The San Jose Sharks are looking to get back into playoff contention as soon as they can, and while they may have to go through one more season of struggling before they can make a playoff push, there are some players they can target that can help them become a tougher team to play against.
One player they could look at bringing in is New York Rangers' forward Matt Rempe, who is a pending restricted free agent (RFA), and with the roster changes they're going through right now, they could be open to trading him, or not matching an offer sheet.
Rempe is arguably the toughest hitter in the NHL right now, and while some fans have questioned his antics because of the odd high hit, he is still a scary forward to play against. In 42 games last season, he scored three goals and added five assists for eight points and had 67 penalty minutes.
At 6-foot-9, 254 pounds, he would be an incredible addition to the Sharks' bottom six, and with the opportunity for an increased role, he could find a way to contribute offensively if he learns how to become a net-front presence.
He would be a risky addition, but he would pay off in a big way if he helps the Sharks become a feared team to play against. Right now, he may not cost any more than $1 million annually on his next contract, but the Rangers may ask for a third-round pick in return for him. If that's the asking price, they should be all over it.
The Thunder took down the Indiana Pacers 111-104 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday to tie the series at 2-2 going back to Oklahoma City.
Both teams stayed neck-and-neck for most of the first three quarters, though Indiana built a 10-point lead at one stage. However, Oklahoma City used a 31-17 point differential in the fourth quarter to pull away, mainly due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking in clutch time.
The league MVP ended the game with 35 points on 12 of 24 shooting and 10 of 10 free throws to go with three rebounds, three steals and a block. But he did not record a single assist. Jalen Williams supported Gilgeous-Alexander with 27 points on 8 of 18 shooting and 11 of 11 free throws.
Game 3 saw Bennedict Mathurin come off the bench for Indiana and light it up with 27 points on 9 of 12 shooting. But he came back to earth in this one, logging just eight points in 14 minutes with five foul-line makes. However, his three misses proved costly late on.
Oklahoma City needed someone to produce a Mathurin-esque game off the bench and got it through Alex Caruso. The star defender posted 20 points in 30 minutes on 7 of 9 shooting to go with five steals, three rebounds and a block. No other bench player had more than five points.
Indiana’s two main stars weren’t at their best from a scoring standpoint. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting with seven assists while Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals on a 6 of 15 field-goal clip.
Though Mathurin didn’t produce like he did last time out, Obi Toppin did step up off the bench and record 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting and seven rebounds, but it didn’t move the needle enough.
Oklahoma City somehow won the game making just three 3-pointers to Indiana’s 11. The Thunder attempted 17 to Indiana’s 36, but capitalized on nine more foul-line makes and a 50-36 points-in-the-paint advantage.
Whoever takes the next game will be a win away from their franchise’s first ever championship. If Oklahoma City wins, Indiana will need to defend home court to force the two best words in sports. But if Indiana upsets the Thunder, it can win the title in front of its fans.
Game 5 in Oklahoma City is set for Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.
Coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine last weekend, the Buffalo Sabres got the lowdown on a number of prospects that could be their with the ninth selection at the 2025 Draft in Los Angeles later this month, but barring a trade up they will have to rely on the player they want slipping through the cracks.
The NY Islanders are likely to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the top overall pick, but there is no accurate read on how the remaining seven picks will break. That seems to be reflected in various mock drafts that have emerged since the combine. After Schaefer, names like Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, and rising star Anton Frondell are likely to go in the top five, but at that point, any of a number of players could be there for the Sabres at #9.
Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin attracted a great deal of attention at the NHL Scouting Combine, but with the top of the first round chock full of centers, there is a possibility that he could be there for the Sabres with the ninth overall pick.
According to the Hockey News Draft Preview, the 6’0”, 178 lb. pivot is a throwback to the old-school NHL, growing up in small town Elmira, Ontario, where his gym routine was whatever was needed to maintain the family’s farm. Martin nearly tripled his point output in his second OHL season with the Greyhounds (33 goals, 39 assists), and had an excellent showing for Canada at the Under-18s with 11 points in seven games.
