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Jeff McNeil smacks three-run blast as Mets complete sweep of Nationals

The Mets beat the Nationals, 4-3, on Thursday at Citi Field to complete a three-game sweep.

Here are the takeaways...

- Jeff McNeilstayed blazing hot, and the result was an early Mets lead.

With two outs and two on in the first inning, McNeil sent a Michael Soroka offering over the wall in right field to give New York a 3-0 lead.

McNeil's shot went down the line and dropped in the first few rows of seats, driving inFrancisco Lindor and Juan Soto, who had both walked

- Kodai Senga entered his start with a 1.59 ERA, which was the best mark in the National League. And he left the game with the best ERA in baseball, after throwing 5.2 scoreless innings to shrink it to 1.47. Senga allowed just one hit, walked one, and struck out five.

Unfortunately, Senga's exit was due to injury.

On a play at first base with one out in the sixth inning, Pete Alonso led Senga to the bag with a toss after fielding a grounder by CJ Abrams. But Alonso's throw was high, leading Senga to jump for it before coming down on the bag with his right foot.

Senga immediately grabbed the back of his right leg, near his hamstring area, after landing on the bag.

After staying down for a bit, Senga walked off the field under his own power without much of a limp.

- In a 4-0 game in the ninth inning, Ryne Stanek struggled, allowing three consecutive hits without recording an out. That cut the Mets' lead to 4-1, and led toEdwin Diaz being summoned for the save.

Diaz bent but didn't break, issuing a walk and single before getting a pop out and two ground outs to secure the victory.

- Brandon Nimmo's home run barrage continued. A night after hitting two homers, Nimmo smacked a solo shot off the foul pole in right field in the fifth inning, which extended New York's lead to 4-0.

- Sotostayed hot, drilling an opposite field double in the seventh inning. He has seven extra-base hits this month (four homers and three doubles), and his OPS is up to .858.

- Jose Castillo and Huascar Brazoban combined to toss 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Senga.

Game MVP: Jeff McNeil

McNeil has been fantastic all season, and his offensive impact continued to be felt on Thursday afternoon.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets open a three-game series against the Rays on Friday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Clay Holmes gets the start for New York, opposed by Taj Bradley for Tampa Bay.

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Cardinals at Brewers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 12

It's Thursday, June 12 and the Cardinals (36-32) are in Milwaukee to take on the Brewers (36-33). Sonny Gray is slated to take the mound for St. Louis against Milwaukee.

The race in the NL Central is tightening. The Cardinals sit 5.0 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs, with the Brewers just 0.5 games behind St. Louis. The Cardinals are in desperate need of a turnaround, having lost seven of their last ten games—including four straight.

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 Cardinals at Brewers

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, FanDuel Sports Network Midwest

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 Cardinals at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Cardinals (-130), Brewers (+109)
  • Spread:  Cardinals -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cardinals at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for June 12, 2025: Sonny Gray vs. Jacob Misiorowski
    • Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (7-1, 3.35 ERA)
      Last outing (Los Angeles Dodgers, 6/6): 6.1 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 0 Hits Allowed, 0 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 Cardinals at Brewers

  • The Cardinals have lost 7 of their last 10 games
  • The Under is 20-14-2 in the Brewers' matchups against National League teams this season
  • It has been 4 games since the Cardinals last covered the Run Line

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 Cardinals and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers 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:

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Mets getting trade inquiries about Paul Blackburn: report

With Frankie Montas making one or two more rehab starts before returning and Sean Manaea set to make his third rehab start on Sunday, things could get very crowded very soon in the Mets' starting rotation.

And the team has been getting calls about Paul Blackburn, reports Joel Sherman of The New York Post.

Blackburn, who has been in the bullpen after making one start following his return from the IL earlier this month, has been the odd-man out so far.

He was terrific against the Dodgers in Los Angeles during what was his only start this season, tossing 5.0 shutout innings while allowing just three hits.

In his next appearance, which came in relief in Colorado, Blackburn allowed three runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings against the Rockies.

Blackburn does not have any minor league options remaining, meaning the Mets would run the risk of losing him if they try to send him to the minors.

The 31-year-old right-hander is earning a shade over $4 million this season, and is set for free agency after the year.

