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Assessing Mets with one-third of season over: The good, the imperfect, and what's to come

The Mets' win over the White Sox on Monday at Citi Field marked the one-third point of the season, and New York is in strong shape.

With a 33-21 record, the Mets are on pace to finish the year at 99-63.

The above record or something close to it would almost certainly be enough to secure a playoff appearance, which would be historic for the Mets.

New York has never reached the postseason three times in a four-year span. That would change if they get to the playoffs this year following their run to the NLCS in 2024 and entry as a Wild Card in 2022.

Let's assess how things are going for the 2025 Mets and what's to come...

The good

The most obvious thing to highlight is the pitching staff.

Even while dealing with injuries to multiple key contributors in the starting rotation and bullpen (which lost A.J. Minter for the season), New York's pitching has been elite.

They lead all of baseball with a 2.78 ERA, and there have been some incredibly pleasant surprises that appear to have staying power.

In the rotation, Kodai Senga (1.46 ERA a year after losing most of his campaign due to injury) and Clay Holmes(2.98 ERA as he transitions from reliever to starter) are leading the way.

Meanwhile, David Peterson (2.79 ERA) is building off his impressive 2024, Griffin Canning (2.88 ERA) looks like a different pitcher than the one who was with the Angels last season, and Tylor Megill (3.56 ERA) has been solid while missing tons of bats.

May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field.
May 13, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) waves to the crowd after getting taken out in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. / Wendell Cruz - Imagn Images

In the bullpen, Edwin Diaz has been nearly unhittable after a brief early-season scuffle, Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett have served as strong bridges to the closer, and both Huascar Brazoban and Max Kranick have emerged as serious weapons.

Offensively, it's been Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor carrying much of the load while having strong campaigns. But they need help.

The imperfect

The offense was humming along early, but has been in a serious rut over the past few weeks.

In the Mets' last 12 games, they've scored just 30 runs -- averaging a paltry 2.5 per game.

Some of the struggles have to do with the fact thatLindor, Juan Soto, and Alonso were slumping at the same time recently. But the Mets also aren't getting much from Brandon Nimmo (.683 OPS) or Mark Vientos (.682 OPS and just five home runs).

New York's approach at the plate has also left a lot to be desired, especially with runners in scoring position -- where they have struggled badly. The Mets are hitting just .213 in those spots, better than only the Rangers, lowly White Sox, and historically-abominable Rockies.

It's fair to believe those RISP numbers will see a serious improvement and that the offense will wake up soon enough. If not, some changes could be in store.

The defense has also been off, both in terms of physical errors and mental mistakes. The normally surehanded Lindor is having a merely very good season at shortstop, not a best-in-class one. Alonso has made a number of miscues at first base, and Vientos' defense at third base has really hurt New York's cause.

Going by Outs Above Average, Vientos is grading out as just about the worst defensive third baseman in the league -- in the first percentile.

With Jesse Winker out, Brett Baty up, and the DH spot open, it makes all the sense in the world for the Mets to use Vientos as the DH and other options at third -- at least for now.

Of course, the elephant in the room is Soto, who is not off to the start he or the Mets would have hoped. But it's impossible to believe he won't break out in a big way soon enough.

What's to come

The cavalry should be coming in waves starting soon, as injured players make their way back.

Aug 21, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) walks off the field after the top of the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field.
Aug 21, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) walks off the field after the top of the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

First could be Frankie Montas, who is in the middle of a rehab assignment. After Montas should be Sean Manaea, who is set for a live bullpen session on Thursday and is nearing a rehab assignment of his own.

The Mets are expected to turn to a six-man rotation once healthy, but it will be interesting to see how they handle things soon if they have seven viable starters for six spots.

Also making strides toward a return is Jose Siri, who is doing some running and is set to hit on Thursday. As far as Winker, he's a ways off.

Later in the season, it's possible the recently re-signed Brooks Raley makes his way back. Even Drew Smith could make a late-season return.

The Mets could also get a jolt from the minors, with the two most buzzy possibilities being pitchers Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, who are both at Triple-A Syracuse.

One or both could make it up this year in the rotation, but it's also possible they debut in the bullpen -- something David Stearns has done in the past with top pitching prospects.

As SNY contributor Joe DeMayo recently pointed out, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta all got a significant amount of time in the bullpen early in their careers while Stearns was in charge in Milwaukee.

Beyond the pitching prospects, it's possible the Mets get a contribution from outfielder Drew Gilbert, infielder Ronny Mauricio, and even infielder/outfielder Jett Williams.

There's also the trade deadline.

