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

Posted on

Blue Jays at Rays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

It's Friday, May 23, and the Blue Jays (25-24) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (23-26). Eric Lauer is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Drew Rasmussen for Tampa Bay.

The Blue Jays are coming off a series sweep against the San Diego Padres. Now 5.0 games back from first in the AL East, they hope to continue their excellent play with a series win over the struggling Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays have been on the cusp of breaking .500, but have struggled at the plate this season. They are just 25th in slugging this season, and will need a big day on the mound from Rasmussen and the pen to remain competitive in this game.

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 Blue Jays at Rays

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming:

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 Blue Jays at the Rays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (+128), Rays (-152)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Eric Lauer vs. Drew Rasmussen
    • Blue Jays: Eric Lauer, (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 5/17): 3.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Drew Rasmussen, (2-4, 2.94 ERA)
      Last outing (Miami Marlins, 5/17): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 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 Blue Jays at Rays

  • The Blue Jays have won 4 straight road games
  • Each of the Rays' last 3 home games against the Blue Jays have stayed under the Total
  • The Blue Jays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 2.11 units

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 Blue Jays and the Rays

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 Friday's game between the Blue Jays and the Rays:

  • 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 Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over 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

Giants at Nationals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and the Giants (29-21) are in Washington to take on the Nationals (23-27). Landen Roupp is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against MacKenzie Gore for Washington.

The Giants had the night off, but will be looking to bounce back from their 8-4 loss at the hands of the Royals.

The Nationals had a mini-sweep against the Braves yesterday after an 8-7 win where Robert Hassell III scored off a walk-off single from Amed Rosario.

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 Giants at Nationals

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, NBCS BA

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 Giants at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Giants (-110), Nationals (-109)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Landen Roupp vs. MacKenzie Gore
    • Giants: Landen Roupp, (2-3, 4.11 ERA)
      Last outing (Athletics, 5/17): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Nationals: MacKenzie Gore, (2-4, 3.68 ERA)
      Last outing (Baltimore Orioles, 5/16): 3.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

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

  • The Giants have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
  • Each of the last 3 matchups between the Giants and the Nationals have gone over the Total
  • The Nationals have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 of their last 5 matchups against the Giants

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 Giants and the Nationals

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 Friday's game between the Giants and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals 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

Hapless Colorado Rockies off to MLB’s worst 50-game start since 1895

Brenton Doyle of the Colorado Rockies walks back to the dugout after striking out in the sixth inning as catcher Rafael Marchan of the Philadelphia Phillies throws the ball around the horn at Coors Field on Thursday.Photograph: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies dropped to 8-42 on Thursday following a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, cementing the worst 50-game start to a season in Major League Baseball’s modern era.

Not since the 1895 Louisville Colonels, who began 7-43, has a team opened a season this poorly. The Rockies are now on pace to lose 136 games, which would surpass the all-time record of 134 defeats set by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. The 2024 Chicago White Sox set the modern-era mark last season with 121 losses.

Thursday’s defeat capped a four-game sweep at Coors Field and gave the Phillies their first-ever season sweep of at least seven games against Colorado. Philadelphia outscored the Rockies 27-12 over the series and has now won seven straight games and 11 of its last 12 on the road.

Related: The 2024 Chicago White Sox: a team so historically bad they stopped tweeting results

In a rare pitcher’s duel at altitude, Ranger Suárez and Germán Márquez traded zeroes deep into the game. Suárez (3-0) scattered six hits over six and two-thirds innings, walking three and striking out six. He exited after allowing a two-out double to Jordan Beck and a walk to Ezequiel Tovar in the seventh, but reliever Orion Kerkering ended the threat on a single pitch.

Jordan Romano worked the ninth for his sixth save.

Márquez (1-7) allowed two runs – only one earned – on four hits across seven innings, striking out five and walking two. Both runs came on RBI doubles: Bryce Harper drove in Bryson Stott in the fourth inning after a Tovar error, and Max Kepler plated Kyle Schwarber in the seventh.