Kodai Senga left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury that will land him on the IL, and the calculus will change with him missing time. But the Mets will still have seven starters for five spots when Montas and Manaeaare back.

With Montas making one or two more rehab starts before returning and Manaea set to make his third rehab start on Sunday, things could get very crowded very soon.

And with New York not planning to utilize a regular six-man rotation in the immediate future, it's fair to wonder how they'll make everything fit.

It's logical to believe that Tylor Megill will slide to the bullpen or get sent to Triple-A Syracuse when room is needed in the rotation. He has minor league options remaining, meaning the Mets can send him down without running the risk of losing him.

Beyond Megill (who starts on Saturday), the next candidate to possibly lose his rotation spot -- as unfair as it is -- would almost certainly be Griffin Canning, who carries a 3.22 ERA into his start on Sunday.

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Chris Drury Claims Chris Kreider Will Always Be A Ranger After Emotional Trade To Ducks

James Guillory-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have officially dealt Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Rangers are trading Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. 

This marks the end of a 13-year tenure with the Rangers where Kreider established himself as one of the most impact players to ever put on the Blueshirt jersey. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury acknowledged Kreider for all he’s accomplished with this legendary original-six franchise. 

"We want to thank Chris Kreider for all of his contributions to the Rangers organization over his stellar career," Drury said. "Chris has been an integral part of some of the most iconic moments in Rangers history, including setting multiple franchise records and helping the team advance to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. 

“His leadership on the ice and tireless efforts in the community - which he was recognized for as the inaugural recipient of the Rod Gilbert "Mr. Ranger" Award - only add to his distinguished Rangers legacy. Chris will always be a Ranger and we wish him and his family all the best.”

Kreider has the third most goals in Rangers history with 326 goals in 883 total games with the franchise. 

The 34-year-old forward was also the longest-tenured current Ranger player before being traded. 

“This is home for me, This is the organization that gave me the opportunity to live out my dreams,” Kreider said during his exit interview. I’ve developed so many incredible relationships, and grown up, and spent so much time in this area…”

Now, Kreider starts the next chapter of his career in California.

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Pirates at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 12

It's Thursday, June 12 and the Pirates (28-41) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (41-27). Andrew Heaney is slated to take the mound for Pittsburgh against Jameson Taillon for Chicago.

The Cubs wrapped up their series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday with a 7–2 loss, dropping the three-game series 2–1.

It marked their second consecutive series defeat. Despite the recent struggles, the Cubs maintain a five-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central division.

The Pirates secured a 5–2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, clinching the three-game series 2–1.

While they remain at the bottom of the NL Central standings, the Pirates have shown signs of improvement, winning six of their last ten games.

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

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

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

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Cubs

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:05PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: Marquee Sports Network, SportsNet-PIT

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 Pirates at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+167), Cubs (-202)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for June 12, 2025: Andrew Heaney vs. Jameson Taillon
    • Pirates: Andrew Heaney, (3-4, 3.24 ERA)
      Last outing (Philadelphia Phillies, 6/7): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Cubs: Jameson Taillon, (6-3, 3.54 ERA)
      Last outing (Detroit Tigers, 6/7): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 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 Pirates at Cubs

  • With Jameson Taillon taking the mound the Cubs are on a 4-game winning streak
  • The Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon has an ERA of 2.38 in his last 5 starts on the mound
  • With Jameson Taillon starting the Cubs have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 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 Pirates and the Cubs

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 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)
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  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Mets ace leaves start, headed to injured list

Mets ace leaves start, headed to injured list originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

What to Know

  • Mets ace pitcher Kodai Senga suffered a hamstring injury during his start today vs. the Nationals.
  • Senga jumped to catch a throw from teammate Pete Alonso and crumbled to the ground.
  • Senga was placed on the injured list, and he will miss at least ten days.

The Mets have been hitting on every cylinder this season, building on their lead in the N.L. East. But their latest win Thursday afternoon came at a cost.

Starting pitcher Kodai Senga left the game in the sixth inning with his Mets up 4-0 on the Nationals, and will be put on the 10-day Injured List with a right hamstring injury.

