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Nationals at Padres Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Nationals (33-46) are in San Diego to take on the Padres (42-36). Trevor Williams is slated to take the mound for Washington against Ryan Bergert for San Diego.

The Nationals won a high-scoring 10-6 shootout over the Padres in game one. James Wood had a big game for the Nationals. He went 3-5 with four RBI and a home run.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

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

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

Game details & how to watch Nationals at Padres

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 9:40PM EST
  • Site: Petco Park
  • City: San Diego, CA
  • Network/Streaming: Padres Television Network, MASN 2

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 Padres

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Nationals (+140), Padres (-166)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Nationals at Padres

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Trevor Williams vs. Ryan Bergert
    • Nationals: Trevor Williams, (3-8, 5.55 ERA)
      Last outing (Colorado Rockies, 6/19): 5.1 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
    • Padres: Ryan Bergert, (1-0, 1.88 ERA)
      Last outing (Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/19): 4.2 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

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

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

  • After winning the series opener at home, the Padres have a 5-2 record in game 2 this season
  • 6 of the Padres' last 7 home matchups with the Nationals have gone over the Total
  • The Nationals have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 2.61 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 Nationals 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 Tuesday's game between the Nationals 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 Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

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

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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Mets Injury Notes: Jesse Winker heading for rehab assignment, Kodai Senga session 'went well'

The Mets are hopeful DH Jesse Winker will begin his rehab assignment by this weekend, manager Carlos Mendoza said Tuesday.

“He’ll continue to pretty much go through full workouts here,” the skipper said from Flushing ahead of the game against the Atlanta Braves. “The goal is hopefully he is DHing by the end of the weekend in a minor league rehab assignment.”

Winker has been on the IL since the first week of May with a strained right oblique, an injury that means the slugger will be 6-to-8 weeks out of action. Mendoza wouldn't say it will be a longer time for Winker’s rehab assignment, but didn’t anticipate it being a quick “couple of games” due to the nature of the injury and his time on the shelf.

“He’s gonna need at-bats, that’s for sure,” he said when asked about the duration of the assignment, adding that Winker will likely play Sunday before the minor league club has Monday off. “And then we’ll put together the plan for Tuesday, like one on, one off, and then back-to-back.. When we’re talking about that area, we’ll have to watch him closely.”

Winker, who sustained the injury making a throw from left field, could still be built up to contribute in the outfield, but that isn’t something the club is looking to do at this time.

“We haven’t got there yet, I think the biggest thing is his bat,” Mendoza said. “Even though we kinda prepare him for a scenario where we need him to play in the outfield, which we did, he still went down, so I think the priority here is get him at his best offensively, and then if we have to continue to the progression defensivelty, if we need to do it here at the big league level we’ll do it.”

Mendoza said they “have to prepare” Winker before playing him in the outfield again, but they aren’t shutting the door on using him in the field later this season.

“I didn’t have any hesitation with putting him in the outfield, because I felt good with the work that he was doing and we put him in a position, it’s just unfortunate that [the injury] happens,” the manager said. “If he gets active as DH, Antoan [Richardson] will continue to work with the trainers and put together a plan where he’s getting defensive work, throwing, and all that. 

“And if we feel like it gets to a point where we could give him a start there in the outfield, we will.”

Kodai Senga’s latest session 'went well'

Senga played catch on Monday and “everything went well,” Mendoza said. The manager said he had not yet spoken with the starter on Tuesday and that he was set to play catch again ahead of the game against Atlanta. 

On Monday, he noted that Senga had been throwing since the injury, and he was getting on the mound and “letting the ball go with some intensity.”

“That's a really good sign,” Mendoza said on Monday. “We'll see what the next step will be. But not even two weeks, and he's already getting on the mound and playing catch with intensity. That's good."

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Mets' Sean Manaea shut down from throwing for 48-72 hours due to loose body in left elbow

Mets left-hander Sean Manaea has been shut down from throwing for 48-72 hours after an MRI revealed a loose body in his left elbow.

After pitching 5.1 innings or Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Manaea notified the team of feeling discomfort in his left elbow, which led to an MRI and eventually a cortisone shot on Monday.

"Felt a little sore after the game, and kind of didn’t really recover after that," Manaea said on Tuesday, noting he started to feel something in his final inning of work.

