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

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Schumaker, Pettitte, Holliday to be U.S. coaches at next year’s World Baseball Classic

Former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker will be the U.S. bench coach and former New York Yankees star Andy Pettitte will be pitching coach for manager Mark DeRosa at next year’s World Baseball Classic.

Matt Holliday, a seven-time All-Star and the father of Baltimore infielder Jackson Holliday, will be hitting coach, USA Baseball said Friday.

Dino Ebel returns from DeRosa’s 2023 staff as third base coach and George Lombard will be first base coach.

DeRosa’s staff also includes former major league managers Fredi González (assistant manager) and David Ross (bullpen coach) along with Brian McCann and Michael Young as assistant managers.

The tournament runs from March 5-17 with games played in Houston, Miami, Tokyo and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Japan is defending champion.

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Tigers activate second baseman Gleyber Torres from 10-day injured list

MINNEAPOLIS — Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres returned to the team’s lineup on Friday after being sidelined by a left oblique strain.

Torres was activated from the 10-day injured list before the opener of a three-game series at Minnesota. He was playing second base and leading off for the matchup with the Twins.

The Tigers optioned outfielder Brewer Hicklen to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday to clear the way for Torres’ return.

Torres signed a one-year, $15 million contract with Detroit in December. He went 3 for 7 with a home run in the first two games of the season before going on the IL.

Torres spent his first seven seasons with the New York Yankees, batting .265 with 138 homers and 441 RBIs. He was an AL All-Star in 2018 and 2019.

The 28-year-old Torres hit .257 with 15 homers, 63 RBIs and 26 doubles last season while helping the Yankees win the AL East and reach the World Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

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Phillies' reconfigured lineup gets shut out but Thomson not pulling the cord yet

Phillies' reconfigured lineup gets shut out but Thomson not pulling the cord yet originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ST. LOUIS — Coming off a marathon rain delay in Thursday’s extra-inning loss in Atlanta, the Phillies arrived at their hotel in St. Louis at quarter to 4 a.m. Friday and the fatigue showed in their weakest offensive performance of the young season, a 2-0 loss to the Cardinals.

The Phils were held completely in check by right-hander Andre Pallante, reaching base just four times in his seven innings with two singles and two walks.

Pallante had faced the Phillies six times before but was never this effective. His fastball cut in to lefties and Kyle Schwarber said it was difficult to lift.

The Phillies’ only real scoring chance was in the first inning when Bryce Harper walked, Kyle Schwarber singled and the new-look 3-4 hitters executed a double steal. “Thought we had something going,” Thomson said. Nick Castellanos flied out to medium-deep right field and that was that.

The Phils put another runner in scoring position with one out in the fifth inning of a tie game, only for Rafael Marchan to ground out on a 3-1 count and Bryson Stott to strike out swinging.

One last opportunity arose in the ninth inning when Trea Turner led off with a single against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsey, but Harper, Schwarber and Castellanos were retired in order.

The lineup change didn’t work, at least on this night. Manager Rob Thomson moved Stott (0-for-4) up to the leadoff spot and hit Schwarber cleanup, behind Harper, in an attempt to better protect the Phillies’ first baseman. Harper was intentionally walked twice in Thursday’s loss and both times, Castellanos followed with a strikeout. Entering Friday night, the player directly after Harper in the lineup was batting .120 for the season.

The Phillies face another righty on Saturday in Miles Mikolas so the same lineup structure could be used even though the first game resulted in a shutout loss.

“I don’t think you pull the cord on that yet,” Thomson said of Schwarber hitting behind Harper.

There are obvious benefits to batting Harper and Schwarber consecutively. It will put immense stress on pitchers in leverage spots, it will make opposing managers think twice about pitching around Harper, and the duo has the chance to hit back-to-back homers any cycle through the lineup. They also both walk a ton, meaning it will be crucial that the five-hole hitter does damage behind Schwarber.

“That’s very challenging,” said Aaron Nola, who’s glad he doesn’t have to face them. “They’re two different guys that can do a lot of different things. They can hit the longball, they don’t miss the ball in their hot zone too much. Especially those guys back-to-back, if you have guys on base for them late in the game, you’ve always got a good chance. We’ve got a great lineup overall, wherever those guys hit.”

Castellanos batted fifth on Friday and Alec Bohm was seventh for the second straight game. Bohm’s 0-for-3 night made him 4-for-his-last-43. He’s been through a lot in his time as a Phillie but this is probably as trying a period as he’s experienced given all the offseason noise.

Nola did not have sharp command for a third straight start to begin his season. He put the leadoff man on base and in scoring position in four of his five innings, and though he stranded three of them, the Cardinals scored twice in the fifth. The first run came across on a double by nine-hole hitter Yahel Pozo, who entered as an injury replacement in the second inning and ended up with three hits. The second scored on a rare bases-loaded walk by Nola, just the second of his career.

Nola did not allow a home run but walked four after issuing only one free pass in his first 11⅓ innings. He’s 0-3 with a 5.51 ERA and said his priority next time out is strike one and out one. Things are so much more difficult when you’re pitching out of the stretch with nobody out.

“He doesn’t have his good fastball yet with the finish to it,” Thomson said. “I’ve seen that before early in the year and he’ll get that as it warms up, I believe.”

The Phillies are 8-5 and have lost three of their last four. They’ve had eight consecutive games decided by one or two runs.

If there was any silver lining to Friday night, it’s that they finally avoided having to use any of their late-game relievers. Jose Ruiz pitched the sixth inning, Carlos Hernandez had the seventh and Tanner Banks the eighth. All three of Matt Strahm, Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering should be well-rested and ready to go the rest of the weekend.

Cristopher Sanchez is on the bump for the Phillies Saturday afternoon. Mikolas goes for the Cardinals, who lost all four times he faced the Phils in 2023 and 2024.

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Marlins minor league infielder Gregori Arias is suspended 56 games for positive drug test

NEW YORK — Miami Marlins minor league infielder Gregori Arias was suspended for 56 games on Friday by Major League Baseball for a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone.

Arias was penalized under the drug program for minor league players assigned outside of the United States and Canada.

The 18-year-old, who signed in January 2024 for a $180,000 bonus, is assigned to the Dominican Summer League Marlins. He hit .227 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 23 stolen bases last season.

Five players have been suspended this year for violating performance-enhancing substance agreements. Four of them have been under minor league programs and Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for 80 games on March 31 under the major league program.

