add San Diego’s broader advantages in team pitching—3.91 ERA and 1.29 WHIP versus 4.67 and 1.43—and defense, with 58 errors versus 77, and the Padres have more reliable paths to finishing this game.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Guardians· -144

Progressive Field gets a direct wild-card fight, with Toronto beginning a nine-game road trip and Cleveland holding a 1.5-game advantage. Cleveland has the cleaner pitching structure, but the extra run fits a matchup with credible pressure coming from both lineups. Gavin Williams’ 3.27 home ERA and 204 strikeouts deserve respect, but his recent form creates the opening. He has a 9.53 ERA over his last three starts, allowing 12 earned runs with eight walks in 11.1 innings. Toronto starts six right-handed hitters, while Williams has allowed righties a .259 average and .806 OPS compared with .193/.608 against lefties. George Springer is 10-for-19 with a 1.571 OPS over the last seven days, Alejandro Kirk has an .894 OPS over the last 15, and Kazuma Okamoto has four homers in that span. Toronto’s opener/bulk arrangement is why I prefer the protection instead of taking the Blue Jays outright at +154. Spencer Miles has a 7.88 ERA across five starts, although his overall 2.92 ERA reflects much better work outside that role. Once Toronto reaches its preferred relievers, its active bullpen carries a 3.04 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, nearly matching Cleveland’s 3.13 and 1.19. Both clubs had Monday off, and Toronto’s bullpen worked 7.0 scoreless innings in its latest series. The season-long offenses are also close: Toronto averages 4.0 runs with a .689 OPS, while Cleveland averages 4.1 with a .686 OPS. Both teams have played 39 one-run games. None of that guarantees another close result, but it makes the run-line cushion more attractive than asking Toronto’s uncertain pitching plan to produce an outright road victory. This is a one-run-insurance bet, not a claim that the Blue Jays possess the cleaner overall setup.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Giants· -168

PNC Park sets the stage for two frontline starters, and Logan Webb is good enough to make laying 1.5 runs uncomfortable. I’m backing Pittsburgh simply to win. The season lines are close: Webb owns a 3.72 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, while Paul Skenes is at 3.79 and 1.12. The immediate setup favors Skenes, however. He enters off six scoreless innings with three hits and no walks, carries a 2.35 ERA over his last three starts and has a 3.59 ERA at home. Webb has a 4.91 ERA over his last three and a 4.16 ERA on the road. San Francisco is the hotter offense, scoring 5.0 runs per game over its last 10 compared with Pittsburgh’s 2.7. The larger matchup profile still favors the Pirates: Pittsburgh averages 4.8 runs per game and has a .757 OPS against right-handed pitching, while San Francisco averages 4.1 with a .734 OPS against right-handers. The bullpen is the separator. Pittsburgh’s current relief group owns a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, against 4.72 and 1.48 for San Francisco’s group. Over the last seven days, those bullpen ERAs are 1.40 and 5.16. Pittsburgh also had Monday off, while Jason Foley, Reiver Sanmartin and Dylan Smith all pitched for the Giants. San Francisco is additionally working through the fresh absence of Sam Hentges. I want Skenes at home, the deeper season-long offense and Pittsburgh’s substantial late-inning advantage. Webb and the pitcher-friendly park are reasons to avoid demanding a two-run margin, so the moneyline is the right expression.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Nationals· -148

Nationals Park will be hot at 94°F with the wind blowing 7 mph toward right field, setting up a night in which neither starter deserves blind trust. Atlanta’s advantage is the sturdier path through all nine innings. Jake Irvin owns a 5.62 ERA and 1.40 WHIP, including a 7.04 ERA over 30.2 innings at home. He has also issued 11 walks in his last 16.1 innings. That is a difficult profile against Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Michael Harris II, who carry respective .867, .880 and .842 OPS marks against right-handed pitching. AJ Smith-Shawver is the reason I want the moneyline instead of Atlanta -1.5. His 5.93 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and eight walks through 13.2 innings leave Washington a legitimate path, particularly with Daylen Lile carrying a 1.533 OPS over the last seven days. Washington also owns the better season scoring rate, 5.2 runs per game to Atlanta’s 4.6. The separation comes after the starters. Atlanta’s active bullpen has a 2.62 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, with a 2.53 ERA over the last seven days. Washington’s corresponding marks are 4.87, 1.43 and 7.36. The Nationals’ relievers have covered 33.0 innings over those seven days, compared with 21.1 for Atlanta. The Braves also hold the cleaner defensive record, with a .988 fielding percentage and 60 errors against Washington’s .982 and 93. Smith-Shawver makes laying a run and a half unnecessarily aggressive, but Atlanta’s lineup, bullpen and defense provide enough ways to survive an uneven start. I’m paying -148 for the Braves simply to win.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Mariners· -118

Overcast skies and an 8 mph wind coming in from right greet these teams after Monday’s 10-inning shootout. Seattle finally found its offense, yet Boston still erased an 8-5 deficit and won at Fenway. Bryan Woo is the key to Seattle’s case, but his 5.96 ERA across 74.0 road innings is difficult to overlook. Seattle is 4-10 in his 14 road starts, and his allowed OPS is .712 against left-handed hitters compared with .594 against right-handed hitters. Boston starts three left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters, including Roman Anthony, Mickey Gasper and Wilyer Abreu in the first four spots. Jedixson Paez is the risk. He has no 2026 MLB starts and is expected to work approximately 55–65 pitches, so Boston does not own the starting-pitcher advantage. I’m accepting that uncertainty because Boston has the better relief group behind him. The arms on tonight’s roster have a combined 2.80 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, compared with Seattle’s 3.90 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Garrett Whitlock did not pitch Monday, while Gabe Speier and Seranthony Domínguez have worked on consecutive days for Seattle. Neither bullpen has performed well lately, but Boston also owns the stronger season-long foundation: 75-63 with a +85 run differential, versus Seattle at 64-74 with a -73 differential. At a manageable home price, I’m backing Boston’s lineup and late-inning options to overcome the uncertainty surrounding Paez.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Marlins· -120

A hot, clear night greets Kansas City as it returns home after a day off, while Miami arrives for the fifth game of its road trip. The season-long profiles favor the Marlins, but tonight’s specific matchup tilts toward the Royals. Randy Dobnak brings a 1.92 ERA and a 1.72 ERA over his last three starts. Tyler Phillips has pitched better recently, but his six road starts have produced a 6.83 ERA. More importantly, Kansas City starts five left-handed hitters and a switch-hitter against a pitcher who has allowed lefties a .770 OPS, compared with .656 against righties. Jac Caglianone owns an .872 OPS against right-handed pitching, while Vinnie Pasquantino is at .798. Kansas City’s bullpen has posted a 1.93 ERA over its last five days and received Monday off. Miami’s bullpen has a superior 3.83 full-season ERA, but it has recorded a 5.40 ERA over the last five days after covering 16.2 innings. Miami is also playing its first game without Xavier Edwards, who had appeared in 137 of the team’s 138 games. Miami’s plus-12 run differential compared with Kansas City’s minus-83 keeps this from being a high-confidence play. Still, Dobnak’s current work, the handedness of the Royals’ lineup, the bullpen-rest situation and the schedule spot make Kansas City the side. The moneyline is the cleaner ticket without paying -196 for an extra run and a half.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Twins· -106

Target Field gets a quick rematch after Minnesota’s 11-1 rout, but tonight’s pitching structure is entirely different. Detroit sends Troy Melton, while Minnesota opens with Andrew Morris and prepares to cover the rest through its bullpen. Melton is the separator. He owns a 1.86 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, with a 1.40 road ERA and Detroit going 6-2 in his eight road starts. Morris has made 51 relief appearances and only two starts, which lasted 1.0 and 2.0 innings. Minnesota’s rostered bullpen carries the better season ERA, 3.88 to Detroit’s 4.28, but it will likely be responsible for most of this game. Detroit’s principal late-inning relievers were not used Monday. The Tigers also restore Riley Greene to the confirmed lineup. His .816 season OPS and .871 OPS against right-handed pitching give a struggling offense an important bat against Morris. I respect Minnesota’s 8-2 season-series advantage and Detroit’s 1.0 runs per game over its last five, which is why I want the moneyline rather than asking this lineup to cover -1.5. At this near-even price, I’m backing Melton’s length and run prevention to outweigh Minnesota’s recent form.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Brewers· -126

Wrigley is hot, the wind is blowing out to center, and Chicago’s lineup returns one night after a nine-homer eruption. I’m not betting on another carnival; I’m betting on the matchup beneath it. The Cubs have hit .270 with an .823 OPS against left-handed pitching, compared with Milwaukee’s .243 average and .701 OPS. That matters against Robert Gasser, who has allowed right-handed hitters to bat .291 with an .832 OPS and 11 home runs in 220 at-bats. Chicago starts six right-handed hitters plus a switch hitter, while left-handed Pete Crow-Armstrong has produced a .314 average and .994 OPS against lefties. Gasser also brings a 5.59 road ERA, a 6.91 ERA over his last three road starts and a 6.14 ERA over his last three starts overall. Those are more relevant to this ticket than trying to project Monday’s 17-3 score forward. Matthew Boyd is not a comfortable favorite: he has a 5.44 ERA at Wrigley and a 6.23 ERA over his last three starts, while Milwaukee’s active bullpen owns a 2.99 ERA compared with Chicago’s 3.89. That is why I’m taking the moneyline instead of requiring Chicago to cover 1.5 runs. Boyd did rebound with six innings of one-run ball in his latest start, and Chicago’s principal late-inning relievers were preserved during Monday’s blowout. The full-season pitching edge belongs to Milwaukee, but tonight’s most direct matchup edge belongs to Chicago’s lineup against Gasser. At this price, I’ll back that advantage without asking the Cubs to win by multiple runs.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Athletics· +106

Globe Life Field is sealed from the weather, and tonight’s matchup turns on which club can control the innings after the opening bell. I’m backing Texas’ cleaner path through the game, not simply reacting to last night’s result. MacKenzie Gore brings a 2.99 home ERA across 69.1 innings. Brady Basso is functioning as an opener whose three starts lasted 2.1, 2.1, and 1.0 innings, creating a much larger relief assignment for Oakland. The lineup matchup also favors Texas. The Rangers are hitting .254 with a .749 OPS against left-handed pitching, compared with Oakland’s .247 and .713. Texas has six right-handed hitters facing Basso, who has allowed right-handed batters a .324 average and .891 OPS. Oakland’s bullpen owns a 1.99 ERA over the last seven days, while Texas’ is at 6.86, so the relief comparison is the clear risk. But the full-season lines favor the Rangers’ rostered unit, 4.00 ERA and 1.35 WHIP against Oakland’s 5.01 and 1.51, and the starter-length setup should require considerably more relief work from the Athletics. Gore’s 4.70 ERA in three starts against Oakland keeps the confidence measured. At +106, though, I’ll take Texas’ home starter, platoon matchup, and more stable full-game run-prevention profile on the run line.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Astros· -112

