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Are the Red Sox the best team in the American League?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Could this be the year the Boston Red Sox put it all together and win the American League? If you ask "Baseball Bar-B-Cast" hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, you’ll get a resounding “maybe” — with a dose of pitching anxiety thrown in for good measure.

Both Mintz and Shusterman, typically measured about Boston’s ups and downs, shared a surprising amount of optimism about the Sox on the latest episode, in which they attempted to determine the best team in the American League after one month of play in the 2025 MLB season. 

Mintz led the charge, pointing to a reliable Rafael Devers (“he will not be average all year”), a meaningful breakout from Wilyer Abreu, a healthy Trevor Story, an outstanding debut from Kristian Campbell and a perfect fit with Alex Bregman as foundational strengths.

“The only thing about this team that I feel worse about today than I did when the season began — and I was super high on them — is Triston Casas. That's it. Everything else, I feel the same or better about,” Mintz said.

It’s the pitching staff, though, where belief turns to nervous energy. The breakout of Garrett Crochet has Red Sox fans dreaming of a Cy Young campaign — "unbelievable so far," Mintz said — but the rest of the staff is a patchwork of “quantity over quality." 

Still, the hope is that, with strong leadership from pitching coach Andrew Bailey and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and a pile of intriguing arms behind Crochet — including Walker Buehler, Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Sean Newcomb — Boston can scrape together enough innings to stay in the race.

Shusterman brought a dose of realism, noting, “I don’t know what I’m getting from basically any other starter besides Crochet, and that alone has me spooked." Also, Crochet's durability over the long term will be a concern. "I hope Crochet is this awesome for 200 innings," he said, "but it is still a lot to ask from him.”

Who would start Game 2 of a postseason series for Boston? At this point, the hosts have no idea. At the same time, as Shusterman said, "I think the ceiling here is absolutely the highest in the league."

The upside? The Red Sox might be the AL’s best team — if things break their way going forward. The risk? A thin rotation could see them tumbling to the pack by July, especially with Baltimore, New York and Toronto lurking. 

One way or another, the Red Sox will be a fascinating team to keep an eye on.

For more on the Red Sox and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Are the Yankees the best team in the American League?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

The New York Yankees, reigning AL champs, are back in the conversation about the top team in the American League. But as the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast" discusses, confidence in the Bronx Bombers is sometimes as shaky as their bullpen walk rate.

Host Jake Mintz led the pro-Yankees charge, saying flatly, “Have you seen Aaron Judge play before? ... Aaron Judge is the best player in the world. It's not close.” 

What's more: "Ben Rice is the second-best player in the world, apparently."

The numbers back that up: Even with disappointing starts from Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm and merely average output from Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, the Yankees’ offense boasts a monstrous 131 OPS+. 

“That’s the bit,” Mintz said. “The bit is that Aaron Judge is unbelievable.”

Shusterman was quick with a reality check. “This is just a roster that once again is trending toward fitting together in a very strange way," he said.

With DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton working back into the mix, and Rice somehow posting a four-digit OPS, Shusterman questioned the sustainability of New York’s offense beyond Judge’s superhuman exploits. He expressed concerns about Rice catching, Bellinger hitting third and Paul Goldschmidt's consistency with the bat.

“I think this is just still a very bizarrely constructed roster,” he concluded.

There are also legitimate worries about the Yankees' pitching depth and a bullpen that “walks a lot of guys. A lot. So many walks,” as Shusterman noted. At the same time, as Mintz pointed out, "Max Fried might be a top-five pitcher in the American League. He looks unbelievable."

Despite the flaws, this is still the Yankees. They won ugly last year, made it to the World Series and employ the literal best player on the planet. “This team doesn’t have to be the best team in baseball. They just have to be the best team in the American League. And they just did that, doing the same exact shtick,” Mintz reminded listeners.

Are Judge’s shoulders (and bat) broad enough to carry the Yankees to another AL crown? History says yes. But the recurring flaws serve as a warning sign for New York — and anyone penciling them in to return to the Fall Classic.

For more on the Yankees and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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2025 NFL Draft: The Dallas Cowboys should look for their next workhorse — and it should be Damien Martinez

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Every NFL Draft season, fantasy managers hope to spot the perfect rookie/team matchup — the landing spot that unlocks not only a prospect’s talent but also explosive fantasy potential. On the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast's special wishcasting episode, Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens brought up one match that should make the fantasy world perk up: Miami's Damien Martinez to the Dallas Cowboys.

Let’s break down why this partnership is such a compelling fit, drawing directly from the sharp analysis of their conversation.