With the Mets now firmly in their championship window, the philosophy has changed when it comes to how they might handle things. That doesn't mean they're going to gut their budding farm system, but the willingness to deal a prospect of note for an impact return is different than it was last season.

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Should Penguins Offer Sheet An RFA Goalie?

The Pittsburgh Penguins employ Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic as their goalie tandem. However, the duo and Joel Blomqvist (15 games) combined to give up the third-most goals in the NHL in 2024-25. 

Jarry is under contract for three more seasons with a $5.375 million cap hit, while Nedeljkovic will enter the final year of his deal, valued at $2.5 million. Meanwhile, in the system, Joel Blomqvist is an RFA in 2026-27 and will make $886,667 next season.

Tristan Jarry - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

After the Finnish netminder on the depth chart is Filip Larsson ($775,000) and Russian phenom Sergei Murashov ($861,110). Murashov finished his first season in North America in the ECHL with some time in the AHL, compiling a 19-10-1 record between the two leagues. Finally, Taylor Gauthier, who had an outstanding season in the ECHL, is an RFA. 

Ultimately, the Penguins' future goal is to turn Murashov into their franchise netminder. At 21, he's still not ready to compete in the NHL, unless the organization decides to throw in the towel in 2025-26 in hopes of landing Gavin McKenna.

Realistically, Captain Sidney Crosby would not buy into that plan, which means Pittsburgh should consider revamping its goalie platoon for better success next season.

Considering the shallow depth of available free agent goalies, some intriguing RFA names are in the pool. If the Penguins decide to move on from Jarry, whose buyout would save up to $3.6 million next year, his future is a hot-button topic amongst the fanbase; his potential buyout would free up some cap space to take a flyer on an RFA goalie. 

When looking at the list of RFA goalies, the Penguins would have to take a number if they wanted to offer sheet the Anaheim Ducks' young goalie Lukas Dostal. According to CapWages.com, he's projected to get a salary increase to over $5 million.

Lukas Dostal - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Although he's young and talented, Dostal could be looking for a starting role. Despite decent numbers on a bottom team, he may not be the answer, especially if someone wants to offer him an eight-year contract.

After Dostal, there are a handful of potential candidates, like Arvid Soderblom (Chicago), Cayden Primeau (Montreal), Jakub Dobes (Montreal), and Danill Tarasov (Columbus). Still, the best option may be Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues.

If anyone remembers, the Blues stirred the pot last summer by acquiring Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet, which means someone will be out to return the favor. 

Furthermore, Jordan Binnington is the starter in St. Louis, carrying the team to their 2019 Stanley Cup title. He recently reestablished himself at the 4 Nations Face-off, leading Canada to the championship. So, Hofer becomes expandable with Binnington between the pipes at the right price.

CapWages.com projects Hofer could ink a two-year extension at $2.8 million. As mentioned, if Jarry is bought out, the Penguins would save roughly $3.6 million next season, which is more than enough to get Hofer into black and gold and still have some money left over. Especially with Nedeljkovic potentially coming off the books after next season, his spot can go to Blomqvist or Larsson, who is ready to be a 20-25-game backup. 

Meanwhile, at 24, the Penguins could offer him a four-year deal, giving the organization plenty of time to let Murashov mature in the ECHL and AHL without suffering any significant setbacks at the NHL level. 

Although some in the fanbase may think that another few seasons in the minors will "hold Murashov back," the New York Rangers did not let Igor Shesterkin see any NHL action until he was 24, and at 26, he won the Vezina Trophy. 

Goalies develop at a different pace. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, like Andrei Vasilevskiy, who started to play 50 games at 22, and Connor Hellebuyck, who skated over 50 games at 23. 

Joel Hofer -  Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

At this point, the Penguins need a goalie tandem they can rely on night in and night out. Hofer debuted in 2021-22 and played two games (1-1) before playing in six (3-1-1) in 2022-23. For the past two seasons, he's played 61 games, compiling a 31-20-4 record with a 2.65 GAA, .909 SV%, and two shutouts. 

Outside of his first two games, Hofer has yet to record a sub .900 SV% in any season and continues to lower his GAA from a career-high 3.22 in 2022-23. 

Hofer won't be the long-term solution in the net and does not need a lengthy contract offer, especially since Jarry's five-year deal hasn't aged well. But suppose the goal is to get Murashov ready to take the baton in a couple of seasons. Why not put the Blues in an uncomfortable position with an offer sheet for their number two goalie, giving him a chance to become an NHL starter on a team with a new head coach and a burning desire to return to the postseason?

