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Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series

Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies snagged a tight win Friday night to open their series with the Diamondbacks and Kyle Schwarber starred. 

In a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, Schwarber went 2 for 3 with a game-tying home run and two RBIs. He’s now at 10 homers on the season and three of those have come in the last four days. 

With a no-decision, starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo stayed at 3-0 as a Phillie. Luzardo pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and two runs. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

The southpaw was unbothered by two Diamondbacks singles in the first inning, responding with three swinging strikeouts. Schwarber lined an RBI double off the base of the right-field wall in the bottom of the first, putting the Phillies on top and growing his on-base streak to 38 games. 

Arizona had good, lengthy at-bats against Luzardo, but the D-Backs were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings. His pitch count soared, though. 

Luzardo leaned on his sweeper vs. Arizona’s lefties and threw it 36.8 percent of the time overall. His season strikeout-to-walk numbers against left-handers remain highly impressive. Across seven starts, Luzardo has struck out 20 lefties and walked zero. 

The D-Backs tied it up in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a leadoff double and reached third base on an Alek Thomas ground out. Luzardo then jammed Geraldo Perdomo, but the ball drifted just over Trea Turner at shortstop.

Luzardo couldn’t make it out of the sixth. Gabriel Moreno lifted a deep fly ball to center field with one out that Cal Stevenson tracked awkwardly and failed to catch at the wall. A Gurriel single gave Arizona a 2-1 lead. 

Merrill Kelly pitched five solid innings and the Diamondbacks turned to their bullpen for the last four. The Phillies feasted against Jose Castillo in the bottom of the seventh.

Schwarber started the frame by cracking a first-pitch Castillo fastball over the fence. Two batters later, Max Kepler smoked a 1-1 slider 422 feet, very comfortably over the right-center wall.

Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jordan Romano and Jose Alvarado all did scoreless work out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Johan Rojas was very helpful for Alvarado, making a speedy, gutsy play to begin the ninth.

He sprinted to left-center, nabbed a Gurriel liner and hung on to the ball after crashing hard into the wall. Rojas was slow to rise to his feet but stayed in the game. Alvarado then retired the next two batters without any issue to cement the win and bring the Phillies to 18-14 on the season.

The center-field picture 

Stevenson started his first game of the season in center field and was 1 for 2. He got picked off first base in the fifth inning after an opposite-field knock. 

Rojas was on the bench until he replaced Stevenson in the eighth inning. Thomson said the decision was unrelated to Rojas’ risky triple in the ninth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Nationals, though he talked with him about the play. 

“Just a day off,” Thomson said. “Might give him another one. He’s played every day and he’s got some body soreness — just general — but he’s fine.”

Brandon Marsh appears on the verge of rejoining the Phillies after playing rehab games Thursday and Friday with Triple A Lehgh Valley. Marsh “could be” active Saturday vs. the Diamondbacks, per Thomson. 

Rojas’ bat has been a bright spot at the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup — the 24-year-old is hitting .305 with a 115 OPS+ — but he’s made some prominent defensive mistakes. What will Marsh’s return mean for him? 

“Don’t really know, but Rojas has played very well,” Thomson said. “I like where his swing is at right now. We just have to play it by ear.”

Painter moving up 

Andrew Painter’s stint with Single A Clearwater is over. 

The Phillies’ top prospect is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley next Thursday and throw approximately 60-65 pitches, Thomson said. 

Painter started four times with Clearwater, totaling 11 1/3 innings. He had a 3.97 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one walk. 

“Very good,” Thomson said. “Healthy and the stuff has been good. Even though he gave up a couple home runs last night, I think we ramp up the competition now a little bit.”

On deck 

While Thomson has yet to announce Taijuan Walker’s role with Ranger Suarez back in the fold, he said Cristopher Sanchez will start Wednesday against the Rays. 

These are the Phillies’ starters through that game: 

  • Aaron Nola on Saturday vs. Arizona
  • Suarez on Sunday vs. Arizona
  • Zack Wheeler on Tuesday at Tampa Bay 
  • Sanchez on Wednesday at Tampa Bay 
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Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series

Schwarber keeps slugging and Phils snag tight win to open D-Backs series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies snagged a tight win Friday night to open their series with the Diamondbacks and Kyle Schwarber starred. 

In a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park, Schwarber went 2 for 3 with a game-tying home run and two RBIs. He’s now at 10 homers on the season and three of those have come in the last four days. 

