How many Tommy Edmans would the Dodgers want if they could clone Tommy Edman?

(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.)

During a lively discussion in the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman ventured into a very fun and totally hypothetical exploration of cloning the versatile Tommy Edman and fitting multiple of him into the Dodgers' roster.

Through two weeks of the 2025 regular season, one of the biggest reasons of concern for the Dodgers is their defense, which has been subpar at almost every position. As Mintz put it, "I think they only have one above-average, very good defender in the field at any time. And it's just where Tommy Edman is, right?"

This led to the delightful hypothetical: If the Dodgers could clone Edman, who can play shortstop, second base and outfield at a high level, just how many Edmans would L.A. want?

"You obviously don't want 26 because then he's going to pitch. You obviously don't want 13 because you'd rather have Shohei Ohtani," Mintz stated. "How many guys on this roster would you be like, 'Thanks for the memories, but I'm going to take Tommy Edman No. 7?'"

According to the hosts, the Dodgers would still need Austin Barnes or another backup catcher, and they're not displacing any of their stars. But they could have Edman cover second base, center field and most of the bench, replacing Kiké Hernández, Andy Pages, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Hunter Feduccia. The hosts debated Michael Conforto but decided the Dodgers would probably keep their offseason addition.

Including the actual Tommy Edman, that adds up to six Edmans on the Dodgers' hypothetical roster.

As Shusterman said, "I think the line's around 5.5 or 6.5 Tommy Edmans that you would want, even on this team."

Taking it one step further raises the question of just how many Tommy Edmans would other MLB teams want?

"The White Sox would take all Tommy Edmans but the catchers," Mintz said.

All hypotheticals aside, through 14 games, Edman is tied for the Dodgers' lead in home runs with five.

To listen to the full episode and more, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

Alec Bohm moved down to 7th in Phillies' lineup — is it temporary?

Alec Bohm moved down to 7th in Phillies' lineup — is it temporary? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ATLANTA — The Phillies moved struggling Alec Bohm down three spots in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale at Truist Park.

Bohm bats seventh against Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach.

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

Is the change temporary?

“We’ll see,” manager Rob Thomson said. “I’m just trying to take a little heat off of Bohmer and Casty’s swinging the bat good. That’s really what it comes down to.”

“(He’s) probably disappointed. He likes hitting where he’s hitting. But I think he also realizes that he’s not swinging the bat the way he normally does.”

Bohm went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Wednesday’s 4-3 win and is 4-for-35 (.114) without a walk or extra-base hit in his last eight games.

He hit a two-run double in extra innings in the Phillies’ Opening Day win in D.C. but has gone 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position since.

Part of it has been bad luck. Wednesday was his worst night of the season but Bohm actually has a career-high rate of hard-hit balls and barrels so far. He’s lined out or flied out to deep center and right-center nine times — that’s one-fifth of his plate appearances. If even three of those balls fell in, he’d be hitting 66 points higher.

“I think a lot of hitters get into that at times where they’re hitting the ball hard and not getting any results and then they start tweaking things because they think they’re not doing something right,” Thomson said. “I’m not saying that’s what he’s doing but that’s what happens. You have to look at it realistically and know that things are good, it’s just bad luck right now.

“Just reminding him that he was an All-Star last year with 97 RBIs and a high batting average. It’s not like you want to move guys around but sometimes there’s a need for it and sometimes it helps the guy to just kind of relax and put himself on auto-pilot and just go play.”

It helps that Castellanos has been hitting. He’s looked comfortable at the plate since Opening Day, batting .308/.372/.538 with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and four walks.

The Phillies will hope to play fast on Thursday night. Heavy rain is expected anywhere from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Atlanta and is expected to remain consistent through the night once it begins.

Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Stock Watch: It's Zebby Matthews Time

If you’re new here, welcome. Rotoworld’s Dynasty Stock Watch is a weekly podcast for your eyes that takes a deep five into trending prospects from a long-term perspective. We’re just getting underway with the minor league season, but we’ve already experienced some significant developments already; most notably Athletics burgeoning slugger Nick Kurtz and Pirates flamethrower Bubba Chandler are the most impactful potential fantasy prospects on the verge of breaking into the majors in the coming weeks. Kurtz has homered six times in 10 games already for Triple-A Las Vegas and could reach the majors much faster than anticipated. Meanwhile, Chandler struck out eight over four shutout innings in his second start of the year for Triple-A Indianapolis.