While the Mets will wait and see how Manea’s elbow responds over the next couple of days, the belief is that the lefty can be back on the mound next week, and that he’s set back by only “a couple of days,” according to president of baseball operations David Stearns.

“The goal right now is he’s probably pitching in a rehab game a week from today, next Tuesday, next Wednesday, and if he’s able to do that and that goes well, that would be the last one probably, and then we’d get him back,” Stearns said.

“This sets us back a couple of days, but at least right now we don’t anticipate this resetting anything.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Manaea “should be fine for the rest of the year” without any kind of procedure, though Stearns added that an offseason procedure can’t be ruled out.

“I think that's to be determined,” said Stearns. “Sometimes you can pitch with these loose bodies for your entire career, and sometimes they need to come out, so I don’t know that we have a definitive determination on that yet.”

Manaea, who has been on the IL since the start of the season with a strained right oblique, has made four rehab appearances, allowing eight earned runs over 12.0 innings of work.

"Very thankful it wasn’t anything serious," Manaea said, adding that he feels "significantly better" since the cortisone shot. "It sucks, but it’s a pretty good case scenario for what it is."

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Red Sox at Angels Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Red Sox (40-40) are in Anaheim to take on the Angels (38-40). Garrett Crochet is slated to take the mound for Boston against Tyler Anderson for Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Angels won game one of the series 9-5. Zach Neto had a big game at the plate. He went 3-4 with a home run and two RBI.

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 Red Sox at Angels

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 9:38PM EST
  • Site: Angel Stadium
  • City: Anaheim, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network, NESN

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

Odds for the Red Sox at the Angels

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-198), Angels (+163)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Angels

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Garrett Crochet vs. Tyler Anderson
    • Red Sox: Garrett Crochet, (7-4, 2.20 ERA)
      Last outing (Seattle Mariners, 6/18): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 8 Strikeouts
    • Angels: Tyler Anderson, (2-5, 4.56 ERA)
      Last outing (New York Yankees, 6/19): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 2 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!

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

  • The Red Sox have won 12 of their last 20 games
  • The Under is 5-2 (71%) when Tyler Anderson has started in the Angels' home games on the mound this season
  • With Tyler Anderson starting the Angels have covered in 4 of their last 5 games to return 2.02 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 Red Sox and the Angels

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 Tuesday's game between the Red Sox and the Angels:

  • 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 Los Angeles Angels 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)

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Cubs at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Cubs (46-32) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (43-36). Jameson Taillon is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Michael McGreevy for St. Louis.

The Cardinals won the first game of the series 8-2. Matthew Liberatore struck out five batters in 7.0 innings pitched.

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 Cubs at Cardinals

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:45PM EST
  • Site: Busch Stadium
  • City: St. Louis, MO
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network, Marquee Sports Network

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 Cardinals

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (-117), Cardinals (-103)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Cardinals

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Jameson Taillon vs. Michael McGreevy
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon, (7-4, 3.84 ERA)
      Last outing (Milwaukee Brewers, 6/19): 4.0 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
    • Cardinals: Michael McGreevy, (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
      Last outing (Chicago White Sox, 6/19): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 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!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Cardinals

  • The Cardinals have won seven of their last 10 games
  • The Cubs' last four road games at the Cardinals have gone over the Total
  • The Cubs have failed to cover the Run Line in nine of their last 11 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 Cubs and the Cardinals

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 Tuesday's game between the Cubs and the Cardinals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the St. Louis Cardinals on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the St. Louis Cardinals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.

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

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

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

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Mariners at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for June 24

It's Tuesday, June 24 and the Mariners (40-37) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (37-41). Luis Castillo is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Chris Paddack for Minnesota.

The talk of the MLB is all about Cal Raleigh. He became the third catcher in MLB history to score eight runs in a three-game series.

Raleigh has 31 homers already. His 31 homers are the third most before the All-Star Break in Mariners history. Only behind Ken Griffey Jr, who had 35 and 33 home runs.

