Cleveland Guardians rookie southpaw Parker Messick was three outs shy of history and becoming the first Guardian to throw a no-hitter in 45 years.

Messick became the second Guardians pitcher to lose a no-hit bid in the 9th inning in the last eight months, along with his teammate Gavin Williams.

The rookie was cruising through eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles, who have one of the best offenses in baseball. But before he could get an out in the ninth inning, Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras hit a groundball that was right beyond the outstretched hands of second baseman Juan Brito.

Messick would allow another hit after the leadoff single, and that would be it for him, leaving the mound to a standing ovation, as he was so close to being immortalized forever.

The Orioles didn’t go down quietly, scoring two runs in the ninth and threatening the Guardians before closing it out and winning 4-2.

“I did my best. Maybe next time,” Messick said following his start against the Orioles.

“I mean, it sucks, but it’s baseball,” Messick added. “It might happen for me one day, if the Lord wills. I’ll have plenty more years to pitch some baseball games, so you know, it might happen again, so my only thought is just lock back in and get the next guy out.”

Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt didn’t hesitate to keep Messick in the game despite being at 106 pitches through eight innings.

“That was very special what we got to watch tonight,” Vogt said.

“That’s an unbelievably talented lineup that he took a no-hitter into the ninth against. Just continued to attack, continued to give them different looks throughout the whole game.”

The Guardians currently have the longest no-hitter drought in the entire MLB and were once again so close to ending that 45-year drought.

The San Diego Padres are in the middle of a sale, and all bidders have been asked to complete their second rounds of bidding, submitting new offers that include at least three bids of $3.5 billion or more. According to two people, one of the bids is approaching $4 billion.

There are four finalists in the midst of a bidding war for the Padres franchise, including José E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones; Dan Friedkin; and Joe Lacob and Tom Gores.

Feliciano is the co-founder of the investment firm Clearlake Capital and has a net worth of $4.4 billion as of April 2025.

Friedkin is the chairman and CEO of The Friedkin Group, and his Pursuit Sports owns the soccer clubs Everton and AS Roma.

Lacob is an American business executive who was a partner at Kleiner Perkins and is currently the co-owner of the Golden State Warriors and Golden State Valkyries.

Gore is the owner of the Detroit Pistons and also owns a 27% stake in the Los Angeles Chargers, which he purchased in 2024.

The Padres are valued at $3.1 billion according to Sportico’s most recent MLB valuations. That is up 34% from last year, and it seems as if the bidding will surpass that number.

When the sale is finalized, it will be the largest sale of an MLB franchise in history, surpassing Steve Cohen’s $2.42 billion purchase of the New York Mets in 2020.

New Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was nailed in the face by a foul ball in Monday night’s win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In a wild day of baseball that saw nine hitters have a multi-homer game and a plethora of runs, Albernaz was the victim of a scary scene that happened in the fifth inning of the Orioles and Diamondbacks game when Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson sent a foul ball right into his team’s dugout and struck his manager in the face.

Albernaz was standing at the top of the tunnel in the dugout before being met with a baseball to his face. He was then taken back to the clubhouse for further evaluation by the medical staff.

Bench coach Donnie Ecker took over as manager for the remainder of the game. Ecker told reporters after the game that Albernaz was doing “good.”

“Just as a precaution right now, he is going to get scanned, and we’ll have more information tomorrow,” Ecker said. 

Albernaz did return to the game in the sixth inning, and a red mark was visible on the side of his face, but he would head back into the clubhouse and did not return to the game.

Orioles ace pitcher Trevor Rogers said, “The fact he didn’t go to the ground shows how tough of an SOB he is. And the fact he wanted to come back to the dugout, he’s got a big set of balls on him.”

Albernaz and the Orioles are off to a good start in his first season, being tied for the lead in the American League East with a 9-7 record.

Doctors later reveal that Albernaz suffered a broken jaw from the incident.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows spent Thursday night at the hospital following a scary head-first collision with fellow outfielder Riley Greene in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins.

The collision left Meadows bloodied after banging his head and resulted in him having to be carted off the field.