The other notable early-season Triple-A standout on the precipice of making it back to the big leagues is new-look Twins righty Zebby Matthews. It’s not official yet as of Thursday morning, but he’s among the candidates to replace veteran Pablo López, who is likely to hit the injured list with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, in Minnesota's starting rotation. It might not happen with David Festa coming up to start Friday's series opener against Detroit, but it shouldn't be long before he's back in the majors. The 24-year-old right-hander’s significant velocity uptick from spring training has carried over into the regular season as he’s averaging nearly 97 mph on his four-seam fastball and still boasts otherworldly control. He’s racked up 13 strikeouts and allowed just two runs over 10 innings through two starts at Triple-A St. Paul. He struggled mightily in nine late-season starts last year for Minnesota, but his dramatic metamorphosis makes him one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the dynasty landscape until further notice.

Speaking of unexpected transformations, we need to talk about emerging fantasy superstar Kyren Paris for a moment. The 23-year-old infielder is clearly emphasizing putting the ball in the air more frequently following an offseason overhaul, as evidenced by a sky-high 15.9 percent launch angle. His two-homer performance on Wednesday night was extremely impressive since the homers came off ace Ryan Pepiot and elite lefty reliever Mason Montgomery. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, Paris is the fourth player ever with five home runs and four stolen bases in their first 10 games of a season. Insane. There’s statistical and anecdotal evidence to support the idea that some of this is real and sustainable, but dynasty managers need to see it over a sustained period before we’re ready to jump him several hundred spots from a long-term perspective.

Early-Season MiLB Standouts

Lazaro Montes, OF, Mariners
Montes has been hotter than the inside of a Totinos pizza roll to kick off the 2025 campaign, slashing .429/.609/1.143 with two homers and two steals through five games for High-A Everett. The 20-year-old corner outfielder’s power upside ranks among the highest of any prospect in the game, but some lingering hit tool questions kept him from upper-echelon status in Rotoworld’s Opening Day dynasty rankings update. That will change if he continues tearing the cover off the ball with stratospheric exit velocities once he reaches Double-A Arkansas. It feels like a true boom-or-bust type of profile for fantasy purposes, but he could be an absolute middle-of-the-order force for years to come, if everything comes together.

Felnin Celesten, SS, Mariners

Let’s stick with the Mariners for a moment because Celesten is showing why he was one of the top prospects from the 2023 international signing class, hitting .348 (8-for-23) with one homer, six RBI and one steal through five early-season games for Low-A Modesto. The 19-year-old prodigy was one of the most exciting performers last year in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League prior to suffering a season-ending wrist injury after just 32 games. If he can stay on the field, he’s going to be one of biggest risers from a dynasty standpoint over the next few months.

Thomas White, SP, Marlins

White blossomed into one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in the fantasy landscape last year in his professional debut, posting a 2.81 ERA and 120/38 K/BB ratio across 96 innings between Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit. The towering 6-foot-5 southpaw didn’t skip a beat in his season debut last Friday with the Sky Carp, recording seven strikeouts over four scoreless frames. His immense strikeout upside will make him a relevant fantasy contributor once he reaches the big leagues, but we’re not anticipating his arrival until sometime next year, at the earliest, since he doesn't turn 21 until late September. The front-of-the-rotation starter kit is there from a talent standpoint and he could finish the year as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, if he’s not there already.

Ryan Waldschmidt, OF, Diamondbacks

My personal affinity for Waldscmidt was highlighted previously in this space during spring training. However, it’s worth noting that he’s off to a sublime start at High-A Hillsboro, batting .600 (9-for-15) with two homers through five games. He’s walked six times and only struck out twice during that span. It’s possible the Northwest League isn’t enough of a challenge for him, so there’s a decent chance he’s promoted to Double-A Amarillo by the end of the month, if not sooner. The 22-year-old outfielder was selected 31st overall in the 2024 MLB Draft and possesses a strong combination of fantasy-relevant tools with respectable plate skills, above-average raw power and plus speed. He has a chance to move quickly through Arizona’s system and is going to make a big leap in Rotoworld’s next dynasty rankings update.

Nolan McLean, SP, Mets

McLean looked like one of the top pitching prospects in baseball last Sunday when he registered eight strikeouts over four shutout innings for Double-A Binghamton in his season debut. The 23-year-old is focusing exclusively on pitching moving forward and his sweeper looks like a true above-average offering that will generate whiffs in the majors. He cracked Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus’ Top 100 prospect lists during the offseason and figures to continue rising if he’s missing bats in the upper minors.

