TORONTO — Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider will return to the mound against the Blue Jays, his first big league start since an April 2024 surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The Braves activated Strider off the injured list and optioned right-handed reliever Zach Thompson to Triple-A.
The Braves are off to a slow start, and the return of Strider could provide a big lift. He went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 2023, finishing with a major league-best 281 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings and placing fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting.
Strider struck out 13 in 5 1/3 innings in a dominant rehab start at Triple-A, allowing one run and three hits. He threw 90 pitches, 62 for strikes, and reached 97 mph with his fastball.
Strider, 26, last appeared in the majors on April 5, 2024, against the Diamondbacks in Atlanta.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt starts for the Blue Jays in the rubber match against the Braves.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov made his NHL debut, potentially the most highly anticipated debut in 2024-25, on Monday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored a goal and notched an assist in his first period of NHL hockey, causing many to question how he slipped to the Habs at five, similar to questions many had in June of 2024.
Demidov (19) was selected fifth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft despite consensus suggesting he was the number two prospect behind San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini. Demidov scored 60 points (23-37=60) in 30 MHL (Russia’s top junior league) regular season games in the 2023-24 season and added 28 points (11-17=28) in 17 playoff games.
Demidov’s draft profile radiated talent but came with significant question marks, as did every draft-eligible player outside of Celebrini. He had creativity dripping from his pores while displaying elite puck skills, manipulation skills, and hockey IQ.
The downside was the perceived questionable translatability of his skating and production, as he had only ever played before Russian eyes, in Russia, and had played all but six games in the MHL, a league he was clearly too advanced for.
Following Celebrini’s selection at first overall and ahead of Demidov’s fifth, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Artyom Levshunov second, the Ducks selected Beckett Sennecke third, and the Blue Jackets selected Cayden Lindstrom fourth.
In 2024-25, Demidov played 65 regular season games for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, scoring 49 points (19-30=49) in limited minutes. He added five points (3-2=5) in six playoff games. His season quelled practically all concerns regarding his translatability as he was now producing and positively impacting games in one of the world’s top professional leagues.
Demidov’s NHL debut on Monday captured the attention of the hockey world. He instantly met and exceeded expectations, electrifying fans with a couple of highlight-reel plays, resulting in his two-point night.
He made one critical error on Chicago’s game-tying goal in the third period with a pitiful backchecking effort that ended up costing Montreal the extra point.
The good far outweighed the bad and the conversation within the Ducks sphere centered again around why and how the Ducks passed on who most considered the second-best prospect in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Ducks director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager Martin Madden met with local media ahead of the 2024 Draft to discuss his team’s approach.
“It’s not about what they look like today, it’s what they’re going to look like five years from now and the impact they’re going to have on our team five years from now,” Madden said when asked about his approach at the draft.
“We’re going to go with the old boring way and say that we’re going to go with the best player available according to our opinion and projection,” he continued.
It’s clear that translatability is a considerable factor for Madden and the Ducks at the draft. There’s also always the perceived “Russian Factor” when it comes to players under contract with KHL clubs. Teams don’t have access to the development of those players as they do with prospects in other leagues around the world.
Madden stated the Ducks did meet with Demidov at the Gold Star pre-draft combine, a camp put on by Demidov’s agency.
“Five years ago, I would have said not at all,” Madden said when asked if he was comfortable drafting a Russian player at the top of the draft. “By now, we are comfortable with the process (of assessing players strictly on video). We’ve had enough live viewings of these players through Konstantin Krylov, our Russian scout.
“For me, it’s nice to have been able to get a live look in terms of Ivan Demidov. He’s still hurt, so he didn’t get on the ice. But to talk to him and so on and so forth. To answer your question, we are comfortable. It’s not a big deal.”
The Ducks ended up selecting exceptionally skilled winger Beckett Sennecke with the third overall pick. He was the draft’s “late riser,” solidifying his draft profile with a spectacular final string of regular season and playoff games.
