rincon, Author at WeTeachSports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

MLB on Mother’s Day: Best Moments on Mother’s Day Since 2000

Sunday is Mom’s day to shine, and Major League Baseball sure knows that.

Once again, numerous players on all 30 teams are wearing or using pink gear in honor of Mother’s Day. Some players are using pink bats, like New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. In fact, Judge hit his 16th home run of the season, using a pink bat to send a pitch off Milwaukee Brewers starter Logan Henderson into the bleachers. That home run put Judge in a tie with Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber for the most in baseball this season, while Bryce Harper also hit a home run with a pink bat on Sunday.

As Judge, Harper and others bring some golden memories for moms on this Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the other top Mother’s Day moments in recent MLB history.

Bill Hall’s Walk-Off Home Run

In a way, Bill Hall’s mom helped power the Brewers to a walk-off win over the New York Mets on Mother’s Day in 2006. Hall hit a walk-off home run in the Brewers’ Mother’s Day win over the Mets that year, using a pink at-bat with his mother’s name (Vergie Hall) engraved in it as she watched from the stands.

The bat was later auctioned to help raise money for breast cancer research. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio later obtained the bat and gifted it to Vergie Hall. As for the auction, the bat went for $25,000.

Red Sox Complete Mother’s Day Miracle Comeback

The Boston Red Sox needed a miracle and then some to take down the Baltimore Orioles on Mother’s Day in 2007. Facing a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox rallied and scored six runs to get a walk-off victory. The Orioles committed a few self-inflicted errors to allow the Red Sox to win the game, though. An infield pop-up fell for a hit, while three walks allowed the Red Sox to make a one-run game.

It appeared the Orioles had the game sealed when Julio Lugo hit a ground ball to Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar. However, Millar’s toss to Orioles closer Chris Ray went off the pitcher’s glove, allowing the Red Sox to score the game-tying and game-winning runs.

Fred Lewis Hits for Cycle

Fred Lewis was only a few days into his second MLB stint when he achieved one of the toughest accomplishments in baseball on Mother’s Day in 2007. The then-San Francisco Giants outfielder hit for the cycle in his team’s 15-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. He went 5-for-6 at the plate, with his home run that day doubling as his first MLB home run.

Dallas Braden Throws Perfect Game

Dallas Braden joined an elite class of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2010. He threw the 19th perfect game in MLB history in the Oakland Athletics’ 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays nearly avoided being on the wrong side of history, though. With two outs in the ninth, Rays outfielder Gabe Kapler chased at Braden’s fastball outside the zone on a 3-1 count, hitting into the final out of the game. Had Kapler looked at the pitch, he likely would’ve walked. Adding to the drama, Braden actually thought it was a 2-2 count when he threw the final pitch, later saying that he would’ve thrown a changeup had he known it was a 3-1 count.

Beyond the perfect game, the day had significant meaning for Braden. Braden’s mom passed away years prior from cancer, leading to him sharing an emotional moment with his grandmother.

Joey Votto Hits 3 Homers, Including a Walk-Off Grand Slam

2012: Joey Votto Hits 3 Homers, Including a Walk-Off Grand Slam

Not many people want to spend their Mother’s Day weathering a three-hour rain delay. However, Joey Votto made it worthwhile for Cincinnati Reds fans in 2012. The franchise icon hit three home runs against the Washington Nationals on Mother’s Day in 2012, saving his best for last that day. Facing a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the ninth, Votto belted a ball to straightaway center for a walk-off grand slam.

Felix Hernandez Records 2,000th Career Strikeout

Feloix Hernandez joined a rare group of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2015. The Seattle Mariners’ ace struck out six hitters that day in a 4-3 win over the Athletics, logging his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the fourth-youngest pitcher in MLB history to log 2,000 career strikeouts.

“This is Mother’s Day, so it’s pretty special for me,” Hernandez told reporters after the game. “My mom’s in Venezuela and I miss her so much. I just want to go out there and keep trying to help the team to win. Just dedicated this game to my mom and my wife.”

Jahmai Jones hits first career home run

Jahmai Jones began his MLB career by going on a pretty long homer-less streak, failing to go yard in his first 46 career games. That changed on Mother’s Day in 2024, though. Playing in his 11th game for the New York Yankees, Jones hit his first career home run in a 10-6 win over the Rays on Mother’s Day that year. Jones dedicated the moment to his mom, as she had to raise him and his five siblings alone following his father’s death in 2011.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

2026 MLB Trade Deadline Rumors Tracker: SF Giants Shopping High-Priced Core

The early-season dust has settled, but the trade market is already heating up as front offices across the league begin to separate the contenders from the sellers.

Here are the latest whispers and trade rumors currently shaping the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline.

May 10

Giants exploring trades for multiple high-priced veterans

The San Francisco Giants could be headed toward a fire sale after a sluggish 16-24 start that has them sitting fourth in the National League West. The Giants are exploring ways to move several major contracts as they look toward the future, according to USA Today.