Braylon Payne, OF, Brewers

If you’re searching for a hitting prospect on the verge of a sustained breakout, Payne seems to fit the bill. The 18-year-old outfielder was the 17th-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and has gotten off to a torrid start at Low-A Carolina, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with one homer and five steals through five games. It’s an extremely small sample size, and he’s obviously several hyperspace jumps from the majors, but he’s a double-plus runner with game-changing speed. He’s rapidly becoming one of the most intriguing speed-oriented prospects in the long-term landscape and should obviously be rostered in all dynasty leagues.

Brandon Young, SP, Orioles

It’s a bit surprising that the injury-ravaged Orioles aren’t giving Young a shot in the majors with Zach Eflin (shoulder) becoming the latest starter to hit the injured list. It might be coming soon, but that’s not official. The 26-year-old righty has allowed two runs (zero earned) with an sparkling 11/2 K/BB ratio across 11 1/3 innings (two starts) to open the year at Triple-A Norfolk. The arsenal isn’t overpowering, but he’s generated 25 swinging strikes combined during those outings. He’s at least worthy of a speculative pickup in all dynasty formats where he’s still available.

Manuel Rodriguez, SP, Brewers

This one is a bit of a deeper cut. Dynasty Dugout’s Chris Clegg deserves a shoutout here for highlighting Rodriguez a couple weeks ago as a potential breakout candidate in Milwaukee’s impressive system. The 19-year-old piled up 11 strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings last Friday in his season debut for High-A Wisconsin, generating an eye-popping 23 swinging strikes, per Statcast data. The uptick in whiffs is noticeable considering he posted a pedestrian 20.6 percent strikeout rate last year in Low-A. He's a name to monitor in dynasty formats as an early-season helium prospect.

'Sense of relief.' Dodgers' Andy Pages trying to avoid sophomore slump, cement lineup spot

Los Angeles Dodgers Andy Pages is greeted by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel on his solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
The Dodgers' Andy Pages is greeted by Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting his second home run in two games against the Nationals on Wednesday. (John McDonnell / Associated Press)

Andy Pages shook his head with a grin, raised his clasped hands to the sky, then gave thanks with a much-needed sigh of relief.

It didn’t matter that the Dodgers were getting blown out on Tuesday night. Or that his fifth-inning home run did little to halt the team’s unexpected skid on this week’s road trip.

For one moment, for one at-bat, the second-year slugger had finally experienced a moment of reassurance, hitting a two-strike slider beyond the reach of two leaping Washington Nationals outfielders for his first long ball of the season.

"It was definitely a sense of relief,” Pages said in Spanish through a team interpreter after the game. “Just like a big, major breath of fresh air, for sure."

Read more:Dodgers snap three-game losing streak behind early burst, seventh-inning rally

Up to that point, the 2025 season had begun ominously for the 24-year-old center fielder. He was four for 35 at the plate. He had made several mental mistakes on defense and the base paths. And he’d grown increasingly burdened by the precariousness of his situation, inching ever closer to a James Outman-esque trajectory of regressing from a productive rookie season to a disheartening sophomore campaign.

Pages didn’t show those simmering emotions as he left the batter’s box Tuesday. He kept his head down and face straight as he trotted around the bases.

But back in the dugout, the once highly-touted prospect finally let himself feel some self-satisfaction. For weeks, pressure had been building around him. This was a sudden release.

“It gave me a lot more confidence,” Pages reiterated. “To get some results … was a major lift off my back.”

Despite batting .248 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs last season — a promising, if inconsistent, rookie performance punctuated by a two-home run, four-RBI performance in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series — Pages knew he’d have few certainties with this year’s title-defending team.

From the beginning of spring training, he said, “the team told me that I didn’t have a guaranteed spot, that I had to work my way to get a big-league spot.”

Although Pages broke camp as the club’s primary center fielder, his early-season struggles had been weighing on him.

“That’s added a little bit of stress to my day-to-day,” he acknowledged. “I feel good. It’s just some of the things that I’ve been working through haven’t worked out.”

Blunders in the outfield (where he has misplayed several fly balls, including a rocket from Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper last weekend) and on the bases (where he has run through stop signs and been caught twice on over-aggressive base-running decisions) were the most glaring moments of failure over the season’s first two weeks.

