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Yankees at Athletics: 5 things to watch and series predictions | May 9-11

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees head west to take on the Athletics in a three-game series starting on Friday...

Preview

Playing in West Sacramento

The Yankees are heading west for a six-game series and will make their first stop in West Sacramento to take on the Athletics in their minor league ballpark.

If you haven't seen games at Sutter Health Park, it's an experience, especially so for the players. The visitor's clubhouse is in center field and the dimensions have been very hitter-friendly. According to BaseballSavant, Sutter Health Park is the second-best hitter's park behind the Orioles' Camden Yards.

The Yankees, who have a league-leading 62 homers entering Thursday, are in town and could take advantage.

Can Carlos Rodon continue his brilliant pitching?

Rodon has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this season, especially considering the injuries to the rotation. The southpaw has pitched like the No. 2 arm that the Yankees needed with Gerrit Cole being out for the entire season.

In eight starts, Rodon has pitched to a 4-3 record but a 2.96 ERA. Over his last three starts, Rodon has allowed just two runs in 19.2 innings with 20 strikeouts over that span. The Athletics' lineup is young and feisty, and the longball could be a topic this weekend in Sacramento, but if Rodon continues his recent brilliance, that'll be a story as well.

Who will start series finale?

The Yankees DFA'd Carlos Carrasco earlier this week -- he's since cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A -- but the plan for the rotation this weekend is still up in the air. Rodon and Will Warren are scheduled to pitch Friday and Saturday, but Sunday's starter has not been determined. Manager Aaron Boone has said that they could use long reliever Ryan Yarbrough this time through the rotation order, but that would likely mean an opener will start that game.

Boone could also call up a starter like Allan Winans, who has major league experience,for a spot start. Either way, there's intrigue in who Sunday's starter will be.

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino (40) looks on during the second inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Sutter Health Park
Athletics pitcher Luis Severino (40) looks on during the second inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Sutter Health Park / Ed Szczepanski - Imagn Images

Facing Luis Severino for first time

Severino spent the first eight seasons of his career in a Yankee uniform, but two years removed from departing via free agency, the right-hander will face his old team for the first time.

The 31-year-old is scheduled to pitch the series finale on Sunday and it'll be interesting to see how he does against a team that should know what to expect from him. Severino revitalized his career with the Mets last season, but he's gotten off to an up-and-down start with the Athletics. With a 1-3 record and 3.62 ERA across eight starts, Severino has given this young Athletics team a reliable arm in the rotation.

However, Severino has not pitched well in West Sacramento. In five home starts, Severino is 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA, as opposed to his 1-0 record and 0.95 ERA in three road starts.

DJ LeMahieu's return?

The veteran infielder is so close to a return from rehab that Boone has said it's possible he can return after two starts at Triple-A. He picked up two hits in his first start with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday and is in the starting lineup for the RailRiders on Thursday. If he comes out of Thursday's game unscathed, the Yankees could activate him for the series in West Sacramento.

That would likely mean Pablo Reyes' time on the bench is numbered as the former batting champion looks to provide the Yankees with a formidable right-handed bat and infield versatility.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Aaron Judge

When the ball began flying out of West Sacramento in April, the baseball world salivated to see how Judge would handle the park. I have a feeling he'll have an awesome weekend.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Carlos Rodon

Don't think the hitter-friendly confines of Sutter Health Park will affect Rodon, especially against a young team like the Athletics.

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

Jacob Wilson

The rookie shortstop is having a great start to his 2025 season. He's batting .357 and has a .383 OBP. While he doesn't walk -- only six passes in 36 games -- he'll jump on first-pitch strikes and simply be a pest all weekend.

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Yankees outright Carlos Carrasco to Triple-A after clearing waivers

Days after the Yankees designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment, the team announced they have outrighted the veteran right-hander off the major league roster and assigned him to Triple-A.

Carrasco could have elected free agency after clearing waivers, but the 38-year-old decided to stay in the Yankees organization. Keeping Carrasco in the minors gives the Yankees another arm in case they need a starter in a pinch during the long regular season.

Manager Aaron Boone said after the DFA that the plan for the rotation without Carrasco would be to lean on long reliever Ryan Yarbrough for the time being. But the skipper also didn't rule out the possibility of Carrasco returning to the rotation.

