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Fitzgerald's awaited breakout leads Giants to blowout of Phillies

Fitzgerald's awaited breakout leads Giants to blowout of Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

PHILADELPHIA — Willy Adames entered Monday night’s game with a .186 average and no homers through his first two weeks in orange and black. It would be easy to assume that Adames is pressing to try and live up to the largest contract in Giants franchise history, but he smiled late Monday night and said that hasn’t been the case.

“I was getting kind of worried,” he joked. “I thought I lost my power.”

Adames could slump for another two weeks, or even two months, and still know that his name will be displayed prominently on the lineup card every night. But that’s not the case for everyone, including the man who moved across the dirt when the Giants signed Adames in December. 

Tyler Fitzgerald also entered Monday’s game without a homer. He was hitting just .237, and he was very aware of the fact that he had driven in just one run through his first dozen appearances. 

Fitzgerald briefly turned into Barry Bonds last summer, but there’s not a lot of track record to lean on. After hitting a game-swinging three-run homer early in a 10-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, Fitzgerald admitted that he has thought about the patience that has been shown by the staff this month. 

“Last year I probably would have been gone,” he said. “It was just a shorter leash at times. I did enough last year to where they are able to stick with me. It’s a confidence boost, for sure.”

Fitzgerald showed more than enough last summer to earn a prolonged look at second base this season, but he’s also benefiting from organizational changes. The Giants haven’t made a roster move through 16 games of the Buster Posey Era, and the new president of baseball operations is high on Fitzgerald. 

The Giants have other options at second base, including Casey Schmitt, who has swung the bat well. But there have been no hints in recent days that Fitzgerald had anything to worry about. The Giants have been happy to keep sending him out there every day and wait for the breakout. 

It finally came Monday, when Fitzgerald finished a single shy of the cycle. The biggest swing resulted in a three-run homer in a six-run top of the second that immediately wiped out a three-run deficit from the first inning. Fitzgerald’s blast was followed by Adames’ solo shot, his first as a Giant. 

The Giants have gotten to a dozen wins with very little from their middle infielders, who have the potential to combine for 50 homers. They also have gotten little from the bottom of the lineup other than Wilmer Flores, who drove in yet another run Monday. That has weighed on Fitzgerald, who generally hits ninth. 

“It’s about time that the bottom of the lineup kind of steps up for the top of the lineup,” he said, smiling. “I’m just happy to participate in the runs. We have some guys carrying us so far this season, like Flo and Jung Hoo [Lee], and it’s important for some other guys to step up now and then.”

Before the start of the series, manager Bob Melvin talked about how it’s seemingly a couple of guys leading the way every night. In New York, Lee put the team on his back, but he was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Monday. It didn’t at all matter. 

Fitzgerald drove in three runs and scored three, and Mike Yastrzemski had a two-run insurance homer and an RBI double. Yastrzemski has been hot all year, so much so that he’s now hitting leadoff, but Fitzgerald has been trying to get rid of some bad habits since the Giants were in Scottsdale. 

“I’ve been doing a lot of high tee [drills] to try and swing downward. Barry actually helped me with that the last homestand,” he said. “I’m just trying to get on top of the ball. As you can see, with just that thought, I’m able to backspin balls better. I’m trying to stay with it and get rid of some of those bad habits I had and some of the swing-and-miss I had before.”

Fitzgerald raised his OPS by more than 200 points on the first night in Philadelphia. His numbers are now in line with the ones he put up last year, when he was one of the best stories of the season. The swing was slow to come around this year, but he said he has gotten plenty of support within the clubhouse, all of which gave him “peace of mind.” That made it a lot easier to just focus on the work every afternoon and not the possibility of ending up back in Triple-A. 

“At the same time, it’s the big leagues and I have to produce,” he said. “There are going to be weeks at a time when I’m struggling or someone else is struggling, [but] the coaching staff has stuck with me. It’s really awesome to see.” 

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A healthy David Peterson looks to cement himself in the Mets rotation

The narrative around the Mets coming out of spring training was that they simply didn't have enough pitching. They landed Juan Soto and re-signed Pete Alonso to round out a dynamic lineup, but they lacked a true ace starting pitcher. Then Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas were lost due to injury, converted reliever Clay Holmes was named the Opening Day starter, and baseball fans were quick to pile on.

Yet, heading into Monday's series-opening game against the Twins, the Mets rank first in baseball with a 2.30 team ERA. Their rotation also ranks first with a 2.55 ERA, and their bullpen is third with a 1.95 ERA. While pitching coach Jeremy Hefner is getting plenty of well-deserved praise, and a lot of words have been written about the early-season success of Tylor Megill, perhaps the most underappreciated member of this rotation has been David Peterson.

The lone left-hander in the starting rotation, Peterson has been with the Mets since being drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Oregon. He was solid enough in his first three years in the minors, but it surprised many when Peterson skipped Triple-A and made his MLB debut during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Those 49.2 innings in 2020 started the clock on what has been a fragmented five-year MLB career for Peterson.