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 Mariners at Twins

  • Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: Twins.TV, ROOTNW

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 Mariners at the Twins

The latest odds as of Tuesday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (-105), Twins (-114)
  • Spread:  Twins 1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for June 24, 2025: Luis Castillo vs. Chris Paddack
    • Mariners: Luis Castillo, (4-5, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 6/18): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Twins: Chris Paddack, (3-6, 4.48 ERA)
      Last outing (Cincinnati Reds, 6/19): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts

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

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

  • The Mariners have won seven of their last 10 games
  • Each of the Mariners' last four games at the Twins have gone over the Total
  • The Twins have failed to cover the Run Line in five of their last six 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 Mariners 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 Tuesday's game between the Mariners and the Twins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Seattle Mariners on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Seattle Mariners 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)

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Mike Krukow believes Rafael Devers' plate presence reminiscent of Barry Bonds

Mike Krukow believes Rafael Devers' plate presence reminiscent of Barry Bonds originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

This past weekend’s series between the Giants and Boston Red Sox was an opportunity for Rafael Devers to face his former team and close the door on that nine-year chapter of his baseball life.

Devers, who joined the Giants last Tuesday, started the series going 0-for-5 on Friday night before going 2-for-7 with one home run and two runs scored in the following two games.

Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow on Monday joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” and gave his and Duane Kuiper’s thoughts on Devers, which surprisingly included a comparison to Giants legend and home run king Barry Bonds.

“Kuip said, ‘You know, after that swing of the bat, I anticipate him hitting a home run every other at-bat,’ ” Krukow said, relaying his broadcast partner’s comments after Devers hit his first home run as a member of the Giants. “And we haven’t felt that way since Barry Bonds.”

Any time someone mentions a player in the same light as Bonds, eyes raise and the fact that the pair of commentators feel that way is incredibly telling.

Krukow says that, as a former big leaguer, analyzing a player who’s so tough to face like Devers can be a challenge for pitchers and that’s something that makes the game of baseball so special.

“Every game I’ve ever watched since [playing], I look at the hitter facing the pitcher, figuring out ‘How the hell am I going to get this guy out?’ ” Krukow said. “To me, that’s just the greatest puzzle in the game of baseball. It’s the essence of the game.”

Devers and his career .278 batting average have proven to be a tough out for opposing pitchers and for Krukow, there’s a word that defines Devers to a T.

“The one word that comes to mind when I watch him hit is threat,” Krukow said. “He’s not an easy guy to pitch to.”

For opposing pitchers, Devers certainly is a threat, but for a Giants lineup that was searching for runs, they’re hoping he can be the offensive boost they desperately needed.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Harper swings more than he has since injury but Houston return unlikely

Harper swings more than he has since injury but Houston return unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

HOUSTON — It does not sound like Bryce Harper will be activated in Houston but he went through his full pregame routine Tuesday at Daikin Park, swinging more than he has since being placed on the injured list June 7 with right wrist inflammation.

Harper hit off a tee and did soft toss, swinging about 50 times. He fielded grounders at first base and went through a throwing program.

If the wrist responds well overnight, the Phillies hope to have him take batting practice in the indoor cage Wednesday.

Manager Rob Thomson said he doesn’t think Harper will be activated against the Astros and responded, “I don’t know,” when asked about the Atlanta series this weekend. But the two-time MVP is headed in the right direction.

“Good, a lot better,” Thomson said. “Just keep progressing intensity, volume.”

The Phillies have gone 10-5 since Harper’s injury, averaging 4.9 runs. The offense struggled the weekend he went down but has hummed since, with Trea Turner maintaining a .300 batting average, Kyle Schwarber homering twice a week, Alec Bohm hitting .346 in June and Brandon Marsh — .385 at the bottom of the order during Harper’s injury — finally heating up.

The Phils arrived in Houston with a 47-31 record, 1½ games ahead of the Mets in the NL East and a half-game behind the Dodgers for the top mark in the National League.

Buddy Kennedy started at first base on Tuesday night against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. The Phillies will see another lefty on Wednesday in Colton Gordon before facing tough right-hander Hunter Brown on Thursday. The Phillies faced David Peterson on Sunday and had Monday off, so it could be four full days between starts for Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler.

“They’re gonna get four days at the All-Star break too,” Thomson said, “so they’ve got to deal with it, keep working and stay sharp.”

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Mets activate Frankie Montas, transfer Jesse Winker to 60-day injured list

The Mets announced a series of roster moves, including reinstating right-handed pitcher Frankie Montas, who will make his team debut on Tuesday night against Atlanta.

Additionally, the Mets optioned reliever Chris Devenski to Triple-A Syracuse and transferred outfielder Jesse Winker to the 60-day IL.