Read more:Without Blake Snell, Dodgers' highly touted pitching depth falters in loss to Nationals

“Some plays that I just need to make,” Pages said, “I haven’t made them.”

At the root of his frustrations, however, has been his early inability to consistently produce at the plate — where, even after collecting four hits and two home runs in his last three games, he is batting just .171 with a .648 OPS.

After all, the main reason Pages is on the big-league roster over other triple-A options such as utilityman Hyeseong Kim (the slick-fielding offseason signing from South Korea who opened the year in the minors to work on revamping his swing) and outfielder Esteury Ruiz (the 2023 American League stolen base leader the Dodgers acquired from the Oakland A’s last week) is because of his bat.

Thus, even over an exceedingly small sample size entering this week’s series in Washington, his lagging overall numbers had become cause for concern.

“I’m trying to do the things that I can do every day, to work hard, to get better at the plate, making adjustments,” Pages said on Monday, when manager Dave Roberts kept him out of the lineup to let him reset mentally.

“I’ve been doing a lot of good things,” he insisted. “But balls aren’t falling.”

To Roberts, Pages’ slump had less to do with swing mechanics, and more with “passivity” in his offensive approach.

An aggressive hitter ordinarily, Pages had seemed too cautious in the box in the early going this year. Batting near the bottom of the Dodgers lineup — often, in the No. 9 hole with Shohei Ohtani behind him in the leadoff spot — he started taking more pitches than usual, and shortening his swing to go the other way.

It has helped Pages walk more, drawing free passes at double the rate he did last year. But the pop in his bat had gone missing. Routine fly outs to right field were an overly common occurrence.

“Just to be a little bit more aggressive, shifting the field a little bit more towards the center, the big part of the field, I think would be more beneficial,” Roberts said.

Tuesday’s home run, hit on an arching line to the left-center-field bullpen, served as a long-awaited first example.

Another came on Wednesday afternoon, in two starkly contrasting mid-game at-bats.

Andy Pages makes a running catch.
Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages makes a running catch during the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Nationals. (John McDonnell / Associated Press)

In the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ series finale against the Nationals, Pages took three consecutive thigh-high, center-cut sinkers from right-hander Jake Irvin, kicking himself after going down looking with Ohtani looming on deck.

“I'm not used to hitting in that part of the order, and I'm trying to see as many pitches as I can,” Pages said, concurring with Roberts’ assessment of his overly conservative early-season approach. “Sometimes I get too passive for that reason, which isn't good for me.”

Thus, his next time up in the top of the seventh, Pages swung at three straight sliders from reliever Eduardo Salazar. The first two, he whiffed on. But the third, which was left up in the zone and out over the plate, he launched to the left field seats for a game-tying blast — his second home run in a 24-hour span.

“I just tell him to go aggressive,” said veteran teammate Teoscar Hernández, who has become a close mentor of Pages’ since early last season. “He’s an aggressive hitter. So just get ready to hit.”

Roberts agreed, noting Pages is still “calibrating” the right balance of patience and aggression.

“He needs to kind of figure out where his strengths are in the hitting zone,” Roberts added, “and if he sees it there, then just be as aggressive as you need to be.”

Read more:After 'honor' of White House visit, Shohei Ohtani picking up where he left off in 2024

It’s all part of the continuing education for Pages; the kind of growing pains the Dodgers are willing to tolerate, for now, in hopes he can blossom into a more consistent offensive force as an everyday big-league player.

There are still defensive fundamentals to drill home, and baserunning mistakes to eliminate.

There are still alternatives down the depth chart, too, if Pages can’t turn this week’s two-homer outburst into a more prolonged period of success.

But, “for him to start getting results is good,” said another veteran teammate, Kiké Hernández. “I know what it is to be young and struggling in the big leagues. There’s people behind you trying to take your job. I know how that feels. But once you start getting a little more calm and loose — that’s what it seems like with his at-bats right now. He’s starting to get in a rhythm.”

Added Teoscar Hernández, with a wide smile after Pages’ home run on Wednesday helped lead the Dodgers to a come-from-behind win: “He's gonna hit. He's a good hitter. He's gonna be fine. And he's gonna help us a lot this year, too.”

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Mets at Athletics: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 11-13

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Athletics play a three-game series in Sacramento beginning on Friday at 10:05 p.m. on SNY.


Preview

How much more leeway does Brett Baty have?

Baty's offensive struggles continued during the Mets' series against the Marlins, and he also had a major defensive miscue -- with his errant throw to second base leading to two Marlins runs during Wednesday's loss.