With a no-decision, starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo stayed at 3-0 as a Phillie. Luzardo pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and two runs. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk.

The southpaw was unbothered by two Diamondbacks singles in the first inning, responding with three swinging strikeouts. Schwarber lined an RBI double off the base of the right-field wall in the bottom of the first, putting the Phillies on top and growing his on-base streak to 38 games. 

Arizona had good, lengthy at-bats against Luzardo, but the D-Backs were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings. His pitch count soared, though. 

Luzardo leaned on his sweeper vs. Arizona’s lefties and threw it 36.8 percent of the time overall. His season strikeout-to-walk numbers against left-handers remain highly impressive. Across seven starts, Luzardo has struck out 20 lefties and walked zero. 

The D-Backs tied it up in the fourth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a leadoff double and reached third base on an Alek Thomas ground out. Luzardo then jammed Geraldo Perdomo, but the ball drifted just over Trea Turner at shortstop.

Luzardo couldn’t make it out of the sixth. Gabriel Moreno lifted a deep fly ball to center field with one out that Cal Stevenson tracked awkwardly and failed to catch at the wall. A Gurriel single gave Arizona a 2-1 lead. 

While not at his peak form, Luzardo took pride in gritting out difficult innings Friday.

“I feel like that’s key for me, just maturing throughout my career,” he said. “I feel like a couple years back, I would’ve probably just gone three, four (innings) max and given up a lot more runs. Throughout this season, even when I’m not my best, we’re able to weather the storm, make it work and try to save the bullpen as much as possible.”

Schwarber has been struck by “the way he competes.”

“There’s not many things that faze the kid,” he said of Luzardo. “When he’s on the mound, it’s just him, the catcher and the hitter. There’s nobody else in his world, it looks like. It’s just laser focus. He comes off the mound and sometimes I’m walking out of the cage … and it’s just like he’s staring a hole right through me. And I’m like, ’Nice, I like that.’ 

“You get (perceptions) of guys when you play against them, but when you have them on your team, you really see the way that they work and the way they go about their business. It’s cool.” 

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly pitched five solid innings and Arizona turned to its bullpen for the last four. The Phillies feasted against Jose Castillo in the bottom of the seventh.

Schwarber started the frame by cracking a first-pitch Castillo fastball over the fence. Two batters later, Max Kepler smoked a 1-1 slider 422 feet, very comfortably over the right-center wall.

Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks, Jordan Romano and Jose Alvarado all did scoreless work out of the Phillies’ bullpen. Johan Rojas was very helpful for Alvarado, making a speedy, gutsy play to begin the ninth.

He sprinted to left-center, nabbed a Gurriel liner and hung on to the ball after crashing hard into the wall. Rojas was slow to rise to his feet but stayed in the game.

He said postgame he felt “fine” physically.

“I’m feeling the best because we won,” Rojas said. 

Alvarado retired the next two batters without any issue to cement the win and bring the Phillies to 18-14 on the season.

The center-field picture 

Stevenson started his first game of the year in center field and was 1 for 2. He got picked off first base in the fifth inning after an opposite-field knock. 

Rojas was on the bench until he replaced Stevenson in the eighth inning. Thomson said the decision was unrelated to Rojas’ risky triple in the ninth inning of Thursday’s loss to the Nationals, though he talked with him about the play. 

“Just a day off,” Thomson said. “Might give him another one. He’s played every day and he’s got some body soreness — just general — but he’s fine.”

Brandon Marsh appears on the verge of rejoining the Phillies after playing rehab games Thursday and Friday with Triple A Lehigh Valley. Marsh “could be” active Saturday vs. the Diamondbacks, per Thomson. 

Rojas’ bat has been a bright spot at the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup — the 24-year-old is hitting .305 with a 115 OPS+ — but he’s made some prominent defensive mistakes. What will Marsh’s return mean for him? 

“Don’t really know, but Rojas has played very well,” Thomson said. “I like where his swing is at right now. We just have to play it by ear.”

Painter moving up 

Andrew Painter’s stint with Single A Clearwater is over. 

The Phillies’ top prospect is scheduled to start for Lehigh Valley next Thursday and throw approximately 60-65 pitches, Thomson said. 

Painter started four times with Clearwater, totaling 11 1/3 innings. He had a 3.97 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one walk. 

