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Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers

Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates was temporarily halted after a fan fell 21 feet to the field from the bleachers.

In the moments after Andrew McCutchen put the Pirates ahead on an RBI double in the seventh inning, play was halted and trainers from both teams rushed onto the field after a fan fell from the top of the wall and landed on the warning track of the stadium.

The incident occurred in the right field bleachers at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, with those seats perched on a 21-foot-high wall over the playing surface.

Video of the horrifying fall quickly began circulating on social media, with the broadcasts for the game declining to show the medical response to the incident.

After a short time, the fan was immobilized on a bodyboard and was carted off the field, and players from both teams knelt in stunned silence.

The Pirates released a statement after the incident:

 “Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

A statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed the city’s Violent Crimes Unit was investigating the incident, adding that the man was hospitalized in critical condition.

Play was ultimately resumed, with the Pirates holding on for a 4-3 victory.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he and the team are thinking about the man’s family, calling the incident “obviously scary.” He was seen on the broadcast pointing out the man to umpires, who immediately halted the game, but Counsell told media he did not see the fan fall.

“We didn’t know what we saw,” he said after the game. “All we saw was somebody laying on the warning track, and you know that’s not good. I hope the gentleman’s OK. Thinking about his family and him right now.”

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson reacted to the incident after the game.

“I didn’t see anything happen, but I saw (Counsell’s) face when he came out on the field, and I could tell that it was a very scary moment,” Swanson said. “All we could do was just pray for a good, strong recovery for him and his family. I have never been part of something like that before and I hope I am never part of something like that again.

“It’s a humble reminder of the gratitude we should all have to play this game. Folks obviously come out to support us, and they are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It’s obviously tough. At a time like that, you want (the fans) to know you love them.”

We will update this story with details as they become available.

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Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals

Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Routine wins work just fine, too. 

The Phillies followed up a series-opening rollercoaster by earning a far less stressful victory Wednesday night vs. the Nationals. 

A 7-2 win at Citizens Bank Park was the Phillies’ fourth in a row. They’re 17-13 overall. 

Cristopher Sanchez won his first start since exiting early last Tuesday against the Mets because of left forearm tightness. He threw 87 pitches over five innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Sanchez struck out six batters and walked three. 

Kyle Schwarber lifted Sanchez to a quick lead by bashing a first-inning home run for the second straight night. He punished Jake Irvin’s 0-2 curveball and trotted home with Bryson Stott and Trea Turner. 

Sanchez maintained the advantage and didn’t show anything worrisome on the velocity front; the lefty’s sinker was right on his season average of 95.7 mph. The Nationals took 11 swings at Sanchez’s changeup and whiffed on seven. 

He never shifted into true cruise control, in part because of uneven command. Sanchez walked two Nats and plunked CJ Abrams in the third inning. Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out RBI double cut Washington’s deficit to 3-1. Nick Castellanos’ path was a tad twisting, but he extinguished the threat with a jumping catch of Josh Bell’s fly ball to the right-field wall. 

The Phillies tacked on a run apiece in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings. Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto both ripped dingers.

Every player in the lineup reached base besides Edmundo Sosa, who started at third instead of Alec Bohm. Sosa had been 4 for 9 in his career against Irvin before Wednesday. 

“Trying to get Sosa a few more consistent at-bats,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “He’s had good numbers against Irvin. (Bohm) will be back in tomorrow.”

The Phillies’ bullpen fared very well. The trio of Jose Ruiz, Tanner Banks and Carlos Hernandez allowed zero base runners and locked down the win without any unwanted fireworks.

Rehab updates 

Brandon Marsh’s rehab stint seems to be back on track after the 27-year-old outfielder’s right hamstring cramp Sunday.

Marsh is scheduled to play for Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday and Friday against the Rochester Red Wings, and “then we’ll see where we’re at,” Thomson said. 

Thomson had no pregame news on whether Ranger Suarez is ready to enter the Phillies’ rotation or will make another rehab start, though he expected more info soon. Suarez threw a bullpen session Wednesday. Taijuan Walker will start the series finale Thursday and the Phils’ rotation for their weekend series vs. the Diamondbacks remains TBD.