As far as his issues at the plate, Baty continued to routinely fall behind in counts, expand the zone, and make weak contact.

After Wednesday's game, he said part of what's hurting him is "indecision," adding that it could also be "pinned" to confidence.

Through 27 plate appearances over 10 games, Baty is slashing .111/.111/.148 with 11 strikeouts.

Jeff McNeil is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, meaning his return could come within the next 10 days or so. That means Baty doesn't have much time left -- at least this time around -- to prove he can hit at the big league level.

Is Kodai Senga about to be unleashed?

Senga, coming off a season mostly lost due to injury, has understandably been treated with kid gloves a bit during his first two starts.

That included his outing against the Marlins on Monday, when he tossed 5.0 shutout frames but was pulled at just 77 pitches.

Senga's first start also ended after 5.0 innings and 77 pitches.

His results have been strong, though, with Senga carrying a 1.80 ERA (2.80 FIP), 1.10 WHIP and 10.8 strikeout rate into Sunday's tilt against the A's.

Given that Senga has two starts under his belt and will be pitching in much warmer weather in Sacramento compared to the frigid Citi Field, now seems like the time to start stretching him out.

Welcome to Sacramento

The A's, who are without a true home for the next few years as they wait for their ballpark in Las Vegas to (hopefully) be ready after they sadly left Oakland in the dust, are playing this season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

The ballpark, which is the home of the Giants' Triple-A affiliate and has a capacity of roughly 14,000, has been a hitter's haven during the Athletics' first six games there.

In those six games, there have bee a combined 18 home runs hit and 70 runs scored. So this could possibly be an inviting scenario for the Mets' offense, and maybe a coming-out party power-wise for Juan Soto.

New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) hits a home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The A's, meanwhile, remain not very good.

They are 5-8 overall, 3-7 over their last 10 games, and have a -17 run differential that's the worst in the American League and third-worst in baseball.

The Athletics' lineup has some serious threats, including Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker -- two players the Mets should be careful with in an effort to exploit the weaker parts of the lineup.

Pete Alonso is sizzling

Alonso remains locked in.

He's slashing .333/.451/.667 with three home runs and five doubles in 51 plate appearances over 12 games. And Alonso is hitting the ball incredibly hard -- his average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage are all in the 99th percentile.

Just as encouraging as Alonso's results: the process.

He has been totally in control in most of his at-bats, showing an elite ability to put the barrel on the ball and terrific patience -- something that is even more apparent when you look at his strikeout rate (he's in the 92nd percentile) and walk rate (83rd percentile).

Hello, Luis Severino

Severino, one of the starting pitchers who helped the Mets make their memorable run to the NLCS last season, signed a two-year deal with the A's during the offseason that contained a player option for 2027.

It's been a mixed bag for Severino during his first three starts for the Athletics.

He fired 6.0 shutout innings on Opening Day, but has been touched up for five earned runs in each of his last two starts.

Severino gets the ball against Senga in Sunday's series finale.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Mark Vientos

It's been tough sledding for Vientos so far, but he's reached base in five straight games and is seeing the ball much better.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Kodai Senga

Senga has been very effective so far despite still shaking off the rust.

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

Shea Langeliers

The backstop has already popped three homers this season.

Yankees vs. Giants: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 11-13

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees return home to face the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series starting on Friday.


Preview

Have the bats warmed up?

The Yankees are sure glad to be out of Detroit.

In a frigid three-game series, New York scored just five runs -- and four of them came in Wednesday's win. The Bombers faced some great pitching, including being blanked by reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, but this lineup should be putting up more runs than what they have done so far this week.

Perhaps returning home, despite the anticipated cold, wet weather, will help what ails this Yankees offense.

Facing elite NL West pitching

The last time the Yankees hosted an NL West team, two of the Diamondbacks' best three pitchers held them down in an eventual series win. It'll be just as tough when the 9-3 Giants come to town.

San Francisco will have former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (3.18 ERA) start the series before Jordan Hicks (2.38 ERA) takes the mound. The series will finish Sunday with perennial Cy Young contender Logan Webb (1.89 ERA) on the bump. New York's bats will need to have warmed up to take on this trio of Giants starters, but it's also a great early-season measuring stick to test this lineup.

Will Warren's final start?

Warren has made two starts this season, one good and one not so much.

