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Baseball’s Hall of Fame will open its doors to two of the most impactful hitters in recent memory when Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza enter the Cooperstown, New York, shrine Sunday.

Griffey and Piazza entered Major League Baseball at the opposite ends of the hype spectrum when they were drafted in 1987 and 1988, respectively.

Griffey, the son of Ken Griffey Sr.—who was one of the core players of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine throughout the 1970s—was selected first overall in the MLB draft.

Piazza did not appear to have much hope of reaching the big leagues, as he was selected in the 62nd round. The draft now ends after Round 40.

2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

When: Sunday, July 24

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Where: Clark Sports Center; Cooperstown, New York

TV: MLB Network

Live Stream: BaseballHall.org

Piazza was selected because Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda knew his father, Vince, and both men were convinced Piazza could be a special hitter, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

The younger Piazza made the most of his opportunity, becoming a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger. He finished his career with 427 home runs and a .308/.377/.545 slash line with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida (now Miami) Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics.

Piazza proved to be one of the greatest hitting catchers in the history of the game, and he regularly demonstrated his ability to hit with power to all fields.

Baseball-Reference.com shared some of his numbers:

His induction speech figures to be emotional, because Piazza was a long shot to make the major leagues, let alone earn a spot in Cooperstown.

“I’m definitely going to cry,” Piazza said, per Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News. “I’m trying to figure out what medication I’m going to need without being loopy. It’s going to be tough.” 

Piazza made the Hall of Fame with 83.0 percent of the vote, while Griffey made it with 99.3 percent of the vote.

Griffey had a magnificent career with the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, finishing with 630 home runs. He was a 13-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, a seven-time Silver Slugger and the 1997 American League MVP.

Junior played from 1989 through 2010, finishing his career with a .284/.370/.538 slash line.

Whistle Sports shared some of his highlights:

Fans recognized him as one of the two greatest players in the game (along with Barry Bonds) during the first part of his career with the Mariners, and most expected Griffey to continue putting up eye-catching numbers when he went to the Reds in 2000. However, while he was productive with the Reds, his sensational career was slowed by injuries after he arrived in his hometown.

Griffey topped the 40-home run mark six times during his career with the Mariners, but he hit the 40-homer mark only once with the Reds. Additionally, he had a .300-plus batting average seven times in Seattle but just once in Cincinnati.

Griffey never played in a World Series during his career, and that’s one of the reasons why the Hall of Fame ring means so much to him.

“It might be on the gate when you ring in,” Griffey joked, per Casey McGraw of the Times Union. “It might be like the Stanley Cup, I might take it around, do some things with it; brush my hair with it. I’ll figure out something, but it’ll be seen.”

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With time running out until MLB‘s non-waiver trade deadline, nearly half of the league is sandwiched together atop the standings.

Fourteen teams have accumulated at least 50 victories. Shortly before the non-waiver trade window shuts on Aug. 1, a clear line divides the contenders and pretenders. Given the parity at the top, every playoff hopeful can convince itself that one or two shrewd moves will catalyze a championship run.

Such a climate could create chaos over the next 10 days. Some of the most popular trade candidates remain on the rumor mill, even if all of them aren’t veterans on expiring contracts.

Their availability might be only for show, but let’s examine the latest buzz on some of baseball’s best players on the market.

Chris Archer

If there’s a player a small-market seller shouldn’t shop, it’s a 27-year-old ace, especially not when he’s on the books for a team-friendly contract through 2021. And especially not during a down year.

A year after registering a 3.23 ERA and 252 strikeouts for the Tampa Bay Rays, Chris Archer has posted an inflated 4.60 ERA in 2016. He’s on the hook for an MLB-worst 13 losses, only two of which qualified as quality starts.

It’s a poor time for Tampa Bay to move a struggling franchise centerpiece, but an anonymous team executive expressed confidence that the Los Angeles Dodgers would land him, per ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark:

Even if the Rays deal Archer, don’t expect them to sell low. Stark clarified their high asking price, which makes a move feel less certain than the previous source suggested:

Will the Dodgers pay up? Per Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, an executive said they “have almost no choice but to overpay for a controllable starter such as Archer or [Chris] Sale,” with ace Clayton Kershaw possibly needing surgery. Another source previously told Rosenthal the Chicago White Sox turned down a “king’s ransom” for their rotation anchor.

