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
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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
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Giants and the Dodgers
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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 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
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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.
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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+
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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
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Angels and the Orioles
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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 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.
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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
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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
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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
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 Reds and the Tigers
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 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!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Evan Carter (OF Rangers): Rostered in 31% of Yahoo leagues
After hitting .167 with one extra-base hit in his first 15 big-league games this season, Carter has suddenly caught fire, going 10-for-16 with three homers and seven RBI in his last four games. That’s more pop than one should expect from Carter going forward, but what’s really promising is all of this running he’s doing; he’s stolen five bases in 19 games, matching his total from his 68 career MLB games entering the season.
Carter has always had elite speed, but he was a mediocre basestealer in the minors, getting thrown out over 30 percent of the time. In the majors, though, he’s been caught on just one of his 11 career attempts. That the Rangers offense has been so stagnant all year likely has led to more aggression on the basepaths. Carter might slow it down if he gets thrown out a few times, but the Rangers will encourage him until then.
Carter’s sudden surge has left him with an impressive .293/.369/.534 line through 65 plate appearances. That he’s struck out just 10 times in that span is probably a fluke; he has worse contact numbers now than he did while striking out 28 percent of the time his first two seasons. Still, it helps that he’s been less passive at the plate. Most likely, he’ll be a pretty average hitter the rest of the way, but that should lead to some long-term value as long as he keeps running. He’s pretty well locked in as a regular now, and the Rangers offense isn’t going to be this bad all year. In truth, it seems like the turnaround has already started.
Ben Casparius (SP Dodgers): Rostered in 14% of Yahoo leagues
The Dodgers originally began to stretch Casaprius out as a starter at the end of April, only to reconsider the plan with Clayton Kershaw nearly ready to return and injuries taking a heavy toll on the pen. The bullpen is in better shape now with Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech back, so Casparius made his second start of the year Wednesday, pitching four innings of one-run ball against the Padres. Expectations are that he’ll remain in the rotation and face the Padres again next week.
Casaprius isn’t a lock to wind up as a quality starter, but the four-pitch arsenal, which includes a mid-90s fastball, is there. His mid-80s slider is particularly impressive, and his cutter helps him out against lefties. Walks held him back as a minor leaguer, and it’s a really nice surprise that he’s issued just nine in 44 innings this season. He’s a pretty big flyball pitcher and will give up some homers, so it’s important there are no free runners on for those.
Since Casparius is still being stretched out and will probably be limited to 70-75 pitches in his next start, he isn’t a great immediate play in mixed leagues. However, he offers ample upside while being backed by such a strong roster. It should be worth sticking with him even if his next couple of outings prove bumpy.
Christian Moore (2B Angels): Rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues
Many thought the Angels might promote Moore, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, down the stretch last year, but he ended up going down with a knee injury. Still, that didn’t hold him back for long. Just 79 games into his professional career, the 22-year-old is set to make his MLB debut Friday after hitting .279/.374/.422 in 238 plate appearances between Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake. He had five homers and eight stolen bases in 54 games this season.
Moore hit a ridiculous .338/.447/.697 with 61 homers and 22 steals in 186 games for the University of Tennessee, but he’s been whiff prone as a minor leaguer, with a 27 percent strikeout rate between two levels this season. His exit velocity numbers are more good than great, with his hard-hit rate coming in at 39 percent since he moved up to Triple-A. Because they’re inept at player development, the Angels have mostly thrown talented collegians to the wolves, a strategy that seem to have worked with 2022 first-rounder Zach Neto but less so with 2023 first-rounder Nolan Schaneuel. In terms of pure talent, Moore rates between those two; he hits the ball harder than Schanuel but all he really has over Neto is more patience at the plate. He certainly projects as an above average regular at second base. He just might be on the wrong team to help him become one.
As a rushed prospect, Moore seems like a weak choice in mixed leagues for now. Maybe he’ll surprise his first time around the league, and he has the kind of pull power that could lead to several homers. Still, his approach is subpar, and no one on the Angels staff figures to improve it in the short-term. He’s a fine long-term prospect, but the odds are against him amassing much value over the remaining 60 percent of this season.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- Michael Toglia is hitting .324 with four doubles and three homers in nine games since the Rockies sent him to Triple-A, and Orlando Arcia’s game-winning hit Thursday aside, Colorado is getting zero production from first base without him. He’s probably not going to be in the minors for long, and he’ll be worth taking a chance on once he’s brought back.
- Shelby Miller is still unrostered in two-thirds of leagues, but he should be the guy in the ninth for Arizona with Justin Martínez out and potentially done for the year. A.J. Puk might return from his elbow injury next month and overtake Miller, but that’s hardly a certainty.
LOS ANGELES — As the Giants took the field at Dodger Stadium for batting practice ahead of Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Matt Chapman walked out to shortstop with a splint on his right hand, which has three sprained fingers. He took some grounders, flipping balls toward a bucket with his glove. Then he walked out to center field and shagged fly balls. At one point, Chapman took some swings, using his glove as a bat.