He spent time on the IL with shoulder fatigue in 2020 and then was limited to just 66.2 innings in 2021 due to an oblique injury. He split the 2022 season between Triple-A and the majors and then pitched 111 innings in 2023, but also spent part of that season in the minors and was moved to the bullpen for six appearances. Following the 2023 season, he had surgery to repair a damaged labrum in his left hip, which kept him out until almost June last season.

When he returned, Peterson was lights out, pitching to a 2.90 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 101:46 K:BB ratio in 121 innings. It was the first time since 2019 that he had made every appearance as a starting pitcher and had also not been demoted to the minors during the season. While many factors contributed to the success Peterson had last season, health may have been the biggest.

"A lot of it started with the hip surgery and getting that cleaned up and just being able to be more efficient with my lower half," said Peterson earlier this season. "Obviously, being pain-free is nice, but I think being able to be more repeatable with my delivery, knowing that my body is consistently going to give me more than I had, was big."

Pitching without pain and with repeatable mechanics also led to a small velocity bump for Peterson in 2024, as well as a 5% improvement in his zone rate and a nearly 3% jump in strike rate. His pitches graded out better on pitch models, his location improved, and the quality of contact against him weakened. Not to mention, the improvement he felt mentally from knowing what his role was going to be day in and day out.

"In the previous years, we never really talked about me being in the bullpen until I actually made the move," recalls Peterson. "Last year, being able to just know what my role was and being able to come back and jump in the rotation and add to the productivity that Sean [Manaea] and Sevy [Luis Severino], and everybody gave us was important. It was important for me to get back and be able to show that I can continue to build on being part of this rotation."

That consistent role, and the confidence it gave Peterson, allowed him to find a consistency with his performance that he hadn't been able to lock into in previous seasons. "I had seen what I did last year in stretches and spurts before in my career, but I feel like last year I was able to put it together more consistently," he explained. "I felt like, this year, going into this off-season being able to get a full off-season of just training and not rehab was big."

A fully healthy off-season for a starting pitcher means the freedom to tinker and work on your pitches. In previous seasons, Peterson had spent so much time trying to get back to 100% health that he had little time to worry about playing around with grips or modifying pitch shapes. This off-season, he not only had the confidence that he was coming into the season as a member of the starting rotation, but he had the time to work with the Mets coaching staff to tweak some of his arsenal to try and build on his career-best year.

"We've been trying to get back to the slider that I had in 2022 and get more of that swing and miss," explained Peterson. During the 2024 season, Peterson posted solid ratios but had just a 19.8% strikeout rate and a 10.9% swinging strike rate. Both of which were below league average. For comparison's sake, in 2022, he had a 27.8% strikeout rate and 12.8% swinging strike rate in 105.2 innings with the Mets.

So far in 2025, the swinging strike rate is up on Peterson's slider, as is the overall strike rate, but the pitch has seen its biggest gains against right-handed hitters. Not only is the swinging strike rate up to righties, but the Ideal Contact Rate (a Pitcher List stat which measures barrels and solid contact and hard groundballs) is down from 57% last year to 25% this year. That's huge for Peterson since the only other pitch he throws to righties that had at least an average swinging strike last year is his four-seam fastball.

"I think the back foot [slider to righties], for me, is a good miss," explained Peterson, "but I think for us more overall, it's just kind of being down with the slider, being over the plate, making it look like a strong a strike as long as possible is the goal."

So far, through three starts, Peterson is executing exactly as he and the team wanted. The zone rate on his slider is down almost 7%, which means it lands in the strike zone less often; however, the chase rate is up, and the pitch is thriving as a two-strike offering. In 2024, the PutAway Rate on Peterson's slider, which measures how often a two-strike pitch results in a strikeout, was 19.2%. The MLB average was 19.1%. So far in 2025, his PutAway Rate on the slider is a ridiculous 36%.

While some of that might be tightening up the movement of the pitch, the biggest component, as Peterson alluded to, is the location. The left-hander has thrown the slider in the lower third of the strike zone (or below) 87% of the time this season, up from 74% last year. The pitch is starting as a strike and then falling out of the strike zone, hence the lower zone rate, but getting more swings and misses. Exactly the change the 29-year-old wanted.

Yet, it's not the only change that Peterson was looking to make in the off-season.

"We put some emphasis on continuing to improve my four-seam in terms of the vert [vertical movement] and create the separation with the sinker," he said. "Being primarily a sinker guy growing up and in college, I use the four-seam a lot out of the zone for chase up."

The location of Peterson's four-seam fastball is crucial for its success because he only throws 93 mph. However, he gets elite 7.1 feet of extension on his release, so the ball is released closer to home plate than average, which can make it look faster. Like a lot of left-handers, Peterson's fastball has some natural horizontal run, so it's not a typical flat fastball that thrives up in the zone, but through three starts this season, Peterson has added over one inch of Induced Vertical Break (iVB) on his four-seam, which has given it a flatter approach angle. That means it fights against gravity a bit more as it approaches home plate and seems to "rise" a bit more than it had previously. A fastball like that tends to thrive more up in the zone, which is what Peterson wants.