"I haven't got to into hockey training, and we're just kind of farm strong, is what they call it. That's kind of how I grew up and put on a lot of strength and muscle," Martin said. "I grew up and always had responsibilities and was disciplined, so I think that helps comes through (in playing) hockey."
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The Knicks' search for a head coach looks like it will start with two names that the team is planning to interview next week.
SNY's NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms that New York will meet with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins and former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown as the first two formal interviews for the vacant position.
It’s still early in the process for the Knicks, though, and they will continue to cast a wide net and are expected to interview several other candidates, per Begley.
With regard to the Knicks getting denied permission to speak with current head coaches, at least one of those coaches was able to benefit financially from New York’s interest, per Begley.
Begley has previously reported that the Knicks are in no rush with their search.
Jenkins, 40, was fired by Memphis after nearly six seasons with nine games remaining in the 2024-25 regular season despite having a 44-29 record at the time. It was a move that shocked the basketball world, as he was the fifth-longest tenured NBA coach at the time of his firing.
Jenkins owns a career coaching record of 250-214 (.539) with his best season coming in 2021-22 when he led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the West. That team lost in the conference semifinals, falling to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
Brown, 55, is another coach fired mid-season by his most recent team. After making the postseason in his first season (2022-23) with the Kings with a 48-34 record, Brown was relieved of his duties during his third year with the club. He missed the postseason in 2023-24 after a 46-36 record and was off to a 13-18 start this past season before he was fired.
Brown had assisted in the NBA from 1997 to 2005 before he got his first head coaching gig, leading LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In six seasons, he accumulated a 305-187 record to go along with a 42-29 record in the postseason. He also made the NBA Finals in 2007 but fell to the San Antonio Spurs in four games.
After being fired by the Cavaliers, Brown coached the Los Angeles Lakers for parts of two seasons. He led the team to the playoffs with a 41-25 record but was relieved of his duties after just five games into the 2012-13 season.
Brown became an assistant coach for six seasons with Golden State before landing with the Kings.
NEW YORK — New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, the major league ERA leader, was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring Friday, hours after he was placed on the 15-day injured list.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said after the Mets’ 7-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays that Senga will be shut down for two weeks before being re-evaluated.
“Talking to the trainers, they feel like we got some good news here,” Mendoza said.
Senga was injured covering first base on a grounder to Pete Alonso in the sixth inning of Thursday’s win over the Washington Nationals. According to Mendoza, Senga said he felt his hamstring grab one stride before he made a leaping catch of Alonso’s high throw to retire CJ Abrams.
Senga is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA for the Mets, whose starters have the lowest ERA in the bigs at 2.78 despite missing Sean Manaea (right oblique) and Frankie Montas (right lat), both of whom were injured in spring training.
Paul Blackburn will replace Senga in the rotation next Wednesday against Atlanta. Blackburn made his third appearance of the season Friday and was charged with four runs in one-third of an inning in relief of Clay Holmes.
“You hate to see it, especially talking about a guy like Senga with the way he’s been throwing the baseball,” Mendoza said before the game Friday. “But we also feel good with the pitching that we’ve got currently in place. They’ve been doing it the whole year and they will continue to do so.
“But losing Senga obviously is a tough one here.”
The leg injury is the second in as many seasons for Senga, who strained his left calf in his only regular-season start last July 26. After missing the first 102 games because of a right shoulder strain, Senga gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Braves before he was injured sprinting off the mound to clear room for Alonso to catch a pop-up by Austin Riley.
Senga returned to make three appearances, including two brief starts, in the playoffs.
To replace Senga on the active roster, the Mets recalled reliever Max Kranick from Triple-A Syracuse. Kranick took the loss Friday after giving up two runs in 1 2/3 innings.
The Mets are expected to get further rotation reinforcements soon with Montas and Manaea.