Senga was sprinting to first base to cover after Washington’s CJ Abrams hit a ground ball to first baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso’s throw was high and Senga jumped to catch it. As he landed, he immediately grabbed the back of his right leg as he fell.

He did walk off the field on his own.

Alonso was crestfallen after learning of the extent of Senga’s injury.

“I still feel awful,” he said. “I tried to make the best throw I could, and it just sucks. I wish it wouldn’t have turned out like that.”

Senga’s loss is a significant one for the Mets’ pitching rotation. He has been among the best pitchers in the game this season. Improving to 7-3 with an MLB-best 1.47 ERA after today’s scoreless outing. He missed nearly all of the 2024 season due to shoulder and calf injuries, making just one start all year.

The Mets’ 4-3 win over the Nationals today improved their record to 45-24, best in baseball. They lead the division by 5.5 games over the Phillies.

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The Rangers Accomplish Their Goal By Trading Chris Kreider And Not Retaining Any Of His Salary

 Danny Wild-Imagn Images

New York Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was able to accomplish his main goal in the trade, sending Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Rangers are trading Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick. 

Rangers Reportedly Trading Chris Kreider To Ducks In Exchange For Young Prospect Rangers Reportedly Trading Chris Kreider To Ducks In Exchange For Young Prospect According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers will trade Chris Kreider and a mid-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward prospect Carey Terrance and a mid-round pick. 

As part of the deal, the Ducks will take on Kreider’s entire salary. He still currently has two years remaining on his contract at $6.5 million AAV. 

Drury has now been able to move off of Barclay Goodrow, Jacob Trouba, and Kreider without retaining any of their salaries. 

Maybe the Rangers didn’t get all that much in return for a player who’s been a pillar of the franchise for years, but they did not have to retain any of his salary, which was the most important aspect of this deal for the Blueshirts. 

Now, Drury has set up the Rangers to have more money to work with going into this upcoming offseason and the summer of 2026 when there will be some big-time free agents available. 

With more financial flexibility, expect the Rangers to be major players in both the trade market and free agent market going forward, especially with Drury’s desire to make major changes to the roster. 

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Red Sox prospect expert explains why Roman Anthony ‘should play every day'

Red Sox prospect expert explains why Roman Anthony ‘should play every day' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s approach with top prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer has left some scratching their heads.

Cora has preferred to bench Anthony and Mayer — both left-handed hitters — against left-handed pitching. Only seven of Mayer’s 44 big-league at-bats have come against lefties, and Anthony has only one AB against a left-hander in his first three career games. Cora pinch-hit lefty masher Rob Refsnyder for Anthony against a southpaw in the 11th inning of Monday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays — Anthony’s MLB debut.

Asked on Tuesday about sitting the duo against lefties, Cora mentioned the sizable gap in pitching talent between Triple-A and MLB. He also noted Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez’s success against left-handed pitching.

Are those valid reasons for sitting Anthony and Mayer against southpaws? Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com shared his opinion during a recent conversation with NBC Sports Boston.

“I think with Marcelo Mayer, it makes sense,” Cundall said. “If you see him in person, he does have some issues against left-handed pitching. You see it notably in the strikeout-to-walk ratio, he just doesn’t walk against lefties. I don’t think he sees the ball as well against them, and he just doesn’t have as much power against them. So sitting Mayer against lefties, I understand.

“With Anthony, I don’t necessarily agree with that. He looks extremely comfortable against lefties. He reads the ball well, he doesn’t chase, there’s no real difference in his output with approach metrics and batted ball data. So, with someone like him, I would prefer not to platoon an elite elite prospect.”

Anthony’s actually has fared better against left-handers throughout his minor-league career. The 21-year-old slugger posted a .955 OPS against lefties this season at Triple-A Worcester and a .879 OPS against righties.

Anthony and Mayer’s splits aside, it’s a crucial developmental year for both prized prospects. It would make sense to give them reps against left-handers so they can get the full big-league experience, rather than growing accustomed to platooning during their rookie campaigns.

“You look at the last couple of years, the big left-handed position player prospects who’ve come up, guys like Corbin Carroll and Jackson Merrill, they’ve all faced lefties in their rookie year,” Cundall added. “Has it been up and down? Yeah, but that’s the only way to get better is to see them consistently.