The roof is shut at Daikin Park, and tonight’s hinge is Houston asking Ronel Blanco to stabilize the game in his first major-league start in 24 days. Chicago does not need to dominate this matchup; at this price, it only needs the more dependable nine-inning path. Blanco carries a 7.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 23⅓ innings. His last three starts produced 11 earned runs and eight walks in 14⅔ innings, and his four starts lasted 4⅔, 5⅓, 4⅔ and 4⅔ innings. He was recalled after recording a 7.90 ERA over 13⅔ Triple-A innings. Chicago starts five left-handed hitters plus switch-hitting Drew Romo, while lefties have batted .286 with a .992 OPS and four home runs in 56 at-bats against Blanco. In July, the White Sox scored five earned runs with two homers against him in 5⅓ innings. Sean Burke is not without risk. He has a 6.75 ERA with 11 walks across his last three starts, including eight walks in his latest outing. That volatility is why I prefer the moneyline to Chicago -1.5. But Burke’s broader foundation remains considerably stronger: a 3.32 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 161 strikeouts against 50 walks over 149 innings, plus a 3.04 road ERA and five days’ rest. He has held left-handed hitters to a .695 OPS and right-handed hitters to .646; Houston starts three lefties and six righties. Houston’s bullpen owns the better full-season ERA, 3.29 to Chicago’s 3.42, and a rested Josh Hader is a serious counterweight. The immediate form and usage favor the White Sox, however: Chicago’s bullpen has a 2.10 ERA over the last seven days compared with Houston’s 4.34, and no White Sox reliever worked on both of the previous two days while Bryan Abreu and Steven Okert did. Chicago has also averaged 4.8 runs per game with a +41 run differential, compared with Houston’s 4.6 and minus-40. At -112, the stronger starting-pitcher baseline, Blanco’s matchup against Chicago’s left-handed bats and the current bullpen conditions are enough for me to take the White Sox straight up.

Blanco carries a 7.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP through 23⅓ innings. His last three starts produced 11 earned runs and eight walks in 14⅔ innings, and his four starts lasted 4⅔, 5⅓, 4⅔ and 4⅔ innings. He was recalled after recording a 7.90 ERA over 13⅔ Triple-A innings. Chicago starts five left-handed hitters plus switch-hitting Drew Romo, while lefties have batted .286 with a .992 OPS and four home runs in 56 at-bats against Blanco. In July, the White Sox scored five earned runs with two homers against him in 5⅓ innings.

Sean Burke is not without risk. He has a 6.75 ERA with 11 walks across his last three starts, including eight walks in his latest outing. That volatility is why I prefer the moneyline to Chicago -1.5. But Burke’s broader foundation remains considerably stronger: a 3.32 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 161 strikeouts against 50 walks over 149 innings, plus a 3.04 road ERA and five days’ rest. He has held left-handed hitters to a .695 OPS and right-handed hitters to .646; Houston starts three lefties and six righties.

Houston’s bullpen owns the better full-season ERA, 3.29 to Chicago’s 3.42, and a rested Josh Hader is a serious counterweight. The immediate form and usage favor the White Sox, however: Chicago’s bullpen has a 2.10 ERA over the last seven days compared with Houston’s 4.34, and no White Sox reliever worked on both of the previous two days while Bryan Abreu and Steven Okert did.

Chicago has also averaged 4.8 runs per game with a +41 run differential, compared with Houston’s 4.6 and minus-40. At -112, the stronger starting-pitcher baseline, Blanco’s matchup against Chicago’s left-handed bats and the current bullpen conditions are enough for me to take the White Sox straight up.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Rockies· -146

September baseball at Coors puts Baltimore on the edge of a Wild Card spot while Colorado tries to stop a five-game skid. The setting invites volatility, but Baltimore has the more reliable path across all nine innings. Gabriel Hughes enters with a 6.61 ERA, a 10.03 August ERA and a 9.00 ERA over his last three starts. His 11.00 first-inning ERA is especially concerning against Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson and the top of Baltimore’s order. Kyle Bradish is no sure thing—he has a 6.75 ERA over his last three starts—but his 4.03 season ERA across 26 starts gives Baltimore the stronger baseline. The separation becomes clearer behind the starters. Baltimore’s active bullpen owns a 3.77 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, compared with Colorado’s 4.37 and 1.53. Both relief groups have pitched well recently, but the Orioles’ deeper season-long performance gives them the better chance to control the late innings. I’m taking the moneyline instead of laying 1.5 runs. Bradish’s recent downturn, Colorado’s capable lineup against right-handed pitching and the hitter-friendly conditions at Coors make a comfortable margin too much to demand. The bet is that Baltimore’s advantages at starter, bullpen and overall current level are enough to win—not that the Orioles separate by multiple runs.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Angels· -105

A clear night in Anaheim, the wind is carrying toward right field, and Gerrit Cole gets the ball one night after the Yankees absorbed a 10-1 thumping. Monday’s result sets the scene, but it does not decide this matchup. The heart of the bet is New York’s eight-left-handed lineup against Grayson Rodriguez. Left-handed hitters own a .316 average and .912 OPS against him, compared with .234/.734 for right-handed hitters. All seven hits in his last start came from lefties, while his whiff rate fell to 9%. Rodriguez’s 2.16 ERA over his last three starts deserves respect; Cole posted a 2.50 ERA over his corresponding three. The larger body of work still separates them: Cole enters with a 3.19 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, compared with Rodriguez’s 6.03 and 1.52. Cole has a 3.04 road ERA, while Rodriguez has a 7.78 ERA at Angel Stadium. New York also carries the stronger season-long offensive and relief profiles. The Yankees average 4.5 runs with a .719 OPS versus 4.1 and .682 for the Angels. Their active bullpen owns a 2.79 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, compared with Los Angeles at 3.55 and 1.28. Neither bullpen has been sharp recently—the Yankees have a 4.43 ERA over the last five days and the Angels 6.75—but the overall pitching support still favors New York. Cole’s form, Rodriguez’s left-handed vulnerability and the construction of this Yankees lineup make the run line the right expression.

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GARY'S PICK

MLBvs Phillies· +114

The roof is closed at Chase Field, and two in-form left-handers take the mound with both clubs fighting for October position. This sets up as a tight game, but Arizona has the matchup and price I want. The Diamondbacks have hit .277 with a .785 OPS against left-handed pitching and are 25-11 against left-handed starters. Their confirmed lineup has 5 RHB, 3 switch-hitters and only 1 LHB against Jesús Luzardo, who has allowed a .244 average and .711 OPS to righties compared with .147 and .379 against lefties. Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, Jordan Lawlar, Ildemaro Vargas and Ryan Waldschmidt all carry an OPS of .823 or better against left-handed pitching. This is not a fade of Luzardo. His 1.79 road ERA and 1.31 August ERA explain why Philadelphia is favored. Eduardo Rodriguez, however, gives Arizona comparable run prevention: a 2.50 season ERA, a 2.47 ERA at Chase Field and just 2 ER across his last 18.2 innings. Philadelphia has hit .240 with a .703 OPS against lefties and is 26-22 against left-handed starters. Rodriguez also lacks a pronounced platoon weakness, holding righties to .224/.664 and lefties to .247/.638. Arizona’s bullpen owns a 3.06 ERA and 1.08 WHIP for the season, compared with Philadelphia’s 3.37 and 1.20. Philadelphia has the better recent relief numbers, but Alex McFarlane, José Alvarado and Orion Kerkering each worked Sunday and Monday. With the starting-pitching gap narrow, Arizona holding the more favorable lineup matchup, and the home club offered at plus money, I’m backing the Diamondbacks to win.

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GARY'S PICK

MLB@ Dodgers· -132

A clear September night at Dodger Stadium opens a nine-game homestand for Los Angeles and a nine-game road trip for St. Louis. Both clubs had Monday off, so neither side carries a meaningful rest disadvantage. I’m taking the run with St. Louis rather than requiring the outright upset. Michael McGreevy’s 3.86 ERA and 1.25 WHIP compare favorably with Eric Lauer’s 4.78 and 1.26. McGreevy has a 3.66 road ERA, including 2.87 across his last three road starts. Lauer owns an excellent 2.37 ERA at Dodger Stadium, but he has a 6.46 ERA over his last three starts and is returning to the rotation after pitching in relief five days ago. McGreevy’s seven earned runs in five innings last time out cannot be ignored, but St. Louis has gone 24-18 against left-handed starters and has scored 4.8 runs per game over its last ten. Los Angeles has scored 3.6 per game over the same span. Most importantly for this ticket, seven of the Dodgers’ last ten games were decided by one run, including three of their six victories. The major danger is late in the game. The Dodgers’ bullpen has a 1.54 ERA over the last ten days, while the Cardinals’ bullpen is at 7.13. That disparity is why I’m passing on St. Louis outright at +164. With the extra run, McGreevy only needs to keep the Cardinals competitive long enough for the Dodgers’ recent close-game shape to matter.

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Player props

GARY'S PICK

JUNIOR CAMINEROH+R+RBI OVER 1.5

MLBTampa Bay Rays· -131

Caminero is the strongest Tampa Bay bat in this matchup. He owns a .948 OPS against left-handed pitching, is 9-for-22 with two homers over the last seven days and has cleared this number in 12 of his last 15 games. Sean Manaea has allowed an .846 OPS and 15 home runs to right-handed hitters, and he has surrendered 14 earned runs across his last 18 innings. Batting third gives Caminero access to both run and RBI opportunities. A homer clears the prop by itself, but a hit paired with either a run or an RBI is enough. I’ll lay the -131 with those multiple paths to two.

GARY'S PICK

SEAN MANAEAPITCHER EARNED RUNS OVER 2.5

MLBNew York Mets· -105

I need Tampa Bay to score three earned runs before Manaea leaves, and the matchup is worth taking at nearly even money. He has allowed four, four and six earned runs in his last three starts, with right-handed hitters producing an .846 OPS against him this season. The Rays counter with six right-handed bats and a switch-hitter. Yandy Diaz, Ryan Vilade and Junior Caminero each carry at least an .830 OPS against lefties, placing the most dangerous part of the order directly against Manaea’s weaker split. Tropicana Field and Tampa Bay’s modest overall production against lefties keep this from being a high-confidence play, but Manaea’s recent contact problems make over 2.5 the value side at -105.

