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Fox News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
MLB Roundtable: Worry Time For Kyle Tucker? Roman's Red Sox Deal A Risk?
The Red Sox are entering a Roman reign, but is Boston's big move worth the price? In this week's roundtable, FOX Sports MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar answer that question, look at Kyle Tucker's summer struggles, and pick which contender team could fade in the fall. But let's first start out West with the enigmatic A's. 1. The Athletics can't pitch, and that's why they sit in last place in the AL West. But their lineup, including Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, has been fantastic. Are the A's quietly some better pitching away from contending? Kavner: There were some who picked the A's as a dark-horse team to make the playoffs before the season based on the young talent in place on the offensive side, and while that prognostication doesn't look too good now, the growth of those pieces suggests that even a mediocre pitching staff could help them contend soon. Now, finding a way to entice pitchers to go to a minor league ballpark — let alone one where the ball flies the way it has at Sutter Health Park — was going to be difficult even before Luis Severino posted his stark home (1-9, 6.34 ERA) and road (5-2, 3.17) splits, which might scare prospective free agents off even more. But, maybe some pitchers will overlook that when they see the potential in a roster that includes an All-Star starting shortstop in Jacob Wilson, the best hitter in baseball over the last two months in Kurtz, plus Langeliers, Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom, a group that should mash for years to come. If the prospects in the Mason Miller trade pan out, too, brighter days could be ahead in the not-too-distant future. Thosar: Kurtz is the frontrunner for the AL Rookie of the Year award after his eye-popping four-homer game a couple of weeks ago, and right behind him is teammate Jacob Wilson, whose 119 wRC+ is third-best among AL rookies, trailing only Kurtz and Boston's Roman Anthony. The A's have three hitters in the AL's top 30 (Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Wilson) in terms of wRC+, which paints an offense that's in line with most playoff contenders — better even than Detroit, Boston, and Houston overall. But their pitching staff is not only ranked the worst in the AL, it's also 28th in MLB. That was to be expected, since it will continue to be difficult to entice quality arms to pitch in the hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park, short of offering them an outrageous contract (though that hasn't worked out so well for Luis Severino, either). So, yes, the A's could contend for the playoffs with better pitching, but given their ballpark situation for at least the next 3-4 years, it's a bleak outlook. 2. The Brewers were the first team to 70 wins, partly due to in-season pickup Andrew Vaughn. Is he genuinely a better hitter now than he was with the White Sox? Kavner: After watching Gavin Sheets put up his best season as a pro in his first year after leaving Chicago, it doesn't seem too far-fetched that a player with the raw power and pedigree of Vaughn, a former Golden Spikes Award winner at Cal and No. 3 overall pick, would find another level with a fresh start on a contending team. Now, no one could've anticipated this kind of dramatic turnaround this quickly. Is he all of a sudden one of the best hitters in MLB and a 1.000+ OPS guy the rest of the year in Milwaukee? Probably not, but the underlying numbers suggest this upswing isn't just a fluke. With a faster yet more compact swing, he's managing to hit the ball harder and get to his pull-side power while cutting his strikeout rate almost in half from what it was with the White Sox. The sample size is still small, but this is the best 22-game stretch of his career. Even if he doesn't stay this hot, there are reasons to believe he's a better hitter now than what we had seen to this point in his career. Thosar: Not even the Brewers could've anticipated that Vaughn would go from hitting .211 in Triple-A at the time they traded for him, to becoming the scariest hitter in Milwaukee's lineup a month later. I mean, the difference in his production with Chicago is staggering. Vaughn slashed .189/.218/.314 with five home runs, seven walks, and 19 RBIs in 48 games with the White Sox this season before they demoted him to the minors at the end of May. Jump forward to today, and he's slashing .377/.444/.701 with seven home runs, 10 walks, and 28 RBIs in 22 games with the Brewers. The 27-year-old said he hasn't tinkered with his swing or approach since getting traded, but there are obvious differences, including his newfound plate discipline. If Vaughn can continue to command the zone and cut down on his chase rate and strikeouts, then the underlying power numbers have always been there to suggest this version of Vaughn, particularly stretched out over the second half of the season, can be sustainable. 