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Harmon was the first to call it, sending Martinez to the Cowboys and emphasizing that he’s exactly the type of back Dallas needs: “He is a really interesting running back prospect … big dude, can bang it between the tackles, but also I think has some big-play ability.” 

Now more than ever, Dallas is desperate for competence — if not excellence — at running back. Their current depth chart, as Matt remarked, is clouded with uncertainty and uninspiring committee bets. Martinez’s ability to step in as a bell-cow right away could fill a void left since Tony Pollard’s departure.

Behrens echoed the sentiment, lauding Martinez’s profile: “He has been successful and efficient in multiple systems in college. He can just detonate tacklers at the end of a run … has so many plays on tape where he just disappears from view for a little while … because he’s dragging a cloud of defenders for the final like seven or eight yards of a play.”

The beauty of the fit, both Andy and Matt argue, goes beyond just landing on a team with running back touches available. Dallas is built to pound the rock: its offensive line remains one of the NFL’s better units, especially if young pieces like Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe develop, and Tyler Smith is already a force inside.

Martinez offers the ability to not only run effectively behind this line but also flex between power and splash plays. Put simply: Martinez wouldn’t just be a Band-Aid. He could emerge as the engine for Dallas’ ground game — an immediate volume play with double-digit touchdown upside.

Harmon and Behrens both agreed Martinez would be a hot commodity in fantasy football drafts if this pairing comes true. And for three good reasons:

  • Volume: Dallas loves a true lead running back. With limited backfield competition and a good O-line, Martinez could easily see 15-20 touches a week.

  • Goal-line upside: His finishing ability at the end of runs and Dallas’ willingness to feed one back at the stripe means TDs are on the table.

  • Role security: Neither expert is impressed with the current Cowboys RBs — Martinez could take the ball and run from Week 1.

If Jerry Jones and co. decide Martinez is “their guy,” he’d fly up rookie fantasy draft boards. The Cowboys have a national spotlight, a history of feeding their RB1 and an offense that reliably produces RB1 finishes for fantasy.

Martinez in Big D would be an immediate **RB2 with RB1 upside** in redraft, and a top 5-7 rookie in dynasty formats.

Andy and Matt see Martinez as the hammer Dallas needs to keep its offense moving. It's a high-floor, high-ceiling union. If the Cowboys call his name, get ready to bump him way up your fantasy football cheat sheets — he’d be poised to deliver from Day 1.

Dallas fans, fantasy managers, be on the lookout during the draft. This is the sleeper landing spot that could change your championship plans.

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2025 NFL Draft: One team would make Ashton Jeanty a no-doubt 1st-round fantasy football pick

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

With the NFL Draft looming, fantasy football managers are scouring for the next rookie running back who could become a fantasy league winner. If you caught the recent episode of Yahoo Fantasy Forecast featuring Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens, you know this year’s class doesn’t offer the depth of past seasons, but it does have a clear-cut RB1 prospect: Boise State's Ashton Jeanty.

The show’s fantasy experts explored why, should Jeanty land with Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos, he’d immediately warrant consideration as a first-round selection in 2025 fantasy drafts. Here’s why their reasoning makes so much sense.

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In the conversation, both Matt and Andy agree Jeanty is the “prize of this year's running back class,” using phrases like “he just checks every box” and “one of the blue chips in this class.” Unlike previous years when fantasy managers could find value in the second or third tier of rookie backs, 2025’s class lacks that depth: “There’s not that many blue chips.” This scarcity means wherever Jeanty goes, he’ll be carrying massive fantasy expectations — especially if he joins a team that already looks like a great landing spot.

Denver’s running game is a sleeping giant. As Matt points out, “Their running backs were god-awful in terms of creating yards for themselves. Ashton Jeanty is a tackle-breaker. He would be the central figure of this offense. I mean, it's just a beautiful fit.” Last year, the Broncos scheme was generating open lanes, but no one in the backfield could capitalize.

Both analysts salivate at the thought of Jeanty joining Sean Payton, a coach historically unafraid to leverage a feature back, especially one with Jeanty’s tackle-breaking ability and three-down skill set. Matt says, “Ashton Jeanty, the Denver Broncos. Sean Payton, that man hates extra picks even more than Ryan Poles does. Get up the draft board ... it would have a high approval rating. Let's get Ashton Jeanty to this Denver Broncos offense.”