GARY'S PICK

NICK LODOLOPITCHER OUTS UNDER 15.5

MLBCincinnati Reds· -130

Lodolo has recorded more than 15 outs in only one of his last eight starts. He needed 91 and 95 pitches to complete just 3.1 and 4.0 innings in his last two, and now faces a San Diego lineup stacked with eight right-handed hitters. Righties have produced an .842 OPS with 13 home runs against him, while his heavily used sinker carries a .459 xwOBA. I expect traffic and another early handoff to Cincinnati's bullpen.

GARY'S PICK

RANDY VASQUEZPITCHER OUTS OVER 13.5

MLBSan Diego Padres· -130

Vasquez needs only to finish the fifth inning's second out, a mark he has cleared in six of his last eight starts. He has completed at least five innings in each of his last four, allowing four earned runs across 23 innings during that stretch. Cincinnati was shut out Monday and its bottom five tonight owns season OPS marks of .629 or lower. Even if the left-handed matchups create some traffic, I expect Vasquez to provide the five innings San Diego needs.

GARY'S PICK

SHAY WHITCOMBHITS UNDER 0.5

MLBSan Francisco Giants· -117

Whitcomb is 5-for-50 this season, 2-for-27 over his last 15 games and has struck out 21 times in those 50 at-bats. That profile is especially vulnerable to Skenes' four-seamer and sweeper, two pitches generating whiff rates above 30%. Batting eighth also limits Whitcomb's opportunity, and Pittsburgh can follow Skenes with a bullpen carrying a 3.12 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.

GARY'S PICK

PAUL SKENESPITCHER OUTS UNDER 16.5

MLBPittsburgh Pirates· -120

Skenes has recorded 17 outs in only two of his last eight starts and has completed six innings just once in his last six. Pittsburgh has handled him carefully, limiting him to 65, 81 and 87 pitches over his past three outings. San Francisco's patient, productive top half can extend enough at-bats to make that recent workload pattern matter. I don't need the Giants to knock Skenes around; I need them to prevent him from working a clean sixth inning.

GARY'S PICK

GAVIN WILLIAMSPITCHER EARNED RUNS OVER 1.5

MLBCleveland Guardians· -133

Williams has allowed 12 earned runs in 11.1 innings over his last three starts, and this matchup attacks his weaker side. Toronto starts six right-handed hitters, while righties have produced a .259 average and .806 OPS against him. He has also allowed a 12% barrel rate, with seven of his 11 recent scoring plays coming on home runs. Williams has cleared this line in six of his last eight starts, and Toronto only needs to push across a second earned run before Cleveland turns the game over to its bullpen.

GARY'S PICK

ALEJANDRO KIRKSINGLES OVER 0.5

MLBToronto Blue Jays· -107

Kirk has recorded a single in 12 of his last 15 games and now hits second, giving him one of Toronto's best plate-appearance projections. His contact skills are the attraction: only 27 strikeouts in 209 at-bats, with hits in 13 of his last 15. Williams has allowed right-handed hitters a .259 average and .806 OPS, while his sinker has yielded a .326 average. Kirk does not need to solve Williams' best breaking ball for extra bases; one clean piece of contact is enough.

THE LONG SHOT

KAZUMA OKAMOTOHR OVER 0.5

MLBToronto Blue Jays· +500

This is a price-driven power shot. Okamoto has four home runs over his last 15 games, including two in Toronto's last three, and 20 of his 28 homers have come against right-handed pitching. Williams has allowed 14 home runs in 224 at-bats to righties, along with a 12% barrel rate and 47.6% hard-hit rate. Seven of the 11 recent scoring plays against him have left the park. At +500, the matchup supplies enough probability to accept the volatility.

GARY'S PICK

BRYAN WOOK'S OVER 4.5

MLBSeattle Mariners· -122

Woo has cleared this number in eight consecutive starts, recording at least five strikeouts even when Philadelphia chased him after four innings last time out. His season rate is nearly one strikeout per inning, and Boston gives him enough swing-and-miss targets: Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Trevor Story and Connor Wong have each struck out in more than a quarter of their at-bats. The road splits create run-prevention concerns, but five strikeouts does not require a quality start. I like the hook at 4.5.

GARY'S PICK

BROCK RODDENHITS UNDER 0.5

MLBSeattle Mariners· -106

Rodden is batting .150 with 14 strikeouts in 40 at-bats, including an 0-for-12 stretch over the last seven days. He is also hitting .120 against right-handed pitching and bats ninth, limiting his opportunities. Paez is a command-oriented starter with a changeup that can keep opposite-handed hitters off balance, and Boston can follow him with its strongest rested relievers. At nearly even money, I’m betting Rodden finishes without a hit.

GARY'S PICK

AJ SMITH-SHAWVERPITCHER WALKS OVER 1.5

MLBAtlanta Braves· -129

Smith-Shawver has issued at least two walks in all three starts this season, totaling eight across 13.2 innings. His high-velocity arsenal has not produced consistent control: he has walked three in each of his two starts since returning to the rotation and needed 90 pitches to complete five innings last time out. Washington averages 3.49 walks per game, and Smith-Shawver should face the top of the order multiple times. I’m backing his command problems to produce two walks before Atlanta turns to its bullpen.

GARY'S PICK

JAKE IRVINPITCHER WALKS OVER 1.5

MLBWashington Nationals· -144

Irvin has walked at least two hitters in each of his last six starts, including six against Colorado last time out and 11 over his last 16.1 innings. His latest outing required 94 pitches for only 13 outs, and Atlanta places three disciplined hitters in Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson at the top of the order. Irvin does not need another six-walk performance to cash this. At two or more in six straight starts, I’m willing to lay -144.

GARY'S PICK

JAC CAGLIANONETOTAL BASES OVER 1.5

MLBKansas City Royals· +100

Caglianone has cleared this line in nine of his last 15 games while batting 17-for-41 over that stretch. He owns an .872 OPS against right-handed pitching and is locked into the third spot against Tyler Phillips, who has allowed lefties a .770 OPS. Phillips' sinker has produced a .377 xwOBA and .336 batting average, while his four-seamer sits at a .424 xwOBA. Those are the pitches Caglianone can punish, and the heat, wind to center and Kauffman's spacious gaps all help the extra-base-hit path. I like getting this at even money.

GARY'S PICK

RANDY DOBNAKK'S OVER 3.5

MLBKansas City Royals· +100

Four strikeouts is a modest assignment against this Miami lineup. Dobnak has reached at least four in five of his last six starts, including 15 strikeouts over his last three. Seven Marlins in tonight's order have struck out in at least a quarter of their season at-bats, and the lineup includes six left-handed hitters. That gives Dobnak plenty of opportunities to use a sweeper with a 33.3% whiff rate and a changeup with a 28.0% whiff rate. He should have multiple strikeout matchups each trip through the order, and even money is enough for me to play it.

GARY'S PICK

ANDREW MORRISPITCHER OUTS UNDER 5.5

MLBMinnesota Twins· -120

This is a role bet. Morris is opening for Minnesota, with Connor Prielipp positioned as the likely bulk arm. Morris has made only two starts this season, lasting one and two innings, and the Twins have used him primarily as a reliever. The under cashes if Minnesota makes the planned handoff before Morris completes the second inning. Detroit also gets Riley Greene back in the heart of the order, giving the top of the lineup enough depth to prevent an effortless six outs. At -120, I’m betting on opener usage and five outs or fewer.

GARY'S PICK

TROY MELTONPITCHER EARNED RUNS UNDER 2.5

MLBDetroit Tigers· -125

Melton has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts and 13 of 16 starts this season. His 1.86 ERA is supported by a low 5.9% barrel rate, while his slider and splitter have produced strong whiff rates and expected results. Minnesota erupted Monday, but Melton is a substantial change from the pitching it faced in that rout. He owns a 1.40 road ERA, and his best weapons give him ways to escape traffic without relying entirely on contact. Even if the Twins collect a few hits, I like Melton to hold them below three earned runs at -125.

GARY'S PICK

SEIYA SUZUKITOTAL BASES OVER 1.5

MLBChicago Cubs· -104

Suzuki owns a .308 average and .958 OPS against left-handed pitching, and he has cleared this number in nine of his last 15 games. Robert Gasser has allowed right-handed hitters to bat .291 with an .832 OPS, while his sinker, cutter and changeup have all produced elevated expected damage. Suzuki bats second in a lineup built to attack that weakness, and the heat and wind blowing out at Wrigley improve the extra-base-hit environment. I like getting this matchup near even money.

GARY'S PICK

WILLIAM CONTRERASTOTAL BASES OVER 1.5

MLBMilwaukee Brewers· +105

Contreras is 18-for-43 over his last 15 games and has exceeded 1.5 total bases nine times during that stretch. He also owns four hits, including a home run, in nine career at-bats against Matthew Boyd. Boyd has surrendered 14 of his 15 home runs to right-handed hitters, carries a 5.44 ERA at Wrigley and relies heavily on a four-seam fastball that has produced a .403 expected wOBA. Contreras is swinging too well for me to pass on plus money in these hitting conditions.

GARY'S PICK

JUSTIN FOSCUEHITS OVER 0.5

MLBTexas Rangers· -110

I want Foscue leading off against an Oakland bullpen game. He owns a .312 average and .996 OPS against left-handed pitching, while Brady Basso has allowed right-handed hitters a .324 average and .891 OPS. Foscue has recorded a hit in nine of his last 15 games, and the leadoff spot should give him as many opportunities as anyone in the Texas lineup. At nearly even money, one hit is worth backing.

GARY'S PICK

LAWRENCE BUTLERHITS OVER 0.5

MLBOakland Athletics· -125

Butler has produced a hit in 14 of his last 15 games and is batting .396 with a 1.100 OPS over that span. The left-on-left matchup is the concern, but Gore allowed eight hits when he faced Oakland on August 15 and has surrendered a 41.4% hard-hit rate this season. Butler bats third, has reached safely against quality pitching throughout this run and supplied Oakland's only hit against Jacob deGrom last night. The form and lineup position make one hit playable at -125.

GARY'S PICK

RONEL BLANCOPITCHER EARNED RUNS OVER 2.5

MLBHouston Astros· +120

Blanco has allowed at least three earned runs in all four of his starts this season, finishing those outings with a 7.71 ERA and seven home runs allowed in 23⅓ innings. Now he returns from Triple-A for his first major-league start in 24 days against a lineup that has already scored five earned runs with two homers against him. Chicago can send five left-handed hitters plus switch-hitting Drew Romo at Blanco. Lefties have produced a .992 OPS against him, while his four-seamer and slider have generated respective .443 and .488 xwOBA marks. His changeup is the one dependable offering, but the White Sox have enough patience and left-handed power to force him into the weaker portions of his arsenal. Getting over 2½ at plus money is the best price on the board.