With Clarke Schmidt scheduled for his last rehab start on Thursday, one depth starter will lose his spot in the rotation. Is that Carlos Carrasco, Marcus Stroman, or Warren?

It won't likely to be Stroman -- who pitches Friday -- as his contract likely makes him safe for now. Carrasco's excellent spring hasn't carried over in the early going, while Warren has minor league options remaining. It'll be interesting to see which direction the organization goes, but Warren could make the decision even harder with a great performance on Saturday.

Apr 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Devin Williams (38) in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Apr 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Devin Williams (38) in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Can Devin Williams bounce back?

Williams has struggled to start the season. His last outing saw the dominant closer allow three runs and almost blow an eventual 4-3 win against the Tigers on Wednesday.

The former Brewer is a notoriously slow starter, so this could be just that. But having an easy outing this weekend would go a long way to boosting Williams' confidence with his new team and help ingratiate himself with the fans

Will Paul Goldschmidt's revival continue?

The most pleasant surprise of the early season has been Goldschmidt's effectiveness at the plate. The former NL MVP is hitting .383 with an OBP of .431 and an OPS of .942. Now, his power numbers aren't there -- just one home run and three RBI in his first 12 games -- but he's doing what the team is asking of him, and that's get on base.

He currently has a six-game hitting streak and has multi-hit games in his last three contests. Goldschmidt has hit in the leadoff spot in eight games this year and is batting 6-for-13 (.414) with two doubles, one home run, and has walked twice.

The Giants will have two righties on the mound this weekend, so Goldschmidt will likely not lead off every game. But when he does, we'll see if he can continue to be effective.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Aaron Judge

Whenever the Yanks need a jolt from the offense, Judge is not far behind.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Carlos Rodon

Rodon has pitched pretty well this season, even when his stat line doesn't reflect that, and I see that continuing.

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

Willy Adames

Adames comes to the Bronx as a Giant for the first time after spending his first seven seasons with the Rays and Brewers. Playing with Tampa Bay, Adames grew familiar with the Yankees and Yankee Stadium. For his career in the Bronx, Adames is hitting .307 with eight doubles, five home runs, and nine RBI in 29 games.

Phillies at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Phillies (8-3) are in Atlanta to wrap up their three-game series with the Braves (2-9). These rivals have split the first two games.

Jesús Luzardo is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Spencer Schwellenbach for Atlanta.

Trea Turner went yard against Raisel Iglesias in the ninth inning yesterday to propel the Phillies to a 4-3 victory. Bryce Harper also went deep to help secure their eighth win of the season.

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 Phillies at Braves

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, FDSNSO

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

Odds for the Phillies at the Braves

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (+105), Braves (-125)
  • Spread:  Braves -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Jesús Luzardo vs. Spencer Schwellenbach
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo (2-0, 1.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Dodgers - 7IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 8Ks
    • Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Miami - 8IP, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 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 Phillies at Braves

  • 7 of the Phillies' last 9 games have stayed UNDER the Total
  • The Braves are 4-7 on the Run Line this season
  • Alec Bohm is just 1-18 in his last 4 games (.056)
  • Trea Turner is 9-28 (.321) in the month of April

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 Phillies and the Braves

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Phillies and the Braves:

  • 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 Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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

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

Blue Jays at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Blue Jays (8-5) take the field at Fenway looking for the four-game sweep of the Red Sox (6-7).

Chris Bassitt is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Walker Buehler for Boston.

Last night the Blue Jays outlasted the Sox, 2-1, in eleven innings. Bo Bichette drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly and Kevin Gausman combined with two Toronto relievers to allow just four hits and one unearned run.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Red Sox

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 4:10PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: Sportsnet, 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 Blue Jays at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (-105), Red Sox (-114)
  • Spread:  Red Sox 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Chris Bassitt vs. Walker Buehler
    • Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.71 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/5 at Mets - 6.2IP, 0ER, 4H, 0BB, 9Ks
    • Red Sox: Walker Buehler (1-1, 8.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. St. Louis - 5IP, 5ER, 7H, 1BB, 4Ks

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

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

  • In their last 3 series, the Jays have swept Washington, been swept by the Mets, and are looking now to sweep the Red Sox
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. is 5-13 (.385) in this series
  • The Blue Jays' last 10 games have stayed UNDER the Total
  • The Red Sox are 4-8-1 (O/U) 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 today’s game between the Blue Jays and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Blue Jays and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Toronto Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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)

ICYMI in Mets Land: Francisco Alvarez nearing return; Mark Vientos about to break out?