President of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that Montas was expected to make two more starts in the minors, though that was before he allowed eight runs in 1 2/3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse as his ERA during his rehab rose to 13.17. Manaea has a 6.23 ERA in his first two rehab starts for Single-A Brooklyn.
“It’s a good thing to have more major league quality starting pitchers than less,” Stearns said. “I’m frankly never really concerned about having too much because as we saw (Thursday) and as I’ve experienced throughout my career, it’s very, very rare where you actually get to the point where you have too many starting pitchers that you can roster.”
Stearns said outfielders Jose Siri (left tibia fracture) and Jesse Winker (right oblique) are still nowhere near returning.
Siri, who fouled a ball off his shin against the Athletics on April 12, had his rehab paused this week after imaging showing his broken bone was healing slower than expected. Winker, who was injured May 4, is progressing but not close to beginning a rehab assignment.
Stearns also said left-handed reliever Brooks Raley, who underwent Tommy John surgery and had bone spurs removed in May 2025, is throwing live batting practice and could begin a rehab assignment next week.
The Hockey News Big Show is here to break down the Stanley Cup final and look at some big topics around the NHL and beyond, with longtime coach Bruce Boudreau giving his expert insight.
Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Bruce Boudreau discussed in this episode:
1:13: The Oilers made NHL history in the Stanley Cup final by winning a game after trailing 3-0. How does a win like this change things for Edmonton?
5:23: Was the second period more Florida’s fault or all Edmonton’s doing to get back in the game?
6:52: What does Boudreau make of the officiating?
9:45: Stuart Skinner was pulled after the first period, Pickard went in and shut the door. Were you surprised at all by the goalie pull after the first? And is Pickard the Game 5 starter?
14:34: If you're coaching Florida, what are you saying after that game? How are you ensuring your team is ready to bounce back for a quick turnaround for Game 5? What about Edmonton?
17:11: Do you think Florida is best suited to be unfazed by blowing a 3-0 lead?
20:48: What has stood out to Boudreau in this series, good or bad?
25:36: The last Cup final that had more overtime games was Toronto and Montreal in 1951, when all five games required OT. Will this series match that?
28:01: Predictions for Game 5?
30:53: Thoughts on the Chris Kreider trade, and what else should the New York Rangers be looking to do?
33:17: Should Mitch Marner go to the New York Rangers?
38:14: Jonathan Toews gears up to make his NHL return, so where do we see him landing?
42:08: Connor Hellebuyck wins Hart Trophy as MVP. Do we agree with this?
43:45: Who is more clutch: Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid?
45:23: This is the best Stanley Cup final since when?
The Buffalo Sabres enter the offseason as a team motivated to make changes after missing the playoffs for the 14th straight season, but GM Kevyn Adams may be facing a bigger challenge than expected this summer. Not only does he have to deal with RFA defenseman Bowen Byram and the contractual situation of winger JJ Peterka, the NHL landscape is in flux due to the increase of the salary cap over the next three seasons.
Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic on TSN1050’s Overdrive said that based on the chatter from league GM’s and player agents going into the offseason, there are no sellers other than the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that bottom-dwelling teams like the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks, and teams on the cusp like the Utah Mammoth are looking to buy either in free agency or in the trade market.
This trend was reflected in the Chris Kreider deal to Anaheim on Thursday. The Ducks have a young core group and added veteran blueliners Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba last season. GM Pat Verbeek hired three-time Cup winning head coach Joel Quenneville and is expected to be a player in free agency to get Anaheim back in the playoffs.
How does this affect the Sabres? In the positive column, there are likely plenty of clubs who are interested in dealing for a potential top-pairing blueliner in Byram or a young scoring winger in Peterka, but the negative is if everyone is interested in buying, there may not be many clubs who are willing to swap players under control back to Buffalo. Another issue is the willingness of the Sabres to get in a bidding war for free agents. In spite of Adams claiming that he has never been denied any financial resources by owner Terry Pegula, Buffalo the last two years has not come close to spending to the cap. The trade market is also filled with potholes, since many players likely have Buffalo crossed off as a destination on their no-trade list.