GARY'S PICK

MIGUEL VARGASWALKS OVER 0.5

MLBChicago White Sox· -102

Vargas has drawn a walk in 13 of his last 15 games and owns 85 walks with a .363 on-base percentage this season. This is not a hitter relying on a short hot streak with the bat; his strike-zone control has been one of his most dependable skills all year. Blanco has issued 12 walks in 23⅓ major-league innings and walked at least two hitters in four of his five appearances. Vargas bats third behind two left-handed hitters, which should give him opportunities with traffic on the bases and little incentive for Blanco to challenge him carelessly. Near even money, one walk is worth taking.

GARY'S PICK

GABRIEL HUGHESPITCHER WALKS OVER 1.5

MLBColorado Rockies· -107

Hughes has issued at least two walks in four of his last five starts, including four against Washington last time out. He has 19 walks in 47.2 innings, while Baltimore averages 3.75 walks per game and sends several patient hitters through the top and middle of the order. At nearly even money, I’m betting his difficulty getting ahead continues.

GARY'S PICK

CARLOS NARVAEZH+R+RBI UNDER 1.5

MLBBaltimore Orioles· -143

Narvaez has not cleared this number in his last 15 games and enters batting .162 with a .475 OPS for the season. He is also 1-for-22 over the last 15 days and is hitting ninth, limiting both his plate appearances and the opportunities behind him to score. Even in a favorable offensive setting, asking him to produce two combined hits, runs and RBIs is too aggressive.

GARY'S PICK

GRAYSON RODRIGUEZPITCHER HITS ALLOWED OVER 4.5

MLBLos Angeles Angels· -117

The Yankees are sending eight left-handed hitters at Rodriguez, who has allowed a .316 average and .912 OPS to lefties this season. All seven hits in his last start came from that side, while his fastball has produced a .373 xwOBA and only a 15.5% whiff rate. His recent results have improved, but this lineup is built to generate contact against his most vulnerable split. I only need five hits before he exits.

GARY'S PICK

SPENCER JONESHITS OVER 0.5

MLBNew York Yankees· -139

Jones has recorded a hit in 11 of his last 15 games and is 14-for-43 with three homers over that span. He bats cleanup tonight against a right-hander allowing lefties to hit .316, and he already drove a ball out to right-center in the series opener. The strikeout rate creates volatility, but his form, lineup position and Rodriguez's platoon split make one hit worth backing at this price.

THE LONG SHOT

BEN RICEHR OVER 0.5

MLBNew York Yankees· +375

Rice has 35 home runs, including 25 in 315 at-bats against right-handed pitching, and his .918 OPS in that split is the strongest mark in this Yankees lineup. Rodriguez throws his four-seamer more than half the time despite allowing a .373 xwOBA with it, giving Rice a favorable power lane from the leadoff spot. With the wind carrying toward right field, +375 is enough return for me to take the home-run shot.

GARY'S PICK

EDUARDO RODRIGUEZPITCHER EARNED RUNS UNDER 2.5

MLBArizona Diamondbacks· -132

I'm backing Rodriguez to hold Philadelphia to two earned runs or fewer. He has allowed more than two in only two of his last eight starts and just six of 27 all season. He enters with two earned runs across his last 18.2 innings and a 2.47 ERA at Chase Field. Philadelphia owns a .703 OPS against left-handed pitching, while Rodriguez has limited left-handed batters to a .638 OPS and right-handed batters to a .664 OPS. Arizona's bullpen carries a 3.06 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, giving the Diamondbacks reliable protection behind him.

GARY'S PICK

JESUS LUZARDOK'S OVER 5.5

MLBPhiladelphia Phillies· -116

Luzardo has recorded at least six strikeouts in seven of his last eight starts and collected 27 over his last three. His sweeper has generated a 46.6% whiff rate and a 55.1% chase rate, giving him a dominant finishing pitch against Arizona's right-handed-heavy lineup. The Diamondbacks can still score against him, but Lawlar, Waldschmidt, Tawa, Carroll and Arenado provide enough strikeout opportunities for Luzardo to reach six.

GARY'S PICK

JORDAN WALKERH+R+RBI OVER 1.5

MLBSt. Louis Cardinals· -117

Walker owns a .911 OPS with nine home runs against left-handed pitching, and this prop has cleared in 11 of his last 15 games. He bats third against Eric Lauer, whose 4.78 ERA includes a 6.46 mark across his last three starts. Lauer has also allowed 18 home runs to right-handed batters. Walker can clear this with one home run or any combination of production and scoring from the heart of the order. I like that flexibility at -117.

GARY'S PICK

MICHAEL MCGREEVYK'S OVER 3.5

MLBSt. Louis Cardinals· +130

McGreevy has reached four strikeouts in four of his last five starts and has recorded at least 15 outs in six of his last eight. His changeup carries a 27.8% whiff rate, while both the changeup and curveball have generated chase rates above 56%. This Dodgers lineup includes several legitimate strikeout targets in Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Teoscar Hernandez and Alex Freeland. Four is a manageable number if McGreevy works five innings, and the plus-money price makes the over worth taking.

THE LONG SHOT

JOSHUA BAEZHR OVER 0.5

MLBSt. Louis Cardinals· +476

This is a price play on a real lefty-mashing power profile. Baez has four home runs and a 1.016 OPS in 26 at-bats against left-handed pitching, and his power was established before his promotion with 34 Triple-A homers. Lauer has surrendered 18 home runs to right-handed batters and has allowed seven homers across his last five appearances. The marine layer is a concern, but Baez has the raw power to beat the park. At +476, the payout properly compensates me for the volatility.