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Jacob deGrom fails to record strikeout for first time in MLB career

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom had a start like no other he’s ever had in the major leagues. The two-time Cy Young Award winner didn’t strike out a batter for the first time in his career.

“I actually didn’t know that. I heard it when I walked inside, but they were aggressive early,” deGrom said after going 5 1/3 innings for the Texas Rangers in his 229th career game, a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday.

It was the first loss in the past seven starts for the 36-year-old deGrom (4-2), who has made 11 starts overall this season after missing most of the last two years following his second Tommy John surgery.

Daulton Varsho hit a solo homer in the first inning, and the only other run deGrom allowed came on a sacrifice fly. He gave up five hits and walked two before manager Bruce Bochy pulled him in the sixth after 81 pitches.

“They were putting a lot of balls in play early. So I was like, oh man, I might be able to go deep in this game ... let’s see how deep I can go in this and try to keep them off the board,” deGrom said. “Fighting myself, started yanking the ball, walked a couple guys, just wasn’t very efficient.”

Meanwhile, Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman threw 72 of his 96 pitches for strikes — with first-pitch strikes to 26 of the 29 batters he faced for a career-high 89.7%. His first 14 pitches were strikes, and he needed only 12 of those to get through the first two innings.

Gausman (5-4) struck out six in eight innings, with all his punchouts coming after Wyatt Langford’s one-out homer in the fourth. Two of the strikeouts came when the right-hander retired three consecutive batters after Texas opened the fifth with back-to-back bloop singles.

“We got some good jam shots early in the game,” Gausman said. “Being able to pound those guys so early in the game in, it opened up for them chasing later in the game.”

As for pulling deGrom in a 2-1 game, Bochy said he wanted to lighten the load on a pitcher who threw 103 pitches over seven innings against the New York Yankees last Wednesday and at least 90 pitches in each of his two starts before that.

“He’s been working pretty hard,” Bochy said. “It’s what we thought this game would be, a tight ballgame, two really, really good pitchers going out there. They came out on the good end. ... Jacob was good, their guy was really good.”

DeGrom has 1,728 career strikeouts, and entered Monday’s game with a 30.9% career strikeout rate. He had multiple strikeouts in all but one of his previous 228 starts, at Philadelphia on Sept. 16, 2020, when he had only one strikeout before exiting after two innings with a right hamstring spasm. That was 10 days after he struck out 12 Phillies in a game.

There are no physical issues this time, and deGrom said he hasn’t even thought about his workload — 63 1/3 innings through 11 starts. He threw only 64 1/3 innings during his final season with the New York Mets in 2022, when he didn’t make his first big league start until Aug. 2 after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.

The right-hander threw just 41 innings combined the past two seasons after signing a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas in free agency.

“I feel good. I was just fighting myself today, flying open,” deGrom said. “It’s something I’ve been working on almost every start. And today, it kind of took a step in the wrong direction. So I wasn’t able to really locate down and pitch off that with my slider.”

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Simon Yates and Richard Carapaz close on Giro d’Italia lead after chaotic stage

  • Primoz Roglic abandons on stage 16 after heavy crash

  • Alessio Martinelli taken to hospital after ravine rescue

Christian Scaroni won an action-packed stage of the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, as Isaac del Toro’s rivals cut into his overall lead and favourite Primoz Roglic abandoned the race.

Stage 16 of the Giro was a 203km ride from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino, featuring four brutal climbs totalling up to 4,900m of elevation, with heavy rainfall leading to several crashes.

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French Open: Coco Gauff wins opener despite forgetting her rackets

  • American realises error after reaching court

  • No 2 seed dismisses Olivia Gadecki in straight sets

Coco Gauff brought her usual weapons to her first round victory at the French Open on Monday – her withering groundstrokes, blazing speed and booming serve. The only thing that was missing was perhaps the most important though: her rackets.

The No 2 seed grinned sheepishly when she realised her error just after she stepped on to Court Philippe-Chatrier for her match against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki. “They were supposed to be in my bag,” she told the chair umpire after opening her bag and discovering she had left the rackets in the locker room.

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Nic Enright completes journey from cancer diagnosis to MLB debut with Cleveland Guardians

CLEVELAND — Nic Enright thought he would be caught up in the emotions of finally making it to the majors this past weekend.

Compared to everything he has dealt with the past three years since being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, the 28-year-old Cleveland Guardians right-hander was able to take everything in stride.

Enright threw two scoreless innings and struck out three for Cleveland on Sunday in a 5-0 loss to Detroit. He was called up on Saturday after Hunter Gaddis was placed on the bereavement list.