Signed to a two-year, $34 million contract that includes a $17 million player option for 2026, Montas suffered a lat injury just as spring training was beginning in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The 32-year-old has had a bit of a rough go while on his rehab assignment, pitching to a 12.05 ERA with eight home runs allowed over 18.2 innings (six starts). Still, the Mets hope Montas can add some stability to a rotation that is currently down Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill, while still awaiting Sean Manaea’s season debut.

Meanwhile, transferring Winker to the 60-day IL is more of a paper move than anything else. Winker, who suffered a right oblique strain on May 4, has been on the IL for 50 days and is still a bit away from being ready to start a rehab assignment.

Devenski, 34, has been back and forth between Triple-A and the majors this season, appearing in four big league games with a 3.60 ERA in 5.0 innings of work.

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Noah Syndergaard signs a minor league deal with the White Sox

CHICAGO — Noah Syndergaard will attempt to make a comeback with the Chicago White Sox, who have signed the veteran right-hander to a minor league deal.

Syndergaard has reported to the team’s spring complex in Glendale, Arizona, the White Sox confirmed.

The 32-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2023, when he was cut by Cleveland. He went 2-6 with a 6.50 ERA in 18 combined starts for the Guardians and Los Angeles Dodgers that year.

Nicknamed “Thor” for his long blond hair and 6-foot-6 frame, Syndergaard debuted for the New York Mets in 2015 and won a World Series start that season. He was an All-Star in 2016, but injuries have sidetracked his career.

Syndergaard is 59-47 with a 3.71 ERA in eight major league seasons.

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The Rangers Made The Right Decision To Give Away Their 2025 12th Overall Pick And Keep 2026 First-Round Pick

 Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

There’s a lot to sort out when analyzing the New York Rangers’ move to transfer their 12th overall pick in this year’s draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins and keep their 2026 first-round pick. 

The bottom line is that the Rangers made the right decision. 

As part of the terms of the J.T. Miller trade with the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers either had to give up their 2025 or 2026 first-round pick. 

It may be frustrating for fans not to see the Rangers make a first-round selection on Friday, but it will be worth it in the long run. 

The Rangers needed to keep their 2026 first-round pick for a couple of different reasons. 

First off, according to TSN’s Pierre Lebrun, part of the thinking for the Rangers in moving this year's pick is to potentially be able to use their 2026 first-rounder for a move at the trade deadline if they are in a position to contend. 

Despite missing the playoffs during the 2024-25 season, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury does not seem to be planning on tanking. 

The team’s core filled with some talented veteran players is primed for a bounce-back season with the playoffs in sight. 

If the Rangers are sitting in a playoff position at the time of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline and feel they are ready to compete for a Stanley Cup, it’s important that Drury has this first-round pick in his back pocket, so he can potentially explore trading it for a win-now player to help boost the roster ahead of the postseason. 

Rangers Transfer 12th Overall Pick To Penguins, Deciding To Keep 2026 First-Round PickRangers Transfer 12th Overall Pick To Penguins, Deciding To Keep 2026 First-Round PickThe New York Rangers will give up the 12 overall pick in this year’s draft as part of the J.T. Miller trade and they’ve decided to keep their 2026 first-round pick. 

Without a first-round pick, the Rangers’ competitors in the Eastern Conference will have an advantage over them to acquire talent in hopes of making a deep playoff push. 

In the case that the Rangers implode during the 2025-26 season, the team will still have a quality first-round selection which they can use to draft a prominent prospect. 

The 2026 NHL draft class is supposed to be better and deeper than this year’s prospect pool, which makes the Rangers 2026 pick a lot more valuable. 

Drury decided to be patient instead of looking into this year’s draft. It’s a move that Rangers’ fans may actually be praising in a few months time.

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Red Sox manager Alex Cora ejected after another shaky start by Walker Buehler in loss to Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Alex Cora is 0 for 2 in arguing obstruction calls with umpire Alan Porter after the Boston Red Sox manager was ejected in the fifth inning of a 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, the second straight game in which Cora was tossed.

Boston was trailing 5-4 when Jarren Duran doubled to lead off the fifth. Abraham Toro grounded to shortstop, but Duran hesitated before breaking for third and was tagged out in a rundown by Angels second baseman Christian Moore.

Moore then spun and threw to second base, where Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo was covering, to nail Toro trying to advance. Cora argued that Rengifo blocked the bag with his knee and was ejected after a long argument with Porter, who made the out call.