That includes the remaining money owed to Jung Hoo Lee ($85 million), Willy Adames ($161 million), Rafael Devers ($226 million) and Matt Chapman ($125 million). If they are able to unload those contracts, it would mark a dramatic shift toward a long-term rebuild.

The San Francisco Giants are expected to make pitcher Robbie Ray their biggest trade chip at the deadline, while several executives told USA Today that the club could also listen to offers for ace Logan Webb.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

2026 MLB Power Rankings: Who is Each Team’s Early Season Standout Starter?

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Before last weekend, the fastest pitch from a starter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008) belonged to Jordan Hicks at 103.2 mph.

On Friday night, Jacob Misiorowski set that record ablaze.

The Brewers’ 24-year-old flamethrower introduced himself to the Yankees by striking out 11 batters over six scoreless innings while maxing out at 103.6 mph three times in a 6-0 win. Misiorowski threw 10 pitches at 103 mph or faster and is now responsible for 16 of the 18 fastest pitches from a starting pitcher in the pitch-tracking era.

“Miz” has only allowed two hits in 11.1 innings this month, and he’s the MLB leader in strikeouts (70) despite ranking outside the top 45 in innings pitched. In honor of Misiorowski’s record-setting performance, this week’s power rankings include every team’s standout starter to begin the year.

Chase Dollander’s role has varied, but he has started in two of his last three appearances and has nearly twice as many strikeouts (47) as the next closest pitcher on the team (Kyle Freeland: 28). Dollander’s missing a lot more bats to start his second season, which is an encouraging sign under new pitching coach Alon Leichman.

He no longer looks like the best pitcher in the league, but the fact we were talking about José Soriano that way through the end of April is a testament to his sensational start. He had an ERA under 1.00 through his first seven starts and still ranks in the top three in the category among qualified starters (1.66).

(Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images)

The offense is still a mess — the Mets rank last in every slash line category — but Nolan McLean gives the team a chance every time he’s on the mound. He has held his opponent to three runs or fewer in each of his eight starts and ranks fourth among all qualified starters in strikeout rate. Opponents are hitting .038 with 19 strikeouts against his curveball.

It’s been an uphill battle all year for their shorthanded rotation, which ranks 29th in ERA and is still missing its most important pieces, but Peter Lambert has done his best to assist. The 29-year-old never had an ERA under 5.00 or a strikeout rate over 19% in any of his four seasons in Colorado; he has a 2.42 ERA and a 24.7 K% in four starts in Houston this year. He hasn’t allowed a home run, and opponents are hitting just .125 against his four-seamer.

Landen Roupp not only has seen his strikeout rate rise 7% from last year, he also has the lowest hard-hit rate of any qualified MLB starter. In eight starts, he hasn’t allowed a single barreled ball. It’ll be interesting to see how the pitching staff handles the departure of defensive whiz Patrick Bailey, who was traded to Cleveland.

With Taj Bradley the latest Twins starter to hit the injured list, we’ll highlight Joe Ryan. It looked like he, too, might be lost for a while. But after leaving his May 3 start with elbow soreness, Ryan returned Saturday and fired six innings of one-run ball on 107 pitches. His ERA this year (3.43) is nearly identical to what it was last year (3.42), but it’s worth noting that his velocity and whiff rate are both down a tick.

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

After an inauspicious start to his Boston tenure, Ranger Suárez has a 1.17 ERA over his last five starts and held his opponent scoreless in four of them. He left his last start early with hamstring tightness but appears to be fine.

Returning stateside after three years in Japan, Foster Griffin (2.12) has a nearly identical ERA to Cristopher Sánchez (2.11) and the same WHIP as Joe Ryan (1.03). He has allowed one earned run in 20 innings over his last three starts.

From Tommy John surgery in 2022 to season-ending hip surgery last July, staying on the field hasn’t been easy for 2020 first-round pick Max Meyer. Through eight starts this year, though, he has a career-best 2.79 ERA. His sweeper has been a difference-maker, and his .197 opponents’ batting average ranks in the top 20 among qualified starters.

Trevor Rogers has a 4.75 ERA, and that’s the best mark of any Orioles pitcher with at least five starts this year. Baltimore starters have allowed more runs than any rotation in MLB, and the Orioles have lost eight of their last 11 games.

(Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Davis Martin has been one of the best pitchers in the sport this season. Among qualified MLB starters, the 29-year-old has the second-lowest ERA (1.62) and fifth-lowest walk rate (4.7%). The White Sox have won seven of his eight starts this year.

Dylan Cease has given the Blue Jays all they could have asked for when they gave him $210 million this offseason. He ranks third in MLB in strikeouts and has the highest whiff rate among qualified AL starters. His 34.6% strikeout rate is the highest of his career.

(Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Woof. Between Tarik Skubal undergoing an elbow procedure and Framber Valdez unraveling and getting suspended, it was a brutal week in Detroit. Skubal, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander and Troy Melton are all sidelined (not to mention Jackson Jobe and Reese Olson, who haven’t pitched all year), but at least it sounds like Skubal could return sooner than many anticipated. He is, obviously, the Tigers’ standout. Keider Montero has allowed one run in each of his last two starts, and they’ll need him to help keep the ship afloat.

Michael Wacha leads the Royals in wins (four) and ERA (2.63). He has gone seven innings in each of his first two starts of May, allowing a combined two runs over those appearances. Opponents are hitting just .164 against his four-seamer and .136 against his changeup. He’s helping the Royals crawl back toward AL Central relevance (it doesn’t take much).

Prior to his five-run outing against the White Sox over the weekend, Emerson Hancock was coming off a 14-strikeout performance against the Royals. The difficult outing Friday brought his ERA up over 3.00 for the first time all year, but he has been an important cog for a Mariners rotation that hasn’t dominated the way many expected.

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

After the Rangers lost four straight series, Jacob deGrom put an end to the skid by striking out 10 Cubs batters in seven scoreless innings Sunday. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has a 2.62 ERA with 57 strikeouts and eight walks in 44.2 innings, but no one else in the Rangers rotation has an ERA under 4.00. This feels like a team that’s just going to hover around .500 all year…but maybe that isn’t the worst thing in the American League?

Cristopher Sánchez’s ERA is down to 2.11 after throwing eight scoreless innings on May 5 against the Athletics and then adding seven more scoreless frames Sunday against the Rockies, moving the Phillies to 10-3 in the Don Mattingly era. After finishing as the Cy Young runner-up last year, Sánchez should be in the mix for the award again.

Eduardo Rodriguez is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA after coming two outs short of a complete game Sunday against the Mets. It has been a bounceback year for the veteran lefty, who had an ERA over 5.00 in each of his first two seasons in Arizona.

(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

He’ll be a longshot considering the strength of this year’s rookie class, but Parker Messick has to at least be in the American League Rookie of the Year conversation. Among qualified AL starters, the 25-year-old lefty ranks fifth in ERA (2.30) and WHIP (0.98) and has the lowest hard-hit rate.

Chase Burns ranks third among qualified NL starters with a 2.11 ERA; every other Cincinnati starter’s ERA is more than double that total. The 23-year-old has the fifth-highest whiff rate among all qualified MLB starters, and he has a 1.47 ERA over his last five starts. His slider is a serious weapon.

The decision to add Aaron Civale in February was a prudent one; the veteran righty leads the team in wins (four) and ERA (2.59). He has surrendered just one run over his last three starts.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

If you were worried about Paul Skenes after his first start of the year, don’t be. Since that blow-up outing to start the season, he has a 1.31 ERA with 45 strikeouts and five walks over his last seven starts. He has held his opponent to one or no runs in six of his last seven starts, and he leads all qualified starters in WHIP (0.71) and opponents’ average (.156).

The only qualified MLB starters with a lower WHIP than Michael McGreevy (0.86) are Paul Skenes (0.71) and Cam Schlittler (0.81). McGreevy has a 2.18 ERA on the year and held the Dodgers and Padres scoreless over six innings in his last two starts.

Scroll back to the top for more on Misiorowski, who has a 39.5 strikeout rate. That’s the highest mark among MLB starters and would be the highest mark of any starter in a full season since Gerrit Cole in 2019 (39.9%). Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn are back, and the Brewers are picking up steam after an impressive weekend sweep of the Yankees.

With Nick Pivetta sidelined, the Padres need Michael King to carry the load. He’s doing his best, holding his opponent to two runs or fewer in six of his eight starts this year. King’s .182 opponents’ batting average ranks in the top 10 among qualified MLB starters.

(Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

We’re far enough into the year that it’s time to talk about the Rays. They’re 14-2 over their last 16 games, and their starters have the third-lowest ERA in MLB. Veteran Nick Martinez ranks fourth among MLB starters with a 1.70 ERA and hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts.

(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Dodgers could really use Shohei Ohtani’s bat to start heating up. Since jumping out to a 15-4 record, they’ve lost 12 of their last 21 games. Over that 9-12 stretch, Ohtani is hitting .219 with one home run. On the mound, however, he is thriving. Ohtani is the only pitcher who has thrown at least 30 innings with an ERA under 1.00 this year.

(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

The Yankees were swept this weekend by the Brewers despite Cam Schlittler holding Milwaukee scoreless for six innings Saturday. His 1.35 ERA is the best mark of any qualified starter, and he has only surrendered one homer in 53.1 innings. By fWAR, he has been the most valuable pitcher in MLB.

(Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

Shota Imanaga has the highest chase rate among all qualified MLB starters and ranks in the top 10 in WHIP (0.93) and opponents’ average (.179). His work is vital as the Cubs deal with a plethora of pitching injuries, though they still managed to win 10 games in a row before dropping their series this weekend in Texas. They’re 18-5 at home this year.

(Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Braves maintain top billing after taking the series this weekend in Los Angeles thanks to 5.2 scoreless innings Sunday from Bryce Elder, whose magical season continues. Elder’s 1.81 ERA ranks fifth among qualified MLB starters.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Big Bets Report: Bettor Banks Close to $1 Million With Unique Strategy

Over the past two weeks in the NBA playoffs, a BetMGM customer has used an interesting strategy to rack up massive wins.

As in, nearly $1 million in profit at one point, before the Spurs’ Sunday night loss finally slowed down the bettor.

And the net total is still more than $900,000.

More on the ladder-wager bettor, two notable hits from UFC 328 — including a six-figure payday on ostensibly a free bet — and some interesting MLB winners, as we recap the week that was in sports betting.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Climbing the Ladder

Betting the point spread is quite a common move. Not quite as common, but certainly not unusual, is betting alternate point spreads.

Less common: Betting several alternate point spreads on one game, for huge money.

Ever since Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 5, though, a BetMGM customer has employed that strategy to incredible success. In that game, the bettor placed $375,000 in straight bets across seven different point spreads.

Those bets went 6-1, and the customer bagged $196,500 in profit.

Since then, the bettor has fired in similar fashion on a handful of NBA playoff games. That included $250,000 in Sunday wagers on Knicks-76ers Game 4:

$100,000 Knicks +5.5 (-225)
$75,000 Knicks +4.5 (-190)
$35,000 Knicks +3.5 (-170)
$20,000 Knicks +2.5 (-150)
$10,000 Knicks +1.5 (-135)
$10,000 Knicks -1.5 (-105)

New York then absolutely plastered Philadelphia 144-114 to complete a 4-0 sweep in the series. Obviously, all six bets were winners, for a net profit of $134,770 (total payout $384,770).

That took the bettor’s winnings over the past two weeks to a whopping $996,770, knocking on the door of a million bucks.

Finally, in Sunday night’s Spurs-Timberwolves Game 4, the winning run ended. The customer had $75,000 across five wagers on San Antonio, and went oh-fer as Minnesota won 114-109.

Still, even after that $75,000 fallout, the bettor is up more than $920,000. And they will probably be back for more, perhaps as soon as Monday night.

Fight Night

It’s a great feeling to win a bet with your own hard-earned money. But it’s pretty nice to win it with someone else’s money, too.

A Hard Rock Bet customer did that on Saturday’s UFC 328 card. The bettor utilized a $250 bonus bet, ostensibly a free ride, on a six-leg parlay.

Now, to be clear, earning such bonus bets means you’ve probably lost a fair amount of money along the way. Sportsbooks aren’t just handing those out like candy on Halloween.

Still, a long-shot parlay isn’t a bad way to utilize such a free play. In this case, the odds were a hefty +40742, or just beyond 407/1.

And it wasn’t on just any six fights from the 13-bout card. It was on six consecutive fights. Plus, the last leg was a big underdog, King Green +1200 to win by submission vs. Jeremy Stephens.

But King did just that, finishing off Stephens with 40 seconds left in the first round. The $250 free ride became $101,604.17 in real money.

Also on the UFC 328 card, a FanDuel Sportsbook customer perfectly predicted the five-bout main card. The bettor put a modest $25 on a parlay across all five contests.

All five fighters won, and at odds of +6286 (about 63/1), the bettor’s modest wager turned into $1,596.53.

It’s not a six-figure payout, but neither is it a bad evening’s work. I’d take that ROI all day, every day.

MLB Money

Ahead of Thursday’s afternoon slate of MLB games, a Fanatics customer put $750 on a five-leg parlay involving three matchups. The bettor mixed in a moneyline, a couple runlines and a couple totals.

All five legs got there relatively easily. The biggest sweat was on the two Twins-Nationals legs.

Washington won 7-5, with the game’s final two runs coming in the bottom of the seventh inning. That clinched the legs of Nationals -1.5 and Over 10 runs.

The odds were +3300, which would’ve netted a fine profit of almost $25,000. But the bettor also utilized a 33% profit boost, hiking the odds to +4340.

That bumped the profit to $32,548, for a total payout of $33,298.

A Rory Story

Some bettors, particularly sharp ones, find value in taking the No on Yes/No prop bets. But most sportsbooks don’t offer Yes/No on props, at least not with any regularity. Perhaps on the Super Bowl and such.

So generally, you only have one option, betting on something to happen. You don’t get the option of betting on something not to happen.

Prediction markets, however, give traders that option. And a ProphetX customer made the most of it in the PGA Tour’s Truist Championship.

In the Yes/No on Rory McIlroy winning the tournament, No was -650. That meant it would take a $650 play to win $100.

To make it far more worthwhile, the trader decided to bump it up to $100,000. And after McIlroy stumbled to a 4-over 75 in the third round, the deal was pretty much sealed.

McIlroy tied for 19th, 10 shots behind surprise winner Kristoffer Reitan. So the ProphetX trader banked $15,384 profit (total payout $115,384).