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Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals

Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Routine wins work just fine, too. 

The Phillies followed up a series-opening rollercoaster by earning a far less stressful victory Wednesday night vs. the Nationals. 

A 7-2 win at Citizens Bank Park was the Phillies’ fourth in a row. They’re 17-13 overall. 

Cristopher Sanchez won his first start since exiting early last Tuesday against the Mets because of left forearm tightness. He threw 87 pitches over five innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Sanchez struck out six batters and walked three. 

Kyle Schwarber lifted Sanchez to a quick lead by bashing a first-inning home run for the second straight night. He punished Jake Irvin’s 0-2 curveball and trotted home with Bryson Stott and Trea Turner. 

Sanchez maintained the advantage and didn’t show anything worrisome on the velocity front; the lefty’s sinker was right on his season average of 95.7 mph. The Nationals took 11 swings at Sanchez’s changeup and whiffed on seven. 

He never shifted into true cruise control, in part because of uneven command. Sanchez walked two Nats and plunked CJ Abrams in the third inning. Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out RBI double cut Washington’s deficit to 3-1. Nick Castellanos’ path was a tad twisting, but he extinguished the threat with a jumping catch of Josh Bell’s fly ball to the right-field wall. 

The Phillies tacked on a run apiece in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings. Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto both ripped dingers.

Every player in the lineup reached base besides Edmundo Sosa, who started at third instead of Alec Bohm. Sosa had been 4 for 9 in his career against Irvin before Wednesday. 

“Trying to get Sosa a few more consistent at-bats,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “He’s had good numbers against Irvin. (Bohm) will be back in tomorrow.”

The Phillies’ bullpen fared very well. The trio of Jose Ruiz, Tanner Banks and Carlos Hernandez allowed zero base runners and locked down the win without any unwanted fireworks.

“I thought it was a complete game today,” Thomson said. “I thought we played well in all facets. We didn’t strikeout. I didn’t think we got out of the zone. We controlled it on both sides of the ball, for the most part. Stole a couple bases. Hit three home runs. … Sanchy was good, bullpen was excellent. Those three guys were really, really good. And the defense was solid. That was a really good game and now we’ve got to do it again.”

Rehab updates 

Brandon Marsh’s rehab stint seems to be back on track after the 27-year-old outfielder’s right hamstring cramp Sunday.

Marsh is scheduled to play for Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday and Friday against the Rochester Red Wings, and “then we’ll see where we’re at,” Thomson said. 

After the game, Thomson announced that Ranger Suarez needs no further rehab. He’s set for his season debut Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks.

The Phils plan to start Taijuan Walker in the series finale Thursday vs. the Nats. Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola will be their two starters in the Arizona series.

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Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals

Phillies' winning streak hits 4 with much smoother night vs. Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Routine wins work just fine, too. 

The Phillies followed up a series-opening rollercoaster by earning a far less stressful victory Wednesday night vs. the Nationals. 

A 7-2 win at Citizens Bank Park was the Phillies’ fourth in a row. They’re 17-13 overall. 

Cristopher Sanchez won his first start since exiting early last Tuesday against the Mets because of left forearm tightness. He threw 87 pitches over five innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Sanchez struck out six batters and walked three. 

Kyle Schwarber lifted Sanchez to a quick lead by bashing a first-inning home run for the second straight night. He punished Jake Irvin’s 0-2 curveball and trotted home with Bryson Stott and Trea Turner. 

Sanchez maintained the advantage and didn’t show anything worrisome on the velocity front; the lefty’s sinker was right on his season average of 95.7 mph. The Nationals took 11 swings at Sanchez’s changeup and whiffed on seven. 

He never shifted into true cruise control, in part because of uneven command. Sanchez walked two Nats and plunked CJ Abrams in the third inning. Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out RBI double cut Washington’s deficit to 3-1. Nick Castellanos’ path was a tad twisting, but he extinguished the threat with a jumping catch of Josh Bell’s fly ball to the right-field wall. 

The Phillies tacked on a run apiece in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings. Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto both ripped dingers.

Every player in the lineup reached base besides Edmundo Sosa, who started at third instead of Alec Bohm. Sosa had been 4 for 9 in his career against Irvin before Wednesday. 