The Rockies had several chances to score but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Brenton Doyle tripled with one out in the second inning, but Colorado stranded him after two quick outs. The Rockies also left runners on first and third in the seventh.

It was Colorado’s eighth shutout of the season and fifth straight loss overall. They are 5-20 at home and have committed 45 errors – most in MLB through 50 games since the 2019 Seattle Mariners.

The Phillies improved to 32-18, the best 50-game record in the National League, and have now won four straight road series. They’ll continue their road trip Friday with a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.

The Rockies, who have not announced a starter for Friday’s opener against the visiting New York Yankees, will attempt to avoid further deepening their historic slide.

Posted on

Ex-MLB Player Ruf Sues Reds Over Knee Injury From Tarp Collision

Former MLB first baseman and outfielder Darin Ruf, who played nine big-league seasons between 2012 and 2023, sued the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, claiming the team is negligent under Ohio law for his bloody collision with a tarp roller two years ago at Great American Ball Park.

Ruf was playing first base for the Milwaukee Brewers against the Reds on June 2, 2023, when in the bottom of the third inning, he collided with a tarp roller while chasing a ball into foul territory and left the game injured. Ruf, now 38, hasn’t played in any games since.

In a complaint filed by attorneys Tad Thomas and Christopher W. Goode in the Hamilton County (Ohio) Court of Common Pleas, Ruf contends the tarp roller was a dangerous and hidden condition that imperiled players’ safety. 

The tarp roller, Ruf points out, was made of sharp metal and lacked any protective cushioning or cap. Ruf says the end of the roller wasn’t visible because it was “obscured from view by an advertisement cover for Gorilla Glue.” Ruf blames the Reds grounds crew for failing to maintain safe conditions and allowing “a state of disrepair.”

Players suing over injuries caused or worsened by field conditions are rare but not unprecedented. 

In 2018, a St. Louis jury awarded Reggie Bush $12.5 million in damages for an ACL tear he sustained after slipping on an uncovered concrete surface in the Edward Jones Dome during a game in 2015. The surface bordered the playing field, and Bush was running at full speed and couldn’t stop. The jury concluded the condition was unsafe and that Bush’s injury was caused by the negligence of the Los Angeles Rams, who were the St. Louis Rams when Bush was hurt.

The Reds did not respond to a request for comment, but their attorneys will answer Ruf’s complaint in the weeks ahead. Expect the team to offer several defenses.

One likely defense is preemption, which is a major reason why pro athletes in leagues with collective bargaining agreements typically don’t sue over injuries. Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA)—a federal law that regulates the relationship between unionized workers and management—contains language that preempts state law claims when those claims are based on rights contained in a CBA.

MLB’s CBA with the MLBPA features language regarding player injuries. Article XIII is particularly relevant. It governs safety and health and details a joint MLB-MLBPA advisory committee charged with addressing “emergency safety and health problems as they arise.” The committee also “attempts to find solutions” that ensure “safe and healthful working conditions for players.” The Reds will likely argue the duty to maintain safe field conditions is a collectively bargained term and thus LMRA preempted.

That type of legal argument doesn’t always work. In 2018, a federal judge in Illinois rejected it when raised by the Chicago White Sox and other parties were sued by former New York Yankees outfielder Dustin Fowler. 

In 2017, Fowler made his MLB debut in a game at Guaranteed Rate Field (now called Rate Field) in Chicago. In the first inning he chased down a line drive and ran full speed into an unpadded metal electrical box positioned between a railing and a half wall. The collision caused the patella tendon in Fowler’s knee to rupture. He sued and a judge rejected the preemption defense on grounds that the CBA didn’t diminish the White Sox’s duty of care, including when the subject of state law claims. According to court records, the parties reached a settlement in 2022. 

Fowler recovered from the injury and was notably involved in a blockbuster 2017 midseason trade that sent him to the Oakland A’s as part of the deal that netted the Yankees pitcher Sonny Gray. But the outfielder, once the No. 88 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, never managed to deliver upon his promise in an MLB career that petered out in 2021.