“Very good,” Thomson said. “Healthy and the stuff has been good. Even though he gave up a couple home runs last night, I think we ramp up the competition now a little bit.”

On deck 

While Thomson has yet to announce Taijuan Walker’s role with Ranger Suarez back in the fold, he said Cristopher Sanchez will start Wednesday against the Rays. 

These are the Phillies’ starters through that game: 

  • Aaron Nola on Saturday vs. Arizona
  • Suarez on Sunday vs. Arizona
  • Zack Wheeler on Tuesday at Tampa Bay 
  • Sanchez on Wednesday at Tampa Bay 
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Mets recall RHP Austin Warren, option RHP Ty Adcock to Triple-A

Ahead of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, the Mets made a roster move to bolster the bullpen.

RHP Austin Warren was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, while RHP Ty Adcock, who was selected to the major league roster on Thursday, was optioned back to Triple-A.

Adcock entered the game down 4-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth, allowing one hit and walking one over 0.1 IP.

Warren has pitched to a 4.35 ERA over seven appearances in the minors this season, recording 14 strikeouts with nine walks over 10.1 IP. The 29-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018 and made his MLB debut in 2021. He pitched in 32 games for LA across three seasons (2021-2023), owning a 3.55 ERA with 31 strikeouts.

Warren was designated for assignment by the Angels prior to the 2024 season and then signed with the San Francisco Giants, where he appeared in six big league games (1.69 ERA with seven strikeouts over 10.2 IP). The Mets claimed him off waivers on Jan. 15.

Additionally, New York announced that RHP Paul Blackburn (right knee inflammation), who's yet to pitch in the majors this season, was placed on a rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn. Blackburn pitched two innings for the Cyclones on April 19, allowing one run on two hits (one HR) while walking two over 38 pitches. He had a 5.68 ERA over five spring training outings before landing on the injured list late in camp.

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Hoglund makes ‘good impression' by filleting Marlins in Athletics debut

Hoglund makes ‘good impression' by filleting Marlins in Athletics debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics’ No. 14 overall prospect, right-handed pitcher Gunnar Hoglund, tossed a six-inning gem in his MLB debut to help his team win its third straight game, 6-0 over the Miami Marlins, on Friday at loanDepot park. 

The 25-year-old was called up on Thursday to address the Green and Gold’s recent rotational struggles.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Hoglund said on “A’s Cast” with NBC Sports California’s Dallas Braden and Jenny Cavnar after allowing just one run in the win. “I’m just so thankful it went the way it did. I didn’t have much sleep after I got the call. I woke up today just trying to treat it like another game, but it’s not another game – it’s your first one.

“You want to make a good impression, and I’m just glad I had everything working today.”

Hoglund sure did make a good first impression in his home state of Florida.

He needed just 81 pitches to finish with seven strikeouts while allowing six hits in front of his thrilled family and friends in attendance.

“Outstanding performance by the young man,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told reporters postgame. “You know, he, from Pitch 1, seemed to be really focused. You couldn’t really tell if there were any nerves or not. He came right out and attacked. That was a great night for the young man. 

“I think any time you get a guy that can go six innings in a game and have a quality start the first time out, that’s pretty impressive.”

Hoglund trusted his four-seam fastball, which he threw 34 times, and supplemented with a mix of his sinker, changeup and slider.

He shook Marlins designated hitter Agustín Ramírez with an 87-mph changeup in the first inning to earn his first career MLB strikeout.

The Athletics cruised top-to-bottom in Miami as their offense provided six runs in the first five innings to support Hoglund. Jacob Wilson, JJ Bleday, Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers all had one RBI, and the bullpen – Hogan Harris and Noah Murdock – finished Hoglund’s stellar debut unscathed.

Hoglund entered having carried a 2.43 ERA with 30 strikeouts through over six starts for Triple-A Las Vegas. His Athletics career starting quite ideally is no surprise.

And don’t look now, but the Green and Gold carry an 18-15 record and trail the Seattle Mariners (18-12) by 1.5 games for first in the narrow AL West. The Athletics were 16-17 after 33 games in 2024 and ultimately finished fourth.

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Walker Buehler placed on injured list with shoulder issue

Walker Buehler placed on injured list with shoulder issue originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Just when the Boston Red Sox rotation appeared to be at full strength, it lost another starter due to injury.

On Friday, the Red Sox placed right-hander Walker Buehler on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. Brayan Bello will start in Buehler’s place for Friday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.