“Trying to get Sosa a few more consistent at-bats,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “He’s had good numbers against Irvin. (Bohm) will be back in tomorrow.”

The Phillies’ bullpen fared very well. The trio of Jose Ruiz, Tanner Banks and Carlos Hernandez allowed zero base runners and locked down the win without any unwanted fireworks.

“I thought it was a complete game today,” Thomson said. “I thought we played well in all facets. We didn’t strikeout. I didn’t think we got out of the zone. We controlled it on both sides of the ball, for the most part. Stole a couple bases. Hit three home runs. … Sanchy was good, bullpen was excellent. Those three guys were really, really good. And the defense was solid. That was a really good game and now we’ve got to do it again.”

Rehab updates 

Brandon Marsh’s rehab stint seems to be back on track after the 27-year-old outfielder’s right hamstring cramp Sunday.

Marsh is scheduled to play for Triple A Lehigh Valley on Thursday and Friday against the Rochester Red Wings, and “then we’ll see where we’re at,” Thomson said. 

After the game, Thomson announced that Ranger Suarez needs no further rehab. He’s set for his season debut Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks.

The Phils plan to start Taijuan Walker in the series finale Thursday vs. the Nats. Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola will be their first two starters in the Arizona series.

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Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park

Giants hope key regulars break out in May after sweep at Petco Park originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN DIEGO — The signs are there, particularly with Mike Yastrzemski, who played the two games at Petco Park with stubble on his chin. The next time Yastrzemski and the Giants take the field, it will be Mustache May, and some in the lineup are desperate for the calendar to turn. 

April was a good month for the Giants, a surprise contender early on, but it wasn’t kind to everyone. 

The Giants essentially have nine regulars in their lineup, and they all have been healthy. But not many of them can say they’re happy about where they’re currently at. Jung Hoo Lee is turning into a star and Yastrzemski has turned back the clock. But as the Giants head home after a two-game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres, they’re the only starters with an OPS over .800

At times, manager Bob Melvin has seen a third or fourth join the party, and that was the case in Wednesday’s 5-3 loss, but too often, the load is not evenly distributed. 

Heliot Ramos hit a loud homer Wednesday, but it was his first in 26 games. Three of the other four hits came from Lee and Yastrzemski, who hit his fifth bomb of the season. The Giants can’t match the star power of a Tatis, Machado, Merrill trio, but they anticipated having a strong one-through-nine attack this season. It hasn’t shown up often, though.

Willy Adames looked like his old self in San Diego, but finished April with a .592 OPS. That still puts him well clear of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Patrick Bailey, who are under .500. 

“It is what it is. I think the at-bats are better [lately] with some of the guys, certainly LaMonte,” Melvin said. “We have faith that they’re going to get going.” 

Wade has been moved down in the order and now is seventh, one spot ahead of Bailey. But on Wednesday it was the heart of the order that faltered. Matt Chapman twice came up as the tying run in the late innings and struck out twice on elevated fastballs. He’s among the league leaders in walks but is 5-for-39 over his past dozen games. 

“They were probably both not strikes and [he’s] maybe trying to do a little bit too much,” Melvin said of the strikeouts. “I think both of those were up out of the zone. He’s obviously trying to get something up and drive one, but maybe too far out of the zone.” 

For the last three weeks, the key right-handed hitter who had been expanding was Ramos. He said he was over-thinking, but some loud contact Tuesday snapped him back into place. 

“It can take one hit, one pitch,” he said. “Even if it’s an out.” 

The hope is that others soon experience that, and it’s not like the sweep was entirely or even mostly on the lineup. Logan Webb gave up five runs Tuesday, and Landen Roupp was charged with four earned Wednesday. That meant the Giants were always playing from behind, and while they have plenty of comebacks this season, the sledding was much more difficult against a good Padres pitching staff. 

Melvin is hopeful that some regulars break out in May. Perhaps a few mustaches will help, or perhaps they’ll just find a fix during BP one day and take off from there. It’ll need to happen, because there’s no margin for error in this division. 

The Giants were in first place when they flew to San Diego. After 18 disappointing innings, they dropped to third.