“I remember feeling calmer and much more at peace than I thought I would,” Enright said Monday before the Guardians’ 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“After I finished warming up and when I jogged in, we stopped for a minute to play ‘God Bless America.’” he added. “I used that time to just kind of think of everything that had gone on these last couple of years, all the obstacles that I’ve been through, everything that I and my parents have overcome. And then when the song finished, I was like, ‘All right, let’s go play baseball.’”

Enright received his cancer diagnosis in December 2022 after experiencing tightness in his neck. He was surprised about the diagnosis before going through some of the symptoms — such as getting itchy at night, experiencing night sweats and eczema on his elbow — and discovering he had all of them.

Enright has been undergoing treatments before and after each season, including four rounds of immunotherapy at the end of last season. He will have four more rounds of immunotherapy at the end of this season.

Cleveland selected Enright in the 20th round of the 2019 amateur draft out of Virginia Tech. The Miami Marlins took him in the Rule 5 draft two weeks before his cancer diagnosis in 2022.

“There were some dark days, and that’s when I leaned on all those people around me,” he said. “The biggest thing was not letting cancer control me and not letting it dictate how I was going to live my life.”

Enright returned to the Guardians organization in 2023. He missed most of last season due to a right shoulder strain, but went 2-1 with a 1.06 ERA in 16 appearances with Triple-A Columbus.

He missed the first three weeks of this season due to a lat muscle injury. When Enright returned, he allowed only two earned runs in nine innings with one save in nine appearances with Columbus.

Enright made the majors after a 17-11 record and 3.13 ERA in 156 minor league games, including two starts. He is wearing No. 59 with Cleveland, the same number worn by Carlos Carrasco for 12 seasons. Carrasco was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2019 and returned to pitch for Cleveland later that season.

Coincidentally, Enright’s big league debut came in Detroit when the Tigers were hosting Strikeout Cancer Weekend.

“You can’t draw it up. It’s just one of those cool things,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Just to see all that he’s persevered through different organizations, coming back to Cleveland and getting to make his major league debut with the Guardians. It was a really special day for Nic and his family and really fortunate we were there to watch it.”

Enright said he has received plenty of text messages the past couple days, but one of the more meaningful ones came from Boston’s Liam Hendriks, who recently returned to the majors for the first time in two years after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma and recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Even though Enright has reached a couple of significant milestones, he doesn’t want his story to end with what happened Sunday.

“I’m super happy with how yesterday went, but the goal isn’t to just debut,” he said. “The goal is to come up here, take the ball every time my name is called and do everything I can to help this team win games.”

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Devils' Winger Signs Multi-Year Contract In Switzerland

The 2024-25 season wasn't always easy for veteran winger Tomas Tatar. 

In his first stint with the New Jersey Devils, he found success on the team's top line, playing with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. He potted 20 goals and 48 points and was an asset to the Devils. 

His second stint was a bit more challenging. 

Under head coach Sheldon Keefe, Tatar spent the majority of the season in the bottom six and found himself scratched at certain points. 

"(It was) tough," he said during his exit interview. "Definitely played a different role than I am used to. The role was not to be productive but to help the team gain momentum. So, something very new for me." 

Appearing in 74 games, Tatar scored seven goals and collected 17 points. 

"It was challenging, for sure, but for this group, I was willing to do no problem," Tatar said of embracing his new role. "Obviously, I have lots of friends, and I do really like it here. That is why I came back to try to help the team." 

Understanding that Tatar, 34, was set to be an unrestricted free agent, many were not expecting him to return to New Jersey. On Tuesday, his future was confirmed as he has signed a two-year contract in Switzerland with EV Zug, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

"With his enormous experience from almost 1000 NHL games and his game intelligence, he is an important reinforcement for us at center," said Zug GM Reto Kläy. "In recent years, Tomáš has regularly played on the wing. With us, he will be used as a center."

The veteran has appeared in 927 NHL games, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Vegas Golden Knights, Montreal Canadiens, Devils, Colorado Avalanche, and Seattle Kraken. 

The Hockey News wishes Tatar and his family all the best in Switzerland. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier's Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He's Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'

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New May 27 NHL 25 Patch

A new patch is going live at 1pm EST/10am PT in NHL 25. 

The update is to add support for upcoming World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team live content. 

EA SPORTS NHL warns server downtime could last for up to one hour after the update. Players are advised to finish all live games before 1pm EST/10am PT. 

Players can ask questions or leave comments on the EA NHL 25 Forums here.

Check out Week 1 of the Double Shift Event here. 

For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.       

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Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season recap: Nikola Jokic finishes on top…again

While the NBA Playoffs are in full swing, now is a good time to recap the fantasy basketball season for all 30 teams.