“Who knows. Maybe back here," Boone said of Carrasco's future. "I don’t know what the next several days lies ahead or where he’s at. Just a lot respect for the guy."

Originally signed by the Yankees on a minor league deal in February, Carrasco ended up playing a larger role than many anticipated, due to key injuries to starters like Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil.

Unfortunately for Carrasco, the results just weren’t there. In eight games (six starts), Carrasco pitched to a 5.91 ERA with a 1.531 WHIP. The veteran pitched 3.0 innings of relief on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk.

To fill Carrasco’s spot on the major league roster, the Yankees called up right-hander Yerry de los Santos, who made one appearance with the club earlier this season.

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Shaikin: Agent Nez Balelo 'wouldn't do anything different' with Shohei Ohtani's $700-million deal

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo attend an NFL football game.
Nez Balelo, right, secured a 10-year, $700-million contract for Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers following the 2023 season. (Ryan Sun / Associated Press)

The business of sports often is cloaked in secrecy. You can find out the salary of your favorite player, but how much money his team makes and how much money he makes off the field are the stuff of estimates, not public discourse.

Not on Thursday, though. Is Shohei Ohtani really making more than $100 million this year in endorsements?

Nez Balelo, the agent for Ohtani, did not hesitate.

“Absolutely,” Balelo said at Sportico’s Invest West conference at Intuit Dome.

Balelo is not, shall we say, Scott Boras. He does not embrace public speaking. So we dropped by to hear what Balelo had to say after the first full season of Ohtani’s record-breaking $700-million contract with the Dodgers.

Read more:Complete coverage: Shohei Ohtani signs record deal with Dodgers

The record did not last long. Juan Soto signed for $765 million with the New York Mets last winter.

And, because Ohtani deferred $680 million and Soto deferred $0, and because a dollar today is worth more than a dollar 10 years from today, the actual value of Soto’s contract is $765 million and the actual value of Ohtani’s contract is $460 million.

Regrets?

“Not at all,” Balelo said. “We wouldn’t do anything different. He won a championship. He went to the right team. Why would we do anything different? No regrets. Nothing.”

Not even about the Angels, the team with which Ohtani chose to play the first six seasons of his major league career. The Angels never posted a winning record with Ohtani, let alone won a championship.

They did, however, stand by their commitment to let Ohtani bloom as a two-way player, even after his first Cactus League season was so rough they fielded questions about whether they would demote him to the minor leagues.

“If we had to do it all over again today, we would have done it exactly the same way,” Balelo said. “We would have chosen the Angels back in the day. It was the right place, with the group and Mike (Scioscia) and the whole team over there. They gave him an opportunity. They stuck with him. He had a tough spring. It was the right home for him at the time.”

“The Dodgers are the right home for him now.”

It was with the Angels — and in particular in 2021, when Ohtani won his first most valuable player award — that he blossomed into what Balelo called a “global superstar.”

However, before the start of his final season with the Angels, Balelo and Ohtani decided there would be no talks about an extension.

“We knew we were going to exercise our rights to go into free agency,” Balelo said.

The Angels opted to try to win with Ohtani in 2023 rather than trade him for a desperately needed infusion of young talent. They were three games out of a playoff spot at the end of July and traded prospects for rental help, then finished 16 games out of a playoff spot.

Balelo would not say exactly how many companies Ohtani endorses but put the number in the “low 20s.”

“It’s not like I’m out there pounding the pavement and soliciting companies,” Balelo said. “After 2021 and 2022, we could have really gone crazy. That’s not who he is. He doesn’t want that.”

He is everywhere in Japan, in advertisements above street crossings and at the airport, on television and in magazines. He endorses shoes and skin care products, airlines and watches and so much more.

Electronic billboard spanning nearly a city block features advertising starring Shohei Ohtani near the Tokyo Dome.
An electronic billboard spanning nearly a city block featured advertising starring Shohei Ohtani near the Tokyo Dome in March, when the Dodgers were in town to play the Chicago Cubs to open the season. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“We have to make sure we don’t overexpose him,” Balelo said.

Say what?

“We could probably have 40 or 50 deals,” Balelo said.

