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Mariners at Twins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for June 26

Its Thursday, June 26 and the Mariners (41-38) are in Minneapolis to wrap up their four-game series with the Twins (38-42).

Emerson Hancock is slated to take the mound for Seattle against Simeon WoodsRichardson for Minnesota.

The Twins snapped a 4-game losing streak last night with a 2-0 win over the Mariners. Joe Ryan and three relievers limited Seattle to three hits. Kody Clemens' home run in the seventh inning was one of only four hits for the Twins, but it was enough to propel Minnesota to the win.

Lets dive into the series finale 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.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mariners at Twins

  • Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
  • Time: 1:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: RSNW, MNNT, 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 Mariners at the Twins

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Mariners (+101), Twins (-121)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mariners at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for June 26, 2025: Emerson Hancock vs. Simeon Woods Richardson
    • Mariners: Emerson Hancock (3-3, 5.43 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/21 at Cubs - 4IP, 9ER, 6H, 3BB, 5Ks
    • Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (2-4, 5.06 ERA)
      Last outing: 6/21 vs. Milwaukee - 6IP, 3ER, 4H, 3BB, 3Ks

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 Mariners at Twins

  • The Twins snapped a 4-game losing streak last night
  • The Over is 22-16-2 in the Mariners' road games this season
  • Simeon Woods Richardson has not struck out more than 4 opposing hitters since April 26.
  • Cal Raleigh saw his 7-game hitting streak snapped last night (0-4)
  • Julio Rodriguez is 3-11 (.273) in this series

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 today’s game between the Mariners and the Twins

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 Thursday's game between the Mariners and the Twins:

  • 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 Seattle Mariners at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over 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

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)
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Why Draymond Green states Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has early ‘strike' entering NBA

Why Draymond Green states Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has early ‘strike' entering NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green offered Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey some brutally honest advice after the young forward made waves with his pre-2025 NBA Draft workouts, or lack thereof.

Bailey, the Rutgers product, canceled a pre-draft workout with the Philadelphia 76ers on June 20, a move that sparked backlash from some around the league before the 18-year-old eventually was selected with the No. 5 pick in the draft on Wednesday night.

Green was asked on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show With Baron Davis,” if Bailey’s controversial decision to skip the workout hurt his draft stock after once being viewed as a potential top-three pick.

“I don’t necessarily think it hurt. It didn’t hurt. You went [fifth], whoop-de-f–king-do. It didn’t hurt that,” Green told Davis. “But you’re walking into the NBA with a strike, and I think that’s what’s most important to understand. You’re walking in with a question mark on character. You’re walking in with a question mark on work ethic. You’re walking in with a question mark on your camp.

“My thing to him and his camp would be, understand where you are. It’s fine, no big deal, you went fifth in the draft. As I said earlier in the show, that s–t don’t matter no more. It matters for a salary, and that’s about it.”

While Green doesn’t believe Bailey’s decision is that big of a deal, he does believe the rookie now is under more pressure to put his best foot forward.

“It’s now time to go play, so be the first person in the gym, don’t go into the organization causing any problems, going to the organization knowing there’s some guys that have been there before you,” Green added. “You can learn from them, but I ain’t saying go bow down to anybody, but know there are some guys that know more than you that you can learn from.

“Go in there and be a great rookie. That don’t mean don’t go play great, go be a great rookie. Don’t go in there thinking stuff’s going to be your way, because you already got a strike. This league will move on from you fast.”

Bailey seems ready to answer the call.

“I feel like once I come in, it’s going to be a lot of work,” Bailey told ESPN on Wednesday night. “I feel like I’m a person that likes to work out a lot. I’m going to push my teammates to be the best they can be. I want to come in and be a leader as a young cat.”

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Will Celtics re-sign Horford and Kornet? Stevens makes intentions clear

Will Celtics re-sign Horford and Kornet? Stevens makes intentions clear originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics aren’t expected to be a very active team in NBA free agency this offseason. But they do have a pair of important decisions to make regarding two valuable frontcourt pieces.

Big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both set to hit unrestricted free agency when the new league year begins on July 6. Boston can negotiate with Horford and Kornet up until that point, but if no deals are reached, they could hit the open market and potentially seek greener pastures.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens would prefer that doesn’t happen.

“As you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there is no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens told reporters Wednesday night in his press conference after the 2025 NBA Draft. “Those guys are huge parts of this organization.”