“It was basically kind of the same game, where we didn’t do enough early in the game to put some pressure on their starter and [the Padres] did,” Melvin said. “We had to do our work against their relievers — which we did, we had the tying run up a couple times late in the game. It’s tough to do it off those guys but it’s early in the game that we didn’t put enough pressure, and we gave up too many runs in the first half of the game, as well.” 

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers

Cubs-Pirates game delayed after fan falls onto field from bleachers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates was temporarily halted after a fan fell 21 feet to the field from the bleachers.

In the moments after Andrew McCutchen put the Pirates ahead on an RBI double in the seventh inning, play was halted and trainers from both teams rushed onto the field after a fan fell from the top of the wall and landed on the warning track of the stadium.

The incident occurred in the right field bleachers at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, with those seats perched on a 21-foot-high wall over the playing surface.

Video of the horrifying fall quickly began circulating on social media, with the broadcasts for the game declining to show the medical response to the incident.

After a short time, the fan was immobilized on a bodyboard and was carted off the field, and players from both teams knelt in stunned silence.

The Pirates released a statement after the incident:

 “Tonight, during the seventh inning of the game at PNC Park, an adult male fell from the right field bleachers onto the field of play. Pittsburgh EMS, as well as the Pirates and Cubs athletic training teams and other PNC Park personnel reacted and responded immediately and administered care. He was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

A statement from Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed the city’s Violent Crimes Unit was investigating the incident, adding that the man was hospitalized in critical condition.

Play was ultimately resumed, with the Pirates holding on for a 4-3 victory.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he and the team are thinking about the man’s family, calling the incident “obviously scary.” He was seen on the broadcast pointing out the man to umpires, who immediately halted the game, but Counsell told media he did not see the fan fall.

“We didn’t know what we saw,” he said after the game. “All we saw was somebody laying on the warning track, and you know that’s not good. I hope the gentleman’s OK. Thinking about his family and him right now.”

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson reacted to the incident after the game.

“I didn’t see anything happen, but I saw (Counsell’s) face when he came out on the field, and I could tell that it was a very scary moment,” Swanson said. “All we could do was just pray for a good, strong recovery for him and his family. I have never been part of something like that before and I hope I am never part of something like that again.

“It’s a humble reminder of the gratitude we should all have to play this game. Folks obviously come out to support us, and they are a big reason why we are able to do what we do. It’s obviously tough. At a time like that, you want (the fans) to know you love them.”

We will update this story with details as they become available.

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Astros' Lance McCullers Jr. to make long-awaited return to the mound

HOUSTON — Lance McCullers Jr is to start for the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox in his first major league appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series in Philadelphia.

“I’m really excited to have him on the mound on Sunday,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He’s worked his tail off to get back to this point, and this whole entire team and this city should be excited to get Lance back.”

An All-Star in 2018, McCullers had surgery on June 13, 2023, to repair his right flexor tendon and to remove a bone spur. The 31-year-old right-hander threw a bullpen session last June but had a setback and was shut down for the year. He has made four minor league rehab starts this year, allowing four runs and 10 hits over 12 2/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and six walks.

In his last appearance, he struck out seven in five shutout innings for Double-A Corpus Christi.

“My last two outings I’ve felt really good, my stuff has been pretty crisp,” McCullers said.

He is 49-32 with a 3.48 ERA in seven seasons, all with Houston. McCullers first injured his flexor tendon while pitching on short rest during the 2021 AL Division Series. He missed the first four months of the 2022 season.

“Been waiting for it for a long time,” McCullers said. “Almost feel like I’m making my debut in some aspects, but it’s been a really long road for me.”

McCullers has missed three full seasons since making his major league debut in 2015.

“It would’ve been a pretty sad ending to my story,” McCullers said.

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Fantasy Baseball Steals Report: Marlins are a defensive disaster, Pete Crow-Armstrong is on fire

As stolen bases continue to rise league wide, I will be here every Wednesday to help you track important stolen base trends so you can find more speed for your fantasy teams.

Stealing a base is as much about the opposing pitcher and catcher as it is the actual base runner themself. So, being able to spot which teams and pitchers specifically are being run on most frequently will help you to figure out who can swipe some bags over the next week.

