Supposedly the coinage of Chicago sports editor Arch Ward, MLB's All-Star Game has been a reliable midsummer presence since the first edition in 1933. Over the years, the All-Star Game has persisted through wars, labor strife, terrorist attacks, and economic upheaval. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, however, proved too much. No, there will be no 2020 All-Star Game. The 91st Midsummer Cla sic was scheduled to take place in Dodger Stadium, but the urgent nature of the revised schedule allowed for no such leisured detours. Even so, there is quiet nobility in standing athwart reality. And that's what we're here to do. Since we're roughly at the midpoint of the 60-game regular season, it's time to declare from on high what the admittedly nonexistent 2020 All-Star teams should've been. We'll stick to the roster rules that were in place for last year's edition -- i.e., 32-man rosters; 20 position players and 12 pitchers on each squad; all 30 teams must Matthew Spencer Women Jersey be represented by at least one player. Since there's obviously no fan vote this year, we're also determining who should be starters and who should be reserves. While I would never deprive anyone of their rights to blood-churning anger over inane minutia, the following personal All-Star selection criteria may preempt a syllable or two of full-throated yelling about the choices to follow. Regard: Performance in 2020 matters to me when it comes to selecting All-Stars, but it's not the sole consideration.If given choice between two players who are comparable in their 2020 outputs, I'll go with the more established star or the one with the stronger long-term track record of performance. That's especially the case this year, since we're talking about just 30 games or so of in-season performance to date. The word "star," after all, is a prominent part of the name of this event. "Which player would fans in general be more excited to watch?" is a question that can decide some otherwise close calls.That said, an established star who simply isn't performing this season isn't going to get the nod -- , for instance.Players who are presently on the IL and not likely to return right away are not eligible for consideration. For example, would likely have cracked the list to come if he weren't out with a thumb injury.In order to make these rosters theoretically viable, we'll have each position covered multiple times (shortstops are a sumed to also be capable of manning second and Alex Killorn Kids Jersey third), and each roster will have three catchers.Outfielders are selected without regard to specific outfield position.The starting DH spots will be reserved for those players who have been primary DHs this season.While production at the plate is the driver for position players, defense and base-running also matter.As for relievers, this scribe likes to get their presence to a minimum. That's particularly the case this season, when the innings samples of relievers are so small as to be nigh meaningle s. We'll give each team one traditional reliever for ninth-inning detail, but we don't have to like it.Got it? Doesn't matter. Below you'll find the 32-man rosters for the AL and NL 2020 All-Star teams. Each roster is divided up into three sections -- starters (including the starting pitcher), pitchers, and reserves. Thirty-two players each. We counted and everything. Some deserving players were left out because of positional considerations or the need to have all 30 clubs represented, and many of those names have been listed under the "notable snubs" sections. Proceed immediately there if you're here solely for purposes of righteous Anthony Cirelli Jersey lamentation. Now let's get on with it. Plenary powers, activate. 2020 American League All-Star Team Starters Catcher KC C #13 BA0.307R10HR4RBI12SB0 After mi sing all of the 2019, Perez -- a six-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner -- is having an especially strong season at the plate. First base HOU 1B #79 BA0.322R22HR11RBI28SB0 The veteran Abreu has been the AL's most productive first baseman in 2020. Second base TB 2B #8 BA0.304R25HR9RBI25SB0 He's got an OPS north of 1.000, which is excellent production, especially by positional standards. Third base LAA 3B #6 BA0.326R17HR6RBI17SB0 Tough call between Rendon and . Rendon gets the slight edge for his better numbers at the plate. Shortstop CHW SS #7 BA0.350R23HR6RBI9SB3 Anderson broke out with the bat last season, and he's kept it going in 2020. Outfield LAA CF #27 BA0.262R19HR10RBI25SB1 Trout hasn't been the best player in the AL this season, but the game's biggest star continues to produce at a high level. Outfield NYY RF #99 BA0.290R16HR9RBI20SB0 Judge mi sed a little time with injury, but otherwise he's been hitting for power at customary levels (and then some). Outfield ARI CF #1 BA0.368R24HR7RBI19SB2 The rookie Lewis has been a rare bright spot for the Mariners. Right now he leads the majors in OBP and leads the AL in hits. Designated hitter WAS DH #23 BA0.340R23HR11RBI27SB0 The agele s one continues to punish the baseball. He' Scott Wedgewood Women Jersey s off to one of the best starts of his career. Starting pitcher CLE SP #57 ERA1.11WHIP.76IP40.2BB6K65 Bieber simply put has been the most dominant starting pitcher in this season. AL Pitchers , Angels , Cleveland , Yankees , Twins , , Cleveland , White Sox , , Twins , , AstrosAL Reserves , SS, Rays , INF/OF, Blue Jays , SS, Matt Chapman, 3B, , C, Mariners , OF, Blue Jays , OF, , OF, White Sox , OF, , C, Orioles , 1B, Yankees 2020 National League All-Star Team Starters Catcher PHI C #10 BA0.294R15HR8RBI22SB1 Realmuto is in the discu sion for best defensive catcher in the game right now, and he boasts a slash line of .294/.348/.612 at the plate. First base LAD 1B #5 BA0.302R22HR4RBI17SB0 Paul Goldschmidt, who's been more productive on a rate basis, also has a case for starting duty, but Freeman gets the nod because of his playing time edge. Second base ATL 2B #22 BA0.373R10HR4RBI13SB0 Cano's spent time on the IL this season, but the (likely) future Hall of Famer has been producing at vintage levels when healthy Jake Dotchin Kids Jersey in 2020. Third base SD 3B #13 BA0.257R22HR8RBI22SB3 Machado's an established star who remains a plus fielder at third and who's putting up some of the best offensive numbers of his career. Shortstop SD SS #23 BA0.314R29HR12RBI29SB6 San Diego's electrifying sh

Major League Baseball spring training is set to begin in le s than three weeks. Due to the pandemic, it remains to be seen if that will happen or not, but things have really picked up in baseball transactions over the last few weeks. Still, some big names remain in free agency and po sibly also on the trade market.Let's round up the latest from the hot stove here on this final Thursday in January. LAD SP #27 ERA1.73WHIP.79IP73BB17K100 The chances of the Angels signing a frontline starting pitcher, specifically top free agent , is "practically zero," . Finances are cited as one reason why, but another is pitching coach Mickey Callaway. He was Bauer's pitching coach in Cleveland from 2013-17 and this report indicates that the relationship between the two "is believed to be eroded beyond repair."Something that sticks out here early Jordan Nolan Women Jersey in the article is the phrase, "unle s there is a significant philosophical shift." One can't help but remember hearing how the Angels didn't have any money to spend -- under Arte Moreno's ownership and he remains the owner of the team -- back in the 2011-12 ( and C.J. Wilson) and 2012-13 (Josh Hamilton) offseasons.Knowing this, leave the door slightly cracked for Bauer-to-the-Angels being a remote po sibility. If the club wants him enough, it could find a way to work with both the money and the pitching coach situation.Realistically, though, move the Angels down , at the very least putting them well below the and then the . Speaking of which, that the Mets offer for Bauer iis "thought" to be three-to-four yeas with opt-out clauses and le s than $36 million in average annual value. He adds that other teams believe Bauer wants something in the range of (7 years, $245M) or even (9 years, $324M) deals. Dale Hawerchuk Kids Jersey STL SP #50 ERA3.15WHIP1.05IP65.2BB15K54 Free-agent pitcher appears to have landed back with his longtime franchise, the St. Louis Cardinals, . The deal is worth $8 million, . The veteran righty -- who has spent his entire 15-year career in St. Louis -- reportedly had several offers for the 2021 season, including ones from the , and .Wainwright, 39, had an excellent 2020 season with a 3.15 ERA acro s 65 2/3 frames. Over the span of his career, Wainwright has won 167 games; topped 2,000 career innings; and put up an of 119 and a WAR of 36.9. Wainwright is also a three-time All-Star, and on four occasions he's finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young balloting. He'll turn 40 this August, and of course, will be susceptible to sudden decline. However, as a curveball heavy starter, he's managed to withstand velocity lo s over the years. He'll likely be penciled into the backend of the Cardinals' rotation, behind , , and . It remains unclear whether the Cardinals will re-sign Wainwright's frequent battery-mate and stalwart catcher Yadier Molina. The 38-year-old Molina joined Wainwright and second baseman Kolten Wong in free agency this winter. The Cardinals would like to re-sign both Molina and Wong, . Aside from seemingly getting this Wainwright deal done, the Cardinals have been inactive this offseason and haven't done much to upgrade their roster. . PHI SS #18 BA0.284R34HR10RBI40SB3 Free-agent shortstop should see increased attention now that both ( ) and ( ) are off the market. He's the lone remaining surefire starter at shortstop left. that Gregorius is seeking a $15 million deal, presumably just for 2021 before hitting free agency again.The best fit is a reunion with the Phillies, bringing back J.T. Realmuto, and Heyman notes it's po sible ownership would let the front office stretch the Philly payroll to make it happen. CLE SS #1 BA0.252R20HR4RBI15SB0 Shortstop went to Cleveland in the deal that sent and the Jeff Skinner Jersey Mets. However, it appears the Reds aren't sure he'll definitely stay put this offseason. The Reds have discu sed the po sibility of trading for Rosario, , who also notes the Reds have discu sed Gregorius (though he's likely outside their price range for this offseason).Rosario, 25, had a very rough 2020 season, but he hit .287 with 30 doubles, seven triples, 15 homers and 19 steals in 2019.As things stand for the Reds, it looks like rookie is the favorite to be the Opening Day shortstop. He hit .194 with 26 strikeouts in 67 at-bats last season and previously had never played above