With all these factors, it may be close to impossible to make the changes necessary for the Sabres a playoff contender.
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With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them.
Since the Penguins have a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.
However, with the recent report that the Penguins are interested in moving up in the draft, perhaps it's fitting to take a look at a player they seem to like a lot - and a player who will, likely, be drafted in the top-five.
DOB: Oct. 26, 2006 (Age 18) Position: Right wing Shoots: Right Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 208 pounds Team: Brampton Steelheads (OHL)
Rumor has it that Dubas is very high on Martone. At the recent NHL scouting combine in Buffalo, it was reported by The Athletic's Josh Yohe and several others that he took Martone to dinner and had a lengthy interaction with him.
In fact, Martone gave folks a "self-scouting" report of sorts.
"I'm a big power forward who has a really good hockey IQ," Martone said. "I try to be a hard player to play against. You see the NHL playoffs right now, and it's hard, they play hard. I just try to go out there and be a hard player to play against. When I get a chance in the offensive zone, I can drain it."
And, by all accounts, that seems pretty spot-on.
Porter Martone with his 14th goal in his 12th game. Only Michael Misa has more among all CHLers pic.twitter.com/urU75n8Ut6
The big-bodied forward put up big numbers in the OHL for the Steelheads this season, registering 37 goals and 98 points in just 57 games. He has advanced hockey IQ and playmaking skills, and he can stickhandle in a phone booth and beat you anywhere in any zone on the ice.
He has a shot that will play at the NHL level, he has passing ability that will certainly translate, his hands are elite, and - again - that hockey sense is nothing to scoff at.
But another thing that stands out is his play at the net-front. He would be extremely useful on an NHL power play with his ability to battle for positioning and his willingness to use his frame and physicality to create and capitalize on second-chance opportunities. Martone is hard to play against because of his rare combination of skill, size, and physicality, and he's a player who is almost always going to win puck battles and one-on-one situations.
He's a bit heavy-footed, and - much like Penguins' prospect Rutger McGroarty - his skating will need to improve a bit for him to truly hit his potential at the NHL level. But, like McGroarty, his ability to outthink opponents with his vision and IQ allow him to play a speed game mentally, which could help compensate for any lack of skating ability.
2 Prime Penguins Breakout Candidates For 2025-26 SeasonThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently retooling their roster as they look to become a playoff team again. Because of this, the Metropolitan Division club will be hoping that some of their young players will take a notable step forward in their development next season.
Martone is, arguably, the most skilled forward in this entire draft class. And, yes, that includes Michael Misa. He also plays with a competitive fire that is hard for anyone in his class to rival.
Most projections have Martone being drafted in the top-five. If Dubas wants Martone as much as it seems, he will have no choice but to trade up.
If that's ultimately what Dubas and his staff decide to do, the Penguins will be getting a good one. The sky is the limit for Martone, and there is a decent chance that he can make an impact at the NHL level relatively quickly.
Philadelphia Flyers wing Matvei Michkov, Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk rounded out the 2024-25 All-Rookie Team.
Celebrini logged 63 points (25 G, 38 A) in 70 appearances for San Jose during the 2024-25 season, turning the Sharks into a must-watch team despite having the NHL’s lowest point total.
The 19-year-old superstar finished second among NHL rookies in goals behind Michkov (26) and second behind Hutson (60) in assists.
After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini not only lived up to the hype but exceeded it in a debut season that ranks among the sport’s best ever for an 18-year-old skater.
As San Jose seeks to regain its footing among the NHL’s elite, Celebrini gives the Sharks an invaluable blue-chip prospect to anchor an aggressive rebuild that has seen the proud franchise assemble a stockpile of exciting young talent.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart is one of the team's top stars, and he has undoubtedly made an impact during this year's Stanley Cup Final. In Game 4's loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Reinhart scored the late goal that forced overtime and recorded three points. This was after he had a goal and an assist in Game 3 against Edmonton.