If motivated to stay in playoff contention without Kershaw, the Dodgers have a deep enough farm system for an aggressive move. Top pitching prospects Jose De Leon, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas could grab Tampa Bay’s attention. The crown jewel of their young talent, 19-year-old Julio Urias, would especially force the Rays to consider a blockbuster move.

Despite his 2016 struggles, Archer remains a top-shelf arm who has punched out 147 batters over 123.1 innings. Unless the Dodgers make a Godfather offer, he’ll stay put, with Matt Moore or Jake Odorizzi potentially moving instead.

Jonathan Lucroy

Milwaukee Brewers teammate Ryan Braun is a flashier household name, but Jonathan Lucroy stirs more excitement among contenders. The 30-year-old catcher is hitting .301/.357/.484 during a bounce-back year, and few peers garner more respect for their defensive work.

A $5.25 million club option for 2017—chump change for an elite two-way catcher—fortifies his trade value but allows Milwaukee the flexibility to stand pat if no offer whets its whistle. As a cheap upgrade for every team besides the San Francisco Giants, he’ll draw plenty of eager admirers before Aug. 1.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported the Cleveland Indians are one such suitor:

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s Tom Haudricourt added that the two sides will expand those negotiations to include relievers: 

Contrary to Olney‘s tweet, Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes reported Michael Brantley’s latest setback won’t intensify Cleveland’s pursuit of offensive help. Yet it’s reasonable to expect the American League Central leaders to address the worst catching production in baseball. 

Yet Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball dampened the likelihood of a transaction. 

“While an Indians person confirmed they talked about Lucroy, that possibility was downplayed, which makes sense since the Indians probably want to save their bullets for pitching,” Heyman wrote.

The Indians boast one of baseball’s premier rotations, but their bullpen is a sore spot, aside from Dan Otero and closer Cody Allen. Baseball Prospectus gives them an 97.3 percent chance of making the playoffs, so they should give serious thought to obtaining Lucroy and bullpen help from Milwaukee.

Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick

Not every maneuver needs to set the baseball community ablaze. For teams needing an offensive boost in a corner-outfield slot, Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick represent sensible choices who shouldn’t command top-flight prospects in return.

Since they fit the same role, it’s natural for their markets to intertwine. According to Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi, a few teams are eyeing both sluggers:

Boasting a .528 slugging percentage and 19 homers, Bruce represents the grander offensive upgrade. A $13 million club option for next year also tacks on more future worth than Reddick‘s expiring contract. Yet any buyer must consider the defensive repercussions.

Because of his minus-12.3 ultimate zone rating, the worst mark of any outfielder, Bruce grades out as a replacement-level player despite his demonstrative power. The Dodgers might be desperate enough for the power, and the Cubs could mask his shortcomings with baseball’s best defense. Heyman tossed the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals into the mix as well.

Reddick is no defensive wizard, and he has delivered significantly less power, with six long balls for the Oakland Athletics. The 29-year-old also, however, wields a higher weighted runs created-plus mark (121) than the Cincinnati Reds bruiser (117) thanks to his keen batting eye.

Per the San Francisco Chronicle‘s John Shea, Reddick indicated he “would love to” remain in Oakland. 

“It’s kind of disheartening something hasn’t been worked out so far, and we’ve been four months into it. It is what it is,” he said.

Oakland has rarely shown loyalty to its tenured players, so expect Reddick to go when the last-place franchise unloads before the deadline. He’s a two-month rental who can help a handful of contenders.

Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Contract information obtained from Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

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Two of the top hitters of their generation will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2016 class.

Only the best of the best reach this level, which left only Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza standing on a ballot that also included a hitter with 762 home runs (Barry Bonds) and a pitcher with 354 wins (Roger Clemens). Additionally, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines came up short of the 75 percent of votes needed for induction.

While there will be eternal debate over those who didn’t get in, the two players who are set to earn plaques this weekend deserve it after their incredible careers. Here is what you need to know to celebrate this occasion with Griffey and Piazza.

