10 Bets to Watch, Batter vs. Pitcher Matchups + Argonauts Have Rights to Sanders

In today’s newsletter…

• Leading Off: Could Shedeur Sanders end up in the CFL?

• Bets to Watch: Angels are second in MLB in strikeouts per game

• Matchups: Aaron Judge is all-or-nothing vs. today’s pitcher

• Player to Watch: Eugenio Suarez (36 HR) is a major trade target

• Overtime: We have a big pre-deadline MLB trade!

Four QBs on an NFL roster? It’s not likely — but it’s not impossible, according to the Browns’ GM.

Cleveland famously drafted Dillon Gabriel (third round) and Shedeur Sanders (fifth round) this year, adding them to 40-year-old Super Bowl champ Joe Flacco and former first-round pick Kenny Pickett.

Pickett took all the first-team reps in 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday, according to ESPN, before splitting them with Flacco on Wednesday. According to those same reports, Gabriel ran the second-team offense and Sanders the third team on Tuesday, with the two splitting second- and third-team reps on Wednesday.

While GM Andrew Berry insists that none of the four must be cut from the 53-man roster, it’s still rare to field a quartet once the season gets going.

One possible outcome for Sanders, per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell: the CFL, where his negotiating rights belong to the Toronto Argonauts.

Betting-wise, the Browns’ Week 1 QB race is off the board at FanDuel, unlike Indianapolis’ and New Orleans’. But Sanders is +4000 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

—Patrick Dorsey

Eovaldi Only Allowed 6 Earned Runs in Past 9 Starts for Rangers

By Craig Williams

Yankees over 1.5 runs first 3 innings (-130 at DraftKings)
If the Yankees have done one thing well since returning from the All-Star break, it’s hit homers. Their 12 home runs rank second in MLB since the break, and Phillies starter Taijuan Walker has been homer prone in recent seasons — and that’s certainly a risky way to operate at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have averaged 4.8 runs per game since starting the second half, and we envision them enjoying offensive success in their return home.

Phillies over 4.5 runs (-111 at FanDuel)
The Phillies have been hitting even better than the Yankees since the season resumed a week ago. They’ve hit 13 home runs and are averaging 5.2 runs per game through six contests. They’ll take aim at Will Warren, who has struggled of late, producing a 7.23 ERA and allowing five home runs across his past 18.2 innings. Unless he’s able to recapture the form he enjoyed from May 9 to June 27 (51.2 IP, 2.20 FIP), he’s going to have trouble against a tough Phillies lineup.

Mets vs. Giants under 7.5 runs (-110 at bet365)
The Mets found a bit of a groove coming out of the break, rolling to a 4-2 mark across two series. They’re hitting the road, where they’re worse, both in the win-loss record and in the batters' box. The Giants, meanwhile, are not offensive juggernauts either, especially at home, where Oracle Park plays as one of the game’s most pitcher-friendly parks.

Giants moneyline first 5 innings (-142 at FanDuel)
We’re anticipating a low-scoring affair tonight, and that would play in the Giants’ favor with ace Logan Webb on the hill. While Webb has been roughed up in two consecutive starts (vs. Dodgers, at Blue Jays), he produced a 2.30 ERA across seven starts and 47.1 innings prior to his rough stretch. He carries favorable home splits into tonight’s start, and we like him to outduel Clay Holmes, who will take the ball for the Mets with a 5.66 ERA in four July starts.

Dodgers vs. Red Sox over 9.5 runs (-120 at ESPNBET)
It’s been a rough stretch for the Dodgers, who are 7-11 in July despite having the league’s fourth-best ISO since returning from the All-Star break. It looks like they’re back in enough of a groove to do their part to reach the over. They’ll have help from the Red Sox, who are top-five since July 1 across a number of offensive categories. The Dodgers are leaning on a bullpen game, a strategy that presents as many pitfalls as benefits.

Red Sox +1.5 (-154 at FanDuel)
The Dodgers have struggled just enough recently to believe the Red Sox can cover behind their hot bats, and starting pitcher Brayan Bello, who has a 2.73 ERA and 22/3 K/BB over his past 26.1 innings. The Dodgers are desperate for pitching reinforcements, and they enter tonight’s tilt at Fenway with a “modest” +22 run differential on the road (compared to +44 at home).

Braves under 2.5 runs first 7 innings (-120 at DraftKings) 
The Braves are facing off against All-Star snub Nathan Eovaldi, who enters tonight’s start with a 0.48 ERA across his past 18.2 frames. We love his current form, but Eovaldi has been sharp for an even longer period of time — he’s only allowed six earned runs over his past nine starts. Not only will the Braves be facing a tough pitcher (on paper), but they have a .689 OPS on the road.