In the following weeks, we will provide a recap for each team, starting with the team with the worst record and concluding with the NBA champion in June.

Another season removed from the franchise's first NBA championship, the Nuggets were part of a logjam behind top-2 seeds Oklahoma City and Houston in the Western Conference. While Nikola Jokic continued to do his usual work, finishing second in the voting for Most Valuable Player, the Nuggets did not always do their best to supplement the efforts of their best player. Two major changes were made late in the regular season, and ultimately, Denver was eliminated by Oklahoma City in the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.

Denver Nuggets 2024-2025 Season Recap

Record: 50-32 (4th, West)

Offensive Rating: 118.9 (4th)

Defensive Rating: 115.1 (21st)

Net Rating: 3.8 (9th)

Pace: 100.67 (8th)

2025 NBA Draft Picks: None

Thought by many to be one of the teams with a chance of making noise in the Western Conference this season, the Nuggets extended their streak of 50-win seasons to three in 2024-25. However, the path traveled was anything but smooth. Injuries limited Aaron Gordon to 51 appearances, and the Nuggets' inconsistent bench production was an issue for most of the season. And then there was the decision made by Josh Kroenke late in the regular season that changed the path the Nuggets' franchise will take in the future.

Head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth not always seeing eye-to-eye on the roster was not a shocking development. However, instead of one party "winning" this proverbial tug of war, both lost. Kroenke decided to part ways with Malone and Booth with only a handful of games remaining in the regular season. While David Adelman took over as interim head coach and had the tag removed shortly after Denver's season concluded, the Nuggets are still searching for a new general manager.

Whoever's selected to take over that role will have some work to do this offseason. Is Denver's player development good enough to have another young player emerge as a consistent contributor? And if not, how will they go about strengthening the bench, especially without a pick in June's NBA Draft? Jokic's status as one of the best players in the NBA is unquestioned, but the Nuggets will need to make improvements around him if they're to make a run at another title.

Fantasy Standout: Nikola Jokic

Given his production, this was an easy choice. Once again, The Joker was the top-ranked player in fantasy basketball, sitting atop the per-game rankings in eight- and nine-cat formats according to Basketball Monster. The only player in the conversation atop the rankings in total value was Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was also named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Jokic has won that award in three of the last five years, and a case can be made that he's on par with the likes of prime Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James. Jokic may not win MVP every year, but you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who believes he isn't the best player in the NBA.

Jokic appeared in 70 games, averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.0 three-pointers in 36.7 minutes per game. The first center to average a triple-double in NBA history, he shot 57.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the foul line. Jokic missed five games in March due to right elbow and left ankle injuries, the former being an issue that nagged him for most of the season. While the timing wasn't great for fantasy managers competing in their league playoffs at the time, Jokic has been dependable from an availability standpoint. He's failed to appear in at least 70 games once in his career, playing 69 games during the 2022-23 campaign.

The Nuggets have Jokic locked into a max contract through the 2027-28 season; given his importance to the franchise, he isn't going anywhere anytime soon. He'll go into the 2025-26 season atop many fantasy draft boards, with SGA and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama being the other possible options. The latter is recovering from a blood clot that ended his season after the All-Star break.

Fantasy Revelation: Christian Braun

With Denver losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, Braun was thrust into a position where he needed to produce after coming off the bench in his first two seasons. Starting 77 of the 79 games he appeared in, Braun was one of the most-improved players in the NBA in 2024-25. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers in 33.9 minutes, recording career-high numbers in each category. The efficiency was excellent, with the third-year guard shooting 58 percent from the field and 82.7 percent from the foul line.

After recording one 20-point game in his first two seasons, Braun had 18 such nights in 2024-25. That included the Nuggets' April 6 loss to the Pacers in which he scored a career-high 30 points, shooting 12-of-16 from the field. Braun also recorded six double-doubles this season and finished ranked just outside the top-50 in nine-cat formats. In eight-cat formats, he was just outside the top-75. A late-round pick in standard league drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season, Braun will merit middle-round consideration next fall.

Fantasy Disappointment: Julian Strawther

Strawther was another player who Caldwell-Pope's exit would impact. While he played well in his limited minutes during Summer League, the second-year wing disappointed many fantasy managers who rolled the dice on him with a late-round draft pick. Strawther appeared in 65 games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 21.3 minutes. Making matters worse for him was a sprained left knee in March that sidelined the Nuggets wing for a month. Entering the season with a Yahoo! ADP of 142, Strawther finished outside the top-300 in eight- and nine-cat formats. While the expectations for him weren't high among fantasy managers, the hope was that Strawther would be more productive.