“I think with someone like Anthony, who’s that elite number one prospect in all of baseball, he should be playing every day, in my opinion. Whereas Mayer, who is in that tier below and has had some struggles with lefties, I’m fine platooning him.”

It will be interesting to see whether Cora sticks to his approach if New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough takes the mound in their upcoming series at Fenway Park. Mayer wasn’t in the starting lineup when Yarbrough pitched against the Red Sox in the Bronx on Saturday.

With Thursday off, Boston will begin its three-game series against New York on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

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White Sox at Astros Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 12

It's Thursday, June 12 and the White Sox (23-45) are in Houston to take on the Astros (37-30). Davis Martin is slated to take the mound for Chicago against Framber Valdez for Houston.

After a 4-2 loss in game one of the series, the Astros unloaded on the White Sox yesterday. Their 10-2 run was fueled by four RBI from Christian Walker. Walker went 3-4 with 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 White Sox at Astros

  • Date: Thursday, June 12, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Minute Maid Park
  • City: Houston, TX
  • Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, CHSN

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

Odds for the White Sox at the Astros

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: White Sox (+207), Astros (-256)
  • Spread:  Astros -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for White Sox at Astros

  • Pitching matchup for June 12, 2025: Davis Martin vs. Framber Valdez
    • White Sox: Davis Martin, (2-6, 3.62 ERA)
      Last outing (Kansas City Royals, 6/6): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 0 Walks, and 7 Strikeouts
    • Astros: Framber Valdez, (6-4, 3.07 ERA)
      Last outing (Pittsburgh Pirates, 6/5): 7.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 11 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 White Sox at Astros

  • This season the Astros are 37-30 (.552) and 8-5 (.615) with Framber Valdez as the opener
  • The Astros' last 4 home games with Framber Valdez as the opener have gone under the Total

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

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

Rotoworld Best Bet

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

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

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

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

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Houston Astros on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago White Sox at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

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

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

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Twins trade reliever Jorge Alcala to Red Sox for minor leaguer Andy Lugo

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins dealt struggling reliever Jorge Alcala to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for minor leaguer Andy Lugo.

The 29-year-old Alcala (0-2) has an 8.88 ERA in 22 appearances for the Twins this year. His final outing with Minnesota came Tuesday when he gave up five runs — four earned — in a 16-4 loss to Texas.

Alcala debuted with the Twins in 2019 and pitched in a career-high 59 games in 2021. After finishing the 2024 season with a 3.24 ERA in 54 relief appearances, he had five games this season in which he allowed at least three runs out of the bullpen.

Lugo, 21, was batting .265 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 44 games for High-A Greenville. He has played both the infield and outfield during his minor league tenure but has spent most of the 2025 season in the infield. He made 21 starts at first base and 16 at third base.

To make room for Alcala on its 40-man roster, Boston designated right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle for assignment. Van Belle had not yet appeared in a major league game for the Red Sox this season after he was selected to the active roster on June 9.

Left-hander Joey Wentz will take Alcala’s spot on Minnesota’s 26-man roster. The Twins claimed Wentz off waivers from Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

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Mets lefty David Peterson pitches his first 9-inning complete game since college in 2017

NEW YORK — David Peterson had just walked back to the dugout after eight innings and 97 pitches when New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza approached him.

“Kind of pulled me aside and said let’s have a talk and wanted to hear what I had to say,” Peterson would later recall.

He strolled into the tunnel toward the clubhouse for a quick talk with Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

“I told them let me finish this thing,” the 29-year-old left-hander said.

Peterson returned to the mound and polished off a six-hitter for the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night that stretched New York’s winning streak to five.

“He came in the dugout and he didn’t want to give me a look,” Mendoza said. “That for me is a sign that he wants to go back out.”

Their tunnel conversation was brisk. Ryne Stanek was warming up in the bullpen, just in case.

“I said, `Man, this is a tough one,’” Mendoza remembered. “You’ve only got a few pitches here.’ It was like: `Let me finish it.’ I said: `All right, it’s yours.’”

Mendoza emphasized the short leash to catcher Luis Torrens.

“He says, `Hey, he’s got about eight or nine pitches,’” Torrens related through a translator, “so I went out there with the plan to be able to get a quick ninth.”