Andy doesn’t hide his enthusiasm for Jeanty in Denver either: “It’s a great fit. Denver is surely going to come away from this draft with one of the, one of its more exciting running backs. We just don't know exactly who it's going to be.” But, as both agree, if it’s Jeanty, fantasy managers may finally get what they’ve been hoping for: a Denver backfield centerpiece worthy of a first-round fantasy pick.

Nervous about other backs eating into his workload? Andy notes, “You could do that with Ashton Jeanty, and I think we're going to talk ourselves into it. And I think if he lands here, if he lands Chicago, there's a handful of places where he can go where I think Ashton Jeanty is going to be like, seriously in the conversation as like a, I don't know, ninth overall pick, 10th overall pick in fantasy.”

The top of the fantasy running back board is crowded with established stars (Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson, Jameer Gibbs, Derrick Henry, etc.), but neither Matt nor Andy hesitated to put Jeanty into the mix: “Like, yeah, that's, that's the conversation we're having with Ashton Jeanty if he's a, if he's a Bear or a Bronco. Bronco. I'm ready to have that conversation.”

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Translation: if Jeanty lands in Denver, you’re looking at a three-down rookie with a clear run to 250+ touches and goal-line work in a system proven to generate productive backs out of far lesser talents.

Both Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens left no doubt — if Ashton Jeanty becomes a Denver Bronco on draft night, he’s a lock for Round 1 fantasy football value. The combo of talent, vacant depth chart, coaching philosophy and opportunity is too strong to pass up. As Matt summarized, “He would be the central figure of this offense ... we should all want it to happen.”

If you’re holding a late first in your 2025 fantasy draft, and Jeanty’s wearing orange and blue (again), press the button. You might just secure the next great fantasy running back star.

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What to make of the Braves drama involving Ronald Acuña Jr., Jarred Kelenic and Brian Snitker?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Last week's MLB drama starring superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. and manager Brian Snitker feels like must-see TV for Braves fans — and for anyone who cares about baseball’s unwritten rules and the changing culture of the game. Hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman broke it all down on the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast."

If you missed the moment, here’s the short version: Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic thought he hit a home run, admired it, then realized he needed to hustle and was thrown out at second base. Manager Brian Snitker, when asked later about the play, essentially shrugged it off, saying that Kelenic always hustles and that he hadn’t even noticed the mistake until it was brought to his attention later.

Enter Ronald Acuña Jr., currently rehabbing and watching from home. Acuña responded on Twitter to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman’s tweet about Snitker’s non-reaction. Ronald’s not-so-subtle point in his since-deleted tweet? "If it were me, they would have taken me out of the game." 

As Mintz and Shusterman pointed out, that isn't a hypothetical. This actually did happen with Acuña in 2019, when Snitker benched him for a similar base-running mistake.

The double standard — and why it matters

Mintz and Shusterman dive into the not-so-subtle double standard at play in this situation. When Acuña made his mistake, Snitker made a very public example of him, saying, among other things, "You’ve got to run. It’s not going to be acceptable here. ... And that name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back of that jersey." 

With Kelenic? Total non-event. Snitker seemed to miss the play entirely when it happened and downplayed it after the fact.

Sure, there are layers here. The Braves' outfield is hurting lately, Kelenic has the "plays with his hair on fire" label, and, it must be acknowledged, there’s a cultural component at play when a flashy Latin superstar receives different treatment than a scrappy white guy. 

As Mintz puts it, “Obviously, there’s the double standard, which is founded in, like, Ronald is a Latin guy who is cool, and Jarred Kelenic is, like, your scrappy white guy out there doing his best. That is definitely a part of this.”

Was Ronald right to speak up? Mintz and Shusterman both agree: Acuña’s frustration is justified, but he mishandled it. 

"That’s a legit gripe," Mintz says. "[But] send it in an email, right? Talk about it in person. ... I am happy that Ronald did this in public because it’s hilarious, and we can joke and talk about it on the podcast, but it’s not the way you go about it." 

In other words, the double standard in the treatment of two Braves players is real, but it was the right message, wrong medium. “Multiple things can be true," Mintz says. "Ronald is right in what he believes, and he is wrong in how he chose to exhibit that.”

Does this one social media post reflect some kind of clubhouse meltdown? Probably not. Still, Mintz ponders, “When is the last time we saw a player publicly criticize a manager on the internet?” Forget the play on the field; this is a signal that, for Atlanta, things aren’t humming along as smoothly as they have in recent years.

The Braves might iron this out internally, but now the rest of the sport will be watching to see how they handle it.

"No one looks good here," Mintz says. "Kelenic looks bad. Snitker looks bad. And I actually do think Acuña looks a little bit bad. He looks the least bad, but he still looks bad."