Meadows took most of the damage, with Greene ultimately being fine other than being a concerned teammate, saying, “It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible.”

“He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK,” Greene said after the game.

The collision happened when Twins’ first baseman Josh Bell hit a shallow fly ball in between left and center field, leading to the Tigers’ outfielders colliding. Greene did end up making the catch, but the concern was for Meadows after a scary scene.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joined the medical team and Meadows in the outfield to check up on his player before he exited the game on a cart. Meadows would be kept overnight at the hospital for observation, which usually means he suffered a concussion.

Hinch later confirmed that he did suffer a concussion, saying, “We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me.”

Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers and is hitting a respectable .250 at the plate with two extra-base hits. The Tigers hope to get Meadows back in the lineup as soon as possible.

It has been a tough start to a career for Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Carter Jensen, who is still adjusting to the big league routine, and that includes setting multiple alarms. Jensen was scratched from the Royals’ series finale against American League Central rival Minnesota Twins on Thursday due to oversleeping.

This may not seem like a huge deal, but 36-year-old DH/catcher Salvador Perez was slated to be the designated hitter, but Jensen overslept, forcing Perez to get behind the dish, which isn’t easy on the veteran.

“No running from it,” the rookie catcher said. “Just didn’t wake up to my alarm. Slept through it. Don’t really have an excuse, nor should I. It sucks. Happens. I felt like I let my teammates down, coaches down. Just learn from it and know it won’t happen again.”

Jensen admitted that when he woke up, he was in full-on panic mode. “There’s a lot to learn from it. Making sure if I don’t set one alarm, maybe set three, four, as many as possible,” Jensen said. “Moving forward, that’s what I’m going to do. Set a million alarms. Make sure I’m up. It stinks, though.”

Royals manager Matt Quatraro will not punish Jensen any further and spoke to the media about his young catcher.

“Overslept. Wasn’t here on time, and we made the decision to scratch him from the lineup.… He’s a stand-up guy, a really hard worker, a great kid. He feels terrible. He’s accountable to it. It’s not something that has been a pattern or any of that kind of stuff. Nobody feels worse than he does, and I think he’ll admit to that. And we’ll move on.”

The Royals sit at 3-3 through the first six games of the season and will welcome the Milwaukee Brewers this weekend.

San Francisco Giants 21st-ranked prospect, Daniel Susac, made his major league debut Thursday evening against the New York Mets, and it was one to remember.

Susac, 24, picked up his first hit during his first at-bat against Mets pitcher David Peterson, lacing one opposite-field for a single.

The catcher picked up two more singles and a walk, along with a successful ABS challenge, en route to a 7-2 win.

Susac did all of this with his family in the crowd, cheering him on, including his fiancée, Drew Koltko, who spoke to the media about Susac’s debut.

“So nerve-wracking,” Koltko said. “But I told him from the first time that we got here, he’s going to get a hit in his first at-bat. … He did that [the ABS challenge] in Triple-A all the time last year, so he was pretty familiar with it, but seeing it in a big league stadium is just surreal.”

This was a full-circle moment for Susac and his family, as he grew up two hours from San Francisco and dreamed of it.

“I definitely always envisioned it as a little kid, but to actually live it out was awesome,” Susac said. “I probably went through this exact scenario so many times in the backyard with my brothers, so it was a pretty fun one altogether.”

Susac received high praise from his manager, Tony Vitello, saying, “Overall, he just looked relaxed, he looked like he was built for the moment. And I don’t think that happens by accident. I have been around people where they’re kind of blessed with an innate sense of being calm in moments like that.”

In what was supposed to be a memorable day for Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce, it quickly turned into a nightmare for the 31-year-old.

Ponce suffered what is believed to be a right ACL sprain and will miss significant time, according to Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

The injury occurred during the top of the third inning when a weak ground ball was hit in between the pitcher and the first baseman, when Ponce tried to make a play on the ball and came up hobbling. Ponce ended up getting carted off the field, which was not what he envisioned when making his return to the big leagues.

