Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Posted on

How Adames, Giants rallied around Doval for series win vs. Brewers

How Adames, Giants rallied around Doval for series win vs. Brewers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the Giants seeking a comeback win for a series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, Camilo Doval had thrown five consecutive balls in the top of the ninth inning.

The Oracle Park crowd — 28,592 strong — grew restless. Doval, whose struggles last season were well-documented, was attempting to secure his third save in as many appearances. With a potential setback looming, shortstop Willy Adames jogged to the mound, joined by third baseman Matt Chapman and catcher Patrick Bailey, to offer Doval some words of encouragement.

The result was a 6-5 win, bumping San Francisco to a 17-9 record and series win over Adames’ former team.

“I was just trying to calm [Doval] down,” Adames told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt and Shawn Estes on “Giants Postgame Live” following the win. “I feel like he’s just getting his confidence back, and he’s been looking great. I didn’t want him to get out of control there, so I just wanted to give him some time and just calm him down, and I think him seeing that and seeing the boys come to the mound to give him a breath, I think that helped him a lot.”

Giants closer Ryan Walker, who took over the role following Doval’s troubles last year, has run into a roadblock of his own in 2025, blowing a save opportunity in Sunday’s walk-off loss to the Los Angeles Angels and failing to finish the job in Wednesday’s eventual 4-2 win over the Brewers.

Doval earned the save in that victory, too, but manager Bob Melvin said after Thursday’s game that he simply was giving Walker the day off, noting it’s nice to have “two closers” in a stretch like San Francisco’s current 17-game marathon without a day off. But that doesn’t mean there actually are two closers now, Melvin said.

“Look, Walker’s going to have tomorrow’s game if we get into a save situation,” Melvin told reporters with a smile.

The Giants certainly hope to have a game with less excitement — and a bigger lead — when Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers come into town Friday. San Francisco came back three times against Milwaukee for the eventual win Thursday, with Adames delivering the game-winning sacrifice fly and forcing an error by Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich in the bottom of the eighth.

“Calm” was the word of the day for Adames, who is starting to find a groove at the plate amid a slow start with his new team in the Bay.

“I just tried to stay short there, just tried to put the ball in play,” Adames told Britt and Estes. “Tried to hit the ball to the outfield to give [Christian] Koss an opportunity to score there. It hasn’t been the best for me at the plate, but in that situation there I just tried to calm myself down, just try to do my job and execute the situation there with first and third, not try to do too much and not trying to hit a homer there, put the ball in play.”

While the Giants wait for Adames’ bat to get hot, he has proven to be the exact clubhouse leader San Francisco knew it was signing this offseason, with his mound visit to Doval serving as the latest example.

But Adames came up clutch with his bat Thursday, along with Chapman, who hit his fifth home run of the season with a two-run shot, Jung Hoo Lee, whose first-inning RBI double tied the MLB lead, and Mike Yastrzemski’s two-hit, two-RBI day that included a game-tying homer in the third.

As long as the Giants keep rolling, Adames is more than satisfied. And, some might say, calm.

“You can tell I’m not there yet, but we’re working on it every day, we’re trying to make the adjustment,” Adames said. “We’re going to continue to work until I get that click, and until that moment, we’re going to continue to grind, man. But if we continue to win like this, I’m honestly fine with it.

“Obviously I want to do great, and I’m going to continue to work to be better.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Posted on

Rangers at Athletics prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 24

It's Thursday, April 24, and the Rangers (14-10) take on the Athletics (11-13). Jacob deGrom is slated to take the mound for Texas against J.T. Ginn for the Athletics.

The Athletics won yesterday's game against Rangers.

Kumar Rocker was on the mound for the Rangers. He only made it through 1.2 innings before giving up five runs on seven hits.