That $100 million in endorsement income enabled Ohtani to offer the Dodgers — and other free-agent finalists, including the Angels — the same deal: $700 million, with $680 deferred. The Angels declined. On Thursday, Balelo condemned what he called the “reckless reporting” of Ohtani’s alleged flight to Toronto to sign with the Blue Jays.

The Dodgers took the deal, promising to use the money they would not be spending on Ohtani right away to sign other players.

“They get it,” Balelo said. “They have the vision.”

Within two weeks of signing Ohtani, they had spent more than $450 million on pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow.

“He knew the marketing leg was doing extremely well,” Balelo said. “He knew it was not about the money. It was more about getting with a team that would appreciate him and understand him and allow him to develop as a two-way player.”

With Ohtani coming off his second elbow reconstruction, Balelo said he wondered whether teams might recruit him only as a hitter. As it turned out, he said, none made such an offer.

Balelo said he could have pursued deals of as many as 15 years, and maybe even longer, but Ohtani rejected those overtures. When his contract with the Dodgers expires, he’ll be 39.

Read more:Hernández: Shohei Ohtani pitching this season initially felt like a luxury. Now it's a necessity

“He just didn’t want to have the end of his storybook career tail off,” Balelo said, “and then in Year 13, 14 and 15: ‘Who is this guy? He can’t even run down to first.’”

That raises the possibility that Balelo already has negotiated Ohtani’s last playing contract, even though Ohtani is 30.

Ohtani already has won three MVP awards, all unanimously. He would have won a fourth if not for Aaron Judge breaking the American League home run record in 2022. No one besides Barry Bonds has won more than three.

So Balelo might not be done negotiating on Ohtani’s behalf after all. The Cooperstown marketing deals await but, fortunately for the Dodgers, not any time soon.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Five external options for Red Sox to replace Casas at first base

Five external options for Red Sox to replace Casas at first base originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox must act swiftly to find a new first baseman with Triston Casas out for the season. Since Rafael Devers is unwilling to switch positions again, it looks like the club will have to search outside the organization for a Casas replacement.

Unfortunately for Boston, the first baseman market is sparse at this point in the campaign. There’s next to nothing on the free-agent market, and it will be difficult to acquire anything better than a replacement-level player in a trade.

That said, Devers told chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to “hit the market” for a first baseman, so that’s likely what he’ll do in the coming days to address the position. Here are five players who could pique his interest:

Anthony Rizzo, free agent

Aging veterans Rizzo and Jose Abreu are the only first basemen available on the free-agent market. We didn’t include the 38-year-old Abreu on this list since he looked completely washed up last season with the Houston Astros (.124 batting average in 35 games), but Rizzo may still have something to offer.

The 35-year-old missed time due to injuries in his last two seasons with the New York Yankees. When he was healthy last season (92 games), he tallied eight home runs with a .637 OPS.

Those numbers won’t excite anyone, but at the very least, Rizzo is a positive clubhouse presence who still provides value with his defense. If he’s in playing shape, it couldn’t hurt to give the 2016 World Series champion a call.

Jon Singleton, New York Mets

Singleton has spent this season with the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate since the big-league club is set at first base with Pete Alonso. He’d provide some left-handed pop to pair with the Red Sox’ current right-handed option, Romy Gonzalez.

In 28 games with the Syracuse Mets, Singleton has racked up seven homers with a .880 OPS. The 33-year-old belted 13 homers in 119 games last season with the Houston Astros.

While acquiring a Triple-A player wouldn’t inspire much optimism, Singleton offers some upside at the plate, and beggars can’t be choosers.

Nathaniel Lowe, Washington Nationals

Statistically the best offensive first baseman on this list, Lowe is playing for a Nationals club that likely won’t sniff a postseason spot. He’d cost a talented prospect or two, but it may be worth paying up for the 29-year-old if Washington is open to dealing him.

With the Texas Rangers, Lowe won a Silver Slugger award in 2022 and a Gold Glove in 2023. He tallied 16 homers last season for Texas and has six through 38 games this year with the Nats.

Dominic Smith, New York Yankees

The Red Sox signed Smith to replace an injured Casas in 2024. Could they bring him back to do the same this season?

Currently with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, Smith could at least give Boston stability at first base and league-average offense. He became a fan favorite while posting a .706 OPS in 84 games with the club.