2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

When: Sunday, July 24

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Where: Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown, New York

TV: MLB Network

Live Stream: BaseballHall.org

Inductees

Mike Piazza

When Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round in 1988, few predicted he’d become a Hall of Famer. After all, today’s draft stops after 40 rounds.

In reality, the only reason he was drafted was due to then-Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who knew the player’s father. Lasorda explained the situation, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Mike works out as a first baseman in front of our scouts, and the scouting director, Ben Wade, tells me they’re not interested in signing him. I said, ‘Ben, if he could hit like that as a shortstop, would you sign him?’ He says, yes. I said, ‘How about if a catcher could hit like that?’ Ben says, ‘Then I would sign him.’

I said, ‘Then, you’ve got yourself a catcher.’

This transition shouldn’t surprise anyone who watched Piazza over the years. He was never an elite defensive catcher and struggled to throw out runners on the bases. However, he made up for it with his bat and became arguably the top hitting catcher in baseball history.

Piazza came up through the Dodgers organization and found success immediately, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1993. He only got more dominant from there, being named an All-Star in each of his first six full seasons in the majors and finishing in the top six of MVP voting in four of those years.

After a brief stint with the then-Florida Marlins, he joined the New York Mets, where he found even more success. Piazza reached six more All-Star Games while helping the team win the NL pennant in 2000.

When all was said and done, the powerful hitter finished his career with a .308 batting average and 427 home runs, plus 12 All-Star Games and 10 Silver Slugger Awards, given to the best hitter at each position. His 396 home runs as a catcher are the most all-time for the position.

With this level of success compared to expectations, it’s no wonder he expects to cry during his speech:

Piazza was one of the top hitters in the game throughout his career, tallying an above-average OPS+ in every season from 1993 to 2006, per Baseball-Reference.com. It took him four years on the ballot to reach this stage, but he deserves the honor.

Ken Griffey Jr.

While Piazza was a long shot, Ken Griffey Jr. was virtually the opposite. The son of an All-Star, the younger Griffey was a natural in the sport and went first overall in the 1987 draft.

It didn’t take him long to have an impact in the majors, either. The center fielder came up at just 19 years old and was an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner by age 20. During his first 11 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, he reached 10 All-Star Games and won 10 Gold Glove Awards. He was named American League MVP in 1997 when he led the league with 56 home runs and 147 RBI with the first-place Mariners.

Although injuries derailed Griffey’s career a bit after he joined the Cincinnati Reds, he still went to three more All-Star Games and earned MVP votes in 2005. He finished his career with the Mariners, totaling 630 home runs, which ranks sixth in MLB history.

As good as he was on the field, however, he made almost as big of an impact off it. C. Trent Rosecrans of the Indianapolis Star broke down what Griffey meant to fans:

Griffey, with the backwards cap, was baseball’s last pop culture icon, the last player that even non-baseball fans knew by sight. He dominated commercials, video games, baseball shoes and was the most popular player in the game and the only choice when baseball was trying to match the star power of basketball’s [Michael] Jordan. In the 1993 All-Star Game in Baltimore, it was Jordan who was seen chasing down Griffey for an autograph.

Given his impact as an elite fielder, power hitter and cultural icon, it’s no wonder he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer with 99.3 percent of the vote. The bigger question is how three people didn’t vote for him on the first ballot.

Regardless of the voting, Griffey is headed to Cooperstown, where he will provide one of the most anticipated induction moments ever.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.

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MLB‘s trade deadline is fast approaching, and teams are beginning to declare whether they will be buyers or sellers in the market.

This year’s non-waiver trade deadline is August 1, a day later than usual due to the fact that July 31 falls on a Sunday. 

Aside from the obvious contenders and pretenders, most teams in the middle are still biding their time to determine whether or not they should make a push for the postseason. As a result, there has been a shortage of concrete rumors to this point, but the rumblings should begin to pick up in the final week of July. 

Here’s an update on some of the most recent rumors and discussions floating around the league:

Indians, Brewers discussing multiplayer deal

ESPN’s Buster Olney provided one of the juiciest deadline rumors of the season to date when he linked the Cleveland Indians to Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy:

Sources: CLE in talks for MIL’s Jonathan Lucroy. Perhaps Brantley’s situation has pushed them to add a hitter & consider upgrade at catcher.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 20, 2016

FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal later added that while the Indians are interested in Lucroy, “above all” they want bullpen help. 