However, in execution, the pitch has been lacking a bit to start the season. He is throwing it in the strike zone more often, but he's not getting it up in the zone as much as he wants, leaving it in the middle of the zone too often, which has led to a drop in swinging strike rate and an increase in hard contact rate allowed. The same is happening with Peterson's changeup and is a big reason why his strikeout rate is up, but his overall swinging strike rate is down 4%.

"I think there's gonna be a little give and take," Peterson admitted about his four-seam approach, "but I think a lot of it is probably small sample size [right now], but being able to use the four seam up in the zone and giving the hitters two different fastballs looks has been big [for me]."

It also provides another opportunity for growth as the season goes on. Peterson's new approach with his slider is working just as planned, and the shape of the fastball appears to be on target as well. If he can continue to improve his fastball and changeup locations, then we could see the left-hander miss even more bats and start to chip away at that elevated .317 BABIP.

With a start this week against a Cardinals team that ranks 3rd in baseball with a .784 OPS, Peterson will have perhaps the toughest test of his new pitching philosophy. If he can survive that, and continue to execute on the changes the Mets have laid out for him, his breakout 2024 season may wind up just being the precursor to an even better 2025.

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What to make of the jam-packed American League East?

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

The AL East is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable divisions in baseball this year. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examined the current state of play within this fascinating division. 

Let's dive in.

The Yankees have been a surprise so far, with their offense arguably outperforming expectations. As Mintz noted, they've posted an impressive team WRC+ of 140. Yet the overall picture is not quite clear.

Mintz highlighted the Yankees' surprising struggles with their rotation, stating, "They have the worst ERA of any rotation in baseball. They only have one quality start all year."

Combine the bountiful pitching concerns with the Yankees' recent road trip primarily featuring chilly weather games, and it feels like this team is still trying to find its stride. Many fans are eagerly awaiting performances that match both the hype and the historical legacy that comes with wearing the pinstripes.

The hosts started the season with high hopes for the Red Sox, with both predicting them as strong contenders to win the division. But as of now, their record 8-9 does not yet reflect the talent that the team displays in bursts. As a result, it's difficult to determine whether this is the start of a promising run or just fleeting moments of excellence. 

As Mintz said, "Red Sox fans want right now to be irrationally positive, and they have so many reasons to just jump all in. ... The only thing holding them back is that they have more losses than wins right now."

One huge positive for the Red Sox so far has been Garrett Crochet, who is looking like a formidable talent in the rotation. The challenge for the Red Sox will be to translate the bright spots into consistent winning across the season.

Signs of hope for the Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays currently sit atop the division, but even with the power and talent they've displayed so far, there is room for doubt. Still, Mintz noted that watching the bottom of Toronto's order get on base, featuring players such as Ernie Clement and Myles Straw, creates an irrational belief in the 9-7 Blue Jays' potential to win the division. 

Another positive for Toronto is a strong start from the bullpen, led by offseason acquisition Jeff Hoffman. Shusterman discussed Hoffman's important role, saying, "I think Jeff Hoffman is the best reliever in the world right now." 

Can the Blue Jays' hot stretch last long enough for them to hold off the comparative might of their divisional rivals?

Baltimore Orioles fans are no strangers to turbulent times, and this season's start might feel all too familiar. Although the Orioles have yet to secure a series win, they remain just a couple of games back from the division leader.

As Shusterman said, "They're in last place, but they're two-and-a-half games back of first. So they are just fine."

The hosts discussed Baltimore's burgeoning potential and how a variety of factors could still turn the Orioles' season into one with real hope and promise.

The 2025 MLB season is still in its early stages, and the hosts readily admit that they're still sorting out what to make of the AL East. 

As Mintz put it, "Every team, you look at them, you watch them for three innings, and you're like, 'They are going to win the division.' And then you watch them play another three innings, and you're like, 'They are going to get relegated,' and you just don't know where to end up."

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

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Reds place Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder impingement

CINCINNATI — The Reds have placed left-hander Sam Moll on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder impingement. The move was made retroactive to April 11.

Cincinnati begins a three-game series against Seattle.

It is the second straight year Moll has landed on the injured list with the same injury. He missed nearly a month at the start of last season with a shoulder impingement.

Moll has pitched in three games out of the bullpen and has a 3.00 ERA. His last appearance was on April 6 at Milwaukee, when he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

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What we learned as Fitz, Yaz homers fuel Giants' win vs. Phillies

What we learned as Fitz, Yaz homers fuel Giants' win vs. Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA — About 20 minutes into Monday night’s game at Citizens Bank Park, the Giants were behind 3-0 and Spencer Bivens was getting loose in a hurry. In the moment, it was easy to think of all of the potential repercussions if Landen Roupp got knocked out in the first inning. 