The Reds could also argue that even if Ruf’s claims aren’t preempted, the field conditions were sufficiently safe. The Reds would strengthen that defense if they could show the tarp roller was placed in a manner consistent with industry standards in MLB. In other words, the more ordinary the condition of the roller, the better for the Reds. But if tarp rollers are supposed to have cushioning or caps when used on MLB fields, that could be a problem for the Reds. Expert testimony by former groundskeepers and others with relevant expertise could prove influential. 

Assumption of risk is also a relevant legal concept. Athletes assume all sorts of health risks by playing a sport. MLB teams place tarps and players, especially ones with as much experience as Ruf, arguably should be aware of tarp-related hazards. Ruf’s complaint anticipates this defense by depicting the tarp roller as hidden and unexpected.

The Reds also don’t own Great American Ball Park. It is a public facility of Hamilton County, Ohio. Public entities have an added legal defense known as sovereign immunity, which generally permits the government to be sued only when it agrees to be sued. However, there are a bevy of exceptions to sovereign immunity, and sometimes they involve personal injury claims. Also, even if the Reds don’t own the field, they operate it for Reds games.

Ruf v. Reds could settle at any time, but if it advances past a motion to dismiss, the parties will need to provide testimony and share evidence related to the incident. The extent to which the tarp roller was unusually dangerous and the extent to which a veteran like Ruf should have been on the lookout would be key topics in pretrial discovery.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Mets vs. Dodgers: How to watch on May 23, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series with the Dodgers at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on Apple TV+.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • Brett Baty has four home runs, and is slugging .583 with an .833 OPS in 36 plate appearances since returning from Triple-A Syracuse
  • Mark Vientos, originally slotted to bat second and play third, was scratched an hour before first pitch in precaution due to abdominal soreness
  • Edwin Diazhas allowed just one earned run since April 11 -- a span of 13.1 innings over 13 appearances
  • Griffin Canning has a 2.47 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 47.1 innings over nine starts this season
DODGERS
METS

Shohei Ohtani, DH

Francisco Lindor, SS

Mookie Betts, SS

Starling Marte, DH

Freddie Freeman, 1B

Juan Soto, RF

Will Smith, C

Pete Alonso, 1B

Teoscar Hernandez, RF

Brandon Nimmo, LF

Max Muncy, 3B

Tyrone Taylor, CF

Angel Pages, CF

Francisco Alvarez, C

Michael Conforto, LF

Brett Baty, 3B

Tommy Edman, 2B

Luisangel Acuña , 2B

How can I watch Mets vs. Dodgers online?

To watch Mets games online via Apple TV+ and MLB's "Friday Night Baseball," you will need a subscription to Apple TV+. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet, or via the Apple TV app.

Posted on

Brewers at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 23

It's Friday, May 23 and the Brewers (25-26) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (17-34). Freddy Peralta is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Paul Skenes for Pittsburgh.

Milwaukee took Game 1 versus Pittsburgh, 8-5 yesterday as the Brewers have won four of the last five games overall. The Pirates snapped a 26-game streak of four or fewer runs scored with five last night.

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 Brewers at Pirates

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, SNP

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 Pirates

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (+106), Pirates (-126)
  • Spread:  Pirates -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Freddy Peralta vs. Paul Skenes
    • Brewers: Freddy Peralta, (5-3, 2.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Pirates: Paul Skenes, (3-5, 2.44 ERA)
      Last outing: 8.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, 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 Brewers and the Pirates

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 Friday’s game between the Brewers and the Pirates:

  • 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.

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

  • After winning the series opener, the Brewers have a 5-2 record in game 2 this season
  • The Under is 8-4-3 in the Pirates' divisional matchups this season
  • The Pirates are showing a profit of 2.31 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at PNC Park

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

Cubs at Reds Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 23

It's Friday, May 23 and the Cubs (30-20) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (25-26). Matthew Boyd is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Hunter Greene for Cincinnati.

