⚾️ Baseball Is Back—And So Are We!

After a much-needed summer reset, we’re back just as school kicks off here in sunny Arizona 🌵. It’s time to buckle in for the final stretch of baseball season and the thrilling start of football.

With last week’s MLB Trade Deadline shaking up rosters, the real contenders and pretenders will soon reveal themselves in the dog days of August.

📺 Today's TV Games

  • ⚾ San Diego Padres @ Arizona Diamondbacks – MLB Network

🎯 Pick'em 10 (6:40pm ET/3:40pm PT)

⚾ Houston @ Miami

This should be straightforward, right? The Astros have ruled the AL West for a decade, while the Marlins have often been stuck in the NL East basement.

But the tables have turned:

  • Houston is just 2–8 in their last 10 and under .500 over their last 30.
  • Miami just swept the Yankees, going 8–2 in their last 10 and 20–10 over the last month.

Jason Alexander, recently acquired from the A’s, has made four appearances with the Astros. His most recent start:

  • 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 earned runs vs. Washington
  • His road numbers are shaky, but those are weighted heavily by his Oakland stint.

Sandy Alcantara continues to shake off the rust after missing all of last season.

  • Last 7 starts: 5.49 ERA
  • Season ERA: 6.36, but a 4.49 FIP shows upside
  • His WHIP is the highest of his career, with over a hit per inning and 3.5 walks per 9
  • He hasn’t topped 4 Ks in any of his last 7 starts and doesn’t average a strikeout per inning
  1. Jason Alexander – Over/Under 5.5 hits allowed
  2. Jose Altuve – Over/Under 0.5 runs
  3. Yainer Diaz – Over/Under 1.5 hits+runs+RBIs
  4. Sandy Alcantara – Over/Under 4.5 strikeouts
  5. Kyle Stowers – Over/Under 0.5 runs
  6. Xavier Edwards – Over/Under 0.5 runs

⚾ San Diego @ Arizona

The Padres dominated the trade deadline conversation, making five deals involving 22 players and bringing in eight new faces for a playoff push.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks hit the reset button—trading away six Opening Day players and shifting their focus to rebuilding the bullpen and pitching staff for 2026.

Their recent form tells the story:

  • San Diego is 7–3 in their last 10
  • Arizona is 3–7 over the same stretch

JP Sears, one of the Padres’ new additions, makes his first start for the team. He has:

  • Allowed more than a hit per inning
  • Typically pitches about 5 innings per start
  • Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll each had doubles off him in a previous outing

Brandon Pfaadt has averaged nearly 10 hits per 9 innings, but pitched into the 8th in his last outing vs. San Diego on July 9:

  • 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and the win
  • Fernando Tatis Jr. is batting .200 against him in 20 ABs (with a HR and double)
  • Manny Machado is hitting .250, including a double
  • Jackson Merrill is just .182 in limited action
  1. JP Sears – Over/Under 5.5 hits allowed
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr. – Over/Under 2.5 hits+runs+RBIs
  3. Brandon Pfaadt – Over/Under 6.5 hits allowed
  4. Ketel Marte – Over/Under 2.5 hits+runs+RBIs

🏆 Pick 5 Margin (9:40pm ET/6:40pm PT)

⚾ San Diego @ Arizona

(See full game breakdown above)

  1. Manny Machado – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  2. Fernando Tatis Jr. – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  3. Jackson Merrill – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  4. Ketel Marte – Hits+Runs+RBIs
  5. Corbin Carroll – Hits+Runs+RBIs