The game got away from the Blue Jays, who lost to the Colorado Rockies 14-5, but the focus is on Ponce and his health.

Ponce spent last season in the KBO and was fantastic, posting a 1.89 ERA with 252 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings. Superb numbers which allowed him to cash in with the Blue Jays on a three-year, $30 million deal.

“The last couple of years and then getting back here [to MLB], and he was throwing the ball really well. Even on the field, McCarthy was pretty cool and was apologizing to him. In real time, Cody was talking back to him. I just told him to focus one minute at a time. There was a lot of emotion that goes into today, and he was really excited. It just sucks to see that happen to him. We’re wishing for the best,” Schneider told the media postgame.

Ponce’s season is not over, but he has some time to rehab and get healthy before making his way back into the Blue Jays rotation.

The Kansas City Royals, along with the rest of the baseball world, suffered a devastating loss when it was announced that Terrance Gore died in February at the age of 34 due to cardiac arrest.

Gore was not a household name but a fan favorite with the Royals due to his lightning speed and ability to steal bases. Gore was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Royals World Series teams, winning his first ring in 2015.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Before the Royals’ home opener on Monday, the team offered a tribute to Gore, bringing his family out onto the field and having his 11-year-old son, Zane, throw out the first pitch.

Zane delivered a perfect pitch right down the middle to Gore’s former Royals teammate, Alex Gordon, and received a loud ovation from the crowd.

“It’s a tragic thing to lose a guy at 34 years old, but it was the least we could do for his family,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said before the game, fighting back tears.

Team Venezuela defeated Team USA in the World Baseball Classic championship on March 17.

Team Venezuela won the game 3-2. This was the first time that Team Venezuela has won the WBC Championship. Although Team USA has made three straight championship games, they have lost the last two. 

Maikel Garcia got Team Venezuela on the board first with a sacrifice fly to bring home Salvador Perez from third base. Team Venezuela took a 2-0 lead when Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning.

Team USA wasn’t going to go down without a fight, though. Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run with Bobby Witt Jr. on base to tie the game at 2-2. However, Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth to bring home Javier Sanoja to give Team Venezuela a 3-2 lead. Garrett Whitlock gave up the run, which was his first run allowed in the WBC.

Daniel Palencia came in to close the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Although his team, the Chicago Cubs, preferred Palencia not to pitch, they told Team Venezuela they could use him in a save situation. Palencia sent Team USA down in order to secure his third save of the WBC. 

Aaron Judge’s struggles were one of the main talking points for Team USA’s loss. His OPS fell from over 1.000 to under .900 just in the final three games. He went 0-4 with three strikeouts against Team Venezuela. 

All the players who participated in the WBC will return to their respective MLB teams. They will participate in the final games of spring training. Opening Day will be on March 25 when the New York Yankees take on the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco.  

The Atlanta Braves announced this week that they have extended their ace pitcher, Chris Sale, to a one-year, $27 million contract extension with a club option.

This keeps the future Hall of Famer in Atlanta past this season, as Sale was set to hit free agency after this year. Sale will be 37 on March 30 and is entering his 11th season in the majors.

Sale had a resurgence after being dealt to the Braves, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2024, posting a 2.38 ERA and a league-leading 225 strikeouts.

This new deal will add a year onto his current contract and give the Braves a $30 million club option with no buyout for the 2028 season.

This is the largest single-season salary contract the Braves have ever handed out.

The Braves will need Sale to be their ace once again, and most importantly, they will need him to be healthy as they are already dealing with injuries to starting pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep.

Injuries consumed the Braves last season, which led them to a 76-86 record in 2025. Sale also battled injuries last season, only starting 20 games after suffering a rib injury.

Despite the injury, Sale still had a fantastic season, posting a 2.58 ERA and 165 strikeouts in just 125⅔ innings pitched.

On April 25, former St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty died after battling numerous health issues at 74.

Jockketty was in the hospital for months following a lung transplant. Unfortunately, his health continued to decline, which led to his death.