That’s about all the Giants’ third baseman can do right now, but on Friday, he did get some encouraging news. Chapman met with Los Angeles-based hand specialist Dr. Stephen Shin early in the day; he was told he’s healing well and can begin the rehab process in about a week.
Giants got good news on Matt Chapman today. He met a specialist in Los Angeles and was told he can begin rehabbing his hand in about a week, has to wear his splint until then.
“He was pleasantly surprised with how fast I was healing and said usually somebody that had the injury I had would probably be in more pain at this point, so it was good news,” Chapman said. “That made him feel confident enough to tell us that I could probably start to begin to pick up a bat and try to do exercises in a week.”
Even with the positive update, it will be a slow process. The Giants haven’t given an official timetable, but Chapman hinted at one on Friday when he was talking about Casey Schmitt, who has taken over at third. Chapman credited Schmitt for stepping in and having a good series in Colorado, and added that he would be needed there for “at least another three or four weeks.”
Chapman could be sidelined for the rest of the first half, but there’s still a lot that’s up in the air. The Giants will know more when he’s cleared to grip a bat and try to throw a baseball. Those will be his two biggest challenges, and it will take some time to get fully cleared and also to be able to do both without pain. Chapman said Dr. Shin’s diagnosis was right in line with what he was hoping to hear and what the Giants’ training staff anticipated. The strength and stability at this point are encouraging.
“It’s really hard to put a timeline on it, but I’m going to do everything I can to come back as fast as I can,” he said. “So it’s good news that I get to start trying stuff in a week. We just have to follow and see what my symptoms are. At the same time, I want to be smart so that when I do come back, I’m able to be productive for the team and be able to not come out of the lineup because I tried to rush and come back.
“I just want to make sure we do it the right way, but it’s nice to know we’re off to a good start.”
Schmitt was 5-for-12 at Coors Field with a home run that helped spark a comeback, but he also made a crucial error in Thursday’s loss. Chapman said he spoke to Schmitt about the misplay.
“I just told him that’s baseball,” Chapman said. “I’m like, dude, I’ve had that happen to me plenty of times. I’ve made errors this season and had some balls that I probably thought I could make that I didn’t make, but that happens. It’s baseball.”
Barring an extraordinary comeback from Australia’s champion attack at Lord’s on Saturday, South Africa will end its World Championship hoodoo and banish the memories of nightmares past.
The Boston Bruins have made their first trade of the NHL offseason.
They have acquired the rights to 24-year-old defenseman Victor Söderström from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman prospect Ryan Mast and a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, the B’s announced Friday evening.
Söderström is a right-shot defenseman who was the No. 11 overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 draft. He played four seasons between the NHL and AHL from 2020-21 through 2023-24.
Söderström went back to his native Sweden to play for Brynas IF Gavle in the 2024-25 campaign. He tallied 37 points (nine goals, 28 assists) in 49 games and won the Borje Salming Trophy as the best defenseman in the SHL.
His rights were traded from the Utah Mammoth (formerly the Coyotes) to the Blackhawks before the trade deadline in March.
The Bruins still need to sign Söderström to a contract for him to play with the Original Six franchise next season. He’s technically a restricted free agent, per PuckPedia.
The Bruins could use a defenseman with Söderström’s offensive skill set. They also need depth on the right side of their blue line after trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March. Right-shot defenseman Henri Jokiharju is an unrestricted free agent, too.
Mast was a sixth-round pick of the Bruins in 2021. He played for the AHL’s Providence Bruins this past season.
It's Friday, June 13 and the Twins (36-32) are in Houston to take on the Astros (38-30). Chris Paddack is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Colton Gordon for Houston.
The Houston Astros are coming off a win against the Chicago White Sox. Famber Valdez had a monster day on the mound. He struck out 12 batters in 5.0 innings. He gave up seven hits and two earned runs and picked up the win.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Twins at Astros
Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
Time: 8:10PM EST
Site: Minute Maid Park
City: Houston, TX
Network/Streaming: Space City Home Network, Twins.TV
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Odds for the Twins at the Astros
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Twins (-100), Astros (-120)
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Astros
Pitching matchup for June 13, 2025: Chris Paddack vs. Colton Gordon
Twins: Chris Paddack, (2-5, 3.53 ERA) Last outing (Toronto Blue Jays, 6/7): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Astros
The Astros are 7-3 in their last 10 home games
Each of the Astros' last 3 home games against the Twins have stayed under the Total
The Twins have covered in 4 of their last 5 on the road, profiting 2.09 units
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Astros
Rotoworld Best Bet
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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 Twins 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 Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.
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South Africa is 69 runs away from winning the ICC Test Championship mace off Australia following a clutch performance from opener Aiden Markram and captain Temba Bavuma on day three at Lord’s.