The Giants probably would be forced into their first roster move of the 2025 MLB season to get a fresh arm for their bullpen. Roupp might spend a sleepless night wondering if his time in the rotation was over after three starts.

At 9:27 p.m. in Philadelphia, the Giants gathered on the mound for their third handshake line in four days on this tough trip. Roupp picked up first win of the year. 

The Giants, who beat the Phillies 10-4, seemingly can do nothing wrong at the moment, and they responded to the three-spot from the Phillies by scoring six in the top of the second. That allowed Roupp to settle in, and he allowed just one more run the rest of the way while throwing more curveballs than most Phillies hitters have ever seen. 

The response to the early struggles was swift. Tyler Fitzgerald hit a three-run homer into the seats in left to give the Giants a 5-3 lead in the second inning, and Willy Adames followed with his first as a Giant.

After Roupp and Randy Rodriguez buckled down to keep runners in scoring position, Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run moonshot to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh. The blast was Yastrzemski’s first against a lefty since his walk-off Splash Hit against the San Diego Padres’ Ray Kerr on June 19, 2023.

The Giants improved to 12-4 on the season and 3-1 on the trip, which spans 10 days and includes series against three teams with winning records. 

Curved

Roupp is a four-pitch guy now, but with his back against the wall in the fourth, he went to his bread and butter. The right-hander’s curveball is one of the best in baseball, and when the Phillies got a pair into scoring position with no outs, Roupp threw a curve on five of the next eight pitches. There were boos at Citizens Bank Park when he got out of the inning with no damage. 

Roupp opened the fifth by throwing five straight curves to Bryce Harper for a strikeout. After Kyle Schwarber popped up a curve, he threw four curves and a sinker at Nick Castellanos. The Phillies finally caught up, and Castellanos crushed the final one into the left field seats. 

Overall, Roupp threw 56 curveballs, the most in a big league game since Rich Hill threw 59 on May 13, 2016. Roupp and Hill are the only big league pitchers to throw more than 55 curveballs in a game in the last 10 years, and it certainly worked for Roupp on an offense-heavy night. He got 15 of his 20 swinging strikes with his best pitch. 

Roupp was charged with four earned in five innings and struck out eight. He has had two shaky starts and one good one, but the stuff has generally been good. Through 15 innings, Roupp has 20 strikeouts. 

On The Board

Everyone involved has been hesitant to say Adames has been pressing. He’s seemingly as laid-back as any Giant, but there’s a natural desire to try and live up to a massive contract, and Adames certainly hasn’t looked like his old self through two weeks. He entered the night with a .186 average and no homers, and he hasn’t even been particularly unlucky.

With the ballpark still reeling from the Fitzgerald blast, Adames jumped on a middle-middle cutter from Taijuan Walker and hit a soaring solo shot to right. The homer was Adames’ first in 135 plate appearances, the longest drought of his career. With Adames and Fitzgerald (who finished a single shy of the cycle) now on the board, Patrick Bailey is the only Giants regular still looking for his first blast of the year. 

Miller Time

The bottom of the seventh might have been the strangest scoreless inning of Erik Miller’s career. With the Giants holding a four-run lead and two runners on, J.T. Realmuto hit what looked to be a three-run homer, but the ball curled just foul. Realmuto then thought he had drawn a walk to load the bases for Max Kepler, who already had two hits, but he was rung up by home plate umpire Tony Randazzo on an outside slider. 

It was a hell of a frame job by Bailey, the game’s best framer, but still a huge break for the Giants. It went down as the eighth scoreless appearance of the year for Miller, who was taken in the fourth round by the Phillies in 2019 and is a reminder that the prior regime really did do some good work. Miller was acquired in a 2023 swap for Yunior Marte, who had a 6.92 ERA last year and is now pitching in Japan. 

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Yankees’ Aaron Judge to be U.S. captain at 2026 World Baseball Classic

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge will be the U.S. captain at next year’s World Baseball Classic, the same role the two-time American League Most Valuable Player fills with the New York Yankees.

Mark DeRosa made the announcement after he was appointed U.S. manager for the second straight WBC.

Judge takes over from the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, who was captain at the 2023 tournament. The U.S. lost the 2023 championship game to Japan 3-2 as Shohei Ohtani struck out Trout, his then-Angels teammate, to end the game.

Judge, who turns 33 on April 26, is the first player announced for the U.S. roster. The outfielder is hitting .357 with a major league-leading 20 RBIs and six home runs, tied for the big league high.

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Marsh ‘putting a lot of pressure on himself,' sits in series opener against Giants

Marsh ‘putting a lot of pressure on himself,' sits in series opener against Giants originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If you hear 162 games and think it’s a long season — you’d be right, because it is.

It’s still very early in the Phillies’ 2025 campaign but Rob Thomson isn’t wasting time tinkering with the lineup to find something that works.

We’ve seen three different leadoff hitters for various reasons: Trea Turner against a left-handed pitcher, Kyle Schwarber against a righty and Bryson Stott to protect Bryce Harper.