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The chairman and CEO of the St. Louis Cardinals, Bill DeWitt Jr., commented on Jocketty’s unfortunate passing. “Walt was our first GM when we purchased the ball club, and he helped to lead our baseball operations through some of the franchise’s most successful and memorable years,” DeWitt Jr. said.

Jocketty was hired as the Cardinals’ GM in October 1994. During his 13 seasons with the Cardinals, the team made the postseason six times, won two National League pennants, and claimed one World Series title.

After the 2007 season, Jocketty was fired due to organizational differences between Jocketty and ownership.

The Cincinnati Reds hired Jocketty in April 2008. During his time as the Reds’ GM, the team won the NL Central in 2010 and made the postseason three times.

After the 2015 season, he stepped down from the GM role and took over as president of baseball operations. He served this role until the end of the 2016 season.

He then took over a senior advisory role under the team’s ownership. He held this job until his passing.

The Los Angeles Dodgers make another ginormous offseason splash, signing prized outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract.

Tucker signed the richest contract on an average annual basis, $57.1 million per year, surpassing Juan Soto’s mega contract. The deal includes a $64 million signing bonus, with $30 million deferred. The contract also has two options after year two and year three.

The Blue Jays and Mets were also involved in the Tucker sweepstakes, with the Mets offering $220 million and the Blue Jays a long-term contract.

The back-to-back World Series champions add yet another superstar player to their already loaded roster. Tucker now joins a lineup that already includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

Tucker, 28, is one of the most consistent players in the league, totaling at least 4.0 fWAR in five consecutive seasons. In his lone season with the Cubs, Tucker hit .266/.377/.464 while hitting 22 home runs and 22 stolen bases.

The Dodgers already brought in the top relief pitcher on the market, Edwin Diaz, with Tucker being the latest of big offseason splashes.

With the 2027 season in doubt due to an expiring CBA, Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers are pushing all their chips in and going for a three-peat, which would put them in a category with only the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics.

On January 16, legendary sports broadcaster Bob Uecker passed away from lung cancer.

Before his career as a broadcaster, Uecker was a catcher in the MLB from 1962 to 1967. Uecker played for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Philadelphia Phillies. In 1964, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, who won the World Series.

>50 SPORTS GREATS WHO DIED IN 2025 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

In 1971, Uecker started his career as the voice of the Brewers. Uecker was an announcer for the Brewers for 54 years, one of the longest tenures in MLB history. Following Uecker’s passing, Christian Yelich, an outfielder for the Brewers, shared a heartfelt message, highlighting how much Uecker’s relationship meant to him.

“You’d always thank me for my friendship, but the truth of it is the pleasure was all mine. I’ll miss you, my friend,” Yelich said.

Uecker will forever be remembered at American Family Field, where the Brewers play, as he has a statue at the field. In section 422, row 1, seat 1, Uecker is also recognized for often joking around during the broadcast, mentioning that he always sits in the last row at the top of the stadium.

In 1994, Uecker was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame, and in 2001, he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Uecker is also a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, received the Ford C. Frick Award, and is a part of the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor.

Connelly Early made a powerful entrance in the MLB on Tuesday, striking out 11 batters over five scoreless innings in his debut with the Boston Red Sox.

The 23-year-old left-hander was promoted from the Triple-A Worcester, the minor league associated with the Red Sox, earlier that day due to pitcher Dustin May being placed on the injured list. Early arrived in Sacramento and spent his afternoon reviewing scouting reports in preparation for the fast-approaching game.

The preparation paid off as Early made one of the best pitching debuts in Red Sox history, striking out 11 batters in Tuesday’s 6-0 win against the Athletics. The performance tied with Don Aase‘s 1997 record for the most strikeouts in a Red Sox debut.

“He was really good,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. “He was prepared, too, which was eye-opening. He did his own homework, went through it with the coaching staff, and executed… He was outstanding.”

Early relied on a diverse mix of curveballs and fastballs, striking out 52% of all batters he faced. His dominance in the field continued in his strong season with the minor league.