Fortunately for both teams, the Brewers have the ability to provide Cleveland with both an upgrade at catcher and another arm for the pen. 

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel provided an update to the trade talks on Thursday, stating “you can bet relievers are part of talks.”

Brewers reliever Will Smith, who is under team control through the 2019 season, according to Spotrac, would presumably be the primary target for Cleveland. 

The Tribe is desperate for a lefty arm in the bullpen, which Smith would provide. Twenty-four-year-old Kyle Crockett, who has appeared in just five games this season, is currently the only lefty in the Indians bullpen. 

Rays put Chris Archer on the block

ESPN’s Jayson Stark added a surprising name to the trade rumors on Thursday:

Heard from another executive today that “untouchable” wouldn’t describe Rays’ stance on Chris Archer. Listening. But want a “huge” return.

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 21, 2016

The last-place Rays are clearly sellers this year, but Archer was not initially expected to be among the players moved. 

According to Spotrac, Archer is still under contract through 2019 with team options for 2020 and 2021. And at no point during the contract will Archer earn over $10 million per year. 

With Archer under one of the most team-friendly contracts in all of baseball, the Rays can rightfully expect a massive haul in return if they do move their ace. 

Despite the high asking price, the Rays will almost certainly receive intriguing offers from around the league. Rosenthal recently reported that the White Sox were offered a “king’s ransom” for Chris Sale but turned down the deal. It’s possible that the mystery team willing to go all-in on Sale might be willing to put together a similar offer for the 27-year-old Archer.

White Sox will be sellers

While the White Sox may not be willing to part with Sale just yet, the team will be looking to sell at the deadline rather than make a last-ditch effort to reach the postseason, according to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. 

Chicago hung around longer than expected this season, but the Sox are just 2-8 in their last 10 games and have fallen 10.5 games behind the Indians in the AL Central. 

The White Sox’s most valuable asset on a short-term contract would be Todd Frazier, who is only under team control through 2017. 

Frazier has been struggling at the plate, batting just .216, but he still brings value to the lineup due to his power stroke. Frazier already has 28 home runs on the year. 

Brett Lawrie, also under contract through 2017, wouldn’t net as much as Frazier on the trade market but could also be moved at the deadline. His versatility due to his experience at second and third base could increase his value slightly. 

Chicago also has the expiring contracts of catcher Dioner Navarro and first baseman Justin Morneau to offer in lesser deals. 

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The San Francisco Giants (57-38) are winless since the All-Star break, losing five straight after closing out the first half of the year on a four-game winning streak.

Despite just getting swept by the Boston Red Sox, the Giants are listed as small -115 betting favorites (wager $115 to win $100) to end their skid at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark when they visit the New York Yankees (48-47) in the first of three games Friday.

Fortunately for San Francisco, ace Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 2.12 ERA) will make his second start of the second half and try to rebound from a road loss to the San Diego Padres last Friday. In that game, Bumgarner surrendered four runs and seven hits in six innings of a 4-1 setback with one walk and nine strikeouts.

This came after he allowed only one hit in a complete-game shutout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 10.

The Yankees just took three of four games from the Baltimore Orioles at home and remain over the .500 mark despite losing 4-1 on Thursday. They will counter Bumgarner with their top pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 3.15) and have won six in a row with him on the hill.

Tanaka pitched last Sunday against the Boston Red Sox and gave up just one run and three hits in six innings of a 3-1 victory with one walk and seven strikeouts.

The big questions heading into this series are, can the Giants find a way to rebound or will New York continue to play well in hopes of making a run at the playoffs?

San Francisco has lost five of six against American League opponents, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database. Before that the Giants won five of six versus the AL, but they have not faced the Yankees since 2013 when they dropped two of three.

New York has won four of five at home, with the under cashing in the past eight at Yankee Stadium. The under is also 6-2 in the previous eight overall for San Francisco, which has seen the total go over in two straight following a 6-0 run below the number.

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We don’t need Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Velma or Daphne to help us sniff out clues as to which MLB teams are looking to the future at this year’s non-waiver trade deadline. With Aug. 1 fast approaching, we’ve got a good idea of who they’ll be.