He’s flipped Nick Castellanos and Alec Bohm in the order — a way to acknowledge Castellanos’ early success while allowing Bohm to work through his current struggles.

And now, after the club’s 2-4 road trip and going 0-for-14 during that stretch, Thomson made the call to sit Brandon Marsh in Monday’s series-opener against the Giants — for reasons outside of the opposing starting pitcher. Here’s what Monday’s lineup looks like:

Bryson Stott (L), 2B
Trea Turner, SS
Bryce Harper (L), 1B
Kyle Schwarber (L), DH
Nick Castellanos, RF
J.T. Realmuto, C
Max Kepler (L), LF
Alec Bohm, 3B
Johan Rojas, CF

Marsh hasn’t hit since the season-opening series in Washington and his average is down to a team-low .108.

“He’s thinking about it quite a bit right now and everybody goes through it at some point,” Thomson said Monday. “I just thought maybe give him a day or two off and just let him watch for a minute. …

“I think he’s really thinking about (his lack of offense). He really feels like he’s letting his teammates down. He’s putting a lot of pressure on himself to do well. When you get to that point I think it’s time just to relax for a minute.”

The two days may turn to three, given the Giants’ rotation for the series. They’ll face lefty Robbie Ray Wednesday, who is currently 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA. More notably, he’s only allowed two hits to left-handed hitters.

Marsh is available off the bench for this next stretch but it seems highly unlikely he’ll be used outside of an emergency situation.

“The game is very, very tough,” Marsh said Monday. “It’ll bring you down, break you down and bring you up when you least expect it. Just got to keep a positive mindset and really just keep your head in the work.

When reporters began filtering into the dugout for Thomson’s pregame availability, Marsh was already in the cage taking an early batting practice.

“I’m usually not out here this early for hitting,” Marsh said. “Not being in the lineup today, I wanted to take advantage of my time and get the body right. … Just clearing the mind and going out there and playing ball.”

The current slump certainly isn’t for lack of effort.

Marsh isn’t the only concern offensively for the Phillies, though. The club was shutout twice in the weekend series against the Cardinals and they haven’t hit a home run since Thursday’s series finale against the Braves.

“I think they’re just trying to do too much,” Thomson said. “If you look at our ground ball rate as of late, it’s probably gone way up, especially on the pull side. They have to get back to doing what we were doing earlier in the year and getting good pitches to hit and controlling the strike zone and using the entire field.”

They’ll look to get back on track during their seven-game homestand.

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MLB Team Power Rankings: Red-hot Padres leapfrog Dodgers for top spot

Another week, another major shakeup in our MLB Team Power Rankings. That's the beauty of the early part of the baseball season.

From what we've seen so far, most of MLB's best teams reside in the National League. That was somewhat expected, but we figured that the Braves would be one of those teams. That's not the case so far.

These power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook. The Dodgers should be fine and figure to find their way back to the top spot before long, but the Padres can't be denied right now.

Let’s get started!

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Jose Soriano breaking out, Chase Meidroth gets the call
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball.

1. San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 8

We’ve got a new No. 1! And the Padres have certainly earned it in the early going, not just with the best record in baseball (and a 10-0 record at home!), but also a historic showing against the Rockies over the weekend. They’ll begin a series against the NL Central-leading Cubs on Monday, which should be a good one.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 1

The Dodgers have dropped three series in a row since starting the season 8-0. Baseball gonna baseball. They should have a chance to get healthy with a home series against the Rockies to begin the week.

3. New York Mets ⬆️

Last week: 7

Pete Alonso is loving life hitting behind Juan Soto. After an admittedly disappointing 2024, Alonso already has four homers and 18 RBI to go along with a .321/.431/.660 batting line. He’s only struck out nine times in 65 plate appearances, so he’s seeing the ball extremely well right now.

4. Philadelphia Phillies ⬇️

Last week: 2

The Phillies’ offense has hit the skids, including a pair of shutout losses this weekend against the Cardinals. Nobody exemplifies the struggles more than Brandon Marsh, who hasn’t had a hit since the third game of the season on March 30.

5. San Francisco Giants ⬇️

Last week: 3

Jung Hoo Lee certainly enjoyed his first visit to Yankee Stadium over the weekend, slugging three homers in the three-game set, including a two-homer game on Sunday. His first season stateside was cut short due to injury, but he’s looking like a key piece for this lineup.

6. Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 9

We’ll start with the good news. After dropping both games of their season-opening series in Japan, the Cubs got back at the Dodgers by taking two out of three over the weekend, including a 16-0 shellacking on Saturday. The bad news? Justin Steele needs elbow surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

7. Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 4

The Rangers went 1-5 on their roadtrip and lost phenom outfielder Wyatt Langford along the way. They have a series against the AL West-leading Angels to begin the week.

8. New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 5

Yankees starters have combined for a major-league worst 5.40 ERA so far this season. The hope is that Clarke Schmidt can help provide a boost. He’s slated for his season debut on Wednesday.