There is optimism within the organization that Buehler’s injury won’t sideline him for long. Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Friday that the ailment isn’t believed to be serious.

“Shoulder inflammation. He’s gonna go on the IL,” Cora said. “We don’t think it’s that serious. Miss two starts and hopefully be back as soon as the days (on the IL) are over.”

The hope is that Buehler can avoid a rehab stint and return to the big-league club as soon as his time on the IL is up.

“We’ll talk about it, but I’m not too worried about it,” Cora added. “(Head Athletic Trainer) Brandon (Henry) is not either, so hopefully, like I said, it’s something he misses two starts and is right back with us.”

Buehler’s injury comes shortly after Bello and Lucas Giolito’s returns from the IL. Bello missed time with a shoulder strain, and Giolito had a hamstring injury after missing all of 2024 with a torn UCL.

The Red Sox signed Buehler to a one-year contract in the offseason. The 30-year-old was coming off a down season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in his return from his second Tommy John surgery, though he bounced back to give the World Series champions big innings throughout their postseason run.

Buehler is 4-1 with a 4.28 ERA and 29 strikeouts through six starts with Boston this season.

With Buehler on the IL, the Red Sox called up rookie right-hander Hunter Dobbins. He’ll take the mound for Saturday’s game against Minnesota.

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Juuso Parssinen Signs Two-Year Contract Extension With Rangers

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have agreed on a two-year contract extension with forward Juuso Parssinen. 

The contract extension is reportedly expected to carry an average annual value of $1.25 million. 

The Rangers Have High Hopes For Juuso Parssinen That Go Far Beyond This SeasonThe Rangers Have High Hopes For Juuso Parssinen That Go Far Beyond This SeasonThe Rangers may have acquired a hidden gem and nobody knows about him yet. His name is Juuso Parssinen. 

The Rangers acquired Parssinen at a time around the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline in a deal that sent Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was interested in acquiring Parssinen for months due to the fact that he really believed in his potential and upside. 

However, Parssinen wasn’t an every day player for the Blueshirts as he was scratched out of the lineup on multiple occasions. 

In 11 games with the Rangers this season, the 24-year-old recorded two goals, three assists, and five points while averaging 9:46 minutes.

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Miami Marlins' Matt Mervis painfully takes ball to groin on throw vs. Athletics

Miami Marlins' Matt Mervis painfully takes ball to groin on throw vs. Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As NBC Sports California announcer Dallas Braden eloquently pointed out, Miami Marlins first baseman Matt Mervis failed his cup check Friday night at loanDepot park.

In the top of the fifth inning, Athletics second baseman Luis Urias hit a grounder to Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards, who threw a scud to first base.

Mervis tried to short-hop the throw, but it caught him below the belt, sending him into immediate pain.

Urias reached on the error and Athletics right fielder Seth Brown raced around from second base to give the Green and Gold a 6-0 lead.

Mervis buried his face in his glove as he tried to hide the pain he was experiencing.

Miami’s trainer came out to check on Mervis, but as Braden noted, there’s not much that can be done for a player in this situation.

After about a minute, Mervis said he was good to go and the trainer returned to the Marlins’ dugout.

The good news for Mervis is that he was able to stay in the game. But he’s probably going to be sore for a few days.

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Twins at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Twins (13-19) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (17-16). Joe Ryan is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Brayan Bello for Boston.

Boston has lost the past two games to Toronto after winning three straight before that, which is similar to Minnesota who's dropped three straight after four consecutive wins.

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 Twins at Red Sox

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, 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 Twins at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-106), Red Sox (-113)
  • Spread:  Red Sox 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Joe Ryan vs. Brayan Bello
    • Twins: Joe Ryan, (2-2, 3.18 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 11 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Brayan Bello, (2-0, 3.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 6,0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 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 Twins and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Twins:

"Bello is making his third start of the season and while Boston has won both of those games, too many people may buy into that during a pick-em. Ryan is coming off an excellent start (11 Ks, 0 ER, 7 IP), while Bello allowed three earned runs and walked three over six innings of work. Neither team has figured it out yet, but I trust Minnesota to figure out Bello, so I'd have to lean toward Minnesota.

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 Friday’s game between the Twins and the Red Sox:

  • 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 Minnesota Twins 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

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

  • The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Twins' last 5 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)
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Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April

Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kristian Campbell’s MLB career couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start.