3. Roman Anthony just got paid by the Red Sox with a $130 million extension that could escalate to $230 million. Do you see this move for the rookie as an aggressive one, or just right? Kavner: I think it's a prudent move for a surging Red Sox team that traded away Rafael Devers, did little of note at the deadline and understands the pain of watching homegrown superstars leave town. From Brayan Bello to Ceddanne Rafaela to Kristian Campbell, the Red Sox have been proactive in finding ways to keep their young talents through what would have been their early free-agent years. The MVP ceiling is higher in Anthony than any of the aforementioned players, which is reflected in the total value of the new contract. The team assumes some risk, considering Anthony is not even 50 games into his big-league career, but the 21-year-old phenom with preternatural plate discipline and a penchant for hard hits is already batting 26% better than league average and playing above-average outfield defense. Rather than watch him reach his potential and then sign a Juan Soto or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. type of deal at 26, the Red Sox now ensure he'll be in Boston throughout his 20s. Anthony's already a top-of-the-lineup force, and if he starts to lift the ball more often, he possesses all the tools to develop into one of the most feared hitters in the game. Thosar: This was a smart move by the Red Sox, especially when you consider the climate in which they did it. The heat was turned all the way up on Craig Breslow and John Henry after trading away homegrown slugger Rafael Devers, and it brought back depressing memories of when the Red Sox failed to sign Mookie Betts to a long-term contract. So when the opportunity came to lock up Roman Anthony long-term, Boston moved quickly in part to get back in the good graces of the fanbase, and to lay the groundwork for the 21-year-old to become the next homegrown star. Not even 50 games into his major-league career, Anthony is a strong contender to finish second in AL Rookie of the Year voting, which means he would earn a full year of service time. In that case, the Red Sox' extension buys out three free-agent years, all while ensuring that Anthony can no longer maximize what he could make in his arbitration. After so much of what this front office has done has been puzzling, this is a deal that makes sense. 4. Is it time to start worrying about Kyle Tucker? The slugger has hit just one home run since July 1, and is batting .208/.353/.271 in that stretch. Kavner: My main concern is whether he's playing hurt. He exited a game with a finger injury on June 1. To that point, he had a .524 slugging percentage, a .918 OPS and an 11.9% strikeout rate. Since then, he has a .413 slugging percentage, a .786 OPS and a 17.5% strikeout rate. He also missed a couple games after fouling a ball off his knee on July 22 and has a .685 OPS with two extra-base hits in 11 games since. It's possible this is just a blip in yet another sensational season. In 2023, he had a .681 OPS in May and an OPS over .850 every other month. In 2022, he had a .625 OPS in July and followed that up with a .921 OPS the following month. These things can happen, but the precipitous drop-off does have me wondering how healthy he is. Thosar: It's surprising to think Tucker has been a below-league average hitter since July 1 (.624 OPS, 91 wRC+), which is his worst-career 28-game stretch since May 2023, when he recorded a .681 OPS. But Tucker has gone through these stretches when he's played full seasons. In July 2022, he posted a .625 OPS and rebounded for a .921 OPS in August. In April 2021, he had a .610 OPS and then he hit a groove for a .940 OPS the following month. Those are all the years that Tucker has played 100+ games, including this season. So, his history tells us a dip in his numbers is par for the course when he's on pace to finish the season with a minimum of 140 games played. That theory will be proven right if he picks up his production over this next week or so. If not, then it's fair to question whether the finger injury Tucker sustained on June 1 could be affecting him more than he's admitting. Still, I wouldn't start worrying about the four-time All-Star unless the past month's slump trickles into, say, September. 5. Prediction time! Name one team currently holding onto a playoff spot that will fumble it before the season's end. Kavner: Is it too boring if I say the current playoff field is the one we'll see in October? All right, fine, fine, that's no fun. As tempting as it is to pick one of the New York teams here, I'll say the Astros. Their first half was incredible considering all the injuries they had weathered, but we're starting to see the cracks in their depleted roster. They have a losing record since the start of July, the Mariners might now be the most talented team in the American League after beefing up at the deadline, and the Rangers have finally started to wake up. A lot of Houston's pieces are expected back in the second half, but who knows how long it will take for them to get back up to speed — or where the Astros will be in the standings when those reinforcements arrive. Thosar: So much can change in the next seven-plus weeks, but if we're looking at recent trends… It's the Mets. Among the 12 teams currently holding onto playoff spots, the Mets have the second-worst run differential (+35), behind only the Mariners (+30). But Seattle just significantly improved at the trade deadline with the additions of Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor, and it enters Friday having won seven of its last 10 games. The Mets, on the other hand, have won only two of their last 10 games and focused on beefing up their bullpen (albeit with splashy, substantial pickups) rather than addressing their weaknesses in the rotation and lineup (sorry — adding Cedric Mullins isn't a major offensive upgrade). New York's new and improved bullpen can't save games if the offense doesn't give their relievers a lead. That being said, you'd think the top three of Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso will have to wake up at some point. But, until they do, the Mets are on their way to fumbling this. Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner. Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 MLB Odds: Bettors Believe Detroit Tigers Can Win AL Pennant
