Defensive back S’Vioarean Martin (Palestine, TX/ Palestine High School), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
Four-Star Anthony Sweeney Commits to 2026 Navy All-American Bowl
Defensive lineman Anthony Sweeney (Olney, MD/ Our Lady of Good Counsel High School), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
Royals at Giants prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 19
It's Monday, May 19, and the Royals (26-22) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (28-19). Kris Bubic is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Robbie Ray for San Francisco.
The Royals are coming off a 2-1 win yesterday over the Cardinals that broke a four-game losing streak. Kansas City is 2-6 over the last eight games compared to San Francisco who is 4-1 in the past five games and coming off a three-game sweep this weekend versus the Athletics.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Royals at Giants
- Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
- Time: 9:45 PM EST
- Site: Oracle Park
- City: San Francisco, CA
- Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, NBCSBA, 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 Royals at the Giants
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Moneyline: Royals (+104), Giants (-124)
- Spread: Giants -1.5
- Total: 7.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Royals at Giants
- Pitching matchup for May 19, 2025: Kris Bubic vs. Robbie Ray
- Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.66 ERA)
Last outing: 6.1 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 9 Strikeouts - Giants: Robbie Ray, (6-0, 3.04 ERA)
Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 9 Strikeouts
- Royals: Kris Bubic, (4-2, 1.66 ERA)
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 Royals and the Giants
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 Monday’s game between the Royals and the Giants:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Francisco Giants on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals 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 Royals at Giants
- The Giants have won 7 of their last 9 games at home
- The Under is 27-17-1 for the Royals' road games and the Giants' home games combined this season
- The Royals have covered the Run Line in 5 straight road games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Hard-throwing Mets prospect Will Watson opening eyes in first full professional season
As the Mets' now-vaunted pitching development program continues to turn less-heralded free agent signings into impact arms while helping their recent draftees and international signings make the most of their talent, there is another young pitcher starting to open eyes.
Will Watson.
Watson, a hard-throwing 22-year-old right hander, is pitching for A-ball St. Lucie in what is his first full professional season. And he's excelling.
Through seven appearances (five starts, two relief outings) over 28.2 innings, Watson has posted a 2.77 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while striking out 32 batters and giving up just one home run.
In his most recent start, on May 14, Watson -- who is still getting fully stretched out as a starter -- spun 4.2 innings of shutout ball.
Watson was selected by the Mariners in the 20th round of the 2023 MLB Draft after stints with California Lutheran and San Joaquin Delta College, but didn't sign. Instead, he attended USC the next season before entering the 2024 MLB Draft.
It was there that the Mets pounced in the seventh round, adding Watson to a stable of high-upside minor league arms.
And Watson is getting comfortable in the organization, describing 2025 as "just another year of baseball," adding: "It’s just being around the guys. It’s a lot of fun. There’s nothing better than playing ball every day."
Watson is also taking advantage of the Mets' aforementioned pitching development.
"I’ve found it very encouraging for sure," he told SNY. "I think myself and my fellow teammates – I don’t think there’s a spot they’d rather be. It’s been very promising. I’ve learned so much so far – so much. It’s been amazing. I’ve figured out so much about myself – internal and external – about pitching. It’s been great so far."
In the midst of being converted to a full-time starting role after spending the earlier part of his career bouncing back and forth between the rotation and bullpen (Watson was a reliever only for California Lutheran in 2022 and had a hybrid role for USC in 2024), the right-hander is undaunted by the new challenge the Mets are giving him.
"It’s been pretty easy, honestly, just because I’ve done it my entire life," Watson explained. "I’ve kind of done both my entire life, just from playing the field and relieving in games. Or starting in high school. I relieved my freshman year of college and then when I was at my junior college I would relieve and start there. So I’ve kind of done it all throughout the whole process. Wherever they need me, I’ll jump in."
As Watson has gotten acclimated to professional ball, his arsenal has seen an uptick in velocity -- from his fastball to his secondary offerings.
The fastball now sits in the mid-90s with regularity and will touch 97 mph. Meanwhile, Watson's secondary offerings -- including a changeup, slider, and cutter -- have also ticked up.