JP Sears picked up another win last night with a dominant performance. He went 5.0 innings and gave up just two earned runs.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rangers at Athletics

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 10:05PM EST
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSCA, Rangers Sports Network, Victory+

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rangers at the Athletics

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-150), Athletics (+126)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Athletics

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Jacob deGrom vs. J.T. Ginn
    • Rangers: Jacob deGrom, (0-1, 3.32 ERA)
      Last outing (vs LA Dodgers, 4/18): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Athletics: J.T. Ginn, (1-1, 3.60 ERA)
      Last outing (vs Milwakuee Brewers, 4/18): 4.2 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rangers at Athletics

  • The Athletics have lost 6 of 10 games this season following a win
  • The Over is 12-8 in the Rangers' last 10 games on the road and the Athletics' last 10 at home combined

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Athletics

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rangers and the Athletics:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Texas Rangers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Oakland Athletics at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

Former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard makes pitch for Negro Leagues Baseball Museum expansion

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard was a rookie with the Philadelphia Phillies just putting baseball on notice with his moonshot home runs when he met Buck O’Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field.

Howard was introduced to O’Neil as a modern-day Josh Gibson, one of the Negro Leagues greatest players who hit .466 for the 1943 Homestead Grays. Howard, who hit at least 45 homers four times in his career, was too embarrassed to accept the comparison.

“Mr. O’Neil was like, “Do you got that power?′ I said, ‘Yes sir, I do,’” Howard said. “He told me, ‘Don’t be ashamed of it. Let it out.’ It was great, just hearing the stories from and just being in his presence.”

O’Neil, who died in 2006, long was a champion of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. Howard, who won an NL MVP and a World Series with the Phillies, is ready to take up O’Neil’s cause as the former slugger joined the push in helping the museum’s expansion project.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is fundraising for a new 30,000-square-foot facility and campus, aimed at advancing the museum’s mission of preserving the rich history of Negro Leagues baseball and its impact on social progress in the United States.

Howard and San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt announced their plans to join the Negro Leagues’ “Pitch for the Future” in bringing greater awareness to the legacy of the Negro Leagues with a museum expansion.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick said he hoped to raise $30 million to complete the project.

“It’s a tremendous indicator of the growth of his museum and the heightened interest in the subject matter that we’ve generated through the years and has dictated a need for us to grow in all phases of our operations,” Kendrick said. “This is a byproduct of growth.”

Interest in the Negro Leagues has spiked of late in large part because of its inclusion in MLB The Show and when records for more than 2,300 players were incorporated into Major League Baseball statistics. The museum that was founded in a tiny, one-room office space in 1990 that attracts about 70,000 visitors each year — plus major leaguers who stop by during road trips — has outgrown its space at 18th and Vine.

Kendrick said the current space “wasn’t designed to handle large crowds at any one time.”

“In a perfect world, Kansas City will host the World Cup next year,” Kendrick said, “and we would love to follow the energy and excitement of the World Cup with a grand opening of the Negro Leagues Museum in 2027. That might be a little bit ambitious, but it’s doable.”

Howard toured the museum long before he was one of the feared sluggers in the National League.

“It was my way of paying homage to the Negro Leagues and former Negro League players that didn’t get the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Howard said.

Howard was always struck by the Field of Legends — 13 life-size statues of the first Negro Leaguers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York — that deepened his understanding of the journey the players took to reach the Hall.

“I think that’s why it’s important to keep the story going, keep it alive,” Howard said. “You’ve got to understand the history of Black baseball and how it correlates with baseball, in general, and Major League Baseball.”

The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida found during its last published study that Black players represented just 6.2% of players on MLB opening day rosters in 2023, down from 7.2% in 2022. For the first time since 1950, shortly after Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier, there were no U.S.-born Black players on the Houston Astros or Philadelphia Phillies roster in the 2022 World Series.

Former New York Mets slugger Darryl Strawberry said MLB needed to focus on developing and marketing the game within the inner cities in order for the percentage of Black players to rise substantially.

Howard said connecting Black youth with baseball has long had its issues.

“It’s tough, trying to help figure things out,” Howard said. “I think there are now more young Black kids starting to get back into baseball. You have to be able to turn on the TV and see somebody that looks like you.”

Howard was raised in Missouri and noted Black former St. Cardinals stars such as Willie McGee, Vince Coleman and Terry Pendleton that helped ignite his interest in the sport. Howard and fellow NL MVP Jimmy Rollins were two Black stars and fan favorites with the Phillies when they won their last World Series in 2008.

Shildt was a frequent visitor of the museum when he managed the St. Louis Cardinals and remained hopeful expansion would provide the resources needed to educate a new generation of fans.