Research

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CUT LISTBOS tonight
Jedixson Paez
The case for cutting Paez is brutally simple: a 12.73 xERA says the 18.00 surface ERA is not just cosmetic damage. Starting tonight only adds urgency; I do not want another outing attached to my roster. CUT
FANTASY PICKUPSSEA @ BOS
Julio Rodriguez
Julio Rodriguez has a modest .706 OPS and .244 average, but he bats third against struggling Jedixson Paez, whose xERA is 12.73. I’m taking that premium lineup spot and matchup. Rodriguez is a must-add wherever he is available.
FANTASY PICKUPSSEA @ BOS
Dominic Canzone
Dominic Canzone owns an .809 OPS, bats second and gets struggling Jedixson Paez and his 12.73 xERA tonight. That combination makes him one of my strongest adds on this slate. Canzone is a must-add for anyone needing an outfielder or tonight’s matchup.
PLATOON EDGESF @ PIT
Drew Gilbert (bats L) draws Paul Skenes (RHP), batting 1st
Gilbert gets the leadoff volume and the platoon side he wants against Skenes. The matchup is demanding, but this is the best setup San Francisco could give him.
HEAD-TO-HEADDET @ MIN
Twins are 8-2 vs Tigers this season
Ten meetings, 8-2 Twins, punctuated by an 11-1 blowout — that's an earned edge, not a small-sample fluke. Staying on Minnesota at home.
TEAM RECORDTOR @ CLE
Blue Jays 7-1 in Spencer Miles's last 8 starts
Toronto has won seven of Miles’s last eight starts, including six straight. I trust that steady team formula to give the Blue Jays a strong footing in Cleveland.
TEAM RECORDBAL @ COL
Rockies 1-7 in Gabriel Hughes's last 8 starts
Colorado just can't finish these games when Hughes is on the bump, 1-7 in his last eight, and Baltimore's catching that same pattern again tonight. I'm siding with the O's.
TEAM RECORDNYY @ LAA
Angels 1-7 in Grayson Rodriguez's last 8 starts
The Angels are 1-7 in Rodriguez's last eight starts — this isn't a one-off, it's a pattern. The Yankees are the wrong team to try to snap it against, give me New York.
TEAM RECORDPHI @ ARI
Diamondbacks 7-1 in Eduardo Rodriguez's last 8 starts
Arizona's 7-1 when Eduardo Rodriguez starts lately, and it's not just competing, they're finishing these. I like the Snakes over Philly tonight.
HEAT CHECKSEA @ BOS
Cal Raleigh: 1.385 OPS in Last 15 Days
Raleigh's 1.385 OPS says the power's finally matching the talent, and with 19 homers already this year, one extra-base hit tonight cashes this before it's even a conversation. I'm on him.
P 1-for-5, 2 TB
PLATOON EDGETOR @ CLE
Nathaniel Lowe (bats L) draws Spencer Miles (RHP), batting 5th
Lowe gets Miles from his stronger platoon side while batting in a run-producing spot. That combination makes him more dangerous than his overall numbers suggest.
P 0-for-3, 0 TB, 1 BB
PLATOON EDGEOAK @ TEX
Justin Foscue (bats R) gets a LHP from the 1st spot
Foscue owns the platoon advantage against Basso and gets maximum exposure from the leadoff spot. Texas is putting him exactly where that split can matter most.
P 0-for-2, 0 TB
HEAD-TO-HEADATL @ WSH
Braves are 8-3 vs Nationals this season
Eleven meetings deep and Atlanta's 8-3, but that last one was a real fight, not a laugher. I'll still take the Braves, just don't expect it to be comfortable in Washington.
STREAKNYY @ LAA
LAA have lost 7 straight
The Angels’ seven-game slide has been driven by sustained run deficits, not a collection of unlucky finishes. Returning home does not erase the form they bring into a difficult matchup with New York.
P team lost 7-3
HEAT CHECKSEA @ BOS
Mickey Gasper: 1.710 OPS in Last 15 Days
Gasper's at a 1.710 OPS the last two weeks, and the hits prop is set at half a hit — that's asking for one clean swing all game. Easy lean.
P 1-for-3, 4 TB, 1 BB
HEAT CHECKMIL @ CHC
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1.362 OPS in Last 15 Days
PCA was already elite and he's somehow gotten better, 1.362 OPS with 38 bombs on the year backing it up. That total bases number is close to a gift tonight.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB
BULLPENSF @ PIT
Pittsburgh Pirates pen: 14 relief IP over their last 3 games
Weaver and Montgomery are both going on zero rest for Pittsburgh, and five of their eight relievers have already thrown twice in this stretch. If that Pirates starter comes out early tonight, I want the Giants in the pen fight that follows.
COOLING OFFSEA @ BOS
Julio Rodriguez: .340 OPS in Last 15 Days
Julio's swing looks like it's searching right now, not just catching bad breaks — two weeks is too long to call it a rough series. He wasn't hot before this either, so I'm fading him until something looks different.
P 1-for-5, 2 TB
TEAM RECORDMIL @ CHC
Brewers 6-2 in Robert Gasser's last 8 starts
Milwaukee's 6-2 behind Gasser this year, a real trend across a real stretch. I'll ride the Brewers on the road in Chicago.
TEAM RECORDOAK @ TEX
Rangers 6-2 in MacKenzie Gore's last 8 starts
Texas keeps finishing these out with Gore going, 6-2 in his last eight. Oakland's catching a team that's closing, not just hanging around — give me the Rangers.
TEAM RECORDMIA @ KC
Marlins 2-6 in Tyler Phillips's last 8 starts
Miami's struggled to close games out all season and this is the low point of it, 2-6 in Phillips's last eight. I like Kansas City to take advantage tonight.
PARK WEATHERMIA @ KC
Wind blowing out 11 mph at Kauffman Stadium tonight
Heat and an 11 mph wind toward center make Kauffman play smaller than its dimensions. Mistakes in the air can carry, giving both lineups a better chance to threaten a high total.
P final total 9 vs 9.5 (over lean)
HEAT CHECKOAK @ TEX
Lawrence Butler: 1.100 OPS in Last 15 Days
Butler's been a middling bat most of the year, so this 1.100 OPS stretch reads more like a heater than a new level. Twelve homers says the pop's real though, and this total bases number only needs one of those to land tonight.
P 1-for-4, 1 TB
BALLPARKBAL @ COL
At Coors Field, Gabriel Hughes pitches to a 4.18 ERA
Coors is supposed to inflate ERAs, not shrink them, so Hughes running a 4.18 there against a 9.00 everywhere else says he's actually figured something out about that ballpark. That's the version Baltimore gets tonight, not the one falling apart on the road.
P 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
STREAKSEA @ BOS
SEA have lost 5 straight
Seattle’s five-game skid has included losses too decisive to dismiss as bad late-game variance. Now the Mariners must reverse that form on the road in Boston.
P team won 9-6
HEAT CHECKTOR @ CLE
George Springer: 1.176 OPS in Last 15 Days
Springer's running well above even his solid season line, and 14 homers backs up that the contact's legitimately better right now. This total bases number shouldn't give him much trouble tonight.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB
BULLPENCHW @ HOU
Houston Astros pen: 15.7 relief IP over their last 3 games
Javier just threw 78 pitches over 4.3 innings, basically a spot start, and Abreu and Okert both worked both of the last two days too. Blubaugh and Sousa are the only fresh arms in that pen — if Houston needs length tonight, it's coming from them.
HEAT CHECKCHW @ HOU
Tristan Peters: 1.219 OPS in Last 15 Days
Peters is playing above an already good season, and 2.5 total bases is a tougher ask — needs an extra-base hit or multiple knocks. He's shown enough pop this year that I think he gets there tonight.
P 0-for-3, 0 TB, 1 BB
PLATOON EDGECHW @ HOU
Yordan Alvarez (bats L) gets a RHP from the 2nd spot
Alvarez gets Burke from his strongest side and bats second, ensuring premium volume. Houston should have one of its most dangerous bats involved immediately.
P 0-for-2, 0 TB, 2 BB
PLATOON EDGESF @ PIT
Osleivis Basabe (bats R) hits 6th against Paul Skenes (RHP)
Basabe’s better split comes against right-handed pitching, and the sixth spot gives him a chance to strengthen the lower half of the order. Skenes keeps the overall matchup difficult, but the platoon setup is right.
P 1-for-3, 1 TB, 2 BB
CUT LISTCIN tonight
Nick Lodolo
A 5.24 ERA is already nothing to build a roster around, and the expected number says the results have been flattering him — 6.58 xERA means the process is worse than what showed up in the box score, not better. When your peripherals are a run and a third uglier than an already-bad ERA, there's no hidden value underneath, just more bad starts coming. Tonight's start isn't a reason to wait it out. Cut him — no debate. The number under the number is worse than the ugly one you can already see.
COOLING OFFCHW @ HOU
Munetaka Murakami: .531 OPS in Last 15 Days
This looks like a strong season cooling off a peak, not a swing in trouble — he's still getting his at-bats every day through it. I'll take one loud swing to flip this read tonight.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB, 1 BB
BALLPARKNYY @ LAA
Grayson Rodriguez's ERA jumps to 7.78 at Angel Stadium
That jump from 3.90 to 7.78 at Angel Stadium isn't the park, it's Rodriguez — hitters are batting .323 against him there specifically. I'd fade him again tonight against a Yankees lineup that just has to do what everyone else already has.
P 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 K
HEAT CHECKMIA @ KC
Vinnie Pasquantino: 1.079 OPS in Last 15 Days
Pasquantino's been steady, not spectacular, so this heater is a stretch, not a new level, and 3.5 total bases is the toughest number on this board. Tough but not impossible for a bat running this hot — I'll back him tonight.
P 0-for-3, 0 TB, 1 BB
REGRESSIONBAL @ COL
Gabriel Hughes: 6.61 ERA vs 3.62 xERA
A 4.6% barrel rate and a hard-hit rate under 29% aren't the marks of a guy getting hit around, yet he's allowing .270 when the contact says .235. Balls are finding grass, not barrels — I like the real version of Hughes to show up at home tonight.
P 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
PLATOON EDGESD @ CIN
Fernando Tatis Jr. (bats R) draws Nick Lodolo (LHP), batting 1st
Tatis gets Lodolo from his preferred platoon side and leads off, maximizing the number of times he can exploit it. This is a premium setup for one of San Diego’s biggest bats.
P 2-for-5, 8 TB
PLATOON EDGETOR @ CLE
Nathan Lukes (bats L) hits 5th against Gavin Williams (RHP)
Lukes gets Williams from his stronger side while batting fifth behind Toronto’s main table-setters. That gives him a useful path to both production and run-scoring opportunities.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB
STARTER FORMNYY @ LAA
Grayson Rodriguez: 2.16 ERA over his last 3 starts
Rodriguez has turned a real corner his last three starts — missing bats near a strikeout an inning, cutting the walks way down. Books are still pricing off the ugly season number, so you're getting the better version of him at a discount in Anaheim.
P 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 K
COOLING OFFDET @ MIN
Royce Lewis: .370 OPS in Last 15 Days
Lewis wasn't hot before this slide and now he's ice cold — that's a swing without a plan, not bad luck. I'm siding with the pitching to keep winning that battle tonight.
P 3-for-4, 7 TB, 1 BB
CLOSER WATCHCHW @ HOU
Grant Taylor / Bryan Hudson
This is the muddiest pen of the four — Taylor's lead over Hudson is a single save, and both are piling up holds, which screams shared ninth innings rather than one arm locking it down. He's rested, but -112 on the road at Houston is close to a coin flip, so there's no guarantee this game even stays in save territory. Speculative streamer only. Take the flyer if you're desperate this week, but this is the committee I'd trust least here — expect saves to keep getting split rather than one guy running away with the job.
COOLING OFFDET @ MIN
Dillon Dingler: .446 OPS in Last 15 Days
Dingler was hitting for real before this cooled off, which smells like hard outs more than a broken swing. There's another cold bat on the other side of this game too — I'll take him to be the one who breaks out first.
P 1-for-4, 1 TB
COOLING OFFSEA @ BOS
Cole Young: .354 OPS in Last 15 Days
He's not the only cold bat in that Seattle lineup right now, and two going quiet together usually points to something bigger than one guy's slump. I'd expect Boston's pitching to keep leaning on it.
P 2-for-4, 2 TB, 1 BB
COOLING OFFSF @ PIT
Spencer Horwitz: .368 OPS in Last 15 Days
Shortest sample of this group, which usually just means the results haven't caught up to the contact yet. Healthy season line behind him — I'll take the bounce-back tonight.
P 2-for-6, 2 TB
COOLING OFFCHW @ HOU
Chase Meidroth: .467 OPS in Last 15 Days
Smallest drop-off in this whole group, and he's still playing every day through it — the game hasn't left him, it's just not landing right now. I'll back the competitive version of him tonight.
P 2-for-4, 3 TB
COOLING OFFATL @ WSH
CJ Abrams: .416 OPS in L15 — draws RHP AJ Smith-Shawver
Abrams’s .416 OPS is too far below his season level to accept as a new baseline. Facing Smith-Shawver from his stronger side gives him a credible snapback spot.
P 2-for-4, 2 TB, 1 BB
COOLING OFFMIL @ CHC
Brice Turang: .482 OPS in L15 — draws LHP Matthew Boyd
Turang’s slump runs directly into his weaker side against Boyd. With the platoon edge also working against him, this is a bat I would rather fade than call for a rebound.
P 2-for-4, 2 TB, 1 BB
COOLING OFFCHW @ HOU
Christian Walker: .465 OPS in L15 — draws RHP Sean Burke
Walker’s cold run has not shown enough life to demand a correction call. Burke also gets him from his weaker side, reinforcing the case for another subdued night.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB
COOLING OFFOAK @ TEX
Zack Gelof: .524 OPS in L15 — draws LHP MacKenzie Gore
Gelof has cooled, and Gore catches him on the platoon side that offers little natural relief. I expect the muted stretch to remain a concern tonight.
P 1-for-3, 1 TB, 2 BB
CLOSER WATCHMIA @ KC
Lucas Erceg / Alex Lange
Erceg's still on top of a real committee, but the gap held at two saves and he's coming in on zero outings over the last three games — completely fresh. KC's a modest -118 home favorite over Miami, which is exactly the kind of tight line that keeps a game save-shaped instead of turning into a laugher. Streamable with confidence tonight, but you're renting, not owning. Lange sits just two saves back in a flagged committee, so grab Erceg for the matchup if he's loose on waivers and keep Lange's name written down for next time the leash flips.
REGRESSIONMIA @ KC
Randy Dobnak: 1.92 ERA vs 4.56 xERA
A 5.9 K/9 and a 39.8% hard-hit rate don't add up to a 1.92 ERA — he's not missing bats or limiting hard contact, he's just been getting outs on it. Widest luck gap in this whole group, and I'm not betting it holds again tonight.
P 6 IP, 6 ER, 6 K
PLATOON EDGENYM @ TB
Juan Soto (bats L) gets a RHP from the 2nd spot
Soto gets Peralta from his strongest platoon side and bats second for premium volume. The Mets have arranged the heart of their order around the matchup where his bat carries the most force.
P 0-for-4, 0 TB
HEAT CHECKNYY @ LAA
Zach Neto: 1.036 OPS in Last 15 Days