Porter ejected Cora for arguing a similar play in a game against Minnesota last Sept. 22 after Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta threw to second baseman Vaughn Grissom in an attempt to pick off Byron Buxton.

Buxton was safe, but the Twins argued that Grissom blocked Buxton’s path to the bag with his knee. The umpires ultimately agreed, and Buxton was awarded third base.

“Our point of view was that he was blocking the bag,” Cora said, referring to the most recent play. “I guess the rule is if he’s going to be out easy, they can do that. But we had a similar situation last year with the same (umpiring) crew … and Alan reversed the call.

“That was the whole point
I was trying to make — it happened six months ago, the same situation, and it was reversed. Maybe he’s right, you know, if he was going to be safe, but I wanted to make sure.”

Major League Baseball Rule 6.00(h) awards the base to the runner when the fielder is ruled to have impeded the runner’s progress while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball.

Porter, however, told a pool reporter there was an extenuating circumstance — mainly, that Moore’s throw arrived well before Toro, who was out by several feet, essentially making an obstruction call moot.

“Did the fielder obstruct, or was the runner just out?” Porter said. “We felt that the runner, no matter what the fielder had done in that situation, was out. He was out by a lot. And that’s part of also not calling the obstruction.

“And the other side of it is that it’s a very quick developing play there. So we’re able to give them a little bit of leeway when they don’t have time to set up because it was the rundown, and (Rengifo) is running back (toward second base).”

Cora wasn’t around to see the Angels score four runs in the eighth to snap a 5-all tie, but he saw enough of Walker Buehler’s shaky start to acknowledge the veteran right-hander might be losing his grip on a rotation spot.

Handed a 3-0 lead before he took the mound, Buehler walked four and hit two batters during a five-run first inning in which he threw 39 pitches. He finished with a career-high seven walks in four innings.

The Red Sox rallied to tie the score in the sixth, taking Buehler off the hook for a loss, but he is 5-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 13 starts. In his previous outing, he gave up eight runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings in a loss at Seattle.

“You can’t walk seven guys in a major league baseball game and expect to be successful,” Buehler said. “I think we keep trying different things and looking at different stuff, this (pitch) mix or that mix, but at the end of the day, if you don’t execute and throw strikes, you really don’t have a chance.

“I feel like a broken record. It’s embarrassing. It’s not who I want to be as a baseball player, obviously. I’d rather get whacked around than do that.”

Buehler struggled in his return from a second Tommy John surgery last season, going 1-6 with a 5.95 ERA in 16 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he recovered in October to play an integral part in the team’s run to a World Series title. He even came out of the bullpen to get the final three outs of the series-clinching win over the New York Yankees.

Asked if he was sure Buehler is healthy, Cora said: “One hundred percent.” When Buehler was asked if he’s pitching through anything right now, he said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Buehler recovered from his brutal first inning to blank the Angels on one hit over his final three frames, perhaps earning a longer leash in the team’s rotation.

“The second, third and fourth innings were really good,” Cora said. “The velocity was up and the movement on his pitches were great. There’s a few things mechanically that he feels he needs to do better, but he’ll be ready for the next one.”

Buehler was a postseason star for the Dodgers as they won three National League pennants and a World Series crown from 2017-20. But is he worried about his spot in the Boston rotation?

“Yeah, I think you have to be,” Buehler said. “At some point, there’s 26 guys that are going to help this team hopefully make the playoffs and if you’re not one of them, I don’t really think it matters what you’ve done in years past.

“At some point, I’ve got to put some results out there for myself, but also for this organization. … It just sucks, man. I want to contribute to this team so badly. I’ve enjoyed playing here so much outside of my own performance, so it’s just really frustrating.”

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Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll has chip fracture in left wrist, timeline for return unknown

CHICAGO — Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll has a chip fracture in his left wrist and his timeline for a return is unknown, manager Torey Lovullo said.

Lovullo told reporters after a 10-0 win over the Chicago White Sox that Carroll would “continue to get some opinions just to find out what that official diagnosis means and what the time frame will be.”

Carroll hasn’t played since a pitch hit him in the left hand in Toronto. X-rays at the time showed no fracture.

“That’s a little bit confusing to all of us,” Lovullo said of the chip fracture. “It’s on the back of his hand. The impact of the ball hit the side of his hand. Just goes to show you how hard these guys are throwing today. Definitely that fracture in there.”