Justin Turner, Chicago Cubs

Like Smith, Turner became a fan favorite during his brief Red Sox stint. In 2023, the 40-year-old veteran belted 23 homers with 96 RBI and a .800 OPS in 146 games.

After an up-and-down 2024 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners, Turner joined the Chicago Cubs on a one-year contract. He has struggled mightily through 22 games this season, slashing .170/.270/.170 over 53 at-bats.

Perhaps Turner has reached the end of the road, but it’s worth checking in on the two-time All-Star and seeing whether he has anything left in the tank. He brought a leadership presence to the Red Sox clubhouse in 2023, and there’s little doubt he’d be welcomed back with open arms this season, even if he isn’t the slugger he once was.

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Devers calls out Red Sox front office for asking him to play first base

Devers calls out Red Sox front office for asking him to play first base originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox asked Rafael Devers to consider playing first base in the wake of Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury. It didn’t go well.

Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers, Devers called out the Red Sox front office for asking him to change positions for the second time since spring training.

“They had the conversation with me,” Devers said through translator Daveson Perez. “I don’t think, me personally, it’s the best decision after they asked me to play a different position, and I only have two months of playing this position. … to all of a sudden have me try to play another position.

“So from my end, it doesn’t seem like a good decision.”

Devers’ discontent with Red Sox brass dates back to February, after the club signed veteran third baseman Alex Bregman. With Bregman coming off a Gold Glove season and Devers statistically the worst defensive third baseman in the league, the Red Sox asked their $330 million slugger to become a full-time designated hitter.

After initially refusing to move off third base, Devers reluctantly accepted the DH role. Asking him to acquiesce again — even with a glaring void at first base following Casas’ injury — is a bridge too far for Devers.

“I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers added. “In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove — that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH. So right now, I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”

Devers revealed it was chief baseball officer Craig Breslow — not manager Alex Cora — who approached him about playing first base. His comments made it clear that the relationship between him and the Red Sox front office has frayed over the last few months.

“It was the GM that I spoke with. I’m not sure what he has with me,” Devers said. “He played ball and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn’t easy. …

“Here in the clubhouse, thankfully, the relationship that I have with my teammates is great. I don’t understand some of the decisions that the GM makes,” he added. “Next thing you know, someone in the outfield gets hurt and they want me to play in the outfield. I think I know the kind of player I am. And yeah, that’s just where I stand.”

Considering the Red Sox’ lack of first base depth, Devers was among the most sensible options to replace Casas. Now, unless they move someone else to first, they will have to explore external candidates for the position.

“Now I think they should do their job, essentially, and hit the market and look for another player (to play first base),” Devers said. “I’m not sure why they want me to be in between the way they have me now.”

Finding a full-time first baseman won’t be easy. The top free-agent first baseman available is 35-year-old Anthony Rizzo, whose career seems to be nearing its end after back-to-back injury-plagued seasons with the New York Yankees. A trade is possible, but it would be a surprise if Boston lands anything better than a replacement-level player.

After taking two out of three from the Rangers, the Red Sox will hit the road for a three-game series against the red-hot Kansas City Royals. Abraham Toro or Romy Gonzalez will likely play first base when the series begins Friday at 7:40 p.m. ET.

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Rangers recall Ezequiel Duran after Kevin Pillar is put on 10-day injured list

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers recalled utilityman Ezequiel Duran from Triple-A Round Rock to fill the 26-man roster spot vacated by outfielder Kevin Pillar.

Pillar was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation before the game at Boston.

Duran will be in his third stint with the Rangers this season. He hit .345 with four home runs, six doubles, four RBIs and 13 runs scored in 14 games with Round Rock since being optioned by Texas on April 20. He has made 10 starts at shortstop and four starts at third base with Round Rock.

Duran was on Texas’ opening day roster for the third straight season and has played all four infield positions over seven games for the Rangers this year. He was 0 for 14 with one RBI. Duran is a .253 career hitter with 22 home runs and 92 RBIs in 279 games across four major league seasons, all with Texas.

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Blue Jays at Angels prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 8

Its Thursday, May 8 and the Blue Jays (16-20) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (15-20). Chris Bassitt is slated to take the mound for Toronto against José Soriano for Los Angeles.