If Madden is to be taken at his word, at the time of the draft, the Ducks viewed Sennecke as the highest projectable player available to them with the number three pick.
Sennecke (19) has dazzled in the 2024-25 season, scoring 86 points (36-50=86) in 56 regular season games for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, and has added 10 points (4-6=10) in six playoff games.
Sennecke remains a justifiable selection by Anaheim regardless of how Demidov arrived in the NHL. Like Madden had said nearly a year ago, “It’s not about what they look like today, it’s about what they’re going to look like five years from now.”
The Ducks' decisions at the 2024 draft shouldn’t be evaluated less than a year from conclusion, but several years down the road.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers recalled Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville, bolstering a pitching staff dealing with multiple injuries.
Before its 5-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee owned a 4.93 ERA that ranked 28th in the majors, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (4.99) and Washington Nationals (5.50).
“We need help,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “We need all the help we can. All hands on deck. Whether or not he ends up staying for an extended period of time or not will depend on him and other people’s health and that type of thing. We’re excited to have him.”
The Brewers made room for Henderson by sending right-hander Elvin Rodríguez to Nashville. Rodríguez had an 0-2 record and a 7.53 ERA in four appearances, though he had allowed only one run over five innings of relief in a 9-1 loss to the Tigers.
Henderson was 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in three games with Nashville this season while striking out 24 and walking 10 over 14 innings.
He gave up five runs in his first start of the season but has thrown 10 shutout innings since. In his last appearance, he struck out eight while allowing no hits and two walks in five innings.
“The first couple of starts, I had a hard time filling up the strike zone,” Henderson said. “The last start was really good for me, heading into the right direction. I like where I’m at right now.”
Henderson went a combined 7-6 with a 3.32 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings for four different minor league teams last season. The Brewers selected him out of McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, in the fourth round of the 2021 amateur draft.
Murphy said he likes the variety in Henderson’s arsenal.
“In today’s game, there’s more chuckers and heavers than there are pitchers,” Murphy said. “I think this is a time when you’ve got to have kind of a combination of both in your repertoire. He’s starting to throw the ball really well, command it and have a variety, so we’re excited to have him.”
Henderson will try to boost a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. The list of Brewers pitchers on the injured list includes Aaron Ashby (right oblique), Aaron Civale (left hamstring), Nestor Cortes (left elbow), Robert Gasser (left elbow), DL Hall (left lat), Tobias Myers (left oblique), Connor Thomas (left elbow) and Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder).
Milwaukee would love for Henderson to make the same kind of impact that Quinn Priester has produced since he was acquired in a trade with Boston. Priester carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and combined with four relievers on a one-hitter.
In two starts with the Brewers, Priester has allowed one run over 10 innings. He was pitching with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate before joining the Brewers.
It was the Brewers’ fourth shutout win of the season. But they also have allowed at least nine runs in four different games already.
Part of the problem is that all those injuries have taxed a bullpen that was one of Milwaukee’s greatest strengths last year, when the Brewers won a second straight NL Central title.
The Brewers have a bullpen ERA of 5.94 that ranked 28th in the majors, ahead of only the Los Angeles Angels (6.29) and Washington (6.91). Last year, Milwaukee’s 3.11 bullpen ERA ranked second, behind only the Cleveland Guardians’ 2.57.
That bullpen has shown signs of life lately, though. In the Brewers’ last two games, their relievers have allowed just one run over nine innings.
Jonathan Kuminga didn’t play a second in the Warriors’ regular-season finale loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, nor in Golden State’s 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday.
While coach Steve Kerr’s rotation changes often, not many expected the 22-year-old to register consecutive DNPs during the most crucial points of the 2024-25 NBA season.
“He’ll contribute,” Green told reporters postgame on Tuesday about Kuminga. “He’s getting his work in. That’s all you can do in that situation, get your work in. He’ll be meaningful for us in that series. I have zero doubt about that. I think the challenge for him is to stay mentally engaged, as is for anyone in that situation. But I have zero doubt in my mind that he’s going to help us in this series – he will, 1,000 percent.”