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...


The biggest issue Red Sox need to clean up amid bumpy start to season

The biggest issue Red Sox need to clean up amid bumpy start to season originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Welcome to the roller-coaster ride that is the Boston Red Sox’ 2025 season.

After dropping four of their first five games, the Red Sox promptly ripped off five straight wins that included a home-opening sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals — and then promptly dropped three in a row to the Toronto Blue Jays, scoring just four runs over 29 innings.

It’s far too early to make any grand proclamations about a club that’s 6-7 after just 13 games. But there’s one troubling trend this team is showing that needs to be addressed: strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

Exhibit A came in the 10th inning of Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays, when the Red Sox had the game-winning run on third base with one out and Trevor Story at the plate. Boston had a win probability of 83 percent at that point, per MLB.com, as any contact from Story likely would have resulted in a walk-off win.

Instead, Story struck out swinging, and Kristian Campbell followed with a strikeout of his own to end the inning. The Blue Jays plated a run in the top of the 11th and held on in the bottom half (thanks to a David Hamilton strikeout with a runner on second and no outs) for the 2-1 win.

The Red Sox have struck out 43 times with runners in scoring position through 13 games, an average of 3.3 per game and the most in Major League Baseball as of Thursday.

They went 0-for-11 as a team with runners in scoring position Wednesday night and are hitting .248 in those situations, a number that would be much lower if they didn’t go 12-for-24 with RISP during an 18-run outburst against the Cardinals in their home opener.

This isn’t a new issue for Boston, either: Alex Cora’s club racked up 404 strikeouts with runners in scoring position in 2024 (second-most in the majors) while hitting .247 in those situations.

And when the game gets close, the Red Sox’ bats get quieter: In “Late/Close” situations — seventh inning or later and the score within one run — Boston is hitting a putrid .170 this season with 19 strikeouts (tied for fourth-most in MLB) in six such games.

Again, it’s a small sample size, and some of their recent offensive struggles can be attributed to frigid temperatures at Fenway over the past week. But if the Red Sox want to snap out of their offensive mini-slump and be more productive going forward, they need to make a dedicated effort to at least putting the ball in play with runners on second and third base.

“I think they made some good pitches against us, but obviously we haven’t put together the same quality of at-bats,” third baseman Alex Bregman said after Wednesday’s loss, via MLB.com. “We look forward to [Thursday] and trying to do that.”

The Red Sox wrap up their series with the Blue Jays on Thursday at 4:10 p.m. ET.

Brewers at Rockies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Brewers (7-5) are in Denver looking to sweep their three-game series against the Rockies (2-9).

Quinn Priester is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Ryan Feltner for Colorado.

Milwaukee scored in only three innings yesterday but tallied 17 runs in those three innings enroute to a 17-2 win. Jackson Chourio picked up a couple hits and drove in five runs to lead the onslaught for the Brewers. Chourio now has 16 RBIs on the season.

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 Rockies

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 3:10PM EST
  • Site: Coors Field
  • City: Denver, CO
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNWI, COLR

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

Odds for the Brewers at the Rockies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Brewers (-116), Rockies (-104)
  • Spread:  Brewers -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Rockies

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Quinn Priester vs. Ryan Feltner
    • Brewers: Quinn Priester
      2024: 11GP, 49.2IP, 3-6, 6.15 ERA, 14BB, 33Ks
    • Rockies: Ryan Feltner (0-0, 3.60 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Athletics - 5IP, 2ER, 8H, 1BB, 4Ks

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 Rockies

  • The Brewers have won 7 of their last 8 games
  • The Rockies have failed to cover the Run Line in 8 of 11 games this season
  • Game Totals in Brewers' games are 6-6 (O/U) 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 today’s game between the Brewers and the Rockies

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Brewers and the Rockies:

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

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

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)

Twins at Royals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Twins (4-8) are in Kansas City to wrap up their series with the Royals (6-6).

Bailey Ober is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Michael Wacha for Kansas City.

Kansas City took the first two games of the series, but Minnesota claimed a 4-0 victory yesterday. Ty France and Matt Wallner went deep for the Twins and Joe Ryan tossed seven shutout innings.