Fans in the Citi Field crowd of 40,681 roared when Peterson rushed back to the mound for the ninth. He fell behind Amed Rosario 2-0 before retiring him on a lineout, struck out slugger James Wood on three pitches and retired Andrés Chaparro on a groundout with his 106th pitch, ending a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes.

Peterson pumped a fist, flashed the widest of smiles and hugged Torrens and then Pete Alonso. The first baseman handed Peterson the ball, which the pitcher promptly tucked into a rear pocket in his pants. A dozen Mets formed a circle, arms over shoulders, and each raised a knee quickly in their goofy group celebration.

“It’s been fun to see him grow up in front of my eyes,” said outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who homered twice. “I was here when he first came up and everybody’s kind of trying to feel their way around and kind of make sure they belong in the big leagues. And then now to see him the way that he is and him take the field with such confidence and knowing that if he executes his plan, he’s really hard to hit.”

Peterson struck out six and walked none, throwing 75 of 106 pitches for strikes and opening with a strike to 21 of 32 batters. He mixed 30 fastballs, 29 sinkers, 27 sliders, 11 changeups and nine curveballs, getting 13 swings and misses.

“He kept us off balance,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Peterson’s only prior professional complete game was a four-hitter in a rain-shortened, five-inning loss to Atlanta on April 28, 2023. His previous nine-inning complete game came in college, a four-hit shutout for Oregon against Arizona State on April 28, 2017.

Selected by the Mets with the 20th overall pick in that year’s amateur draft, Peterson signed for a $2,994,500 bonus. He won his debut three years later at Fenway Park early in the pandemic-shortened season and was 18-21 with a 4.51 ERA in his first four seasons, getting optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse five times in 2022 and twice more in 2023.

He had surgery on Nov. 6, 2023, to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, delaying his 2024 debut until May 29. He is 15-5 with a 2.74 ERA since.

Last October, he was moved to the bullpen and got the final three outs of the Division Series clincher at Milwaukee.

“The compete, how much he wants it, his ability to come through in big moments,” Mendoza explained, “I can sit here and say a lot of different things about him, but he’s just a guy that the situation is never too big for.”

In an age of analytics that has made bullpen use paramount, Peterson pitched the seventh shutout and 14th complete game in the major leagues this season. The Mets hadn’t thrown a complete game since Luis Severino’s shutout against Miami last Aug. 17 and they hadn’t gotten a shutout from a left-hander since Steven Matz vs. Pittsburgh on July 27, 2019.

“When you have to work for something, and when it doesn’t come easy, it means all that much more,” Nimmo said. “He was a first-round pick, and you have a lot of expectations that come with you with that. But he stayed the process, and he’s worked hard and taken advantage of that talent.”

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Mets lefty David Peterson pitches his first nine-inning complete game since college in 2017

NEW YORK — David Peterson had just walked back to the dugout after eight innings and 97 pitches when New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza approached him.

“Kind of pulled me aside and said let’s have a talk and wanted to hear what I had to say,” Peterson would later recall.

He strolled into the tunnel toward the clubhouse for a quick talk with Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.

“I told them let me finish this thing,” the 29-year-old left-hander said.

Peterson returned to the mound and polished off a six-hitter for the first nine-inning complete game of his professional career, a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night that stretched New York’s winning streak to five.

“He came in the dugout and he didn’t want to give me a look,” Mendoza said. “That for me is a sign that he wants to go back out.”

Their tunnel conversation was brisk. Ryne Stanek was warming up in the bullpen, just in case.

“I said, `Man, this is a tough one,’” Mendoza remembered. “You’ve only got a few pitches here.’ It was like: `Let me finish it.’ I said: `All right, it’s yours.’”

Mendoza emphasized the short leash to catcher Luis Torrens.

“He says, `Hey, he’s got about eight or nine pitches,’” Torrens related through a translator, “so I went out there with the plan to be able to get a quick ninth.”

Fans in the Citi Field crowd of 40,681 roared when Peterson rushed back to the mound for the ninth. He fell behind Amed Rosario 2-0 before retiring him on a lineout, struck out slugger James Wood on three pitches and retired Andrés Chaparro on a groundout with his 106th pitch, ending a game that took just 2 hours, 16 minutes.