Kuminga, even through his growing pains, seemingly brings great value to Golden State on any given night and would appear to be a key piece against Houston.
He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists during his fourth Warriors campaign, and in four games against the Rockets this season, Kuminga averaged an impressive 21.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Kerr said Kuminga has been “pretty impactful” for the Warriors after the loss to the Clippers but proceeded to not play him Tuesday night. Green expects Kuminga to have a big role against the Rockets, but the rotation ultimately will be decided by Kerr.
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles and general manager Mike Elias could have used a fast start this year.
Instead, most of their biggest offseason questions are still pertinent.
The Orioles are 6-10 after a 6-3 loss to Cleveland. That’s after some second-half struggles in 2024 and a first-round loss to Kansas City in the playoffs. Baltimore still has plenty of talent, but also some real issues — perhaps more than seemed likely after the Orioles won 101 games in 2023 and had a farm system still churning out standout prospects.
“I certainly haven’t seen any signs of panic, and we’re continuing to retain the same approach on a night-to-night basis. I try not to get too high when things are going great, and try not to get down when we’re losing,” Elias said. “That’s how you have to approach baseball.”
The Orioles lost Corbin Burnes in free agency, and the three main starters they added were all older players on one-year contracts. So there was some skepticism about whether the rotation would hold up.
And that was before the injury bug went to work. Grayson Rodriguez hasn’t pitched at all this season, Zach Eflin went on the injured list, and Albert Suárez will miss significant time. Plus, neither Kyle Bradish nor Tyler Wells has returned from elbow surgery.
So the new arrivals — Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton — have needed to perform, and it hasn’t gone great. They were a combined 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA following Morton’s start against Cleveland.
“I feel like we’ve already tapped into, basically, the depth,” Elias said. “To say that on April 15 was not the plan. Obviously, we knew Bradish was going to be out. But to have Grayson and Eflin on the shelf simultaneously this quickly into the season, at no point were we forecasting that, or expecting that. And that’s just the truth.”
Kyle Gibson, the third significant starter added, signed in late March and is in the minors. He’s expected back with the Orioles by May. As for Baltimore’s brigade of injured pitchers, Elias said Eflin will start playing catch in a few days, Rodriguez has thrown a couple bullpens, and Bradish threw a bullpen recently. Wells is expected to start his mound progression in the next two weeks.
SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs have optioned top prospect Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa after a disappointing start to the rookie third baseman’s career.
Shaw, the No. 13 pick in the 2023 amateur draft, is just 10 for 58 with one homer and three RBIs. He has 18 strikeouts in 68 plate appearances.
“We want to get a productive player back,” manager Craig Counsell said before the Cubs played the San Diego Padres. “Sometimes you have to take a step back to do that. At this level it’s production and the point we’re at, obviously you give guys time to work through it but we just thought we saw enough where we kind of needed to take a break from this level and get some at-bats at Triple-A.”
Counsell, a former major league infielder, said it’s normal for young hitters to struggle.
“He’s just been up against it a little bit to start the year,” he said. “Sometimes it is just some success that kind of reframes it some and gets you good feelings back and good vibes back and gets you back to being that offensive threat.”
The Cubs also placed right-hander Eli Morgan on the 15-day injured list because of an elbow impingement. Infielder Vidal Bruján was reinstated from the 10-day IL, and right-hander Nate Pearson was optioned to Iowa.
Left-hander Luke Little and right-hander Daniel Palencia were recalled from Triple-A before the Cubs’ game at San Diego.
Counsell said Morgan felt something in his elbow when he got two outs in a 10-4 loss. The team will figure out what’s next when it returns to Chicago..
Morgan, acquired from Cleveland in November, has a 12.27 ERA in seven appearances. He went 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 32 appearances last season for the AL Central champion Guardians, who had the best bullpen in the majors in 2024.