Last week, I highlighted Jeffrey Springs and Edward Cabrera as pitchers who’ve struggled to hold runners on and five total bases were stolen in their starts last week.

MLB: San Diego Padres at Houston Astros
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cam Smith, Caleb Durbin, and Ryan Gusto
A couple of overlooked prospects are proving their worth in fantasy leagues.

Before we get to this week’s important trends, here is the stolen base leaderboard over the past seven days.

Player
SB
CS
Luis Robert Jr.
4
2
Pete Crow-Armstrong
4
0
Shohei Ohtani
3
0
Jarren Duran
3
1
Andy Pages
3
0
Zach Neto
3
0

For someone barely reaching base, Luis Robert Jr., has been stealing plenty of bases and it’s saving his fantasy value at the moment.

Otherwise, Pete Crow-Armstrong is doing whatever he wants and looks like a rising star. Also, it’s encouraging to see Zach Neto be so aggressive after returning from his shoulder injury.

Now, here is the overall stolen base leaderboard on the season.

Player
SB
CS
Oneil Cruz
12
0
Pete Crow-Armstrong
12
1
Luis Robert Jr.
11
4
Elly De La Cruz
11
3
Jarren Duran
9
3
Bobby Witt Jr.
9
3
Victor Scott II
9
0
Kyle Tucker
8
0
Randy Arozarena
8
0
Shohei Ohtani
8
1
Andrés Giménez
8
1
Brice Turang
8
3
Jake Mangum
8
0

Oneil Cruz becoming an elite base stealer is the biggest story of the fantasy season so far. Also, Kyle Tucker seems to be following the trend of stealing more bases during a contract year.

Next, here are some players with one of fewer stolen bases that we’d hoped would be more aggressive.

Player
SB
CS
Marcus Semien
0
1
Luis Rengifo
0
2
Brandon Nimmo
0
1
Jonathan India
0
2
Spencer Steer
1
0
Jo Adell
1
0
Masyn Winn
1
0
Ian Happ
1
1
Willy Adames
1
1
Jackson Chourio
2
2
Brenton Doyle
2
0
Francisco Lindor
2
1

Now, let’s go over the most important stolen base trends over the past week.

Fantasy Baseball Stolen Base Targets

A continuation of a season-long trend to this point, the Miami Marlins remain the best team to target when streaming stolen bases. Their 53 steals allowed is 17 more than the next closest team.

For context, that’s the same difference between the Braves, who’ve allowed the second-most steals, and the Twins, who’ve allowed the 21st-most. Teams are running successfully on the Marlins at a borderline laughable pace.

Somehow, this trend has become more extreme over the past week with the promotion of Augustín Ramírez. While he’s been a revelation on offense, other teams are clearly targeting him when he’s behind the plate.

In just five starts at catcher so far, there’ve been 13 stolen base attempts against him and he hasn’t caught a single would-be base stealer yet. He’s been splitting time back there with Liam Hendricks, who himself has only thrown out only two of 20 base stealers this season.

Of course, stolen bases can often be traced back to pitchers as much or more so than catchers and the Marlins’ have some easy culprits there too.

Amidst the rest of his struggles, Sandy Alcantara has allowed the most stolen bases of any pitcher in the league this season with 11. The Dodgers stole five against him and Ramírez on Tuesday in fewer than three innings.

Additionally, Edward Cabrera has allowed the second-most stolen bases this season with 10 despite only making four starts so far. The Dodgers stole three more bags off him on Monday in just three innings of work and he’s ranked dead-last in Baseball Savant’s Net Bases Prevented.

The Braves are not off the hook here either. I mentioned them as a target a few weeks ago with rookie catcher Drake Baldwin’s defensive struggles. They have not gotten better as he’s allowed 16 stolen bases in 11 starts and only caught one would-be base stealer.

I thought their situation would improve with Sean Murphy’s return. However teams have attempted 20 stolen bases in just 14 starts behind the plate and he’s caught four runners.

A few of their pitchers like Chris Sale, Pierce Johnson, and Dylan Lee have struggled to hold runners on, but not to the degree of Cabrera nor Alcantara.