9. Detroit Tigers ⬆️

Last week: 14

Remember when Spencer Torkelson’s name surfaced in some trade rumors this offseason? The Tigers are surely happy they didn’t follow through on those talks, as the 2020 No. 1 overall pick slugged his fifth homer on Sunday and now owns an impressive .309/.409/.673 batting line through 15 games.

10. Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 16

Sunday’s extra-inning victory over the Orioles carried some extra meaning for Jeff Hoffman, who had a potential free agent deal with Baltimore wiped out due to an issue with his physical. He struck out four batters over two scoreless innings for the win. Nothing like a little spite as a motivator.

11. Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 6

Garrett Crochet almost made history against his former team on Sunday, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning before it was broken up by recent call-up Chase Meidroth. In an interesting twist, Meidroth was part of the return package for Crochet.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 10

Corbin Carroll was right in the middle of back-to-back comeback victories over the Brewers this weekend as his monster start to the season continues. He already has five homers after not hitting his fifth homer until July 13 last year.

13. Atlanta Braves ⬇️

Last week: 11

The Braves have rebounded somewhat since their 0-7 start to the season, but the best news of all is that Spencer Strider is set to make his return from Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.

Strider's final rehab start was enough to make you salivate.

14. Houston Astros ⬇️

Last week: 12

Isaac Paredes’ pull-happy approach is tailor-made for the Crawford Boxes and we saw it in action this weekend against the Angels, as he went deep in all three games.

15. Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 17

Cole Ragans has struck out 10 or more batters in three straight starts. He’s the second pitcher in franchise history to do it, joining former All-Star Kevin Appier, who accomplished the feat in 1996.

16. Los Angeles Angels ⬆️

Last week: 19

I’ll take “Things Nobody Expected” for $200, Alex. The Angels lead all MLB teams with 30 homers so far this season. It’s great to see Mike Trout mashing baseballs again, but Kyren Paris has been one of the biggest surprises of the young season. Trying to emulate Aaron Judge isn’t the worst idea ever.

17. Cleveland Guardians ⬆️

Last week: 21

What’s going on with Emmanuel Clase? He’s already allowed six earned runs in seven innings this year after allowing just five earned runs in 74 1/3 innings all of last season.

18. Seattle Mariners

Last week: 18

Cal Raleigh homered in all three games this past weekend as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers. While the Mariners’ spot in these rankings is unchanged from last week, they’ve now won four straight.

19. Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 13

It’s been a shaky start to the year for the Orioles, but there was a nice moment on Saturday, as Felíx Bautista notched his first save since returning from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old isn’t quite back to normal just yet, as he’s walked five batters in four innings of work and isn’t pitching on back-to-back days.

20. Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 20

When the Rays picked up Joe Boyle in the Jeffrey Springs deal with the Athletics this offseason, many predicted that the club would do their magic and turn him into a frontline starter. For one day at least, that came true. Adding a “splinker” to his high octane fastball and nasty slider, Boyle dominated the Braves over five-plus hitless innings on Sunday. The big question is his control — he lost the strike zone before being pulled in the sixth — but the Rays have to be thrilled with the early results.

21. Milwaukee Brewers ⬇️

Last week: 15

After playing a part in the Brewers’ epic ninth inning collapse against the Diamondbacks on Saturday, it was acknowledged that closer Trevor Megill has been dealing with a knee issue. It was apparently troublesome enough that the Brewers sent him for an MRI. No structural damage was found, but he’s now seeking a second opinion.

22. Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 25

What a start the season for Hunter Greene. With seven scoreless frames on Sunday to finish off a three-game sweep of the Pirates, the 25-year-old fireballer now owns a 0.98 ERA and 31/4 K/BB ratio through his first four starts. Cy Young Award favorite?

23. Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 26

Dylan Crews has had a brutal start to the season and CJ Abrams hit the injured list this weekend with a right hip flexor strain, but at least James Wood appears to be on a rocketship to superstardom.

24. St. Louis Cardinals ⬇️

Last week: 23

The "torpedo bat" commentary has died down somewhat since the Yankees’ tortured the Brewers two weekends ago, but count Willson Contreras among the converted. He went 2-for-4 in his first game with the bat on Saturday against the Phillies before adding two more hits — including his first homer of the season — on Sunday. Safe to say he’ll be sticking with it.

25. Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 24

A’s rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson went 0-for-4 on Sunday after hitting safely in 15 straight games to begin the season. He’s a fun mix of styles. Despite one of the most aggressive approaches in the game — he’s yet to draw a walk through 61 plate appearances — he has the third-lowest strikeout rate among qualified hitters. Hey, it’s working for him.

26. Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 22

You don’t have to remind Twins fans about this, but we’re now talking about a prolonged stretch of futility. After letting a playoff spot slip through their fingers last September, the Twins currently own the second-worst record in the AL.