Is 2025 the year of the Tiger? Bettors at one sportsbook would certainly argue that's the case when it comes to the AL Pennant race, because at BetMGM, they're backing Detroit in a big way. At +340, the Tigers are the favorite to win the AL. They also have the highest ticket at 22.1% and the highest handle at 19.4%. And if you guessed that Detroit is BetMGM's biggest liability when it comes to this market, you were right. But will bettors' enthusiasm translate to them winning the league? Let's dive into one expert's insight after taking a look at some of the Tigers' other odds at BetMGM as of Aug. 5. World Series+900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) American League Central Winner-10000 (bet $10 to win $10.10 total) World Series: Division of Winning TeamAL Central: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total) World Series: League of Winning TeamAmerican: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total) ALCS: Division of Winning TeamAL Central: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total) Are the 66-48 Tigers actually a good bet to win the AL — especially since they're in a league with contenders like the Yankees and Blue Jays? According to FOX MLB writer Rowan Kavner, the organization fell slightly short of beefing up its roster with the necessary pieces at the trade deadline to make a real push. "Considering they've been one of the best teams in baseball all year, I expected them to more meaningfully address their deficiencies," Kavner wrote about the Tigers' trade deadline moves. "They could have used an elite piece at the back end. Instead, they opted to address their pitching issues with quantity over quality, favoring slight upgrades over major upside. "They should still cruise to a division title, but this felt like an opportunity missed." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB Odds: Bettors Believe Detroit Tigers Can Win AL Pennant
Major League Baseball 2025 MLB Odds: Bettors Believe Detroit Tigers Can Win AL Pennant Published Aug. 5, 2025 10:55 a.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Is 2025 the year of the Tiger? Bettors at one sportsbook would certainly argue that's the case when it comes to the AL Pennant race, because at BetMGM, they're backing Detroit in a big way. At +340, the Tigers are the favorite to win the AL. They also have the highest ticket at 22.1% and the highest handle at 19.4%. And if you guessed that Detroit is BetMGM's biggest liability when it comes to this market, you were right. But will bettors' enthusiasm translate to them winning the league? Let's dive into one expert's insight after taking a look at some of the Tigers' other odds at BetMGM as of Aug. 5. World Series +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) American League Central Winner -10000 (bet $10 to win $10.10 total) World Series: Division of Winning Team AL Central: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total) World Series: League of Winning Team American: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total) ALCS: Division of Winning Team AL Central: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total) Are the 66-48 Tigers actually a good bet to win the AL — especially since they're in a league with contenders like the Yankees and Blue Jays? According to FOX MLB writer Rowan Kavner, the organization fell slightly short of beefing up its roster with the necessary pieces at the trade deadline to make a real push. "Considering they've been one of the best teams in baseball all year, I expected them to more meaningfully address their deficiencies," Kavner wrote about the Tigers' trade deadline moves. "They could have used an elite piece at the back end. Instead, they opted to address their pitching issues with quantity over quality, favoring slight upgrades over major upside. ADVERTISEMENT "They should still cruise to a division title, but this felt like an opportunity missed." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! share
Fox Sports
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB trade grades: Giants win the Devers trade, but at what cost?
With the July 31 trade deadline on the horizon, it's officially silly season in Major League Baseball. Fans can expect plenty of movement throughout the league, whether it's World Series hopefuls going all-in or bottom-feeders trying to position themselves for a brighter future. FOX Sports MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar will be grading the biggest trades in the league through the July 31 trade deadline. Here's how every team has done so far: Giants acquire 3B/DH Rafael Devers from Red Sox Key stats: Devers: .272/.401/.504, 15 HR, 47 R, 48 RBI Who else is involved: The Red Sox received LHP Kyle Harrison, RHP Jordan Hicks and two prospects, OF James Tibbs III and RHP Jose Bello What it means: The tension and bad blood building between Devers and Boston's front office was San Francisco's gain, as the Giants swooped six weeks before the trade deadline to acquire one of the sport's best hitters. There was drama all year in Boston, but it was nonetheless stunning to see the Red Sox move on from Devers just two seasons into a 10-year, $313.5 million extension. The timing — in the middle of June, coming off a sweep of the Yankees, with the Red Sox now a half-game back of a wild-card spot, in a year in which Boston has made a series of moves to try to end a three-year playoff drought, and with Alex Bregman capable of opting out at season's end — was even more staggering. The relationship between Devers and the Red Sox brass started to deteriorate shortly after Boston traded for Bregman in February. The Red Sox told Devers they wanted him to move off third base, where the three-time All-Star had played since 2017, and