Neto's uptick is the mildest of this group, more a good hitter ticking up than a heater. Twenty-three homers on the season is what actually matters — this total bases number sits well inside his normal range regardless.
P 2-for-4, 3 TB
BALLPARKSTL @ LAD
Eric Lauer owns a 2.37 ERA at Dodger Stadium — 5.76 everywhere else
Dodger Stadium already plays pitcher-friendly, but a gap this big — hitters down to .200 against him there — says Lauer's stuff is a real match for that park, not just riding it. Trusting that combination again tonight against St. Louis.
P 3 IP, 7 ER, 2 K
STREAKMIL @ CHC
CHC games have gone OVER 4 straight
Four straight Cubs games have gone over because scoring has continued throughout the night, not because of one isolated inning. A double-digit total is a far tougher bar, so I will not chase the streak blindly.
P final total 13 vs 10
COOLING OFFNYM @ TB
A.J. Ewing: .371 OPS in Last 15 Days
His season line was thin to begin with, so this slide isn't as steep as it looks on the surface. This profiles as a bat pitchers can live in the zone against right now — not paying up for a turnaround yet.
P 0-for-3, 0 TB, 1 BB
STREAKPHI @ ARI
PHI have won 4 straight
Philadelphia’s four straight wins have come with enough control and separation to make the run convincing. Arizona presents a road test, but the Phillies carry legitimate momentum into it.
P team won 7-1
STREAKSTL @ LAD
LAD games have gone UNDER 4 straight
Four straight Dodgers games have stayed under without seriously threatening to open up. A total of nine provides generous room for that same low-scoring profile to continue.
P final total 21 vs 9
STREAKBAL @ COL
COL have lost 4 straight
Colorado’s four-game slide has featured steady scoring deficits rather than coin-flip losses. Playing at home helps, but the Rockies need a meaningful offensive change to stop it against Baltimore.
P team won 2-4
TWO STARTSBoston Red Sox — week of 8/31
Payton Tolle
Tolle already banked his Monday tilt with the Mariners — what's left is the one that matters: Saturday's trip to the Orioles. With a 2.72 xERA, that's the best number on the sheet, and one start left is still plenty to plan around. Lock him in for Saturday against the Orioles — must-start, full stop.
STARTER FORMCHW @ HOU
Sean Burke: 6.75 ERA over his last 3 starts
Burke's lost the strike zone the last three outings — nearly two men on base an inning, and 10 earned runs says they're not getting stranded either. He needs to find his command again before this one in Houston, that's not about the matchup.
P 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 6 K
REGRESSIONCHW @ HOU
Ronel Blanco: 7.71 ERA vs 5.42 xERA
Even his deserved number isn't good — an 11.8% barrel rate means hitters do damage when they connect, so a 5.42 xERA is a less-bad season, not a hidden gem. Some regression toward the mid-5s is fair, but this stays a below-average outing against the White Sox even on a good night.
P 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
TWO STARTSPhiladelphia Phillies — week of 8/31
Jesús Luzardo
Full two-start week still ahead for Luzardo — Diamondbacks on the road today, Braves at home to close it out Sunday. A 2.87 xERA says this is as safe as two-start weeks get. Start both, no questions asked — set-and-forget week.
HEAT CHECKSD @ CIN
Hector Rodriguez: 1.066 OPS in Last 15 Days
Rodriguez’s improvement looks real in the short term, but 1.066 remains well above his established level. Over 1.5 total bases requires the heater to generate damage, since one single will not finish the job.
P 2-for-4, 3 TB
CLOSER WATCHSD @ CIN
Mason Miller
Miller is the cleanest one-man job in the group — Adam's 2 saves against his 32 makes clear Adam is the setup man, not a threat to the role. Only one outing in the last three, fully rested, and San Diego is the biggest favorite on the board at -134 on the road in Cincinnati. Top save target on this slate tonight. Unquestioned role, fresh arm, best number of the four — if you're chasing saves this week, build around this one first.
BULLPENATL @ WSH
Washington Nationals pen: 15 relief IP over their last 3 games
Tolman's already thrown 4 innings across two outings in this stretch and Cosgrove needed 40 pitches for just 1.3 — those two are spent. Waldron and Lord have only gone once each, so they're the more likely length tonight if Washington's starter doesn't go deep.
CLOSER WATCHNYM @ TB
Bryan Baker
No committee math needed — Baker's sitting on 39 saves to Wells' 5, this job is his outright. He's been in the last two of three games, but he's still logged as fully rested, and Tampa's a comfortable -124 home favorite over the Mets. The safest hold on this list — start him with zero hesitation tonight. Worth keeping an eye on that back-to-back-ish usage if it keeps stacking up, but nothing here says fade him this week.
HEAD-TO-HEADSD @ CIN
Padres are 4-2 vs Reds this season
A 5-0 finish, six meetings deep — San Diego's edge here looks earned. Nothing says Cincinnati's cracked it, staying with the Padres tonight.
HEAD-TO-HEADSEA @ BOS
Red Sox are 3-1 vs Mariners this season
Four games is thin, and the last one was a 9-8 shootout decided late — that's not exactly Boston dominating. Better team on paper, but Seattle's shown enough thump to hang deep into this one at Fenway.
HEAD-TO-HEADCHW @ HOU
Astros are 3-1 vs White Sox this season
A 6-3 final is comfortable, not a nail-biter, and that matters more than the bare record across just four meetings. Nothing there says Chicago's closing the gap — Houston defends it at home tonight.
TWO STARTSToronto Blue Jays — week of 8/31
Spencer Miles
Miles owns a 2.98 xERA and gets two road starts, first at Cleveland and then at Kansas City. Plan around him and use both starts.
UPCOMING GAMESNCAAF
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UPCOMING GAMESNFL
Next NFL slate · SEP 9
BDL lists 1 NFL game on the next slate. Its kickoff time is confirmed.
TWO STARTSPittsburgh Pirates — week of 8/31
Paul Skenes
Skenes gets two starts at home this week — Giants today, Angels to close it out Sunday. 3.12 xERA, plan-around tier, both turns still on the board. Start both — a full home two-start week is exactly what you build a lineup around.
TWO STARTSMinnesota Twins — week of 8/31
Andrew Morris
Morris still has his entire slate in front of him — Tigers today, then a road trip to the White Sox Sunday to close the week. 3.05 xERA backs up the plan-around billing. Start both turns — nothing here changes the plan.
TWO STARTSWashington Nationals — week of 8/31
Will Dion
Monday's game against the Marlins is already in the books. The rest of Dion's week comes down to one trip to the Dodgers Saturday, and a 3.1 xERA keeps him in plan-around territory even with just one turn left. Keep him in the lineup for Saturday — the one remaining start still clears the plan-around bar.
FANTASY PICKUPSSD @ CIN
Samad Taylor
Samad Taylor is batting .337 with an .820 OPS, hits second and faces struggling Nick Lodolo and his 6.58 xERA tonight. That is exactly the profile I want in a one-day bat. Stream Taylor if you need an outfielder tonight.
REGRESSIONPHI @ ARI
Eduardo Rodriguez: 2.5 ERA vs 4.43 xERA
A 1.19 WHIP looks like command mastery, but a 6.6 K/9 next to a 33.9% hard-hit rate says the contact quality isn't backing it up. That .231 against a .258 expected is one of the bigger cushions out there, and it's due to drift back against Philly tonight.
P 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 K
STARTER FORMBAL @ COL
Kyle Bradish: 6.75 ERA over his last 3 starts
Bradish is handing out nearly two baserunners an inning right now, way up from his season rate, and that catches up fast no matter the ballpark. The market's still pricing the better season ERA, but with Hughes shaky too, don't be shocked if this turns into a bullpen game.
P 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 K
BALLPARKMIL @ CHC
At Wrigley Field, Matthew Boyd pitches to a 5.44 ERA
Wrigley plays like a different park depending on the wind, and a jump from 2.83 to 5.44 with hitters up to .256 looks like the ballpark exposing him more than any real decline in his stuff. Milwaukee's catching tougher conditions tonight than his road numbers suggest.
P 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 K
BULLPENBAL @ COL
Colorado Rockies pen: 13.3 relief IP over their last 3 games
Feltner's 71-pitch outing was basically a spot start, so that arm's not walking back out soon, and Frasso and Bernardino both needed two appearances in this stretch. Romano's the freshest arm on the staff — just 9 pitches total — and the one Colorado can lean on late if this stays tight.
TWO STARTSNew York Yankees — week of 8/31
Gerrit Cole
Cole draws back-to-back road starts this week — Angels today, Padres Sunday. 3.29 xERA is the softest number in this plan-around group, but it's still plan-around. Start both — even the shakiest number in this tier is a must-play.
BULLPENSD @ CIN
Cincinnati Reds pen: 13 relief IP over their last 3 games
Nine different arms just to cover 13 innings over three games tells you that Reds pen is stretched thin, and Garcia carried the heaviest load of the group. Burke, Antone and Mey have only gone once — San Diego's catching this bullpen in its most scrambled state.
STARTER FORMNYM @ TB
Sean Manaea: 7.00 ERA over his last 3 starts
His WHIP's barely moved from the season rate, so this isn't a control breakdown — he's just watching more of the runners he allows come around to score. That points to hard contact or balls leaving the yard, which matters more than the ugly ERA suggests in Tampa Bay tonight.
P 5.2 IP, 5 ER, 2 K
REGRESSIONSD @ CIN
Samad Taylor: .337 AVG vs .284 xBA
Taylor’s contact supports a useful bat, but not quite this .337 average. Against San Diego, I lean toward a pullback and the under on his offensive props.
P 2-for-4, 4 TB
BALLPARKATL @ WSH
At Nationals Park, Jake Irvin pitches to a 7.04 ERA
Nationals Park doesn't have a track record of inflating numbers, so a home ERA nearly three runs worse than his road mark is on Irvin, not the building. Hitters at .309 against him at home is a real red flag against Atlanta tonight.
P 4 IP, 2 ER, 5 K
BALLPARKMIA @ KC
At Kauffman Stadium, Randy Dobnak pitches to a 3.22 ERA
A 0.92 road ERA says he's been nearly untouchable away from Kauffman, so the jump to 3.22 at home already stands out — and .319 against is the more honest number than the ERA. Miami's catching a version of him living more dangerously than his ERA lets on.
P 6 IP, 6 ER, 6 K
TWO STARTSTampa Bay Rays — week of 8/31
Ian Seymour
Monday's start against the Mets is already banked. What's left is Saturday on the road at the Rangers, and at a 3.44 xERA with a stream-both grade, this was never a lock-and-forget arm to begin with. Stream him Saturday if you've got the bench flexibility — solid matchup play, not a must-start.
REGRESSIONNYM @ TB
Chandler Simpson: .311 AVG vs .257 xBA
Simpson’s .311 average has run well ahead of his .257 xBA across a meaningful sample. I’m selling high on his hit and total-base markets tonight.
P 1-for-4, 1 TB
STARTER FORMBAL @ COL
Gabriel Hughes: 9.00 ERA over his last 3 starts
Hughes hasn't just been bad, he's getting worse every start — WHIP climbing right with the ERA, more free baserunners, fewer whiffs. A real tailspin taking the mound tonight, and with Bradish scuffling too, this could come down to whichever pen holds up.
P 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
TWO STARTSMilwaukee Brewers — week of 8/31
Kyle Harrison
Harrison's Monday trip to the Cubs is done. One turn remains — Saturday at the Reds — and the 3.51 xERA keeps this squarely in streaming territory rather than must-start. Stream for Saturday only if you need the innings — otherwise fine to leave on the wire.
STARTER FORMMIL @ CHC
Matthew Boyd: 6.23 ERA over his last 3 starts
His WHIP's basically identical to the season rate, so he's not creating extra traffic, just getting burned harder on the runners he already allows. That reads like hard contact and rough sequencing more than a pitcher who's lost it, the more forgiving way to see this one in Chicago.
P 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 3 K
CUT LISTSTL tonight
Michael McGreevy
The 3.86 ERA reads like a breakout arm, but 5.38 xERA is the widest gap in this group — a run and a half between what's happened and what should have happened. Splits that wide don't hold up over a season. He takes the ball tonight with the best surface line of the three and the least trustworthy one. Cut him. The prettiest ERA here is also the biggest mirage.
RETURN WATCHTB — return listed 9/1
Jake Fraley
Jake Fraley is due off the 60-day IL (groin) today, 9/1. .690 OPS is replacement level, and groin trouble has a way of nagging outfielders. Pass outside the deepest mixed and AL/NL-only pools.
REGRESSIONDET @ MIN
Troy Melton: 1.86 ERA vs 3.41 xERA
A .201 average against sits 28 points under what his contact quality supports, and a 36.9% hard-hit rate is high for anyone running an ERA under 2. Tough gap to keep leaning on in Minnesota tonight.
P 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 4 K
REGRESSIONSTL @ LAD
Michael McGreevy: 3.86 ERA vs 5.38 xERA
A 42.3% hard-hit rate and 10% barrel rate are bad marks, and a 6.2 K/9 doesn't miss enough bats to cover for it. The .258 he's actually allowed is well under what his contact supports — that's a profile that tends to turn on a pitcher fast against the Dodgers.
P 5 IP, 4 ER, 4 K
RETURN WATCHARI — return listed 9/1
Ryne Nelson
Ryne Nelson's 60-day IL clock (elbow) runs out today, 9/1 — back on the active list per the listing. 4.97 ERA before the elbow was nothing to chase. Let someone else find out if the stuff's back — wire dart at best, not a stash.
RETURN WATCHTOR — return listed 9/1
Joe Mantiply
Joe Mantiply's 60-day IL knee rehab ends today, 9/1 — eligible again per the roster. 2.04 ERA plays, but he's a reliever with no role attached here. Hold if you've already got him for ratios; not an add unless your league counts holds.
RETURN WATCHBOS — return listed 9/1
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Isiah Kiner-Falefa's forearm rehab wraps today, 9/1 — 60-day IL run is over per the listing. .705 OPS with middle-infield eligibility is streaming fodder, not a stash. Only bite if your bench is desperate for 2B and the wire's dry.
BATTER VS ARMMIL @ CHC
William Contreras vs Matthew Boyd: .417
Contreras has consistently squared up Boyd, and the damage includes a home run. With his bat already going well, I like him to attack this matchup from the start.
P 2-for-5, 4 TB
FANTASY PICKUPSSD @ CIN
Manny Machado
Manny Machado’s .220 average and .712 OPS have been limited, but he still bats third and gets struggling Nick Lodolo, who carries a 6.58 xERA. The matchup makes today the time to use him. Stream Machado if you need a third baseman or a middle-of-the-order bat tonight.
TOMORROWBAL @ COL
Tomoyuki Sugano: 5.23 ERA vs 6.92 xERA