Missed It By That Much

As is often noted in these articles: Parlays are a bookmaker’s best friend. Nothing pleases a sportsbook risk room more than when the public betting masses play five- or 10- or 15-leg parlays.

The house advantage goes way up with each leg added. No matter how well you do, all it takes is one leg to blow the whole thing up.

A FanDuel Sportsbook customer learned that in Wednesday’s Game 2 of the 76ers-Knicks series. But the bettor at least did the smart thing by utilizing a $500 bonus bet — rather than the patron’s own money — on an 11-leg same-game parlay.

Each leg was on the Over/Under for a player’s total points.

With 22 seconds remaining, 10 legs were in, and Miles McBride stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to bring that 11th leg home. McBride had three points; two more would reach his total of five points or more.

He hit the first free throw, then missed the second. Four points. Parlay dies. One charity-stripe miss away from a $12,256 payday.

That’s parlays in a nutshell.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

2026 MLB Odds: Dodgers Favored to Win Most; Rockies, the Least

In sports, there are winners and losers.

And then there are big winners and even bigger losers.

Let’s check out the odds for which MLB team will have the best record in baseball and who will have the fewest, at DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 7.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Most MLB regular-season wins

Dodgers: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)
Yankees: +310 (bet $10 to win $41 total)
Cubs: +390 (bet $10 to win $5549total)
Braves: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Rays: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Mariners: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Padres: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Phillies: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)

What to know: Of course, the Dodgers are favored to win the most games during the regular season, and they are also favored to win the World Series for the third straight year. As of May 7, the Dodgers are first in the AL West, and have the fifth-most wins in baseball (23). The current wins leaders are the Braves (26), Yankees (25) and Cubs (25). The Brewers led MLB in wins last season with 97, preceded by the Dodgers in 2024 (98), the Braves in 2023 (104), the Dodgers in 2022 (111), the Giants in 2021 (107) and the Dodgers in the COVID-shortened 2020 season (43). Dating back to 2013, L.A. has won at least 90 games every season (outside of the COVID year).

Fewest MLB regular-season wins

Rockies: -155 (bet $10 to win $16.45 total)
White Sox: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Nationals: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Angels: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)
Marlins: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Twins: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)
Giants: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Astros: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

What to know: The Rockies are tied for the fewest wins in baseball as of May 7 (14). Last season, they had the fewest wins in baseball with 43, 17 fewer than the closest team — the White Sox, with 60. In 2024, Colorado had the second-fewest wins (61) and the third-fewest in 2023 (59).

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

2026 MLB Odds: Bettors Backing Dodgers Despite Recent Woes

Currently, the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers are not the team with the best record in baseball.

Instead, that distinction belongs to the Atlanta Braves.

But even the Dodgers sitting 3.5 games back in the MLB standings hasn’t stopped bettors from backing the Boys in Blue.

At BetMGM, they’re still the favorites to win it all, moving to +190 from +350 since the season opened. They also have the highest ticket in World Series futures at 12.1%. Behind them in that spot are the Yankees (9.3%) and Tigers (8.5%).

LAD also has the highest handle when it comes to the World Series oddsboard at 26.0%. The Yankees follow at 8.3%, then the Blue Jays at 7.3%.

Los Angeles, however, is in the midst of a skid.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

The Dodgers have lost three of their last five games, a rough patch that includes two losses to the Atlanta Braves and one loss to the flailing Houston Astros.

Yet and still, bettors are also backing the Dodgers in the NL Pennant market. At BetMGM they’re the favorites at -105 to win that league and have the highest handle at 26.2%.

So is L.A. — a ballclub that sits third in the NL behind Atlanta and Chicago — worth a wager to win the NL or to win it all, especially considering its recent struggles?

According to FOX Sports MLB writer Deesha Thosar, she believes LAD is still the MLB standard, but noted that the it will have to resolve Roki Sasaki’s recent pitching woes.

“The Dodgers have the type of depth that other executives dream about, making it a no-brainer to let Sasaki work out his troubles and give him a long leash, at that,” Thosar explained. “It’s not like Sasaki is that much of a detriment that he’s throwing the Dodgers’ bullpen out of whack. Though he’s allowed multiple runs in his last three starts, and is having trouble issuing walks, he’s averaging four-plus innings pitched each time out, which is manageable for now.

“Sasaki’s command issues are a problem, no doubt. That 14.1% walk rate is up from last year. But, in a vacuum, that’s not hurting the club’s chances to compete in October.”

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Dodgers Offically Activate Mookie Betts for Giants Series Opener

Mookie Betts is set to return after missing more than a month because of a right oblique strain when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.

Betts hasn’t played since April 4, when he was hurt in a 10-5 win at the Washington Nationals. Manager Dave Roberts said he would have Betts hit second or third in the batting order though he was batting .179 with two home runs and seven RBIs in eight games before the injury.

Roberts did not say who would be sent down to free up a roster spot for Betts, a four-time World Series champion and the 2018 American League MVP. Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland and Santiago Espinal have platooned effectively to help fill out the middle infield in Betts’ absence.