The Blue Jays have lost the series' first two games and are just 16-20 to start the season. They are on a four-game losing streak.

Despite winning two in a row, the Angels are 15-20 and last in the AL West.

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 Blue Jays at Angels

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 9:38PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network, SN1

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 Angels

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-124), Angels (+104)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Chris Bassitt vs. José Soriano
    • Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt, (2-2, 2.95 ERA)
      Last outing (Cleveland Guardians, 5/2): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Angels: José Soriano, (2-4, 3.83 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 5/2): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 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 Angels

  • The Blue Jays have won 11 of their last 13 games at the Angels
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Angels' last 5 matchups against American League teams
  • The Blue Jays have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.84 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 Angels

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 Blue Jays and the Angels:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels 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)
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Reds at Braves prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 8

Its Thursday, May 8 and the Reds (19-19) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (17-19). Nick Lodolo is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Spencer Schwellenbach for Atlanta.

The Reds won game three of the series. With a win today, they will avoid losing the series. Hunter Greene was dynamite for the Reds through 3.0 innings. He struck out six batters and didn't give up a run. Unfortunately, Greene was unable to continue after sustaining a groin injury early in the game.

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 Reds at Braves

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • 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 Reds at the Braves

The latest odds as of Thursday: FanDuel Sports Network, MLBN

  • Moneyline: Reds (+146), Braves (-174)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Nick Lodolo vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
    • Reds: Nick Lodolo, (3-3, 3.27 ERA)
      Last outing (Washington Nationals, 5/3): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 10 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach, (1-3, 3.92 ERA)
      Last outing (Los Angeles Dodgers, 5/3): 3.2 Innings Pitched, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 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 Reds at Braves

  • The Braves have won four of their last five matches against NL Central teams
  • The Braves have failed to cover the runs Line in 17 of their last 20 home games against the Reds

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 Reds and the Braves

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 Reds and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves 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 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)

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Pirates fan who fell at game speaks out, says he's ‘broken everything'

Pirates fan who fell at game speaks out, says he's ‘broken everything' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kavan Markwood, the fan who fell 20 feet onto the home field of the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 30, spoke publicly for the first time to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Wednesday.

Markwood described back and neck injuries, saying he has “broken everything.”

“I’m all right,” he told the outlet. “I can’t really sleep. I have a lot of back pain.”

A GoFundMe set up by his girlfriend’s mother said Markwood broke his neck, clavicle and back. More than $58,000 has been raised as of Thursday.

The update from Markwood himself comes after his sister, Taryn Markwood, said in a statement Monday that her brother’s condition was improving. He’s breathing on his own, able to speak and squeeze her hand, she said.

“I think when I get home I’ll just put ice on it,” Markwood told the Tribune-Review, saying he would speak more once released from the hospital sometime next week.

Markwood has not watched the horrifying video of his fall over the Roberto Clemente Wall at PNC Park, where he landed on the field during the Pirates’ game against the Chicago Cubs, the Tribune-Review reported.

The 20-year-old plunged two stories after celebrating Pirates outfielder and team leader Andrew McCutchen hitting a two-run double that gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning. More than 11,000 people were in the stadium that Wednesday night, falling silent as players took a knee.

Markwood appeared motionless before being rushed to Allegheny General Hospital in critical condition.

McCutchen witnessed the fall and said the team prayed for Markwood after the game, “devastated” by the incident.

“To the Pirates and Cubs players, coaches, staff, and all who paused to take a knee in prayer during that tragic moment — your compassion did not go unnoticed,” Taryn Markwood said in her statement. “It brought a sense of unity and hope amidst the chaos.”

The South Allegheny School District said Markwood graduated in 2022 and was a football standout, with first-team all-conference honors and being named team MVP.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said the incident was accidental, not criminal, on May 1 and did not plan on providing additional public updates.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

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Mets vs Cubs: 5 things to watch and series predictions | May 9-11

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cubs play a three-game series at Citi Field beginning on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Preview

Juan Soto is starting to look like ... Juan Soto

There has been lots of consternation about Soto's first month-plus with the Mets. And while it's certainly fair to say Soto didn't look like his usual, confident, shuffling self at the plate during the start of his tenure, he remained highly productive throughout his relative struggles.