“There’s a bigger story to tell,” Shildt said. “What’s taken place has been more grassroots oriented. They’ve been able to put it together without the resources to tell the full, big-picture story.”

Posted on

Phillies manager Rob Thomson seems to accuse Edwin Diaz of faking injury

With one out in the top of the 10th inning on Wednesday and the Phillies leading the Mets, 3-2, Edwin Diazdisengaged from the mound for a third time during J.T. Realmuto's at-bat -- an automatic balk, which he was called for.

But right after stepping off that third time, and being called for the balk (which moved Nick Castellanos to second base), Diaz motioned to the dugout.

Out came manager Carlos Mendoza, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, and the training staff. Soon after, Diaz -- who was pointing toward his left hip during a discussion on the mound -- left the game with an injury.

Once the umpires realized Diaz disengaged a third time due to an injury issue, the balk call was reversed, with Castellanos sent back to first base. Phillies manager Rob Thomson bounded out of the dugout and was apoplectic while arguing his case. But the reversal stood.

Max Kranick, who entered in relief of Diaz (who was in his second inning of work), started his outing by walking Realmuto and allowing a single to Alec Bohm to load the bases. But he secured the next two outs without any runs scoring, paving the way for the Mets to walk it off in the bottom half of the inning.

After the game, Thomson was still irked about the Diaz/balk situation. And he seemed to suggest Diaz faked an injury in order to get the call reversed.

"That’s a play that I’ll have to remember to tell our pitchers," Thomson told reporters. "Step off a third time. Call the trainer. He’ll take you out. We’ll put somebody else in."

Diaz spoke after the game as well, and went into detail about why he had to depart early with what the team designated was a left hip cramp.

"On the fastball I threw to Realmuto, I felt like my hip got locked up," Diaz said. "So I started walking and tried to loosen it up and when I stepped on the mound, I couldn't lift my leg a little bit to come set. So that's why I started doing the step-offs, because I was feeling uncomfortable."

Diaz added that the trainers told him on Tuesday that his right leg was longer than his left leg, and that they did a hip adjustment to fix the issue.

"As of right now, I feel strong," Diaz said. "We did some work on my hip and I was feeling better after, so let's see how I feel on Friday."

Diaz is in the midst of a strong stretch since having back-to-back rough outings on April 9 and 11.

Over his last five games, spanning 5.1 innings, Diaz has allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out 10.

Posted on

Rays at Diamondbacks prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 24

It's Thursday, April 24, and the Rays (10-14) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (14-10). Drew Rasmussen is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Corbin Burnes for Arizona.

The Rays picked up the win last night in Arizona to take game one of the series. Taj Bradley made it through 6.0 innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits.

The Diamondbacks started with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound. Rodriguez pitched 6.2 innings, gave up six hits, four runs, and struck out five.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rays at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ

  • Network/Streaming: Dbacks.TV, FanDuel Sports Network Florida

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rays at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+114), Diamondbacks (-135)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Drew Rasmussen vs. Corbin Burnes
    • Rays: Drew Rasmussen, (1-1, 0.87 ERA)
      Last outing (vs NY Yankees, 4:18): 5.2 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes, (0-1, 4.64 ERA)
      Last outing (vs Chicago Cubs, 4/18): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Diamondbacks

  • The Diamondbacks have won 4 of their last 5 games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 9-5-3 for the Rays' road games and the Diamondbacks' home games combined this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Diamondbacks

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rays and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Posted on

ICYMI in Mets Land: Roster moves coming; Carlos Mendoza talks hot start

Here's what happened in Mets land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

Posted on

Rockies at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends and stats for April 24 – Game 2

Its Thursday, April 24 and the Rockies (4-18) are in Kansas City for a doubleheader against the Royals (10-14). This is a preview of Game 2.

Chase Dollander is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Michael Lorenzen for Kansas City.