Watson attributes the increased velocity to work in the weight room, as well as adjusting his pitch shapes and making some grip changes.
As far as a pitcher whose style Watson is trying to emulate, he cited Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo, who has been a dominant force the last two seasons for Seattle.
"He’s been dealing, it’s been pretty cool to watch," Watson said. "He looks super calm up on the mound. Just knows exactly what he’s doing and exactly what he’s trying to do."
When it comes to Watson's pitch mix and how he likes to attack hitters, let's have him take us through it...
“I love using my fastball, just because it's something I’ve always been very comfortable with," he noted. "My changeup has always been super comfortable for me as well. Started to really develop it last year. I just throw it like my fastball – I think that’s why it’s so deceivable to hitters. And it spins a lot, so you can’t really see the spin.
"And then my slider lately has been working really well off that new cutter that I’ve been throwing. Still trying to find the right group for that and when to throw that, because it is still really new. But I do like to mix that in kind of in between the fastball and slider. Slider for sure to really both sides -- steal strikes to lefties, put-away for righties.
"Changeup – I like to throw that to righties, just to keep them off balance instead of looking out over the plate. Try to bring it in to them. Keep them off balance there. Fastball – just try to get ahead of counts. Weak contact is what I’m really looking for."
Asked whether there was any specific facet of his game he was intent on improving this season, Watson said his focus was more wide-ranging.
"A lot. That’s my goal every day," Watson explained. "I like to improve, I like to get better. Even if I have a good outing, I’m like 'what can I do to get better? What can I do to get better?' I think after every outing I go back and look at film with my coach to say 'what can we change here. What can we change here?'
"I think the biggest one that’s a continuous build is always the mental game. I don’t think there’s any time that you’re ever gonna be 100 percent on that. I think the mental game of just being true to yourself, and being who you are on a continuous basis. It’s hard to do in this game, because it really eats you up. So that’s something I’m always trying to build on."
When Watson isn't on the mound or working to get better, he relaxes by playing video games, reading, and drawing. In the offseason, he spends lots of time hunting and fishing.
And as he starts to inch closer to making his ultimate goal come true, Watson is keeping his eye on the prize.
It's possible he'll make it to High-A Brooklyn and even Double-A Binghamton by the time the 2025 season ends, but Watson hasn't yet thought about what it might be like to pitch for the Mets at Citi Field.
"I kind of thought about visiting the field and seeing what life would be like there. But I kind of want to hold off on that until that day comes" Watson said. "The first day that I’m called up, that’s the first day I’m at Citi Field. I just want that to be the reality.
"I haven’t really allowed myself to be like 'oh, I want to be at Citi Field' yet. Because I know inside I have so much work to do. But every day it’s the goal to get there. That’s my goal every day. I want to help this team win in any way that I can."
Tigers at Cardinals Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for May 19
It's Monday, May 19, and the Tigers (31-16) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (26-21). Keider Montero is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Sonny Gray for St. Louis.
The Cardinals are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Royals yesterday making St. Louis 12-2 over the last 14 games. The Tigers won 3-2 yesterday over the Blue Jays to extend their record to 5-1 over the past six games and 10-3 in the previous 13.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Tigers at Cardinals
- Date: Monday, May 19, 2025
- Time: 7:45 PM EST
- Site: Busch Stadium
- City: St. Louis, MO
- Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, FDSNMW
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 Tigers at the Cardinals
The latest odds as of Monday:
- Moneyline: Tigers (+134), Cardinals (-158)
- Spread: Cardinals -1.5
- Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Cardinals
- Pitching matchup for May 19, 2025: Keider Montero vs. Sonny Gray
- Tigers: Keider Montero, (1-1, 4.68 ERA)
Last outing: 3.1 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 3 Strikeouts - Cardinals: Sonny Gray, (4-1, 4.50 ERA)
Last outing: 3.2 Innings Pitched, 7 Earned Runs Allowed, 8 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 4 Strikeouts
- Tigers: Keider Montero, (1-1, 4.68 ERA)
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 Tigers and the Cardinals
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 Monday’s game between the Tigers and the Cardinals:
- 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 Detroit Tigers 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 Tigers at Cardinals
- The Tigers have won 12 of their last 20 road games
- The Under is 7-3 in the Cardinals' last 10 games
- The Cardinals have covered in 4 of their last 5 games showing a profit of 1.40 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:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
An interesting part of Tocchet's track record impressed the Flyers the most
An interesting part of Tocchet's track record impressed the Flyers the most originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Rick Tocchet’s most accomplished season as a head coach was pretty recent.