For more on this and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Kawhi Leonard’s masterclass has Nuggets scrambling for answers | The Kevin O'Connor Show

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Kawhi Leonard’s near-flawless Game 2 performance against the Denver Nuggets has the NBA world buzzing. Kevin O’Connor and guest Nate Duncan broke down the wild Nuggets-Clippers playoff matchup on the most recent episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show."

Leonard finished with 39 points on a devastating 15-of-19 shooting line in L.A.'s Game 2 win Monday night. According to O’Connor, it was the seventh-highest true shooting percentage ever for a 35-plus-point postseason outing.

“He feels like a fictional legend,” O’Connor said. “Most of these guys that have injuries, they fall off. And yet here he is right now, in 2025, looking like he's in peak condition.”

Both O'Connor and Duncan were baffled by Denver’s refusal to blitz and double Leonard late. “I can't believe the Nuggets weren't sending two, blitzing, doubling Kawhi Leonard down the stretch,” O’Connor said. 

O'Connor also wondered if Nikola Jokić was fatigued after grinding through Ivica Zubac’s physical defense, calling out “mental lapses, mental mistakes” in the MVP’s game.  

To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Even while 'struggling,' Mets star Juan Soto is still elite

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

When a player is as talented as Juan Soto, even his “down” moments generate headlines. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman dove into the ongoing conversation around Soto’s performance thus far for the 2025 New York Mets — and let’s just say both hosts think the concern about Soto is seriously overblown.

For Mets fans who might be worried about Soto after a slightly “slow” start, just pause and look at the numbers. As Mintz points out, “Do you know what his OPS+ is right now? … It’s 137.” 

Shusterman echoes the sentiment, highlighting how baseball discourse tends to exaggerate any little blip for stars such as Soto: “When we’re talking about these tiny April samples … superstars all over the place have 60 OPS+ through the first [few weeks]. They're, like, actively crap, [but] you know, doesn't happen with [Soto]. It doesn't exist. He's on base too often. And that's why, you know, [he has the] highest floor in baseball.”

The bottom line: Even while Mets Twitter wrings its hands, Soto is producing at a rate that’s 37% better than league average. That kind of “struggle” would be a career year for most big leaguers. 

As Mintz says, “That's why Juan Soto is different. … The struggle, the strife, the worry is about a guy who is 37% better than the average hitter.”

What Mintz and Shusterman are saying is that the conversation around Soto is more about expectations than reality. “Pretty bad for Juan Soto, but this is why Juan Soto is different,” Mintz deadpans.

They also offer a dose of long-term context, pointing out that last year, Aaron Judge looked “like a bad dude” for a month, posting a .674 OPS through 22 games. Hot and cold streaks come for everyone, but the truth is that Soto’s “lows” are higher than most players’ highs. What sets Soto apart, according to the hosts, is not just his power but also his ability to reach base and avoid prolonged hitting droughts.

So if you’re tuning in to Mets games or scrolling through social media and see worried takes about Soto, take it from "Baseball Bar-B-Cast:" There’s nothing to stress about. 

“Juan Soto — he’ll be just fine. I wouldn't be too concerned about him,” Shusterman concludes.

The real takeaway? Enjoy the show, and take some time to appreciate the player.

For more on the Mets and the rest of the league, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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2025 NFL Draft: What happened to the Tetairoa McMillan hype?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

As we inch closer to the NFL Draft, the discussion around the top wide receiver prospects is more intense than ever. One name that's generated plenty of conversation is Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (or "T-Mac" as he's often called). In the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, host Matt Harmon and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler dove deep into McMillan’s draft stock, bringing much-needed clarity to where he stands among the 2025 WR class.

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Brugler, renowned for his exhaustive draft guide "The Beast," isn’t shy about his admiration for McMillan’s game. He describes T-Mac as "a borderline top 10 pick in this draft," emphasizing McMillan’s rare combination of size, catch radius and hands: "I love the catch radius, love how he attacks the football. You rarely — show me the film where the ball is getting into his body. He doesn’t let that happen."

Brugler’s praise isn’t hollow — he ranks McMillan as a first-round talent, albeit not quite in the elite Marvin Harrison Jr./Brian Thomas Jr. tier from last year. McMillan’s ability to play true X receiver, a premium position in most NFL offenses, cements his value.

Harmon points out just how well McMillan would fit a team like the Saints, who are desperate for an outside receiver with size to complement Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Harmon’s experience charting receivers for Reception Perception also lines up favorably, comparing McMillan’s style and impact to NFL players like Courtland Sutton: "I think he kind of belongs to the same family of receivers that Drake London does, but he’s not quite Drake London. ... These big guys that separate better than you think and they can do a lot of damage on these in-breaking routes."