That said, looking to the future doesn’t necessarily mean a team will be sellers. Buyers can be forward-looking as well. In fact, at least one last-place team with no chance of contending this season could be looking to buy—and buy big.

Of course, there are still clubs unsure of what they’ll do in the days ahead.

The Los Angeles Dodgers would be wise to heed the advice of Bleacher Report’s Jacob Shafer. That is, they should avoid mortgaging the future in an attempt to make a deep playoff run without staff ace Clayton Kershaw, who is dealing with a herniated disc in his back.

Ain’t that the truth.

In New York, the truth seems to be lost. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine stand in the way of general manager Brian Cashman’s desire to sell off as many veteran pieces as possible, with an eye toward fielding a younger, more athletic and cheaper club in 2017, per ESPN.com’s Wallace Matthews.

While those teams (and a handful of others) continue to vacillate between playing for the present or looking to the future, the following clubs are firmly set on following the latter path.

Begin Slideshow

We are now less than two weeks away from the Aug. 1 non-waiver MLB trade deadline, and the trade market is starting to heat up.

There have already been a few notable deals since the All-Star break.

The Boston Red Sox picked up left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres to kick off the second half, and the Chicago Cubs acquired swingman Mike Montgomery from the Seattle Mariners in a four-player deal Wednesday afternoon, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com.

Expect plenty more activity in the days to come as rebuilding teams cash in their trade chips and contenders look to shore up their rosters for a second-half push.

The trade deadline is an unpredictable time around baseball, but that’s not going to stop us from trying our hand at some prognostication.

Ahead you’ll find predictions for all 30 teams at this year’s deadline.

Begin Slideshow

Trade season is upon us, and while the Boston Red Sox have been the most aggressive team thus far, swinging deals for a starting pitcher (Drew Pomeranz) and reliever (Brad Ziegler) in recent weeks, the rest of baseball is sure to catch up in no time.

After all, the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline will be here before you know it. Considering how quickly the All-Star break seemed to arrive, the 11 shopping days that teams have left will pass in the blink of an eye.

That doesn’t leave much time to answer some burning questions.

Is a top prospect really untouchable? Will a recent trade preclude a contender from swinging another deal? Will an internal power struggle cost a team the chance to retool on the fly?

We’ll hit on all that and more in this week’s edition of fact or fiction. 

Begin Slideshow

The usual MLB trade candidates typically follow a pattern. Veterans on cellar-dwelling franchises with contracts close to expiring dominate the pre-deadline rumor mill.

Yet as the August 1 non-waiver deadline approaches, the hot stove has expanded beyond the usual suspects to younger players on cost-effective deals. 

Disappointing performance has one fading, polarizing star suddenly perceived as an expendable commodity. There are few people more desired than a young, affordable pitcher, so one is drawing interest despite stinking his way to Triple-A.

Then there’s a premier young talent on a championship contender who could become a bargaining tool due to the team’s offensive surplus. Let’s take a look at three of the league’s latest trade rumors.

Yasiel Puig

Yasiel Puig‘s downfall continues. Hitting .256/.318/.376 with a career-worst 92 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), per FanGraphs, his production continues to decay. 

Since breaking out in a major way during his 2013 debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has posted a lower on-base percentage, slugging percentage and wRC+ in every following season. Also criticized for his off-field behavior, the 25-year-old has fallen from future superstar to a headache the Dodgers might eradicate.

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Los Angeles, “at the very least, is open to trading him.” Interestingly enough, a power-minded outfielder tops the team’s wish list along with a left-handed relief pitcher.

In 23 games since returning from a left hamstring strain on June 21, Puig is hitting .300 (24-for-80) with nine walks, matching his tally before landing on the disabled list. While his recent play is somewhat promising, his overall 6.2 walk percentage remains weak, and he only has five extra-base hits during those 94 plate appearances.

Rosenthal suggested the Dodgers might try to use his improved play to salvage trade value and move him before another setback. Needing power to fuel their playoff push, they should only move Puig if they’re leveraging his name value into a more productive outfielder.

Shelby Miller

How many capable starting pitchers get traded three times as a major leaguer before turning 26? It’s a feasible possibility for the struggling Shelby Miller.