On this day a year ago, his Canucks were preparing for a second-round Game 7 against the eventual Western Conference champion Oilers. Vancouver had won 50 games in the regular season, racking up 109 points and making the playoffs for just the second time in nine years. Tocchet, in his first full season with the Canucks, won the Jack Adams Award.
But that 2023-24 season wasn’t what opened Danny Briere’s eyes when the Flyers’ general manager was deciding to hire Tocchet as his new head coach.
Instead, it was Tocchet’s work with a small-market franchise that made the biggest impression on Briere.
“It’s funny, most people would probably focus on the job that he did when he won the Jack Adams,” the GM said last Friday at Tocchet’s introductory press conference. “That was quite the turnaround in a short amount of time, what he did there, it was a really impressive year. For me, when I look at the track record, one of the most impressive parts that stood out — and it’s from watching at the time — was his stint with the Coyotes.”
Tocchet had just a .490 points percentage over four seasons in Arizona from 2017-18 to 2020-21. The Coyotes went 125-131-34 in that span. However, Arizona was considered one of the NHL’s most challenging markets. And Tocchet did some low-key good things there.
The Coyotes prevented goals and had a top-three penalty kill. Tocchet led them to 39 wins in 2018-19, a total that remains the franchise’s most since 2011-12. The next season, Arizona made the expanded playoff field and won a qualifying-round series over the Predators in the Western Conference bubble.
“I’m not trying to take it on the players, but he had a pretty depleted lineup at the time,” Briere said. “I remember the experts were saying that the Coyotes would be last in the NHL and get the first overall pick. And he made them competitive. They did make the playoffs the one year and they were in the running, playing good games. That body of work for me was probably the most impressive part of his coaching.”
Through Tocchet’s tenure, Arizona picked up at least a point in five of six games against the Flyers (3-1-2). In those matchups, the Coyotes’ power play went 6 for 20 (30 percent) and their penalty kill scored three shorthanded goals.
“They were always a difficult team to play against with limited resources,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said. “So I’m really excited to see what he can do here. I think that was one of the things that really was exciting to him. Thankfully, we have the infrastructure to attract a top coach. We have ownership that spends to the limit, to the maximum; I don’t even know if there’s a limit to make sure that things are great.
“You guys have been around our practice facility and see all the tools that are at Rick’s disposal and our players’ disposal, that are there to try to make us great one day. We’re going to use everything we have and I think those things helped attract Rick and eventually had him choose us.”
More: Tocchet deserves a shot before the former Flyer narrative is thrown around
The Flyers were intrigued by Tocchet’s ability to connect with players, his blend of demanding but also lenient. Tocchet knows the coach-player relationship is different from when he laced up the game skates.
“Coaches told you, ‘Hey, do this,’ and you just did it, right?” Tocchet said. “You were scared to ask why. Now, this generation, they want to know why, they’re smart guys. They want to know why. ‘Hey, we’re doing this forecheck because of this.’ They want to know, ‘Why are we doing it this way?’
“It’s my job to make them buy into it obviously, but you have to accept that as a coach. And I enjoy that. I’m a partner with the players; it’s not a dictatorship.”