The No. 2 ranked Boston Red Sox prospect cracked the Opening Day roster as the club’s starting second baseman and has done nothing but rake since his big-league debut. Through 29 games, Campbell is slashing .301/.407/.495 with four home runs and 12 RBI.

On Friday, the league recognized Campbell’s hot start with the American League Rookie of the Month honor for March and April. New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuña earned the award in the National League.

Campbell is third on the Red Sox in doubles (eight), walks (19), and slugging percentage (.495), second in batting average (.301), and first in on-base percentage (.407). He ranks ninth in MLB in OBP.

If Campbell’s success is an indication of what’s to come from his fellow top Red Sox prospects, the future is bright for Boston. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the other members of Boston’s “Big Three,” have been on fire at Triple-A Worcester to start this season. They could force their way onto the big-league club later this year.

The Red Sox will return to action Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park as they look to bounce back from a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Campbell will miss his second consecutive game with right rib discomfort and is considered day-to-day, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

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Royals at Orioles prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Royals (17-15) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (12-18). Michael Wacha is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Dean Kremer for Baltimore.

The Royals won three straight games and nine of the past 10 contests as they are one of the hottest teams in the league. The Orioles are 2-1 over the last three games but 2-4 over the previous six games.

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 Royals at Orioles

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:05 PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, MASN

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 Royals at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+113), Orioles (-134)
  • Spread:  Orioles -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Royals at Orioles

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Michael Wacha vs. Dean Kremer
    • Royals: Michael Wacha, (1-3, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
    • Orioles: Dean Kremer, (2-4, 7.04 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and 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 Royals and the Orioles

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Royals:

"The Royals are underdogs in the series opener against Baltimore who has gone 5-5 in Game 1's this year. These teams met already and Kansas City won two out of three meetings, including the opener. The Royals are hot right now and I would not be comfortable with fading them at the -130 or a price or anything that isn't +100 or better."

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 Friday’s game between the Royals and the Orioles:

  • 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 Kansas City Royals 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

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

  • The Royals are 6-10 on the road this season but have won their last 4 games
  • The Under has cashed in 8 of the Orioles' last 10 games with a rest advantage over their opponents
  • The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.79 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!

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 Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for May 2

Its Friday, May 2 and the Diamondbacks (17-14) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (17-14). Merrill Kelly is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia.

The Phillies are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Nationals that snapped a four-game winning streak for Philadelphia. The Diamondbacks have won three of the past four games to follow up a four-game losing streak. Both of these teams have been streaky over the past 10 games.

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 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 Phillies

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, 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 Diamondbacks at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+135), Phillies (-159)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Merrill Kelly vs. Jesús Luzardo
    • Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly, (3-1, 4.41 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo, (3-0, 1.73 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 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 Diamondbacks and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Over between Arizona and Philly:

"Naturally, I would be on the Under between these teams because Kelly has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five out of six games and Luzardo the same. However, those types of bets and mindsets are only a small portion of things to consider when betting. There is some regression due for both starting pitchers and neither bullpen has been reliable this season. I lean toward the Over 8.5 to 9.0, which is a higher total for two pitchers coming off impressive outings."

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 Friday’s game between the Diamondbacks 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 Arizona Diamondbacks 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.

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

  • The Phillies have a winning record (4-1) in their last 5 games
  • The Over is 15-5 in the Diamondbacks' last 10 games on the road and the Phillies' last 10 at home combined
  • The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight matchups against the Diamondbacks

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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Padres at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Padres (19-11) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (12-20). Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates are 1-5 in the last six games coming off back-to-back lost series against the Cubs and Dodgers. The Padres have won back-to-back games after four consecutive losses, so the two are trending in different directions.

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 Padres at Pirates

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

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

Odds for the Padres at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-147), Pirates (+123)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Pirates

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the NRFI between Pittsburgh and San Diego:

"The Pirates and Padres both have two of their better pitchers on the mound tonight and Pittsburgh has a slight advantage with San Diego traveling across the country for this matchup. The Padres did have a day off yesterday, but this being the first of the series and in a different time zone is not a spot where I like San Diego to win or come out swinging. I like the No Runs First Inning and lean the Pirates ML."

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 Friday’s game between the Padres and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates 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 Padres at Pirates

  • The Padres have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
  • In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller has an ERA of 5.13

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)
Posted on

Dodgers at Braves Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 2

Its Friday, May 2 and the Dodgers (21-10) are in Atlanta to take on the Braves (14-16).