The Cubs were leading the NL Central at 11-8 entering their game against the Padres. They lost ace Justin Steele to a season-ending left elbow injury.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates placed catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez on the 10-injured list with a lacerated right index finger.
Rodriguez was catching when he got hurt during a 10-3 victory over Washington. He was hit on the hand by a pitch in the dirt by Paul Skenes, and the injury required five stitches.
The Pirates recalled right-hander Chase Shugart from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Rodriguez has made nine starts at first base and five at catcher this season, hitting .178 with two RBIs.
The injury leaves the Pirates thin at two positions.
Henry Davis is their only healthy catcher, with Joey Bart missing his fourth straight game because of lower back soreness. Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez joined the team from Indianapolis but was not immediately added to the active roster.
Primarily a catcher, Rodriguez had been playing first base while Spencer Horwitz recovers from right hand surgery. Utility player Enmanuel Valdez started at first base for a second straight night.
However, one of the calls, had it been correctly assessed, could have greatly benefited the Grizzlies in the game’s final seconds.
Chronologically, here are the four incorrect calls in the game:
Draymond Green should have been called for a shooting foul on Scottie Pippen Jr. after making contact with the Grizzlies guard’s wrist on a play with 1:29 remaining in the game.
Edey (MEM) makes contact with the ball while it is in the imaginary cylinder above the rim.
One call that had Warriors fans upset, was Brandin Podziemski being called for a foul on his block attempt on Pippen Jr. with 37 seconds remaining in the game. The NBA stated that was an incorrect call.
Podziemski (GSW) makes contact with the ball during Pippen Jr.’s (MEM) shot attempt near the basket and any ensuing contact once the ball becomes loose is considered incidental.
Perhaps the most notable missed call of the game, was the Warriors’ inbound pass to Steph Curry with 10.5 seconds remaining. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant initially appeared to knock the ball out of Curry’s hands, but the NBA stated the ball actually touched Curry’s hand last before it went out of bounds and possession should have been awarded to Memphis with 7.3 seconds remaining.
After Morant (MEM) reaches in and makes contact with the ball, it touches Curry’s (GSW) hand last before going out of bounds. Possession is awarded to Golden State, but should have been awarded to Memphis.
Another controversial moment in the game was Kevon Looney being called for a loose ball foul on Edey under the rim with 14.3 seconds remaining. That, according to the NBA, was correctly called.
While there were missed calls that went against both teams, the Grizzlies certainly wish at least one, in particular, was called correctly.
There is plenty at stake in New York and around the NBA as the playoffs start. Here’s a look at the ramifications for some playoff teams:
KNICKS: As noted on this week’s Putback, the stakes are high for Tom Thibodeau entering the playoffs. If the Knicks beat Detroit and are competitive in the second round against Boston, I’d assume Thibodeau will be fine. Given Thibodeau’s success in New York, this is the most likely scenario.
But if the Knicks struggle against Detroit or are noncompetitive in the second round against Boston, there will be tough conversations about the franchise’s next steps.
The post-mortem analysis will include an assessment of Thibodeau. Would the Knicks head coach survive a subpar playoff performance?
It all depends on how team president Leon Rose and owner James Dolan view the season.
The head coach has helped guide the Knicks to their best three-year run since the late 1990s.
He is also under contract for four more seasons. Earlier in the season, I thought Thibodeau would survive any playoff shortcomings and be back next season. But that’s not the case anymore. I think anything is on the table if the Knicks struggle in the playoffs, including a coaching change.
No matter what happens this spring, the Knicks will have to decide on Mikal Bridges’ extension. Bridges is eligible for a four-year, $156 million deal on July 1. The Knicks gave up five first-round picks in order to acquire Bridges. So it would be surprising if they didn’t secure him long-term to an extension if everything goes well in the playoffs. If things go sideways, New York could include Bridges in a deal for a significant return.
OTHER EASTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS
PACERS: The Pacers want to retain 2025 free agent Myles Turner. But the team also reportedly wants to remain below the luxury tax. In order to achieve both of those goals, the Pacers may have to shed salary via trade.