These teams last met on Tuesday, and the Royals took that game 4-3 in 11 innings.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Royals

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, FDSNKC

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rockies at the Royals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+164), Royals (-198)
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 8.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Chase Dollander vs. Michael Lorenzen
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Washington - 4IP, 6ER, 9H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Royals: Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/17 at Detroit - 4.2IP, 4ER, 7H, 3BB, 3Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Royals

  • Game Totals in Royals' games this season are 8-15-1 to the OVER
  • The Rockies are 9-13 on the Run Line this season
  • Bobby Witt, Jr. is hitting .360 during his 14-game hitting streak (18-50)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s Game 2 between the Rockies and the Royals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's Game 2 between the Rockies and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Brewers at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 24

Its Thursday, April 24 and the Brewers (13-12) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (16-9).

Tobias Myers is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Landen Roupp for San Francisco.

The Giants have taken two of the first three games of this series. Last night, Logan Webb threw 6.1 shutout innings to earn his third win of the season as San Francisco doubled up the Brewers 4-2.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Brewers at Giants

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 3:45PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, NBCSBA

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Brewers at the Giants

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+119), Giants (-140)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Tobias Myers vs. Landen Roupp
    • Brewers: Tobias Myers
      This is Myers' first appearance of the season
    • Giants: Landen Roupp (2-1, 4.09 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 at Angels - 7IP, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 9Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Giants

  • The Brewers have won their last 3 games following a loss
  • The Under is 8-4-1 in Brewers' games against National League teams this season
  • Brice Turang picked up 3 hits last night and now has 7 hits in his last 9 ABs
  • Jackson Chourio is 6-33 (.182) over his last 8 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Brewers and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Brewers and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

White Sox at Twins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 24

Its Thursday, April 24 and the White Sox (5-19) are in Minneapolis looking to avoid being swept by the Twins (9-15).

Shane Smith is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Chris Paddack for Minnesota.

The day after making a game-saving diving catch, Byron Buxton went yard and drove in two runs to help the Twins double up the White Sox, 6-3.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch White Sox at Twins

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, MNNT, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the White Sox at the Twins

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+188), Twins (-228)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Shane Smith vs. Chris Paddack
    • White Sox: Shane Smith (0-1, 2.82 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 at Boston - 4.2IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 3Ks
    • Twins: Chris Paddack (0-2, 7.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/18 at Atlanta - 5IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 6Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of White Sox at Twins

  • The Twins have won their last 4 home games, while the White Sox have lost 3 straight on the road
  • The Under is 7-4-1 in Twins' games against AL Central teams this season
  • The White Sox have failed to cover the Run Line in 7 straight games at Minnesota

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the White Sox and the Twins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the White Sox and the Twins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Minnesota Twins on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Mariners at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 24

Its Thursday, April 24 and the Mariners (13-11) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (14-12).

Bryan Woo is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Garrett Crochet for Boston.

This is the series finale. The teams have split the first two games. Seattle won last night 8-5. J.P. Crawford drove in four runs to pace the attack.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mariners at Red Sox

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 1:35PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: ROOTNW, NESN, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mariners at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (+139), Red Sox (-166)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Bryan Woo vs. Garrett Crochet
    • Mariners: Bryan Woo (2-1, 3.12 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/18 at Toronto - 7IP, 3ER, 7H, 2BB, 4Ks
    • Red Sox: Garrett Crochet (2-1, 1.13 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. White Sox - 6IP, 0ER, 4H, 2BB, 7Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mariners at Red Sox

  • The Mariners have won 4 of their last 5 series on the road
  • 17 of the Mariners' last 19 road games in Boston have gone over the Total
  • Cal Raleigh is tied atop baseball with 9 HRs
  • Rafael Devers is without a hit in his last 4 games (0-11)

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mariners and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Mariners and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Seattle Mariners at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Pirates at Angels prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 24

It's Thursday, April 24 and the Pirates (10-15) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (11-12). Carmen Mlodzinski is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Tyler Anderson for Los Angeles.