Chicago has won back-to-back games and five of the past six, plus three-straight series. The Reds have lost back-to-back games after winning five straight contests,

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 Cubs at Reds

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: Great American Ball Park
  • City: Cincinnati, OH
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, FDSNOH

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 Cubs at the Reds

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (-115), Reds (-104)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Reds

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Matthew Boyd vs. Hunter Greene
    • Cubs: Matthew Boyd, (4-2, 2.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Reds: Hunter Greene, (4-2, 2.37 ERA)
      Last outing: 3.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 6 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 Cubs and the Reds

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 Friday’s game between the Cubs and the Reds:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds 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 Cubs at Reds

  • The Cubs have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 6-2 (75%) when Hunter Greene has opened for the Reds
  • The Reds have covered in 4 of their last 5 games with Hunter Greene as the opener to return 2.34 units

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

Orioles at Red Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

It's Friday, May 23 and the Orioles (16-32) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (25-26). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Lucas Giolito for Boston.

Game 1 of this series was postopined yesterday, which came at a bad time for Baltimore. The Orioles are coming off a 8-4 wn in extra innings that snapped a eight-game losing streak. Morton takes the mound for the O's and they are 0-12 in his starts this season.

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 Red Sox

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, 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 Orioles at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+110), Red Sox (-130)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Lucas Giolito
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton, (0-7, 7.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Run Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito, (1-1, 7.08 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.0 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles 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 Friday’s game between the Orioles and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox 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 leaning towards a play on the under 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.

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

  • The Orioles have lost 4 of their last 5 games
  • The Over is 8-4 in the Orioles' matchups against AL East teams 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!

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

Guardians at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

It's Friday, May 23, and the Guardians (27-22) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (33-18). Slade Cecconi is slated to take the mound for Cleveland against Jackson Jobe for Detroit.

Cleveland won the first game in this series, 7-0, as Detroit was shut out for the first time in 27 games. Detroit is 7-3 over the last 10 games, while Cleveland has won back-to-back games after losing five straight.

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 Guardians at Tigers

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: CLEG, FDSNDT

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 Guardians at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Guardians (+115), Tigers (-136)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Guardians at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Slade Cecconi vs. Jackson Jobe
    • Guardians: Slade Cecconi, (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Tigers: Jackson Jobe, (4-0, 4.12 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 6 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 Guardians and the Tigers

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 Friday’s game between the Guardians and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians 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.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Guardians at Tigers

  • The Tigers have won 12 of 18 games following a defeat
  • 6 of the Guardians' last 8 matchups against AL Central teams have gone under the Total
  • The Tigers have failed to cover the Run Line in 7 of their last 9 home 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

Rangers at White Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and the Rangers (25-26) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (15-35).

Tyler Mahle is slated to take the mound for Texas against Sean Burke for Chicago.

The Sox lost two of three earlier this week. They have now lost eight of their last nine. The Rangers arrive in the Windy City having lost four in a row. Thursday afternoon they lost 1-0 to the Yankees in the Bronx. Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run over six innings but it was one run too many as the Rangers' bats picked up just three singles and a double.

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 Rangers at White Sox

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: CW33, CHSN

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 White Sox

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (-187), White Sox (+155)
  • Spread:  Rangers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Tyler Mahle vs. Sean Burke
    • Rangers: Tyler Mahle (5-1, 1.47 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 vs. Houston - 6IP, 1ER, 5H, 2BB, 3Ks
    • White Sox: Sean Burke (2-5, 4.69 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 at Cubs - 4.2IP, 5ER, 7H, 5BB, 4Ks

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 White Sox

  • The Rangers are on a 4-game win streak at the White Sox
  • 6 of the Rangers' last 7 games against American League teams have gone under the Total
  • The last 10 games the White Sox have held a rest advantage over their opponents they have gone 8-2 on the Run Line
  • Marcus Semien has had more than one hit in a game once in May
  • Marcus Semien is 12-68 (.176) in May with 1 HR and 11 singles

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 White 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 Friday's game between the Rangers and the White Sox:

  • 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 Chicago White Sox 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

Diamondbacks at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and the Diamondbacks (26-24) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (27-23).