A 43.6% hard-hit rate and 12.7% barrel rate are both rough, and even his actual .284 allowed is a bad number before you get to the .314 his contact supports. Leaning on his results tomorrow means leaning on the luck holding.
TOMORROWOAK @ TEX
Cody Bradford: 3.42 ERA vs 5.01 xERA
Hitters are actually batting .324 against him, well above what the contact quality should allow, yet he's sitting on a 3.42 ERA. That's damage bunched up that hasn't turned into runs yet — a matter of when, not if, against Oakland tomorrow.
PARK WEATHERSF @ PIT
Wind blowing out 10 mph at PNC Park tonight
A 10 mph wind blowing out makes elevated contact more dangerous at PNC tonight. In a game carrying a low total, one wind-aided swing could change everything.
P final total 25 vs 7.5 (over lean)
REGRESSIONSD @ CIN
Nick Lodolo: 5.24 ERA vs 6.58 xERA
A 1.54 WHIP already says traffic's the norm, and a 39.4% hard-hit rate with 9.6% barrels backs it up. This isn't a good pitcher hiding behind bad luck — the ERA's close to the truth, and the xERA says it could get worse against San Diego.
P 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 K
BULLPENSTL @ LAD
St. Louis Cardinals pen: 12.7 relief IP over their last 3 games
Fernandez has already thrown 3 innings across two outings in this stretch, the heaviest load in that pen, and Mautz's 61-pitch outing doesn't wear off that fast either. Stanek's the one who looks fresh — just 17 pitches across two outings — and ready to go again tonight against the Dodgers.
HEAD-TO-HEADSF @ PIT
Giants are 2-1 vs Pirates this season
A 7-6 game is a coin flip that bounced San Francisco's way, not a sign of control, and three meetings total doesn't change that read. I'm not treating this as a real trend walking back into Pittsburgh tonight.
HEAD-TO-HEADNYM @ TB
Mets are 1-0 vs Rays this season
A 3-2 game decided in the final few outs isn't a foundation for anything, just one data point. This is basically the second time these two have seen each other, so there's nothing built up yet to lean on with the Mets in Tampa tonight.
HEAD-TO-HEADTOR @ CLE
Blue Jays are 2-1 vs Guardians this season
That 4-2 win was clean and businesslike, not a nail-biter, so Toronto earned it fair and square. But three games is still a small sample, and tonight in Cleveland comes down to how both teams are playing right now, not what happened earlier this year.
REGRESSIONNYM @ TB
Freddy Peralta: 5.11 ERA vs 3.97 xERA
Peralta's ERA is lying to you — an 8.5 K/9 and a barrel rate under 7 percent don't produce a 5.11, they produce something in the high threes. Hitters are running a .261 against him when his contact quality says .239, and at home against the Mets tonight, that gap has room to close.
P 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 K
RETURN WATCHLAD — return listed 9/1
Gavin Stone
Gavin Stone clears his 60-day IL shoulder stint today, 9/1, and re-enters the player pool. No season line to grade him on — that's a total blank, not a stash. Watch the box score before you touch him.
FIRST INNINGBAL @ COL
NRFI watch: quiet first innings on both sides of BAL @ COL
Hughes is the crack in this one — an 11.00 ERA and a .333 average against in the first means Baltimore's bats get a real look early, whatever they've been doing lately. Bradish has been about as automatic as it gets in the first all season, lining up with a Colorado lineup that's already dormant early. If the Under breaks tonight, put your money on it happening in the top of the first.
P 1st inning: 0-0 (0 runs)
BATTER VS ARMATL @ WSH
Michael Harris II vs Jake Irvin: .389
Harris has handled Irvin with quality contact and disciplined at-bats. In his current form, he can pressure Irvin from the first trip through the order.
P 1-for-4, 4 TB
TOMORROWOAK @ TEX
Jacob Lopez: 4.82 ERA vs 3.39 xERA
Lopez has been legitimately hard to square up — a 5.5 percent barrel rate and a hard-hit rate under 30 is real contact suppression, not luck. He's still getting hit 43 points higher than that profile deserves, the widest gap on my board tonight, so I like the correction coming when he's on the road at Texas tomorrow.
TOMORROWPHI @ ARI
Andrew Painter: 5.95 ERA vs 4.59 xERA
Painter's numbers are middling, not disastrous — a 36 percent hard-hit rate points to something like a 4.59, not the 5.95 he's actually carrying. Even the fair version isn't pretty, but on the road at Arizona tomorrow there's real room for that ERA to come down.
PARK WEATHERSD @ CIN
94° at Great American Ball Park — the ball will carry tonight
Great American Ball Park is already dangerous for pitchers, and 94-degree heat makes elevated mistakes even riskier. I expect both offenses to have real extra-base upside tonight.
P final total 7 vs 9 (over lean)
RUNNING GAMEMIA @ KC
Miami Marlins like to run — Carter Jensen (36% caught) is the wrong catcher to test
Miami usually creates pressure with its legs, but Jensen’s 36% caught-stealing rate makes him the wrong catcher to challenge. The Marlins may need to string hits together instead.
P Miami Marlins stole 0 bases
BATTER VS ARMMIL @ CHC
Andrew Vaughn vs Matthew Boyd: .231
Vaughn’s .231 average against Boyd undersells how productive those plate appearances have been. His patience gives him a chance to make Boyd work and punish a hittable mistake.
P 1-for-3, 2 TB
BALLPARKTOR @ CLE
Gavin Williams's ERA drops to 3.27 at Progressive Field
This isn't a hot streak — 82-plus innings of a 3.27 ERA and a .214 average against is basically a full season's workload, built on weak contact, not luck. Progressive Field isn't doing him many favors either, so that's Williams making his own case, and I'm leaning on that home identity again tonight against Toronto.
P 7 IP, 0 ER, 13 K
CUT LISTKC tonight
Salvador Perez
A .223 average and .639 OPS are absolutely cuttable production, even from a hitter batting fourth. Tonight’s lineup spot keeps the opportunity intact, but opportunity only matters if the bat starts paying it off. HOLD — the cleanup role earns Perez a little more rope, but he’s close to the wire.
CUT LISTLAA tonight
Grayson Rodriguez
Rodriguez is the one with an actual excuse — his 6.03 ERA is worse than his 5.46 xERA, so some of this hasn't been on him. Problem is, even the fairer number still sits in the mid-5s, and that's not a season-long number no matter how you split the blame. Tonight's start is his chance to close the gap, not erase it. Cut him too — the softest case of the three, but a mid-5s expected ERA still isn't rosterable.
PARK WEATHERATL @ WSH
93° at Nationals Park — the ball will carry tonight
The 93-degree heat gives well-struck balls extra life at Nationals Park, while the crosswind can carry drives through the gaps. Pitchers working upstairs have very little margin tonight.
P final total 14 vs 9.5 (over lean)
RETURN WATCHNYM — return listed 9/2
Justin Hagenman
Hagenman is on the Mets' 60-day IL with a rib injury. His listed return date is September 2, one day away, but there is no season line available. Leave him on the wire.
BALLPARKSD @ CIN
Nick Lodolo's ERA drops to 4.70 at Great American Ball Park
Great American is built for hitters, so Lodolo actually being better at home than on the road means he's found something real there, not that the ballpark's bailing him out. Don't get too excited though — 4.70 is just the less-bad version of him next to a 6.00 on the road, and San Diego's catching the lesser evil tonight, not a pitcher who's turned a corner.
P 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 K
TOMORROWDET @ MIN
Dean Kremer: 5.6 ERA vs 4.46 xERA
Kremer's actual average against and his expected average are basically identical, so this isn't about hits sneaking through — it's about how the damage has been sequenced into runs. The contact quality points to something in the mid-4s, not a 5.60, and at home against Detroit tomorrow I think the results start catching up to that.
CUT LISTSEA tonight
Cal Raleigh
The .171 average is doing real damage, and a .646 OPS doesn’t make up for it. Batting fourth and remaining in tonight’s lineup are the only reasons this isn’t an automatic drop. CUT — Raleigh’s cleanup spot isn’t enough to excuse this season-long line.
CUT LISTWSH tonight
Dylan Crews
A .220 average and .652 OPS make Crews expendable, especially if you need immediate production. Batting second tonight gives him useful opportunity, but the results haven’t justified a protected roster spot. CUT — the lineup placement is appealing, but the season numbers aren’t.
RUNNING GAMEATL @ WSH
Green light: Washington Nationals run, and Drake Baldwin has caught just 15%
Washington has the green light against Baldwin’s 15% caught-stealing rate. Successful steals can turn routine baserunners into scoring threats and let the Nationals manufacture offense.
P Washington Nationals stole 3 bases
CUT LISTOAK tonight
Jonah Heim
The case for cutting Jonah Heim is straightforward: a .212 average and .662 OPS haven't delivered enough season-long value. He's in tonight's lineup and batting fourth, but that opportunity doesn't erase the weak production. Cut
FANTASY PICKUPSDET @ MIN
Andrew Morris
Morris is running the same script — 3.82 ERA against a 3.05 xERA, nearly 80 points of bad luck due to correct itself. 8.3 K/9 is legit bat-missing stuff. The one thing holding me back is the 1.34 WHIP — he's letting more traffic on base than the ERA lets on. Gets DET this time. Deep leagues should add and start him now while the ERA still looks better than it should; I'd want the WHIP to tighten before trusting him past that tier.
TOMORROWSF @ PIT
Jared Jones: 4.83 ERA vs 3.83 xERA
Jones' average against and his expected average are close together, so the gap here is about sequencing, not hits finding holes. An 8 percent barrel rate is nothing to worry about, and I think his results start lining up with that better process at home against San Francisco tomorrow.
TOMORROWATL @ WSH
Grant Holmes: 3.71 ERA vs 4.71 xERA
Holmes is allowing some of the hardest contact in this whole group — a 43 percent hard-hit rate doesn't usually produce a 3.71 ERA, and the only reason his has stayed there is hitters running a .240 against him when the contact quality says .254. That much hard contact tends to catch up, and I'd rather fade him than back him on the road at Washington tomorrow.
FANTASY PICKUPSSEA @ BOS
Bryan Woo
Book it — Woo's 4.36 ERA is lying to you. A 3.67 xERA says he's pitching much better than the boxscore shows, and a 9 K/9 with a tight 1.1 WHIP is the swing-and-miss, low-baserunner combo I want walking into a start against BOS. The ERA is the only number on this stat line I don't trust. Deep-league rosters should grab him first, but honestly I'd take Woo anywhere he's sitting unclaimed — the skill's already ahead of the results.
TOMORROWSEA @ BOS
Patrick Sandoval: 4.2 ERA vs 5.07 xERA
Sandoval's contact quality is genuinely good — 7.4 percent barrels, hard-hit rate under 34 — but hitters are still batting .306 against him, well above what that contact should allow. His ERA is beating his xERA anyway, which only works if he's stranding runners at a rate that won't hold, so two different breaks are working in his favor right now. I don't trust that at home against Seattle tomorrow.
FIRST INNINGSF @ PIT
SF strike first: 1st-inning runs in 8 of their last 10
Skenes' .204 average against looks airtight until you notice five homers allowed in just over 26 innings — when hitters connect, it goes, and that's exactly the kind of contact San Francisco's lineup has been cashing in all year. Webb's given up three first-inning homers of his own, so neither guy has fully shut the door on the long ball. I'm not touching the Under in the first tonight.
P flagged team scored 0 in the 1st
FANTASY PICKUPSDET @ MIN
Troy Melton
Melton's a different animal — I trust the process more than the shiny number here. A 1.86 ERA is dazzling, but his own 3.41 xERA says there's a run and a half of correction coming. What I do believe: a 1.01 WHIP is elite control, and 7.4 K/9 with that little traffic allowed is a real skill, not just luck. Draws MIN. Deep-league add now and ride the ERA while it's this shiny — just don't hold him in shallower formats expecting a sub-2 ERA to stick.
RETURN WATCHTEX — return listed 9/8
Robert Garcia
Robert Garcia's shoulder rehab has him penciled in for 9/8, off the 60-day IL — a week out. 3.38 ERA is a number I like, but I need a role before I trust it. Deep-league watch-list, nothing urgent yet.
RETURN WATCHSEA — return listed 9/8
Matt Brash
Matt Brash is tracking for 9/8 off the 60-day IL (lat) — a week from today. 0.54 ERA is the best number on this whole sheet. That's the priority stash — grab him in anything with bullpen scoring before the wire catches up.
RETURN WATCHSD — return listed 9/9
Lucas Giolito
Lucas Giolito's elbow rehab has him lined up for 9/9, off the 60-day IL — more than a week away still. 5.16 ERA plus an elbow flag is a fade for me. Nothing here says roster him — let it play out on somebody else's bench.
FIRST INNINGSD @ CIN
CIN have gone quiet in the 1st: runs in 1 of their last 10
Lodolo's been the wall here — a 2.81 ERA and a .222 average against in the first means San Diego's hitters have their work cut out early. The real opening is in the bottom half: Cincinnati's cold, but they're catching Vásquez, who's running a 5.14 ERA and has already given up four homers in the first inning alone. If that drought snaps tonight, that's the matchup that does it.
P flagged team scored 1 in the 1st
FIRST INNINGATL @ WSH
WSH have gone quiet in the 1st: runs in 1 of their last 10
Irvin's the bigger story here — a 7.41 ERA and a .254 average against in the first means Atlanta's bats get a real crack at him early, and that matters more tonight than Washington's own cold streak. Washington's drought is about their bats going quiet, not about facing a tough arm, so if there's action in this first inning, I expect it loaded on the Atlanta side.
P flagged team scored 0 in the 1st
FIRST INNINGDET @ MIN
MIN strike first: 1st-inning runs in 7 of their last 10
Melton's dealing early too — a 2.81 ERA and a .220 average against in the first means Detroit's the one facing the tough assignment, not Minnesota. The Twins already score first seven times out of ten, and their own guy isn't giving anything back in the top half, so a market sitting dead even on this one looks behind.
P flagged team scored 1 in the 1st
FIRST INNINGNYY @ LAA
NYY have gone quiet in the 1st: runs in 1 of their last 10
The real tension is in the top of the first — New York's bats are cold, but Rodriguez has actually been getting hit at a .310 clip with an ERA near 5.40 in the first, so tonight might be when that drought snaps. Cole's doing the shutting down for the Yankees on the other side, 1.59 ERA and .140 against, about as tough an assignment as any lineup draws early. He's allowed three homers in seventeen innings so he's not untouchable, but if the Under misses tonight, I'd bet on it happening before Cole ever takes the mound.
P flagged team scored 3 in the 1st