Horford has spent seven of his last nine seasons in Boston and is one of the most well-established and beloved Celtics players of the past decade. While he turned 39 years old earlier this month, he’s still a very effective big man who averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season over 60 games (42 starts).

Kornet, meanwhile, is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over a career high 18.6 minutes per game. If he stays in Boston, the 29-year-old would have an opportunity to take on an even bigger role following the Celtics’ reported trade of Kristaps Porzingis.

The question is whether Boston can afford Horford and Kornet at the price tag they’ll seek in free agency. The Celtics shed roughly $27 million in salary by reportedly dealing Porzingis and Jrue Holiday but are just $4.6 million under the second apron of the luxury tax and can’t go back over that threshold. So, they’d need to trim additional salary if they want to bring both Horford and Kornet back in the fold.

Boston also may have competition for both players; ESPN’s Shams Charania noted Wednesday that Horford has a “robust” free-agent market around the league. But Stevens made it very clear that his club will make every attempt to re-sign both players.

“They’re going to have, I’m sure, plenty of options all over the place, and that’s well-deserved, but I think that would be a priority,” Stevens said of Horford and Kornet.

“At the same time, I don’t want to put pressure on them. It’s their call, ultimately. But, yeah, we would love to have those guys back.”

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The road so far: West Virginia basketball roster construction

West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge had the arduous task of rebuilding the West Virginia basketball roster. Hodge inherited a program that had lost all of its production from the 19-13 team a season ago due to either graduation or the transfer portal. Hodge made it clear that the Mountaineers would hit the ground running on the recruiting trail, and this is a look at all of the players who have elected to join him at this point in the off-season.

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REPORT: NHL, NHLPA Set To Announce New CBA On Friday

If you're an old NHL fan like me, when CBA's are brought up, it immediately gives me anxiety. In 2004, an NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of the entire season, which revolved around a salary cap. That lockout is the reason the Blue Jackets are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 25-26, instead of last season. 

In 2012, the NHL again locked out the players, mainly over, you guessed it, money, resulting in a shortened 48-game schedule. The season didn't start until mid-January, and ultimately, the Blue Jackets missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker. 

Fast forward to 2025, and here we are again - Time for a new CBA. But this time, it seems that the two sides are have agreed to a framework on a four-year extension to the collective bargaining agreement. 

Per reports, an agreement could be announced as soon as Friday on a Memorandum of Understanding that would extend the labor agreement. The extension would start on Sept. 16, 2026, and go through Sept. 15, 2030. This is very good news. 

So what are the details and how will it affect the Blue Jackets players? 

  • 84-game regular seasons beginning in 2026-27. Shortening the preseason to an expected four games per team, players with 100-plus career games played can play in a maximum of two preseason games.
  • Player contracts will be limited to a maximum of seven years for players re-signing with their current teams and six years for players who are unrestricted free agents. This is down from 8 and 7.
  • The massive jumps in the salary cap will be official - $95.5 million, $104 million and $113 million.
  • Closing the LTIR loophole for teams to stack payroll by using the injury relief rule.
  • Signing rights to draft picks will be the same for everyone until age 22, no matter what league prospects are picked from or where they go next.
  • No more deferred salaries to try to lower cap hits.
  • Making the EBUG a full-time spot with the team, so that amateurs are no longer allowed to play.
  • No more player dress code for players arriving at or leaving games.

There are a few other rules involving player benefits and such as well. 

All of the new pieces of the CBA are going to be great for the league and players. More money for the players, and more games for the fans, has to be the two biggest pieces of this. I am 100% for more regular season and less preseason. 

Now, if only they could get to the point where the season starts earlier and ends earlier, we could have the perfect NHL. End the season no later than Memorial Day, and start earlier in September.

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Blue Jackets Rumors: K'Andre Miller To Columbus?Blue Jackets Rumors: K'Andre Miller To Columbus?With the NHL Draft just a few days away and the start of free agency a week away, the NHL's silly season is in full swing, and the Blue Jackets look to be involved at some point.  Blue Jackets Announce Times & Dates For 2025 Development CampBlue Jackets Announce Times & Dates For 2025 Development CampWith the 2025 NHL Draft coming on Friday, the Blue Jackets have announced the 2025 Development Camp schedule. It will again be held at the OhioHealth Ice Haus. 