But things have shifted over the last few weeks, with Soto again resembling the player who has been one of the best hitters in baseball since he entered the league in 2018.

In 86 plate appearances over his last 19 games dating back to April 18, Soto is slashing .300/.407/.543 with four homers and five doubles -- and four of those home runs have come since the start of May. His .950 OPS during that span is identical to his career average OPS.

Soto, in addition to getting better results, has also been making better contact on his outs, including a handful of 100 mph-plus batted balls that found gloves during New York's just-completed road trip in St. Louis and Arizona. One of them -- a would-be three-run homer to center field -- was brought back by Victor Scott II.

Meanwhile, a look at Soto's advanced stats via Baseball Savant shows a hitter who is near the top of the league in almost every category, including xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, squared-up percentage, chase percentage, whiff percentage, strikeout rate, and walk rate.

How will the Mets' use the DH spot?

With Jesse Winker out for six-to-eight weeks due to an oblique injury, the Mets have so far filled the DH role as expected.

Starling Marte got the start there during the first two games against the Diamondbacks, and Brandon Nimmo slotted in at DH in the third game after slightly tweaking his knee the night before.

In addition to Marte and Nimmo, the Mets have some other logical DH options they can turn to, including Brett Baty and Mark Vientos.

The void left by Winker also gives New York a plethora of other intriguing lineup alignment options.

Edwin Diaz is rounding into form

Following a mini early-season funk, Diaz has been dominant.

Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field.
Apr 17, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) enters the field during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

Over his last eight appearances spanning 8.1 innings dating back to April 16, Diaz has allowed just one earned run on four hits while walking three and striking out 15.

Along the way, he's held hitters to a .143/.226/.286 triple slash.

Also encouraging has been Diaz's fastball velocity, which was a topic of discussion earlier this season.

During his most recent appearance on May 5, Diaz's first three fastballs were about 96 mph, around his season average to that point of 96.4 mph. His final six fastballs of the appearance? 98.4, 98.4, 98.3, 97.7, 99.5, and 98.9.

The top of the Cubs' rotation is banged up

Already without Justin Steele, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April, the Cubs recently had to shut down Javier Assad after he reinjured his oblique during a rehab start a few weeks ago.

Another blow came a few days ago, when Shota Imanaga landed on the IL due to a hamstring injury.

Without Steele, Imanaga, and Assad, Chicago's rotation is in a bit of disarray, currently led by Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd.

The Mets will face Taillon and Boyd during this series, with the Cubs not yet having named their starter for the other game.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and slugging Chicago

The Cubs' offense has been a behemoth.

Chicago leads the majors with 223 runs scored, with lots of that damage coming from Crow-Armstrong -- a player the Mets never should've traded in the deal for rental player Javier Baez in 2021.

Crow-Armstrong, an all-world center fielder, has become a serious offensive weapon in his third big league season, with nine home runs, 11 doubles, and an .841 OPS.

Kyle Tucker (nine homers and a .943 OPS) and Carson Kelly (eight homers and a 1.261 OPS) are also especially locked in.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Soto hasn't had a monster series at home yet.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Clay Holmes

Holmes' sinker could help keep the Cubs' power in check.

Which Cubs player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Pete Crow-Armstrong

PCA has the ability to seriously impact the game on both sides of the ball.

Posted on

Tigers at Rockies Game 2 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for May 8

It's Thursday, May 8, and the Tigers (23-13) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (6-29). Tanner Gordon is slated to take the mound for Colorado, while Detroit has not named a starter.

This is the second of a double-header scheduled at 6:10 PM ET or approximately an hour after the conclusion of the first game. Detroit won 8-6 in extra innings last night thanks to a Spencer Torkelson double in the top of the 10th inning.

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 Tigers at Rockies

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 6:10 PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, 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 Tigers at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-164), Rockies (+138)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: TBD vs. Tanner Gordon
    • Rockies: Tanner Gordon, 0-6, 8.85 ERA in 2024
      Last outing: Gordon is making his first start of the season

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 Tigers 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 Thursday’s game between the Tigers and the Rockies:

  • 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 Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 10.0.