Oneil Cruz hit a 363-foot moonshot of a homerun last night in the Pirates' 3-0 win over the Angels, and now the Buccos go for the 3-0 series sweep over the Halos. The Pirates have outscored the Angels, 12-3 in two games so far.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Angels

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 9:29 PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSW, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Pirates at the Angels

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+124), Angels (-147)
  • Spread:  Angels -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Pirates at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Carmen Mlodzinski vs. Tyler Anderson
    • Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski, (1-3, 7.41 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
    • Angels: Tyler Anderson, (2-0, 2.08 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Angels

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Mike Trout to go Over 0.5 bases:

"In this series, Mike Trout has yet to get a hit and he's now hitless in three straight and five of the past six. This could be a mini-slump, but Thursday night's game is a good chance to snap that. While he's never faced Carmen Mlodzinski, he is a RHP who's been hit a lot. In four starts, Mlodzinski allowed 26 hits over 17.0 innings, 14 earned runs, and 8 walks to 14 strikeouts. All eight of Trout's homers have come off RHP this season and 12 of his 14 hits, so I don't hate Trout to go yard for +360 or better but think he gets at least one hit or one base tonight."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Pirates and the Angels:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Angels

  • The Pirates have won their last 3 games against teams with losing records
  • With Tyler Anderson starting the Under has cashed in the Angels' last 3 home games
  • With Tyler Anderson as the starter, the Angels have covered 4 straight games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Rockies at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 24

Its Thursday, April 24 and the Rockies (4-18) are in Kansas City for a doubleheader against the Royals (10-14).

Chase Dollander is slated to take the mound for Colorado in GaME 1 against Cole Ragans for Kansas City.

Last night's game was rained out. As a result, these teams will look to play two games today. The Royals have won their last two games and seven of their last ten. The Rockies are 1-9 in their last ten.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Royals

  • Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, FDSNKC

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rockies at the Royals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+217), Royals (-270
  • Spread:  Royals -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for April 24, 2025: Chase Dollander vs. Cole Ragans
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Washington - 4IP, 6ER, 9H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Royals: Cole Ragans (1-1, 3.58 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/18 at Detroit - 4IP, 5ER, 6H, 3BB, 8Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Royals

  • The Royals have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Royals' last 6 home games have stayed under the Total
  • The Royals have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight home games
  • KC is 8-15 on the Run Line this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Rockies and the Royals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rockies and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Orioles at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for March 24

It's Monday, March 24 and the Orioles (9-14) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (11-13). Cade Povich is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Jake Irvin for Washington.

Washington has won the first two games of the series, 7-3 and 4-3, as they look toward a sweep of Baltimore. The Orioles looked like they were going to win yesterday tying the game up in the top of the 8th, 3-3, but Luis Garcia Jr. recorded a sac fly RBI in the bottom of the 8th for the Nats to earn the victory.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Nationals

  • Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: MLB Network

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (-108), Nationals (-112)
  • Spread:  Orioles -1.5 (+150)
  • Total: O/U 8.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for March 24, 2025: Cade Povich vs. Jake Irvin
    • Orioles: Cade Povich, (0-2, 6.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (2-0, 3.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Orioles to avoid the sweep:

"Baltimore lost 4-3 yesterday after a 7-0 drumming on Tuesday, so this is the last chance for the O's to avoid getting swept by the Nationals. Washington as a team surrendered 23 runs and went 0-3 in Jake Irvin's first three starts, but wins over the Rockies and Pirates have inflated his value. I like the Orioles ML and a dabble on the -1.5 at +150 odds."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Nationals

  • Baltimore is on a season-long three-game losing streak.
  • Baltimore is 1-6 in the final game of a series this season.
  • Washington has won four of the past five games.
  • Washington is 9-5 at home this season.
  • Baltimore is 4-8 on the road this season.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Mason Miller overpowering the competition, injury concerns for Emmanuel Clase

In this week's Closer Report, Mason Miller is mowing batters down in his dominant start to the season. The gamble on Jeff Hoffman is working out for the Blue Jays. Injury news raises the level of concern around Emmanuel Clase. That and more as we break down the last week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Mason Miller - Athletics
Josh Hader - Houston Astros
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners

Miller worked a perfect ninth inning against the Brewers on Saturday for a save, then struck out the side Wednesday against the Rangers for his seventh save. The 26-year-old right-hander has not allowed a run over eight innings and holds a ridiculous 17/1 K/BB ratio. There's no one in baseball pitching better.

Hader is a close second. He secured back-to-back saves against the Padres, then stranded two base runners against the Blue Jays on Wednesday for his eighth save. The 31-year-old left-hander has allowed one run with a 17/3 K/BB ratio across 13 innings of work.