27. Miami Marlins ⬆️

Last week: 28

I said two weeks ago that the Marlins were probably going to peak at No. 28 this year, so I’ll give them credit for being a pesky bunch. It’s rare that you’ll see a game-ending catch as good as the one Dane Myers had against the Mets last week.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 27

Paul Skenes is coming off his worst start as a professional, as he allowed five runs over six innings against the Cardinals last Tuesday. With the way this offense is hitting (they are hitting .198 as a team), Skenes almost has to be perfect.

29. Colorado Rockies

Last week: 29

Didn’t score a single skinny run over the weekend, but hey, these new City Connects look pretty smooth.

30. Chicago White Sox

Last week: 30

The White Sox took the first two games of their series against the Red Sox over the weekend before they were completely befuddled by some guy named Garrett Crochet on Sunday. He might have a future in this game.

Posted on

Yankees' Aaron Judge named Team USA captain for 2026 World Baseball Classic

Aaron Judge is adding another captaincy to his already illustrious resume, as it was announced on Monday morning that the Yankees' superstar will be the captain of Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

USA manager Mark DeRosa made the announcement on MLB Network, with Judge joining MLB Central to share his thoughts. The skipper-slugger tandem also spoke during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon.

"I've always wanted to play for Team USA. Watching the last couple of WBCs, what a great experience," Judge said. "I've been telling everybody here, I told everybody a couple years ago that I want to be a part of it... We're going to have an exciting group. They had a great group last time, and I'm just excited to be a piece of that."

The most recent World Baseball Classic took place in March 2023, when USA lost to Japan in a memorable championship final.

Judge didn’t play in the 2023 WBC, as he was just coming off an intense free agency period that secured him a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees. But the slugger is now ready to proudly wear “USA” and lead what is sure to be a star-studded roster.

"It was tough [watching in 2023], especially looking at the group they had," Judge admitted. "But I felt my first responsibilty was to the Yankees. I just signed a new deal, just got named team captain. I wanted to be a big part of getting the Yankees back to where they needed to be. Now after we have another deep run this year and finish the job, it'll be fun to go out there and represent our country."

Judge also revealed that he didn't seek permission from the Yankees to participate in the World Baseball Classic. While there's an obvious risk of injury in the highly competitive games that deliver playoff atmospheres, he didn't express any concern with the ramp-up period and adjustments to his spring training routine.

The 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled to take place March 5-17, 2026, with games taking place in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Japan.

Posted on

Cubs at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 14

Its Monday, April 14 and the Cubs (11-7) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (13-3).

Jameson Taillon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Dylan Cease for San Diego.

Both these teams come into the series playing well. Just up the 405, the Cubs won two of three against the Dodgers outscoring them by a combined 20-2 Saturday and Sunday. The Padres swept the Rockies and shut them out in each of the three 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 Cubs at Padres

  • Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: MARQ, SDPA

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 Cubs at the Padres

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (+140), Padres (-167)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for April 14, 2025: Jameson Taillon vs. Dylan Cease
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon (1-1, 6.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 vs. Texas - 6IP, 3ER, 5H, 1BB, 6Ks
    • Padres: Dylan Cease (1-1, 7.98 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 at Athletics - 4IP, 9ER, 9H, 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 Cubs at Padres

  • The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games
  • Kyle Tucker is hitting .324 with 5 HRs and 18 RBIs this season
  • Kyle Tucker was 4-12 (.333) against the Dodgers this past weekend
  • The Padres have won 4 in a row
  • The Padres have allowed just 1 run in their last 4 games
  • The Padres lost 2 of 3 at Wrigley earlier this month to the Cubs
  • The Padres have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 2.67 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 Cubs and the Padres

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 Monday's game between the Cubs and the Padres:

  • 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 Chicago Cubs 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)
Posted on

Rockies at Dodgers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 14

Its Monday, April 14 and the Rockies (3-12) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (11-6).

Antonio Senzatela is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Dustin May for Los Angeles.

LA has appeared mortal at times including this past weekend when they lost Saturday and Sunday to the visiting Cubs. The Dodgers were outscored 20-2 in those games. Colorado were not just swept by the Padres in San Diego this weekend...they were shut out in each of the three games. Yesterday, Michael King threw a complete game for his third win of the season allowing just two hits and one walk.

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 Rockies at Dodgers

  • Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: COLR, SNLA

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 Rockies at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+271), Dodgers (-341)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for April 14, 2025: Antonio Senzatela vs. Dustin May
    • Rockies: Antonio Senzatela (0-2, 5.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/9 vs. Milwaukee - 4.1IP, 8ER, 8H, 1BB, 3Ks
    • Dodgers: Dustin May (0-1, 0.82 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/7 at Washington - 6IP, 1ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K

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 Rockies at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers have won their last 3 games against the Rockies with Dustin May starting
  • Shohei Ohtani is 1-12 in his last 3 games
  • Michael Conforto is 3-24 in his last 7 games
  • Ryan McMahon was hitless (0-11) in the San Diego series

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 Rockies and the Dodgers

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 Monday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:

  • 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 Colorado Rockies 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)
Posted on

Braves at Blue Jays prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 14

Its Monday, April 14 and the Braves (4-11) are in Toronto to take on the Blue Jays (9-7).