Zac Gallen is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Miles Mikolas for St. Louis.

Both St. Louis and Arizona were off Thursday. Each is coming off a series that saw them drop two of three. The Cards lost two to the Tigers including a 5-1 loss Wednesday. Arizona lost the final two of their series against the Dodgers.

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 Diamondbacks at Cardinals

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 8:15PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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 Diamondbacks at the Cardinals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (-129), Cardinals (+109)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Zac Gallen vs. Miles Mikolas
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (3-5, 5.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 vs. Colorado - 5IP, 6ER, 8H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (3-2, 3.77 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 at Kansas City - 6IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 4Ks

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 Diamondbacks at Cardinals

  • Betting the Diamondbacks on the Money Line in all their road games this season is showing a 106% return on investment
  • The Under has cashed in 5 of the Cardinals' last 7 games with Miles Mikolas on the mound
  • The Cardinals have covered in 4 successive games with Miles Mikolas as the starter
  • Willson Contreras is 3-19 over his last 5 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 tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals

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 Friday's game between the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals:

  • 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 St. Louis Cardinals 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

Phillies at Athletics Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and the Phillies (32-18) are in Sacramento to take on the Athletics (22-29).

Zack Wheeler is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Jeffrey Springs for Oakland.

The Phillies' win streak is now at seven games following their sweep of the Rockies. Thursday was an unusually low-scoring affair for Coors Field, but the result was all too common...another Rockies' loss. Ranger Suarez and three Phillies' relievers held Colorado scoreless and limited them to seven hits. The Athletics have lost nine in a row. The Angels took four from the A's earlier this week including back-to-back 10-5 wins to close out the series. Thursday, Luis Severino held the Halos in check allowing just two runs through six innings, but the A's bullpen failed, and the Angels rallied for the win.

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 Phillies at Athletics

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 10:05PM EST
  • Site: Sutter Health Park
  • City: Sacramento, CA,
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, NBCSCA, 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 Phillies at the Athletics

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-181), Athletics (+150)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Athletics

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Zack Wheeler vs. Jeffrey Springs
    • Phillies: Zack Wheeler (5-1, 2.67 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 vs. Pittsburgh - 6IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 6Ks
    • Athletics: Jeffrey Springs (5-3, 3.91 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/18 at San Francisco - 6.2IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 5Ks

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 Phillies at Athletics

  • The Phillies are on a 3-game win streak at the Athletics
  • The Total has cashed the under in 14 of the Phillies' 24 road games this season
  • The Phillies have covered the Run Line in 6 straight games
  • Zack Wheeler has struck out no fewer than 6 opposing hitters in each of his last 6 starts
  • Alec Bohm is hitting .333 (22-66) in May

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 Phillies 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 Friday's game between the Phillies and the Athletics:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over 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

Yankees at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and the Yankees (30-19) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (8-42).

Clarke Schmidt is slated to take the mound for New York against Chase Dollander for Colorado.

The Yankees completed a sweep of the Rangers Thursday with a 1-0 win. Jorbit Vivas cracked his first career home run to account for the offense and Carlos Rodon and three relievers combined for the shutout. The Rockies lost four to the Phillies including a 2-0 loss Thursday. German Marquez allowed a single earned run over seven innings but received zero support from Colorado's lineup.