Muñoz took the mound with a three-run lead in the ninth against the Red Sox on Wednesday and pitched a clean inning with one strikeout for his eighth save. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a 15/5 K/BB ratio across 12 scoreless innings.

Tier 2: The Elite

Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals

Suarez keeps rolling in his dominant start to the season. He locked up two more saves for a league-leading ten on the year. The 34-year-old right-hander's 34.2% strikeout rate over 11 games is his best stretch since 2023.

Hoffman displayed top closer skills over the last two seasons and is pitching even better in the role with Toronto. The 32-year-old right-hander picked up his fifth save Friday against the Mariners and owns an 18/1 K/BB ratio across 12 1/3 innings with two runs allowed.

Díaz looked to be getting on track, rattling off three saves this week and striking out two batters in each of his last five outings. He had an injury scare on Wednesday as he was removed from the game with what the team called a left hip cramp. The issue was downplayed later in the day, but it's going to be something to monitor.

Williams had been pitching better of late with four straight scoreless appearances, including three saves. He then gave up four runs to blow the lead in a non-save situation against the Rays on Saturday. It was the second such outing for the 30-year-old right-hander. Williams just seems to be off as he hasn't gotten the swing-and-miss he's accustomed to. Still, we'll trust the track record here and hope he overcomes this slow start.

Helsley didn't see any save chances this week. He worked around a pair of walks in a scoreless inning of work against the Braves on Tuesday. The walks need to be corrected as he's issued eight free passes over his last four outings.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Jose Alvarado - Philadelphia Phillies
Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles

Scott was on a roll going into Tuesday with eight consecutive scoreless outings before giving up a solo homer to blow the save against the Cubs. He's been otherwise excellent, posting a 2.77 ERA with an 11/0 K/BB ratio while converting eight saves over 13 innings.

Alvarado is a big riser this week as the Phillies don't seem to have any other choice than to save him for the ninth inning most days. The 29-year-old left-hander is far and away their best option to close out games as the team's top right-handed options Orion Kerkering and Jordan Romano struggle. Alvarado picked up two saves this week and is up to five on the season with a 2.13 ERA and a 17/2 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 innings.

Walker worked around a hit to record his fifth save Saturday, then took the loss with four runs allowed against the Angels on Sunday. With Walker getting the day off, Camilo Doval stepped in to convert Monday's save chance against the Brewers. The 29-year-old right-hander nearly imploded again Wednesday, giving up two runs with a four-run lead before Doval relieved him to close it out for another save. Walker has been much more hittable this season while failing to generate enough whiffs to sustain success late in games. It could cost him the closer role sooner or later.

Iglesias recorded two saves with a pair of clean outings before giving up three runs in a non-save situation against the Cardinals on Monday. Home runs have been a problem for the 35-year-old right-hander as he's given up four in nine innings.

It was shaky for Duran, but he converted his second save on Tuesday against the White Sox despite giving up a run on two walks and a hit. The walk rate is currently bloated, but the skills otherwise match last season so far for the 27-year-old right-hander. Meanwhile, top setup man Griffin Jax has struggled, giving up ten runs in ten innings.

It's tough to know where to place Clase, but it's time for concern given his recent health news. The 27-year-old right-hander surrendered three runs and blew the save Sunday against the Pirates. Manager Stephen Vogt stated Wednesday that Clase was dealing with some right shoulder discomfort following his most recent outing. Cade Smith stepped in to convert two saves against the Yankees and could be next in line should Clase require some time off.

Bautista had one of his best outings of the season, striking out one batter in a perfect inning against the Reds on Saturday to record his second save of the season. The Orioles haven't seen many save chances so far, but it's nice to see Bautista improving with each outing as the whiffs have been up in his last two appearances.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Justin Martinez - Arizona Diamondbacks
Aroldis Chapman/Justin Slaten - Boston Red Sox
Luke Jackson - Texas Rangers
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds
Ryan Pressly - Chicago Cubs

So far so good for Jansen. The 37-year-old right-hander locked down his fifth save of the season with a clean frame against the Giants on Friday. He's yet to allow a run over seven innings.

No save chances for the Rays this week. Fairbanks gave up two runs in a non-save situation against the Yankees on Saturday. Edwin Uceta fell in line for the win in that game, striking out three batters. Fairbanks then recorded two outs in extra innings against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday to earn a win.