 

Blue Jackets Rumors: Rasmus Andersson A Trade Target? Blue Jackets Rumors: Rasmus Andersson A Trade Target? With each passing day, more rumors about the Columbus Blue Jackets being involved in trades keep popping up. Two days from the Draft and nothing has changed.  Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Jackson SmithColumbus Blue Jackets 2025 Draft Target: Jackson SmithWell, we've officially reached the end of the 2025 draft targets. Today is going to be the last one before the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday. After today, my colleague Jason Newland and I will continue with draft content, however, it will be more geared towards mock drafts and big boards.
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It Was A Good Season For Rookies In Montreal, And Not Just For Lane Hutson

Earlier this month, Montreal Canadiens’ blueliner Lane Hutson was declared the winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie, and with good reason, he played a historic season.

Hutson wasn’t the only rookie to have an impressive season in town, however. On Wednesday, the PWHL held its award show and named six players to its All-Rookie Team. Half of them were members of the Montreal Victoire: blueliners Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren, and forward Jennifer Gardiner.

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You may recall Gardiner from the Canadiens’ skills competition in February, where she won the accuracy shooting event, hitting all four targets in under 10 seconds. While some might have expected Nick Suzuki or Cole Caufield to come out on top in that event, it was the Victoire rookie who stole the show.

Unfortunately for the PWHL outfit, though, the Victoire won’t be able to count on those great rookies next season, all three were lost during the expansion draft and signing period of the new Vancouver and Seattle franchises. Can you imagine the reaction in Montreal if Lane Hutson had been lost to an expansion draft? That can happen when you’re only allowed to protect three players. If you thought the NHL expansion rules were too lenient with the Vegas Golden Knights, take a look at what’s going on in the PWHL.

Meanwhile, Hutson will be back in Montreal for his sophomore season, and the city is already buzzing with excitement at the thought of witnessing Ivan Demidov’s rookie offering.

Thankfully, the three standout rookies weren’t the only players honoured by the league. Netminder Ann-Renee Desbiens was named goaltender of the year, Kori Chrverie won the title of coach of the year (unlike Martin St-Louis who finished third in voting for the Jack Adams Trophy), and Marie-Philip Poulin was named forward of the year and MVP. As for Laura Stacey, she won the Hockey for All Award as the player who made the most significant impact in her community.

It will be interesting to see if both Montreal teams manage to make the playoffs this coming season. Both were eliminated in the latest campaign, but they were both in the first round. While taking part in the Spring dance exceeded expectations for the Habs, the Victoire was expected to reach the Walter Cup Final but failed.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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Report: Kings lack trade interest in Hawks star Trae Young for two reasons

Report: Kings lack trade interest in Hawks star Trae Young for two reasons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings’ top priority this NBA offseason is to fill the starting point guard void.

Whether that will be through free agency or a trade remains to be seen, with several potential suitors already being linked to Sacramento. One notable name floating around the Kings’ rumor mill is Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer.

However, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported, citing league sources, that the Kings don’t have interest in Young due to his offense-first style of play and the hefty price tag he would come with.

Young, who turns 27 in September, is owed $46 million next season with a $49 million player option for 2026-27. In seven seasons with Atlanta, Young has averaged 25.3 points on 43.3-percent shooting from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range, with 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists in 34.4 minutes.

The Kings also explored the prospect of acquiring Jrue Holiday, Amick reported, before he was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers earlier this week. But there were reservations about his age (35) and cost, Amick added, as he still has three years remaining on a $134 million extension.

Sacramento will look elsewhere as it hopes to fill a massive hole entering the 2025-26 season.

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2025 NBA Draft: Best available after round one includes Rasheer Fleming and Maxime Raynaud

Night one of the NBA draft is officially behind us, but we still have round two on Thursday night. The first few picks were expected, but then everything became chaotic. There were a handful of trades sprinkled in, but Mark Williams was the only player that was moved. The rest were all picks.

The most surprising move of the night was the Trail Blazers trading back to select Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick. Prior to the draft, I was planning to have Yang on this list. Instead, he went just outside the lottery. One wonders if Portland would’ve taken him at 11 if they couldn’t trade back.

30 talented players were selected in round one, and 29 more will be selected in round two. Here are the 10 best available players, with the Timberwolves making the next selection.

NBA: Draft
2025 NBA Draft grades for every team in the first round
It was a good day to be the Mavericks, not so much for Trail Blazers fans.

F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s

I don’t understand the Fleming slide to the second round. He’s an older prospect, and he isn’t the most dynamic shot creator, but he is a legitimate three-and-D wing with a 7’5” wingspan. Those players don’t grow on trees. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game last season. He should be one of the first few players selected in round two.

C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford

I thought Raynaud had a case to be selected on night one, but a handful of other bigs went instead. Raynaud is at least a better shooter than all of them and could be a better overall offensive player than most of them. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. Boston has pick 32, and Charlotte has picks 33 and 34. Both teams need center help.

F Adou Thiero, Arkansas

The uber-athletic wing isn’t a great shooter, but he is ready to make an impact in the NBA immediately. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season. Adding a player of his caliber in the second round is going to be a great pickup, and he’ll be able to be part of a team’s rotation immediately. If he finds himself on a team that needs him to play big minutes, he should wreak havoc on defense and provide plenty of steals.

F Noah Penda, Le Mans (France)

Penda is a playmaking forward that can really defend on the perimeter. He isn’t a great scorer, but he can fill a number of holes for whatever team takes him. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.0 triple per game in 37 appearances last season. He is a well-rounded prospect that will make any team happy to take him in the second round.

G Kam Jones, Marquette

Jones is an older prospect at 23 years old, but he is one of the best playmakers in this class. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. He wasn’t a great shooter, and he isn’t an explosive athlete, which may have forced teams to shy away from him in round one. But getting a reliable lead ball handler in round two is a great value selection.

C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton

As another 23-year-old prospect, Kalkbrenner enjoyed a productive 2024-25 season with averages of 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. The 7’2” center may not have the same upside that other bigs in this draft have, but he should be able to play a solid role in the NBA, even if he is a reserve.

G Alijah Martin, Florida

Martin certainly has a case to be the best defender in the class. He isn’t the most dynamic offensive player, but he does enough on that end to not be a liability, specifically as a floor spacer. Teams will be far more interested in what he does defensively. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game last season. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3”, but a 6’7.5” wingspan helps make up for it.

F Bogoljub Marković, KK Mega Basket (Serbia)

The 6’11” forward is an intriguing offensive player, but there are some major question marks on the defensive end. Still, there is enough there for a team to select him early in round two. He truly has the potential to be a dynamic offensive stud, mostly as a shooter, but also as a playmaker. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 three-pointer per game last season.

F Jamir Watkins, Florida State

Watkins will be 24 years old at the start of Summer League, which likely made some teams shy away. However, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game last season and will certainly be ready to contribute next year. He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but the defensive ability should get him some minutes.

G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee

Every team needs shooting, and the 23-year-old can help with that. He averaged 3.2 three-pointers per game last season while shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. There are some intriguing measurables, such as a 39” vertical and a 6’9” wingspan, but he wasn’t a great defender in college, and he isn’t a dynamic offensive force. Still, a reliable shooter in round two is always a nice addition.

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Mets vs. Braves: How to watch on SNY on June 26, 2025

The Mets wrap up a four-game series with the Braves at Citi Field on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

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

Mets Notes

  • Juan Soto is hitting .333/.486/.774 with 11 home runs, four doubles, 20 RBI, 24 runs scored, and 24 walks in 109 plate appearances over his last 25 games. His OPS for the season is up to .899 and he is on pace to finish the year with 38 home runs
  • Brandon Nimmo is hitting .315/.378/.556 with seven home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 119 plate appearances over his last 28 games
  • Jose Butto hasn't allowed an earned run since May 27, tossing 13.1 innings over 10 appearances during that span
BRAVES
METS
-Francisco Lindor, SS
-Brandon Nimmo, DH
-Juan Soto, RF
-Pete Alonso, 1B
-Jeff McNeil, LF
-Tyrone Taylor, CF
-Brett Baty, 3B
-Luis Torrens, C
-Ronny Mauricio, 3B

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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Jacob deGrom flirts with a perfect game, then a no-hitter with the Rangers

BALTIMORE — When Jacob deGrom is at his best, the Texas Rangers believe he’s the best pitcher on the planet.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner certainly is looking like his old self.

DeGrom flirted with a perfect game through six innings and a no-hitter through seven Wednesday night in another dominating performance in his return from Tommy John surgery in June 2023.

He threw 89 pitches, getting pulled after giving up his only hit to Colton Cowser leading off the eighth. The Rangers finished off a 7-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles as deGrom tied his career-best streak of 13 straight starts giving up two or fewer earned runs.

“When you miss that much time, you miss this a lot,” deGrom said. “You got time to really think about what you’ve done in your career. The goal is to try to come back and be as good as I was before the surgery, so constantly trying to work on that and still working on things in between.”

He walked Jackson Holliday starting the seventh. Then he struck out Jordan Westburg and got Gunnar Henderson to fly out. DeGrom walked Ryan O’Hearn, putting two on and causing a mound visit, then got Gary Sánchez to ground into an inning-ending forceout.

Texas removed deGrom after he faced 24 batters. He had thrown 59 of 89 pitches for strikes.

Manager Bruce Bochy said deGrom was throwing well and he planned to give him a chance to finish a no-hit bid. The Rangers have been limiting deGrom to around 80 pitches per game.

“First guy that got a hit that was far enough,” Bochy said. “We had a nice lead, and he’s so fun to watch. He really is. I’ve said this. I’m a fan when he’s pitching.”

Rangers catcher Jonah Heim said deGrom was throwing all four pitches for strikes, and all he had to do was call the pitches.

“That’s the best I’ve ever seen him since he came over here,” Heim said. “So really encouraging to see really proud of him for all the work he’s put in to get here.”

The Rangers certainly are getting the best of deGrom in his third season in Texas since of a $185 millionm five-year deal. He’s off to an 8-2 start and has started 16 games after being limited to three in 2024 and six in 2023.

Yes, deGrom wanted to finish off a no-hitter until a fastball wound up in the wrong spot for the only hit he allowed.

“It was just fun to be out there,” deGrom said.

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Blackhawks Potential Trade Target JJ Peterka Is No Longer An Option

The Chicago Blackhawks have numerous trade targets that make sense for them. The 2025 NHL Draft isn’t producing NHL-ready players out of the gate, and Chicago may not consider pursuing the big-money free agents due to its place in the rebuild. 

That leaves trades as the next option to improve the roster headed into next season. One target that made sense for the Chicago Blackhawks, JJ Peterka, is now off the board. 

The Buffalo Sabres traded Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. Buffalo is getting two good players with upside, but Utah is getting a blossoming star who also happens to be young. 

Peterka, 23, is a forward who just had a breakout season on a struggling Sabres team. He scored 27 goals with 41 assists for 68 points in 77 games. He is blossoming into a legitimate star in the NHL. With him on the block, every team was interested. 

Peterka would have looked nice alongside talented players like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, but that can’t be the case anymore. Instead, he will join forces with Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, and a Mammoth team ready to take a step in the standings. 

This isn’t, however, the end of the young talent line on the trade block in the NHL. Kyle Davidson and his staff have options to consider; the first big domino is just off the board. As the draft gets closer, moves will continue to be made across the league. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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How Utah's Deal With Buffalo Opens The Door For Hagens To Become An Islanders' Reality

LOS ANGELES -- The odds of the New York Islanders drafting Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall and then finding a way to trade back into the first round to draft Long Island native James Hagens were slim.

But it wasn't zero, and a late trade on Wednesday night may have opened the door for that pipeline dream for the fan base to be a reality. 

Before midnight, the Buffalo Sabres parted ways with young stud forward J.J. Peterka, sending him to the Utah Mammoth. The question was, was Utah's fourth overall pick in play?

It was not. Instead, the Sabres acquired Josh Doan, the son of Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan, along with right-side defenseman Matthew Kesselring.

Now, the Islanders and the Sabres had talked Peterka for right-side defenseman Noah Dobson. 

Buffalo wanted to acquire a RHD who could play alongside Owen Power. Kesselring isn't that guy, and had Utah moved the fourth overall pick to the Sabres, there was probably still dialogue to be had between Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche and Sabres Kevyn Adams. 

However, with the pick staying in Utah, with them needing a top-flight RHD, is there a situation in which the Islanders could send them Dobson for pick No. 4?

The talk since arriving in Los Angeles has not only been that Utah is actively shopping their pick, but also the fact that Hagens could slide down to as far as No. 10, given the needs of the teams drafting prior. 

It wouldn't be an issue for the Islanders to draft Hagens at No. 4, but it just sounds like he will, in fact, fall on draft night. The farther Hagens does fall, the cheaper it will be to make a deal.

But, an opposing team should be asking for Dobson in any deal for the Hagens pick. 

Keep an eye on the Boston Bruins, who select at No. 7, if Hagens falls that far. There's been dialogue between them and the Islanders. 

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PHOTO: David Reginek-Imagn Images