“It’s a good problem in a sense of where we’re at, but it’s a potential tough conversation,” Roberts said Sunday before the finale of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

Betts completed a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, going 2 for 5 with a walk in two games.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Dontrelle Willis: Dodgers ‘Looking a Little Sluggish’

The Los Angeles Dodgers are tied with the San Diego Padres at the top of the National League West, but their offense has gone cold despite their strong record. A star-studded lineup has struggled to find the consistency expected of a team seeking a World Series three-peat.

FOX Sports analyst Dontrelle Willis pointed to the lack of production from the top of the Dodgers’ lineup during Monday night’s MLB on FOX broadcast. For Willis, the issue is not just the offense struggling overall, but the team’s biggest stars failing to produce consistently.

“Andy Pages has been a great story and hopefully he gets a chance to be an All-Star,” Willis said. “He leads them in batting average, RBI and slug. The problem is you don’t want Andy Pages in the sixth or seventh hole leading you in RBI or slug.”

The Dodgers have struggled to get consistent production from the top of the lineup, and one of the more notable slow starts has come from reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani is hitting .241 this season, which would mark the second-lowest batting average of his career.

“Shohei Ohtani has gotten off to a slow start, not looking comfortable at the plate,” Willis said. “So run production is a little sketchy, especially when they’re going up against the upper echelon of ball clubs.”

The Dodgers’ stars have especially struggled in recent games. Over the last 11 contests, Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman have combined for a .591 OPS. During that stretch, Los Angeles has gone 4-7 and dropped three of its last four series.

“The run differential is still there,” Willis said. “They’re behind the Yankees and Braves, but I want to see more quality at-bats up and down the lineup. We’re not seeing that. Maybe it’s a little bit of fatigue, but I just hope this is not the hourglass coming to the end in this locker room.”

The recent offensive slump has started to overshadow what has otherwise been a strong start in the standings for Los Angeles.

“They’re looking a little sluggish, especially the key guys,” Willis said. “Hopefully, Mookie Betts getting back in the lineup brings a little shot in the arm, a little motivation and a little jolt, and they can get going from there.”

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May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

Last Night in Baseball: 2025 AL MVP Runner-Up in 36 At-Bat Hit Drought

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Cal Raleigh in prolonged slump

Outside arguably New York Yankees superstar and 2025 American League MVP Aaron Judge, no one was more dangerous with a bat in their hands last season than Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who was the runner-up for the 2025 AL MVP Award.

That has not been the case this season.

In Seattle’s Monday night matchup against the Houston Astros, Raleigh went 0 for 4 with one strikeout. He has now failed to record a hit in each of his last 36 at-bats, the longest such streak for a player in MLB this season.

Through 39 games, Raleigh has totaled seven home runs, 18 RBIs, a 61 OPS+ and -0.2 wins above replacement, while owning a .157/.238/.320 slash line. He has just 24 hits, compared to 54 strikeouts. Moreover, he currently boasts a career-low in average exit velocity (86.9 mph), barrel percentage (11.9%) and hard-hit percentage (28.7%) over a full season, according to Statcast.

Brendan Donovan web gem

Elsewhere for Seattle, Brendan Donovan made a slick play at the hot corner.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh inning, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hit a ground ball to the left side, and Donovan, who was playing near the infield grass, made a diving play to his right, got up and made the throw to first base for the out.

Donovan finished 0 for 4 at the plate. On the season, the Mariners third baseman has totaled three home runs, eight RBIs and a 134 OPS+, owning a .257/.376/.429 slash line.

eattle Mariners continue to dominate the Houston Astros

And as for the entire game, the Mariners got a 3-1 win over the Astros, improving Seattle to 5-0 over Houston this season and 8-0 dating back to last season.

The Mariners struck first in the top of the second with back-to-back RBI singles from designated hitter Dominic Canzone and second baseman Cole Young. Then, leading off the following inning, center fielder Julio Rodríguez blasted a solo home run up near the train in Daikin Park. The two-time Silver Slugger’s long ball was his seventh of the season.

Rodriguez and fellow outfielder Randy Arozarena each had two hits for the Mariners.

Seattle got five innings from starter George Kirby, who gave up his one run to Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes, who had an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth; Paredes and Altuve each had three hits for Houston, which got seven innings from right-hander Peter Lambert. The Mariners used four relievers to get through the final four innings: Nick Davila, Cooper Criswell, Eduard Bazardo and Andrés Muñoz.

Still, Seattle (20-22) and Houston (16-26) each have losing records.

rizona Diamondbacks shut out the Texas Rangers

It wasn’t revenge for losing the 2023 World Series, but the Arizona Diamondbacks silenced the Texas Rangers in their home park in the first game of a three-game series.

D-backs right fielder Corbin Carroll doubled in the second at-bat of the game, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo followed with a double of his own, driving in Carroll. And that would be the only run scored in a 1-0 Arizona win.