High-A. TOR CF #25 BA0.283R32HR7RBI22SB5 While the Mets wait on Bauer's decision, they "could look toward" center fielder Jr, .Bradley is an exceptional defender in center and would cause the Mets to do some reshuffling of the furniture when it comes to current center fielder , po sible left fielder Dom Smith, third baseman J.D. Davis and/or first baseman . It could be argued the Mets have plenty of offense and focusing on the run prevention end by signing Bradley is worth the "nice problem to have" in terms of trying to get all of the above players a full slate of at-bats. did a nice roundup of some Cardinals-related offseason updates: Free-agent catcher "continues to weigh" an offer from the Cardinals to return and seems to be hoping for an "improved offer."After surprisingly declining the option Jean Sebastien Dea Jersey for second baseman for 2021, the Cardinals "have not actively pursued" re-upping with him.Coming off a season shortened due to an oblique injury, pitcher seems to be feeling great.Free-agent pitcher will be throwing a bullpen se sion for po sibly interested ball clubs on Friday in Texas, . The Plano, Texas native who attended TCU is coming off a three-year, $75 million deal with the Phillies that didn't work out too well. In his time there, he was 22-23 with a 4.36 ERA (99 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. He regre sed each year, pitching to a 5.08 ERA last season. Still, there's no doubting the talent that won Arrieta the 2015 NL Cy Young and sent him to the 2016 All-Star Game. He heads to his age-35 season likely seeking a rotation spot from whoever will give it. SEA 2B #26 BA0.230R22HR7RBI23SB1 cryptically notes that it seems po sible the Pirates could trade utility man . The 29-year-old Frazier is a career .273 hitter with a 100 OPS+ and he's played every position but pitcher, catcher and first base in a major-league game, though he's mostly played second base and left field. He's under team control through 2022. His best season Jason Kasdorf Men Jersey came in 2018, when he hit .277/.342/.456 (118 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 10 homers and 2.6 WAR in just 352 plate appearances. WAS C #6 BA0.184R6HR1RBI2SB0 The have signed free-agent catcher to a one-year deal, . Avila, who is entering his age-34 season, spent the abbreviated 2020 season with the Minnesota Twins. He hit .184/.355/.286 with one home run and two RBI in 23 games. Avila records a low batting average, but high on-base percentage, managing to draw an impre sive amount of walks. He has drawn 509 walks in his 1,018 career games, including notching 11

The appeared to be turning things around when they began their nine-game homestand with three consecutive victories. Their fortunes quickly changed, however, as they were shut out twice while dropping five of the next six games. Despite being seven games under .500, the last-place Nationals are only six games out of first and hope to close the gap when they visit the second-place on Monday for the opener of a four-game series. The Adam Clendening Kids Jersey contest is part of a four-leg Memorial Day parlay from the SportsLine Projection Model that begins at 5:10 p.m. ET and would pay almost 27-1.The latest odds for Monday from WIlliam Hill Sportsbook list the Braves at -190 (risk $190 to win $100) against the Nationals. Other MLB lines of note include the at -172 against the and the listed as slight money-line favorites (-111) versus the . Before making any MLB picks on those games or others, you need to .This model, which Jack Johnson Jersey simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line . It is off to a fast start in 2021, going 71-52 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through nine weeks, returning over $800. Anyone following it has seen huge rewards.Now, the model has evaluated the latest MLB lines for Monday and posted Jordan Schroeder Jersey its best bets. Parlaying these four MLB picks would pay almost 27-1. . Top MLB picks for Monday, May 31The model likes the at -195 on the money line against the . Kansas City is coming off its first road series victory in over a month and has won four of its last five home contests. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has lost 10 of 13 overall, including five of its last six on the road. The Pirates are pinning their hopes on right-hander , who hasn't pitched since April 18 due to shoulder discomfort.The 28-year-old Kuhl (0-1, 6.32 ERA) struggled over his first four starts of 2021, surrendering Sergei Bobrovsky Men Jersey 14 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits and 16 walks in just 15 2/3 innings. Kansas City counters with left-hander (3-2, 4.83), who has been strong of late. The 33-year-old has allowed one run and two hits in two of his last three outings, including one at Tampa Bay on Wednesday in Taylor Chorney Kids Jersey which he matched his season high with nine strikeouts. Featured Game | Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Moneyline Spread Total KC PIT How to make MLB predictions, parlays for Monday, May 31The model has locked in three other MLB best bets, including multiple must-see underdogs. . So which MLB picks should you make on Monday for a shot at a big return of almost 27-1? And which surprising underdog do you need to be all over? , all from the projection model off to a fast start in 2021, and find out.