Fantasy Recaps/Look-Aheads

Jamal Murray

After being limited to 59 games the season prior, Murray made 67 appearances in 2024-25, the most in a season for him since the 2018-19 campaign (75). He also averaged a career-high 36.1 minutes per game and did not miss more than three consecutive games until late-April. A sprained right ankle cost Murray six games, with the Nuggets going 2-4 with wins over the Jazz and Kings. While he did have to deal with various nicks and bruises throughout the season, Murray was an excellent guard to have rostered in fantasy leagues.

During the regular season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 three-pointers per game, shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 88.6 percent from the foul line. A top-20 player in nine-cat formats, Murray was a top-25 player in eight-cat formats, exceeding his Yahoo! ADP of 54 by a significant margin. Based on his play this season, should fantasy managers select Murray within the first two rounds of standard league drafts? Probably not. He should not be on draft boards after the first 50 picks, especially since players like Boston's Jayson Tatum and Dallas' Kyrie Irving will be unavailable to begin the 2025-26 season.

Michael Porter Jr.

From a statistical standpoint, the 2024-25 season was the best of Porter's NBA career. He posted career-high averages in points (18.2) and assists (2.1) while also averaging 7.0 rebounds, 0.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers per game. Making 77 appearances, Porter shot 50.4 percent from the field, the first time he made more than half his attempts in a season since the 2020-21 campaign, and 76.8 percent from the foul line. While availability was an issue at the start of his NBA career, MPJ has played in 158 of a possible 164 regular-season games over the past two seasons.

So, why do some appear to be "down" on Porter? His play during the postseason has a lot to do with it, despite MPJ suffering a shoulder injury during the first round that limited his effectiveness. After scoring 21 points in Denver's Game 3 overtime win over the Thunder, he scored 10 points or less in each of the final four games, including a six-point effort in Game 7. Also impacting conversations surrounding Porter and his future in Denver may be his contract, as his current deal runs through the 2026-27 campaign. With a little over $79 million remaining on his deal, MPJ may be the player who moves if Denver decides to overhaul Jokic and Murray's supporting cast. As a Nugget, Porter should be a safe middle-round option in fantasy drafts, but many managers want more.

Aaron Gordon

To say this was the most challenging season of Gordon's NBA career would likely be an understatement. Having lost his older brother during the offseason, the Nuggets forward changed his uniform number to honor him. And there was the calf strain that proved problematic throughout the regular season, with Gordon appearing in just 51 games. He averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 81 percent from the foul line.

While Gordon had better seasons regarding overall field goal percentage, this was the best season of his career as a perimeter shooter. In addition to the career-high mark at the foul line, he shot 43.6 percent from three on 3.4 attempts per game. During the playoffs, Gordon made nearly 38 percent of his 4.1 three-point attempts and was also an 86 percent shooter from the foul line. With a Yahoo! ADP of 116, fantasy managers did not have wild expectations for Gordon ahead of the 2024-25 season. How much faith will managers have that his improvements as a shooter will last? The answer will determine just how high his ADP is next fall.

Russell Westbrook

The Nuggets signed Westbrook to a two-year deal last summer, the second being a player option. While the maddening moments in which he exhibited poor shot selection or was a bit too loose with the basketball remained, the veteran point guard provided solid value for the balance of the season. Appearing in 75 games, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 27.9 minutes. Shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 66.1 percent from the foul line, Westbrook's scoring average was more than two points higher than his 2023-24 mark with the Clippers (11.1 ppg).

As has been the case for most of his career, there was a gap between Westbrook's value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats, he was outside the top-175 in nine-cat formats due to an average of 3.2 turnovers per game. Westbrook's usage only trailed Jokic and Murray among Nuggets players, which was a bit surprising, given the role he was asked to fill. While deep-league managers may be willing to use a late-round pick on Westbrook, he'll be most valuable as a streamer when a team is down a starter. And that's if he decides to pick up his player option and remain with the Nuggets.

Peyton Watson

After playing 80 games last season, Watson made 68 appearances for the Nuggets in 2024-25 with 18 starts. His most significant opportunities came about when Denver was without Gordon due to his injuries, and as a starter, Watson averaged 11.6 points per game on 54.9 percent shooting. For the season, he recorded career-high averages in points (8.1), rebounds (3.4), assists (1.4), steals (0.7), blocks (1.4) and three-pointers (0.7), shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 69.3 percent from the foul line.