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 Tigers at Rockies

  • The Tigers are 4-1 in their last 5 games
  • The Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela has an ERA of 5.54 and a WHIP of 2.10 when starting this season
  • The Tigers have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 2.39 unit

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

Tigers at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 8

It's Thursday, May 8, and the Tigers (23-13) are in Denver to take on the Rockies (6-29). Casey Mize is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Kyle Freeland for Colorado.

This is the first of a double-header scheduled at 3:10 PM ET and the next to start approximately an hour after the conclusion of the first. Detroit won 8-6 in extra innings last night thanks to a Spencer Torkelson double in the top of the 10th inning.

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 Tigers at Rockies

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 3:10 PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, 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 Tigers at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-180), Rockies (+150)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Casey Mize vs. Kyle Freeland
    • Tigers: Casey Mize, (5-1, 2.70 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Rockies: Kyle Freeland, (0-4, 5.70 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers 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 Thursday’s game between the Tigers and the Rockies:

  • 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 Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 10.0.

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 Tigers at Rockies

  • The Tigers are 4-1 in their last 5 games
  • The Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela has an ERA of 5.54 and a WHIP of 2.10 when starting this season
  • The Tigers have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 2.39 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

Phillies at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 8

It's Thursday, May 8 and the Phillies (21-15) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (16-20). Jesús Luzardo is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Ryan Pepiot for Tampa Bay.

The Phillies took Games 1 and 2 of the series with yesterday's victory coming in a 7-0 shutout. The Phillies have outscored the Rays, 15-4, in the two games and have won four of the previous five games overall.

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 Phillies at Rays

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 7:05 PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, FDSNSUN, 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 Rays

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (-138), Rays (+117)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Jesús Luzardo vs. Ryan Pepiot
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo, (3-0, 1.94 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot, (2-4, 4.23 ERA)
      Last outing: 4.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 1 Strikeout

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 Phillies 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 Thursday’s game between the Phillies and the Rays:

  • 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 Tampa Bay Rays 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 Phillies at Rays

  • The Phillies have won 3 straight games at the Rays
  • The Under is 37-29-2 for the Rays' and the Phillies' games combined this season
  • The Rays have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight 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

Orioles at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 8

Its Thursday, May 8 and the Orioles (13-21) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (16-20).

Dean Kremer is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Joe Ryan for Minnesota.

The Twins take the field looking for a sweep of the three-game series following their 5-2 win last night. Byron Buxton went yard for the third straight game and Harrison Bader also homered while six Minnesota hurlers allowed ten hits but combined to hold the O's to two runs.

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 Orioles at Twins

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, 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 Orioles at the Twins

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+133), Twins (-158)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Dean Kremer vs. Joe Ryan
    • Orioles: Dean Kremer (3-4, 5.74 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Kansas City - 7IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 2Ks
    • Twins: Joe Ryan (2-2, 2.93 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 at Boston - 6IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 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 Orioles at Twins

  • The Twins have won 4 in a row
  • The Orioles have lost 4 in a row
  • Gunnar Henderson has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games (14-42)
  • Adley Rutschman is 3-19 through 5 games in May
  • Byron Buxton is riding a 7-game hitting streak (12-30)

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 Orioles 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 Orioles 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 Baltimore Orioles 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

Rangers at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 8

Its Thursday, May 8 and the Rangers (18-18) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (18-19).

Jack Leiter is slated to take the mound for Texas against Brayan Bello for Boston.

The Red Sox evened the series at one game apiece with a 6-4 win last night. Alex Bregman and Wilyer Abreu each had three hits and drove in three runs to account for the offense.

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 Red Sox

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Time: 1:35PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: RSN, 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 Rangers at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rangers (+116), Red Sox (-137)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rangers at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 8, 2025: Jack Leiter vs. Brayan Bello
    • Rangers: Jack Leiter (2-1, 4.59 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Seattle - 4.1IP, 6ER, 8H, 2BB, 2Ks
    • Red Sox: Brayan Bello (2-0, 2.55 ERA)
      Last outing: 5/2 vs. Minnesota - 6.2IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 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 Rangers at Red Sox

  • Rafael Devers is 1-9 over his last three games
  • Alex Bregman is 4-8 in this series and 7-22 in May
  • Wyatt Langford is 5-23 in May
  • Marcus Semien is 4-20 in May which actually has raised his average to .185

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 Rangers 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 Rangers 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 Texas Rangers 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

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)