The calendar has flipped to February and spring training is only one short week away. , so spring training and the regular season will begin as scheduled, a suming the pandemic cooperates. Cro s your fingers, everyone.Throughout the offseason my fellow CBS Sports scribes and I will bring you a weekly roundtable breaking down, well, pretty much anything. The latest news, a historical question, thoughts about the future of baseball, all sorts of stuff. . Now we're going to tackle the new-look AL East.R.J. Anderson: I'm inclined to say the . That's no offense to the , whose efforts to improve this offseason have been noted Joonas Donskoi Jersey and appreciated. I just think the Yankees have the better lineup and bullpen, and both teams have question marks in their rotations (though I also think is more certain than , so Mason Appleton Women Jersey far as their respective "sure things" go). The Blue Jays still might end up winning the division if the Yankees have the worse go at it with injuries. (The defending champion , by the way, still feel likely to make another move or two, but until they do, it's hard to see them as better than either/both.) Matt Snyder: It's the Yankees. Though I have no doubt the Rays will find a way to somehow have an above-average pitching staff, I'm not even remotely buying their rotation behind -- and he's a health concern as it is. Meanwhile, the Yankees just have so much offensive firepower and a better rotation. I actually have the Rays third in the division. I'm very intrigued by the Blue Jays and think they have a real shot of pushing the Yankees. They'd just need so much to break right with Jeremy Lauzon Jersey their rotation that I'm not seeing it. Dayn Perry: I lean Yankees at this point. Although I like the Blue Jays' offseason, I think they're a regre sion risk in some key spots. As for the reigning AL champs, the Rays, I know the roster churn model has worked for them for the last handful of seasons, but I think it has its limits in terms of sustainability. The Yankees' rotation concerns are duly noted, but I think they have the AL's best offense and the AL's top starting pitcher, as well as a potentially strong bullpen. I think that's enough in what could be a tight 1-2-3 finish in the division. Mike Axisa: I think it's the Yankees as well. The Blue Jays have definitely improved this offseason, and when you have that much young talent, it can come together very quickly. I think they are the clear No. 2 team in the division now that the Rays have taken a step back. The Jared McCann Jersey Rays will contend in 2021, for sure, but they lost a lot of good innings in and , and I don't love their offense. If didn't do something heroic in the postseason, they didn't score.New York's biggest pitfall is injury risk, not talent, and they have a knack for turning unheralded pickups into quality contributors, like . Do it once and it might be a fluke. Do it as many times as the Yankees have done over the years, and it's a skill. I think it's kinda dumb the Yankees are ducking under the $210 million luxury-tax threshold this season -- they realize they won't have this core together and in its prime forever, right? -- but I still think they're the best team in the AL East, and probably the best team in the American League overall. The Blue Jays and Rays won't go quietly though. Katherine Acquavella:I'm in on the Yankees to win their division. But that's not to say I think they're the clear favorite. I think both Tampa and Toronto have first-place-worthy rosters, but for now, I'll say that the Yankees healthy power hitters will be what makes them Jamie Oleksiak Jersey the team to beat in the AL East, especially considering a lot of the succe s of the Yankees' 2021 rotation depends on the health of their new starters.

As if often the case, the catching market is short Nate Prosser Jersey on quality options this offseason. It is the sport's most demanding position and whenever a team gets its hands on a top catcher, they tend to keep him as long as po sible. Quality everyday catchers rarely become available and this is a particularly bad offseason to need a catcher. Most of the offseason's best available catchers changed teams prior to the owners' lockout. and (and ) were traded, and and (and ) signed as free agents. Here, , are the best available free agent catchers: : 0.5 WAR : 0.5 WAR : 0.2 WAR : 0.2 WARSeveral at 0.1 WAR or lowerRamos is 34 and coming off a torn knee ligament. Vogt and Chirinos are both 37. There is not a starting caliber catcher to be had in free agency right now. At best, you can pick up a veteran backup. Teams seeking a starting catcher (the and jump to mind) have no choice but to look to the trade market now, but options are limited there as well. With that in mind, here are the top catchers who could be available via trade once the lockout ends. It should be noted teams can discu s trades during the lockout, though they can not consummate any trades involving 40-man roster players until and the MLBPA agree to a new collective bargaining agreement. Let's get to the best catcher trade candidates. ATL C #12 BA0.216R47HR17RBI59SB0 once the lockout ends. That includes Murphy, , even though he is still four years away from free agency. Four cheap years of a catcher with power and good defensive chops equals one of the most valuable trade chips in the game. It's not crazy to think Oakland could get more for Murphy than they could a bigger name like or given the differences in position and team control (the Matts are only under team control through 2023). STL C #40 BA0.237R61HR21RBI57SB5 An obvious trade candidate and that Eric Staal Jersey was true before the Cubs signed Yan Gomes, adding to their catcher inventory. Chicago traded almost all their core players at the deadline, signaling a rebuild, yet they also signed , indicating a desire to be competitive in 