Most valuable as a deep-league streamer, Watson failed to finish within the top-200 in eight- and nine-cat formats this season. Depending on what the Nuggets do this offseason, he may be a player worth watching in deeper leagues, but Watson does not appear to be a must-draft player currently.

Restricted Free Agents: Trey Alexander, P.J. Hall, Spencer Jones

Unrestricted Free Agents: DeAndre Jordan, Vlatko Cancar

Player Option: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric

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Mavs expected to explore possible Holiday trade with Celtics: Report

Mavs expected to explore possible Holiday trade with Celtics: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

If the Boston Celtics want to get out of salary cap jail and dip under the second apron of the luxury tax, they’ll need to shed at least $20 million in salary this offseason. That would require trading a core rotation player — and Jrue Holiday is among the potential options.

While Holiday provides excellent shooting, rock-solid defense and valuable veteran leadership, he’s set to make $32.4 million next season on the second year of a four-year, $134.4 million contract. If the Celtics find a willing trade partner for the 34-year-old, they could save a significant amount against the cap while handing a bigger role to reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard.

And it sounds like there’s at least one team interested in Holiday’s services.

As longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote Monday, the Dallas Mavericks are “expected to at least explore whether there are any feasible trade pathways” to acquiring Holiday, “complicated as that would likely be given the three years and $104 million still left on Holiday’s contract.”

Stein noted that Charlotte Hornets point guard Lonzo Ball would be a “far more reasonable” trade target for Dallas. But Mavs general manager Nico Harrison just traded a generational talent (Luka Doncic) on the basis that “defense wins championships,” so you’d have to think he’d have a strong affinity for Holiday, a two-time NBA champion and six-time NBA All-Defense selection.

What might a Holiday deal look like?

Our Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg proposed one scenario Tuesday in which the Mavs trade Daniel Gafford ($14.4 million salary for 2025-26) and P.J. Washington ($14.2 million) to match salaries, and a third team gets involved to take on Washington’s contract.

“Boston could retain Gafford to stabilize an uncertain frontcourt, while a team with options to absorb salary (perhaps Brooklyn with its cap space or Atlanta with its large trade exceptions) might take on Washington and other filler in exchange for draft assets from both Dallas and Boston,” Forsberg wrote.

The Path, Part I: How Celtics can ‘thread the needle’ with tweaks to core

The Mavs already have two big men ahead of Gafford in Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II, while Dallas’ expected addition of projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg makes Washington more expendable. Holiday would give the Mavs a ball-stopping guard to complement the offensive-minded Kyrie Irving and certainly would fit into Harrison’s defense-first vision.

Losing Holiday undoubtedly would sting for the Celtics. But with Jayson Tatum expected to miss most or all of the 2025-26 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, now is a good time for Boston to pursue a “mini reset” by cutting costs while still being positioned to compete for a title in 2026-27.

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Mets vs. White Sox: How to watch on SNY on May 27, 2025

The Mets continue a three-game series with the White Sox on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

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

Mets Notes

  • Francisco Lindorhas reached base safely in seven consecutive games
  • Edwin Diazhas allowed just one earned run since his appearance on April 11 -- a span of 16.2 innings over 16 games
  • Tylor Megilllimited the Red Sox to one run in 4.2 innings while striking out 10 during his last start
WHITE SOX
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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. 

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Celtics player spotlight: How will Pritchard's role evolve after stellar season?

Celtics player spotlight: How will Pritchard's role evolve after stellar season? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ 2024-25 season ultimately ended in disappointment with a playoff defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. But it was a season to remember for Payton Pritchard.

The 27-year-old guard raised his performance and became an integral part of the team’s success on a nightly basis. After setting career highs in many different stat categories, Pritchard was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, becoming the fourth player in team history to receive that honor.

What role will Pritchard play next season?

Let’s take a look at Pritchard’s 2024-25 campaign and analyze how he fits into the Celtics’ lineup going into 2025-26.

2024-25 Season Recap

Pritchard had his best season as a pro in 2024-25. He set career highs in the following categories:

  • Minutes: 28.4 per game
  • Points: 14.3 per game
  • Rebounds: 3.8 per game
  • Assists: 3.5 per game
  • Steals: 0.9 per game
  • Field goal percentage: 47.2 percent

Pritchard also shot 40.7 percent from 3-point range, which ranked third on the Celtics. He has shot 40-plus percent from beyond the arc in three of his five seasons with the C’s, and he has improved his 3-point percentage each of the last two seasons.

The fact that Pritchard shot 40.7 percent on a career-high 7.8 3-point attempts per game was encouraging for the Celtics.