Rangers moneyline (-165 at bet365)
The Rangers have won three in a row, and they’re 8-2 over their past 10 games. They have also done a good job protecting their home turf — they’re 31-20 at Globe Life Field. The Braves, meanwhile, are 18-31 away from home, and it will be their first time out of Atlanta since July 13 in St. Louis. If their road struggles continue, and the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi remains razor sharp, the Braves will struggle to add a tally in the win column.

Brian Woo 6+ strikeouts (-185 at DraftKings)
Woo carries better home numbers overall, but his strikeout rate is a little higher on the road. He’s punched out at least six in five of his past six starts, and he’s facing one of the most strikeout prone teams in the league. The Angels are second in MLB in strikeouts per game, and they’ve averaged nine punchouts over their past three contests. Woo has recorded at least six innings in each of his starts this season. That length combined with the Angels’ propensity to swing and miss have us eyeing six whiffs from Woo.

Cubs -0.5 first 5 innings (-125 at DraftKings)
It’s been a somewhat choppy sophomore campaign for Imanaga, who has missed two stretches of time this season. He appears to be rounding into a nice rhythm though, as he’s produced a 2.13 ERA and 0.71 WHIP across 25.1 July innings. He’s facing the “red-hot” White Sox, who enter tonight’s contest with a 9-10 record in July and middle-of-the-pack offensive numbers — a far cry from what we’ve seen from them the past two-plus seasons. However, we’re not ready to trust the White Sox — with the trade deadline looming — maintaining their elevated level of play against the crafty Imanaga. 

Aaron Judge Has Been HR, Walk or Nothing vs. Phillies Starter Taijuan Walker

Batters to Watch

• George Springer (Blue Jays) vs. Keider Montero (Tigers): 3-3, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI

• Jo Adell (Angels) vs. Bryan Woo (Mariners): 3-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB

• Josh Jung (Rangers) vs. Joey Wentz (Braves): 4-6, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K

• Jose Iglesias (Padres) vs. Miles Mikolas (Cardinals): 6-12, 2 RBI

• Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Yankees) vs. Taijuan Walker (Phillies): 7-15, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K

• Paul Goldschmidt (Yankees) vs. Taijuan Walker (Phillies): 5-13, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 K

• Aaron Judge (Yankees) vs. Taijuan Walker (Phillies): 4-13, 4 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K

Pitchers to Watch 

• Jose Soriano (Angels) has easily handled Mariners batters, striking out 20 and allowing just 13 hits in 75 at-bats. His slash line against is an impressive .173/.235/.200.

• Nick Pivetta (Padres) is not a welcome sight for Cardinals hitters; in 23 at-bats, he’s allowed 3 hits and a .424 OPS against while striking out 10.

• Arizona’s Ryne Nelson boasts a .158 batting average against (6-38) vs. current Pirates, with just one walk and a .463 OPS allowed.

• Adell aside, Woo has excelled vs. Angels hitters, allowing just 11 hits and striking out 14 in 58 at-bats. His OPS against is .527.

• Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers) has been effective vs. current Atlanta hitters, allowing a .155/.222/.224 slash line in 58 at-bats.

• Will Warren (Yankees) has allowed just 3 hits in 19 at-bats vs. current Phillies, for a .158/.238/.211 slash line.

• Ryan Gusto (Astros) has not allowed a hit in 13 at-bats vs. present-day Athletics. He has 6 Ks to just 1 BB.

• Logan Webb (Giants) has allowed a .196 batting average over 107 at-bats vs. current Mets, with 26 strikeouts and a .554 OPS against.

D-Backs Slugger Eugenio Suarez Looks to Keep Up Hot Play Amid Trade Speculation

Name: Eugenio Suarez
Team: Diamondbacks (50-53)
Position: Third Baseman/Designated Hitter
Today’s Matchup: at Pirates (42-61)
2025 Stats: .252 AVG, 18 2B, 36 HR, 86 RBI, 29 BB, .325 OBP, .593 SLG, .918 OPS

Past 5 Games

• vs. Astros (7/23): 0-3, 1 BB, 2 K

• vs. Astros (7/22): 0-4, 3 K

• vs. Astros (7/21): 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB

• vs. Cardinals (7/20): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI

• vs. Cardinals (7/19): 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB

Head-to-Head

• Suarez has just two plate appearances vs. the Pirates’ Mike Burrows, with no hits but one walk.

Potential Bets

• 1+ Home Run +300

• 2+ Home Runs +2500

• 1+ Hit -210

• 2+ Total Bases +115

• 3+ Total Bases +195

• 1+ RBI +140

In the News 

• The first major MLB trade of the pre-deadline period has happened.

• The Raiders are reportedly releasing Christian Wilkins because of how he treated his rehab from a foot injury.

• Kansas coach Bill Self underwent a heart procedure after “concerning symptoms.”

• Aaron Rodgers’ first pass of training camp was an interception.

What to Watch (times are ET)

• 4pm: 3M Open on Golf Channel

• 7:05pm: Phillies vs. Yankees on Apple TV+

• 8:10pm: Guardians vs. Royals on Apple TV+

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