Reinhart's awesome play is certainly not going unnoticed, as NHL legend Wayne Gretzky had some massive praise for the Panthers star forward. While on TNT, 'The Great One' had this to say about Reinhart:
"Sam Reinhart might be one of the smartest players to ever play our game."
Wayne Gretzky on TNT:
"Sam Reinhart might be one of the smartest players to ever play our game." 😳
This is a huge compliment, especially when noting that Gretzky is the greatest player in the history of the sport. Clearly, Reinhart is playing the game the right way if No. 99 views him as one of the smartest players the NHL has ever seen.
When looking at how excellently Reinhart has played, he has earned this major compliment from Gretzky. Reinhart had another strong season in 2024-25, recording 39 goals and 81 points in 79 games. He also finished second in the Selke Trophy voting, so he is far more than just an offensive talent.
It will now be interesting to see if Reinhart can stay hot after getting this huge compliment from Gretzky from here.
Its Friday, June 13 and the Giants (40-29) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (41-28). Logan Webb is slated to take the mound for San Francisco against Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles.
The Dodgers are coming off a series win over the Padres and are winners in three of the last four games. The Giants enter off an 8-7 walk-off loss to the Rockies that snapped a seven-game winning streak. This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams.
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 first pitch, 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.
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Game details & how to watch Giants at Dodgers
Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: NBCSBA, SNLA, MLBN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Giants at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Giants (+140), Dodgers (-167)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Giants at Dodgers
Pitching matchup for June 13, 2025: Logan Webb vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Giants and the Dodgers
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Giants and the Dodgers:
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 San Francisco Giants 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.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Giants at Dodgers
The Dodgers are 8-5 when Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches this season
The Giants are 7-7 when Logan Webb pitches this season
The Dodgers have lost 5 of their last 7 games following a win
The Over is 9-6-1 in the Giants' matchups against NL West teams this season
In their last 10 games with a rest advantage over their opponents the Dodgers are 7-3 against 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!
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It's Friday, June 13 and the Angels (33-34) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (27-40). Jack Kochanowicz is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Charlie Morton for Baltimore.
The Angels are coming off a series sweep over the Athletics and have won five of the past six games. Los Angeles had yesterday off for travel across the country. The Orioles are 1-3 over the last four games and coming off back-to-back series losses.
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 first pitch, 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 Angels at Orioles
Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 7:08PM EST
Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
City: Baltimore, MD
Network/Streaming: Apple TV+
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Angels at the Orioles
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Angels (+138), Orioles (-164)
Spread: Orioles -1.5
Total: 10.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Orioles
Pitching matchup for June 13, 2025: Jack Kochanowicz vs. Charlie Morton
Angels: Jack Kochanowicz, (3-7, 5.61 ERA) Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 9 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 1 Strikeouts
Orioles: Charlie Morton, (2-7, 6.59 ERA) Last outing: 2.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 4 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Angels and the Orioles
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Angels and the Orioles:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Baltimore Orioles 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 leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 10.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Angels at Orioles
The Orioles have won 4 of their last 5 matchups against AL West teams
In the Angels' last 5 games where they've held a rest advantage over their opponents the Under is 4-0
Baltimore has won three straight with Charlie Morton pitching after 12 consecutive losses to start the season
Los Angeles is 6-8 when Jack Kochanowicz pitches this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Twelve weeks into the season, the Dodgers are already turning to a 12th different starting pitcher in their revolving door of a rotation.
For Ben Casparius, it’s an opportunity he’s patiently waited for all season.
Though Casparius is technically still a rookie, the 26-year-old right-hander has seen a lot in his young MLB career. Last year, he went from starting the season as an overlooked double-A prospect (one who didn’t even get an invite to big-league spring training) to finishing it pitching key innings in four different postseason games (including as an opener in Game 4 of the World Series).
This spring, a rash of bullpen injuries ensured he’d have a spot on the opening-day big-league roster. Further injuries to top right-handed relievers pushed him into a de facto leverage role.