Despite his lack of size at 6-foot-1, Pritchard also was the second-most efficient guard scoring at the rim this season (among the 105 guards with 100-plus shot attempts at the rim).

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Pritchard was a little less effective offensively in the playoffs (11.9 points per game), but he did score in double figures in eight of Boston’s 11 postseason games. During the East semifinals versus the Knicks, the only two matchups the Celtics won — Game 3 and Game 5 — were the games in which Pritchard played his most minutes of the series.

Overall, Pritchard did a great job providing instant offense off the bench. He can hit 3-pointers, he can drive to the basket and finish over taller defenders, he isn’t a huge liability on defense and he crashes the glass as well as any player his size.

Pritchard has developed into a true difference-maker.

Contract details

Pritchard just completed the first year of a four-year, $30 million extension that expires after the 2027-28 season. His average yearly salary is just $7.5 million and his salary cap hit for 2025-26 is only $7.23 million, per Spotrac.

This is one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league. Pritchard provides enormous value for a player making less than $8 mllion annually. As a result, it would make little sense for a team like the Celtics to entertain trade offers for Pritchard.

A very productive player on a team-friendly deal is ideal for a second apron team such as Boston.

Potential roles for 2025-26

Scenario 1: Pritchard starts if Jrue Holiday or Derrick White are traded

Pritchard has played in 347 games over five seasons for the Celtics, but he has started only 17 of them. This past season, he started just three of the 80 games he played.

Pritchard might have to start next season depending on what moves the Celtics make this summer. The C’s could look to shed salary and get under the second apron. If the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday, for example, that would open up more minutes and potentially a starting guard role for Pritchard.

The C’s have a lot of depth in the backcourt, so if they had to move someone for salary reasons, it would make sense to trade a guard.

The Path, Part I: How Celtics can ‘thread the needle’ with tweaks to core

It’s a small sample size of just 17 games, but Pritchard has performed well as a starter in his career. He’s averaged 34 minutes, 17.2 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range in those matchups as a starter.

Scenario 2: Pritchard remains in sixth man role

If the Celtics don’t trade one of their starting guards, or if the team just decides Pritchard is most effective off the bench, then it would make sense to keep him in a sixth man role. You don’t have to start to be a very important player or be part of the closing lineup.

Pritchard has proven he can play at a high level either as a starter or bench player, which gives head coach Joe Mazzulla valuable flexibility when configuring his lineups.

Final thoughts

Whether he’s a starter or sixth man next season, the Celtics will need Pritchard to reach another level offensively with Jayson Tatum potentially missing most or all of the regular season due to an Achilles injury.

Tatum led the Celtics with 26.8 points per game this past season. That’s a lot of scoring to lose, and even though replacing that production will certainly be a team-wide effort, Pritchard could play a key role in filling it.

Pritchard’s field goal and 3-point percentages were at or near career-high levels this past season, even though his shot volume was way up. This bodes well for Pritchard’s ability to remain an efficient scorer if his usage rate increases again in 2025-26.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Key injury updates; comeback win over White Sox

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

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Athletics place Kurtz on 10-day IL, acquire veteran lefty from Red Sox

Athletics place Kurtz on 10-day IL, acquire veteran lefty from Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Athletics, yet again, made a series of roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Dalkin Park.

The Green and Gold placed first baseman Nick Kurtz on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hip flexor and selected outfielder Drew Avans from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Kurtz, who made his big league debut April 24, just nine months after the A’s selected him No. 4 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, has slashed .245/.315/.762 with five home runs and 15 RBI in 94 plate appearances.

Avans, meanwhile, was batting .328/.444/.858 with four home runs and 34 RBI in 189 plate appearances in Las Vegas.

Additionally, the A’s acquired veteran left-handed pitcher Sean Newcomb from the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.

Newcomb returns to the A’s after spending parts of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with the club. The 32-year-old, however, only tossed 25 innings for the two seasons due to knee injuries. 

Newcomb tallied a 3.95 ERA this year with the Red Sox, tallying 41 strikeouts and 17 walks in 41 innings pitched across 12 appearances, five of which were starts.

To clear space on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-handed Matt Krook and right-handed pitcher Ryan Cusick for assignment. 

Meanwhile, Seth Brown cleared waivers and the A’s outrighted the outfielder/ first baseman to Las Vegas. Brown was hitting just .212 in his seventh year with the Green and Gold.

As it stands, the Athletics are last in the AL West, losing nine of their last 10 games. 

It remains to be seen exactly how long Kurtz will be out, but manager Mark Kotsay and Co. will hope a second round of roster moves in a week’s time will inject some much-needed life into the team.