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Grant Holmes for Atlanta.

Thursday was a day off for both Atlanta and Los Angeles as both were traveling east. The Braves were returning home from a six-game trip that saw them go 4-2 against the Rockies and the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers finished a 6-game homestand against the Marlins and the Pirates 5-1.

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 Dodgers at Braves

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:15PM EST
  • Site: Truist Park
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • Network/Streaming: SNLA, FDSNSO, 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 Dodgers at the Braves

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Dodgers (-172), Braves (+144)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Braves

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Grant Holmes
    • Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-2, 1.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/25 vs. Pittsburgh - 5IP, 1ER, 5H, 4BB, 5Ks
    • Braves: Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/26 at Arizona - 5.2IP, 6ER, 5H, 3BB, 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 Dodgers at Braves

  • The Dodgers are on a 5-game winning streak
  • Austin Riley is 4-23 over his last 5 games
  • Freddie Freeman has hit safely in 6 straight games (10-21)
  • The Dodgers have covered in 4 of their last 5 games for a profit of 1.94 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 Dodgers 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 Friday's game between the Dodgers and the Braves:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Atlanta Braves at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 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)
Posted on

Mets prospect Blade Tidwell to make first big league start Sunday against Cardinals

In need of a sixth starter to take a rotation turn this weekend against the Cardinals, the Mets are turning to high-upside prospect Blade Tidwell, who had been pitching for Triple-A Syracuse.

Tidwell will make his big league debut on Sunday at Busch Stadium and won't follow an opener, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed ahead of Friday's game.

"He earned it. We know the stuff is there," Mendoza said. "We saw flashes of it in spring training. Even though some of the numbers are inflated a little bit, he's throwing strikes, using all of his pitches. When we needed a spot-start, he put himself in a position and he's getting the call."

The 23-year-old's stuff has played up very well over his last two starts, with Tidwell striking out 18 batters in just 9.0 innings while allowing four runs.

His season ERA is 5.00, but is inflated due to pitching in the hitter-friendly environment of the International League and some extremely bad luck on balls in play.

Tidwell has surrendered just two home runs this season, but his BABIP is .369 -- making it the fifth-highest among all qualified minor league starting pitchers, via Matthew Brownstein.

In spring training, Tidwell opened eyes when he fired an immaculate inning on March 1 as he struck out Rays hitters Josh Lowe, Eloy Jimenez, and Jose Caballero on nine pitches.

Tidwell's four-seam fastball can reach the upper-90s, and he has a plus slider. He also features a sweeper, two-seam fastball, and changeup.

"You've got to give him credit," Mendoza said of Tidwell. "He worked extremly hard and put himself in a position where he came in and pretty much impressive everyone in camp because of how he looked physically and how the ball was coming out... It comes down to executing, throwing strikes, because we know how electric his stuff is."

As SNY contributor Joe DeMayo noted on his latest top 30 Mets prospects list, the belief had been that Tidwell would debut this season. That it's coming this early likely has to do with how his schedule lined up.

Fellow pitching prospect Brandon Sproat -- also with Syracuse -- pitched on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Nolan McLean -- with Double-A Binghamton -- is scheduled to pitch on Friday during their doubleheader after his expected start on Thursday was rained out.

Posted on

Rays at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 2

Its Friday, May 2 and the Rays (14-17) are in Bronx to take on the Yankees (18-13). Tampa sits four games behind the Yankees in the American League East.

Ryan Pepiot is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Max Fried for New York.

The Yankees were off yesterday while the Rays were spanked by the Royals, 8-2. Tampa was swept by Kansas City and is now 5-5 in their last ten games.

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 Rays at Yankees

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, YES, 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 Rays at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+176), Yankees (-211)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Ryan Pepiot vs. Max Fried
    • Rays: Ryan Pepiot (2-3, 4.24 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/26 at San Diego - 6IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 3Ks
    • Yankees: Max Fried (5-0, 1.20 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/27 vs. Toronto - 6IP, 0ER, 5H, 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 Rays at Yankees

  • The Yankees have won 4 of their last 5 games at home against American League teams
  • Each of the Yankees' last 3 home games against the Rays have gone over the Total
  • The Yankees have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.70 units
  • Anthony Volpe is riding a 6-game hitting streak (9-23) to raise his average to .237 for the 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 Rays and the Yankees

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 Friday's game between the Rays and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Yankees -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)