At every step, the former fifth-round draft pick has excelled, posting a 2.86 ERA over 44 innings this year with 46 strikeouts and only nine walks.
Along with fellow rookie reliever Jack Dreyer, Casparius has become one of the unsung heroes responsible for helping the first-place Dodgers overcome their injury-riddled start.
“We don't win this game tonight without Ben,” is the kind of quote manager Dave Roberts has uttered more than once, and most recently after Casparius pitched 2 ⅔ scoreless innings of relief in a come-from-behind win against the New York Mets on June 3.
“He's had to grow up really quickly for us,” Roberts added that night, “and he's got the respect of his teammates.”
Now, however, Casparius is getting a new level of respect from the team’s decision-makers, too.
After exhausting virtually all their other starting pitching alternatives to this point — from struggling minor-league arms like Landon Knack, Bobby Miller and Justin Wrobleski, to a bulk-inning option such as Matt Sauer — the Dodgers are finally entrusting Casparius with a starting role.
For all the value he brought in the bullpen, they simply couldn’t afford to keep him out of the rotation any longer.
“Where we were at [earlier this season], we felt that there was more value [having him come] out of the ‘pen and being kind of a versatile type reliever,” Roberts said. “But where we are at now currently, he’s certainly showing that he’s 1 of 5.”
Casparius got his first shot at a more traditional start on Wednesday in San Diego, producing four innings of one-run ball in an outing he didn’t know he was making until the night before.
In the days leading up, the Dodgers had lost Tony Gonsolin to an elbow problem — already their fourth starter to get injured just since the start of the season. They had demoted Knack back to the minors, and watched Wrobleski give up four runs in six innings to the St. Louis Cardinals as his replacement. They saw Sauer get roughed up as a bulk-innings pitcher Tuesday against the Padres, and Miller implode in a 10-run outing in triple-A that same night.
Emmet Sheehan might be part of that group before long, continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery with a third triple-A rehab start on Thursday in which he pitched 3 ⅓ innings (once he completes four innings, Roberts said, he will be a viable option for the big-league club). Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are also making progress towards returning, though none of them are likely to be back until sometime next month.
Emmet Sheehan, left, with Ben Casparius and River Ryan during the World Series ring ceremony in March, made his third triple-A rehab start on Thursday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Thus, with a Wednesday rubber match against the Padres looming, the Dodgers decided to reassign Casparius from multi-inning reliever to their latest fill-in starter.
“We like this kind of transition right now,” Roberts said. “Figuring out how we get through this period before we get other guys back to health … potentially there's a chance to continue to build him up, which right now makes sense."
In a win over the Padres that kept the Dodgers in sole possession of first place of the NL West entering another key series this weekend against the San Francisco Giants, Casparius responded with quality production. He limited damage (with the help of an Andy Pages outfield assist) to one run during a bases-loaded jam in the second. He retired the side in order in each of the other three frames he pitched.
Most notably, he also fought to take down an inning more than initially expected — lobbying to stay in the game for the fourth despite Roberts’ pregame assertion he likely wouldn’t pitch past the third (not since May 5 had Casparius thrown more than three innings in an outing).
“He wasn’t going to come out of that game after three,” Roberts said. “He wanted to stay in for the fourth.”
It gave Casparius the chance to flash his full arsenal of starting-caliber stuff; from a big-breaking combination of sweepers and curveballs, to a late-biting cutter that can induce soft contact, to an upper-90s mph fastball that, one point, even Padres star Manny Machado outwardly endorsed, pointing to Casparius with an approving nod of his head after swinging through a 98 mph heater up in the zone for a first-inning strikeout.
"I saw that,” Casparius said. “He's one of the best players in the game, so it's pretty cool.”
Casparius also showcased his evolved mental approach.
During his minor-league career, Casparius started in 57 of his 79 career appearances. Moving to the bullpen full-time at the start of his major league career gave him perspective he believes will benefit him in his return to a starting role now.