Graded results

Games

L
Blue Jays +1.5 -144
MLB · 1-6
L
Padres ML -136
MLB · 3-4
L
Royals ML -120
MLB · 6-3
W
Pirates ML -168
MLB · 12-13
L
Cubs ML -126
MLB · 9-4
W
Rangers -1.5 +106
MLB · 5-8
W
White Sox ML -112
MLB · 5-1
L
Orioles ML -146
MLB · 2-4
L
Diamondbacks ML +114
MLB · 7-1
W
Yankees -1.5 -105
MLB · 7-3
W
Cardinals +1.5 -132
MLB · 13-8
W
Rays ML -136
MLB · 2-6
L
Braves ML -148
MLB · 5-9
L
Red Sox ML -118
MLB · 9-6
L
Tigers ML -106
MLB · 2-15

Props

W
AJ Smith-Shawver · over
Braves @ Nationals · Actual 3
W
Alejandro Kirk · over
Blue Jays @ Guardians · Actual 1
W
Andrew Morris · under
Tigers @ Twins · Actual 3
L
Ben Rice · over
Yankees @ Angels · Actual 0
L
Brock Rodden · under
Mariners @ Red Sox · Actual 2
W
Bryan Woo · over
Mariners @ Red Sox · Actual 7
L
Carlos Narvaez · under
Orioles @ Rockies · Actual 2
L
Eduardo Rodriguez · under
Phillies @ Diamondbacks · Actual 3
W
Gabriel Hughes · over
Orioles @ Rockies · Actual 2
L
Gavin Williams · over
Blue Jays @ Guardians · Actual 0
W
Grayson Rodriguez · over
Yankees @ Angels · Actual 7
L
Jac Caglianone · over
Marlins @ Royals · Actual 0
L
Jake Irvin · over
Braves @ Nationals · Actual 1
W
Jesus Luzardo · over
Phillies @ Diamondbacks · Actual 6
W
Jordan Walker · over
Cardinals @ Dodgers · Actual 7
W
Joshua Baez · over
Cardinals @ Dodgers · Actual 1
W
Junior Caminero · over
Mets @ Rays · Actual 3
L
Justin Foscue · over
Athletics @ Rangers · Actual 0
L
Kazuma Okamoto · over
Blue Jays @ Guardians · Actual 0
W
Lawrence Butler · over
Athletics @ Rangers · Actual 1
W
Michael McGreevy · over
Cardinals @ Dodgers · Actual 4
W
Miguel Vargas · over
White Sox @ Astros · Actual 1
L
Nick Lodolo · under
Padres @ Reds · Actual 18
W
Paul Skenes · under
Giants @ Pirates · Actual 14
W
Randy Dobnak · over
Marlins @ Royals · Actual 6
W
Randy Vasquez · over
Padres @ Reds · Actual 14
L
Ronel Blanco · over
White Sox @ Astros · Actual 0
W
Sean Manaea · over
Mets @ Rays · Actual 5
L
Seiya Suzuki · over
Brewers @ Cubs · Actual 0
L
Shay Whitcomb · under
Giants @ Pirates · Actual 1
W
Spencer Jones · over
Yankees @ Angels · Actual 2
L
Troy Melton · under
Tigers @ Twins · Actual 5
W
William Contreras · over
Brewers @ Cubs · Actual 4