Carroll is batting .255 with 20 homers and 44 RBIs this season. He was the NL rookie of the year and an All-Star in 2023.

The Diamondbacks saw infielders Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor leave with injuries. Suárez left after he was hit on the right hand in the first inning on a pitch from Shane Smith. The team announced he had a right-hand contusion and X-rays were negative.

Naylor appeared to injure his shoulder on a swing in the second inning and left in the fourth after grounding out. He is day-to-day with right shoulder discomfort.

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Giants notes: Matt Chapman progressing; Bryce Eldridge to miss time with injury

Giants notes: Matt Chapman progressing; Bryce Eldridge to miss time with injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Even before they traded for Rafael Devers, the Giants had no intention of rushing Bryce Eldridge. But now they have no choice but to be patient. 

The organization’s top prospect has a “moderate” right hamstring strain and will rehab for at least three to four weeks at the organization’s minor league facility in Scottsdale. That would be a blow at any point, but the timing is particularly poor for the 20-year-old, who got off to a slow start in Triple-A but had started to pick up steam.

Eldridge got hurt on Saturday after roping a 106 mph double down the right field line. He pulled up as he rounded second and immediately came out of the game with a trainer.

The double gave Eldridge three straight multi-hit games, raising his average with Sacramento to .230. In 16 games with the River Cats, he had a .710 OPS, three homers and 13 RBI.

The injury will make it more difficult for Eldridge to push for a promotion this season, as he had hoped, but it had already become a bit more unlikely. Devers continues to take grounders at first, and the Giants plan to start him there at some point soon, with Wilmer Flores serving as the everyday DH. They also are happy with what Dominic Smith has brought to the roster.

Positive Strides

Matt Chapman took some dry swings in the cage and fielded grounders, taking the next step in his rehab from a sprained right hand. Chapman had his splint removed on Friday and manager Bob Melvin said he appears to be slightly ahead of schedule. 

Chapman has been pushing to accelerate things, but the Giants are still viewing the end of the first half as a likely return date. That would put Chapman back in the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first visit to Oracle Park this season.

A New Look

Christian Koss got the first start at second base after Tyler Fitzgerald was sent back to Triple-A, but Melvin said Brett Wisely will also mix in and will get a start during this series against the Miami Marlins. 

Melvin didn’t want to reveal too much about the plan for the rest of the season, but did say that Casey Schmitt figures to be a big part of it. Schmitt will start taking grounders at second base to prepare for a likely move across the diamond when Chapman returns. The young infielder is hitting .415 at third base since taking over for Chapman.

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Cal Raleigh continues hot streak, hits 32nd homer of the season

MINNEAPOLIS — Cal Raleigh picked up right where he left off last week.

Raleigh hit his major league-leading 32nd home run in the ninth inning of the Seattle Mariners’ 11-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Raleigh was chosen AL player of the week after he hit .417 with five homers and 12 RBIs in six games. Much of that came in the Mariners’ series with the Cubs, when Raleigh hit four home runs as the Mariners took two of three at Wrigley Field.

His latest home run came off left-handed reliever Joey Wentz, a two-run shot to left field off a high changeup that Wentz left over the middle of the plate. It was Raleigh’s fourth straight game with a home run.

“He’s just in a really good spot,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “I think he feels comfortable, clearly, and he’s getting good pitches. And when he gets them, he doesn’t miss them.”

In his last 30 games, Raleigh is hitting .331 (39 for 118) with 17 home runs and 36 RBIs. For the season, he’s hitting .278 with 68 RBIs and a 1.048 OPS.

The 28-year-old catcher, who signed a six-year, $105 million contract with Seattle this spring, needs three more homers to match Ken Griffey Jr. for the most before the All-Star break in Mariners history.

“He’s hit a lot of home runs, but he’s found a lot of barrels, and when you’re hitting .270 with that kind of power, you’re putting up a lot of good at-bats,” Wilson said. “He’s hitting the ball hard. He’s hitting the ball on the line, and then occasionally he’s getting ... underneath it a little bit more and driving it out of the ballpark.”

Mariners starter Bryan Woo struck out nine in six innings to earn the win. He’s pitched at least six innings in each of his 15 starts this year and sports a 3.12 ERA. But even Woo shook his head when asked how he’d pitch to Raleigh right now.

“I’d put up four fingers and let him take first base,” said Woo. “Yeah, I’m not pitching to him.”