Soccer still has the power to leave us in tears. I should know
Whether fans were celebrating, saying goodbye to an old home or remembering those no longer with us, the game’s power was on show this weekend
What was striking on Saturday, after Crystal Palace had beaten Manchester City to win the FA Cup, was how many people were in tears. The camera roamed the stands, capturing the images of Palace fans in disbelief after winning their first ever major trophy. Some were hugging those next to them, some waved their arms incoherently and others just stared, overcome. But a significant proportion were sobbing. Soccer can often seem an angry game, with crowds fuelled by rage; this was something very different, very hard to explain.
Palace’s pre-match tifo had shown an image of a father hugging his two sons in the stand at Old Trafford after Darren Ambrose had scored a 35-yard drive there for Palace in a League Cup quarter-final in 2011-12. It turned out the two lads were among the Palace fans at Wembley and that their father had passed away in the intervening 13 years. They were, needless to say, also in tears.
Continue reading...3 Secrets For Oilers To Overcome The Stars
EDMONTON – Let’s get down to business.
The Edmonton Oilers steamrolled through their first two opponents, the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights. However, things won’t be that easy against the Dallas Stars.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Mikko Rantanen is on a mission to prove that the Colorado Avalanche were foolish in moving on from him. Everyone praises the depth of the Stars, and it’s hard not to be excited about your star defender coming back (Miro Heiskanen).
Some patterns emerge from the numbers. This is a very winnable series for the Oilers, especially if they continue to get secondary scoring, exploit Jake Oettinger’s weakness, and neutralize the Stars’ most significant threat.
Here are the three key things the Oilers must do to come out of the other side victorious against the Stars.
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Oilers Announce Full 2025 Schedule vs. Dallas StarsEDMONTON – What’s better than beating a rival once?
Oilers Depth Continued Production
The biggest knock on the Oilers in previous years was their inability to succeed without Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl pushing the bus. In the 2025 playoffs, that’s simply not the case.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers outscore their opponents 16-9 when their top two forwards aren’t on the ice. That is incredibly impressive.
Connor Brown, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, and Corey Perry have all scored two or more goals. Their continued offensive spark will be needed for the Oilers to move on to the final round.
Oilers Kasperi Kapanen Crashes Draisaitl InterviewEDMONTON – Not every player can be the hero.
Exploit Jake Oettinger’s Weakness
Oettinger has been excellent for the Stars. However, like every other player, he has weaknesses.
The two locations that Oettinger has allowed the most goals from are the mid-range blocker side and right in front of the crease. According to NHL Edge data, the Oilers are above average in shots from mid-range blocker side.
They can pick their spots with Oettinger by utilizing that weakness and continuing their trend of crashing the net and generating scoring chances from in tight.
EXCLUSIVE: Mark Messier On Oilers, Budweiser, His Future & MoreEDMONTON – Mark Messier loves Edmonton.
Neutralize Mikko Rantanen
For all of the flak that the Oilers have gotten about their depth needing to step up, that isn’t the narrative for the Stars. But when you look at the numbers, it should be.
The Stars are outscored 9-18 when Rantanen isn’t on the ice (NatStatTrick) and have an advantage of 11-4 when he is.
They didn’t get to their current position through luck. However, having the NHL playoff leading scorer steamroll through the competition has given the Stars the edge. They have also gotten timely scoring from their depth.
If Brown, Perry, and Henrique can keep rolling, the Oilers can crash the net with possession, and Draisaitl can work the same magic on Rantanen that he did on Jack Eichel; the Oilers will move on to their second Stanley Cup Final in two years.
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NHL Nugget: Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck's Birthday Backcheck
Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who turns 32 on May 19.
Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy winner, a U.S.-born record holder and a franchise goaltender who's under contract with the Jets through 2031. Although he and the Jetslost in Round 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, they won the Presidents' Trophy, and Hellebuyck earned the William M. Jennings Trophy for playing at least 25 games on the team that allowed the fewest goals.
Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media. And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.
Promo image credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
Sharks Should Target RFA Forward Marat Khusnutdinov This Offseason
The San Jose Sharks will be looking to improve their team and get back into the playoffs sooner rather than later after a rough 2024-25 campaign. While they probably won't be pushing for a playoff spot next season, they can continue to find future stars to add to their roster that will help them down the line.