Regardless, these are the two best two teams to stream stolen bases against right now.

Cubs Running Wild

The Cubs just had an active and impressive past week on the base paths.

First, they stole nine bags over two games against the Dodgers. Will Smith has a great defensive reputation and as a team, the Dodgers were one of the best teams at throwing out runners last season.

Next, Chicago swiped four more bases in a single game against the Phillies started by Taijuan Walker with J.T. Realmuto behind the plate.

Walker is known for his incredible pick-off move and is one of nine pitchers who have successfully picked off multiple base runners this season. Plus, Realmuto is still a stud behind the plate. Neither are easy to run against, but the Cubs did so with ease.

Besides the aforementioned Crow-Armstrong, Jon Berti has taken over the Cubs’ third base job since Matt Shaw’s demotion and has stolen seven bases this season. Dansby Swanson and Tucker have been pushing the envelope as well.

No-Run Zone

The Mets and Brewers are the only teams who have caught at least 45% of would-be base stealers this season.

I talked about Luis Torrens’ prowess a few weeks ago and the Mets incredible turnaround against the running game over the past year. Overall, they’ve caught nine of 19 base-stealers so far.

As far as the Brewers go, William Contreras’ development as a defensive star isn't talked about enough.

He was considered more of a designated hitter than could also catch a few years ago when Milwaukee acquired him from the Braves. Now, he’s one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. He’s already thrown out nine base stealers – most in the league – and has become an adept pitch framer.

Avoid streaming stolen bases against these two teams.

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Red Sox at Blue Jays Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 30

Its Wednesday, April 30 and the Red Sox (17-14) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (13-16). Lucas Giolito is slated to take the mound for Boston tonight, while Toronto has yet to name a starter.

The Red Sox are on a roll, winning back-to-back games and scoring 23 total runs. They won game one of the series 10-2.

Garret Crochet picked up the win for the Red Sox. He struckout six batters in seven innings and only had two earned runs.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Blue Jays

  • Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: SN1, NESN

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 Red Sox at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-118), Blue Jays (+100)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for April 30, 2025: Lucas Giolito vs. Unknown
    • Red Sox: Lucas Giolito, first start of the season

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

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

  • The Red Sox have won 5 of their last 6 games at divisional opponents
  • In his last 5 starts on the mound the Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios has an ERA of 6.18
  • The Blue Jays have covered in 3 straight AL East matchups with Jose Berrios on the mound

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 Red Sox and the Blue Jays

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 Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

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Diamondbacks at Mets prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for April 30

It's Wednesday, April 30 and the Diamondbacks (15-14) are in Queens to take on the Mets (21-9). Corbin Burnes is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Huascar Brazobán for New York.

The Mets won Game 1 of the series, 8-3, and have won three of the past four games overall. New York has scored 27 runs in the last two games, while Arizona is 1-5 in the previous six contests.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Mets

  • Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Citi Field
  • City: Queens, NY
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, SNY, MLBN

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

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Mets

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (-112), Mets (-104)
  • Spread:  Diamondbacks -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Diamondbacks at Mets

  • Pitching matchup for April 30, 2025: Corbin Burnes vs. Huascar Brazobán
    • Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes, (0-1, 4.05 ERA)
      Last outing: 5.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Mets: Huascar Brazobán, (1-0, 1.56 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 1 Strikeout

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Corbin Burnes Under 17.5 Outs:

"New York's offense is clicking right now with 27 runs over the last two games and Corbin Burnes has been a shell of himself. Burnes has walked at least two hitters in four of five starts and allowed two or more runs in four games. I could only lean toward the Mets ML and Under 17.5 outs for Burnes."

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Mets:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Mets at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • The Mets have won 17 of their last 20 games at home
  • Six of the Diamondbacks' last eight road trips to the Mets have gone over the Total
  • The Mets are up 3.27 units on the Run Line in their last 5 games at Citi Field

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Brewers at White Sox Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 30

Its Wednesday, April 30 and the Brewers (15-15) are in Chicago to take on the White Sox (7-22). Tobias Myers is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Shane Smith for Chicago.