become the full-time DH. Devers initially declined but eventually acquiesced. After a slow start at the plate, Devers took off in his new role. His 149 OPS+ is the best mark of his career and makes him a top-15 hitter in MLB. But when Triston Casas went down for the year, the drama picked up. Devers was the most obvious replacement at first base, and the Red Sox asked him to move. Devers not only refused but was also unhappy the front office put him in that spot, creating a contentious enough situation that owner John Henry flew to Kansas City after Devers' public criticisms in an attempt to ease the tensions. Clearly, friction remained. The Red Sox looked bad for not communicating well with their star. Devers looked bad for not being a team player. There were no winners in the feud, save for the Giants. Devers, the last remaining star from Boston's 2018 championship team, provides a San Francisco club that needed another offensive linchpin to seriously contend. The Giants are second in the NL West and would be a wild-card team if the season ended today, but that's because of a pitching staff with the third-best ERA — and specifically a bullpen with the best ERA — in the majors. Their offense is 22nd in OPS and 20th in wRC+. Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman, who is currently injured, were the only qualified hitters on the team with an OPS over .800 — at least, until Devers, who has a .905 OPS this year and immediately becomes their top offensive player. He also arguably makes the Giants the biggest threat to the Dodgers in the division. It's a risky commitment to a 28-year-old who already grades out poorly defensively and is signed through 2033, but this is a Giants team that hasn't had a 30-homer hitter since Barry Bonds and is guided by a new president of baseball operations in Buster Posey who wants to compete now. The start of the Willy Adames era has not gone well; Devers, who has three 30-homer seasons in his career, can alleviate some of that pressure. For the Giants, the biggest risk is financial. Their pitching staff should be able to handle the departures. Kyle Harrison was a recent top prospect, but he has a 4.48 ERA in 39 career appearances. Jordan Hicks has a 6.47 ERA this year. Tibbs was a first-round pick last year, but none of the players they lost are guaranteed to be difference-making talents. Devers, whether at DH or corner infield, is that. For the Red Sox, Devers' defensive limitations make it highly unlikely that this turns into the cataclysmic disaster that was the Mookie Betts trade. It's possible Harrison or Tibbs develop into productive pieces, and maybe the savings can be put to better use. Still, it's hard to see this being a positive for Boston or its playoff-hungry fans in the short-term, especially in a year in which many expected the Red Sox to win the division. If not for some poor communication, this all might've been avoidable. -Kavner Giants: A- Red Sox: D+ Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on X at @RowanKavner . recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB odds: Bettors backing Detroit Tigers to win AL Pennant
With their 44-25 record, the Detroit Tigers are currently one of the best teams in Major League Baseball, sitting atop the standings in the AL Central. And with all the success Detroit has had so far this season, bettors have taken note. At BetMGM, the Tigers' odds to win the World Series opened at +4000. So a $10 bet on Opening Day would have pocketed $410 total if the Tigers end up winning the Fall Classic. They're now all the way down to +800, where a $10 bet would only win $90 total. But there's more. In World Series futures at BetMGM, the Tigers have the third-highest ticket at 8.2%, behind the Dodgers (14.1%) and the Phillies (9.3%). In the AL Central, they're the heavy favorites at -600, but also have the highest ticket (32.7%) and the highest handle (39.5%). When it comes to the team with the shortest odds to win the AL pennant, that's the Yankees at +200. But it's the Tigers with the highest ticket (24%), the highest handle (23.6%) and the team that is BetMGM's biggest liability. Let's take a closer look at Detroit's odds at BetMGM as of June 12. Tigers to have most regular-season wins: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total) World Series: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) To win AL: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total) To win AL Central: -550 (bet $10 to win $11.82 total) AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total) AL MVP winner Tarik Skubal: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total) So are the Tigers really worth backing, after barely sneaking into the 2024 postseason with an 86-76 record? FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner is "starting to believe," and that's largely because of Spencer Torkelson. "[He] looks primed for a career year for a team that desperately needed more infield pop from somewhere," Kavner wrote. "I don't think this is a top-five team, but I do think this is a top-10 team and the best club in the AL Central." FOX Sports' Deesha Thosar echoed a similar sentiment. "The Tigers look like the real deal, especially because they're the only team in the AL Central with a positive run differential," she noted. "Detroit's only legitimate threat to win the division is Cleveland, and even then, the way the Tigers are playing right now, I'm expecting them to enjoy another trip to the postseason. "The Tigers have a top-10 offense in baseball in terms of wRC+, and if they can sustain that level of dominance on both sides of the ball, then they might just have a deeper playoff run in their bones." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