In Milwaukee, Megill recorded a two-out save on five pitches Friday against the Athletics. He's made two scoreless appearances since getting evaluated for a knee issue but has not recorded a strikeout in his last three outings.

The Diamondbacks bullpen is a bit in flux as A.J. Puk was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Meanwhile, Martinez was held out for a couple of days with right shoulder fatigue. Shelby Miller tossed two scoreless innings against the Cubs on Sunday while Drey Jameson recorded the save in extra innings. Martinez did pitch in a tie game against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, tossing a clean frame with one strikeout in the ninth.

Alex Cora played the matchup game in Boston this week, with Chapman getting the eighth inning against the White Sox on Monday before Slaten entered for the save in the ninth. While Chapman projects to lead the team in saves, Slaten could be rostered in deeper leagues for the occasional save chance.

Jackson worked the ninth inning to convert his seventh save Tuesday against the Athletics. While he's gotten the job done, Jackson has struck out just one batter over his last five appearances.

Finnegan converted back-to-back saves in Colorado against the Rockies, then picked up his ninth against the Orioles on Wednesday. The 33-year-old right-hander holds a 1.69 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 innings.

The wheels fell off for Estévez against the Rockies on Tuesday. He was charged with a blown save after giving up three runs on three walks and one hit. The 32-year-old right-hander has been otherwise solid and should continue to operate as the primary closer in Kansas City.

Pagán gave up two runs to blow the save chance last Thursday against the Mariners, then bounced back with a clean frame against the Marlins on Wednesday for his fifth save. The 33-year-old right-hander should continue to run with the closer role in Cincinnati as long as he's effective.

No save chances for Pressly this week, but he did fall in line for a win Friday with a scoreless inning against the Diamondbacks. The 36-year-old right-hander has still only stuck out five batters over 11 innings but has made eight consecutive appearances without giving up an earned run. With a one-run lead against the Dodgers on Wednesday, it was Porter Hodge who was summoned to close it out for his first save despite Pressly not pitching the previous two days. After the game, manager Craig Cousell stated Pressly was dealing with a knee issue and hopes for him to be available Friday.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Dennis Santana - Pittsburgh Pirates
Tommy Kahnle - Detroit Tigers
Jesus Tinoco/Calvin Faucher - Miami Marlins
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies
Jordan Leasure - Chicago White Sox

Santana is still operating as the Pirates closer despite the return of David Bednar. The 29-year-old right-hander picked up a save last Thursday against the Nationals, then locked down his third Wednesday against the Angels. Bednar has made three scoreless appearances since returning from his stint in Triple-A and could eventually work his way back into the closer role.

Kahnle converted back-to-back saves against the Royals, then blew a save chance on Sunday pitching for the third time in four days. Meanwhile, Will Vest got into the mix with two saves. He's pitched well and should see occasional opportunities. Vest did pitch the ninth inning with a four-run lead on Wednesday while Kahle stranded two runners in the eighth in a high-leverage spot.

More mess in Miami. Tinoco got the nod this week, converting back-to-back saves. After pitching in three of four days, Tinoco had the day off Tuesday and it was Faucher who got the save against the Reds. A 2/3 K/BB ratio over 5 2/3 innings is hard to buy into with Tinoco if chasing saves in this situation.

Halvorsen blew the save chance Tuesday against the Royals, giving up a run on two hits. If the Rockies closer can't get it done outside Coors, there's no point looking for saves here. Meanwhile, another week, another zero in the saves column for the White Sox.

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Fernando Cruz posted impressive strikeout numbers over the last two seasons in Cincinnati that made him a trade target for the Yankees in the offseason. The 35-year-old right-hander is pitching well in New York, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 21/6 K/BB ratio across 13 innings. He's already collected two saves and three holds as he establishes himself as a high-leverage option behind Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. Garrett Whitlock is in a similar position in Boston. The 28-year-old right-hander has been a versatile arm out of the bullpen, collecting three holds and a win while posting a 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and a 19/5 K/BB ratio across 14 2/3 innings. Long relievers could be valuable in deeper roto formats. Giants long-man Hayden Birdsong has been excellent out of the bullpen. He struck out four batters over three scoreless innings to pick up a win against the Brewers on Monday. The 23-year-old right-hander was a rotation hopeful this spring, but the team is intent on keeping him in the bullpen.