The Brewers won game one of the series 7-2. Freddy Peralta picked up the win for the Brewers. He made it 6.0 innings and only gave up two runs on six hits while striking out five batters.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Brewers at White Sox

  • Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Rate Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin

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

Odds for the Brewers at the White Sox

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-163), White Sox (+137)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at White Sox

  • Pitching matchup for April 30, 2025: Tobias Myers vs. Shane Smith
    • Brewers: Tobias Myers, (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing (vs San Francisco, 4/24): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • White Sox: Shane Smith, (1-1, 2.31 ERA)
      Last outing (vs Minnesota Twins, 4/24): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts

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

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

  • The Brewers have won 7 straight games against the White Sox
  • 5 of the Brewers' last 7 matchups with the White Sox have gone over the Total
  • The White Sox have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 2.66 units

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the White Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Staff member with Nationals collapses at CBP before Phillies game

Staff member with Nationals collapses at CBP before Phillies game originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A staff member with the Washington Nationals collapsed on the field before Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark.

The staff member – who has not yet been named – collapsed during batting practice early Wednesday evening. He was taken off the field on a stretcher and the rest of the Nationals left the field as well, Clark reports.

The game still began as scheduled at 6:45 p.m. ET. Neither team has released a statement on the incident.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

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Phillies will honor the 3 Hall of Fame outfielders who all batted .400 in 1894

PHILADELPHIA — The only outfield in major league history where all three players batted .400 in the same season will be honored the same way as the Philadelphia Phillies players whose numbers have been retired, the team announced.

Baseball Hall of Fame members Ed Delahanty, Billy Hamilton and Sam Thompson were the Phillies’ regular outfielders from 1891-95. Delahanty batted .405, Hamilton .403 and Thompson .415 in 1894.

The three played before the introduction of uniform numbers. They will have their respective uniform insignias from their era added to the retired numbers displayed on the brick wall above Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park. The insignias also will be individually showcased on the retired number disks in the left field plaza.

A ceremony will be held before a game against the Washington Nationals.

The Phillies have retired the numbers of Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Roy Halladay and Robin Roberts and have the uniform insignias of Chuck Klein and Grover Cleveland Alexander on display. The Phillies, along with every major league team, also have retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42.

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Reds place Jeimer Candelario on 10-day injured list with a back problem

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed corner infielder Jeimer Candelario on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back injury.

The 31-year-old Candelario has struggled at the plate the first month of the season. Candelario, batting .113 with two home runs and 10 RBIs, was diagnosed with a lumbar spine strain after a medical evaluation.

The Reds recalled Tyler Callihan from Triple-A Louisville and added right-handed pitcher Chase Petty to the taxi squad. Petty was scheduled to start the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals..

Candelario signed a three-year, $45 million contract last year that included a $3 million signing bonus. He’s played for five teams over 10 major league seasons and is a .237 career hitter with 110 home runs.

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Nationals at Phillies Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for April 30

It's Wednesday, April 30 and the Nationals (13-17) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (16-13). Jake Irvin is slated to take the mound for Washington against Cristopher Sánchez for Philadelphia.

Philadelphia won a 7-6 thriller over Washington that featured six runs scored in the ninth inning. The Nationals scored a run before giving up the lead on a SAC fly followed by a wild pitch that scored Bryson Stott. The Phillies have won three straight after losing the past five.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on 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 Nationals at Phillies

  • Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, NBCSP

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 Nationals at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Wednesday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+188), Phillies (-225)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Nationals at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for April 30, 2025: Jake Irvin vs. Cristopher Sánchez
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin, (2-0, 3.19 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez, (2-1, 3.42 ERA)
      Last outing: 2.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Nationals +1.5:

"After yesterday's devasting loss, the Nationals will want to bounce back as the Phillies' winning streak is on thin ice. Sanchez only went 2.0 innings in his last start, which is not something worth trusting and if the bullpen can allow four runs in the top of the 9th, I am not sure I can trust that back-to-back days. It's Nats or pass."

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

  • The Phillies have won 4 of their last 5 home games against National League teams
  • The Over is 8-2-1 in the Nationals' divisional matchups this season
  • The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight home games

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

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

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