Sports
MLB Best Bets Today: Guardians Value Play and White Sox-Giants Total
Apr 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) during the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images My “bonus” selection didn’t pan out on Wednesday, so let’s stick to two MLB picks today as we head into the long weekend.
Season Record 25-21-1, +1.12 Units
Guardians at Phillies
Okay, this is a tough one as we’re going against one of the top starters in baseball.
The Phillies roll out Cristopher Sanchez and he has so far followed up his top three Cy Young performances in 2025 with an even better 1.82 ERA encore 2026. The one mini knock against him was he did not have exciting strikeout numbers, Well, he’s up to 29.9% K% (91st percentile) and 32% Whiff% (90th percentile) while maintaining his extreme worm-burner ways (59% GB%, 98th percentile). His WHIP is “elevated” at 1.20 thanks to a high .359 BABIP and we can’t attribute that all to bad luck as he’s giving up harder contact than usual. Plus he’s got a bad defensive team behind him as the Phillies rank fifth worst in MLB with -8 Fielding Runs allowed (not including Catcher defense).
Still, why fade this, especially with a Phillies offense that’s hitting much better lately? Well the Guardians have excelled in this spot. They’re 13-4, 42% ROI on the F5 run line as underdogs. Also they’re 12-3, 58.1% ROI vs. lefty starters on the F5. They don’t have the most imposing lineup, but they’ve hit well against southpaws with a 113 wRC+, seventh best in MLB. Jose Ramirez not shockingly leads the way at .340/.438/.679 and 5 homers in just 64 PA’s.
The Guardians will start Gavin Williams, who sporadically flashes ace stuff but can also walk the farm. That hasn’t been a problem lately however as he has just a 3.7% BB% over his last six starts, vs. a 27.3% K%. Unfortunately that hasn’t translated to great bottom line numbers as he has just a 4.42 ERA. Like Sanchez, he’s not controlling contact well. But importantly his team defense is much better, so there’s serious potential for a lights out performance any time Williams takes the mound. I know it’s an uphill battle in this game but I like the price on the dog here.
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White Sox at Giants
I know the “bingo card” analogy is a little tiresome, but who had Davis Martin vs. Trevor McDonald matchup as a battle of budding aces? I’m overstating a bit, but Martin has a 1.61 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 56 IP for the surprisingly competitive White Sox. Estimators will always expect those sorts of numbers to regress, but he’s got a 22.8% K-BB% and 3.02 SIERA, so he’s been legit terrific. McDonald meanwhile has replaced the injured Logan Webb and way outpitched him with a 2.37 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 19 IP in three starts.
What’s most impressive is that he’s done that in very tough matchups (Padres, at Dodgers, at A’s) and the metrics say it’s pretty real as he’s rocking a 2.62 SIERA. It’s a pitchers ballpark and the Giants have a lousy offense, so runs should be at a premium here.
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Sports
Cards-Reds game ppd., to be made up as part of DH on Aug. 17
May 13, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; A view of the tarp on the field as rain falls before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The start of the game was delayed due to inclement weather. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Sunday’s scheduled series finale between the St. Louis Cardinals and Reds in Cincinnati was postponed due to inclement weather.
This game will be made up as part of a split-doubleheader on Aug. 17.
The series opener on Friday also was postponed due to inclement weather. The National League Central rivals played a doubleheader on Saturday as a result, with the Cardinals posting an 8-1 win in the first game before the Reds rebounded with a 7-6 victory in 11 innings.
The Cardinals have lost three of their last four games heading into Monday’s opener of a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds, in turn, have won three of their last four games. They open a three-game series against the host New York Mets on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
'Double' trouble: Katherine Legge crashes, exits Indy 500: 'I'm gutted'
HMD Motorsports driver Katherine Legge (11) during the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images Katherine Legge swerved from her high-side position to avoid a collision with Ryan Hunter-Reay but her Indianapolis 500 and attempt for the “double” with a Sunday night entry in the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 ended in a spinout.
Legge was uninjured in the incident and will travel to Charlotte to run in the NASCAR race. The British driver was making the sixth bid to complete both races on Memorial Day weekend before the 45-year-old ran into trouble in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday afternoon.
Her Indy 500 experience lasted just 18 laps.
Coming out of Turn 2, Ryan Hunter-Reay lost control of his Chevrolet and bounced off the wall at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As he tried to right himself, Legge said she couldn’t see much ahead of her because of smoke from Hunter-Reay’s car. When she finally saw the car, Legge had to take quick action to avoid him. After a sharp left turn, she wound up crashing into the infield fence, with her car sustaining significant damage.
Both drivers were out of the race and checked in the medical tent. No apparent injuries were sustained.
“He came back up the track, so last minute I had to go left. It just wasn’t enough time to avoid,” Legge said Sunday.
Legge was able to exit her No. 11 Chevrolet for HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing without assistance. Hunter-Reay was also uninjured.
“Desperately frustrating,” Legge said of her mindset Sunday afternoon. “To be taken out by something not in your control, it would be slightly better to be taken out by something in your control … we were looking forward to a long day, 1,100 miles.”
Legge had only a few hours to switch her gear, her car and her mindset entering the Coca-Cola 600.
“I need to have an attitude adjustment, because right now I’m pissed,” Legge said. “And disappointed. I need to get on that plane and try and get into the right mindset.”
The “double” calls for a driver to compete in two premiere races, covering 1,100 miles with barely a moment to spare between the Indy and NASCAR Cup Series races. Five drivers previously have attempted the double since John Andretti hatched the idea in 1994 for AJ Foyt Racing. Andretti finished 10th at Indy but was knocked out after 220 laps at Charlotte due to engine trouble.
“Very few drivers ever get the opportunity to attempt the ‘double,’ and I do not take that opportunity lightly,” Legge said last week. “This challenge is about pushing through perceived limits … and trying to do something unique.”
Tony Stewart in 2001 is the lone driver to finish on the lead lap of both races on the same day.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cubs place RHP Edward Cabrera on 15-day IL with finger blister
May 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Edward Cabrera (30) throws the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.
The move is retroactive to Thursday. Left-hander Jordan Wicks was called up from Triple-A Iowa to fill Cabrera’s roster spot for the Cubs, who entered Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros at 29-23 and in third place in the National League Central amid a seven-game losing streak.
Cabrera, 28, is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 10 games (all starts) this season.
The Cubs also are without left-hander Matthew Boyd, who underwent left knee surgery on May 7. Boyd simulated multiple innings off the mound on Friday and is scheduled to face hitters this week in a live batting-practice session during a four-game series in Pittsburgh.
Chicago already has lost right-hander Cade Horton (elbow surgery) for the remainder of this season and might not have left-hander Justin Steele (left flexor strain) back until the second half.
Wicks went 0-1 with a 6.28 ERA in eight games for the Cubs last season and was 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA in seven Triple-A starts this season.
–Field Level Media
Cards-Reds game ppd., to be made up as part of DH on Aug. 17
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