They have several options if they want to go this route, including Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith. The club’s playoff performance – and the performances of its role players – will likely factor in to any roster decisions made around Turner.
BUCKS: The Nets aren’t the only NBA team keeping a close eye on the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Several teams operated at the NBA trade deadline with a potential run at Antetokounmpo in mind. Why would teams see an Antetokounmpo trade as a remote possibility? That belief stems – in part – on Antetokounmpo’s own stance. He has said in the past that his top priority is to win. In acquiring Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma via trade and making high-stakes coaching changes, Milwaukee has operated like a team desperate to win. But the results haven’t been great. Will another subpar playoff performance cause Antetokounmpo to request a trade? That’s part of what is at stake for Milwaukee this spring. The Nets, it should be noted, have a bevy of assets to offer in a trade for Antetokounmpo – or another star. Brooklyn owns four first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and has 13 tradeable first-round picks in the next seven drafts.
HAWKS: After losing to Orlando on Tuesday, the Hawks face an uphill climb to qualify for the playoffs. Whether their season ends later this week or after a first-round loss to Cleveland, the Hawks will have a significant decision to make with Trae Young. Young has a player option in 2026 and is eligible for a four-year, $230 million extension in the offseason.
Do the Hawks want to make that financial commitment to Young while building around Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and, presumably, rookie Zaccharie Risacher? That’s a big question for Landry Fields & Co entering the offseason.
WESTERN CONFERENCE RAMIFICATIONS
TIMBERWOLVES: The most pressing issue for the Timberwolves is stopping Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Lakers. The big picture facing the Wolves: how much is ownership willing to spend on the roster? Naz Reid could test free agency. He has a $15 million player option for next season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be an unrestricted free agent. Julius Randle has a $30 million player option. The Timberwolves are facing a significant tax bill. It would be extremely challenging to keep all three of Randle, Alexander-Walker, and Reid.
Worth noting on Randle: the Heat have had interest in him at different points over the past few seasons. Randle could exercise his player option and be traded. The Nets, Bulls, and Pistons are among a small group of teams projected to have cap space this offseason. On the other side of Timberwolves-Lakers, James has a player option for 2025-26.
ROCKETS: The Rockets are in an enviable position. They won 52 games in the regular season and have a bevy of assets to swing a trade this offseason. Houston can acquire five additional first-round picks over the next five drafts and has several players – Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, Dillon Brooks, Fred Van Vleet- who would draw interest in the trade market.
Houston’s performance in the postseason will impact their approach in the offseason. The No. 1 question for Houston this summer: what would you trade for Kevin Durant? Durant will be available via trade and will presumably be moved to one of his preferred destinations. It’s well known that he and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka have a strong connection. The Rockets obviously would have competition for Durant. The Mavericks are among the teams who pursued him aggressively at the trade deadline. They continued to search for ways to land Durant even after he made it clear through back-channels that he didn’t want to be traded. So Dallas will almost assuredly explore the Durant market again this summer. Will Houston be in an as well? On the other side of the Warriors-Rockets series, Golden State will have a decision to make on restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga was not in the Warriors’ rotation during their play-in win over Memphis on Tuesday.
KINGS: Sacramento has been underwhelming this season after firing head coach Mike Brown, trading De'Aaron Fox and acquiring Zach LaVine.
With Brown out, the Kings front office is under the microscope. Owner Vivek Ranadive is expected to take a hard look at the front office in the offseason. Obviously, a strong playoff run would factor in to any decision Ranadive makes on Monte McNair and his group. Other teams viewed Wes Wilcox’s move from the Kings to the University of Utah as a sign of uncertainty in Sacramento. The Kings face the Mavericks in the Play-In tournament on Wednesday night.
Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Rockies (3-14) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (13-6). Germán Márquez is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Bobby Miller for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles won yesterday's meeting, 6-2, to go up 2-0 in the series. Will Smith smacked the only homer of the game and Jack Dreyer recorded his second win of the season after 1.2 innings on 28 pitches and four strikeouts.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Rockies at Dodgers
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 10:10PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: COLR, SNLA
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Odds for the Rockies at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Rockies (+252), Dodgers (-314)
Spread: Dodgers -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
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Probable starting pitchers for the Rockies at Dodgers
Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Germán Márquez vs. Bobby Miller
Rockies: Germán Márquez, (0-2, 4.60 ERA) Last outing: 4.2 Innings Pitched, 5 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts
Dodgers: Bobby Miller, (2-4, 8.52 ERA in 2024) Last outing: Making his season debut
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Dodgers
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Bobby Miller to go Under 5.5 strikeouts versus Colorado:
"Bobby Miller is making his first start of the season tonight and while the Rockies are a more than acceptable opponent, I like the Under 5.5 strikeouts at -125 odds. Miller does not have an outs prop for tonight, which means 5.0 innings or going more than two times through the order is unlikely. Even when Miller went 5.0-plus innings last year, he was 4-2 to the Under on this number and 10-3 to the Under overall. I'd go down to 4.5 for +110 or better if that pops up before first pitch."
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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 Wednesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
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Every NBA champion has one or two superstars who play a significant role in their team lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, but winning 16 games over four playoff rounds doesn’t happen without supporting players stepping up along the way.
There are a couple games every playoff run that require someone to come off the bench and provide a spark offensively.
The Celtics know this fact better than most franchises.
Don Nelson hit a clutch shot toward the end of Game 7 in the 1969 NBA Finals. Glenn McDonald scored eight points off the bench in the triple-overtime Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals. Cedric Maxwell led the C’s with 24 points in Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Leon Powe scored 21 points off the bench in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals. Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points off the bench in a Game 7 victory in the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Here’s a list of five candidates, ranging from starters to role players, ahead of Sunday’s Game 1 of the first round against the Orlando Magic.
Kristaps Porzingis
The Celtics are at their best when they hit a lot of 3-pointers. Porzingis is a 7-foot-3 center who can score in the paint and step outside the 3-point line and make shots consistently. There aren’t many players like him.
Porzingis is also an X-factor defensively because he is so good at protecting the rim. Whether it’s on drives to the basket in the halfcourt or fast breaks, Porzingis consistently blocks shots or forces opponents to alter their shots to evade his long reach. And the Celtics will need this rim protection because three of their potential playoff opponents — Knicks, Cavs, Thunder — ranked top 10 in points in the paint this season.
We saw plenty of examples of Porzingis’ impact at both ends of the floor during the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
This sequence from Game 1 shows how effective Porzingis can be as an outside shooter and a shot blocker:
WHAT. A. SEQUENCE. 😱
Porzingis deep 3. Porzingis block. Hauser 3. Porzingis block.
Of course, the concern with Porzingis is always health-related. He missed most of the 2024 playoffs due to injury. But since returning in March from a battle with an illness, he has consistently stayed healthy and played quite well.
If Porzingis can play a full postseason, the Celtics might be even tougher to beat than they were a year ago.
Payton Pritchard
Pritchard took a huge leap in his development this season, setting career highs with 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 47.2 percent from the field and 40.7 from 3-point range. He’s the favorite to win the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
There will be a moment when the C’s need Pritchard to hit shots and give the team a boost of energy at both ends of the floor. Pritchard played OK in the 2024 playoffs. His best series was the second round against the Cavs, but he struggled in the Finals and scored three or fewer points in four of the five games versus the Mavs.
Can Pritchard be more consistent offensively in this year’s playoffs? If the answer is yes, the C’s will be very difficult to defend.
Sam Hauser
Hauser is one of the league’s best 3-point shooters and led Boston with a 41.6 3-point percentage this season. His ability to get hot from beyond the arc and hit five, six, or seven 3-pointers can totally change a game.
Hauser was pretty inconsistent from 3-point range in the 2024 playoffs. He hit more than three 3-pointers in just three of Boston’s 16 postseason games. He shot 2-for-9 from beyond the arc in the conference semifinals and 1-for-14 in the conference finals.
Hauser was able to stretch the floor on offense and not get burned defensively in last season’s title run. He was even a good defender at times in those four series, including some matchups against Kyrie Irving in the Finals. If that’s the Hauser the Celtics get for most of the 2025 playoffs, they’ll be in good shape.
Jrue Holiday
Holiday’s experience — two NBA titles and two Olympic gold medals — is so valuable to the Celtics. He is a steady, calming presence in high-pressure situations.
The veteran point guard made so many clutch plays in the 2024 playoffs. Whether it was a momentum-changing 3-pointer, a key offensive rebound or a steal, he consistently made the right decisions at both ends of the court. Whenever the Celtics offense is becoming too iso-heavy or bad shots are being taken, he settles everyone down and gets the team back on track.
Holiday’s ability to knock down 3-pointers and shoot around 90 percent from the foul line will make him a very important player in this Boston playoff run. How much will his finger injury impact him? You could argue he’s played his best basketball of the season the last month-and-a-half despite nursing this injury. He shot 38.6 percent from 3-point range in March and 41.7 percent in April.
The Celtics were 14-2 this season when Holiday scored 15-plus points. His best performances almost always translate into wins.
Luke Kornet
Kornet played just 10.2 minutes per game in the 2024 playoffs. It wouldn’t be surprising if that number goes up this year because the veteran center was highly effective in a lot of games this season.
Kornet scored 10-plus points in nine of his last 14 regular season games. He grabbed eight or more rebounds six times during that stretch, including a 16-rebound performance in a win over the Spurs on March 29. Kornet is very good in the pick-and-roll, too, with his ability to finish on lobs at the basket.
In fact, the Tatum-Kornet pick-and-roll combo was one of the best in the league this season:
Luke Kornet has been one of the most impactful bench players this season. Cs are steam rolling opponents when he's on the court (+11.6 Netrtg.)
He's got an undeniable chemistry with Tatum, which shows in their pick & roll numbers — #2 most potent combo behind Murray/Jokic pic.twitter.com/yRgIQCiQvj
The Celtics like playing with two centers on the court, especially in certain matchups. Kornet’s ability to produce at both ends of the floor alongside Porzingis or Al Horford is quite valuable.
He plays his role extremely well, and he might be asked to do it more in this playoff run than in previous years.
Its Wednesday, April 16 and the Red Sox (9-10) are in Tampa to take on the Rays (8-9).
Sean Newcomb is slated to take the mound for Boston against Zack Littell for Tampa Bay.
These teams have split the first two games of the series. Boston won last night, 7-4. Alex Bregman went 5-5 with a couple of home runs to lead the Sox to the win.
Lets 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 Red Sox at Rays
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Time: 7:05PM EST
Site: George M. Steinbrenner Field
City: Tampa, FL
Network/Streaming: NESN, FDSNSUN
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Red Sox at the Rays
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Red Sox (+121), Rays (-143)
Spread: Rays -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Rays
Pitching matchup for April 16, 2025: Sean Newcomb vs. Zack Littell
Red Sox: Sean Newcomb (0-2, 4.97 ERA) Last outing: 4/11 at White Sox - 4IP, 6ER, 6H, 2BB, 6Ks
Rays: Zack Littell (0-3, 6.88 ERA) Last outing: 4/10 vs. Angels - 4IP, 7ER, 8H, 1BB, 4Ks
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Rays
Tampa Bay is just 6-11 on the Run Line this season
The Rays' last 4 games have gone OVER the Total
Alex Bregman is now hitting .321 for Boston this season
Rafael Devers is 1 for his last 18 and is sporting a .222 average for the 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!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Rays
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 Wednesday's game between the Red Sox and the Rays:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Tampa Bay Rays on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Boston Red Sox at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC
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