2022. In October, the Cubs will trade Contreras if the two sides are unable to work out a contract extension. He's due to become a free agent next offseason, something that would normally limit his trade value, but the fact he is one of the best catchers in the game makes him a rare commodity. Only one year of control won't be a dealbreaker. ARI C #18 BA0.240R41HR13RBI46SB0 The D-Backs lost 110 games in 2021 and a quick return to contention looks unlikely in the rugged NL West. At this point, nothing can be off the table for Arizona, and that includes Ryan Suter Women Jersey making Kelly available. He's been quite productive in the last two 162-game seasons and he will remain under team control through 2024, making him a long-term buy. The D-Backs have a ready-made replacement catcher in (who had a nice breakout year while playing the outfield). Trading Kelly would net a significant prospect package to kick start what sure looks like another rebuild in the desert. TOR C #30 BA0.242R19HR8RBI24SB0 Quality catchers are a valuable commodity and the Blue Jays are deep behind the plate. Kirk and are legitimate starting caliber backstops, is a solid backup, and top prospect should arrive at some point in 2022. Toronto won't be able to keep everyone, so it makes sense to make the catchers available to improve the team elsewhere. I would make Kirk and Jansen (and McGuire) available and keep Moreno, but the Andrew Hammond Kids Jersey Blue Jays should keep an open mind. Would they really let Moreno stand in the way of adding, say, ? TEX C #18 BA0.256R29HR13RBI34SB1 and fells on their faces in 2021, so it's probably a stretch to say the Twins have three legitimate MLB catchers, though they are deeper behind the plate than most teams. Garver is productive and starting to get expensive through arbitration, and he only has another two years of team control remaining. Given Minnesota's pitching needs, dealing Garver for arms and going with Jeffers and Rortvedt behind the plate has to be a consideration. The Twins would be foolish not to at least listen to offers for all three players. There's no harm in listening. KC C #1 Two years ago Melendez had a sub-.600 OPS with a strikeout rate approaching 40 percent in High Cla s-A. In 2021, , and hit .288/.386/.625 while reaching Triple-A. is locked up at big money through 2025, and while keeping Melendez to share catcher duties as Perez enters his mid-30s would be a smart move, the Royals suddenly have themselves a great trade chip. A year ago at this time Melendez was an afterthought. Now he's a potential starting catcher at a time when few are available. There is no Jason Zucker Jersey doubt in my mind the Royals have fielded calls about Melendez this winter.

On Monday, the MLB Players A sociation (MLBPA) voted to reject Major League Baseball's proposal for a 2020 season. In response, . That season is set to be 60 games but won't have an expanded postseason or some of other notable features of the league's final proposal. (Do note that said proposal would not have offered the players any additional salary guarantees in the event that the season must be canceled due to the spread of COVID-19.)A natural response to Monday's news is to ask: What's next? It's Michael Crabtree Youth Jersey not as simple as Manfred's word becoming law, after all.As such, let's walk through three points worth knowing about the next few days.1. Union must respond by Tuesday nightPart of the league's statement included two questions directed at the MLBPA pertaining to the union's ability to report to camp within a week and players' willingne s to sign off on a health and safety James Harrison Women Jersey protocol. The league has requested the union provide answers to those questions before 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday evening. Here's that part of the statement in its entirety:"In order to produce a schedule with a specific number of games, we are asking that the Players A sociation provide to us by 5:00 p.m. ( Jonathan Taylor Jersey ET) tomorrow with two pieces of information. The first is whether players will be able to report to camp within seven days (by July 1st). The second is whether the Players A sociation will agree on the Operating Manual which contains the health and safety protocols nece sary to give us the best opportunity to conduct and complete our regular season and Postseason."Speaking of the safety protocols ...2. One agreement is still requiredYou would think that safety would come first during a pandemic. That hasn't been the case throughout these negotiations.Rather, the trail went cold after sent a 67-page proposal to the union earlier in the pandemic. The two sides were said to be closer in that regard than they were on financial considerations, which seems like Jonathan Ogden Men Jersey a positive sign. It's po sible that things have become more complicated in recent weeks, what with for the in recent days. , and personnel must test negative for COVID-19 before being allowed to return.3. When and where (pandemic permitting)?We'll end by reinforcing that, yes, the pandemic is ongoing, and could wreak havoc on an attempt at a season. Earlier in the year, CBS Sports reported on the league's consideration for running three bubble sites: in Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Those states are now among the hardest hit by the coronavirus, which is notable for multiple reasons:Five teams play in those states, complicating the scenario where teams play in their home markets all year.It means MLB wouldn't be able to switch to that bubble plan even if it wanted to.If a season is started -- and it seems like Von Miller Women Jersey there will be an attempt -- it's to be determined how the league will respond when a player (or, more likely, players) tests positive for COVID-19. At that point, it won't be as simple as shutting down facilities.