He combined a 10-3 record and a 2.60 ERA for the 2025 minor league season. Early struck out 132 batters in just over 100 innings before Tuesday’s needed debut.

The rookie’s poise and confidence impressed his new teammates immediately.

“He let out some emotion after some big strikeouts,” right fielder Rob Refsnyder said after the game. “I can’t really think of a better way to start your career.”

His debut could not have come at a better time for the Red Sox, who face depth issues while navigating a playoff chase. With May on the sidelines until further notice, Early could earn another turn in the rotation.

The rookie left a strong first impression, giving the Red Sox stability in a moment of need and showcasing the pitcher’s capability of handling higher-level competition.

San Francisco Giants hitter Rafael Devers‘ first-inning two-run home run sparked a bench-clearing brawl at Coors Field on Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, resulting in three players being ejected.

Devers watched his 397-foot shot soar over the right field wall before running the bases, infuriating Rockies starter Kyle Freeland. Freeland confronted Devers near first base, triggering the chaotic shoves and shouts.

The brawl forced the ejection of Freeland, along with Giants third baseman Matt Chapman and shortstop Willy Adames. Umpire Dan Bellino told The Athletic that Freeland’s actions were “overly aggressive.”

“He was an instigator, same with Chapman,” Bellino said. “And Adames, while initially he was not one of the instigators, he prolonged the bench-clearing situation by instigating a second melee.”

Devers was allowed to finish his home run trot after a nearly eight-minute delay due to the chaos on the field. The giants quickly restructured their lineup to cover the loss of Chapman and Adames.

Devers was moved to third base for the first time since joining the club in mid-June. Christian Moss moved from second base to shortstop, Casey Schmitt entered at second, and Dominic Smith entered at first. The new alignment provided enough stability for the Giants to take control of the game once more.

The Rockies replaced Freeland with reliever Antonio Senzatela, but San Francisco prevailed. Schmitt and Wilmer Flores hit fifth-inning home runs, while catcher Patrick Bailey secured another two-run shot in the eighth inning.

The team effectively sealed the victory despite the early game fiasco with the San Francisco bullpen’s quick adaptation.

The Giants improved to 70-69, the ninth win in the past 10 games, in a late push toward the National League Wild Card race. The Rockies fell to 39-100, the team’s third consecutive year reaching the 100-loss mark.

Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez said he apologized to catcher Cesar Salazar after hitting him in the chest with a pitch during Tuesday night’s game, insisting he didn’t hit his teammate on purpose.

Valdez gave up a grand slam to the Yankees’ Trent Grisham in the fifth inning at Daikin Park. Before Valdez threw the pitch, Salazar urged the pitcher to step off the mound, but he proceeded with the pitch, ignoring the call.

Grisham hit the ball deep into left field, securing a 6-0 lead in the eventual 7-1 win against the Astros. Valdez hit Salazar with a 93 mph pitch on the second pitch to the next batter.

Salazar looked stunned after the incident and stared hard at Valdez from home plate. Valdez almost immediately turned back around to carry on with the game, raising questions on whether or not it was intentional.

“What happened with us, we just got crossed up,” Valdez said to reporters through an interpreter. “I called for that pitch, I threw it, and we got crossed up. We went down to the dugout, and I excused myself with him, and I said sorry to him, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Reporters directly asked Valdez if it was an accident or not.

“No,” he said. “It was not intentional.”

After the game, both players were called into the manager’s office to sort out the situation.

Salazar confirmed Valdez’s statement, telling reporters they have a good relationship. Reporters asked Salazar what happened with the pitch when he got hit.

“There was a good amount of Yankees fans, so it was pretty loud after the grand slam,” Salazar said. “Maybe my pitch count wasn’t in the right spot, so I pressed the wrong button, you know.”

Although both players confirmed it was nothing more than an accident, the incident did not look great for either of them, especially Valdez.

San Diego Padres pitcher Jason Adam suffered a serious injury during Monday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Adam collapsed onto the ground at the top of the seventh inning after throwing a pitch to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. After trainers came out to him, Adam was carted off the field. Cameras caught Adam allegedly saying he “felt something pop.”