Grant Holmes is slated to take the mound for Atlanta against Easton Lucas for Toronto.

Atlanta lost two of three in Tampa against the Rays this weekend. Tampa smashed the Braves 8-3 yesterday. Toronto split their two-game set with the Orioles winning 7-6 yesterday in ten innings. Myles Straw had the game-winning hit in the tenth for Toronto.

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 Braves at Blue Jays

  • Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Time: 7:07PM EST
  • Site: Rogers Centre
  • City: Toronto, ON
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSO, Sportsnet

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 Braves at the Blue Jays

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Braves (-109), Blue Jays (-110)
  • Spread:  Blue Jays 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Braves at Blue Jays

  • Pitching matchup for April 14, 2025: Grant Holmes vs. Easton Lucas
    • Braves: Grant Holmes (0-1, 4.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/9 vs. Philadelphia - 4IP, 0ER, 3H, 4BB, 6Ks
    • Blue Jays: Easton Lucas (2-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 at Boston - 5.1IP, 0ER, 3H, 1BB, 8Ks

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 Braves at Blue Jays

  • The Jays are 13-3 on the Run Line this season
  • The Braves are 6-9-1 on the Run Line this season
  • The Under is 17-9-3 for the Blue Jays' and the Braves' games combined this season
  • The Blue Jays are up 3.59 units on the Run Line in their last 5 home games

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

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Braves and the Blue Jays

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 Monday's game between the Braves and the Blue Jays:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Atlanta Braves 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 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)
Posted on

Mets at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 14

Its Monday, April 14 and the Mets (10-5) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (5-11).

Clay Holmes is slated to take the mound for New York against Joe Ryan for Minnesota.

The Mets took two of three over the weekend from the Athletics winning Sunday, 8-0. Kodai Senga threw seven shutout innings for New York. Minnesota lost two of three to Detroit but did win yesterday 5-1. Byron Buxton cracked his third home run of the season to pace the attack for the Twins

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 Mets at Twins

  • Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, MNNT

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 Mets at the Twins

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (-104), Twins (-115)
  • Spread:  Twins 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for April 14, 2025: Clay Holmes vs. Joe Ryan
    • Mets: Clay Holmes (1-1, 4.30 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 vs. Miami - 5.1IP, 4ER, 5H, 3BB, 10Ks
    • Twins: Joe Ryan (1-1, 2.65 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/9 at Kansas City - 7IP, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 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 Mets at Twins

  • The Mets are 4-11 to the OVER this season
  • The Under is 7-2-1 in the Twins' last 10 games
  • The Twins have lost 6 of their last 8
  • The Mets are 8-2 in their last 10 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 Mets and the Twins

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 Monday's game between the Mets and the Twins:

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

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

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

Nationals at Pirates Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 14

Its a Paul Skenes Monday! Its April 14 and Skenes and the Pirates (5-11) are hosting the Nationals (6-9).

As noted, Paul Skenes is on the bump for the Bucs and Brad Lord is slated to take the mound for Washington.

The Nats lost their second in a row yesterday against the Marlins, 11-4. Matt Mervis paced the onslaught with a three-run tater for Miami. The Pirates were swept by the Reds over the weekend losing Sunday, 4-0. Hunter Greene was exceptional tossing seven shutout innings enroute to his second 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 Nationals at Pirates

  • Date: Monday, April 14, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: MASN, SNP

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

Odds for the Nationals at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Monday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+181), Pirates (-219)
  • Spread:  Pirates -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Pirates

  • Pitching matchup for April 14, 2025: Brad Lord vs. Paul Skenes
    • Nationals: Brad Lord (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 vs. Dodgers - 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 4Ks
    • Pirates: Paul Skenes (1-1, 3.44 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/8 vs. St. Louis - 6IP, 5ER, 6H, 1BB, 7Ks

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 Nationals at Pirates

  • The Pirates are 5-11 on the Run Line this season
  • 5 of the Pirates' last 7 games against the Nationals have gone OVER the Total
  • The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 3.01 units
  • The Nats have lost 3 of their last 4 games
  • The Bucs have lost 4 of their last 5

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 Nationals and the Pirates

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 Monday's game between the Nationals and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 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)
Posted on

Mets at Twins: How to watch on SNY on April 14, 2025

The Mets face the Twins in Minnesota at 7:40 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • The Mets' team ERA of 2.30 is the lowest in baseball
  • Clay Holmes struck out a season-high 10 batters over 5.1 innings during his start against the Marlins last week
  • Max Kranick has been close to perfect in 10.0 innings in relief, with a 0.00 ERA and 0.20 WHIP.
  • Luis Torrens has been terrific while filling in for Francisco Alvarez, playing strong defense while hitting .333/.375/.567 in 32 plate appearances over 11 games
METS
TWINS

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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.