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 Twins at Royals

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 2:10PM EST
  • Site: Kauffman Stadium
  • City: Kansas City, MO
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, FDSNKC

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 Twins at the Royals

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (+104), Royals (-124)
  • Spread:  Royals 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Royals

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Bailey Ober vs. Michael Wacha
    • Twins: Bailey Ober (0-1, 12.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/5 vs. Houston - 4IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 5Ks
    • Royals: Michael Wacha (0-2, 4.66 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/5 vs. Baltimore - 5.2IP, 4ER, 6H, 1BB, 5Ks

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

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Royals

  • The Twins have lost 3 of their last 4 games
  • Each of the last 7 games between the Twins and the Royals have stayed UNDER the Total
  • The Royals last 4 games overall have stayed UNDER the Game Total
  • The Royals are 5-7 on the Run Line this season

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Royals

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Twins and the Royals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Kansas City Royals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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)

White Sox at Guardians prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the White Sox (2-9) are in Cleveland to wrap up their series against the Guardians (5-6). Cleveland has pulled out a couple of one-run games through the first two games of the series.

Jonathan Cannon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Gavin Williams for Cleveland.

Yesterday, Cleveland knocked off the White Sox, 3-2. The Guardians collected just three hits on the day but also were afforded seven walks by the White Sox pitchers. The two combined to provide just enough offense to win the game. One of those hits was Carlos Santana's second home run of the season.

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 White Sox at Guardians

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: CHSN, CLEG

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 White Sox at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+187), Guardians (-227)
  • Spread:  Guardians -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: Jonathan Cannon vs. Gavin Williams
    • White Sox: Jonathan Cannon (0-1, 3.12 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 at Detroit - 3.2IP, 3ER, 3H, 3BB, 3Ks
    • Guardians: Gavin Williams (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 at Angels - 3IP, 2ER, 5H, 3BB, 5Ks

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

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

  • Despite being 2-9, the White Sox are 7-4 on the Run Line this season
  • The Guardians have won their last 3 games and 4 of their last 5 against divisional opponents
  • The Guardians last 3 games have stayed UNDER the Game Total
  • The Guardians have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 straight 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!

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Guardians 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)

Angels at Rays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 10

Its Thursday, April 10 and the Angels (7-4) are in Tampa to wrap up their series with the Rays (5-6).

José Soriano is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Zack Littell for Tampa Bay.

Each team has won a game in this three-game set. Yesterday, Jose Caballero delivered his first career grand slam as the Rays outslugged the Angels, 5-4. Caballero's blast was one of six home runs in the game. Ryan Pepiot gave up three runs over five innings to earn his first win of the season for Tampa.

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 Angels at Rays

  • Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
  • City: Tampa, FL
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNW, FDSNSUN

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

Odds for the Angels at the Rays

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Angels (+111), Rays (-131)
  • Spread:  Rays -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Rays

  • Pitching matchup for April 10, 2025: José Soriano vs. Zack Littell
    • Angels: José Soriano (1-1, 3.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 vs. Cleveland - 5.1IP, 5ER, 5H, 3BB, 9Ks
    • Rays: Zack Littell (0-2, 4.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/4 at Texas - 7IP, 5ER, 6H, 2BB, 3Ks

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 Angels at Rays

  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the Rays' last 5 home games and 6-2 to the UNDER at home for the season
  • The Angels have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 11 games against the Rays
  • The Angels are 6-5 on the Run Line this season
  • Tampa Bay is 3-8 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 today’s game between the Angels and the Rays

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Angels and the Rays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play 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)

Prep talk: Max Fried vs. Jack Flaherty excites Harvard-Westlake fans

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Yankees pitcher Max Fried pitched seven shutout innings against the Tigers on Wednesday, striking out 11 while giving up five hits and no walks. (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

What a morning it was on Wednesday for Harvard-Westlake coaches, players and fans. If they had access to the Internet or a television, they wanted to see what happened in the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers because the starting pitching matchup had Max Fried taking on Jack Flaherty.

They were teammates at Harvard-Westlake in 2012. Fried was a senior and Flaherty was a freshman.

Their coach, Matt LaCour, watched from Harvard-Westlake. Asked before the game who he was rooting for, LaCour said, "I'm rooting for a 0-0 game going into the eighth inning."

It almost went as LaCour wanted. Fried threw seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts. Flaherty threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. The Yankees ended up with a 4-3 victory.

One question that stumped LaCour was which player was the better hitter in high school. He finally said "Fried," but added that Flaherty was "the better position player. "

Here's the report from MLB.com on the game.

Brayden Burries, The Times' player of the year from Eastvale Roosevelt, has committed to Arizona for basketball.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.