“It was pain at first, and then you can kind of come to like, ‘Hey, did we get the out?’ Then, it’s just waiting to hear how long,” Adam told reporters after the game, recalling the moment.

The crowd could be heard applauding Adam as he was taken away. The Orioles gained the game-winning run that inning, securing a 4-3 win.

During a post-game press conference, Padres manager Mike Shildt reported that Adam suffered a ruptured quad tendon, describing the prognosis as “not favorable.”

Further testing has been scheduled, but the recovery window is expected to be six to nine months, essentially ending Adam’s 2025 season short.

Adam has been a cornerstone for the Padres’ bullpen with an amazing 1.93 ERA. His performance earned Adam his first All-Star selection for the July midsummer classic. Adam’s ability to shut down opponents in any situation made him one of the best arms in the league.

His consistency in late innings has helped the Padres maintain their playoff position and marks a considerable loss for the club. During his post-game interview, Adam praised the team and his resolve to support them throughout his recovery.

“There’s everything in this clubhouse to win the World Series,” Adam said. “You want to be a part of that, but I can still play a small part in that and show up every day for the boys.”

Despite the setback, San Diego’s bullpen still holds strong with All-Star closer Mason Miller taking over for Adam. As a result of Monday’s loss, the Padres fell 2 1/2 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Wilson Contreras lost his cool after striking out in the seventh inning during Monday night’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The incident occurred at the bottom of the seventh inning after home plate umpire Derek Thomas correctly called a third strike against Contreras. The Cardinals held a 6-5 lead with a runner on first base when Contreras was rung up.

At first, Contreras walked back toward the dugout and appeared to accept the call. However, he then allegedly looked back at the umpire, and the outburst ensued. Contreras turned back toward home plate as several coaches and staff, including Cardinals manager Oli Marmol and bench coach Daniel Descalso, held him back.

As Contreras was dragged back to the dugout, he threw his bat in the direction of the umpire as he continued to yell. Instead, the bat hit another one of the Cardinals’ coaches, Brant Brown.

When Contreras finally settled down in the dugout, an entire bucket of Hi-Chew was thrown on the field near first base. The team’s batboys had to clean up the scene, although it is unknown whether Contreras was responsible.

While it is common for players and managers to get upset over calls, leaving their position to argue a call is not allowed and can result in being ejected from the game. Contreras’s excessive reaction led to his and Marmol’s ejection from the game.

Throwing the bat in the direction of an umpire and the overall outburst went too far for a correctly called strike. It is unknown at the time whether or not the MLB will pursue any further punishment for Contreras’s actions.

Despite the chaos, the Cardinals held the lead against the Pirates and won 7-6 on Monday. The potential loss of one of the Cardinals’ star players could be significant for future games.

The Toronto Blue Jays are in first place in the AL East and have the best record in baseball.

Toronto finished the 2024 season with a 74-88 record, placing last in the AL East.

The Blue Jays made limited moves in the offseason, highlighted by extending star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year $500 million contract. Toronto also re-signed reliever Jeff Hoffman and signed right fielder Anthony Santander, and future first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer.

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Toronto also made a big push to sign Nippon Professional Baseball star pitcher Roki Sasaki. Toronto made a trade to acquire additional international pool money in hopes of being the top bidder, but Sasaki ultimately chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in baseball this season, led by Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer and Alejandro Kirk.

Toronto has the best batting average, on-base percentage, and the fewest number of strikeouts this season. Toronto is in the top 10 for slugging percentage and RBIs, but is in the bottom half of the league for home runs.

The pitching unit for Toronto has been inconsistent, led by Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Eric Lauer, and Chris Bassitt.

The Blue Jays are in the top three for strikeouts, and the top 10 for batting average allowed, walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP). However, the Blue Jays are in the bottom half of the league for ERA and the bottom five for home runs allowed.

Even with the pitching inconsistencies, Toronto’s defense is one of the best in baseball. That, combined with a potent offense, is a key reason why the Blue Jays have the best record in the league.