Teams looking to turn around their early-season fortunes battle when the take on the in the fourth and final game of their National League East Division series on Thursday. The Nationals (23-29), who are 4-6 in their last 10 games, had a five-game losing streak snapped on Tuesday and have now won two straight. The Braves (25-28 Orlando Cepeda Jersey ), who are 5-5 in their last 10, are 6-2 against Washington in the last eight matchups. Atlanta is 19-9 against the Nationals since July of 2019.The game from Truist Park in Atlanta will start at 12:20 p.m. ET. The Nationals are fifth in with a .252 team batting average, while the Braves are 15th at .235. Atlanta is a -140 favorite (risk $140 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Nationals vs. Braves odds from William Hill Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is nine. Before making any Braves vs. Nationals picks, .This model, which simulates every pitch of every game 10,000 times, had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line . It is off to a fast start in 2021, going 71-52 on top-rated MLB money-line picks through nine weeks, returning over $800. Anyone following it has seen huge rewards.Now, the model has dialed in on . You can . Here are the and trends for Nationals vs. Braves: Nationals vs. Braves money line: Washington +130, Atlanta -140Nationals vs. Braves spread: Atlanta -1.5 (+140)Nationals vs. Braves over-under: 9 runsWASH: The under is 4-0 in the Nationals' last four Thursday gamesATL: The Braves are 5-1 in their last six Ozzie Smith Jersey games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30 Featured Game | Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals Moneyline Spread Total ATL WAS Why you should back the BravesAtlanta will send send to the mound. The 25-year old lefty, who was just recalled, will be making just his second start of the season. Among those heating up for the Braves offensively is outfielder Jr., who is batting .287 with 17 homers and 35 RBIs. He has scored 43 runs. Acuna has been red hot, and has two multi-hit games in the series, going 5-for-12. He was 2-for-4 with a homer, one RBI and two runs scored on Monday. He followed that up with Edmundo Sosa Jersey a 3-for-4 performance on Tuesday with a double, one home run, two RBIs and four runs scored. He is slugging .630 on the season.Also red hot of late is shortstop , who has an 11-game hitting streak. He has raised his batting average 40 points during that stretch. For the season, Swanson is hitting .239 with nine homers, 23 RBIs and 22 runs scored. Swanson has had some bright moments against Washington. In 78 career games against the Nationals, Swanson has 17 doubles, 11 homers and 41 RBIs.Why you should back the NationalsLeft-hander (3-4, 6.23 ERA) gets the start for Washington. He will be out to improve on his last outing on Saturday against the . In that game, he allowed his fifth first-inning home run of Mike Matheny Jersey the year, which is the second-most in Major League Baseball. Corbin allowed four earned runs on four hits in five innings to take the lo s. He walked two and struck out five. Despite that, he has won three of his previous four decisions. Offensively, the Nationals have been led by shortstop , who has had three multi-hit games over the past four, including a 3-for-4 performance against the Braves on Tuesday. For the season, Turner is hitting .313 with 10 homers and 28 RBIs. He has also scored 28 times. He has 22 multi-hit games this season, including one four-hit outing and six three-hit games. He had back-to-back three-hit games on May 9 and 11 against the and , respectively Chris Beck Jersey .How to make Nationals vs. Braves picksSportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 10.3 runs, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. .So who wins Nationals vs. Braves? And which side of the money line has all the value? , all from the advanced model off to a hot start in 2021.