Perdomo and third baseman Nolan Arenado each had a game-high two hits for Arizona, which got 6 ⅓ shutout innings from Mike Soroka, marking the right-hander’s second consecutive outing where he pitched 6 ⅓ innings. Soroka, who has a 3.53 ERA on the season, has given up just one run over his last two starts. In all, Arizona held Texas to just five baserunners (four hits and one walk).

For whatever reason, both of these teams have been involved in several shutouts over the last week-and-a-half. On May 2, the Diamondbacks lost to the Chicago Cubs, 2-0. Then, last week, Arizona beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-0, but the latter answered by shutting out the former in the ensuing game, 1-0.

As the Rangers, they’ve been involved in a shutout in each of their last three games: 6-0 and 3-0 wins over the Cubs and a 1-0 loss to the D-backs.

San Francisco Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández made a diving catch on the first pitch of the game against the San Francisco Giants. That, however, would be one of the Dodgers’ few high points on Monday night.

Leading off the top of the second, Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers launched a solo home run to right field. Later, trailing 2-1 in the top of the sixth, Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos — who has a team-high 20 RBIs — drove in two runs on a double down the left-field line. After the Dodgers leveled the score at 3-all in the bottom half of the inning, Devers walked in a run in the seventh, with shortstop Willy Adames later driving in two runs on a single.

In the ninth, Adames singled in another run, third baseman Matt Chapman walked in a run and catcher Jesus Rodriguez drove in a run on a ground out, capping off a 9-3 win for the Giants over their deep-rooted rival. It’s tied for the second-most runs the Giants have scored in a game this season.

San Francisco got two-hit nights from Devers, Ramos, Adames and infielders Luis Arráez and Casey Schmitt. While he surrendered 11 baserunners (nine hits and two walks), right-hander Trevor McDonald pitched 5 ⅓ innings for the Giants, whose bullpen (Matt Gage, Keaton Winn and JT Brubaker) then gave up just one baserunner over the next 3 ⅔ innings.

The Giants are 3-1 against the Dodgers this season and have won three of their last four games altogether.

Max Muncy’s bizarre power numbers

Among the other “high points” for the Dodgers was third baseman Max Muncy hitting an opposite field, solo home run in the bottom of the sixth; Muncy also had an RBI single in the fourth.

Muncy is in the midst of a peculiar offensive start. Through 39 games, the two-time All-Star has totaled 11 home runs but just 17 RBIs. Five of those homers were solo shots. Mind you, the Dodgers are second in MLB in on-base percentage (.344) and third in hits (367).

Still, the Dodgers’ star is having a highly productive season, boasting a 166 OPS+, 2.2 wins above replacement (WAR) and a .280/.375/.568 slash line. Muncy is on pace for a career-high in home runs and WAR, while his current batting average and OPS+ are career bests.

Furthermore, Muncy ranks in the 97th percentile of MLB in barrel percentage (20%) and hard-hit percentage (55.8%) and the 94th percentile in average exit velocity (93.3 mph), according to Statcast.

Baltimore Orioles get late power to beat New York Yankees

Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers was carving up the Baltimore Orioles, as he entered the bottom of the seventh with a no-hit bid and nine strikeouts.

But after putting two of the first three batters on base, New York relieved Weathers for fellow southpaw Brent Headrick. Then, Orioles designated hitter Coby Mayo demolished a go-ahead, three-run home run, which would be good for Baltimore to get a 3-2 victory.

Mayo’s home run was one of just three hits for the Orioles, who snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Yankees dating back to last season.

As for the pitching, Baltimore got 5 ⅓ innings from starter Brandon Young, who gave up two runs. The Orioles then got 3 ⅔ shutout innings from relievers Dietrich Enns, Rico Garcia and Anthony Nunez. Meanwhile, the loss marked the Yankees’ fourth consecutive defeat and their fifth loss in their last six games.

Rice, Rice Baby

A positive for New York? Ben Rice continues to rake.

In the top of the third, the Yankees first baseman hit a two-run home run to center field, which accounted for all of New York’s scoring against the Orioles. The homer was Rice’s 13th of the season.

If the AL MVP voting were held today, Rice would be a finalist for the award. He has driven in 29 runs, owns a .312/.417/.696 slash line and leads the AL in slugging percentage (.696), OPS (1.113) and OPS+ (206). Staying on the power front, Rice ranks in the 99th percentile of the sport in hard-hard percentage (59.6%), 98th percentile in barrel percentage (21.3%) and 97th percentile in average exit velocity (94.5 mph), per Statcast.

Last season, Rice hit 26 home runs, recorded a .499 slugging percentage, ranked in the 97th percentile in hard-hit percentage and ranked in the 95th percentile in average exit velocity.

leveland Guardians score early to beat Los Angeles Angels

The Cleveland Guardians struck early against the Los Angeles Angels so they didn’t have to strike often.