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Painter throws 37 pitches, a handful at 100 mph, in first start since injury

Painter throws 37 pitches, a handful at 100 mph, in first start since injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ST. LOUIS — Just over 1,000 miles southeast of the Phillies’ series opener against the Cardinals Friday night, their top pitching prospect made his long-awaited return to the mound in a minor-league game.

Andrew Painter threw 37 pitches over 1⅔ innings for Single A Clearwater, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Both scored when he was removed for a reliever after reaching Friday’s limit, which was the 35-pitch range.

Painter hit 100 mph five times, maxing out at 100.2, and sat 97-99.

Both hits he allowed were soft bloops to shallow center field. He faced seven batters and four of them went to a full count.

But the most important part of Painter’s return to game action from the Phillies’ perspective won’t be whether he had pinpoint command in his first two innings back, it’s that tomorrow morning he shows up to the ballpark feeling healthy.

It was 25 months ago that Painter injured his elbow in spring training while competing for a rotation job at 19 years old. He faced the Twins in a Grapefruit League game, showcased his upper-90s/triple-digit fastball and looked the part. But he quickly developed elbow pain that didn’t go away on its own and eventually required Tommy John surgery in July 2023.

The Phillies have taken things slowly with Painter, rightfully so given his high ceiling and importance to their next decade of run prevention. They plan to pitch him once a week in the minor leagues for a little while, likely capping him close to this same two-inning, 35-pitch threshold. It’s by design. The Phillies want to keep him healthy and they also want to preserve innings toward his limit so they can utilize them in the major leagues later in the season. Three innings of Painter in September against the Mets are more meaningful than three innings in April against the Daytona Tortugas.

Weston Wilson also started for Clearwater. He began a rehab assignment on Tuesday, six weeks after straining his oblique. He played left field on Tuesday and Wednesday and started at third base on Friday. The Phillies plan to play him in Clearwater again on Saturday then send him up to Triple A Lehigh Valley, where he could be in Tuesday’s lineup.

Once his timing is right at the plate, Wilson could be promoted to the majors. He was highly likely to make the Opening Day roster if healthy because of his positional versatility and right-handed bat. There have been multiple spots already this season when it would have been nice for the Phillies to have Wilson available as a pinch-hitter for Brandon Marsh or Bryson Stott.

The final two bench spots went to Johan Rojas and Kody Clemens, who has barely played, going 0-for-1 with a walk.

Ranger’s next step

Ranger Suarez (back) went three scoreless innings Thursday night for Clearwater, throwing 33 pitches, 24 strikes. His fastball was 92 mph, a good sign because it’s right in line with his career average.

It was Suarez’ first rehab start and the plan is to have him throw four innings in his next, then five innings. Ideally, Thomson wants Suarez built up to 100 pitches before joining the rotation.

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What we learned as Jung Hoo Lee homers in Giants' rain-shortened win vs. Yankees

What we learned as Jung Hoo Lee homers in Giants' rain-shortened win vs. Yankees originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants on Friday began a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, including 10 on this three-city trip against teams with winning records. It’s such a daunting trip that manager Bob Melvin joked Wednesday that he felt he was about to leave San Francisco for a month, but it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. 

The Giants scored five runs before making an out at Yankee Stadium on Friday night and rolled to a 9-1 win in a game called in the sixth inning because of rain. They became the third team in the big leagues to reach double-digit wins, joining two in their division: The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Given all the times he has talked about the Giants, and his grounder-heavy style, it’s a shock that Marcus Stroman hasn’t worn orange and black at some point. But his latest outing against them was one of the worst of his career. Stroman threw 46 pitches and didn’t get out of the first, leaving to some boos from a soaked crowd at Yankee Stadium.

The Giants kept pouring it on, drawing 11 walks and scoring seven of them. They would have done more damage, but the game — which was delayed at the start by rain — was delayed again in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded. After a short delay, it was called.

Jung Hoo Three

Jung Hoo Lee was injured last year when the Giants visited New York, but he didn’t waste any time once he entered the spotlight Friday. A leadoff double from Mike Yastrzemski and a walk by Willy Adames set the stage and Lee got the Giants on the board with a three-run blast to right, his first of the year.

The homer continued a barrage of extra-base hits from Lee, who bumped his OPS to an even 1.000. He leads the Majors with seven doubles and also had a triple on a big homestand. After slugging .331 as a rookie, he’s currently at .596. That’s what you want from your No. 3 hitter, even if Lee is getting there in a different way than most who hit in that spot. 

Helped By The Rain

Robbie Ray took the mound with a five-run lead and gave up just one run, but he seemingly couldn’t hang around long enough to qualify for a third win in three starts. Ray did end up getting the win, though, thanks to an obscure rule. 

As Jon Miller so brilliantly mentioned a couple of times on the broadcast, the scorekeeper can give the win to a starting pitcher who doesn’t go five if the game ends early. Because the game didn’t go six full innings, Ray ended up picking up his third win of the season despite pitching just four innings, one short of the usual requirement for starting pitchers. 

It certainly was a well-earned win. Ray allowed two hits and struck out seven, although he also walked four and went to a full count to eight of 18 batters, which led to an early exit. The Yankees made him throw 59 pitches in the second and third, and that got Spencer Bivens warming up. Bivens took over in the fifth with the Giants leading by seven.

Ray very nearly became just the fourth Giant to strike out at least seven and allow fewer than three hits and two runs, but not qualify for the win. Instead, he headed home with a 3-0 record and 2.93 ERA. 

A New Look

Melvin has tried to keep it consistent with his lineup, but he made a big change Friday. Yastrzemski, who entered the trip with a .462 on-base percentage, was moved to the top of the lineup. LaMonte Wade Jr., who was at .146, was moved down to the sixth spot. It worked out very well on the first night. 

Yastrzemski pulled the game’s first pitch into the gap for a double and scored the first run of the five-run first. Wade drove in the final two with a double into the right field corner that brought Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos racing home. He drew a walk his third time up and then walked again with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Wade is just 5-for-40 to start the year, but all five hits have gone for extra bases. He has three doubles, a triple and a homer.

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Chris Drury's Job Is Reportedly Safe While Peter Laviolette Could Be On The Hot Seat

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

With the New York Rangers on the verge of missing the playoffs, speculation on what changes the organization may make have already begun..

After a season of the likes that the Rangers are currently experiencing, it’s common for both the coach and general manager to be on the hot seat. 

However, it doesn't appear as if Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is at any risk of losing his job, at least according to one NHL insider. 

“My sense there is that he should be okay. I think there’s a lot of loyalty from Jim Dolan, the owner,” TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said. “Chris Drury was pretty busy out of the trade deadline, too, really kind of setting up his offseason with a lot of moves he made. I think Chris Drury plans to be aggressive in trying to retool the Rangers again here this summer.”

Dury’s decisions to waive Barclay Goodrow, force Jacob Trouba to waive his no-trade clause, and publicly shop Chris Kreider, created an uncomfortable environment around the Rangers organization. 

Some even blame Drury for the Rangers’ fall from grace this season, considering they won the Presidents’ Trophy just one year ago before all of this transpired. 

Unlike his boss, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette may not be so safe. 

“I can tell you that there’s absolutely no word out of the Rangers, themselves,” LeBrun said. “Very tight-lipped about what might transpire here over the next week, or so. But in talking to other people around the League, the low-hanging fruit, the expectations from a lot of people I’ve talked to is that Peter Laviolette could get fired.

“He’s got another year on his deal, so certainly not a sure thing. But when you look at the body language and the performance of the team over the last month, again, when I’ve talked to other people around the League, that’s probably the easiest conclusion, and so, we’ll see whether or not that happens.”

It’s unclear what changes will be made, but expect to see a hectic and busy Rangers offseason with drastic turnover.

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Thomson explains the significant change to Phillies' lineup

Thomson explains the significant change to Phillies' lineup originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ST. LOUIS — The 8-4 Phillies made a significant change to their lineup to begin a weekend series with the Cardinals, moving Bryson Stott up to the leadoff spot and Kyle Schwarber to cleanup, behind Bryce Harper.

The primary reason behind the move is to give Harper more protection. Through 12 games, the Phillies led off Schwarber against right-handers and Trea Turner against lefties, but Schwarber has been their most productive hitter and his power bat is more meaningful right now behind Harper than a couple spots in front of him.

“Just trying to protect Harper as best as we can and not get into a situation where they’re intentionally walking him, where you’ve got to pitch to him,” manager Rob Thomson said pregame from the visiting dugout at Busch Stadium. “Stott’s on-base percentage against righties is .375, .380 so he’s getting on base against righties. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Harper was intentionally walked twice in Thursday’s extra-inning loss — in the fifth inning with two outs and runners on second and third, and in the 10th inning with two outs and Johan Rojas on third. Both times, the Phillies failed to score.

Alec Bohm had been hitting cleanup behind Harper against righties but he’s mired in a 4-for-40 slump without an extra-base hit or walk. Bohm was moved down to seventh in the order Thursday night in Atlanta and remained there Friday in St. Louis.

Nick Castellanos occupied the cleanup spot Thursday but had one of the roughest nights of his career, going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts.

This was Friday’s lineup against cutter-based Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante:

1. Bryson Stott, 2B (L)
2. Trea Turner, SS
3. Bryce Harper, 1B (L)
4. Kyle Schwarber, DH (L)
5. Nick Castellanos, RF
6. Max Kepler, LF (L)
7. Alec Bohm, 3B
8. Brandon Marsh, CF (L)
9. Rafael Marchan, C

It’s unusual for Thomson to bat three lefties in the top four spots given the Phillies’ preference to alternate sides but part of it is the ability of Harper and Schwarber to hit same-handed pitching.

Harper has hit .291 vs. lefties since 2023 with an OBP over .370.

Schwarber has been even better than that since the start of last season, hammering southpaws to the tune of .313/.422/.542.

The Cardinals will still likely attack that part of the lineup with a left-hander and have three in their bullpen in former Phillie JoJo Romero, Steven Matz and John King.

“We’ll see how it works out,” Thomson said when asked if he might continue to hit Harper and Schwarber back-to-back.

Bohm and Castellanos were a combined 0-for-10 in the series finale in Atlanta but Bohm did smash two balls. He lined out over 100 mph to second base in his first at-bat and lined out 380 feet to deep right-center late in the game. His slump has been a mixture of bad luck and a couple of poor nights. Combine them and the result is a fortnight of frustration.

“Played well defensively, hit two balls right on the screws,” Thomson said of Bohm’s game Thursday. “That’s all you can do. Once it leaves the bat, there’s not much you can do about it. But the swings were good. He’ll come out of it. You look at the back of their baseball card, that’s probably where they’re going to end up.”

As for Castellanos, Thomson isn’t worried about one brutal night affecting his confidence.

“I don’t think you have to worry about Nick spiraling,” he said. “He’s a veteran and today will be a brand new day for him. He’s probably forgotten all about last night.”

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Twins place pitcher Pablo Lopez on the 15-day injured list with a strained hamstring

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins placed pitcher Pablo López on the 15-day injured list Friday with a strained right hamstring.

The move is retroactive to Wednesday, a day after López was removed from his start against Kansas City following 4 2/3 innings because of the injury. López is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in three starts this season.

The Twins replaced him on the roster by recalling right-hander David Festa from Triple-A St. Paul. Festa, who will start for Minnesota on Friday night against Detroit, is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two minor league starts this season.

Festa appeared in 14 games for the Twins last season, 13 of them starts, going 2-6 with a 4.90 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Justin Verlander, Pavin Smith & Zebby Matthews

Let’s open up this week’s Waiver Wire with the oldest guy in the league.

MLB: Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
2025 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Bobby Witt Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge lead Top 300 rest of season ranks
Hunter Greene is on the rise and Rockies call-up Zac Veen enters the Top 300.

Justin Verlander (SP Giants) - Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues

Stay the course. Verlander wasn’t very good in his second start of the season against the Mariners, but he was far better last time out versus the Reds, even if he gave up five earned runs along the way. All five of those came in one inning in which the Reds had two hard-hit balls, one a grounder and one a popup. Verlander didn’t even allow a hit over the rest of the outing, and he struck out nine batters while averaging 95.2 mph with his fastball.

Verlander’s velocity is one big reason to be optimistic about his performance in his age-42 campaign. He’s averaging 94.8 mph on the heater right now, putting him right in between the 95.1 mph he was at in 2022, when he won AL Cy Young honors, and 2023, when he was still strong in posting a 3.22 ERA. Last year, he was down to 93.5 mph and largely ineffective in the 17 starts he was able to make while dealing with injuries.

Maybe Verlander’s body will betray him again at some point, but everything besides his ERA is looking good right now. His strikeout rate stands at 26%. His groundball rate is up, too, since he’s throwing about three times as many sliders as curves. He’ll give up homers from time to time, but it helps that his home park suppresses them. That his next two starts are in Philadelphia and Anaheim isn’t ideal -- and benching him should be in play for at least the first of those outings -- but there ought to be some value for the long haul here.

Pavin Smith (1B D-backs) - Rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues

After starting off in the minors for a second straight season, Smith, who received his most extensive playing time as a 25-year-old rookie in 2021, clawed his way back into Arizona’s plans last summer, particularly in hitting .290/..384/.677 in 73 plate appearances in September. The Diamondbacks penciled him in as Joe Pederson’s replacement in the DH role against right-handers this season, and he’s kept right on hitting, coming in at .400/.486/.667 in 35 plate appearances. He has five barrels, though just one homer, and 11 of his 18 balls in play have been hit hard.

Smith’s fantasy ceiling remains capped by his platoon role, one that will be difficult for him to escape after the D-backs re-signed Randal Grichuk in the offseason. The team could weaken the outfield defense by moving Corbin Carroll to center and playing Grichuk in right against lefties, but it’d probably take quite a sustained run from Smith to get them to consider it. Perhaps an injury will eventually open things up a bit.

For now, though, Smith will sit on average once or twice per week. He’s probably good enough to eke out some mixed-league value anyway, especially since he’s mostly hitting third in a quality lineup. His strikeout rate is up, but that’s a worthy trade for as much hard contact as he’s making.

Zebby Matthews (SP Twins) - Rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues

Some were left shaking their heads when the Twins opted to promote David Festa with Pablo López hurt, but it might have just been a stopgap measure. Based on spring performance and the events of the first two weeks of the Triple-A season, Zebby Matthews had earned the opportunity to be the first addition to the Twins rotation. There’s a good chance that’s still going to happen next week.

Matthews, an eighth-round pick of Western Carolina in 2022, struggled some last year in his first taste of the majors, mostly because of the home run ball. He gave up 11 of those in amassing a 6.69 ERA in 37 2/3 innings over nine starts. He did have a fine 43/11 K/BB along the way, though. He wound up pitching 9 1/3 scoreless innings with a 12/1 K/BB this spring, and he’s opened up with a 1.80 ERA and a 13/1 K/BB in 10 innings for the Saints. In his minor league career, he’s struck out 29 percent and walked just three percent of the batters he’s faced.

While they’re not overly similar pitchers, Matthews could wind up very much like Bailey Ober for fantasy purposes. He’ll always give up homers, leaving him with unexceptional ERAs, but his slider will lead to a fine strikeout rate and the lack of walks will make him a big asset in terms of WHIP. He should offer some mixed-league value this season.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- I wasn’t going to do a full writeup of Nick Kurtz after James Schiano highlighted him Tuesday, but it would be nice to have him stashed. The 2024 first-round pick is already running out of things to prove after just 23 games in the minors, and the A’s aren’t getting much production out of left field. If they’re willing to put Brent Rooker out there most of the time, Kurtz could give the lineup a big lift while alternating with Tyler Soderstom between first base and DH.

- It’s hard to bet on Lance McCullers Jr. staying healthy at this point, but he’s two starts deep into a rehab assignment in his latest attempt to return from elbow problems and he could join the Astros rotation around the end of the month. He’s almost always been effective when he’s been able to pitch (3.48 ERA, 27% strikeout rate in 719 career innings). Maybe that will no longer be the case at age 31, but he’s rostered in only two percent of leagues and he’s (hopefully) quite a bit closer to returning than most of the IL starting pitchers.

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Fantasy baseball two-start pitchers: Jesús Luzardo leads slew of terrific options for week of April 14

Hello and welcome to the second edition of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along. Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of April 14.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, April 11, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal Tigers, LHP (@ Brewers, vs. Royals)

After struggling through his first two starts of the season, the reigning American League Cy Young award winner got back on track with a gem against the Yankees his last time out. You drafted Skubal to be your ace and you’re starting him every week regardless of matchups, especially when he’s toeing the slab twice. Don’t get cute and overthink it, he should be started in all formats.

Framber Valdez Astros, LHP (@ Cardinals, vs. Padres)

The 31-year-old southpaw has been terrific through his first three starts on the season, registering a 2.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 21/7 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. He pitches deep into games, rarely has blowups and has been piling up strikeouts. There’s really nothing not to like here. The matchups against the Cardinals is very strong as well and he gets the Padres at a time when their offense is a bit depleted. Valdez makes for an excellent option this week.

Max Fried Yankees, LHP (vs. Royals, @ Rays)

Fried has been the ace that the Yankees have needed through his first three starts, registering a 1.56 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 21/3 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings while earning a pair of victories. While he would be started all weeks for single starts anyways, he gets the benefit of having two strong matchups for the upcoming week and winds up as one of the top overall options on the board. As long as he’s healthy, he’s going to produce elite results, so enjoy the production.

Luis Castillo Mariners, RHP (@ Reds, @ Brewers)

The original Luis Castillo in the Mariners’ rotation has typically struggled in his career in the first month of the regular season. So to see him come out of the gate strong with a 2.12 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over his first three starts is very encouraging. The Reds’ offense isn’t humming the way that we expect it to yet, so that start in Cincinnati isn’t quite as scary as it probably will be a month from now. There’s potential ratio risk involved in both starts, but the strikeouts should be there and Castillo has a chance to earn a win every time he takes the mound. He should be started in all leagues.

Kevin Gausman Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Braves, vs. Mariners)

I have been really impressed by what I have seen from Gausman through his first three starts this season, compiling a 2.33 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and a 14/3 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings. As fantasy managers, we’ll take the slight decrease in strikeouts if it means he’s able to be more effective and work deeper into ballgames. Both starts will come at home this week, with the second one against the Mariners looking like a particularly juicy spot to earn a victory. As crazy as it may sound, I’m back to having full confidence in the Jays’ right-hander and would be using him in all leagues this week.

Decent Plays

Ryan Pepiot Rays, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Yankees)

I like Pepiot, and in better matchups, he would be an automatic start for me. The two-step against the Red Sox and Yankees at least has me thinking twice about it in shallower formats. He has pitched relatively well through three starts, with a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 16/7 K/BB ratio over 16 frames. The other concern, aside from the matchups, is that both of these starts will come at his new temporary home, Steinbrenner Field. We have seen the ball fly out of the yard there recently, especially to the opposite field, and both of these opponents seem like they could take advantage of that. You’re probably using him if you have him in 15’s but think twice in 12’s if you have viable alternatives.

Jeffrey Springs Athletics, LHP (@ White Sox, @ Brewers)

Through his first three starts with the Athletics, Springs has been mediocre – registering a 4.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 16/7 K/BB ratio over 15 innings. The best cure for his ratios comes with his first start of the upcoming week though, getting to take on the cellar-dwelling White Sox. The second start against the Brewers in Milwaukee is a bit tougher, but the first one is strong enough that I think we should be rolling Springs out there in all formats.

Tanner Houck Red Sox, RHP (@ Rays, vs. White Sox)

This placement may be a bit harsh for Tanner Houck, especially on a week where he gets the White Sox, but I just can’t get him up to the strong options. Houck holds a 4.41 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 10/7 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings through his first three starts and it’s the lack of strikeouts that really have me the most concerned. He has also served up three homers already, and having to play at Steinbrenner Field has me a bit terrified after seeing what the Angels did there this week. He’s fine to use in 15’s and even some 12’s, I’m just more concerned than I probably should be given that he hasn’t looked like himself just yet.

Seth Lugo Royals, RHP (@ Yankees, @ Tigers)

Lugo has seemingly picked up right where he left off following a strong 2024 campaign, with a 3.24 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 12/7 K/BB ratio over 16 2/3 innings through his first three starts in 2025. The only thing holding him back this week is the matchups. He draws not one, but two very strong offenses on the road this week, which should at least give fantasy managers some reason for concern. He’s unlikely to be a favorite for a win in either matchup and the ratio risk will be higher than we normally see from Lugo. In 15’s you probably still have to roll with him, but you may have better down rotation options in 12’s that you might want to slide him onto the bench this week.

Yusei Kikuchi Angels, LHP (@ Rangers, vs. Giants)

Kikuchi’s first three starts with the Angels haven’t quite lived up to expectations, with a troublesome 5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 16/8 K/BB ratio across his 18 innings. The ratios may not get better for him this week with a couple of difficult matchups on tap. The one thing that he will provide though, regardless of the opponent, is strikeouts. I’d expect no fewer than 10 strikeouts from him over his two starts on the week, which makes him a start for me in all formats despite the potential risk in ratios.

Carlos Carrasco Yankees, RHP (vs. Royals, @ Rays)

Here’s one where we have to walk the fine line between savvy and crazy. Carlos Carrasco hasn’t been a viable fantasy starter since the 2022 season with the Mets. He’s locked into the Yankees’ rotation though and has an opportunity to generate wins with that powerful offense backing him. He also has struck out 10 batters in 11 2/3 innings on the season and should be able to approach double digit punchouts over two starts for the upcoming week. If the matchups were scary, he’d be an easy fade, but I’m not seeing a whole lot from the Royals or Rays that really scares me at the moment. You’re not going to want to watch either of his starts, and he’s probably far too volatile to trust in 12-team formats, but in 15-teamers, I could see trying to gamble here if you need to make up ground in wins and strikeouts. Full disclosure, I even picked him up cheap last week with the plan to play him for this two-step.

At Your Own Risk

Charlie Morton Orioles, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Reds)

I’ve been a Charlie Morton supporter for as long as I can remember, but I don’t love the version that I have seen of the 41-year-old right-hander this season. He holds a troublesome 8.78 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and a 17/8 K/BB ratio over 13 1/3 innings through his first three starts and none of those starts have been worthwhile from a fantasy perspective. While both matchups are at home, Oriole Park at Camden Yards is playing smaller again with the fences moved in and I feel like you’re just asking for ratio damage if you try to start him this week. If you absolutely need the strikeouts in a deeper league, maybe you try it and hope for the best. I’ll be staying away.

Sean Burke White Sox, RHP (vs. Athletics, @ Red Sox)

While there’s upside in Burke’s outlook long-term, nothing that I have seen from him in three starts this season screams someone that you would want to stream for a two-start week. After a dominant first start against the Angels, Burke has been hit extremely hard in each of his last two starts and I expect more of the same to happen during the upcoming week. No fantasy manager has blown up their ratios enough this early in the season to knowingly take on this type of risk.

Logan Allen Guardians, LHP (@ Orioles, @ Pirates)

If you want to take a gamble on someone who has flashed talent in the past but has never quite been able to put it all together, Allen is your man. He has struggled to limit baserunners this season – with a 1.80 WHIP through his first 10 innings – and that could catch up to him in Baltimore, especially with the fences moved in. If you don’t have better options as your eighth or ninth pitcher in 15-team leagues, I could see taking the plunge. I’d probably avoid him in 12’s.

Michael Wacha Royals, RHP (@ Yankees, @ Tigers)

If we’re moving Seth Lugo down into the decent option group given the two difficult matchups, and we trust Lugo more than Wacha, then it only makes sense that Wacha would find himself down here. Wacha is a middling option in even the best matchups, so throwing him out there against two of the better offenses in the league is inviting in plenty of ratio risk. The problem is that he doesn’t provide the win equity or the strikeouts that you would like to see to counteract that. If you feel like gambling, go ahead and roll the dice, I think that I would sit this one out though.

Zack Littell Rays, RHP (vs. Red Sox, vs. Yankees)

I’d have a tough time recommending some of the better pitchers in the league in two matchups against the Red Sox and Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. Zack Littell isn’t one of the better pitchers in the league though. He also hasn’t pitched well this season, registering a 6.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 14/3 K/BB ratio over 17 innings while serving up five home runs. He’s a full fade for me this week in all leagues.

Patrick Corbin Rangers, LHP (vs. Angels, vs. Dodgers)

The 35-year-old southpaw didn’t pitch well in his first start with the Rangers and it’s been a long time since he was really a viable option for fantasy purposes. The only reason you would ever want to use him would be if he were lined up for a two-start week with a pair of good matchups. Having to take on the Dodgers next weekend is about as bad of a matchup as you can get. It’s possible that he could succeed here, but that’s not a risk that I’m willing to take.

National League

Strong Plays

Jesus Luzardo Phillies, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Marlins)

To say that Luzardo has pitched well through his first three starts this season would be a massive understatement. He has compiled a brilliant 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 25/5 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. Now he lines up for a strong two-start week, with both matchups coming at home, and a revenge game against the Marlins on the back end of it. He not only needs to be started in all formats this week, but he might just be the top overall pitching option for the week. My only regret is that I don’t have more exposure to him.

Paul Skenes Pirates, RHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Guardians)

If Luzardo isn’t the top overall pitching option on the week, than it’s probably Skenes. The 22-year-old hurler is going to have extra motivation after getting knocked around his last time out and draws two strong matchups against the Nationals and Guardians – both in the friendly confines of PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Even in a slow start to the season by his standards, he still holds a 3.44 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 20/3 K/BB ratio over 18 1/3 innings. He'll improve upon all of those numbers and grab at least one victory this week. He should be 100% started in all leagues every single week this season.

Dustin May Dodgers, RHP (vs. Rockies, @ Rangers)

May was listed as one of our top two-start options for last week, only to see his second start of the week get pushed after the Dodgers gave a spot start to Justin Wrobleski and inserted Landon Knack into their starting rotation. The 27-year-old hurler has looked great through his first two starts and pitchers for perhaps the best team in all of baseball. Combine that with the fact that he gets to take on the Rockies on Monday and it means that he should be started in even the shallowest of leagues next week with complete confidence.

Grant Holmes Braves, RHP (@ Blue Jays, vs. Twins)

Holmes is tentatively lined up for two starts next week, and if he indeed makes both of them he looks like a very strong play in all fantasy formats. There’s at least some risk that he doesn’t go twice though. The Braves are expected to insert Spencer Strider back into their rotation at some point next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday. They could opt to still keep Bryce Elder around to make another start despite Strider’s return, which would mean that no Braves’ hurler winds up with two starts. Or they could stay on schedule and he would get there. If he doubles, I’ll want him in my lineup in all formats. Just continue to read the tea leaves until lineups lock on Monday.

Nick Lodolo Reds, LHP (vs. Mariners, @ Orioles)

Lodolo has pitched like an ace through his first three starts – compiling a minuscule 0.96 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and an 8/1 K/BB ratio over 18 innings. Now he’ll get a terrific matchup against the Mariners to start the week before having to travel to Baltimore for the second half of his two-step. While he has never shown this type of consistency before, you have to ride the hot hand here, especially with a strong matchup against the M’s. Look for Lodolo to snag his third victory of the season this week.

Clay Holmes Mets, RHP (@ Twins, vs. Cardinals)

Holmes’ transition to the starting rotation hasn’t gone quite as swimmingly as many had hoped, with an underwhelming 4.30, 1.70 WHIP and a 20/9 K/BB ratio over 14 2/3 frames through his first three starts. This looks like the perfect week for him to right the ship though, taking on a pair of struggling offenses that don’t provide the type of left-handed thump that could really do damage against him. I’d be surprised if he didn’t earn a victory and improve upon his ratios during this fabulous two-step.

Tylor Megill Mets, RHP (@ Twins, vs. Cardinals)

Megill has been everything that fantasy managers had hoped for through his first three starts, posting a 17/7 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings while compiling a ridiculous 0.63 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. The high WHIP has always been a part of his game and the ERA isn’t going to stay that low obviously, but the strikeouts are real. He also draws a pair of scintillating matchups against the Twins and Cardinals and should be able to take full advantage of both lineups. It’s crazy to say given his inconsistency throughout the years, but I’m rolling him out there with full confidence in all leagues this week.

Max Meyer Marlins, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, @ Phillies)

Fantasy managers have to be thrilled with what we have seen from Meyer through his first three starts on the season, posting a stellar 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 19/5 K/BB ratio. The only thing holding him back for his upcoming two-start week is the matchups. He’s likely to be an underdog in both spots and will be taking on two of the top offenses in the National League. That’s not to say that he can’t succeed in those spots, it’s just enough to bring him down from a strong to a decent start for me though. I’d still start him in any league where I had him, just anticipate that the ratios won’t be quite as pristine as they were through his first three outings.

Dylan Cease Padres, RHP (vs. Cubs, @ Astros)

Cease was drafted by most fantasy teams to be an ace or an SP2, occasionally a high-end SP3. He’s the type of pitcher that should be started every week, no questions asked, especially when he’s taking the mound twice. The only concern is that he was blasted for nine runs over four innings by the Athletics in Sacramento this past week and now sports a cringe-inducing 7.98 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 14 2/3 innings on the season. You have to just hope that he got it out of his system. Worst case scenario, he’s still going to deliver the strikeouts.

Landen Roupp Giants, RHP (@ Phillies, @ Angels)

Roupp has looked good through his first two starts since landing the final spot in the Giants’ Opening Day rotation, registering a 3.60 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and a 12/4 K/BB ratio over 10 innings. We love the underlying skills and are onboard with him being a viable fantasy option for the duration of the 2025 season, so it stands to reason that we’d be comfortable using him for his first two-step. The matchup against the Phillies isn’t the greatest, but we’re not scared of using him against the Angels in Anaheim to finish the week. I’d be starting him in all 15 and 12-team leagues. Anything shallower than that, you may have better options.

Decent Plays

Merrill Kelly Diamondbacks, RHP (@ Marlins, @ Cubs)

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Merrill Kelly has not pitched well through his first three starts this season. He holds a miserable 7.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and a cringe-inducing 7/9 K/BB ratio over 15 innings of work. Most of that damage came from one disastrous start against the Yankees though, and he looked much better in a quality start against the Orioles his last time out. The matchups are good, not great, but in 15-teamers Kelly looks like an easy start this week. In 12’s, it’s possible that you have enough quality options that you may not want to take the ratio risk.

Sonny Gray Cardinals, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Mets)

I’ll admit that I faded Sonny Gray when reports came out this spring that he was pitching with diminished velocity. That looks like it may have been a mistake. The veteran right-hander holds a 4.50 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 19/2 K/BB ratio across 16 innings through his first three starts and has shown no signs of slowing down. The matchups aren’t great, taking on a pair of strong offenses on good teams, but Gray has shown enough that we should be trusting him in this spot.

Mitch Keller Pirates, RHP (vs. Nationals, vs. Guardians)

While the overall numbers through his first three starts are middling, Keller is coming off of his best start of the season with six strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball against the Cardinals his last time out. He now draws two strong matchups at home, making him a worthwhile streaming option in any leagues where he may still be hanging around on the waiver wire. He should have a nice shot to earn a victory with double digit strikeouts and strong ratios over his two starts this week.

Justin Verlander Giants, RHP (@ Phillies, @ Angels)

My love for Justin Verlander isn’t a secret around here, so let me get that out of the way first. He’s on every roster that I drafted this season and I’ll be rolling him out once again this week, despite his struggles through the first three weeks of the season. While he gave up five runs over 6 1/3 innings against the Reds last week, all of that damage was done during one strange inning and he still racked up a season-high nine strikeouts in the process. His propensity to give up the long ball does scare me in that matchup against the Phillies, and if it was a single start week he would be buried on my bench. For two starts though, with the second one coming against the Angels, we’re going back for more pain. If he doesn’t deliver this week, we’ll re-evaluate going forward.

Jameson Taillon Cubs, RHP (@ Padres, vs. Diamondbacks)

While the overall line looks a bit rough through three starts, Taillon was rocked by the Diamondbacks in his first start and has actually been pretty good each of his last two times out. If he had stronger matchups, I could even consider him a strong play, but this is as high as he’ll get with two elite offenses on the docket. He’s fortunate that he’ll be facing a Padres’ squad sans Jackson Merrill but they’re still a strong lineup and we have already seen what the Diamondbacks can do to him. Even in 15’s, I’m not feeling completely confident in the play. He’ll get you 10-12 strikeouts, the rest is up in the air.

Taijuan Walker Phillies, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Marlins)

Is Taijuan Walker a good pitcher these days? The answer to that is probably no. He has looked good through his first two outings though, with 10 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball to go with a 1.13 WHIP and a 9/4 K/BB ratio. The matchups aren’t bad either, facing a tough Giants team and then getting to battle the Marlins. If he stays healthy through the week (always a concern for him) and makes two starts, I think he’s going to wind up being a viable streaming option in 15 teamers and quite possibly a useful option in 12’s as well. Just beware that he could give up six runs against the Giants on Monday and wind up on the injured list, that’s well within his range of outcomes.

Tyler Alexander Brewers, LHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Athletics)

This one is nothing personal against Tyler Alexander, it’s simply me not trusting that he’s going to start twice and that he’s going to work deep enough into those starts to qualify for victories. The matchups are good. The Tigers struggle against left-handers (not to mention the revenge narrative there) and the A’s aren’t a team that we’re worried about streaming against. I just don’t think he’s going to work deep enough to qualify for wins there, and that’s one of the things I’m looking for when trying to stream starters. He could be a cheap option in 15’s if you absolutely need a ninth pitcher for the week, as he’s unlikely to hurt your ratios and should at least grab a decent amount of strikeouts.

Brad Lord Nationals, RHP (@ Pirates, @ Rockies)

This is an interesting one. Lord actually did a nice job in his first big league start against the Dodgers this past week and has earned the right to take another trip or two through the Nationals’ rotation. The matchups against the Pirates and Rockies are pretty strong, despite the second one coming at Coors Field. The only real concern that I have is that he won’t work deep enough into either game to earn a victory. He thew just 55 pitches over four innings against the Dodgers his last time out and I think you’ll be lucky for him to get through five innings with the lead. I love his backstory and think that he’ll pitch to decent ratios here, it’s the lack of upside in wins that’s holding me back.

At Your Own Risk

Antonio Senzatela Rockies, RHP (@ Dodgers, vs. Nationals)

Senzatela would be a tough recommendation even if he were away from Coors Field twice and was pitching in strong matchups. Unfortunately, his first matchup is about as tough as it gets taking on the Dodgers in Los Angeles, then he has to tango with the hot-hitting Nationals in Colorado. Normally if you’re streaming two-start pitchers, you’re looking for wins and strikeouts. Senzatela doesn’t strike people out and he’s very unlikely to win either of these games. Even in NL-only leagues, I have a hard time seeing the benefits of rolling him out there.

Erick Fedde Cardinals, RHP (vs. Astros, @ Mets)

As much of a fan as I am of Fedde, I simply can’t recommend him in good conscience this week. In better matchups, maybe, but he’s going to be taking on two of the stronger offenses in the league and will be a major underdog to earn a victory in both of those starts. While his ratios have been alright through his first three outings – 4.20 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 15 innings – he has only recorded five total strikeouts. If he’s not striking guys out and isn’t going to be winning a game, the only thing that you’re inviting in from his two-start week is ratio risk. I think there are better options out there.

Streamer City

Here are a couple of my hand-picked streaming options for the upcoming week that are readily available in most fantasy leagues. I’ll track these results throughout the season so you can see how my recommendations have performed.

American League

Osvaldo Bido Athletics, RHP (@ White Sox - Wednesday 4/16)

It's probably going to be a theme this season that we wind up attacking the White Sox as much as possible, and why not, you want your pitcher to be facing the weakest offense possible. Bido has looked good through his first three starts and should be a solid bet for a victory and at least five strikeouts in this one and he's rostered in only five percent of all Yahoo leagues.

National League

Eduardo Rodriguez Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Marlins - Thursday 4/17)

The 32-year-old southpaw has an inflated 6.10 ERA through his first two starts, but that comes with a solid 1.16 WHIP and an outstanding 17/4 K/BB ratio over 10 1/3 innings. The best medicine to improve that ERA is a date with the Marlins, and he's rostered in just 20 percent of all Yahoo leagues the moment.

Last Week’s Review

Carlos Carrasco (@ Tigers - Tuesday 4/8)

Another miss, as Carrasco was tagged for four runs over 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers while only striking out three. Not what you're looking for.

Erick Fedde (@ Pirates - Wednesday 4/9)

This one was actually quite good, as Fedde spun six innings of shutout baseball against the Pirates. He only struck out two and had to settle for a no-decision as he didn't get any run support, but this one is absolutely what we were looking for.

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Here's where the Red Sox rank in CNBC's 2025 MLB valuations

Here's where the Red Sox rank in CNBC's 2025 MLB valuations originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Which team is the highest-valued MLB franchise in 2025?

CNBC unveiled the full list of this year’s MLB franchise valuations, sorting team worth, 2024 revenue and more. While some teams are in expected spots, others are more surprising.

The Boston Red Sox rank third on CNBC’s list with a $4.7 billion valuation. The team has won four World Series since John Henry and Tom Werner purchased the team in 2002 but has missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. The Red Sox brought in $514 million in revenue last season, sixth in MLB.

The New York Yankees are No. 1 on CNBC’s list. Owned by the Steinbrenner family, New York tops the ranking with a value of $8 billion, a lead of over $2 billion from the next highest team.

And how much did the Steinbrenner family pay for the Yankees when they took over in 1973? Just $8.8 million. The team collected $705 million in revenue last season alone.

Coming second after the Yankees is the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning league champions. Guggenheim Baseball Management took over in 2012, paying $2 billion for the franchise. The big market is now worth $5.8 billion and continues to soar following the acquisition of Shohei Ohtani, among other major stars.

Rounding out the top five are the Chicago Cubs ($4.45 billion) and San Francisco Giants ($3.8 billion). 

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Flipping over to the bottom five, it’s a group of mostly small-market franchises – except for one surprise. Every team is valued at least above $1 billion, which is also the case in the NHL.

In 26th is the Cincinnati Reds, worth $1.5 billion. The Reds are followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates ($1.47 billion), Kansas City Royals ($1.45 billion) and Tampa Bay Rays ($1.4 billion).

Last is the Miami Marlins, who are valued at $1.2 billion. Despite being in a sizable market, Bruce Sherman, an American businessman, bought the team in 2017 for the same exact price – $1.2 billion – but has not seen a change in value. 

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Miami brought in just $296 million in revenue last season, going 62-100 on the field. Only the Athletics ($275 million), now temporarily based in Sacramento ahead of a planned Las Vegas move, ranked lower in revenue. 

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When will Roman Anthony be called up? Breslow details Red Sox' plan

When will Roman Anthony be called up? Breslow details Red Sox' plan originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kristian Campbell has already made his presence felt in the majors since debuting with the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day. Now, it seems like only a matter of time before the rest of the organization’s “Big Three” prospects join him at Fenway Park.

Outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer — the No. 1 and No. 3 prospects in the system, respectively — are knocking on the door of the big leagues. Both appeared MLB-ready in spring training, but roster logjams at their respective positions kept them from breaking camp with the team.

The Red Sox outfield consists of Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Jarren Duran in left, and Wilyer Abreu in right. Rob Refsnyder serves as the fourth outfielder, and Masataka Yoshida (currently injured) remains an option despite spending last season as a designated hitter.

Mayer is blocked by veteran shortstop Trevor Story. A position switch seems unlikely, with Campbell and David Hamilton at second base and Alex Bregman locked in at third.

So, when could we see Anthony and Mayer get the call to The Show? Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently addressed the topic.

“There are certain players, and we’re hopeful and optimistic that we have a handful of those, who create their own timeline,” Breslow said, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. “But then, the bulk of guys who get to the big leagues do so because an opportunity arises on the big league club. I think that this will likely be some balance of both these things.”

Anthony and Mayer are off to uncharacteristically slow starts at Triple-A Worcester. Anthony is hitting just .177 (6-for-34) with two home runs, 14 strikeouts, and 10 walks. Mayer is batting .243 (9-for-37) with two homers, 11 strikeouts, and two walks.

Before promoting Anthony, Breslow and the Red Sox want to see how the 20-year-old fares in specific situations and matchups.

“Developmentally, (getting him) a little more comfortable playing in the outfield,” Breslow said. “And then also getting him exposed to left-on-left, making sure he can handle that. He has done significant damage vs. right, and we trust that long-term it’s not going to be an issue, but in the short-term, giving him a chance to get exposed to left-handed pitching is the thing that’s front of mind right now.”

All signs point toward Anthony playing left field when he reaches the majors, with Duran moving back to center and Abreu sticking in right. In that scenario, Rafaela would embrace a utility role given his ability to play center field, second base, and shortstop.

Barring an injury to Story — who hasn’t been able to stay on the field since signing with the club in 2022 — Mayer’s path to Boston is less clear. But if the 22-year-old starts hitting like he did in spring training (.333/.455/.528 in 20 games), Breslow should find a spot for him on the roster.

In the meantime, the Red Sox (7-7) hope to bounce back after dropping three out of four games against the Toronto Blue Jays. They’ll begin a three-game set against the lowly White Sox in Chicago on Friday.

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Ramos states Giants ‘don't back down from any fight' amid hot start

Ramos states Giants ‘don't back down from any fight' amid hot start originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Giants are riding high to begin the 2025 MLB season and playing with the utmost confidence heading into one of their most difficult stretches of games.

San Francisco (9-3) has the second-best record in baseball behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres (10-3) and slightly ahead of the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers (10-4) as one of the biggest surprise teams early on this season.

Giants players, however, are not surprised by the team’s excellent start to the season, as San Francisco outfielder Heliot Ramos explained in a Friday interview on “MLB Central.”

“I think it’s just the sense of urgency that we have as a team, just trying to go out there, compete. We don’t back down from any fight,” Ramos said when asked what has worked well for the Giants this season. “We’re just going out there as a team, together, getting good at-bats, making good pitches and winning games together.”

Ramos knew before the Giants’ 2025 season began on March 27 in Cincinnati that the ball club could get off to a hot start.

“The last exhibition game against Detroit … I know it was an exhibition game, but as a team we were together, we were getting good at-bats, the pitchers were throwing good,” Ramos said of when he first felt the team’s confidence. “I feel like it was a good start, even though it was an exhibition game.”

Although San Francisco has played well to begin the season, it has faced underperforming teams like the Reds (5-8), Houston Astros (5-7) and Seattle Mariners (5-8).

Ramos and the Giants now begin a difficult 19-game stretch against formidable opponents like the New York Yankees (7-5), Philadelphia Phillies (8-4), Los Angeles Angels (8-4), Milwaukee Brewers (7-6), Texas Rangers (9-4) and Padres.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Braves at Rays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 11

Its Friday, April 11 and the Braves (3-9) are in Tampa to begin a series against the Rays (5-7).

Bryce Elder is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against Taj Bradley for Tampa Bay.

The Rays lost two of three to the Angels earlier this week including 11-1 yesterday. Jo Adell homered twice in the fifth inning to pace the Halos. The Braves took two of three in their series against the Phillies thanks to a walk-off three-run home run by Marcell Ozuna yesterday.

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 Braves at Rays

  • Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, FDSNSUN

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 Braves at the Rays

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (-102), Rays (-118)
  • Spread:  Rays 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for April 11, 2025: Bryce Elder vs. Taj Bradley
    • Braves: Bryce Elder (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/2 at Dodgers - 4IP, 3ER, 3H, 2BB, 3Ks
    • Rays: Taj Bradley (1-0, 4.91 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/5 at Texas - 5IP, 4ER, 2H, 4BB, 7Ks

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

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

  • The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Rays are 3-9 on the Run Line this season
  • The Rays have lost 6 of their last 7 games
  • The Braves have won 3 of their last 5 games
  • The Braves are 5-7 on the Run Line this season

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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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 Braves and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves 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

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