Peterson pumped a fist, flashed the widest of smiles and hugged Torrens and then Pete Alonso. The first baseman handed Peterson the ball, which the pitcher promptly tucked into a rear pocket in his pants. A dozen Mets formed a circle, arms over shoulders, and each raised a knee quickly in their goofy group celebration.

“It’s been fun to see him grow up in front of my eyes,” said outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who homered twice. “I was here when he first came up and everybody’s kind of trying to feel their way around and kind of make sure they belong in the big leagues. And then now to see him the way that he is and him take the field with such confidence and knowing that if he executes his plan, he’s really hard to hit.”

Peterson struck out six and walked none, throwing 75 of 106 pitches for strikes and opening with a strike to 21 of 32 batters. He mixed 30 fastballs, 29 sinkers, 27 sliders, 11 changeups and nine curveballs, getting 13 swings and misses.

“He kept us off balance,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Peterson’s only prior professional complete game was a four-hitter in a rain-shortened, five-inning loss to Atlanta on April 28, 2023. His previous nine-inning complete game came in college, a four-hit shutout for Oregon against Arizona State on April 28, 2017.

Selected by the Mets with the 20th overall pick in that year’s amateur draft, Peterson signed for a $2,994,500 bonus. He won his debut three years later at Fenway Park early in the pandemic-shortened season and was 18-21 with a 4.51 ERA in his first four seasons, getting optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse five times in 2022 and twice more in 2023.

He had surgery on Nov. 6, 2023, to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, delaying his 2024 debut until May 29. He is 15-5 with a 2.74 ERA since.

Last October, he was moved to the bullpen and got the final three outs of the Division Series clincher at Milwaukee.

“The compete, how much he wants it, his ability to come through in big moments,” Mendoza explained, “I can sit here and say a lot of different things about him, but he’s just a guy that the situation is never too big for.”

In an age of analytics that has made bullpen use paramount, Peterson pitched the seventh shutout and 14th complete game in the major leagues this season. The Mets hadn’t thrown a complete game since Luis Severino’s shutout against Miami last Aug. 17 and they hadn’t gotten a shutout from a left-hander since Steven Matz vs. Pittsburgh on July 27, 2019.

“When you have to work for something, and when it doesn’t come easy, it means all that much more,” Nimmo said. “He was a first-round pick, and you have a lot of expectations that come with you with that. But he stayed the process, and he’s worked hard and taken advantage of that talent.”

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Rangers Reportedly Trading Chris Kreider To Ducks In Exchange For Young Prospect

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Rangers will trade Chris Kreider and a mid-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward prospect Carey Terrance and a mid-round pick. 

This comes shortly after Larry Brooks of The New York Post reported that Kreider had signed off on a trade to Anaheim and waived his no-trade clause. 

The Rangers are expected to receive a third-round pick while the Ducks will likely get a fourth-round pick according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today. 

Multiple NHL insiders seem to be under the impression that the Ducks will take on Kreider’s entire salary.

A potential trade between the Ducks and Rangers involving Kreider has been rumored since Tuesday night as talks progressed further over the past 24 hours. 

Kreider has spent his entire 13-year career with the Rangers, but the relationship between him and the organization was hindered after Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury specifically mentioned his name in a player he’s interested in trading early on in the 2024-25 campaign. 

The 34-year-old forward recorded 22 goals, eight assists, and 30 points in 68 games while averaging 16:45 minutes this past season. 

Kreider still has two years remaining on his contract with a $6.5 million AAV.

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Mets reinstate Francisco Alvarez from paternity list, option Hayden Senger to Triple-A

The Mets reinstated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the paternity list Thursday ahead of their game against the Washington Nationals.

In a corresponding move, the team optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse.

The 23-year-old was placed on the paternity list Tuesday and missed the first two games in the series against the Nationals. Luis Torrens started in his place and went a combined 0-for-8 with three strikeouts.

Alvarez returns to the lineup Thursday and looks to continue his recent hot stretch at the plate, as he's slashing .286/.310/.429 with one homer and three RBI over his last seven games.

Overall, Alvarez is hitting .255 with two home runs and 10 RBI over 29 games since returning from a broken hamate bone in his left hand at the end of spring training.