With the trade deadline on July 30, Toronto may look to add pitching help, with Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller being a name to look out for.

Toronto is poised to make the postseason. With a 5½ game lead over the second-place Yankees and the best overall record in baseball, it would take a second-half disaster for Toronto to miss the postseason entirely.

Toronto Blue Jays Schedule & Tickets

• August 24: at Miami Marlins
• August 25: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 26: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 27: vs. Minnesota Twins
• August 29: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• August 30: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• August 31: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• September 1: at Cincinnati Reds
• September 2: at Cincinnati Reds
• September 3: at Cincinnati Reds
• September 5: at New York Yankees
• September 6: at New York Yankees
• September 7: at New York Yankees
• September 9: vs. Houston Astros
• September 10: vs. Houston Astros
• September 11: vs. Houston Astros
• September 12: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• September 13: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• September 14: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• September 15: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 16: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 17: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 18: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 19: at Kansas City Royals
• September 20: at Kansas City Royals
• September 21: at Kansas City Royals
• September 23: vs. Boston Red Sox
• September 24: vs. Boston Red Sox
• September 25: vs. Boston Red Sox
• September 26: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• September 27: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• September 28: vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Toronto Blue Jays Odds

Toronto is in a fantastic spot to make the postseason, as its odds are -5000. Toronto’s odds of winning the American League are +425, and its odds of winning the World Series are +1300.

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The Boston Red Sox have a record of 55-49, which is good enough for third place in the AL East and the third wild-card spot.

Boston finished the 2024 season with an 81-81 record and missed out on the postseason. The front office knew they had to make moves to compete in 2025, and Boston did just that.

The Red Sox made a trade for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet in exchange for four prospects. Boston also made big moves in free agency, signing third baseman Alex Bregman, starting pitcher Walker Buehler and closer Aroldis Chapman.

The Bregman signing caused drama with Rafael Devers because they both play the same position. Devers was asked to DH full-time as Bregman is a better defensive player.

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In May, first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Devers was asked to play first, but he declined because he was already asked to switch positions.

The Devers saga ended on June 15, when the Red Sox traded him to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison. Boston also got two prospects in return.

Despite all the drama, the Red Sox are putting together a solid 2025 campaign.

The offense has been a bright spot for the Red Sox.

Boston has the second most hits, is in the top five for slugging percentage, and is in the top 10 for on-base percentage and home runs. One area where Boston struggles is striking out, ranking in the bottom three in the league.

Pitching has been up and down for the Red Sox. Boston is in the top 10 for ERA and preventing home runs, but is close to the bottom 10 for batting average allowed and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP).

Boston will be interesting to monitor as the trade deadline approaches. Given Devers has already been traded, Boston could look to trade more of its veterans, but buying could also be an option, considering they hold the last wild-card spot.

Boston Red Sox Schedule & Tickets

• August 15: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 16: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 17: vs. Miami Marlins
• August 18: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• August 19: vs. Baltimore Orioles
• August 21: at New York Yankees
• August 22: at New York Yankees
• August 23: at New York Yankees
• August 24: at New York Yankees
• August 25: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 26: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 27: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 28: at Baltimore Orioles
• August 29: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 30: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 31: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• September 1: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 2: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 3: vs. Cleveland Guardians
• September 5: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 6: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 7: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• September 8: at Athletics
• September 9: at Athletics
• September 10: at Athletics
• September 12: vs. New York Yankees
• September 13: vs. New York Yankees
• September 14: vs. New York Yankees
• September 16: vs. Athletics
• September 17: vs. Athletics
• September 18: vs. Athletics
• September 19: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 20: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 21: at Tampa Bay Rays
• September 23: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 24: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 25: at Toronto Blue Jays
• September 26: vs. Detroit Tigers
• September 27: vs. Detroit Tigers
• September 28: vs. Detroit Tigers

Boston Red Sox Odds

The Red Sox have great odds to make the postseason at +115. Its odds to win the American League are +1500, and its odds to win the World Series are +4000.

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