With two outs in the bottom of the second, Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio brought in two runs on a single for the first runs of the game. Cleveland then had a five-run third inning, with catcher David Fry walking in a run, center fielder Daniel Schneemann driving in two runs on a single and second baseman Travis Bazzana doubling home two runs, which would lead the Guardians to a 7-2 win.

Fry and first baseman Kyle Manzardo each had two hits for Cleveland, which got six shutout innings from left-hander Joey Cantillo. Meanwhile, designated hitter Rhys Hoskins drew three walks. The Angels got their two runs on an eighth-inning RBI single from right fielder Jo Adell and a ninth-inning RBI single from third baseman Vaughn Grissom.

As for those who drove in runs for the Guardians, Bazzana, whom Cleveland selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, has recorded a hit in four of his last five games; Fry owns an .876 OPS over 55 at-bats; Schneemann boasts an .810 OPS; Rocchio is batting .277. As for its starting pitcher, Cantillo has recorded a 2.98 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, 41 strikeouts, 1.0 wins above replacement and a 139 ERA+ over 45 ⅓ innings pitched (nine starts).

While they’re 22-21, the Guardians are in first place in the AL Central.

Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the AL

The Tampa Bay Rays are cracking skulls and taking names.

In defeating the Toronto Blue Jays for a fourth consecutive time this season (the Rays swept the Blue Jays in Tampa Bay earlier this month), 8-5, the Rays are now 27-13, which is good for the best record in the AL. As for its Monday night victory, Tampa Bay got three runs in the top of the first off a sacrifice fly from first baseman Jonathan Aranda and a two-run single from second baseman Richie Palacios. Aranda then drove in another run in the second on a single, with shortstop Taylor Walls driving in a run on a triple and another run coming around to score in the fourth on a Toronto error.

Aranda later led off the sixth with a solo home run to center field, with Tampa Bay’s other run coming via an RBI single from Palacios in the seventh. Palacios and left fielder Chandler Simpson — who owns a .314 batting average and has hit an AL-high three triples — each had a game-high three hits for the Rays, while Palacios and Aranda — who has driven in an AL-high 32 runs and has a team-high 142 OPS+ — each drove in three runs.

Shockingly — insert sarcasm here — pitching has been the backbone of the Rays’ success. Their starting rotation is first in MLB in WHIP (1.08) and third in ERA (3.15) and opponent batting average (.211). Granted, their rotation is just 20th in innings pitched (203.0). Nick Martinez owns a 1.70 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and a whopping 246 ERA+; Shane McClanahan boasts a 2.60 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and a 162 ERA+; Drew Rasmussen, who pitched through six innings on Monday night, has a 3.16 ERA and an 0.91 WHIP.

Opponents are also hitting just .227 against the Rays’ bullpen, good for eighth in the sport, with closer Bryan Baker (2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 197 ERA+) first in the AL with 11 saves.

For Toronto, right-hander Kevin Gausman hit a personal milestone in the top of the fourth when he recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. Meanwhile, Blue Jays’ shortstop Andrés Giménez had the first multi-home run game of his MLB career and drove in each of Toronto’s five runs.

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May 15, 2026May 15, 2026

2026 MLB Odds: Pirates’ Don Kelly Best Bet for NL Manager of Year

Roughly a quarter of the way through the MLB season, the theme so far has been parity.

The teams expected to be among the worst — the Rockies, Nationals, Cardinals — are all feisty and fairly competitive.

The American League only has four teams entering play on Tuesday night with a record above .500, and the current division leaders are the Rays, Guardians and Athletics.

Those are all surprises to some degree.

If the playoffs started today, the White Sox would be a wild-card team, despite having a losing record. Even the vaunted Dodgers have yet to exert their dominance, as they currently look up in the National League West standings to the first-place Padres.

While the AL currently has just four teams with winning records, the National League Central has five. And within that league, I think, is a wager that offers some value.

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Pirates Manager Don Kelly is currently +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total) to win National League Manager of the Year.

These awards, especially when it comes to coaches or managers, are often about what the best story is, with expectations heavily factored in.

The Pirates were a wild-card team from 2013-2015 and haven’t been to the postseason since. Remarkably, they have not won a postseason series since winning the 1979 World Series.

The Pirates currently sit at 22-19 and look like a serious playoff contender, with NL Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes at the top of the rotation.

Braves manager Walt Weiss and Cubs manager Craig Counsell currently have shorter odds than Kelly, but both of those managers have more talented teams with considerably higher expectations than the Pirates.

The Cubs were division favorites entering the year, and the Braves had a down year in 2025. Prior to that, Atlanta had been a perennial playoff team and World Series contender for close to a decade. The Pirates currently have +140 odds to make the playoffs, and if they were to make it, Kelly would be the frontrunner, in my opinion, to win this award come the fall.

Ultimately, the Pirates are in the conversation for having the least success of nearly any major sports franchise over the last few decades. A return to the postseason would not go unnoticed by the voters.

PICK: Don Kelly (+600) to win NL Manager of the Year

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