outfielder and former National League Most Valuable Player was the most notable name not Derek Jeter Jersey to be offered a contract in advance of Friday evening's non-tender deadline in Major League Baseball.As a result, Bellinger and all the names listed below are now free agents since they were not "tendered" contracts for 2023 prior to the non-tender deadline for pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players. Those players are now free to negotiate with any team, including the team that just non-tendered them. Teams generally non-tender players because they have very limited interest in bringing them back, but in some cases they remain interested in a reunion but not at the salary the player likely would've commanded in or leading up to the arbitration proce s.In Bellinger's case, the Dodgers have probably made the latter determination. It's not often that 27-year-old former MVPs who excel at up-the-middle defensive positions are in such a position, but that speaks to Bellinger's steep decline at the plate. Over the last Troy Tulowitzki Jersey two seasons, he's managed to bat just .193/.256/.355 (64 OPS+) with 29 home runs in a combined 239 games while also showing generally poor batted-ball metrics. Given that Bellinger was likely to make around $18 million for next season through arbitration, the Dodgers determined that he wasn't worth such a price tag in light of his extended struggles at the plate. However, it bears repeating that this doesn' Sonny Gray Jersey t nece sarily mean that Bellinger's days with the Dodgers are at an end. Given his defensive value, age and power potential (he hit 47 home runs during that MVP season of 2019), there will be a market for his services, including, perhaps, back in L.A. Another notable name is that of right-hander . The 28-year-old former All-Star has electric stuff and for a long time was perhaps the top pitching prospect in baseball. However, a long run of injuries has prevented him from reaching that ceiling and staying there. Reyes boasts an impre sive 2.86 ERA at the highest level, but he's managed to pitch just 145 innings acro s parts of five seasons.Now, here's a look at all the names who were non-tendered on Friday and thus are now part of the free agent pool for the 2022-23 offseason. Names are organized by the non-tendering team. : RHP : RHP , OF , RHP , RHP , RHP : None : INF , OF/1B : LHP , OF , RHP Alexander Vizcano : OF , INF , OF : OF Aristedes Aquino, OF , RHP , RHP , RHP Dellin Betances Jersey , RHP , RHP , RHP : LHP , C : INF/OF : 3B , INF Brendan Davis, INF , INF , C , RHP , RHP : RHP Bernie Williams Jersey : LHP Jake Brentz, RHP Nate Webb : LHP , RHP, , RHP , LHP Los Angeles Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger, INF , OF/INF : INF/OF , RHP : RHP , RHP , RHP : None : RHP , 1B/OF : None : RHP , LHP , INF : None : NoneSt. Louis Cardinals: OF , RHP Alex Reyes : C , RHP Efran Contreras : RHP , LHP Jarln Garca, RHP , Dom Nez, , C , INF , INF Donnie Walton, INF , LHP : C , C , RHP : LHP : RHP : INF , OF , OF : RHP , RHP , 1B

Earlier this month, we here at CBS Sports revealed our . In the days since, we've explained . Today, we're going to cut the other direction by David Wright Jersey highlighting a handful of under-the-radar types who nearly cracked the back end of the list.To be clear: we're not saying these individuals should be viewed as priority free agents; merely that there's more intrigue to be found with them than you (and teams) might otherwise a sume. ATL 3B #17 BA0.191R10HR0RBI3SB1 had a poor walk year with the , obscuring the fact that he had been a decent hitter (.260/.321/.391, or a 91 OPS+) his first three seasons in town. Oh well. Adrianza isn't starting material, but he's an adequate reserve who can offer value in a few ways. At the plate, he minds the zone and makes a good amount of contact; defensively, he's quick enough to man the keystone and throws well enough to play the left side. There are more famous utility types available who are certain to land bigger paydays and roles. Adrianza is a decent downmarket option for a team in need. CIN SP #48 ERA7.22WHIP1.63IP33.2BB10K38 The 60-game season was either going to work for or against a lot of gopherball pitchers. Unfortunately for Chase Anderson, it worked against him. He yielded 11 home runs in 33 innings, bloating his ERA to 7.22 and forcing him into a relief role by year's end. It should be noted that Carlos Gomez Jersey five of those dingers came in a single start, with another three coming in a separate appearance. Home runs don't count for le s if they're tightly clustered, but it goes to show how small the sample was if two wayward outings can wreck a season. The funny thing is that there was a lot of good to be found in Anderson's underlying measures: his exit velocity remained better than the league-average; he mi sed more bats and recorded a higher rate of strikeouts; and he walked fewer hitters. A team willing to accept Nolan Ryan Jersey him as he is, home-run pronene s and all, could end up with a cheap fourth starter. SF SP #26 ERA7.22WHIP1.69IP33.2BB16K25 We know, we know: topline numbers make him a tough sell (a 7.22 ERA in 33 2/3 frames; 11 hits and nearly two homers per nine innings; and so on). He's here because he altered his slider in a way that generated more drop and depth. In turn, he was able to use the slider as his primary pitch to good effect: opponents whiffed on roughly 36 percent of their swings against it, and accumulated just a .190 batting average against it. Both of DeSclafani's fastballs were smoked all over the place, so he'll need to fix that moving forward if he's to remain a viable back-end starter. A savvy, beachcombing team might instead deploy him in a relief role with the instruction to chuck his slider more frequently than 32 percent of the time. NYM Francisco Lindor Jersey RP #35 ERA4.84WHIP1.66IP22.1BB14K21 , a profe sor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Utah State who is doing his best to introduce the concept of "seam-shifted wake" to the baseball world. Hughes' tinkering may not have appeared worthwhile from an ERA perspective (4.84), but most of his underlying indicators suggest better things are po sible. He gained nearly 10 percentage points on his whiff rate while ranking in the 95th percentile of exit velocity and posting a groundball rate of 56.5 percent. Mi sing bats and generating soft contact on the ground has almost always been a recipe for succe s. The new-look Hughes, then, deserves the opportunity to compete for a middle-relief role next spring. SEA 1B #18 BA0.193R7HR3RBI10SB0 This is not an overreaction to 's impre sive 13-game stint with the that saw him deliver seven extra-base hits in 45 at-bats. Rather, it's a direct response to his ball-tracking data, which is a good deal Neil Walker Jersey better than you'd expect from someone with a 74 OPS+ since 2018. Lamb hit the ball 95 mph or harder on more than half of his batted balls, putting him 23rd in the majors among qualified hitters -- just ahead of , , and , among others. He did that while hitting the ball in the "sweet spot" launch angle range (10 to 30 degrees) as frequently as the likes of , , and . That's good company. You don't want Lamb facing lefties, but he looks like a decent (and cheap) bet to be a tolerable, if not good most-days platoon option at either corner-infield position.

