Everything to know about FOX Saturday Baseball: Cardinals-Phillies, Reds-Cubs, Angels-Mariners
FOX has a trio of compelling, prime-time MLB matchups on tap Saturday.
The Angels travel north to play Julio Rodríguez and the Mariners; the Phillies, who own the best record in baseball, host a surging Cardinals club; and the Reds hit the road to face the Cubs in a National League Central battle.
Here's everything you need to know about this weekend's bouts!
Cardinals at Phillies (7:15 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)
Probable starters: Sonny Gray (St. Louis, 2.60 ERA) vs. Ranger Suárez (Philadelphia, 1.75 ERA)
St. Louis has come alive of late, winning seven of its past eight games. After sporting a .190 batting average through early May, first baseman and seven-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt has rebounded, boasting a .302 average and .603 slugging percentage since May 12.
MLB Power Rankings: Yankees & Phillies hold top spots
Philadelphia has been firing on all cylinders and doing so without star shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring). Third baseman Alec Bohm has arguably been the club's best everyday position player, highlighted by him driving in 47 runs — which is third in MLB. On the hill, Suárez has performed at a Cy Young level, posting a 1.75 ERA and holding opponents to a mere .171 batting average.
Reds at Cubs (7:15 p.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports App)
Probable starters: Hunter Greene (Cincinnati, 3.06 ERA) vs. Justin Steele (Chicago, 4.45 ERA)
Both Cincinnati and Chicago are looking to right the ship on what has been, at the bare minimum, a sluggish start; the Reds are in last place in the NL Central, while the Cubs have lost seven of their past eight games. Starting pitching has been a positive for both teams, however.
For Cincinnati, the aforementioned Greene is off to a tremendous start, while Andrew Abbott looks to be taking another step forward following a stellar debut season. Simultaneously, Reds young star Elly De La Cruz has stolen an absurd 31 bases. For Chicago, rookie Shōta Imanaga has a 1.86 ERA across his first 10 starts; Javier Assad owns a 2.17 ERA across 11 starts; Jameson Taillon is bouncing back after a turbulent 2023 campaign.
Angels at Mariners (7:15 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)
Probable starters: Reid Detmers (Los Angeles, 5.76 ERA) vs. Bryce Miller (Seattle, 3.48 ERA)
The Angels are in the midst of another forgettable campaign as they occupy last place in the AL West. Veterans Kevin Pillar (1.188 OPS in 18 games since being designated for assignment by the White Sox) and left-hander Tyler Anderson (2.47 ERA in 11 starts) have been among the few bright spots for the Angels.
Meanwhile, Seattle still holds a narrow lead atop the division on the strength of its pitching. Both its starters and relievers have compiled a 3.58 ERA, with Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo and Miller, among others, performing at a high level. The Mariners' offense, though, ranks 28th in team OPS.
Now, check out some pregame reading from across MLB courtesy of FOXSports.com!
MLB Roundtable: Do the Phillies have a weakness? Are the Cardinals contenders? Should the Mariners deal a premier arm for a premier bat? Should the Angels trade Mike Trout anyway? Should the Cubs try to lock up Cody Bellinger? Deesha Thosar and Rowan Kavner answer five burning questions from across the league.
Rookie Power Rankings: After Paul Skenes' excellent arrival, Imanaga's first stumble and a rookie rising in the Bronx, who takes the top spot? Here is Kavner's latest monthly check-in.
The Acuña effect: Can the Braves overcome the loss of Ronald Acuna Jr., who tore his ACL earlier this week? Should Atlanta get busy on the phones looking for outfielders? Are the Braves still one of the premier teams in MLB? Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar discuss everything Braves in the wake of Acuna's season-ending injury.
Say hello to the Mets' bad guy. The Mets hired David Stearns as president because he's not afraid to make unpopular decisions — and the club's middling play could force his hand to make sweeping changes before the trade deadline, Thosar writes.
Are the Royals legit? Kansas City has been one of the surprise teams in the sport this season, boasting a 35-23 record. Sam Panayotovich discusses the Royals' odds to go on a deep playoff run.
Team of the Week: Several New York Yankees players make up a chunk of Ben Verlander's latest team of standouts, a star-studded group that also includes Bryce Harper, Yordan Álvarez and Luis Arráez.
Power Rankings: The Yankees have fully returned to "Evil Empire" mode, while the Braves keep sliding in Verlander's most recent list of baseball's best teams.
Mets prove they're 'not out of it' in rally vs. Giants, but the clock is ticking. The Mets have been the worst team in baseball for the past four-plus weeks. But Sunday's comeback reminded why they're still worth paying close attention to, Thosar writes.
Want more betting angles? Juan Soto's stellar start has launched him to the top of the AL MVP leaderboard — with his superstar teammate Aaron Judge right behind — while the Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal is the front-runner for AL Cy Young. Plus, be sure to check out the latest World Series odds here, and stop by our betting hub for all the latest MLB odds!
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