One player they should look at bringing in is pending restricted free agent (RFA) Marat Khusnutdinov, who is up for a new contract for the upcoming season. He was traded from the Minnesota Wild to the Boston Bruins midseason, and while he seems to have found a solid fit in Boston, the Sharks should try and bring him in.
Khusnutdinov, who is 22 years old, scored five goals and added seven assists for 12 points through 75 games this season. Throughout his career, he scored six goals and added 10 assists for 16 points through 91 games, which comes out to a 0.18 points-per-game average.
His defensive game is quite strong, but his finishing ability hasn't quite been elite at the NHL level. In an increased role with the Sharks, he could build confidence and find a way to break out offensively.
Realistically, Khusnutdinov is looking at a 2-3 year contract extension worth around $1 million annually, which is very affordable. If he and the Bruins can't agree on a new deal, maybe the Sharks could offer to make a trade with them instead of sending an offer sheet, and the asking price may not be too much. If the Bruins are willing to move him for a mid-round pick, the Sharks should be all over him this summer.
Trending: Yegor Afanasyev Expected To Sign With Sharks For 2025-26 SeasonAs the postseason moves along, it seems as though the San Jose Sharks are focusing on getting some of their own things done this offseason as they look to improve on what was a rough 2024-25 campaign. In a recent report, it seems as though they will be signing Yegor Afanasyev for the 2025-26 season.
Sharks & Shakir Mukhamadullin Reportedly Close To Contract Extension AgreementWith the 2024-25 season gone and the San Jose Sharks having shifted their focus onto the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and the 2025-26 campaign, it sounds like they are closing in on a new contract with one of their pending free-agent defenders.
Sharks Prospect Carson Wetsch Flipped In Blockbuster WHL TradeThe 2025 WHL Prospects Draft has now come and gone, and while there weren't many surprises or much news to report from those couple of days, there was one massive trade that caught some attention.
Should The Sharks Trade Their Second Overall Pick?With reports swirling that the San Jose Sharks are open to trading their second overall pick, the question turns to: should they trade it?
‘We are a passionately multiracial team’: Zimbabwe return to England transformed
Visitors have endured political chaos and miserable results over 22 years but cricket is finally a national game
Twenty-two years is a long time, even in a sport that measures its games in days and its history in centuries. The last time England played a Test match against Zimbabwe, in 2003, Rob Key was in the middle order instead of the managing director’s job, Jimmy Anderson was a 20-year-old tearaway playing in his very first series, and the England and Wales Cricket Board was just about to launch the world’s very first professional Twenty20 tournament. Zimbabwean cricket has changed, too. Back then the team was in the earliest stages of a transformation that was meant to turn cricket from a minority game, played by the small white population, into a sport that better represented the whole country.
They have been hard years, riven by player strikes, political interference, maladministration and a miserable drop-off in results. The team temporarily withdrew from Test cricket, suspended their domestic competition and were repeatedly censured by the International Cricket Council. They lost so many players through emigration to England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, that even now you could build a hell of a good Zimbabwean squad out of people who are making a living overseas. And yet, at the end of it all, the process was, by one important measure, a success. The squad that came on tour in 2003 was majority white, the team that has come this year is majority black.
Continue reading...Top fantasy baseball prospects: Matt Shaw gets the call, Cole Young heating up
A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.
That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.
1. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs
2025 stats: 24 G, .286/.409/.560, 5 HR, 5 SB, 17 BB, 11 SO at Triple-A Iowa; 18 G, .172/.294/.241, 1 HR, 0 SB, 10 BB, 18 SO at Chicago (NL).
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Just as I was starting this article, it was announced that Shaw will be heading back from Iowa to Chicago before the Cubs’ game against the Marlins on Monday. The infielder struggled in his two-plus week sample in the majors, but it’s hard to be too discouraged by such a small sample; uninspiring as it may have been. Shaw appears to have rediscovered his pop in Triple-A, and even if you can’t expect that kind of slugging mark at the highest level, he’s far from a dink-and-dunk hitter. He’s also the rare third baseman who has a chance to provide swipes. Shaw deserves a second chance in fantasy lineups, as he’d be far from the first player to scuffle in his first taste of MLB action only to have success.
2. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox
2025 stats: 41 G, .322/.446/.503, 5 HR, 3 SB, 35 BB, 37 SO at Triple-A Worcester.
Even knowing Shaw is heading up, I still strongly considered keeping Anthony in the top spot. The ball still isn’t going over the fence as he still hasn’t homered in the month of May, but he’s 14-for-36 over his last 10 games with three doubles. Pretty hard to complain about that lack of production. Pretty easy to complain about Anthony not being a member of the Red Sox so far, and while it should be soon, fantasy managers have every right to be frustrated that he’s ‘toiling’ in the minors instead of in Boston. Stay patient. It’s coming soon.
3. Cole Young, 2B, Seattle Mariners
2025 stats: 44 G, .250/.364/.423, 4 HR, 1 SB, 23 BB, 27 SO at Triple-A Tacoma.
Welcome back to the list, Cole. With Jordan Lawlar now back in Arizona, Young gets the spot. Those numbers above aren’t overly impressive on the surface, but they’re not indicative of how well he’s played as of late. In his 16 games in the month of May, he’s hitting .349/.438/.698 with four homers for the Rainiers. The 2022 first-round pick has an easy plus hit tool from the left side, and he’s clearly beginning to tap into his power as well. Seattle is currently playing Leo Rivas, Miles Mastrobuoni and Dylan Moore at second base. Yeah, there’s an opening here, and if Young keeps this up, that opening will be filled by one of the top prospects in the system.
4. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
2025 stats: 9 G, 49.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, .151 BAA, 19 BB, 59 SO at Triple-A Nashville.
Misiorowski went seven innings in his last start, and he held Triple-A Memphis to just one run with five strikeouts against one walk. That’s three straight outings that the right-hander has gone at least six innings, and he’s issued no more than one walk in four of his last five starts. The Brewers are keeping it coy in terms of a potential call-up for Misiorowski, but have mentioned him as a potential “option” for the rotation. It’s understandable that they are playing the long-game with the 23-year-old, but it’s hard to imagine Misiorowski doesn’t make the Brew Crew better right now. It’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t make fantasy rosters better when Milwaukee comes to that conclusion, as well.
5. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 stats: 9 G, 37.1 IP, 2.17 ERA, .197 BAA, 16 BB, 56 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis.
Chandler’s last start was just so-so, as he gave up a pair of runs while allowing seven hits over 4 1/3 innings against Louisville on Sunday. He was much better in his first start since our last update with five scoreless frames and eight strikeouts; also against Louisville. Chandler looks ready to go and then some, and the Pirates are going nowhere. Even if Pittsburgh limits the innings, there’s loads of fantasy upside in his right arm. It’s hard to see him not making starts in the majors before 2025 comes to a close.
Around the minors:
The Pirates selected Konnor Griffin with the ninth pick of last year’s draft, and based on the early results, there could be a few teams that regret passing on him. He’s now hitting .324 with a .920 OPS over 33 games for Low-A Bradenton, and he’s been even better as of late; going 18-for-37 with five extra-base hits and five steals over his last 10 games. Griffin is a fantastic athlete with plus-plus speed and a weapons-grade arm, and the Marauders have used him at both shortstop and the outfield in 2025. There’s the potential massive power in his right-handed bat, and the hit tool is more advanced than anticipated. Griffin has a chance to be a fantasy star in the coming years, and could help the Bucs by the end of 2027.
Luis Morales was given a $3 million bonus by the Athletics in 2023, and it appears to have been a wise investment. After a so-so first full professional season in High-A with Lansing, he’s forged a 2.98 ERA over 42 1/3 innings that’s accompanied by a 53/15 K/BB ratio and 1.02 WHIP over eight starts. His last two starts have seen the 22-year-old at his best; striking out 11 over 13 innings while allowing just three runs. With a plus-plus fastball that can get into the high 90s without much effort and well above-average slider, Morales has the stuff to be a mid-rotation starter or better, and it’s not out of the question he could make starts for the A’s by the end of 2025. He’s definitely a name to keep an eye on for this season and beyond.
There may not be a prospect who has seen his stock improve more in 2025 than Aroon Escobar, and he had another big night Saturday for Low-A Clearwater. He went 5-for-5 with a homer and a double for the Thrashers, and he’s now hitting .328/.429/.573 with eight homers over his 33 games in the Florida State League. The 20-year-old has tapped into his well above-average power, and the ball jumps off his bat, giving him a chance for an above-average hit tool to go with it. He’s not going to be a major stolen base threat, but if the other offensive tools play to their ability, that won’t matter. Escobar is far too good for Low-A, but the long-term upside makes him a player that needs to be rostered in the overwhelming majority of keeper formats.
Famous Words From Famous Rangers
Rangers players from yesteryear not only were winners but they said interesting things.
I know this for a fact because – sitting right in front of me is a fascinating book called "Hockey Shorts – The Game's Best One-liners.
Author Glenn Liebman has a ton of them but, for the moment, I'll only deliver a few that deal with the art of goalkeeping. Here goes:
1. MUZZ PATRICK, DEFENSEMAN ON THE 1940 RANGERS STANLEY CUP-WINNERS: "In hockey," said Patrick, "a goalie does nothing that other people do. Except for his sweater, he even dresses differently."
2. HALL OF FAME GOALIE JACQUES PLANTE WHO HAD A SHORT RANGERS CAREER: "Goaltending is a normal job. Sure!," quoth Plante with mock seriousness:
"How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."
3. HALL OF FAME GOALIE TERRY SAWCHUK WHOSE LAST NHL GAME WAS AS A RANGER: After a losing playoff game, Sawchuk met the media with this line: "I got one thing to say, gentlemen. I didn't have a good night!"
4. HALL OF FAME RANGERS MANAGER LESTER PATRICK, DISCUSSING BRUINS GOALIE FRANK BRIMSEK WHO HAD JUST SHUT OUT HIS BLUESHIRTS: "Trying to get Brimsek to make a first move is like pushing over the Washington Monument!"
After early playoff exit, and Tatum’s torn Achilles, where does Boston go from here?
The NBA prioritizes parity over dynasties, and with that the path to repeat as NBA champions is intentionally difficult. The NBA is also set up to make it incredibly difficult to keep a contending team together for any reasonable length of time. That is especially true in the tax aprons era of the latest CBA.
The Boston Celtics have run headlong into the wall of both of those realities, which is why change is coming this summer.
The only question is how much.
How Boston got here
Boston was riding high after last season’s NBA title, so it didn’t make many changes last summer and ran it back, which was the right thing to do. Throw in the franchise sale and the decision was made to punt on the big financial questions for a year, knowing the price tag to continue down that path would eventually get too steep. Look at it this way: To bring back Boston’s starting five for next season (2025-26) would cost about $188 million, and the second apron of the luxury tax is expected to be $207.8 million. To keep this full Celtics roster together next season would set a record of more than $500 million in payroll and luxury tax (including a steep repeater tax that kicks in).
There had been buzz around the league for more than a year that the Celtics would have to trade away a core player or two to save money this coming summer, and that was before Tatum tore his Achilles and cast a shadow over next season.
This year, the Celtics were bounced from the playoffs much earlier than expected, in the second round at the hands of the New York Knicks. Part of that was this Boston team that leaned even more heavily into 3-pointers than the championship squad — 53.6% of their shot attempts were from beyond the arc during the season. Even with a top-five defense and a team that still scored well around the rim when they got there, this team was at the mercy of 3-point variance. When Orlando came out with a plan in the first round of the playoffs to take away those 3-point attempts (a model New York followed), it put the Celtics on their back foot and they had some less-than-stellar games.
Bad luck also played a role in the early exit. There was Kristaps Porzingis’ respiratory illness slowing him, Jaylen Brown playing through a torn meniscus, and then Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles. That last injury leads to the big question before Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ brass heading into this offseason:
How big a change does Boston make?
If Tatum were healthy, we likely would have seen Boston move away from one (maybe two) rotation players, replace them with younger or minimum-contract players, and hope that the depth would hold out. That is still an option, perhaps even the most likely one.
Or, the Celtics can treat next season more as a “gap year” — not trying to lose, but accepting it may not be a championship season — giving them more time to be aggressive and retool the roster to contend with Tatum once he’s healthy. How many moves the Celtics make and who will be sent out depends on how Stevens answers the “how big” question.
Let’s look at players who could be on the move.
Jrue Holiday/Derrick White
We’re combining the guards because it was already expected that one of them would be out the door, even before Tatum’s injury.
Holiday is more likely to be moved, according to league sources. Holiday will be 35 next season and has three years, $104 million left on his contract, starting at $32.4 million. He’s a proven, winning two-way point guard who will draw interest — there are teams like Orlando where Holiday would be a fantastic fit — but with his age and contract, this is not an easy deal to make. The Celtics may need to attach a second-round pick or something else of value to get another team to take on that contract.
While rumors are flying around Holiday, he made it clear, speaking to reporters at his exit interview, he wants to stay in Boston and compete for a title.
“We still have a really, really great opportunity and a great window to be successful and win a championship again,” Holiday said. “I think the talent that we have on this team, not only on the court, but the coaching staff all the way up to Brad, has been amazing. So, the opportunity to win is now, and I still want to be a part of that.”
White, who will be 31 next season, has four years, $118 million remaining on his contract. That deal may be too good to trade away, other teams will ask but they will have to blow away Boston with an offer to make it a reality.
Kristaps Porzingis
He has an expiring $30.7 million contract and is the kind of stretch big in high demand all over the league. He’s also coming off two straight playoffs where he missed time due to injury, and he has been out for 65 regular-season games since coming to Boston.
The Celtics will make calls to try and find a new home for Porzingis, but the market for him is not that deep, especially at that price tag. Again, the Celtics might have to attach another player or a pick to move on from him.
Jaylen Brown
It would be devastating to the fan base — and the ultimate example of why the new CBA with its aprons is bad for fans who want to watch their team draft a player and win with him — but the Celtics have to at least consider trading him this summer.
Brown is 28, in his prime, and next season his five-year, $285.4 million contract kicks in. It's going to be expensive to keep Brown and Tatum together and have enough around them to contend, which is why if a team like Houston (with good young players and picks) calls and wants to talk Brown trade, Stevens has to consider it.
Brown isn't looking to move on. He talked about playing through his meniscus injury and his desire to come back and win in Boston after the team was eliminated.
“Losing to the Knicks feels like death,” Brown said. “But I was always taught that there’s life after death, so we’ll get ready for whatever’s next in the journey. I’ll be ready for it.”
“I’m looking forward to coming back stronger, so you just take this with your chin up,” Brown added. “I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now, obviously with JT being out and us kind of ending the year, but it’s a lot to look forward to. I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end, so I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
Luke Kornet
Kornet is a free agent this summer who will have better offers from other teams than the Celtics are willing to pay. It’s difficult to see how Boston can afford to bring him back, unless there is room after a major move this summer. Kornet had a strong Game 5, and that should help him get a deal in a spot where he will get more run.
KORNET WAS KEY
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
Watch all SEVEN of his blocks... to go along with 10 points (5-5 fgm) and 9 rebounds in the @celtics W https://t.co/66dzWG3Uj2pic.twitter.com/40ryJ9WWAG
Al Horford
Horford is a free agent who will be 39 next season. He’s still good enough that will be a contract for him if he wants to play, but it won’t be in Boston.
Tatum talked about retirement at his exit interview.
"I'm going to take some time here with my wife and my kids," Horford said. "There's still a lot for me to process, feeling everything out from last night -- that was difficult.”
The NFL isn’t college football’s friend – it’s the greatest threat to the CFP schedule
Time for college football to take a stand against the NFL after pro league scheduling puts College Football Playoff games in difficult ratings spot.