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 Yankees at Rockies

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 8:40PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: YES, COLR

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 Yankees at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Yankees (-302), Rockies (+242)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 12.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Yankees at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Clarke Schmidt vs. Chase Dollander
    • Yankees: Clarke Schmidt (1-1, 4.41 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 vs. Mets - 6IP, 2ER, 3H, 5BB, 5Ks
    • Rockies: Chase Dollander (2-5, 6.28 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/18 at Arizona - 4.2IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 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 Yankees at Rockies

  • The Yankees have won 7 of their last 9 games, while the Rockies have lost 16 of 20 at home
  • 6 of the Yankees' last 7 games (86%) have stayed under the Total
  • Aaron Judge is hitting .358 (24-67) in May but as a result his average has dropped to .396
  • Jasson Dominguez is 6-26 (.231) over his last 7 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 Friday’s game between the Yankees and the Rockies

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 Friday's game between the Yankees and the Rockies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play ATS on the New York Yankees at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 12.0.

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

Dodgers at Mets Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 23

Its Friday, May 23 and it is a rematch of last year's NLCS as the Dodgers (31-19) are in Queens to take on the Mets (30-20).

Clayton Kershaw is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Griffin Canning for New York.

The Mets have lost four of their last six. The headlines, though, have all been about Juan Soto and his struggles to adapt to his new team. After losing four straight, the Dodgers have bounced back winning their last two as they enter play at Citi Field for the weekend.

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 Dodgers at Mets

  • Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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 Dodgers at the Mets

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-120), Mets (+100)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for May 23, 2025: Clayton Kershaw vs. Griffin Canning
    • Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 11.25 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 vs. Angels - 4IP, 5ER, 5H, 3BB, 2Ks
    • Mets: Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.47 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/17 at Yankees - 5.1IP, 2ER, 7H, 1BB, 4Ks

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 Dodgers at Mets

  • The Dodgers have won 19 of 30 games following a win
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Dodgers' last 5 games against National League teams
  • The Mets have failed to cover the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 home games
  • Freddie Freeman is baseball's hottest hitter as he is 31-75 (.413) in May

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 Dodgers and the Mets

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 Friday's game between the Dodgers and the Mets:

  • 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 New York Mets 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

Giants' Bailey searching for better offensive, defensive balance

Giants' Bailey searching for better offensive, defensive balance originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Baseball Savant has all of the advanced statistics you could ever want for a player, but the website has also done a brilliant job of distilling the numbers for fans who might want to determine how a hitter or pitcher is doing with just one glance. At the top of every page is a player’s “percentile rankings,” showing how he compares to others in stats like expected batting average, hard-hit percentage and sprint speed. Red bars are good and blue bars are bad, and the darker the shade is, the better or worse you’re doing. 

Through the first two months of the season, it might be a Giants regular who has the most fascinating Savant page. 

Patrick Bailey’s fielding categories are all dark red, and he’s in the 100th percentile in fielding run value. But he’s also in the second percentile in batting run value. The columns for things like expected batting average, strikeout rate and hard-hit percentage are a dark shade of blue, indicating “cold” production at the plate. 

Simply put, Bailey might be the best defender in baseball. There also are few who have gotten off to a slower start at the plate. 

The dichotomy has rarely been more apparent than in Tuesday night’s 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals. Bailey went 0-for-4, but the Giants might not win that game if he’s not behind the plate. In addition to his usual framing and guidance for one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, Bailey threw a pair of runners out at second base. 

Maikel Garcia was cut down early, and with the Giants holding a one-run lead in the eighth, Bailey threw out Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. That was an example of two of the game’s greatest individual skills battling for superiority. Witt was in the 100th percentile in Sprint Speed. Bailey was in the 100th percentile in Pop Time, and he got out of the crouch in an elite 1.83 seconds to get the throw down to second.

The first run of that game came after a sequence during which Hayden Birdsong threw away a pickoff attempt and then made a wild pitch. Afterward, he laughed and said he had learned a valuable lesson.

“I’m dumb for picking off, honestly,” he said. “I have no reason to pick off when he’s back there. There’s no reason, because he’s just going to throw somebody out at second.”

That faith is exactly what Buster Posey was looking for when he first met with Bailey this spring. He told his fellow catcher that the only thing that mattered was his ability to handle and lead the pitching staff, and while Bailey’s offensive numbers are concerning, the Giants put tremendous value on his overall output. 