Posted on

Yankees vs. Blue Jays: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 25-27

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays in a three-game series starting on Friday.

Preview

Can Aaron Judge keep this torrid pace?

Judge is having one of the best starts of his career. Entering play Wednesday, Judge was a career .291 hitter in March/April. This season? He's hitting .415 after picking up two more hits in the Yankees' win against the Guardians on Wednesday.

He'll enter the weekend series with a 21-game on-base streak, tied for the fifth-longest streak of his career. It's the third-longest active streak in the majors and has reached base in 24 of 25 games this season. He also leads the big leagues in batting average, OBP, SLUG, OPS and hits.

I can go on, but Judge is on pace to exceed what he did last season when he won the AL MVP. But can he keep that hot hitting going while at home? It's very likely the captain will be able to, and we should just sit back and enjoy what we're seeing right now.

Can Anthony Volpe break out of slump?

As hot as Judge is, Volpe is the complete opposite.

After going hitless on Wednesday, the young shortstop is hitting below the Mendoza line (.198) and has struck out seven times over his last five games. In just this Cleveland series alone, Volpe went 1-for-11 with a run, two walks while striking out five times, including four in Wednesday's series finale. It's a disturbing slump for Volpe, who has lost his ability to get on base, let alone get hits, and power -- his last homer coming back on April 2.

Perhaps manager Aaron Boone will give Volpe a day off. But even if he does, the shortstop and the team have to figure something out.

Can Devin Williams bounce back...again?

Feels like every week, Williams needs to "bounce back" or get it together after a bad outing. Last time out, Williams allowed three runs in his one inning of work against the Rays back on April 19. That outing was one reason why the Yankees failed to sweep the Rays in that four-game set, but the right-hander hasn't pitched since then.

The Yankees lost both Monday and Tuesday, and were up big when Luke Weaver came in to finish off Wednesday's win. After Thursday's off day, the earliest Williams would come in would be Friday on four days rest. The Yankees need Williams to get right, but if he can't do it at home this weekend, the noise to give Weaver the closer's job will be deafening at Yankee Stadium.

Apr 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) reacts while Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning at Progressive Field
Apr 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt (36) reacts while Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning at Progressive Field / David Dermer-Imagn Images

Will Clarke Schmidt find it again?

Schmidt was supposed to be the arm that solidified the rotation that has lost so many to begin the season. However, the young right-hander has been anything but since being activated off the IL last week.

After allowing three runs in 5.2 innings in his first start, Schmidt pitched a dud on Monday against the Guardians. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits, three walks in just four innings. Schmidt is scheduled to pitch Sunday and the Yankees will need him to show that he can put that bad start behind him.

The Yankees do have Max Fried pitching this weekend, so the pressure is off a little bit but the team can't win all of the southpaw's starts this season. Carlos Carrasco, the other probable this weekend, is still unreliable, so, for now, Schmidt needs to pitch like the No. 3 guy behind Fried and Carlos Rodon.

AL East battle

This series is the first against the Blue Jays this season and the second the Yankees will face a team from their division. After taking three of four from Tampa, the Yankees are in a good spot at the top of the AL East. Entering the series, the Yankees are three games ahead of the Blue Jays, so taking care of business will go a long way toward putting distance between them and holding off the Red Sox -- who are 1.5 games behind the Yankees entering Thursday.

The Blue Jays are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, but were 7-3 in the 10 games prior to this tumble so it's a team not to be overlooked, especially with the trio of Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt on the mound.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Paul Goldschmidt

With Aaron Judge on a tear, there will be plenty of moments that Toronto avoids the slugger and Goldschmidt -- who has been hitting cleanup of late -- will need to do damage.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Max Fried

When your other options are Carrasco and Schmidt, it's safe to pick Fried but I see Schmidt bouncing back in his start at home.

Which Blue Jays player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?

George Springer

Springer has had a solid start to the season, but his numbers at Yankee Stadium are pretty impressive. He's slashed .274/.345/.476 with a .821 OPS to go along with his six home runs in 31 career games (28 starts).