The center of a head-scratching trade last winter, the righty has made the questionable deal even worse in hindsight. For the price of center fielder Ender Inciarte, top pitching prospect Aaron Blair and 2015 No. 1 draft pick Dansby Swanson, the Arizona Diamondbacks have received a 7.14 ERA from Miller, who was recently demoted to Triple-A.

“I’ve been struggling up here for a while,” Miller said last Thursday, per the Associated Press’ Bob Baum. “I’m surprised I stayed up here this long.”

Instead of seeing a troubled arm with a .909 opposing OPS and two quality starts in 14 tries, other teams detect a buy-low opportunity. Per Robert Murray of Today’s Knuckleball, the Dodgers and Miami Marlins have inquired about the laboring pitcher.

Miller holds a 3.64 career ERA, so prospective buyers are targeting a solid starter who would otherwise cost a fortune. Just ask Arizona, a team that would be lucky to receive one player on par with Swanson. 

Sources told Murray that the Diamondbacks are “not giving him away,” so look for him to work out whatever is ailing him in Arizona. They overpaid to get him, but selling him on the downswing would only compound their mistakes. Unless the Braves agree to trade back out of pity, their best bet is to ride out his troubles.

Jurickson Profar

It’s not quite a shocking development to see teams covet a 23-year-old infielder batting .316/.364/.451. 

According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Texas Rangers are fielding a “ton of calls” for Jurickson Profar, who has received limited playing time despite his stellar play:

All things considered, the Rangers would like to keep Profar. His versatility is an asset even though the Rangers haven’t fully exploited it yet. He could also end up as the starting shortstop next season with Elvis Andrus sliding into the utility role.

But right now clubs see he is getting limited playing time even though he can play all four infield positions. If they do trade him, the Rangers would prefer to get a young starting pitcher with as much upside potential as Profar and under their control for the next few years.

Baseball America‘s top-rated prospect in 2013, his road to the majors took longer than expected due to shoulder injuries wiping out most of the last two years. He’s back and playing a little of all four infield spots for Texas, but it hasn’t added up to regular reps. He might still be stuck in the minors if Rougned Odor didn’t punch Jose Bautista. 

Per Sullivan, the Tampa Bay Rays are one of the interested teams, and their array of young pitching makes them a natural trading partner for Texas. If the Rangers decide to keep Profar, they could instead offer slugging third baseman Joey Gallo or outfield prospect Lewis Brinson to attain Jake Odorizzi or Matt Moore.

Texas should instead find a way to feature Profar, even if it means sitting the highly compensated Prince Fielder.

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The Boston Red Sox (52-39) acquired lefty Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.47 ERA) hoping to put themselves over the top in the race to win the American League East.

Pomeranz was used to being an underdog with the San Diego Padres, but he is listed as a -190 betting favorite (bet $190 to win $100) Wednesday at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark for an interleague matchup with the San Francisco Giants (57-37).

Pomeranz faced the Giants three times when he was a member of the Padres, going 0-2 with a 2.60 ERA. San Diego was outscored 8-5 in those games, losing each time by only one run. He is 3-0 in his past four starts overall, allowing one run or fewer in his last three appearances, with all of them resulting in wins.

The Red Sox gave up one of their top pitching prospects in 18-year-old Anderson Espinoza, so the pressure is on them to win now, and Pomeranz will be counted on to come through in this spot.

San Francisco will counter with righty Matt Cain (1-5, 5.34 ERA), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list after dealing with a hamstring injury. Cain has not pitched since June 13, when he surrendered three runs and five hits in 3.2 innings of an 11-5 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cain has started 11 games overall for the Giants this season, going 0-2 in four road outings with a 6.05 ERA. His lone win came versus the Chicago Cubs at home on May 21, as he gave up one run and six hits in six innings of work.

Boston has won three of the previous four meetings with San Francisco along with nine of 12 following a 4-0 victory on Tuesday, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database.

Offense has been a major problem for the Giants in the series recently, as they have scored three runs or less in each of the last eight games between the teams, with the under going 5-3-1.

The under is also 11-2 in the past 13 starts for Pomeranz, cashing in three straight. Cain has seen the over go 5-3 in his last eight starts, although the under is 5-1 in San Francisco’s past six overall.

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