“Taking that reliever mindset, pitch by pitch, inning by inning, has helped me to slow the game down in general,” Casparius said. “So I think it's been kind of a blessing. And then whatever happens going forward, I think I can just use that to keep going."
Eventually, Casparius could be shifted back to the bullpen again. Once the Dodgers get healthier, his value as a multi-inning relief option will likely mean resuming his swingman role.
But for now, Roberts has already confirmed that “the next time he’s on the mound, it will be as a starter.”
And for a pitcher who, despite his success out of the bullpen, has continued to view himself as a starter long-term, it represents an opportunity that might have been borne of out necessity, but was also long-ago earned.
“Obviously, I've been doing it for the majority of my professional career, so it's something I'm comfortable with routine-wise,” Casparius said of starting games. “I'm just looking forward to what's going on and what's coming up next."
One clear area that the St. Louis Blues should aim to improve this off-season is their center depth. Their third-line center spot, in particular, could use a boost, and there are some interesting players the Blues could consider targeting in free agency this year to help fix that need.
One pending unrestricted free agent who could make a lot of sense for the Blues to target this off-season if he hits the market on July 1 because of this is Carolina Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic.
If the Blues brought in Roslovic, he would certainly have the potential to provide them with more depth scoring. This is because the 6-foot-1 forward has been a solid offensive contributor throughout his career, and this carried over to this season with the Hurricanes. In 81 games this campaign with the Metropolitan Division club, he posted 22 goals and 39 points. He has also hit the 40-point mark twice during his career.
With numbers like these, Roslovic could be a solid addition to the Blues' third line and second power-play unit. In addition, the 2015 first-round pick also offers good versatility, as he can play both center and on the wing. Thus, the Blues could use him in multiple situations, which certainly adds to his appeal.
Overall, on a short-term, affordable deal, a player like Roslovic would have the potential to be a nice pickup for the Blues. It will be fascinating to see if they end up making a push for him this off-season from here.
It's Friday, June 13 and the Reds (35-34) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (45-25). Nick Martinez is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Brant Hurter for Detroit.
Detroit is coming off back-to-back series wins and have taken four of the past six as they host the Reds. Detroit is 3-1 in the past four games, while Cincinnati is coming off an 11-2 loss to the Guardians which snapped a five-game winning streak.
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 the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game details & how to watch Reds at Tigers
Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: FDSNOH, FDSNDT
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 Reds at the Tigers
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Reds (+110), Tigers (-131)
Spread: Tigers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Tigers
Pitching matchup for June 13, 2025: Nick Martinez vs. Brant Hurter
Reds: Nick Martinez, (4-6, 3.70 ERA) Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 6 Strikeouts
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Tigers
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Reds and the Tigers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cincinnati Reds at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Tigers
The Reds are 4-9 on the ML when Nick Martinez pitches this season
The Tigers are 6-4 on the ML when Brant Hurter pitches 2.0 or more innings this season
The Tigers have won 13 of their 21 matchups against National League teams this season
The Tigers' last 7 home games have stayed under the Total
The Reds have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.35 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!
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Sharks Should Explore Offer Sheets This SummerOver the past few weeks, there has been a lot of talk regarding the potential of offer sheets and how they may be used more this summer than in years past. There are likely a handful of teams that are well positioned to take a chance on an offer sheet, and one of them is the San Jose Sharks.
Former Sharks Head Coach Lands New GigYesterday, former San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner landed a new job in the NHL as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders, joining Ray Bennett, who was also hired by the team. Boughner will work under Islanders head coach Patrick Roy as they look to turn the franchise around.
Sharks Should Avoid Buying Out Marc-Édouard Vlasic This SummerThe San Jose Sharks have a lot of questions that need answering this summer. Will they try and move up in the draft? What’s the plan for their players on expiring contracts? Will they look to land a big fish in free agency? There are plenty of unknowns—but one question that shouldn’t even come up is whether the Sharks should buy out Marc-Édouard Vlasic.