Bob Melvin is leaning heavily on those defensive traits. Melvin, himself a former catcher, has started Bailey in 35 of 50 games and brought him off the bench eight other times. Managers generally prefer to give their catcher a full day off when possible, but Bailey often comes in late as a defensive replacement when Sam Huff starts. He leads the majors with 43 games caught, and the Giants know that even the threat of him throwing someone out can make a difference late in close games.

“First and foremost, we look at the catcher’s position as a guy that manages the staff and plays defense, and he’s done that beautifully,” Melvin said Thursday. “It’s even more so of a priority with Buster here — it’s managing the staff and doing what he does defensively.”

Bailey is well on his way to becoming the first Giants catcher to win two Gold Glove Awards, but that doesn’t make it much easier to sleep on a night like Tuesday. The next morning, he talked about how he knows there’s much more to give. 

“It definitely helps but I’m not swinging the bat the way I’m capable of,” he said. “I’m working hard to get back to myself and get my swing back and just being confident and competing out there. Obviously when we’re winning it makes it easier to go through the struggles, but that being said, I need to be better at the plate. 

“At the end of the day, I’m trying to do the best I can to help the team win, and obviously I understand what I do behind the plate can really influence that.”

A few hours later, Bailey hit his first homer since Sept. 24, but he still headed out on the road trip with a .183 batting average and .507 OPS. His power production started to dip in the second half last year, and this season he is slugging just .270. His strikeout rate is up above 30 percent, and when he does make contact, he far too often is hitting non-threatening fly balls. 

Bailey’s hard-hit percentage is down nearly 10 percent year over year, but his launch angle is up eight percent. He leads the majors in balls hit up the middle — 52.9 percent — which ordinarily is a positive for hitters. But using the biggest part of the field isn’t as effective when you’re not hitting line drives. Bailey is second in the majors in fly ball percentage and second in fly balls to center field, specifically. At Oracle Park, that’s particularly challenging. 

Every day, work is being put in to iron out that approach. When Bailey was succeeding in the first half of last year, he was pulling the ball about 40 percent of the time, but his timing has been off this year. That number has nearly been cut in half. 

“The swings are fine right now. I think for me, it’s probably still just a timing thing, a confidence thing,” he said. “You forget the success you’ve had in the big leagues when you’re going through it and struggling. I’ve just got to get back to believing in the swing and the talent. I’ve had really, really successful months left-handed and right-handed in the big leagues. I know it’s in there and I’m working my butt off to try and get back there.”

That effort is complicated by the fact that Bailey has more on his plate than any other Giant. In addition to playing the most difficult defensive position, he’s the roster’s only switch-hitter, giving him two swings to maintain, not one. There were times in the minors when he considered hitting only left-handed, but the Giants value the flexibility that comes with doing both, and Bailey has at times in the big leagues been better from the right side. 

Bailey said the added daily tasks aren’t a reason for his early struggles. 

“At the end of the day, I’ve got to go out there and produce and do what I need to do before games to get the swings right and not let anything slack defensively,” he said. “There’s no excuse to have a .400 something OPS. I’m better than that and I think as time goes it’ll get better and we’ll get back to where we want to be.”

Melvin moved Willy Adames down the order when he slumped through April, and he has found extra days off for LaMonte Wade Jr., who, like Bailey, has hit too many soft fly balls early on. But there is nothing to do behind the plate but be patient and hope for more days like Wednesday. 

Bailey’s defense makes an impact every time he’s in the lineup, and Melvin is confident the rest of the game will come around. For a player who has tried to take a more confident approach to the plate, perhaps it will be as simple as finally seeing a ball clear the wall. 

“He’s going to hit,” Melvin said. “I’ve seen him be a good hitter before and I think the challenging part is the mental part, which I think probably was an issue last year in the second half. Everybody has to fight through those things at some point in time in their career.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast