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

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Carlos Rodon allows costly three-run HR in 6-2 loss to Tigers

The Yankees had a tough day in the snow, losing 6-2 to the Detroit Tigers on Monday afternoon.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Carlos Rodon got the start for New York and had a strange day on the mound. He didn't allow a baserunner through the first two innings, but ran into some trouble in the third. Rodon walked two straight Tigers hitters with one out and clearly started to get frustrated with home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman's zone. The left-hander then gave up a three-run homer to Andy Ibáñez, Detroit's first hit of the day, to make it 3-0.

Rodon bounced back with another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, but couldn't keep the momentum going. A fielding error by Oswaldo Cabrera allowed the leadoff man to reach base, followed by a walk and a sacrifice bunt to give Detroit runners on second and third base. Rodon then allowed just his second hit of the game, as Justyn-Henry Malloy's single to center field drove in both runners, giving Detroit a 5-1 lead.

He allowed a two-out single to Javier Báez in the sixth, before picking him off trying to steal second base. The lefty stayed in to pitch the seventh inning, but was pulled after giving up a leadoff single. Rodon finished after 6.0 IP and 96 pitches, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

-- It looked like the Yanks were about to get on the board after Ben Rice tripled to the right-center field gap with one out in the top of the third inning, but he was picked off by catcher Jack Rogers during Aaron Judge's at-bat. Judge eventually walked and Cody Bellinger lined out to end the frame, keeping it scoreless game. Tigers start Casey Mize continued to mow down the Yankees bats, sending them down in order in the fourth inning.

-- Trent Grisham continued his hot stretch with a one-out single down the right field line with one out in the top of the fifth inning. He advanced to second on a groundout and came around to score on Judge's single that got by Báez at short into left field, making it a 3-1 game. NY looked to begin their comeback with Mize out of the game in the seventh, as Austin Wells hit a leadoff single, but Cabrera grounded into the inning-ending double play.

-- Adam Ottavino, who re-signed with the club on Sunday after being DFA'd on Friday, replaced Rodon on the mound in the seventh inning with a runner on first. He walked two and struck out one to load the bases before being pulled for LHP Tim Hill. Trey Sweeney made it a 6-1 game as the Yanks couldn't turn the 4-6-3 double play, only getting the out at second, allowing another run to score. Hill stayed in the game and threw a scoreless eighth inning with one strikeout, allowing just a single.

-- New York had another comeback chance in the eighth as Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt singled with two outs. Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached first on a throwing error, allowing the run to score and make it 6-2. Chisholm stole second to give the Yanks two RISP, but Anthony Volpe flied out to right field. The Yanks went down in order in the ninth and finished 1-for-5 with RISP and left seven on base.

Game MVP: Casey Mize

The former No. 1 overall pick set the tone for the Tigers, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing just one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees continue their three-game series with the Tigers in Detroit on Tuesday. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 7.36 ERA) gets the start for the Yanks, while reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (0-2, 5.91 ERA) pitches for the Tigers.

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Red Sox's Jarren Duran reveals suicide attempt in Netflix doc: 'I'm still here and I'm still fighting'

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran walks to the dug out after striking out swinging during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, July 12, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran says he's battled depression and survived a suicide attempt before enjoying a breakout season in 2024. (Michael Dwyer / Associated Press)

Jarren Duran's path to batting leadoff for the Boston Red Sox, being named the 2024 All-Star Game MVP and jump-starting his earning potential by signing a one-year, $3.75-million contract with a club option for $8 million in 2026 has been anything but linear.

The former Cal State Long Beach and Cypress High outfielder is open about his mental health struggles that have included a verbal outburst toward a fan, wearing a T-shirt with a profane message and — most concerning for Duran and his loved ones — depression and a suicide attempt in 2022.

Interviewed for an eight-part Netflix docuseries "The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox" that will premiere Tuesday, Duran said he was so hard on himself that he did not want to live.

"I was already hearing it from fans," Duran said in the docuseries. "And what they said to me, [it was like], 'I've told myself 10 times worse in the mirror.' That was a really tough time for me. I didn't even want to be here anymore."

The 28-year-old described the moment he nearly killed himself in frighteningly stark terms.

"I got to a point where I was sitting in my room, I had my rifle and I had a bullet and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened," he said. "So, to this day, I think God just didn't let me take my own life because I seriously don't know why it didn't go off. I took it as a sign of, I might have to be here for a reason, so that's when I started to look myself in the mirror after the gun didn't go off.

"I was like, 'Do I want to be here, or do I not want to be here?' That happened for a reason and obviously you're here for a reason, so let's be the way you want to be and play [the way] you want to play and live the way you want to live."

Read more:Red Sox suspend Jarren Duran for yelling anti-gay slur at fan. He shows up in NSFW T-shirt

Duran enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, leading the American League in doubles (48), triples (14), plate appearances (735) and at-bats (671). He batted .285 with 191 hits, 111 runs scored, 21 home runs and 34 stolen bases.

His ascent began in 2023 when he hit .295 with 24 stolen bases in 102 games after being recalled from triple A, and coincided with his newfound resolve.

"Jarren's decision to share his story is an act of courage that reaches far beyond baseball," Red Sox president and Chief Executive Sam Kennedy said in a statement. "By opening up, he's showing others who may be struggling that they're not alone and that asking for help isn't just OK, it's essential.

"Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he's always had our full support and we're incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team."

Duran was a seventh-round draft pick of the Red Sox out of Cal State Long Beach in 2018. In college and early in his pro career, he exhibited good speed and athleticism but little power. That changed in 2021 when he hit 16 homers in 60 triple-A games and was promoted to the Red Sox.

However, he struggled, hitting .215 with two home runs in 33 games. The following season was a repeat, with good numbers in triple A followed by batting .221 with three homers in 58 games.

By August, 2022, he was spiraling mentally, telling MassLive, “I can’t talk about too much of it, but I’ve been pretty low this year. It has been a struggle to stay [in the big leagues]. I don’t really talk to my family about my low points because I’m so closed off to everybody.

“I’m kind of just tearing myself up internally and get pretty depressed and stuff like that. I find it hard to reach out to people because I don’t want to bother other people with my problems. I kind of just build it up inside myself, which obviously makes everything a lot worse.”

Read more:Saint Thomas pushes to overcome mental health challenges to become X factor for USC

Major League Baseball offers players mental health resources that helped Duran, and the Red Sox have long provided major and minor league players with comprehensive health services.

“The Red Sox have offered ... mental health screenings, crisis response protocols, educational programming, and access to both in-house care and trusted outside specialists," the Red Sox said in a statement. "Support spans all seven Minor League affiliates and involves collaboration across medical, performance, and coaching staff to ensure care is available at every level."

Last August, barely a month removed from being named All-Star Game MVP after he hit a two-run home in the American League's victory, Duran was suspended two games for shouting a homophobic slur at a fan who was heckling him.

Duran expressed remorse to reporters afterward, although he did so while wearing a T-shirt that read “F— ‘em,” making some onlookers wonder how serious he was about contrition. The T-shirt was initiated by Duran and also worn by teammates to support his efforts in dealing with his mental health issues.

In the docuseries, Duran said that avoiding depression requires constant effort. He keeps a daily journal and employs written reminders that urge him to win the battle.

"On [the tape on] my left wrist, I write, 'F— 'em,' because it's me telling my demons, 'You're not going to faze me'," he said. "And on my right wrist, I write, 'Still alive' because I'm still here and I'm still fighting."

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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What we learned as Webb dominates in Giants' shutout loss to Reds

What we learned as Webb dominates in Giants' shutout loss to Reds originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

The red-hot Giants, winners of seven straight and sitting atop the star-studded NL West, were riding high entering Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park.

Pretty much everything has clicked for San Francisco early on this season, and typically a dominant outing by Logan Webb would not fall by the wayside, but that wasn’t the case on Monday night as the Giants fell 2-0.

Here are three takeaways from the Giants’ (8-2) loss to the Reds (4-7):

Home Cookin’

Monday’s outing was Webb’s first at Oracle Park this season, and it went just about as expected.

The Giants ace posted a 2.83 ERA in 15 home starts last season, and his 2.83 ERA at Oracle Park since 2021 is tied with Miami Marlins’ Sandy Alcántara for the best in MLB over that span (minimum 250 IP).

Seven scoreless innings was impressive enough, but Webb (ND, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10K) struck out 10 batters for good measure, two shy of his career-high of 12 set on Opening Day in 2023.

One personal goal that has escaped Webb in recent years has been the 200-strikeout milestone. His career high in a season is 194, set in 2023, and if his stuff this season is as filthy as it was on Monday night, he very well could join the 200-inning/200-strikeout club in 2025.

So Nice Lee Did It Twice

It hasn’t taken Jung Hoo Lee long to remind Giants fans of what he can do at the plate and in the field after missing most of his rookie 2024 MLB season.

Not only is his bat heating up, but his defense has been just about as good as anyone’s on the team so far this season, and that includes Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman.

Lee made a nice sliding grab to rob Cincinnati’s TJ Friedl of a hit in the top of the first inning, and then followed it up with a similar sliding catch in the top of the fifth.

After suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in May last season, Lee has shown no hesitation going all out to make plays in the outfield, even up against the center field wall that makes fans hold their breath.

“There’s no fear going back there,” Lee said through interpreter Justin Han on April 5. “The warning track is wide and we have padding. I’ll go [all-out] there at the moment.”

All Good Things Must End

San Francisco’s 8-1 start to the 2025 season was tied with the 2003 team for the second-best start in franchise history since 1901 behind the 1918 Giants’ 9-0 start.

Their success early on this season has been fueled by strong pitching, elite defense and timely hitting. The lineup, collectively, hasn’t put up eye-popping numbers, but they’ve been just about as opportunistic as any team in baseball coming into Monday’s game.

Those clutch two-out hits, like Wilmer Flores’ walk-off in the bottom of the ninth in Sunday’s win, were nowhere to be found Monday. In fact, only two Giants runner reached second base safely (Tyler Fitzgerald in the third, Lee in the ninth) while none reached third.

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Top fantasy baseball prospects: Zac Veen headed to Colorado, Chase Burns impresses in pro debut

A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.

That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.

1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

2025 stats: 7 G, .167/.375/.500, 2 HR, 1 SB, 8 BB, 11 SO at Triple-A Worcester.

The hits haven't fallen for Anthony since his impressive opening weekend, but he's still shown a quality approach at the plate. A bit of a spoiler alert: Roman Anthony will be at the top of this list until Anthony plays for the Boston Red Sox. There's just too much offensive upside, so even when I/we know that a player is coming up — and we have one this week — he's not going to be usurped from the top spot. He's that good.

2. Zac Veen, OF, Colorado Rockies

2025 stats: 8 G, .387/.472/.677, 1 HR, 1 SB, 4 BB, 6 SO at Triple-A Albuquerque.

It's always nice when we get to cheat. Veen will be joining the Rockies before Tuesday's contest against the Brewers, and there's definitely fantasy intrigue in his profile. He dealt with injuries the past two seasons, but he's a former top-ten pick who has shown the speed and acumen necessary to pile up the stolen bases, and there's above-average power potential in his left-handed bat, too. That power hasn't shown up in games, but, Coors Field. Veen is worth a speculative add in the majority of leagues.

3. Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 stats: 9 G, .294/.419/.382, 0 HR, 4 SB, 5 BB, 10 SO at Triple-A Reno.

After a tough opening weekend, Lawlar played well in a six-game series against Tacoma (minor-league baseball, baby), and reached at least twice in each game while picking up three extra-base hits. It's worth noting that the Diamondbacks placed Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain, and while the Diamondbacks went with Tim Tawa as a replacement, Tawa isn't going to hold Lawlar back. Even if Marte is back soon, Lawlar is talented enough — and then some — to force his way into the lineup.

4. Rhett Lowder, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

2025 stats: Has not pitched -- injured

Lowder was sensational down the stretcher for the Reds after being the sixth-overall pick of the loaded 2023 draft, but unfortunately, the right-hander has not been able to pitch this spring because of elbow soreness in his throwing arm. When healthy, Lower has the ability to miss bats with three pitches, and he pounds the strike zone with well above-average command. Lowder offers risk because he’s a young hurler and because he’s going to make his home starts in Great American Ball Park, but that risk comes with the upside of a pitcher who can help in several categories.

5. Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics

2025 stats: 8 G, .412/.459/.852, 4 HR, 0 SB, 3 BB, 7 SO at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Kurtz has absolutely clobbered Triple-A pitching, and with all due respect to some other names in Triple-A who have a chance to help their teams/fantasy managers, he deserves this final spot. There's double-plus — or 70-grade — power in his left-handed bat, he has an outstanding approach at the plate, and the ball absolutely jumps off his bat. No he can't help in the steals category. Yes the A's might wait until the summer for a promotion. I can't justify not having him on the list. He looked too good at Wake Forest, and has looked too good as a professional.

Around the minors:

Chase Burns was selected second-overall by the Reds in 2024, but didn't pitch last summer. He made his professional debut Tuesday, and he didn't disappoint. He fired four scoreless innings with six strikeouts, and he allowed just one hit against West Michigan. Burne has elite stuff, and there are four pitches that show plus — or better — potential at his disposal. His ability to command those pitches is the only real question mark, but it'd be more surprising if Burns didn't become a top-of-the-rotation starter than if he did.

The Guardians made Travis Bazzana the top pick ahead of Burns, and his first weekend of his 2025 campaign couldn't have gone much better. He picked up hits in 7-of-13 at-bats (.538 average), and he doubled and homered while going 4-for-5 in Saturday's contest for Double-A Akron against Richmond. Bazzana has one of the best hit tools in the minors regardless of levels, and there's above-average power in his left-handed bat as well. He's a high-floor, high-ceiling player, and no one should be surprised if he makes his MLB debut in 2025.

Thomas White has quickly established himself as one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, and the southpaw showed why in his season debut Friday for Beloit. He worked four innings, struck out seven and didn't allow a run in that outing against South Bend. He did walk three, and command is still a work-in-progress; something that's quite common with 20-year-olds. White offers a double-plus slider, and above-average and change; and he can get his fastball up to 97 mph with life. If the command takes a jump, he could be a fantasy option by the end of 2026.

And finally, Jac Caglianone did this.

That homer had an exit velocity of 116 mph and went 464 feet. Simply put, he has as much — if not more — power potential than any hitting prospect in baseball. If you don't believe me, watch the video again.

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WATCH: Ceddanne Rafaela makes insane sliding catch vs. Blue Jays

WATCH: Ceddanne Rafaela makes insane sliding catch vs. Blue Jays originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It took only one pitch for the Boston Red Sox to give the Fenway Faithful something to cheer about Monday night.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette belted the first pitch of the game to the warning track in right-center field, but Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela covered 104 feet to rob Bichette of extra bases with an incredible sliding catch.

Watch the play below:

It’s Boston’s second consecutive game with a highlight-reel play from one of their outfielders. In Sunday night’s win over the St. Louis Cardinals, right fielder Wilyer Abreu threw out a runner at third base with an amazing throw.

Between Rafaela, Abreu, and left fielder Jarren Duran, the Red Sox have three Gold Glove-caliber defenders manning their outfield. Abreu won the award after his 2024 rookie campaign.

Rafaela’s ridiculous grab continued a torrid stretch for the 2025 club. The Red Sox entered Monday’s matchup riding a five-game win streak and coming off an 18-run outburst vs. St. Louis.

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Yankees' DJ LeMahieu could begin rehab assignment as early as Friday

Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is primed to take a major step towards getting back on the field.

Manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Monday in Detroit that the veteran infielder will work out with the Yankees during their series against the Tigers, and he could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Friday.

LeMahieu, 36, played in just one spring training game before suffering a left calf strain, which landed him on the IL to start the season.

Had LeMahieu been healthy, he likely would have been the Yankees’ Opening Day third baseman. Oswaldo Cabrera has gotten the majority of playing time at the hot corner in LeMahieu’s absence.

LeMahieu had an unbelievable 2019 season with the Yankees, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting, but injuries and inconsistent play have plagued him over the past few years. In 2024, LeMahieu played in just 67 games following a foot fracture suffered during the spring, and then a hip injury later in the year, posting a career-worst .527 OPS.

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Brewers acquire RHP Quinn Priester from Red Sox as they seek boost for injury-riddled pitching staff

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester is going from Boston to Milwaukee in a trade that sends the Red Sox outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a competitive balance selection in the upcoming draft and a player to be named.

The addition of Priester gives some immediate help to a Brewers pitching staff decimated by injuries. Left-hander Nestor Cortes went on the injured list Sunday with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, leaving Freddy Peralta as the only healthy pitcher among those projected to be in Milwaukee’s five-man rotation this season.

Boston adds a promising 19-year-old to its farm system and gets the 33rd overall pick in this year’s amateur draft.

Priester, 24, went 3-6 with a 4.71 ERA while making seven starts in 11 combined appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox last season. He had 33 strikeouts and 14 walks in 49 2/3 innings.

He also went 4-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 16 starts at the Triple-A level. He struck out six, walked nobody and allowed two runs and six hits over four innings in his lone start with Triple-A Worcester this season.

The Pirates selected Priester with the 18th overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft. They traded him to the Red Sox last July for infielder Nick Yorke.

Rodriguez signed with the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. He batted .250 with a .343 on-base percentage, seven homers and 60 RBIs in 110 games with Single-A Carolina last season. In three games with Single-A Wisconsin this year, Rodriguez batted .417 with a .462 on-base percentage.

Priester will report directly to the Brewers rather than going to the minors. The Brewers’ list of pitchers on the injured list includes Aaron Ashby, Aaron Civale, Robert Gasser, DL Hall, Nick Mears, Tobias Myers and Brandon Woodruff, as well as Cortes. Jose Quintana is working his way into pitching shape after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Brewers during spring training.

The Brewers made room for Priester on the 40-man roster by designating left-hander Grant Wolfram for assignment.

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Dodgers celebrated at White House for 2024 World Series title by Trump

President Donald Trump, right, greets Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani during a ceremony to honor the Major League Baseball 2024 World Series Champion team in the East Room of the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump, right, greets the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani during a ceremony to honor the team at the White House. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

The Dodgers visited the White House on Monday as players, coaches, staff and ownership were hosted by President Trump in a 20-minute ceremony in the East Room honoring their 2024 World Series title.

The team stood behind Trump as he gave remarks, acknowledging Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, manager Dave Roberts, Kiké Hernández, among others. Later, Clayton Kershaw offered remarks on behalf of the team and presented a jersey to the president.

President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw during a White House ceremony to honor the team
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw during a ceremony to honor the team at the White House on Monday. (Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)

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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Astros at Mariners Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 7

Its Monday, April 7 and the Astros (4-5) are in Seattle to take on the Mariners (3-7) in a Western Division showdown.

Hayden Wesneski is slated to take the mound for Houston against Logan Gilbert for Seattle

Houston took two of three over the weekend from the Twins. Yesterday, the Astros won, 9-7, in 10 innings. Yordan Alvarez got the bat going for the first time this season going 2-4 with a home run and three RBIs to pace the attack.

Seattle got swept this past weekend by the Giants. They lost yesterday, 5-4, as Mike Yastremski smacked a three-run homer and Wilmer Flores ended the game driving in his twelfth run of the season with a single off od Gregory Santos.

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 Astros at Mariners

  • Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: T-Mobile Park
  • City: Seattle, WA
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, Root Sports

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 Astros at the Mariners

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (+138), Mariners (-164)
  • Spread:  Mariners -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Mariners

  • Pitching matchup for April 7, 2025: Hayden Wesneski vs. Logan Gilbert
    • Astros: Hayden Wesneski (0-1, 5.40 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/1 vs. Giants - 5IP, 3ER, 2H, 3BB, 6Ks
    • Mariners: Logan Gilbert (0-1, 3.00 ERA
      Last outing: 4/1 vs. Detroit - 5IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 10Ks

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 Astros at Mariners

  • The Under is 5-3-1 in Astros' games this season
  • The Under is 6-3-1 in Mariners' games this season
  • Houston is 3-6 on the Run Line this season
  • Seattle is 4-6 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 Astros and the Mariners

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 Monday's game between the Astros and the Mariners:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Seattle Mariners -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)
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  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Brewers acquire Quinn Priester from Red Sox as they seek boost for injury-riddled pitching staff

MILWAUKEE — Right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester is going from Boston to Milwaukee in a trade that sends the Red Sox outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a competitive balance selection in the upcoming draft and a player to be named.

The addition of Priester gives some immediate help to a Brewers pitching staff decimated by injuries. Left-hander Nestor Cortes went on the injured list with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, leaving Freddy Peralta as the only healthy pitcher among those projected to be in Milwaukee’s five-man rotation this season.

Boston adds a promising 19-year-old to its farm system and gets the 33rd overall pick in this year’s amateur draft.

Priester, 24, went 3-6 with a 4.71 ERA while making seven starts in 11 combined appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Red Sox last season. He had 33 strikeouts and 14 walks in 49 2/3 innings.

He also went 4-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 16 starts at the Triple-A level. He struck out six, walked nobody and allowed two runs and six hits over four innings in his lone start with Triple-A Worcester this season.

The Pirates selected Priester with the 18th overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft. They traded him to the Red Sox last July for infielder Nick Yorke.

Rodriguez signed with the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. He batted .250 with a .343 on-base percentage, seven homers and 60 RBIs in 110 games with Single-A Carolina last season. In three games with Single-A Wisconsin this year, Rodriguez batted .417 with a .462 on-base percentage.

Priester will report directly to the Brewers rather than going to the minors. The Brewers’ list of pitchers on the injured list includes Aaron Ashby, Aaron Civale, Robert Gasser, DL Hall, Nick Mears, Tobias Myers and Brandon Woodruff, as well as Cortes. Jose Quintana is working his way into pitching shape after signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Brewers during spring training.

The Brewers made room for Priester on the 40-man roster by designating left-hander Grant Wolfram for assignment.

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Athletics option Estes to Triple-A after rough start to 2025

Athletics option Estes to Triple-A after rough start to 2025 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics announced on Monday afternoon they optioned Joey Estes to Triple-A Las Vegas after the right-handed starter’s rough start to the 2025 MLB season. Fellow righty Jason Alexander was selected from Triple-A in response, and lefty Brady Basso (strained left shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.

Estes had a forgettable first two starts after fourth-year manager Mark Kotsay named him the Green and Gold’s fifth starter on March 19.

In the Athletics’ historic Sutter Health Park home opener against the Chicago Cubs, Estes allowed four runs in the first inning and exited after allowing six runs and nine hits through four frames. Estes followed with an equally concerning start on Sunday, allowing the Colorado Rockies six runs on six hits through three innings while falling to 0-2 on the year.

Estes carried a 5.01 ERA over 24 starts and 127.2 innings in 2024 and showed flashes of comfortability and potential. However, his current 15.43 ERA proved too concerning and warranted quick action.

Alexander was a non-roster invitee at Athletics spring training and was reassigned to minor league camp on March 10 after holding a 5.59 ERA. His MLB experience came with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, where he posted a 5.40 ERA over 71.2 innings across 18 outings.

In his lone Triple-A Las Vegas start in 2025, Alexander tossed a three-hit three innings on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Kotsay and Co. likely hope Alexander can produce similar numbers while Estes finds his groove in Sin City.

Estes has plenty of time to work through his growing pains as 150 Athletics games remain.

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Orioles at Diamondbacks prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 7

Its Monday, April 7 and the Orioles (4-6) are in Phoenix to take on the Diamondbacks (5-5) in Game 1 of their three-game series.

Zach Eflin is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Zac Gallen for Arizona.

Former Orioles' hurler Corbin Burnes lost his first game with Arizona yesterday as the Nationals knocked off the Arizona ace, 5-4. Corbin Carroll did pick up three hits for the Diamondbacks.

The Orioles are off to an uninspiring start. They lost two of three at Kansas City this weekend including a 4-1 setback yesterday. Ryan Mountcastle picked up three hits yesterday but the O's in total managed just five for 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 Orioles at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, Diamondbacks.TV

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

Odds for the Orioles at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+106), Diamondbacks (-126)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Diamondbacks

  • Pitching matchup for April 7, 2025: Zach Eflin vs. Zac Gallen
    • Orioles: Zach Eflin (1-1, 3.75 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/2 vs. Boston - 6IP, 3ER, 8H, 0BB, 5Ks
    • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/2 at Yankees - 6.2IP, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, 13Ks

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 Diamondbacks

  • Baltimore has lost 4 of their last 5 games
  • Baltimore is 4-6 on the Run Line for the season
  • Arizona has lost 3 of their last 4
  • Arizona is 5-5 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 Orioles and the Diamondbacks

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 Monday's game between the Orioles and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Arizona Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Diamondbacks -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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How Wilyer Abreu is making history with hot start for Red Sox

How Wilyer Abreu is making history with hot start for Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox have found their groove at Fenway Park after a tough start to the 2025 MLB season on the road. The American League East club has won five consecutive games, including a weekend sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

A lot of players deserve credit for Boston’s resurgence, but Wilyer Abreu has made the largest impact both at the plate and in the field.

Abreu has been one of baseball’s best players so far this season, and his excellent performance started right from the jump when he smashed two home runs in an Opening Day win over the Rangers in Texas.

He’s been red-hot at the plate ever since, leading the American League with a .483 batting average, in addition to hitting three home runs with 12 RBI with a .595 on-base percentage. He ranks top three among AL players in several notable stats.

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Abreu also has made history with his awesome start to the year, joining Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig as the only left-handed batters in AL history to tally at least 14 hits, three homers, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored and eight walks in the first 10 games of a season.

Abreu didn’t start the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals, but he ended it with a walk-off single in the 10th inning.

He flashed his defensive brilliance in the second game Sunday. This throw was pretty much perfect:

Abreu was acquired as part of the Christian Vazquez deal with the Houston Astros before the 2022 MLB trade deadline. He made his Red Sox debut in 2023 and played his first full season in Boston last year. Abreu won a 2024 American League Gold Glove Award for his stellar defense in right field.

The expectation for Abreu coming into this season was he that would continue to make strides at the plate, and he’s certainly done that through 10 games. His whiff percentage has been cut in half from 29.5 in 2024 to 14.5 this year, per Baseball Savant. He’s also swinging at fewer bad pitches. His chase percentage is 13.6, far below his career average of 27. He’s batting .667 on breaking balls, compared to a .202 average on the same pitches last season. He’s striking out a lot less often, too.

The real question is whether Abreu can play anywhere near this pace for a full season. A regression is coming. He’s obviously not going to bat over .400, but can he hit over .300 for the first time in his major league career? Can he reach 20-25 homers after hitting a career-high 15 last season? Will his improved plate discipline continue the trend of fewer strikeouts and more walks?

Opponents will start to pitch him differently, and the longer he keeps playing at a high level, the more pressure he’ll be under. But Abreu has improved each season he’s played in Boston, and playing in a very strong lineup should help him.

There have been a lot of positives for the Red Sox this season. Kristian Campbell looks like the top AL Rookie of the Year candidate. Garrett Crochet looks like a real ace. Alex Bregman leads the AL with 15 hits.

But Abreu’s start is the most notable of all. He’s a potential star in the making at just 25 years old.

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Duran reveals suicide attempt amid mental health struggles in 2022

Duran reveals suicide attempt amid mental health struggles in 2022 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In a revealing interview for Netflix’s “The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox” docuseries, All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran opened up about the darkest period of his life.

In Episode 4, titled Still Alive, Duran shared his mental health struggles during the early, disappointing stretch of his MLB career. The 28-year-old said the feeling that he had let himself and others down drove him to attempt suicide during the 2022 season.

“I was already hearing it from fans,” Duran said. “And what they said to me, (it was like), ‘I’ve told myself 10 times worse in the mirror.’ That was a really tough time for me. I didn’t even want to be here anymore.

“I got to a point where I was sitting in my room, I had my rifle and I had a bullet and I pulled the trigger and the gun clicked, but nothing happened. So, to this day, I think God just didn’t let me take my own life because I seriously don’t know why it didn’t go off. I took it as a sign of, ‘I might have to be here for a reason’, so that’s when I started to look myself in the mirror after the gun didn’t go off.

“I was like, ‘Do I want to be here, or do I not want to be here?’ That happened for a reason and obviously you’re here for a reason, so let’s be the way you want to be and play (the way) you want to play and live the way you want to live.”

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A former top prospect renowned for his unique combination of power and speed, Duran joined the big-league club with lofty expectations in 2021. He hit just .215 with a .578 OPS over 33 games that season, then hit .221 with a .645 OPS in 2022.

The tumultuous start to his career reached a tipping point in August 2022, when he misplayed two fly balls and argued with fans during a game in Kansas City. He was sent back down to Triple-A later that month.

Since then, Duran has overcome his struggles on and off the field to become one of the game’s most electrifying players. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023 and reached another level in 2024, when he earned All-Star Game MVP honors and finished the year with American League MVP votes. He begins 2025 as someone the club’s younger players can look up to for inspiration as they battle adversity early in their careers.

“Jarren’s decision to share his story is an act of courage that reaches far beyond baseball,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said in a statement. “By opening up, he’s showing others who may be struggling that they’re not alone and that asking for help isn’t just OK, it’s essential.

“Every member of this organization continues to stand with him. He has our deepest admiration, he’s always had our full support and we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.”

The Red Sox signed Duran to a one-year deal worth $3.85 million to avoid arbitration before the 2025 season. With the darkness behind him, Duran will look to duplicate his 2024 numbers and lead Boston to its first postseason berth since 2021.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

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Great starting pitching stretches not enough for the White Sox and Reds early this season

The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox both got brilliant stretches from their starting rotations — and largely wasted them.

Chicago’s starters did not allow an earned run through the first four games of the season, but the White Sox split those games and then lost five in a row once their rotation came back to earth. The Reds lost three straight games 1-0. The only other team in the live ball era to lose 1-0 in three straight games was the 1960 Philadelphia Phillies.

That Philadelphia team finished 36 games under .500, in large part because it batted .239 on the season. Those 1-0 defeats were a better reflection of the Phillies’ batting than their pitching.

The Reds will hope for the opposite. Right-hander Hunter Greene began living up to his potential last year and has allowed three runs over his first two starts of 2025. Brady Singer, acquired from Kansas City in the offseason, threw seven one-hit innings in his Cincinnati debut.

Lefty Nick Lodolo has yielded two earned runs in 12 2/3 innings.

Although the Reds were shut out three straight times by Texas and Milwaukee, that came immediately after Cincinnati’s offense put up 14 runs in a win over the Rangers. The Reds also beat the Brewers 11-7.

For the White Sox, the future looks a lot more challenging. Chicago actually did have a couple bright spots last year on its way to 121 losses, but Erick Fedde was dealt to St. Louis in July and then Garrett Crochet was traded to Boston during the offseason.

Even without Fedde and Crochet, Chicago’s rotation was sharp its first time through, but reality has set in since then. The White Sox have allowed 32 runs in their last five games.

Down lower

Speaking of good pitching numbers in an unexpected spot, Colorado’s starters have posted a 2.61 ERA through 48 1/3 innings so far. That hasn’t been enough for the Rockies, who managed just 18 runs through their first eight games and lost seven of them.

Don’t assume the thin air at Coors Field has suddenly become a non-factor. Colorado began the season with seven straight road games against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.

But even when the Rockies opened their home schedule against the Athletics, their starters were able to get through five innings in all three games, and Colorado’s offense finally broke out in a 12-5 win.

First impression

The Athletics finally played their first three home games for the fans in the Sacramento area, and it wasn’t pretty. They were swept by the Chicago Cubs, outscored 35-9 over the series,

That was more runs than the A’s allowed in their first three home games the entire time they were in Oakland. In fact, it was a record for the whole franchise history. The Athletics gave up 31 runs in their first three home games in 1922, when the team represented Philadelphia.

Trivia time

Nathan Eovaldi pitched the first complete game in the majors this season when the Rangers beat Cincinnati in one of those 1-0 games. Who is the last Texas pitcher besides Eovaldi to throw a complete game?

Line of the week

Martin Perez threw six hitless innings in his debut for the White Sox, a 9-0 rout of Minnesota. He struck out nine with three walks.

Comeback of the week

The Houston Astros trailed 7-1 in the fifth inning against Minnesota before rallying to tie the game on a two-run homer by Yordan Alvarez in the ninth. Houston eventually won 9-7 in 10 innings.

The Twins had a win probability of 97.9% after taking a six-run lead in the fourth, according to Baseball Savant.

Trivia answer

Jon Gray in 2023.