When a receiver has versatility, hands, size and can unlock different looks for an offense, it's hard to keep him out of the top-10 conversation.

Despite the consensus love, McMillan isn’t without detractors or question marks. Both Brugler and Harmon touch on why some evaluators — and potentially some NFL teams — see McMillan sliding a bit from the “lock top-10” label he wore early in the process.

McMillan’s 4.53 forty at his pro day surprised nobody who watched him in college, but it did accentuate that he wins with nuance, not raw speed. Brugler notes, "He’s not a burner. We know that. ... He is a little bit raw as a route runner ... he’s probably more finesse than truly aggressive. ... There’s just a big jump between the Big 12 and what he’ll face in the NFL."

Both analysts agree McMillan might be best as an elite No. 2, which (somewhat unfairly) suppresses his top-10 ceiling. Harmon said: "He’s probably best if he’s your really, really good number two ... those guys can kind of share that "Who’s the 1A and who’s the 1B title" and provide a really dynamic duo."

It’s also worth mentioning the 2025 class doesn’t have the same top-heavy WR talent as last year’s legendary group. Brugler specifically says if McMillan were in last year’s class, he’d be ranked behind Brian Thomas Jr., but in this year’s group, that’s a borderline top-10, top-12 valuation.

Verdict: Yes, T-Mac is still top-10 — with a realistic ceiling

After digesting Harmon and Brugler’s in-depth conversation, here’s where things stand:

  • McMillan is still in that top-10 wide receiver prospect conversation in this class — not as a no-doubt blue-chipper, but as a highly valuable, NFL-ready talent with clear “starter-plus” potential.

  • His best fit likely comes as a team’s X receiver — or a high-volume 1B — on a squad that can maximize his catch radius, physicality and polish versus focusing on deep speed.

  • The split in the scouting community is less about a lack of talent and more about expectations: McMillan isn’t Marvin Harrison Jr., but he’s rock solid and projects as a possible instant starter.

  • Don’t be surprised if teams like the Saints or Cowboys fall in love with his fit and take him in the 9-12 range comfortably. Either way, he’ll be among the first handful of receivers off the board, and rightfully so.

Tetairoa McMillan absolutely remains a top-10 prospect in the 2025 class, with the only major knock being whether he’s a true WR1 or a perfect 1B for a creative NFL offense.

Check out the full Yahoo Fantasy Forecast episode with Matt Harmon and Dane Brugler for all the nuanced breakdowns — it’s a must-listen for draft fans and fantasy managers alike.

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Why the Steelers can't wait on Aaron Rodgers

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Aaron Rodgers’ comments on the Pat McAfee Show sparked a lot of discussion between Charles Robinson, Frank Schwab and Jason Fitz on the latest episode of the Inside Coverage podcast. Here’s what their conversation reveals about Rodgers’ future:

According to Charles Robinson, Rodgers was very clear that he’s dealing with personal issues, particularly within his close circle, and that’s a significant reason for his delay in making a decision about playing football next season. Robinson emphasized Rodgers doesn’t owe anyone a set timeline or rushed decision, especially since he’s not currently under contract with any NFL team.  

“He’s not beholden any team right now," Robinson said. "He’s not under contract. So I think we owe him the grace."

All three hosts agree that, while Rodgers is entitled to handle his personal life however he sees fit, this leaves teams like the Steelers in a precarious position. Charles and Frank both stress that the Steelers “can’t count on this situation anymore.” Frank says, “For the first time yesterday, I said, they can’t. They got to move on.” Charles adds that, even if Rodgers eventually signs, Pittsburgh still needs to draft a young quarterback for the future, because relying on Rodgers is too uncertain.

Both Charles and Frank highlight that Rodgers said he’s been upfront with the Steelers, telling them that if they need to move on without him, they should. This signals to the hosts that Rodgers isn’t making any commitments or setting deadlines for a decision about joining a team. Charles sums it up: “He did open up that avenue to them ... if somebody wants to move on, that's just how it's going to go and you're okay with it.”

The group expresses that Rodgers, despite leaving the door open, sounded more like a person who might elect not to play, at least for now.

The broader takeaway for the hosts is that any team entertaining the idea of signing Rodgers needs to continue with their offseason plans as if he won’t be there. Fitz and Schwab both note that there’s real fatigue and “exhaustion” around the ongoing Rodgers saga, both for teams and fans.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.