The calendar has flipped to 2021 and spring training is (probably) only five short weeks away. Hopefully MLB and the MLBPA can put their differences aside and get spring training and the regular season started on time, though I fear I'm being overly optimistic.Throughout the offseason my fellow CBS Sports scribes and I will bring you a weekly roundtable breaking down, well, pretty much anything. The latest news, a historical question, thoughts about the future of baseball, all sorts of stuff. . Now we'll break down the NL East race.R.J. Anderson: They're getting close if they're not already there. The have some potential exposure in their rotation that concerns me -- how will return?; can and keep up their turnarounds?; can stay healthy? -- and they still need to add an outfielder or third baseman. Who that proves to be -- a reunion is still po sible -- and who else the Mets add the Chad Bettis Jersey rest of the winter will dictate it for me. But I think it's fair to favor the Mets based on the current rosters. Matt Snyder: I'm going with yes, though the Braves are right there. The Mets were already a good offensive team and there are plenty of reasons to believe they'll be better this time around without even mentioning the trade for . is probably still the best pitcher in baseball while and are very good 2-3 types. Let's not forget is probably going to be back for the second half. Further, I don't think the Mets are going to let up. Even if the Braves do something like sign Ozuna or trade for someone like , the Mets will stay aggre sive and looking at the potential with that playoff rotation (deGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, Syndergaard), they could be pretty scary in October. Dayn Perry: Yeah, I lean Mets at this point. The Lindor addition is obviously a Greg Holland Jersey true needle-mover, and also addre ses a weakne s. As others have noted, the rotation behind deGrom is looking potentially strong, especially after Thor gets back. I don't buy the Nats just yet, and I think the likely lo ses of Marcell Ozuna and J.T. Realmuto will significantly diminish the chances of the Braves and , respectively. The seem ripe for regre sion. Basically, it's a case of the Mets investing in their own roster and nobody else in the division doing that so far. Mike Axisa: I lean Mets ever Scott Oberg Jersey so slightly at this point. I'm not a big James McCann believer, but the Mets did make two significant upgrades in Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco, and Marcus Stroman qualifies as an upgrade as well seeing how he did not play last year. Considering how thin the rotation was behind Jacob deGrom last year, and how underwhelming the Mets have been at shortstop since was at his peak, I don't think it's crazy to think Lindor, Carrasco, and Stroman equal 10 additional wins in 2021.That said, I don't think the Braves are done. They say they're committed to at third base, and fine, I'm willing to believe that, but there's still room for another outfielder. Bringing Marcell Ozuna back would be ideal, particularly if the universal DH becomes permanent, but someone like or would do just as well. Also, I think the Braves have another bullpen move coming, even if it's just re-signing . Of course, the Mets could more than negate anything Atlanta does with a signing, or po sibly even a Jr. signing. I lean toward the Mets right now. It's close though. (For what it's worth, has the Mets as a true talent 91-win team following the Lindor and Carrasco trade. The system has the Ian Desmond Jersey Braves a tick better at 92 wins.)Katherine Acquavella:Yes, the Mets' recent offseason additions give them a slight edge in the NL East race. New York had a pretty good offense prior to adding Lindor, but now, and the Mets could end up having one of the best lineups in the baseball next season. Stroman and Carrasco help add stability to the rotation, Trevor May is a fine addition to the bullpen and McCann finally fills the catcher hole for the Mets. And, who's to say they're done? There could very well be one (or two) more big moves if Steve Cohen is willing to keep spending.As for the rest of the NL East, the Braves aren't too far behind the Mets. However, the potential lo s of Ozuna and some unknowns re: their rotation ( Jake McGee Jersey when will Soroka return? how will Anderson perform in year two?) could make them vulnerable. The will have a healthy Stephen Strasburg along with a few lineup upgrades (Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber) that might be enough to make this division a three-team race. In Philly, they've got a new baseball ops president in Dave Dombrowski, but that won't mean much if they let Realmuto walk in free agency. The Marlins young rotation will likely impre s again in 2021, but they'll ultimately be at the bottom of the pack.